Where to stay in Nanjing

Nanjing rewards travelers who choose the neighborhood before the hotel. The old capital sits inside a Ming city wall, and most of what first-timers come to see: from the Presidential Palace to the Confucius Temple lanes along the Qinhuai River: lies within a few metro stops of Xinjiekou, the commercial crossroads at the center. Around that core, each district has a clear job. Xuanwu Lake and Jiming Temple give early risers green space and wall-top walks. Laomendong and the riverfront trade daytime quiet for lantern-lit evenings. Hexi's glass towers and the Olympic Sports Center serve concert crowds and business trips. Nanjing South Railway Station and Lukou airport handle arrivals and departures. Farther out, Hongshan Forest Zoo pulls families north and the Tangshan hot springs pull weekenders east. Value is strong across the city: well-rated new openings sit at budget prices almost everywhere, and mid-range rooms often deliver what a luxury rate buys in other capitals. Pick the area that matches how you want to spend your days, then pick the room.

1. 1

   Xinjiekou Area/Presidential Palace, Nanjing

   Central commercial district around the Xinjiekou roundabout, Qinhuai and Xuanwu districts, central Nanjing

   The city's shopping and metro crossroads, with the Presidential Palace a short walk away.

   At about $41 a night, the Echarm Hotel sits right above the Xinjiekou metro interchange at Deji Plaza and holds a 9.7 for rooms that still feel brand new. Xinjiekou is Nanjing's commercial center: department stores ring the central roundabout, Zhongshan Road runs north toward Gulou, and the Presidential Palace on Changjiang Road is an easy walk northeast, with the Republican-era bar lanes beside it. The mid-range anchor, Ming Hotel Nanjing MGallery Collection, asks about $127 and earns it with generous suites. Skip the dated business towers around the roundabout; the newer openings are cleaner for the same money. The malls close by late evening, but snack stalls and night buses keep the streets awake, and mornings start slowly. Stay here on a first visit if you want the city's central metro crossing right under your feet.

   1. Budget

      Echarm Hotel (Xinjiekou Metro Station Deji Plaza Branch

      Since it just opened this year, the rooms are very new and clean, and they offer several types of pillows, which is fantastic. The TV is huge and supports screen casting. Even the rooms facing the str

      9.7/10 rating ~$41/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Ming Hotel Nanjing MGallery Collection

      I chose the newly opened Nanjing MING Hotel MGallery by Sofitel for my trip to Nanjing to visit friends, and my stay far exceeded my expectations! ✨ First, the Executive Suite is incredibly spacious!

      9.6/10 rating ~$127/night
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2. 2

   Confucius Temple/Qinhuai River Scenic Area, Nanjing

   Qinhuai riverfront around Fuzimiao, southern old city, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

   Lantern-lit river promenades and old examination-hall streets right outside the door.

   Lantern light spills across the Qinhuai River after dark, and the Confucius Temple quarter becomes Nanjing's busiest evening promenade. The budget Jinpeng Yunju Hotel holds a 9.6 at about $34 a night and puts fresh, spotless rooms within walking distance of the temple square, the Jiangnan Examination Hall and Wuyi Lane. Zhonghua Gate and the Ming city wall are a short walk south, and the Fuzimiao metro stop gets you to Xinjiekou quickly. Skip the rooms facing the main souvenir square; the noise runs late and the food stalls there charge tourist prices. Locals head to the side lanes for duck blood vermicelli and salted duck. Stay here for night walks and boat rides, and do your sightseeing early, while the riverbanks are still quiet.

   1. Budget

      Jinpeng Yunju Hotel (Nanjing Confucius Temple Center Branch)

      Facilities: The hotel facilities are very new, with a fresh decor style, and equipped with smart toilets. Hygiene: The room is clean and hygienic, the bedding is clean, and there are no strange odors.

      9.6/10 rating ~$34/night
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3. 3

   Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area/Jiming Temple, Nanjing

   Xuanwu Lake shoreline and Jiming Temple hill inside the northern Ming city wall, Xuanwu District, Nanjing

   Lakeside mornings, city-wall walks and temple bells, with the metro on the doorstep.

   Morning mist drifts off Xuanwu Lake, and runners are already circling the causeways before the Jiming Temple bells start. The budget Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel holds a 9.3 at about $61 a night, with the lake gates and a metro station close by, while the Shangri-La Nanjing asks about $96 for full-service polish and easy subway and taxi connections. On foot you reach the Ming city wall above the lake at Jiefangmen, the saffron walls of Jiming Temple, and the lake islands with their willows and lotus beds. The wall-top walk from Jiefangmen at dawn is worth setting an alarm for, before the tour groups arrive. Skip this area if you want late bars; evenings are calm. It suits early risers and families who want green space steps from the lobby.

   1. Budget

      Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel

      The hotel's location is fantastic, just a stone's throw away from Xuanwu Lake Park – easily walkable! Metro Line 1 is right downstairs, making it super convenient to get anywhere (seriously, public tr

      9.3/10 rating ~$61/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Shangri-La Nanjing

      This stay at the Shangri-La was great! It's super convenient for both the subway 🚇 and taxis 🚗, and just three subway stops away from the popular Confucius Temple. The hotel itself is elegant and comf

      9.6/10 rating ~$96/night
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4. 4

   Yuhuatai Nanjing South Railway Station Area, Nanjing

   Around Nanjing South Railway Station, Yuhuatai District, southern Nanjing

   A practical high-speed rail base with wide, quiet streets after dark.

   At about $33 a night, the S·RUN Hotel (Nanjing South Railway Station) gives high-speed rail travelers a 9.6 bed next to the platforms. The station is the city's main high-speed hub, and its underground mall covers most meals. The mid-range Grand WUJI Hotel, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, holds a 9.7 at about $108 and leans into wellness, with congee and healthy breakfast spreads. Yuhuatai Memorial Park and the southern stretch of the city wall are a short metro ride north, not a stroll. It is not worth the daily commute if your trip is heavy on sightseeing, since the old city is a ride away every morning. Stay here for early departures, late arrivals and business on the south side, where the streets are wide and quiet after dark.

   1. Budget

      S·RUN Hotel (Nanjing South Railway Station)

      This hotel exceeded our expectations. From the helpful front counter staff, to the beautiful rooms, to the excellent cleaning service by the cleaning lady on the 6th floor, we had a very pleasant stay

      9.6/10 rating ~$33/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Grand WUJI Hotel, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

      I booked this hotel thinking it was a Hyatt property, but it's actually not affiliated with Hyatt. It's primarily a wellness-focused hotel, offering healthy breakfast options like congee and a wide va

      9.7/10 rating ~$108/night
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5. 5

   Lukou International Airport Surrounding, Nanjing

   Airport zone around Lukou International Airport, Jiangning District, far southern Nanjing

   A cheap, clean one-night stop for red-eye flights and late landings.

   At about $18 a night the Starway Hotel (Nanjing Lukou Airport) holds a 9.6, includes breakfast, and sits close to the terminals. Lukou International Airport is far south of the city among farmland and logistics parks, so there is little within walking distance beyond convenience stores and noodle counters. The airport metro line runs north to Nanjing South Railway Station, where you change for the center. Don't bother staying out here for sightseeing; the ride into the old city is long in both directions. This is a one-night base for dawn flights or midnight arrivals, and at this price it beats sleeping in the terminal. Book it for the logistics, then move closer in for the rest of the trip.

   1. Budget

      Starway Hotel (Nanjing Lukou Airport)

      The hotel's environment is elegant and the decoration is exquisite. The room is clean and tidy, and every detail is carefully considered. Breakfast is also provided. It is also close to the airport, w

      9.6/10 rating ~$18/night
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6. 6

   Xinjiekou Area/Presidential Palace

   Zhongshan Road and the Xinjiekou hotel strip, central Nanjing

   Classic central hotels with window views over Nanjing's busiest intersection.

   Traffic hums past the Nanjing Jinling Hotel- City Center, whose windows look straight down on the Xinjiekou roundabout. This is the central grid seen from its hotel-lobby side: the Jinling holds a 9.6 at about $83 a night, a veteran address with dining that regulars still rate highly. Budget travelers get UrCove by HYATT Nanjing Downtown at about $43, polished rooms without the flagship price tag. From either door, the Presidential Palace and the plane-tree boulevards of the old Republican capital are a short walk, and the Confucius Temple is a quick metro ride south. Better than the airport-belt business hotels for a short trip, since everything worth seeing is closer. Shopping streets empty early on weekday nights, which suits light sleepers.

   1. Budget

      UrCove by HYATT Nanjing Downtown

      Five stars, definitely! From check-in to check-out, everything was absolutely delightful. The room was spotlessly clean, fully equipped with fantastic amenities that were all well-maintained and easy

      9.5/10 rating ~$43/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Nanjing Jinling Hotel- City Center

      The location is fantastic, with a bustling view of Xinjiekou right outside the window. What impressed me most was the service – friendly, polite, and incredibly responsive. The dining options exceeded

      9.6/10 rating ~$83/night
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7. 7

   Confucius Temple/Qinhuai River Scenic Area

   Laomendong lanes near Zhonghua Gate, south bank of the Qinhuai, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

   Restored grey-brick lanes and a bookshop across the alley, for far less than the riverfront.

   At about $21 a night, Kuandu Hotel(Nanjing Laomendong Branch) puts a clean room in an alley of Laomendong, right opposite the Pioneer Bookstore, and it holds a 9.5. Grey-brick courtyards, teahouses and craft shops fill the lanes, Zhonghua Gate rises nearby, and the top of the city wall makes an easy evening walk. The trade-off is transit: the metro is a longer walk than from the temple side, so guests often take taxis. Avoid the riverboat touts and neon food streets closer to the temple if you came for atmosphere; Laomendong keeps the old-Nanjing look with far less crush. It suits budget travelers, photographers and slow walkers who like browsing bookshelves, and it goes quiet earlier than the riverfront.

   1. Budget

      Kuandu Hotel(Nanjing Laomendong Branch)

      This hotel is nestled in an alley in Laomendong, right opposite the popular Pioneer Bookstore, which is a great location. The only downside is that it's 1.5 km from the metro station, but we took taxi

      9.5/10 rating ~$21/night
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8. 8

   Hexi/Nanjing Olympic Sports Center/Aonan Area, Nanjing

   Hexi new district along the Yangtze, around the Olympic Sports Center, Jianye District, western Nanjing

   Glass-tower Nanjing built for concerts, expos and wide open streets.

   The glass of the Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre catches the light over Hexi, the city's newer riverside district of wide boulevards and office towers. The International Youth Convention Hotel inside that complex holds a 9.6 at about $65 a night and comes with bathtubs and king beds, while the Renaissance Nanjing Olympic Centre Hotel asks about $98 for full-service rooms near the stadium. On foot you can reach the Olympic Sports Center for concerts and matches, the Hexi business district malls, and the Yangtze riverfront parks. For concert and expo nights, when hotels near the venues fill fast, this is the smarter base than the old-city lanes. Hexi goes quiet after office hours: dinner means the malls, and locals know it. It suits event-goers and families who want space more than atmosphere.

   1. Budget

      International Youth Convention Hotel (Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre)

      Room Amenities: We checked in pretty late, past 10 PM, coming from Guangzhou, but seeing the room instantly made us feel it was worth it. The bathtub, king-size bed, and bedside sofa were all super co

      9.6/10 rating ~$65/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Renaissance Nanjing Olympic Centre Hotel

      Choosing Renaissance Shanghai Putuo Hotel for a concert was super convenient. Its location is excellent, about a ten-minute drive from the Olympic Sports Center, and there's a subway station nearby. T

      9.5/10 rating ~$98/night
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9. 9

   Nanjing Railway Station/Hongshan Forest Zoo, Nanjing

   Northern Nanjing between the main railway station, Hongshan Forest Zoo and Mufu Mountain, Xuanwu and Gulou districts

   A family base for the zoo and northbound trains, away from the tourist core.

   At about $44 a night, the Full Season Hotel (Nanjing Mufu Mountain Subway Station Hotel) holds a 9.8 and keeps families a short ride from Hongshan Forest Zoo. Hongshan is one of China's better-regarded zoos, with naturalistic enclosures on a wooded hillside, and the north shore of Xuanwu Lake links it to Nanjing Railway Station. Mufu Mountain and the Yangtze cliffs at Yanziji lie farther north and are worth a morning. Skip the dated hotels crowding the station forecourt; the newer openings a few metro stops out are cleaner and calmer. The area wakes early with commuters and zoo crowds and winds down by late evening. Stay here if the zoo or a northbound train anchors your plans.

   1. Budget

      Full Season Hotel (Nanjing Mufu Mountain Subway Station Hotel) ​

      The newly opened store is very clean and comfortable. It is very convenient to come to Hongshan Forest Zoo. The service staff is very warm and thoughtful. I will choose here next time I come to Nanjin

      9.8/10 rating ~$44/night
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10. 10

    Tangshan Hot Spring Resort, Nanjing

    Tangshan hot-spring town in the eastern suburbs, Jiangning District, Nanjing

    Hot-spring soaks and family resorts well away from the city.

    Steam rises through the hillside pools of Tangshan, a hot-spring town in the eastern suburbs well outside the old city. The family-focused Nanjing Tangshan Hentique Spring Valley Hotel holds a 9.7 at about $75 a night and has a play area kids love, while Nanjing Ziqing Lake Hot Spring Resort (Wildlife World) asks about $88 and has tigers and a lake view below its balconies. Nearby are spring bathhouses, geopark trails, and the giant unfinished stele at the Yangshan quarry, though most require a car. Tangshan makes a poor base for Nanjing's sights: the drive into town eats the day. Locals come here for weekend soaks and family breaks, and the evenings are resort-quiet.

    1. Budget

       Nanjing Tangshan Hentique Spring Valley Hotel

       A perfect experience! The family room was cozy and comfortable, and the play area was clean and safe. The kids had a blast the entire time, and the adults were able to relax and unwind. Highly recomme

       9.7/10 rating ~$75/night
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    2. Mid-Range

       Nanjing Ziqing Lake Hot Spring Resort (Wildlife World)

       The room was incredibly bright and spacious! My child absolutely loved the panda-themed decor. From the balcony, you could catch a glimpse of the tigers and enjoy a view of the lake, watching the sunr

       9.5/10 rating ~$88/night
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