Best hostels in Shanghai

Shanghai's hostel and budget accommodation scene spreads across a city that runs on metro lines, not walking distance between districts. The neighborhoods worth booking divide cleanly: central squares and concession-era streets for culture-first travelers, airport and expo corridors for transit-focused overnights, and the Disney fringe for families who want theme-park proximity without theme-park prices. Budget beds here score well on Trip.com, with ratings regularly above 9.0, and nightly prices that dip below $30 in the right quarter. The budget hotspots run from People's Square down to the train station corridor, each shaped by a different version of Shanghai. Some are loud and commercial, others are quiet layover strips. What matters for each is what sits within walking range, which metro interchange gets you out, and whether the neighborhood rewards an extra night or just a clean sleep before an early departure. Pick the area first; the hostel follows.

1. 1

   People's Square Area, Shanghai

   Central Puxi around People's Square and Nanjing Road

   Shanghai's most metro-connected central base, lit by Nanjing Road neon past midnight

   Nanjing Road's pedestrian stretch runs a block north of People's Square, and the density of metro lines underneath makes this the most connected hostel base in Shanghai. Skip the overpriced chains lining the pedestrian mall itself; the side streets one block south hold better value. JI Hotel (Shanghai People's Square) anchors the budget tier with a 9.5 rating at about $73 a night, which buys a clean room within walking range of the Shanghai Museum, the Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and the northern entrance to the French Concession. The area trades quiet for convenience: neon stays lit past midnight along Nanjing Road, and the crowds thin only in the small hours. It suits travelers who want to cover ground by day and collapse somewhere central at night, not those looking for neighborhood calm.

   1. Budget

      JI Hotel (Shanghai People's Square)

      My stay was quite disappointing. I could clearly hear noises from the room next door at night, which disturbed my sleep. The Wi-Fi was also pretty bad; it was often unstable, making me feel a bit 'cut

      9.5/10 rating ~$73/night
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2. 2

   Pudong International Airport Area, Shanghai

   Southern Pudong near Pudong International Airport terminals

   Shuttle-served airport layover strip for early departures and nothing more

   At about $47 a night, Yun He Ye Bo Hotel holds a 9.8 and runs a free shuttle loop to Pudong International Airport's terminals, Disney Metro Station, and the surrounding area. Don't bother with the overpriced terminal hotels; this area's value sits in the cluster of independent properties along the airport's southern fringe, where free parking and breakfast spreads compensate for the lack of walkable restaurants. The neighborhood is flat, quiet, and built for early departures. There is no nightlife, no cafe scene, and no reason to linger past checkout. Locals know this strip as a driver's layover, not a destination. Stay here if your flight leaves before dawn or if you need a decompression night after landing; leave for the city center by morning.

   1. Budget

      Yun He Ye Bo Hotel (Shanghai Pudong International Airport)

      This hotel offers a very convenient shuttle service to and from Pudong Airport, Disney Metro Station, and the Zoo. If you're driving, there's free parking available. The breakfast spread is extensive,

      9.8/10 rating ~$47/night
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3. 3

   Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai

   Eastern Pudong surrounding Shanghai Disneyland

   Budget family hotels with slide beds and park shuttles at a fraction of resort-gate prices

   At about $30 a night, Shanghai Xiangyun Resort Hotel scores a 9.7 and sits in the budget ring around Shanghai Disney Resort where family-run properties compete on kids' amenities rather than location polish. Skip the resort-branded options inside the park gates; the neighborhood hotels offer slide beds, themed rooms, and breakfast at a fraction of the price. The area is purpose-built for families: shuttle buses loop between the hotels and the metro, and the sidewalks are stroller-width. There is nothing to walk to after the park closes, and the dining options are hotel lobbies or delivery apps. Locals treat this zone as a one-night layover for a park day, not a base for exploring Shanghai. It suits families with young children who want a theme-park weekend without the theme-park bill.

   1. Budget

      Shanghai Xiangyun Resort Hotel

      The room type was great, with two large beds and a children's slide, which my kids absolutely loved. It was very clean, and the bathroom mirror even had a motion-sensor light. The hair dryer was a Lai

      9.7/10 rating ~$30/night
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4. 4

   Lujiazui Area, Shanghai

   Pudong's central business district along the Huangpu River

   Corporate towers with postcard Bund views across the Huangpu and a direct airport metro line

   The skyline glows from Lujiazui at night, but the neighborhood itself is corporate towers and elevated walkways, not cafe-lined streets. JinLing Purple Mountain Hotel Shanghai anchors the budget tier at about $70 a night with a 9.5 rating, and the bus stop outside connects to the Bund, the aquarium, and the Oriental Pearl Tower without a transfer. Avoid the overpriced observation-deck hotels if you are watching your budget; the side streets behind the towers hold cleaner rooms at lower rates. Lujiazui suits travelers who want the postcard view of the Bund from the Pudong side and a direct metro line to the airport. It does not suit anyone looking for street food or late-night wandering; the sidewalks empty after the office towers go dark.

   1. Budget

      JinLing Purple Mountain Hotel Shanghai

      Traveling with my family, this hotel definitely didn't disappoint us. The location is excellent, with a bus stop right downstairs, making it convenient to get to all the attractions. The toiletries sm

      9.5/10 rating ~$70/night
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5. 5

   Dapuqiao Area, Shanghai

   Southern Puxi between Xintiandi and the French Concession

   Quiet residential lanes within walking distance of Xintiandi at a fraction of its prices

   The old shikumen lanes of Dapuqiao carry scooter traffic by day, and the area sits close enough to Xintiandi's bar strip to walk there without paying Xintiandi prices for a room. Jinjiang Metropolo Shanghai Xintiandi Hotel holds a 9.6 at about $47 a night, with parking included: rare for a city-center property. Locals prefer this side of the neighborhood for its quieter streets and direct metro access. Skip the flashier boutique hotels one block into Xintiandi proper; Dapuqiao gives the same access at a fraction of the rate. The area suits budget travelers who want the French Concession atmosphere without the French Concession markup, and families who need a car park more than a cocktail bar.

   1. Budget

      Jinjiang Metropolo Shanghai Xintiandi Hotel

      I chose this hotel because it's super close to my kid's class, and I was worried about being late. What's really great is that even though it's in the city center, they still offer parking, which many

      9.6/10 rating ~$47/night
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6. 6

   Hongqiao Airport/National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai

   Western Shanghai near Hongqiao Airport and the convention center

   Expo utility zone with direct second-floor access to the convention halls

   The corridor between Hongqiao Airport and the National Exhibition and Convention Center fills with trade-show traffic during expo season and goes quiet between events. InterContinental Hotels SHANGHAI HONGQIAO NECC by IHG holds a 9.5 at about $67 a night, positioned close enough to the exhibition halls that guests walk directly from the second floor into the venue. Locals know this strip as an expo utility zone, not a neighborhood worth exploring on foot. Don't bother with the cheaper airport-perimeter motels further from the terminal; the IHG property undercuts expectation for its chain tier and earns the rate on convenience alone. Hongqiao serves domestic flights and the high-speed rail hub, so it suits travelers connecting onward to other Chinese cities. Stay here for logistics; leave the sightseeing to Puxi.

   1. Budget

      InterContinental Hotels SHANGHAI HONGQIAO NECC by IHG

      I've stayed here for the expo both last year and this year. It's incredibly convenient, being so close to the exhibition center – you can even walk directly from the second floor. The rooms are clean

      9.5/10 rating ~$67/night
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7. 7

   Huaihai Road Area/Xintiandi Area, Shanghai

   Central Puxi along Huaihai Road and the Xintiandi heritage district

   Concession-era tree-lined streets linking the Bund, Xintiandi, and Huaihai Road retail on foot

   Along Huaihai Road the concession-era plane trees shade a commercial strip that runs from Xintiandi's restored shikumen blocks toward the western reach of the French Concession. Campanile Hotel (Shanghai The Bund) anchors the budget tier here with a 9.2 at about $57 a night, chosen for its location more than its room finish. The staff speaks limited English, and the rooms are compact, but the address puts the Bund, Xintiandi, and Huaihai Road's retail stretch within walking range. Skip the generic high-rise chains clustered near the main intersections; the smaller properties along the side streets offer better value and quieter nights. This neighborhood suits travelers who want to walk between Shanghai's showcase heritage blocks and its commercial core without relying on the metro for every trip.

   1. Budget

      Campanile Hotel (Shanghai The Bund)

      We spent a couple days in Shanghai to end our anniversary trip in China. We chose Campanile for the location, which was very good. Staff was friendly, but spoke limited english. Room was not good, no

      9.2/10 rating ~$57/night
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8. 8

   People's Square Area

   Central Puxi near People's Square metro interchange

   Rock-bottom budget beds at Shanghai's most central metro interchange

   At about $16 a night, Meta Tree Hotel near People's Square delivers a 9.4 rating and sits within walking range of Nanjing Road's shopping corridor: book early and the value holds. The area around People's Square stacks metro lines beneath the surface, so almost every district in Shanghai is a direct ride away. Locals head here for the Shanghai Museum and the park, not the hotels, which means the streets calm down after the museums close. Avoid the hostel chains near the main road that charge more for a noisier room; the properties tucked one block into the residential grid sleep quieter. This part of the square suits solo travelers and backpackers who want a central base at rock-bottom prices and need nothing beyond a clean bed and reliable transit.

   1. Budget

      Meta Tree Hotel, People's Square, City Center In Shanghai

      This was my 1st hotel when I landed in Shanghai and it's so close to the shopping areas, very convenient. The hotel staff members are helpful and assisted me with any of my requirements for where to

      9.4/10 rating ~$16/night
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9. 9

   Pudong New International Expo Center/World Expo Area

   Southern Pudong along the riverfront near the former World Expo site

   Convention-area riverside strip for expo visitors who need a quiet room after the show floor

   The riverfront promenade near the old World Expo grounds drifts south of the Lujiazui towers into a quieter stretch of Pudong where expo traffic replaces tourist foot traffic. yihotel (Shanghai Lujiazui Riverside Center Expo Park Branch) holds a 9.4 at about $40 a night, though the location is not walkable to many landmarks and even the riverfront requires a deliberate walk. Locals know this zone for its convention halls, not its restaurants. Skip the waterfront properties that charge a premium for a river view you will see once at check-in; the yihotel earns its rate on room quality rather than scenery. This area suits travelers attending events at the Pudong Expo Center who want a short commute to the venue and a quiet room afterward. It is not the Pudong that postcards sell, and it does not pretend to be.

   1. Budget

      yihotel (Shanghai Lujiazui Riverside Center Expo Park Branch)

      We expected more for the price, but it is not bad. Not a 4 star for sure, but fits into a good 3 star category. Location is not great, not walkable to many places and even the riverfront promenade her

      9.4/10 rating ~$40/night
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10. 10

    Train Station Area, Shanghai

    Northern Puxi near Shanghai Railway Station

    Functional transit corridor near Shanghai Railway Station for late arrivals and early departures

    At about $28 a night, Yitel Collection (Shanghai train station) scores a 9.3 and sits within walking distance of Shanghai Railway Station, where high-speed lines fan out to Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Beijing. The metro connection puts Nanjing Road a few stops south, and the Bund is an easy evening trip. Don't bother with the guesthouse strip directly outside the station exit; those properties trade on proximity and neglect everything else. Locals treat this corridor as a pass-through, not a destination, and the streets reflect it: functional, undecorated, and quiet after rush hour. This area suits travelers arriving late by train or departing early, backpackers who want a cheap central bed near the interchange, and anyone who values the room over the view. It is not the Shanghai you came to photograph, but it is the Shanghai that gets you where you need to go.

    1. Budget

       Yitel Collection (Shanghai train station)

       Great location, only a 10-minute walk from Shanghai Station, and super convenient for the subway. It's just three stops to Nanjing Road, and perfect for an evening visit to the Bund. The room was spac

       9.3/10 rating ~$28/night
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