How to Get from Shanghai Cruise Port (Terminals) to Shanghai City

Situated on the south estuary of the Yangtze River and China’s east coast with unique city landscape and mixed culture, Shanghai is also favored by many cruise travelers, including the international cruise and Yangtze River Cruise tourists. When the cruise ships dock in Shanghai, you may make an excursion and have a special city adventure. Under the policies of the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit and 15-Day Visa Free for International Cruise Tour Groups, International cruise tourists even can take advantage of visa-free privileges to have a short Shanghai layover tour without any complicated visa procedures and fees. How to get to Shanghai city from the cruise port? What’s the best transport to central Shanghai? Any recommended Shanghai city tour from cruise port? China Discovery here shows the most useful Shanghai cruise ports transportation guide and offers you the most popular itineraries for your shore excursion in Shanghai.

How Far is Shanghai from the Cruise Ports

Shanghai has two cruise ports (terminals) mostly-used. One is Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal (上海港国际客运中心) in downtown area close to the Bund, about 3 km from Shanghai city center (People’s Square), and the other one is Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal (上海吴淞口国际邮轮港码头) in the north coast of the city, nearly 23 km from city center area. There are public transports connecting the cruise ports with city center and other areas of Shanghai. Clearly, transferring from Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal to city center is quite time-consuming by public transit. Besides, the public traffic also takes a lot of time to visit different tourist attractions, quite inefficient, especially when your excursion time is short. Therefore, tourist more prefer a private cruise transfer to downtown.

Shanghai Cruise Ports Location Map Shanghai Cruise Ports Location Map

Transfer from Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal to Shanghai

Shanghai Port Cruise Terminal Address: No.500, Dongdaming Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai 上海市虹口区东大名路500号

Opened in 2008, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal is located on the west bank of Huangpu River (Huangpu River Cruise) and north of the Bund, and faces Oriental Pearl Tower - Shanghai’s symbolic building across the river. With a 880-meter-long riverline and a total area of 20,000 square meters, the terminal can receive three large international luxury cruises (70,000-ton ships) berthing at one time and its annual reception capacity is about one billion passengers.

Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal Location Map Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal Location Map

Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal to Major Attractions

To the Bund (the nearest attraction): about 2 km, less than 10 minutes by driving; about 20 minutes by bus, 40 minutes by walking;

To Yu Garden: almost 3 km, within 15 minutes by driving; nearly 40 minutes by bus;

To Tianzifang: nearly 8 km, 20 minutes by car; at least 40 minutes by bus/metro;

To Shanghai Museum: about 4 km, 15 minutes by car; around 40 minutes by bus/metro;

To World Financial Center: about 4 km, 10 minutes by driving; nearly 40 minutes by bus;

To Shanghai Disney Resort: about 30 km, 40 minutes by driving; 1.5 ~ 3 hours by bus or by metro;

To Zhujiajiao Water Town: about 50 km, 1 hour by driving; 2~ 2.5 hours by public transit (bus+metro)

Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal to Shanghai’s Airports & Railway Stations

To Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) & Hongqiao Railway Station: about 22 km, 30 minutes by driving; at least 1 hour by metro;

(Tips: Hongqiao Railway Station is just next to Hongqiao Airport within 1 km distance.)

To Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): about 43 km, 50 minutes by driving; around 1.5 hours by public transit (bus+metro);

To Shanghai Railway Station: around 5 km, 20 minutes by driving; 40 minutes ~ 1 hour by metro/bus;

Most Recommended Shanghai Tours:

☛ 3 Days Shanghai Past & Present Contrast Tour (optional Maglev Train Experience)
☛ 3 Days Shanghai Highlights Tour with Water Town
☛ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour

Shanghai Cruise Port to Shanghai City Center

Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal

Shanghai Cruise Port to Shanghai City Center

Lining Historical Buildings along the Bund

Transfer from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Address: No.1, Baoyang Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai 上海市宝山区宝杨路1号;the north of downtown Shanghai

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal is the largest and best-built seaport in Shanghai and the busiest international cruise home port in Asian-Pacific region and the 4th in the world. Most international cruises, like Costa Serena, Norwegian Joy,Quantum of the Seas will berth in Wusongkou Terminal.

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Location Map Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Location Map

Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal to Major Attractions

To City Center (People’s Square)/The Bund: about 23 km, 40 minutes by driving; 2 ~ 2.5 hours by bus/metro;

To Yu Garden: almost 24 km, 40 minutes by driving; nearly 2 hours by bus or metro transfers;

To Tianzifang: nearly 28 km, 40 minutes by car; 2 ~ 2.5 hours by metro plus bus;

To Shanghai Museum: about 24 km, 40 minutes by car; 2 ~ 2.5 hours by bus/metro;

To World Financial Center: about 24 km, 50 minutes by driving; 2 ~ 2.5 hours by metro plus bus;

To Shanghai Disney Resort: about 45 km, 50 minutes by driving; over 2.5 hours by several metro transfers;

To Zhujiajiao Water Town: about 70 km, 1.5 hours by driving; at least 3 hours by several public transits;

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal to Shanghai’s Airports & Railway Stations

To Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) & Hongqiao Railway Station: about 40 km, 1 hour’s drive; around 2 hours by metro plus bus;

To Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): about 50 km, 1 hour by driving; 2.5 ~ 3 hours by multiple public vehicles;

To Shanghai Railway Station: around 24 km, 40 minutes by driving; 1.5 ~ 2 hours by bus with metro.

Popular Shanghai Tour Packages:

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour
☛ 4 Days Shanghai In-depth Tour with Sidetrip to Suzhou
☛ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour

Shanghai Cruise Port to Shanghai City Center

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

Shanghai Cruise Port to Shanghai City Center

Yu Garden in Shanghai

How to Plan Your Shanghai Excursions from Cruise Port

Warm Tips: If you successfully obtain the 144-Hour Visa Free Transit, you can stay in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and other cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces for no more than 144 hours (6 days).

Travel Shanghai with China Discovery with Private Cruise Transfer & Customized Itinerary

As a leading travel agency in China who dedicates to offering high-quality China tours, China Discovery always masters the first-hand tourist information of Shanghai and other destinations. Travel with us, you can enjoy worry-free cruise port transfer as well as well-organized itineraries, and our assistance of Chinese Visa application and other tour services. After arrival, you can use our convenient airport/train station pick-up & drop-off and transfer between all scenic spots, knowledgeable tour guide, safe & licensed private vehicle, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on.

▶ Top Shanghai Vacation Packages for First-timers | ▶ Best Shanghai Layover Tours

How to Make the Most of Different Days in Shanghai?

Your Shanghai tour itinerary totally depends on your own schedule and personal interests. If you’re time-tight traveler with only half a day, or just a few hours' layover, the number of sightseeing spots is quite limited, usually 1 ~ 2 attractions in downtown. The Bund is the best recommendation.

If you have a full day, you can arrange a Shanghai city day tour covering about 4 major attractions in central Shanghai, such as stroll along the Bund, explore Chinese classical architecture and local bazaar in Yu Garden, visit the cultural treasury - Shanghai Museum and ascend up one iconic skyscraper, e.g. Shanghai World Financial Center. Above sites are the best city showcases you can’t miss. Or, you can spend the whole day making a special-themed visit of your favorite spot and an attraction in suburb of Shanghai, such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Zhujiajiao Water Town.

If you get two days, then you can visit more attractions, try more local featured activities and travel in a more leisurely way, such as a walking tour in Wukang Road, a visit of Xintiandi or Tianzifang where exhibits modern urban vibe among traditional residential buildings, a relaxing Huangpu River Cruise, etc.

With three days and more, it’s highly suggested extending your Shanghai city tour with a side trip to Hangzhou, Suzhou. In Suzhou, you can use 1 day to visit a poetic and elegant Chinese classical garden, a peaceful water town with authentic settlements and lifestyle and learn Chinese silk culture. And you can also leave 2 days visiting more exquisite gardens and cultural sites in Suzhou. Similarly, you can make a day trip with beautiful Wold Heritage - West Lake and Chinese tea culture learning in Hangzhou, or take 2 and more days to discover more attractions.

If time allows or you are interested in, you can take an in-depth Jiangnan culture exploration to Nanjing, Ningbo, Shaoxing, Wuxi and other cities in Yangzte River Delta. For those who hold a regular Chinese Visa, it’s super popular and convenient to travel Shanghai with Huangshan Mountain, Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La...), Tibet, Dunhuang, etc, to unveil various natural landscape and human wonders in China.

Get Inspired by Our Treasured Customers’ Shanghai Travel Stories

During past years, China Discovery has helped thousands of international travelers of different tour group sizes & ages, different holiday lengths & themes enjoyed their trips to Shanghai and many other China’s destinations. About 1,820+ good reviews on Tripadvisor and nearly 3,000 favorable customer reviews and many impressive trip stories have been shared by them. Mr. Vijay made a 10-day Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou trip, VIPKid Teacher Groups spend 3 times trips to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou, Lawson Family had a wonderful 19-day family tour of Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou with Xiamen, Guilin, Chengdu...Visit more Shanghai Travel Stories with real trip experiences and unbiased reviews to get inspired! Whether you travel by yourself, or with your friends, family members or beloved one, you can choose from our most popular Shanghai tour packages or contact us to customize a special trip based on your requirements.

Top Inspiring Shanghai Trip Stories:

☛ Steve's 22-Day China Family Holiday from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhangjiajie to Yunnan, Tibet & Sichuan
☛ Nguyen's 14 Days Beautiful China Exploring Tour (Shanghai/Suzhou/Hangzhou/Huangshan)
☛ Winnie Family's 11-Day Southern China Holiday in Shanghai and Suzhou & Hangzhou

Travel Shanghai with China Discovery

Timothy Family Visited Yu Garden in Shanghai

Recommended Shanghai Tours

Top 3 Shanghai tours chosen by most customers to explore Shanghai in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Shanghai City Landscape

3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour (at Leisure Pace)

Shanghai

Bird's-eye View of Western-style Architecture at the Bund

2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour (Most Time-Efficient)

Shanghai

Zhujiajiao Water Town - Relax in the Quaint & Charming Jiangnan Area

3 Days Shanghai Highlights Tour with Water Town

Shanghai

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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