The 15 Best Cheap Hotels in Shanghai

This 3.5-star Mercure property offers the kind of amenities you’d expect from a much more expensive hotel, without the hefty price tag. Located in the Changning neighbourhood, the family-friendly Hongqiao SOHO features a fitness centre, a shared lounge, high-speed Wi-Fi and a restaurant serving a breakfast buffet, while all 305 French-themed guest rooms have a flat-screen TV with cable channels.

This three-star hotel is situated close to the Disney Store’s Chuansha franchise and it’s only a short drive to Disneyland itself, meaning it’s the perfect place to stay for fans of Mickey Mouse and the gang. The Forson International Boutique Hotel’s 87 guest rooms are stylishly appointed and feature air conditioning and cable TVs. There’s also an on-site restaurant.

This 3.5-star Atour Hotel boasts a long list of amenities for a very tidy price. There’s a seating area and desk included in every one of the 207 rooms, a 24-hour help desk and friendly round-the-clock reception, plus a business centre and library, a free children’s club and a shuttle bus to help you explore the local area. Don’t miss the huge spread served up at the buffet breakfast, either.

Mammoth marble pillars and glittering chandeliers welcome guests to this traditional 3.5-star property, which delivers classic Chinese elegance on a budget. The Venus International features 268 comfortable rooms with access to a friendly concierge to help guests get to know the Pudong area as well as the rest of the city.

Jinjiang Inn Shanghai Xintiandi Xizang South Road is found in the super-central Huangpu District of Shanghai, making it a popular option for families and business travellers on a budget. This 2.5-star hotel is a simple, modern property with a range of room types all offering air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities and plush toiletries.

The Hao Du Hotel is all about location, location, location, sitting smack-bang in the middle of Shanghai. Yu Garden, the Old City, People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum and Dashijie metro station are all on the doorstep of these 193 great-value suites. A mini-double room is also available if you’re keen to stretch your travel budget even further.

This three-star guesthouse might be tiny, but that’s part of the appeal. YANGYUN Pretty Inn has only eight rooms and all of them have been gorgeously designed – think exposed brick, raw timber and bold jungle prints. The reception staff are always happy to help guests book tours and tickets, too.

The Vienna Hotel is within walking distance of Sanjiagang Beach Park and a quick drive to Shanghai Sanjia Port Coastal tourist areas, and the hotel even provides a free shuttle to the airport. The 3.5-star hotel includes 128 stylish guest rooms with air conditioning, desks, TVs and chic bathrooms, and extra beds are available for a small charge if you’re travelling in a larger group.

Set over 21 floors, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel may not seem like a budget-friendly hotel – in fact, its exterior exudes more of a 1990s arcade game style than anything else. Boasting a rooftop garden, a full-service spa and airport and train shuttle services, as well as overlooking Century Park, this is somewhere you could easily spend the best part of the day, taking in Jingtian Lake, Yunfan Bridge and Guanxing Square before dining at one of the many nearby restaurants nearby.

If Jay Gatsby ever visited Shanghai, this is where he would stay. This classic Art Deco hotel is well positioned on the corner of Middle Jiangxi Road, within walking distance of numerous museums, the Bund and the glittering Huangpu River. The Art Deco style is prevalent throughout the hotel; live like Gatsby by sipping a cocktail at the gold and black marble bar. The rooms are spacious, with chaises longues and minibars, while the fantastic on-site restaurant offers buffet and à la carte dining.

This is the place for those wanting to experience the Old Shanghai. A stone’s throw from Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road Shopping District and more, Jingang Pacific Hotel is an ideal spot if you have a lot planned. Wood-panelled walls and boujee decor add to the charm of this Neoclassical hotel, with additional services and amenities including free toiletries, currency exchange, airport transfers and car rentals.

Tucked away in the city centre, the Elegance Bund Hotel’s attractive location (just a 10-minute walk from Nanjing East metro) means a lot more walking and a lot less public transport. Rooms are all en suite with toiletries and a hairdryer, and include a television, a small sofa and a desk. The only budget aspect to this hotel is the price.

Located in Jing’an District, this low-key, two-floor hotel offers bikes to rent, a games room and a sociable common area. With flat-tiled grey walls, hanging red lanterns and a picturesque garden, Soho Garden Hotel’s traditional-style Chinese courtyard and roof terrace emit a calming aesthetic and make a nice break from the hustle and bustle of downtown Shanghai. The rooms are simply decorated in a pale grey and white theme, contributing to its laid-back vibe, while the common areas are filled with unique artwork and kooky furniture.

A cool, contemporary hotel located near Shanghai Zoo, Shanghai Annshe Hotel offers both standard rooms and mini-apartments that each come with a small kitchen and a living area with sofa, coffee table and television. The large, light and airy communal dining area will help you to unwind after a day on your feet. There’s also a 24-hour fitness facility, porter, concierge service and luggage storage, so you’ll be well looked after.

Anyone can visit Shanghai, but not everyone can see it. Chi Chen Boutique Hotel is a great place to see the comings and goings of local Shanghai life, with washing hung to dry on lines zigzagged between the low-set, 1920s houses. There’s a Belle-Époque feel to this boutique hotel, which offers single, double and dormitory air-conditioned rooms (including one with a circular bed), so all types of travellers are welcome. The library, games room and bar are great spaces to get chatting to other guests.