The Best Hostels to Book in Shanghai

Even Shanghai’s finest five-star hotels couldn’t claim a better location than this hostel on South Yunnan Road, wedged between two subway stations, People’s Square, the Nanjing Road shopping strip, and the Bund waterfront. The Phoenix also has a “take a book, leave a book” communal library, reception staff who can help you with advice on travel and tours, and a rooftop terrace where guests can unwind after a day’s sightseeing.

The only backpackers’ hostel located among the dazzling skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district, Shanghai Hidden Garden is a green oasis in this concrete jungle. The property has seven double bedrooms and 15 spacious dorms, all with en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning for those warm summer nights. The enormous garden and terrace is the perfect place to mingle with other guests over a barbecue and a few beers.

This Jing’an property prides itself on providing an environment for travellers to get to know each other, both in its mellow communal lounge and fully equipped communal kitchen. The air-conditioned dorms and private rooms all come with bathrooms and free wifi, and the reception desk is open 24 hours. Bunks come equipped with their own private storage space and wraparound curtains, so you can keep your stuff handy and safe while you relax in complete privacy.

Spacious and airy, this is a hostel with hotel-grade private rooms alongside dorms in varying sizes. A shared space furnished with Bauhaus-style armchairs is a cosy spot from which to work, and attracts lots of digital nomads to stay. Rooms are spick and span, beautifully clean with crisp white linen, and lockers to safely store your things. For those wanting to indulge their inner child, the hostel is just 4mi from Shanghai Disneyland.