Search live prices, then use the tips below to land a better fare — and a smoother arrival.
Pudong (PVG) takes most long-haul and international flights; Hongqiao (SHA) is 30–45 minutes closer to downtown and mostly domestic. If you're continuing to another Chinese city, Hongqiao's co-located high-speed rail station is unbeatable.
Fares to Shanghai dip for travel in late spring and autumn shoulder weeks and rise sharply around Golden Week (early October) and Chinese New Year. Booking 6–10 weeks out usually lands the sweet spot; midweek departures are consistently cheaper than weekend ones.
Flying into Shanghai and out of Beijing or Hong Kong (an 'open-jaw' ticket) saves backtracking and often costs the same. Compare one-stop routings via the Gulf or Seoul against direct flights — they can undercut direct fares by a third.
Sort your eSIM at home, pre-book an airport transfer if you land late, and check hotel cancellation terms against your visa timeline. Pair the flight with the tips in our travel guide and you'll walk out of arrivals ready to go.
Get from the airport into town with the options compared in our airport transfer comparison, pick a base in where to stay, and start with the destination guides.