Make the most of a layover in Shanghai Airport by taking a whistle-stop tour of the city, before returning to catch that onward flight.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
A layover at an international airport can be a dull experience, trudging around the food court and departure lounge. When a city like Shanghai is on your doorstep during a layover, it makes perfect sense to get out of the terminal and explore – and there are plenty of tours that allow you to do exactly that. A layover tour can take you either by public transport or private vehicle into the city, and safely back to the airport to catch the connecting flight. Here are three of the best Shanghai layover tours.
Zhujiajiao Water Village: Private Shanghai Layover Tour
Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town that dates back 1700 years, with a maze of picturesque bridges, small rivers and houses – it is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any trip to Shanghai. The local guide welcomes you at the airport Arrival Hall and whisks you by private transport to Zhujiajiao Water Village, aka the “Venice of the East.” As the tour is six hours long, lunch is usefully included, as is the price of the boat trip. At the end the guide drops you off back at the airport. A minimum 10 hours layover time is recommended to fit this tour in. From €197.39.
Book at Getyourguide.co.uk
Private Layover: Cruising Shanghai in A Tesla
If seeing as many of Shanghai’s sights as possible is your thing during a layover, this tour does a good job of ticking the most important landmarks off from the comfort of an electric Tesla. As this is a private tour it is naturally customisable to the interests of the group, but the guide recommends The Bund, Yu Garden and Xintiandi as must-see spots in the city. You can also pick from highlights such as the Jade Buddha Temple/JingAn Temple, the skyscraper-packed Financial Center, and People Square. At the end of the tour the guide will take you to the Maglev station to take the world’s first magnetic elevation train back to the airport – although a private car option is also possible if the timings don’t match. From €211.09.
Book at Getyourguide.co.uk
Shanghai 4-hour Layover Private Guided Tour
If time is tight, this layover tour promises to show you the sights of Shanghai in as little as four hours. The guide meets you at the airport, where you’ll take the 300kmh Maglev train to the city – a 30km journey that takes just eight minutes. Once there, you can experience the culture and history of Shanghai Old City, sampling local street food on the way. The guide can also show you the Nanpu River and The Bund, the waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. A return trip on the Maglev is included. From €89.27.
Book at Viator.com