Shanghai, China

PVG layover guide

Shanghai Pudong. City centre is roughly 40 minutes away each way.

🛋️ Lounge access at PVGShowers, food and quiet seats on your layover. Check which PVG lounges Priority Pass covers.
Priority Pass lounges →Affiliate link

What to do by layover length

Under 4 hours: stay in the airport

  • The Maglev is one of the world's fastest commercial trains and a sight in itself.

4 to 8 hours

Getting to Shanghai takes about 80 minutes round trip, so a city trip is tight. Consider staying airside or nearby.

8 hours or more: leave the airport

Maglev train to Longyang Road in about 8 minutes, then Metro Line 2 into the centre; total about 40 minutes.

Transit and visa basics

Pudong is a port for China's 240-hour visa-free transit, which covers 57 nationalities (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of Europe). You need an onward ticket to a third country and must stay in the permitted areas. Official source. Also check your airline's connection rules and the official Shanghai Pudong website.

Lounges

Lounge access depends on your airline, ticket class, or a membership. Search Priority Pass lounges at PVG, or check lounge listings on the airport's website.

Get Priority Pass lounge accessAffiliate link

Store your bags

Heading into Shanghai for a few hours? Drop your bags at a luggage storage spot.

Find luggage storage with Radical StorageAffiliate link

Airport transfer

Short on time? A pre-booked ride takes the guesswork out of getting to the city and back.

Book a transfer with KiwitaxiWelcome PickupsGetTransferAffiliate link

Tours near Shanghai

Long layover? Short tours that fit your time:

GetYourGuide tours in ShanghaiViator tours in ShanghaiAffiliate link

Airport hotels

Hotels near the airport can be compared below. For an overnight or a day room:

Hotels near PVG on Booking.comAffiliate link

Delayed or missed your connection?

Under EU and UK rules (EU261/UK261), delayed or cancelled flights can qualify for compensation.

Check your claim with AirHelpCompensairAffiliate link

Stay connected

Airport Wi-Fi can be slow or time-limited. An eSIM gives you data the moment you land.

Get an eSIM from AiraloAffiliate link

Last checked: October 16, 2026. Times are typical and can change with traffic, construction and timetables. Confirm before you leave the airport. Some links are affiliate links; see our disclosure.

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