$288 Cheap Flights to Shanghai

Compare Shanghai flights across hundreds of providers

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Shanghai

Book the best Shanghai fare with no extra fees

Flight deals to Shanghai

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best round-trip flight to Shanghai? Find the biggest savings on one-way and round-trip tickets right here.

Find the cheapest time to fly to Shanghai

Flexible on travel dates? Find the cheapest month – or even day – to fly to Shanghai.

Airports in Shanghai

Compare routes to Shanghai below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier.

Direct flights to Shanghai

Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.
Air China, China Southern, China Cargo, Delta, United, China Eastern, American Airlines and Suparna Airlines Co all fly non-stop to Shanghai.
The cheapest month to fly to Shanghai is usually April.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
Yes – you can fly direct to Shanghai Pudong Airport and the average flight time is 13 hours and 50 minutes.
The best price we found for a round-trip flight to Shanghai is $549. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
The cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Pudong – which is 20.3 miles away from the center of Shanghai. We've found flights to this airport from $549.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that the cheapest date to fly to Shanghai is Monday, April 6, 2026.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar, and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
The average temperature in Shanghai in February is around 43°F. The warmest month in Shanghai is typically August, which averages 84°F. The coolest month is January, with temperatures averaging 39°F. The rainiest month is June, and it usually rains the least in December.
Currently, Cathay Pacific and United offer the cheapest flight tickets to Shanghai.

Flying to Shanghai

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$549
Cheapest month to flyApril
Average flight time13 hrs, 50 mins
Most popular airlineAir China
Average flights per week201

Discover Shanghai

How to find cheap flights to Shanghai

  • $288 is the lowest price for a one-way flight to Shanghai. Or you can book a return ticket for $549.

  • Take the stress out of fare hunting by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or a notification on the app when ticket prices drop.

  • Don't put things off until the last minute. You're more likely to secure the best price on tickets if you book as early as possible. Airlines usually offer some fantastic early bird discounts.

  • Click on 'Add nearby airports' when searching to better your chances of finding cheap flights to Shanghai. Doing this will give you more choices for where you take off and land, along with different fares.

  • Indirect routes are often cheaper, so consider taking a flight with a stop. Simply uncheck the 'Direct flights' box when searching for your plane tickets.

Best time to go to Shanghai

  • If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll help you find the cheapest days or months to fly.

  • To experience the city at its busiest, lock in your flights for July. Traveling during peak periods often means more to see and do compared to other times of the year.

  • The quietest month to travel is April. Lock in your plane tickets to Shanghai then and take in the top attractions at a more relaxed pace.

  • With averages between 73ºF and 93ºF, August is when Shanghai is warmest. Plan your visit around your weather preferences to make the most of your trip.

  • Temperatures are lowest in January, when they range from 30ºF to 50ºF.

  • With three days of average rainfall, October is the driest month in Shanghai.

  • July has the wettest weather. You can expect around 14 days of rainfall.

Traveling to Shanghai: what you need to know

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are where you can touch down for your Shanghai flight.

  • Most passengers fly into Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), the city's busiest airport.

  • Avoid the layovers and get to your destination in one easy hop. Take a direct flight to Shanghai with one of these top airlines:

  • You'll be in the UTC+8 timezone when you arrive in Shanghai.

  • Complete your trip by choosing the right stay. Check out these hotels once you've booked your ticket:

Getting to central Shanghai from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Shanghai highlights

  • Put these major attractions at the top of your itinerary after stepping off your flight to Shanghai:

    • 外滩建筑群: Located in Huangpu around 1 mile northeast of the city center, this landmark is a perfect spot to start your sightseeing.

    • Cloud Nine Shopping Mall: Put your money to good use here while exploring Shanghai. This shopping area is roughly 3 miles west of the center in Changning.

    • Shanghai Museum: This will also make the highlight reel of your vacation. A top landmark, it's around 0.2 miles southeast of the heart of Shanghai in Huangpu.

Explore more of China

  • Feel like exploring more? Nanjing is an essential stop in China. It's about 170 miles west of Shanghai and features Nanjing City Wall, Zijin Tower and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. The main airport for this city is Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG).

  • Another city in China that has plenty going for it is Suzhou. From Shanghai, it's around 55 miles west and offers top sights like Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden. Add a stop at Pingjiang Road too.

  • Add one more stop to the mix with Puyang. Roughly 150 miles southwest of Shanghai, Poet Town, 江南第一家郑义门古建筑群 and Xuanlushan Scenic Area give you plenty of reason to visit.

Complete your trip with a Shanghai car rental

  • Want to rent a car in the city? Pick from a selection of car rentals in Shanghai and explore without limits. With one easy search, compare rates and score the best deal after locking in your hotel and cheap flight to Shanghai.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.