The 46 Best Luxury Hotels in Shanghai

Most of the city’s pools are indoors and heated, which makes them a pleasure all year round – and some sit high above the rooftops.Park Hyatt Shanghai · LujiazuiIf you want to swim with a view at a 5-star hotel in Shanghai, Lujiazui has pools high above the city. Our tip: the Park Hyatt Shanghai, whose infinity pool of about 20 meters is on the 85th floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a Jacuzzi. At The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong you swim in the heated pool of the spa on the 55th floor, and at the J Hotel Shanghai Tower the pool is on the 84th floor, with a 130 m² viewing deck.

Laps in Jing’an: The Sukhothai Shanghai has a 25-meter pool. The PuLi Shanghai has a 25-meter infinity pool on the third floor overlooking Jing’an Park, and at the Upper House Shanghai the heated 25-meter pool is lined with daybeds, with a sauna and steam room right next to it.

In Pudong near the river: at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, the heated 25-meter pool lies under a glass skylight with a white marble deck. The JW Marriott Marquis Pudong Shanghai has a heated infinity pool with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Huangpu, and on the roof of the Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai there is a heated infinity pool with cabanas and views across the river to the West Bund, open seasonally.

Pools with character: on the Bund, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund has a heated pool with a whirlpool in its spa. At The Shanghai EDITION you swim in a conservatory above Nanjing Road. Tell our travel advisors whether you want to swim laps or just relax – and we will find the right pool.

After a day between the Bund and Nanjing Road, the spa of a luxury hotel is a good place to breathe out. If you choose your 5-star hotel in Shanghai by its spa, book the Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai for the big wellness experience: the spa covers 2,415 m² and has 13 treatment suites with private steam showers and a VIP suite for up to eight guests. At The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, the spa spreads over 1,500 m² on the 55th floor, with ten treatment rooms and couples’ massages.The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong · LujiazuiChinese healing: at the Capella Shanghai Jian Ye Li, the signature treatments of the Auriga Spa follow the phases of the moon, alongside gua sha and cupping from Traditional Chinese Medicine, floatation tanks, a salt room and an ice fountain. The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund combines Chinese medicine with Western techniques in its spa, for example in the Dan Tien massage with volcanic and jade stones.

Art Deco and awards: The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula Shanghai recalls the 1930s with fireplaces and underfloor heating and holds five stars in the Forbes Travel Guide for 2026. The Mi Xun Spa at the Upper House Shanghai was named Best Fitness Center & Spa of the Year at the SpaChina Awards 2026.

Ayurveda and time for two: at The Sukhothai Shanghai, two couples’ suites in The Retreat spa have their own Jacuzzi. And if you want to devote your whole trip to wellbeing, stay at The Anandi Hotel Shanghai, a Healing Hotels of the World partner with Ayurveda, yoga and tai chi.

Prices start at 70 € at the Parkyard Hotel Shanghai in Pudong and go up to 724 € at the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai. Half of the hotels cost no more than 186 € a night. The table shows a selection of 24 luxury hotels from every area and price level. You will find all other hotels with their current price in the hotel list further down.

What is always included: daily breakfast for two, at all 46 hotels. At 40 of them the benefits apply from the first night, at the other six from two nights. Early check-in and late check-out are possible almost everywhere, subject to availability.

Upgrade: all 46 hotels offer an upgrade, usually on arrival and subject to availability. It is confirmed at booking at The Peninsula Shanghai and at the eight World of Hyatt hotels, such as the Park Hyatt Shanghai.Parkyard Hotel Shanghai · PudongHotel credit is worth a closer look. 35 hotels add 100 US dollars. Book a suite at the Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai and you get 200 US dollars, half for food and drinks and half for the spa. The Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund gives 300 RMB each for the restaurant and the spa, and at The St. Regis on the Bund Shanghai the credit also works in the spa and at Spago.

Plus extras at individual luxury hotels in Shanghai: at the Capella Shanghai Jian Ye Li the minibar is free, and at The Peninsula Shanghai domestic and international calls are free. The Anandi Hotel Shanghai picks you up once for free at Pudong or Hongqiao airport and invites two guests to a Healing Touch treatment.

Points and status: 42 of the 46 luxury hotels in Shanghai belong to a loyalty program. Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt have eight hotels each, IHG One Rewards seven, the Leaders Club, ALL (Accor) and Shangri-La Golden Circle four each, Hilton Honors three, Brilliant by Langham two, Fans of Mandarin Oriental and I Prefer one each. You earn double Hilton Honors points at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan and the Conrad Shanghai.

When it is loveliest: spring and fall bring mild days for walks along the Bund and evenings on a roof terrace. Summer is hot and lively, the time for rooftop bars and long evenings by the river. In winter the city belongs to spas, historic bars and afternoon tea at a 5-star hotel. Book early for Golden Week in early October.

How long to stay: for a 5-star hotel in Shanghai we recommend three to five nights – for the Bund, Pudong from above, an afternoon in the lanes of Xintiandi and an evening in a bar with a past. If you like, split your stay: first on the Bund, then in Pudong.