Flights from Melbourne to Shanghai

Compare Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Shanghai

As the largest city in China by population, Shanghai has a lot of excitement to offer visitors. Throughout the city, you can witness the its combination of classic architecture along with the modern skyscrapers that the city is so well-known for today. Shanghai is rich with history and culture, and everywhere you turn, you are able to learn something new. Throughout Shanghai, there are a number of museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and nightlife to keep you entertained for as long as you visit. Since parts of Shanghai were once colonised by the British and the French, Shanghai has a unique European feel that is much different to the other cities of China. Shanghai has an exciting fast-paced atmosphere and always has something fun and different to experience. When you book cheap flights from Melbourne to Shanghai, it’s the perfect way to experience big-city life in Asia and start a trip around China.

Get ready to experience the hustle and bustle of China with Webjet’s cheap flights from Melbourne to Shanghai!

The best time to visit Shanghai

Weather-wise, the best times to visit Shanghai are in the spring and autumn. Both seasons are accompanied with pleasant temperatures that average about 20°C during the day. Outside of the peak season, the amount of tourists is lower, and there is much less rain outside of the hot summer months. Autumn comes with small crowds and good rates on hotel prices. Spring is a bit busier due to the number of festivals and holidays that are celebrated in Shanghai during that time.

Summer is the peak travel time in Shanghai. Along with the tourists comes weather that is not the most enjoyable. Temperatures average at about 32°C, there is lots of humidity, and it rains often. In late summer, there is even the possibility of typhoons in the city.

While winter is cold in Shanghai, it isn’t unbearable, and it is much more mild than the winter weather in Beijing. Winter also experiences the least amount of rain compared to Shanghai’s other seasons. During the winter, temperatures are about 8°C during the day and can cool down to below freezing at night. Be sure to pack a warm coat and plenty of layers if you’ll be visiting in winter. This is also the best time to find bargains on hotels across the city. As winter sees less tourists than the other seasons, hotels lower their rates.

Departing From Melbourne

Melbourne has two airports that serve the city. Melbourne Airport (MEL) is where the majority of flights depart from. It is located about 25 kilometres (14 miles) north of the city centre. Avalon Airport (AVV) is the city’s secondary airport, operating domestic flights within Australia. Avalon is located just north of Geelong and offers some international flights to Shanghai with a stopover in Sydney.

Cheap airfares from Melbourne to Shanghai are available on a variety of airlines, including AirAsia, Air China, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and Hainan Airlines. Direct flights are available to get you into Shanghai Airport in 10 hours 25 minutes. With about 75 return flights from Melbourne to Shanghai available each day, there’s nothing stopping you from heading to Shanghai for your next international getaway.

Getting to Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Melbourne’s SkyBus offers five different express routes to help you reach the airport. The main SkyBus route departs from Southern Cross Station and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other buses run every day and offer pick-up points in the Docklands, Southbank, St Kilda, the western suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula. Each SkyBus offers free WiFi to passengers and gets you to Melbourne Airport quickly and efficiently. Prices for the SkyBus vary based on departure point, starting at $18 AUD.

For a stress-free trip to the airport, you can opt to take a taxi or an Uber from locations all over the Melbourne area. From the CBD and inner suburbs, a taxi will get you to Melbourne Airport in about a half hour for a fare between $55 and $75 AUD.

If you’ll be driving to the airport, there are several parking options available to you. The most affordable option is the airport’s Long Term car park. You can reserve a park for as low as $10 AUD per day when you book in advance. Once you’ve parked your car, there is a free shuttle that will take you from the car park to the airport terminals in less than 5 minutes.

Getting to Avalon Airport (AVV)

About 50 kilometres (31 miles) southwest of Melbourne is the city’s second airport, Avalon. Travelling from central Melbourne, you can catch the SkyBus to the airport. The SkyBus departs from Southern Cross Station in the CBD and also picks up passengers from Synnot Street in Werribee. The SkyBus makes several departures each day, which are scheduled to meet each arriving and departing flight. The SkyBus will get you to the airport in 50 minutes from the CBD and 30 minutes from Werribee. Ticket prices from the CBD cost $22 AUD, while tickets from Werribee are $19 AUD.

If you drive to the airport, you can park in Avalon Airport’s single large car park. The longer you park for, the lower your daily rate will be. If you plan to visit Shanghai for a week, parking rates start at $79 AUD. If you’ll be travelling for two weeks, the parking space costs $132 AUD to reserve. The car park is under 24-hour surveillance and is located just a few minutes walk from the terminal.

Arriving in Shanghai

Shanghai is home to two major airports: Pudong Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA). Pudong receives the majority of international flights into Shanghai, including direct flights from Melbourne. It is located 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) east of Shanghai’s city centre. Hongqiao operates mainly domestic and regional flights and is located about 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of the city. If you fly into Hongqiao Airport (SHA), your journey will include a short stopover in Hong Kong or another Chinese city.

How to Get from Pudong Airport (PVG) to Your Shanghai Hotel or Accommodation

Shanghai’s international airport is home to the world’s first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation train. The Maglev travels from Pudong Airport (PVG) and reaches speeds up to 450 km/h. The Maglev can connect you to Longyang Road station in the centre of Pudong in about 7 minutes. From there, you could connect to metro lines 2, 7, or 16 to reach your final destination. Including the metro journey, this method will get you into the centre of Shanghai in about 25 minutes. Tickets for the Maglev train cost 40 yuan ($8 AUD), and metro fare into the centre costs 4 yuan (80 cents AUD).

For the most affordable option, you can catch the metro all the way from the airport to the city centre. Metro line 2 has a stop at Pudong Airport (PVG), which departs every 8-10 minutes and arrives to the city in about an hour. Central stops along metro line 2 include the People’s Square, Lujiazui, and Jing’an Temple. A ticket for this metro journey will cost you 7 yuan ($1.40 AUD).

If you don’t want to navigate Chinese public transport first thing once you arrive, you can take a taxi from the airport. Taxis in Shanghai calculate their fares based on the total number of kilometres travelled. A trip from Pudong Airport (PVG) into the city will cost about 175 yuan ($35 AUD) and get you to your hotel in about 45 minutes without traffic.

How to Get from Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Your Shanghai Hotel or Accommodation

If your flights get you into Hongqiao Airport (SHA), you can take the metro from the terminal to your hotel in the city centre. Metro line 10 stops at the airport and makes several central stops, including South Shaanxi Road, Yuyuan Garden, and Laoximen. A ride on the metro will cost you about 4 yuan (80 cents AUD) into the city, getting you there in less than 30 minutes.

For the most direct journey, you can catch a taxi from the airport. Taxis from Hongqiao calculate their fares based on the number of kilometres travelled. A taxi from the airport will come to about 65 yuan ($13 AUD) and get you to your hotel in about 25 minutes without traffic.

Things to do in Shanghai

The Bund

The Bund refers to a waterfront part of Shanghai, located on the Huangpu River. It’s one of the best vantage points to view the city’s skyline. On one side, you can see European-style colonial buildings, and on the other are the city’s modern skyscrapers. The Bund is the perfect way to introduce you to Shanghai’s fusion of modern and traditional.

Qibao

Located within the Shanghai city limits, Qibao is an ancient town that looks just as it did about 1,000 years ago. Qibao is full of scenic architecture, canals, museums, and delicious street food.

Tianzifang

This central street is a favourite among both tourists and locals. The neighbourhood is made up of narrow pedestrian laneways lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. While it tends to get busy, the quaint atmosphere and artistic feel more than make up for it.

M50

M50 is short for Moganshan 50. It is a trendy district that is popular among young adults and artists. Throughout M50, you’ll find lots of street art, galleries, and art studios. More than 100 artists in M50 open their studio doors to the public so you can watch them at work on their latest creation.

Yuyuan Gardens

To experience classic Chinese gardens, visit the Yuyuan Gardens next to the City God Temple. The gardens were first built in 1559 during China’s Ming Dynasty. Throughout the gardens, you can see a variety of classic Chinese styles, including a pavilion, a koi pond, a round gate, sculptures, and a variety of native plants.

Longhua Temple

This Buddhist temple is the oldest in Shanghai. It was first built in 242 AD and has served as a place for prayer and meditation in Shanghai ever since. The Longhua Temple is made up of a series of halls, towers, and a pagoda. The temple is a great place to learn about the spiritual side of Shanghai.