8 Must-Visit Museums in Shanghai for a Cultural Journey

Last week, I took a two-day leave and managed to hit up 8 “next level” museums in one go. Recharged my metro card with 200 yuan, and ended up with over 30 left—Shanghai’s metro and shared bikes really make it easy to hop between all the museums. Here’s a rundown of my experiences, photos, and the money I saved; just follow along!

1️⃣ Shanghai Museum: A Snapshot of Ancient Chinese Art History

I arrived at People’s Square station at 8:55, and the line at exit 1 was super long. They let people in right at 9; the security check was quick, and I got inside within 10 minutes.
The bronze exhibition on the first floor had the most people, so I dashed up to the third floor calligraphy room and explored it in reverse—it was nice to take pictures without anyone getting in the way.
The museum’s treasure, the “Dake Ding,” is situated in the middle of the first floor, and after 3 PM the tour groups cleared out. The lighting was perfect, and I could capture all the details with my phone.
I tried the “Bronze Pattern” latte art at the cafe by the exit; it was 38 yuan—just for something new, but the taste was so-so.

2️⃣ Expo Museum: Free Entry to a Blockbuster

At metro line 13, I got off at “Expo Museum Station,” and the elevator leads right to the entrance. Zero admission fee, just swipe your ID and you’re in!
I rushed straight to the 4D cinema; that day’s showing was “The Wonderful Journey of the Expo.” The seats spray water, and the 10:30 AM show had the least people.
You can also get the full set of commemorative stamps from the 2010 World Expo at the exit; just bring your own notebook. I ended up buying a little card on-site for 10 yuan—total waste.

3️⃣ Shanghai Astronomy Museum: Snag Tickets for Cosmic Romance

After getting off at “Dishui Lake Station” on line 16, I took a taxi from the starting fare. Admission is 30 yuan; gotta grab tickets 7 days in advance on their official account—release on Wednesdays, and they’re gone in 3 minutes.
I managed to book the 1:30 PM slot, and rushed to the “Hometown” exhibition area, which had a dark environment and planet lights—just switch your phone to night mode, and the pics turn out great.
The “Fly Through the Milky Way” VR experience has to be reserved on-site. I tried at 12:00 sharp to grab a spot, and they were gone in a flash. Make sure to bind your ID in advance if you want to experience it.

4️⃣ Natural History Museum: Perfect for Kids & Cat Lovers

Located next to Jing’an Sculpture Park, the subway line 13 takes you to “Natural History Museum Station,” exit 1. Admission is also 30 yuan, and it’s a lot quieter after 3 PM when school groups leave.
In the “Path of Evolution” long corridor, there’s a moving T-Rex; stand about a meter behind the yellow line to film—it won’t overexpose.
On the basement level, the “Exploration Center” lets you touch snake skins. They release tickets every hour, so queue up 10 minutes early. I got to touch a corn snake shed, felt just like plastic wrap.

5️⃣ Maritime Museum: AR Adventures with Zheng He

Take line 16 to “Dishui Lake Station,” then transfer to bus 33 and get off at “Huanhu West 3rd Road.” Tickets are 50 yuan; make sure to borrow AR glasses right when it opens at 9:30 AM—they’re free, but you’ll need a 200 yuan deposit.
Once you put them on, you can see the model of the “Treasure Ship” from Zheng He, and the deck and cabin pop up animations. I started spinning around, really felt like I was seasick.
On the first floor, there’s a boat simulator, and I “crashed” into the Huangpu River three times, which had the nearby elementary school kids cracking up.

6️⃣ Film Museum: Step into Vintage Cinema

Located at 595 Caoxi North Road in Xuhui District, it’s just a 5-minute shared bike ride from metro line 1’s “Caobao Road Station,” exit 4. Tickets are 70 yuan, and it’s closed on Mondays, so don’t show up for nothing.
On the fourth floor, there’s a 1:1 replica of the alley from “Crossroads,” and I squatted down for shots that perfectly used the lightboxes as natural lighting.
There’s an old school film camera by the exit that you can manually crank. You get a still from a movie with each crank; I cranked it and got a shot of Gong Li, while a girl next to me traded her shot of Xiao Zhan with me—a win!

7️⃣ Securities Museum: European Style Building & Financial Gossip

At 15 Huangpu Road in Hongkou District, take line 12 to “Tiantong Road Station,” and it’s a 5-minute walk along the Suzhou River. Entrance is free, but you need to book in advance through the “China Securities Museum” mini program.
The museum is in the original Pujiang Hotel, and the marble spiral staircase is a must-have photo op; shoot with your phone at a wide angle from the ground, and it’ll look like you have super long legs.
On the second floor, you can check out the old trading floor from 1992, and pick up the red phone to listen to “original buy orders.” After hearing it, all I could think was: How great is today’s quantitative trading.

8️⃣ Museum of Arts and Crafts: A Hidden Photo Spot in a Century-Old Mansion

Located at 79 Fenyang Road in Xuhui District, take line 1 to “Changshu Road Station,” exit 4, and walk along Anfu Road to Fenyang Road. There are two hundred-year-old French parasol trees at the entrance that provide incredible light. Admission is 8 yuan, cash only, and the lady at the front can scan a code to swap cash for you, charging a 1 yuan fee.
Inside, you can’t touch the ivory and jade sculptures, but you can lean against the iron railings on the balcony. I went around 4 PM when the sunlight was slanting in and created a nice soft focus.
The gift shop at the exit sells “Shanghai Paper-Cutting” mystery boxes for 29 yuan, and I pulled out a Shikumen design, perfect as a fridge magnet.

My Recommended Route (3 Days 2 Nights)

Money-Saving Tips

1. Most museums are closed on Mondays, so check the calendar ahead of time to avoid a wasted trip.
2. Bring a student ID or passport; foreigners get half price.
3. A one-day metro ticket is 18 yuan—definitely worth it if you ride more than 3 times, buy it at a manned counter.
4. Bring your own power bank; rentals inside are 3.5 yuan per half hour—quite expensive.
5. Always carry ID and 8 yuan in cash (for the Arts and Crafts Museum); you can pay the rest with QR codes.

Quick Photo Spots Check

FAQ

Q: How many days do you need to visit all 8 museums?
A: I squeezed them into 3 days, visiting 2-3 museums each day; great for people with good stamina. If you’re bringing kids along, I suggest spreading it out over 5 days.

Q: Which museums are suitable for rainy days?
A: All of them are indoors, so you can visit on a rainy day too. Just remember to bring an umbrella since the lines outside don’t have shelters.

Q: Can I bring a camera tripod?
A: No tripods allowed in the Shanghai Museum and Astronomy Museum; the others allow small tripods and selfie sticks—just keep them compact.

Q: Any good food nearby?
A: At People’s Square, check out “Da Hu Chun Sheng Jian,” on Anfu Road, “RAC Cafe,” and “Shuyuan Renjia” at Dishui Lake for local cuisine—definitely worth it.

Q: Where can I store my luggage?
A: There are storage lockers at People’s Square Station and Longyang Road Station for 30-50 yuan per day; you can fit large bags in there.