Visiting museums in Shanghai is an excellent way to explore the city’s rich history, culture, and modern art. However, for some of the most popular museums, booking tickets in advance is essential due to limited availability, especially on weekends. This guide provides helpful tips on how to secure your tickets, along with key information about each museum’s opening hours, fees, and locations.
1. Shanghai Museum East Wing (上海博物馆东馆)
- Admission Fee: Free
- Ticket Booking Tips: Tickets for weekends tend to sell out quickly, so you will need to act fast. Reservations open seven days in advance. For example, tickets for next Saturday open for booking at 12:00 PM this Sunday.
- Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
- Closed: Every Tuesday (except public holidays)
- Address: 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区世纪大道1952号)
2. Shanghai Natural History Museum (上海自然博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 30 CNY
- Ticket Booking Tips: As with the Shanghai Museum East Wing, tickets for weekends are competitive, so booking seven days in advance is essential. For example, tickets for next Saturday open for booking at 7:00 PM this Sunday.
- Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 510 Beijing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai (上海市静安区北京西路510号)
3. Shanghai Astronomy Museum (上海天文馆)
- Admission Fee: 30 CNY
- Ticket Booking Tips: Tickets for weekends are also in high demand, so make sure to book three days in advance. For example, tickets for this Saturday can be booked at 9:00 AM this Thursday.
- Visiting Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (last entry at 3:00 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 380 Lingang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区临港大道380号)
4. Pudong Art Museum (浦东美术馆)
- Admission Fee: 100 CNY (weekdays), 150 CNY (weekends), Night tickets are 80% of daytime prices
- Ticket Booking Tips: No need for advance booking; you can buy tickets on the day of your visit.
- Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (night sessions start at 5:00 PM, last entry at 8:00 PM)
- Closed: Open every day
- Address: 2777 Binjiang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区滨江大道2777号)
5. Shanghai Film Museum (上海电影博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 60 CNY
- Ticket Booking Tips: No need to rush, as tickets are available for same-day purchase.
- Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM); Saturday to Sunday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 595 Caoxi North Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai (上海市徐汇区漕溪北路595号)
6. Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art (上海当代艺术博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 60-100 CNY (depending on the exhibition)
- Ticket Booking Tips: No need for advance booking; tickets can be purchased on the day of your visit.
- Visiting Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:00 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai (上海市黄浦区苗江路678号)
7. Shanghai China Maritime Museum (上海中国航海博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 30 CNY
- Ticket Booking Tips: No need to rush for tickets; you can buy them on-site.
- Visiting Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 197 Shengang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区申港大道197号)
8. Shanghai Nature Wild Insect Museum (上海大自然野生昆虫博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 86 CNY (tickets are more expensive when bought on the same day)
- Ticket Booking Tips: It’s best to purchase tickets at least one day in advance to avoid higher same-day prices.
- Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
- Closed: Open every day
- Address: 1 Fenghe Road, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区陆家嘴丰和路1号)
9. Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum (上海工艺美术博物馆)
- Admission Fee: 8 CNY
- Ticket Booking Tips: No need to rush; tickets can be bought on the day of your visit.
- Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM (last entry at 11:00 AM) / 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM)
- Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays)
- Address: 79 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai (上海市徐汇区汾阳路79号)
Tips for Booking Shanghai Museums Tickets
- Peak Times: Weekends are the busiest time to visit Shanghai museums, so booking tickets in advance is crucial if you want to avoid disappointment.
- Advance Booking: Many museums allow reservations up to seven days in advance, but for some, like the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, tickets for weekends open just three days before. Make sure to be online right when the reservation window opens.
- Ticket Availability: Some museums like the Shanghai Film Museum or the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum don’t require advance booking, making them easier to visit on short notice.