Shanghai has two airports: Pudong International Airport (PVG, 40km east) and Hongqiao International Airport (SHA, 13km west). PVG handles most international flights and some domestic; SHA handles primarily domestic flights and short-haul international. PVG is connected to the city by Maglev train (8 minutes to Longyang Road, 50 RMB), Metro Line 2 (60-90 minutes, 7 RMB), and airport buses. Hongqiao is connected via Metro Lines 2 and 10, and shares a station with the Hongqiao Railway Station for seamless high-speed rail connections. Taxi from PVG to city center costs approximately 150-200 RMB.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is the primary high-speed rail hub, with trains to Beijing (4.5-6h), Hangzhou (1h), Nanjing (1.5h), Suzhou (30min), and all major Chinese cities. Shanghai Railway Station (central) serves both high-speed and conventional trains. Book via 12306.cn up to 15 days ahead. The Hongqiao station is massive — arrive 45 minutes early to navigate. Metro Lines 2, 10, and 17 connect directly to the station. For Hangzhou and Suzhou day trips, trains run every 10-15 minutes, making spontaneous trips easy.

Long-distance buses connect Shanghai to nearby water towns and cities. Buses to Zhujiajiao depart from Puji Road Bus Station (1 hour). Buses to Zhouzhuang and Tongli water towns depart from Shanghai Stadium Tourism Center. Night buses to Beijing, Xi'an, and other distant cities are available but not recommended over high-speed rail. The Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou expressways make driving feasible, but traffic can be heavy. Car rental is available at both airports with an international driving permit.

Shanghai has the world's longest metro network with 19+ lines covering the entire city and suburbs. Fares are 3-15 RMB depending on distance. The metro operates 5:30am-11pm. Taxis start at 14 RMB (day) for the first 3km. Didi ride-hailing has English app support. The Shanghai Public Transport Card (SPTC) works on metro, buses, taxis, and ferries, available at any metro station. For the Bund area, walking is best. The Huangpu River ferry (2 RMB) connects the Bund to Pudong. Bicycle sharing (Meituan, Hello) is ideal for the French Concession. Avoid rush hours (7-9am, 5-7pm) on the metro.