These three Shanghai tours fit very different travel styles: one focuses on neighborhood breakfast on foot, one combines food with city walking and a guided meal route, and one turns a Shanghai stay into a long-distance private day trip. Use the comparison to match your time, pace, and how much of the day you want to spend on food, walking, or train travel.
TourPickGuide may earn a commission when you book through an affiliate link in this guide, at no extra cost to you.
For related planning, see our TourPickGuide experience comparisons and China tours and experiences.
Shanghai tour options at a glance
Use this comparison to match the itinerary, traveler feedback, duration, and key features to your preferred travel day.
| Tour | Best for | Rating | Reviews | Duration | Key point | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Morning food walk | Travelers who want a short, guided neighborhood walk focused on breakfast and local food culture | ★ 5.0/5 | 160 reviews | Approx. 3 hr | Small-group walking format keeps the experience personal and easy to follow. | View on Viator |
 Food-and-culture walk | Travelers who want a public tour that mixes eating with a broader look at central Shanghai streets and landmarks | ★ 5.0/5 | 52 reviews | Approx. 3 hr | Combines food tasting with walking past central Shanghai landmarks. | View on Viator |
 Out-of-city day trip | Travelers who want a private, long-day excursion and are comfortable spending much of the day on train travel | ★ 5.0/5 | 49 reviews | Approx. 12 hr–17 hr | Private format with door-to-door transfer in Shanghai. | View on Viator |
Shanghai tour reviews and key differences
Each option includes its own photo gallery, overview, key features, traveler profile, and direct Viator link.
For a compact, food-first Shanghai outing
Shanghai Breakfast Walking Tour of Former French Concession
Best for: Travelers who want a short, guided neighborhood walk focused on breakfast and local food culture
This is a short morning walking tour centered on breakfast in the Former French Concession area. The experience is built around stopping at small eateries and street vendors for a wide range of local breakfast foods, with a local guide leading the route. It is a good fit if you want a city neighborhood experience rather than a transport-heavy day. The tour also includes a cultural layer, since the route is meant to introduce the area’s background and everyday food traditions. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan to meet the guide as arranged.
Former French Concession breakfast walk
- Small-group walking format keeps the experience personal and easy to follow.
- Includes a local guide plus breakfast and local food and drink.
- Focuses on Shanghai breakfast culture in one walkable area.
For a city-center tour with food and landmarks
Shanghai Food and Culture Tour with 10 dishes and 5 eateries
Best for: Travelers who want a public tour that mixes eating with a broader look at central Shanghai streets and landmarks
This public tour combines guided food stops with a walk through central Shanghai, so it suits travelers who want more than a single-meal tasting. The route passes areas such as Nanjing Road and People’s Square while linking the stops through stories about food and the surrounding city. The inclusions are broad for a food tour, with a guide, a guidebook, and a taxi segment between parts of the experience. Vegetarian-friendly arrangements are available if requested in advance. Because the tour has separate breakfast and dinner options, it can work for different schedules, though the food selection changes by option.
Central Shanghai food and culture route
- Combines food tasting with walking past central Shanghai landmarks.
- Includes a local English-speaking guide and a taxi segment between parts of the route.
- Offers both breakfast and dinner tour options with different food selections.
For a private long-distance day trip from Shanghai
Beijing Great Wall Private Day Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train
Best for: Travelers who want a private, long-day excursion and are comfortable spending much of the day on train travel
This is a private full-day excursion that begins in Shanghai and travels by bullet train to Beijing for a Great Wall visit. It is much longer than the city food tours, so it suits travelers who want one major out-of-city experience rather than several shorter Shanghai activities. The tour includes private transfer, a local guide, train tickets tied to the chosen option, and admission-related inclusions listed by the operator. It is also the most structured of the three, since the itinerary revolves around transportation timing in both directions. Lunch is not included, and some transfer situations require an added surcharge.
Shanghai to Beijing Great Wall day trip
- Private format with door-to-door transfer in Shanghai.
- Includes Great Wall entrance fees and cableway access.
- Lets you choose between first-class and second-class train ticket options where available.
How to choose your Shanghai itinerary style
If you want a short city morning, choose the breakfast walk. If you prefer a broader food-focused route in central Shanghai, the public food and culture tour gives you more variety. If your trip can handle a very long day and you want a private excursion, the bullet-train Great Wall option is the out-of-city choice.
Walking route in the Former French Concession
A guided neighborhood walk with food stops and no included hotel transfer.
Walking route with one taxi segment
A public food tour through central Shanghai with tastings at multiple eateries.
Shanghai–Beijing round-trip by bullet train
A private transfer and train-based day trip from Shanghai to the Great Wall.
Before you book in Shanghai
Check the live product page before booking. Departure details, activity order, inclusions, and available options can change.
Shanghai booking checklist
- Check the meeting or pickup arrangement carefully, since the tours differ in how transportation is handled.
- Review the listed inclusions and exclusions before booking, especially for meals, transfers, and gratuities.
- For the food tours, confirm the selected option and any dietary request in advance when the product notes call for it.
Shanghai tour questions answered
Which tour is the most food-focused inside Shanghai?
The breakfast walking tour is the most concentrated option for local morning foods, while the public food and culture tour adds more variety across eateries and city-center walking.
Which option is best if I want a private experience?
The Shanghai to Beijing Great Wall day trip is the private option. The two food tours are shared experiences, with the breakfast tour specifically described as small group and the other as public.
Which tour should I choose if I do not want a very long day?
Choose one of the two Shanghai city tours. The Great Wall trip is much longer because it includes bullet-train travel and a full-day round trip outside Shanghai.