Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city and a powerful Asian launchpad — €144 to Jeju, sub-€165 fares across Southeast Asia, and a long-haul reach that stretches to Australia, the Maldives and East Africa.
Shanghai has two airports; the international long-haul one is Pudong (PVG), out on the eastern edge of the city. The cheapest way in is Metro Line 2, which starts right at the airport and runs across the whole city — through Lujiazui, the Bund area and People’s Square — for a flat ¥8 (about €1), though it’s a slow 75–90 minutes. The famous Maglev is faster and fun (430 km/h to Longyang Road in 8 minutes, ¥50 or ¥40 with a boarding pass) but doesn’t reach downtown — you transfer to Line 2 there. For most, Line 2 all the way is the cheap, simple choice; the Maglev is the novelty.
As a base, Shanghai’s value is its East and Southeast Asian density plus genuine long-haul reach — the LCCs and full-service carriers between them keep the region cheap and the world accessible.
The near-Asia steals
Shanghai’s cheapest fares are excellent. Jeju (€144 with a bag) — South Korea’s holiday island — leads with luggage included, and Southeast Asia is barely more: Bangkok (€154), Hanoi (€159) and Ho Chi Minh City (€162) are all sub-€165, giving you Thailand and both ends of Vietnam for domestic-flight money. These are the impulse routes: short, cheap and frequent, perfect for a long weekend out of the megacity.
India and the long-haul ceiling
The mid-tier reaches further. Kolkata (€303 with a bag) opens eastern India with luggage. Then the long-haul: Melbourne (€462) and Sydney (€581 with a bag) reach Australia’s two biggest cities, Dubai (€466 with a bag) bridges to the Gulf, and the dream fares are the Maldives (€616 with a bag) and Nairobi (€678 with a bag) — the Indian Ocean and East Africa from Shanghai, both with bags. A genuinely global spread.
Australia — Shanghai's strong suit
Worth singling out: Shanghai is one of the better-priced Asian gateways to Australia. Melbourne at €462 is a strong fare for the distance, and Sydney (€581 with a bag) adds luggage. With the time zones roughly aligned and the flight a manageable overnight, routing an Australia trip through Shanghai can undercut the Southeast Asian hubs people usually default to. If the antipodes are your target, this is a route to watch.
Bag fares: mixed by route
The split is route-dependent. Jeju, Kolkata, Dubai, Sydney, the Maldives and Nairobi include a checked bag. The cheap Southeast Asian hops (Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh) and Melbourne are shown as base fares — often cabin-only on the budget carriers. Add a bag at booking if you’ll need one; the LCCs serving these routes charge a premium for luggage added late.
Cheapest destinations from Shanghai right now
Good-price round-trip targets from aifly’s own tracked fares — “good price” means book at or below this; nothing here is invented or scraped from third parties. The live deal page for each route shows the current fare.
| Destination | Good price | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Jeju | €144 incl. bag | €144 with a bag to South Korea's volcanic holiday island. |
| Bangkok | €154 | €154 — Thailand's frenetic, food-obsessed capital. |
| Hanoi | €159 | €159 to Vietnam's atmospheric northern capital. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | €162 | €162 into Vietnam's energetic southern hub. |
| Kolkata | €303 incl. bag | €303 with a bag into eastern India and the gateway to Bengal. |
| Melbourne | €462 | €462 — Australia's coffee-and-culture capital, a strong fare for the distance. |
| Dubai | €466 incl. bag | €466 with a bag to the Gulf's great hub and onward everywhere. |
| Sydney | €581 incl. bag | €581 with a bag to Australia's harbour city, luggage included. |
| Maldives | €616 incl. bag | €616 with a bag to the Indian Ocean — the overwater-villa dream. |
| Nairobi | €678 incl. bag | €678 with a bag into Kenya and the East African safari gateway. |
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest flight from Shanghai?
Jeju at around €144 including a bag, with Bangkok (€154), Hanoi (€159) and Ho Chi Minh City (€162) all sub-€165 — Thailand and Vietnam for domestic-flight money.
How do I get from Pudong Airport into Shanghai?
Metro Line 2 runs from the airport across the whole city for a flat ¥8 (€1), though it's a slow 75–90 minutes. The Maglev is faster (¥50) but reaches only Longyang Road, where you transfer to Line 2.
Is Shanghai a good gateway to Australia?
Yes — Melbourne (€462) and Sydney (€581 with a bag) are well-priced for the distance, and routing an Australia trip through Shanghai can undercut the usual Southeast Asian hubs.
Do these Shanghai fares include a checked bag?
Jeju, Kolkata, Dubai, Sydney, the Maldives and Nairobi include a bag; the cheap Southeast Asian hops and Melbourne are often cabin-only. Add a bag at booking if needed.
Can you fly to the Maldives from Shanghai?
Yes — around €616 with a bag, a strong fare for the Indian Ocean dream and far cheaper than the same trip from Europe.
How current are these Shanghai prices?
They're the lowest verified round-trip fares we've tracked recently and move with season and demand. Use each as a target for that route and book when you find a fare at or below it.
Seasons, carriers and airport details verified June 2026 and can change — confirm current conditions before you book.