Travelling from Melbourne to Shanghai: what you need to know
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is Melbourne's main airport. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Melbourne to Shanghai departing from here.
When planning your arrival in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the primary gateways.
The average duration of a direct Melbourne to Shanghai flight is 10 hours 25 minutes.
The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8, which is three hours behind Melbourne.
Choose from 15 services a week between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and {"defaultCase":"Shanghai Pudong International Airport","accusativeCase":"Shanghai Pudong International Airport","nominativeCase":"Shanghai Pudong International Airport","dativeCase":"Shanghai Pudong International Airport"} (PVG). MEL to PVG is the most popular route when booking flights from Melbourne to Shanghai.
To ensure you make your Melbourne to Shanghai flight, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
Flying during a peak month like January? Public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Shanghai
C$288 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Shanghai. A return flight starts at C$516. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
Book two months before you travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Melbourne to Shanghai flights.
May is the best month for landing an incredible deal on a plane ticket from Melbourne to Shanghai. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Melbourne to Shanghai.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your Melbourne to Shanghai flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
You can catch a direct flight from Melbourne to Shanghai taking off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Begin your trip at MEL and end it at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
Check out the deals with China Eastern Airlines. This carrier offers direct Melbourne to Shanghai plane tickets out of MEL.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and perhaps even explore a different city. When browsing Melbourne to Shanghai flights leaving from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN)
Located around 19 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, MEL can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 40 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Melbourne to Shanghai? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:
67.71% of flights that take off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport arrive at their destination on time.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
The distance from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai is roughly 32 kilometres. It'll take you around 50 minutes to reach the centre driving.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Melbourne to Shanghai. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Go beyond Shanghai and check out places outside the usual tourist stops with your own wheels. You can pick up a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car from Hertz.
Reserve your ride from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at least a few weeks ahead to lock in the best possible deal. If you're travelling during peak season, you may want to book your Melbourne to Shanghai flight even earlier.
You'll find PVG at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is roughly 13 kilometres from central Shanghai. Once you've disembarked your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai, it'll take you approximately 20 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel near SHA. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai:
Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and expand your travel horizons with your own set of wheels. Hertz is just moments from baggage claim, so you can hit the road without delay.
Avoid the long lines and paperwork at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Secure your ride from SHA in advance so you can simply get the keys and go.
The address for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
April is the busiest month for flights from Melbourne to Shanghai. To skip the crowds, go to Shanghai in April.
The warmest month in Shanghai is August, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 34ºC (93ºF). Lock in your Melbourne to Shanghai ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
Look for cheap flights from Melbourne to Shanghai in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) on average.
More about Shanghai
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Shanghai right here. Check out these hotels once you've booked your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are popular attractions which should be on every Shanghai itinerary.
Explore more of China
Shanghai has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of China just waiting to be discovered. About 274 kilometres west of Shanghai, a visit to Nanjing will keep you on the move. Don't miss top attractions like Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.
Suzhou is another sought-after destination in China and is around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. No trip is complete without experiencing Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower.
