Flying from Melbourne to Shanghai: what you need to know
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is Melbourne's main airport. Check out your options for booking a flight from Melbourne to Shanghai leaving from here.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's major entry points.
The average time for a direct Melbourne to Shanghai flight is 10 hours 25 minutes.
Shanghai is three hours behind Melbourne and observes the UTC+8 timezone.
With 15 weekly flights between the two airports, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from Melbourne to Shanghai with Juneyao Airlines at 08:00. If you prefer to make the most of your day before flying, the latest flight from MEL to PVG is with China Eastern Airlines at 22:30.
For hassle-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your Melbourne to Shanghai flight.
Flying over a peak time like July? Major public holidays and other popular seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive 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
$355 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Shanghai. A return flight starts at $590. 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)
Set off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) on a nonstop flight from Melbourne to Shanghai. From MEL, you can land directly at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
China Eastern Airlines is a popular carrier that offers direct Melbourne to Shanghai plane tickets from MEL.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for Melbourne to Shanghai flights departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Travelling from central Melbourne to MEL takes around 40 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Melbourne to Shanghai? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:
67.71% of flights that depart Melbourne Tullamarine Airport reach their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is approximately 32 kilometres from the centre of Shanghai. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 50 minutes.
It usually takes 40 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Reserve a hotel close to PVG if you're coming in on a late flight from Melbourne to Shanghai. Pick one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Grab a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car and discover corners of Shanghai that aren't the typical tourist stops. Find your ideal set of wheels with Hertz.
To secure the best deal, book your ride from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at least a couple of weeks ahead. Rates typically rise closer to your date of travel.
The address for PVG is No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
After your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai has touched down, you can make your way to the city centre in around 20 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is roughly 13 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
After your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai, kick back at a hotel near SHA. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Crank up the music and hit the road in a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Hertz and begin discovering new places right away.
Get the vehicle you prefer, not just whatever's left, by booking your ride from SHA before your arrival. You'll also avoid paying more than you have to, especially during busy airport times.
You'll find Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 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 and 34ºC. 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 and 10ºC on average.
More about Shanghai
After booking your flight from Melbourne to Shanghai, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Shanghai:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are highlights which should be on any good 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.