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City guide · Hangzhou, China · 2026

Hangzhou in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 30 spots · open in 2025–26

Hangzhou, China. From 30 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: Wuzhen · Hubin · Grand Canal.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 5h 45m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    West LakeWest Lake, Xihu District🏛️ Sight

    About 15km around and free; use e-carts or bikes, skip weekend afternoons

  2. Lunch
    LouwailouGushan, north of West Lake🍜 Food

    Restaurant since 1848; Dongpo pork and West Lake vinegar fish. Come early for windows

  3. Afternoon
    Hubin In77Hubin, Shangcheng District✨ Hot spot

    Shopping blocks by the lake; the musical fountain is a short walk away

  4. Late afternoon
    Broken Bridge & Bai CausewayNorth shore of West Lake🏛️ Sight

    1km causeway from Broken Bridge to Gushan; free and lovely at dusk

  5. Evening
    West Lake Musical FountainHubin, Shangcheng District🌙 Night

    Check evening show times (usually 7-8pm); grab a spot 15 minutes early

Day 2 about 5h 15m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Su CausewayWest side of West Lake🏛️ Sight

    2.8km causeway from Su Dongpo's time; best on spring mornings

  2. Lunch
    ZhiweiguanHubin, Shangcheng District🍜 Food

    Snack house since 1913; queue downstairs for buns, sit down upstairs

  3. Afternoon
    Hefang StreetWushan, Shangcheng District✨ Hot spot

    Old-style pedestrian street for tea, silk and fans; bargain politely

  4. Late afternoon
    Leifeng PagodaSouth shore of West Lake🏛️ Sight

    Pagoda of the White Snake legend; paid, top floor overlooks the lake

  5. Evening
    Qianjiang New TownQianjiang New Town, Shangcheng🌙 Night

    Skyline light shows mostly on weekend/holiday evenings; watch from the riverfront

Day 3 about 7h 10m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Lingyin Temple & Feilai FengLingyin, Xihu District🏛️ Sight

    Buy the Feilai Feng ticket first to reach the temple; arrive around 8am

  2. Lunch
    KuiyuanguanJiefang Road, Shangcheng District🍜 Food

    Noodle house since 1867; try pian'erchuan or shrimp-and-eel noodles

  3. Afternoon
    Southern Song Imperial StreetZhongshan Road, Shangcheng✨ Hot spot

    Pedestrian street on the Song capital's road; old paving shows under glass

  4. Late afternoon
    Three Pools Mirroring the MoonIsland in West Lake🏛️ Sight

    Island reached only by boat; the stone pagodas on the 1-yuan note

  5. Evening
    Songcheng ParkZhijiang Road, Xihu District🌙 Night

    Song-themed park with a big stage show; arrive an hour early to explore

🍜 Where to eat in Hangzhou: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. LouwailouGushan, north of West LakeIn the route

    Restaurant since 1848; Dongpo pork and West Lake vinegar fish. Come early for windows

  2. ZhiweiguanHubin, Shangcheng DistrictIn the route

    Snack house since 1913; queue downstairs for buns, sit down upstairs

  3. KuiyuanguanJiefang Road, Shangcheng DistrictIn the route

    Noodle house since 1867; try pian'erchuan or shrimp-and-eel noodles

  4. Hangzhou JiujiaYan'an Road, Shangcheng District

    Classic Hangzhou kitchen; Longjing shrimp, Dongpo pork and beggar's chicken

  5. Gaoyin StreetNext to Hefang Street, Shangcheng

    Restaurant lane beside Hefang Street; busiest at dinner time

  6. Shengli River Food StreetNear the Grand Canal, Gongshu

    Restaurants along a canal branch; pair with Gongchen Bridge at night

✨ Hangzhou hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. Hefang StreetWushan, Shangcheng DistrictIn the route

    Old-style pedestrian street for tea, silk and fans; bargain politely

  2. Hubin In77Hubin, Shangcheng DistrictIn the route

    Shopping blocks by the lake; the musical fountain is a short walk away

  3. Longjing VillageLongjing, Xihu District

    Home of Longjing tea; tastings are often free, check grade and weight when buying

  4. Xiaohe StreetGrand Canal, Gongshu District

    Old canal lanes with cafés and teahouses; 5 min walk from Shengli River

  5. Southern Song Imperial StreetZhongshan Road, ShangchengIn the route

    Pedestrian street on the Song capital's road; old paving shows under glass

🌙 Hangzhou at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. West Lake Musical FountainHubin, Shangcheng DistrictIn the route

    Check evening show times (usually 7-8pm); grab a spot 15 minutes early

  2. Songcheng ParkZhijiang Road, Xihu DistrictIn the route

    Song-themed park with a big stage show; arrive an hour early to explore

  3. Qianjiang New TownQianjiang New Town, ShangchengIn the route

    Skyline light shows mostly on weekend/holiday evenings; watch from the riverfront

  4. Gongchen BridgeGrand Canal, Gongshu District

    Stone bridge at the canal's south end; ride the water bus from Wulinmen

🏛️ Top sights in Hangzhou

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. West LakeWest Lake, Xihu DistrictIn the route

    About 15km around and free; use e-carts or bikes, skip weekend afternoons

  2. Su CausewayWest side of West LakeIn the route

    2.8km causeway from Su Dongpo's time; best on spring mornings

  3. Broken Bridge & Bai CausewayNorth shore of West LakeIn the route

    1km causeway from Broken Bridge to Gushan; free and lovely at dusk

  4. Leifeng PagodaSouth shore of West LakeIn the route

    Pagoda of the White Snake legend; paid, top floor overlooks the lake

  5. Lingyin Temple & Feilai FengLingyin, Xihu DistrictIn the route

    Buy the Feilai Feng ticket first to reach the temple; arrive around 8am

  6. Six Harmonies PagodaQiantang riverside, Xihu District

    About 60m pagoda by the Qiantang; climb inside for river and bridge views

  7. Huagang ParkSouthwest shore of West Lake

    Koi ponds and gardens, free; joins the south end of Su Causeway

  8. Three Pools Mirroring the MoonIsland in West LakeIn the route

    Island reached only by boat; the stone pagodas on the 1-yuan note

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