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Dalian

Seaside Charm Meets Modern Vibe

Dalian is a coastal city in northeastern China known for its clean air and wide boulevards lined with trees. The city has a mix of modern buildings and historic sites, including old Russian and Japanese architecture from past centuries. Its port plays an important role in trade, while beaches along the Yellow Sea attract visitors during warmer months. Local food features fresh seafood and regional dishes like sweet corn soup. Public transport makes it easy to move between neighborhoods without heavy traffic congestion.

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City in China

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

2/5

English is not widely spoken, especially outside tourist areas. In hotels and major attractions, some staff speak basic English, but a translation app is helpful.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Dalian Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

Great for coastal city life and parks. Walk seaside promenades, relax on beaches, visit city squares and enjoy seafood restaurants and ocean views.

Place score

7.0

Best at:

Large cities

Sea

Local cuisine

Street food

Luxury shopping

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 8

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

China – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type I Type A: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) £1 ≈ CN¥8.88
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in China, particularly in urban areas. Mobile payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in China and is not expected, although it may be appreciated in high-end restaurants or by hotel staff for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in many places in China, but it is common in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and public transport, but enforcement can vary.

Chinese New Year (January/February)	Major holiday with family gatherings and public celebrations
National Day (1 October)	National holiday with parades and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	DiDi, Uber
Other:	China is known for its vast cultural heritage, including historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. It offers diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Dalian, China

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	July - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - June, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Sea fog April to July can delay flights and ferries

Sea swimming mainly July to early September, water too cold outside this period

Golden Week (1 to 7 October) and Spring Festival bring domestic crowds, higher prices and booked-out hotels

Don't miss

🌊 Visit Xinghai Square, largest public square in Asia
🐅 Explore Tiger Beach Ocean Park and its marine life
🏖️ Relax on Golden Pebble Beach’s scenic coastline
🚤 Stroll around Dalian’s Venice Water City with gondolas
⛰️ Hike Dahei Mountain for stunning two-sea views
🦐 Enjoy fresh seafood at vibrant local markets

You've been here?

Why travel to Dalian?

Dalian is a coastal city with a refreshing mix of sandy beaches, green parks and a hint of its historical ties to Russia and Japan. Whether you're strolling along the scenic Binhai Road, relaxing on the beach or exploring its lively squares, Dalian has a laid-back charm. The city is safe and tourist-friendly, but English isn't widely spoken, so a translation app might help. Also, be mindful of crowded areas during peak tourist seasons.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Dalian Shell Museum
2 Xinghai Square
3 Russian Street
4 Dalian Forest Zoo
5 Dalian Museum of Natural History
6 Lvshun South Road
7 Zhongshan Square

🎡Places for activities

1 Bangchui Island
2 Golden Pebble Beach
3 Xinghai Park
4 Binhai East Road
5 Fisherman's Wharf

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Labor Park
2 Xinghai Park

🛍️Shopping

1 福佳新天地广场

🎈Events

Dalian International Beer Festival (July-August)
Dalian International Fashion Festival (September)
Dalian Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
Dalian Marathon (May)
Dalian Fireworks Festival (October)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Seafood paradise. Fresh catches at nightly markets unbeatable.
Stroll Binhai Road coastal drive; dramatic cliffs meet Yellow Sea waves.
Visit Xinghai Square, Asia's largest; evening lights and seagull shows.
Explore Russian Street for colonial architecture and international cuisine fusion.

How to travel to Dalian

Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (DLC) connects to major Chinese cities and a few international destinations. There are also train services, including high-speed trains to Beijing and other big cities and a port with ferry services to nearby regions.

Access summary

From Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport (DLC): Metro Line 2 or taxi, about 20–40 minutes.
From Beijing: High-speed trains to Dalian North, typically around 3.5–5.5 hours.
From Yantai: Bohai car ferry across the bay, sailing about 6–7.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Dalian

Dalian offers a range of accommodations from luxury hotels near Xinghai Square to budget options in the city center. Beach resorts are also available along the coast, ideal for a relaxed stay.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

InterContinental Dalian By IHG

Dalian Grand Continent International Hotel

7.8

Holiday Inn Express Dalian City Center

8.5

The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian

9.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Dalian

Dalian has a good public transportation system with buses, trams and a metro. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like DiDi are also convenient. The metro covers main attractions and the bus network reaches more remote areas.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-71 %

Daily expenses in Dalian are around 71% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CNY) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£28	£61	£156
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£12	£21	£58
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£7

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£9
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.60
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.20
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.65

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.22
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£4.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£17
🤧 Cold medication	£3.20
💇 Basic haircut	£3.40

Safety information overview

General safety

Dalian is generally safe, with low crime rates. However, be cautious of pickpockets in crowded places and practice usual safety measures, especially at night.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Dalian are good, with several hospitals offering international services. It is advisable to bring basic medications and ensure travel insurance covers medical needs.

Accessibility

Dalian is moderately accessible for people with disabilities. Major attractions and public transport have some accessibility features, but older areas and public toilets might pose challenges.

Tap water

Tap water in Dalian is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is widely available and using filtered or boiled water for brushing teeth is advisable.