Qingdao

Beaches, Beer and Old-World Charm

Qingdao is a coastal city in eastern China where modern life meets historic charm. The port city has wide boulevards lined with trees and colonial architecture from its German past. Local seafood markets line the waterfront, serving fresh catches daily. Public parks provide space for exercise or quiet moments by the sea. Cultural festivals happen throughout the year, showcasing music, food and traditions from across China. Qingdao’s weather is generally mild, making outdoor activities accessible most of the year without extreme heat or cold.

Add to list Map view

City in China

$$$

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

See price details

Safety: 7.5

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

In tourist areas, younger locals and staff at hotels and major attractions often speak basic English. However, English is less common in smaller shops and among older locals.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Qingdao 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:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Great for coastal scenery and beer culture. Walk seaside promenades, relax on city beaches, visit historic districts and explore famous breweries.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Sea

Street food

Large cities

Local cuisine

Beer

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 Qingdao, China

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

☀️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

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

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

Climate details

Qingdao International Beer Festival, late July to August: beer halls and concerts, hotels book up

Chinese national holidays (Golden Week, 1 to 7 October): beaches, Laoshan and the old town are extremely crowded

Swimming season June to September: seaweed (green algae) can wash up on beaches in June and July

Don't miss

🏞️ Climb Laoshan Mountain, a Taoist sacred site
🍺 Tour the historic Tsingtao Beer Museum
🏖️ Relax at No.1 Bathing Beach on Huiquan Bay
🌷 Stroll through the picturesque Badaguan Scenic Area
🌊 Walk along the iconic Zhanqiao Pier and pavilion
🌇 Enjoy panoramic city views from Xiaoyushan Park

You've been here?

Why travel to Qingdao?

Qingdao offers a unique mix of beach relaxation and cultural exploration. Stroll through the charming old town with its European architecture, enjoy fresh seafood at local markets and unwind on sandy beaches. The Tsingtao Brewery and International Beer Festival are musts for beer enthusiasts. While the city is generally safe, be mindful of crowded spots during peak tourist seasons.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 May Fourth Square
2 Qingdao Beer Street
3 Qingdao Underwater World
4 Saint-Michael's Cathedral
5 Zhanqiao pier

🎡Places for activities

1 Qingdao Grand Theatre
2 Qingdao Polar Ocean World

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Jiushui Scenic Area of Laoshan Mountain
2 Shilaoren Beach
3 Xiaoyushan Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Marina City
2 MixC

🎈Events

Qingdao International Beer Festival
Qingdao Ocean Festival
Spring International Music Festival
Qingdao International Sailing Week
Tsingtao Brewery Celebrations
Laoshan Tea Festival
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Mid-Autumn Festival
May Fourth Cultural Festival
Qingdao Film Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Try fresh seafood and Tsingtao beer at local markets and breweries.
Visit the iconic May Fourth Square and sailing city skyline for photo opportunities.
Explore Zhanqiao Pier and the historic German colonial architecture in old town.
Consider a day trip to the nearby Jimo or Laoshan for scenic coastal and mountain scenery.

How to travel to Qingdao

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) has direct flights from major cities in China and abroad. High-speed trains connect Qingdao to Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities and there is also a port for ferries to nearby coastal destinations.

Access summary

From Qingdao Jiaodong Airport (TAO): Metro or airport bus, about 60–90 minutes.
From Beijing: High‑speed train or flight to Qingdao, roughly 1.5–5 hours.
From Shanghai: Frequent flights or high‑speed trains, usually about 2–7.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Qingdao

Qingdao offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury seaside resorts to budget hostels. The Shinan District is a great choice for its proximity to major sights and the waterfront. There are also unique boutique hotels with historical charm.

Hotel recommendations

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

Grand Madison Qingdao Harbour-view Central（Former Qingdao Farglory Hotel）

8.6

Housing International Hotel Qingdao

Holiday Inn Qingdao City Center By IHG

8.8

The Westin Qingdao

9.1

Qingdao Sea View Garden Hotel

9.0

InterContinental Qingdao By IHG

8.6

Le Méridien Qingdao

8.7

Sheraton Qingdao Licang Hotel

8.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Qingdao

Qingdao has a well-connected metro, buses and taxis. The metro is modern and efficient for getting around major attractions. Buses cover more areas but can be crowded. Taxis are relatively affordable, but cash or local payment apps are preferred.

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.

-74 %

Daily expenses in Qingdao are around 74% 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	£58	£149
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£11	£18	£52
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£7

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£6.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.60
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.20
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.10
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.22
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£4.30
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.80
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£9.50
🤧 Cold medication	£3.20
💇 Basic haircut	£3

Safety information overview

General safety

Qingdao is generally very safe for tourists. Petty theft is rare but can occur in crowded areas. Police presence is strong and the city feels secure day and night.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are good in Qingdao, with international hospitals available. Pharmacies are common, but it's advisable to bring specific medications if needed. Tap water is not safe for drinking.

Accessibility

Public transport is relatively accessible and major tourist sites offer decent accessibility. However, some older attractions and hilly areas might pose challenges for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Avoid drinking tap water in Qingdao. Bottled water is cheap and widely available. Many hotels provide bottled water and you can find water stations at tourist spots.