3 Days in Nanjing: Where to Stay and Daily Plan
For 3 days in Nanjing, base yourself in Xinjiekou / City Center for easy transit and foreigner-friendly hotels, then follow a relaxed daily plan of the city’s top sights. Prepay through a foreigner-friendly platform and keep your passport ready for registration.
Nanjing is best enjoyed from one well-placed base. This plan assumes you stay in Xinjiekou / City Center and make day trips, which avoids daily packing and long commutes. All recommended hotels in this area accept foreigners and register passports correctly.
Best Place to Stay
| Area to stay | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Xinjiekou / City Center | Central shopping and the metro hub with landmark hotels. | First visit, transit |
| Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) | Riverside historic district with character hotels and night market. | Culture, food |
| Near the South Railway Station | Best for high-speed rail travelers on the Beijing-Shanghai line. | Transit, rail |
See also our neighborhood guide Hotels Near The Forbidden City Beijing For Foreigners for deeper detail on where to sleep in the city.
Your 3-Day Plan
| Day | Base | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Xinjiekou / City Center | Arrive, check in to your Xinjiekou / City Center hotel, and ease in with a walk around the base area and a local dinner. |
| Day 2 | Xinjiekou / City Center | Zhongshan Mausoleum |
| Day 3 | Xinjiekou / City Center | Final sights or last-minute shopping, then depart. Keep buffer time for airport or station transfers. |
Getting Around
Nanjing Lukou (NKG) is ~35 km south; metro line S1 and airport buses connect it. Use the metro for in-city moves and DiDi for door-to-door trips when the metro does not reach. Bind Alipay for transit and ride-hailing before you arrive.
Booking Tips for Foreigners
Wherever you stay near this area, a few rules make check-in smooth for foreign guests in China:
- Book through a Do You Need A Visa To Check Into A Chinese Hotel so the property is flagged as foreigner-accepting before you arrive.
- Carry your passport; hotels must register every foreign guest with the police within 24 hours.
- Prepay or confirm foreign-card billing to avoid a rejected card at the front desk (see China Hotel Deposit Taxes Foreign Credit Card).
- Save the hotel’s English name and address for taxis, since drivers may not read your booking app.
- International chains simplify registration and English service; strong local chains also work if prepaid (compare International Vs Local Hotels In China Pros And Cons).
Conclusion
A 3-day Nanjing trip is easiest from a single central, foreigner-friendly base with a clear daily plan. Prep the app payments, prepay the hotel, and let the itinerary handle the rest. More routes in our https://www.chinatravelhotels.com/category/itineraries/.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay for 3 days in Nanjing?
In Xinjiekou / City Center, the most central and foreigner-friendly choice, close to metro and dining.
Can I do Nanjing in 3 days?
Yes for the highlights; 3 days covers the core sights at a relaxed pace.
Do I need to change hotels during the trip?
No. One central base is enough since you make day trips.
How do I pay for transport as a foreigner?
Bind Alipay or WeChat Pay to a foreign card for metro and DiDi; carry some cash as backup.
Will my hotel register my passport?
International and major local chains do it automatically at check-in.
Last verified: October 26, 2026. Services, prices, and transport links change; confirm with the hotel and platform before booking.
About the author: This guide was written by Karl Huang, based on on-the-ground experience helping international travelers book and check in to hotels across China.
Disclosure: This site may use affiliate links to booking platforms such as Trip.com, Booking.com, and Agoda. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our independent, experience-based recommendations.
