5 days in Chongqing 重庆

A vertical city of 32 million where the metro runs through apartment blocks.

By Charlie Simmon, Founder and editor · Reviewed 22 October 2026

The plan

One headline sight a day, with the evening left for food. Crossing a Chinese city takes longer than the map suggests; this plan does not pretend otherwise.

  1. Day 1

    Hongya Cave at night

    Eat: Chongqing hotpot

  2. Day 2

    Liziba metro station (train through a building)

    Eat: Xiaomian noodles

  3. Day 3

    Yangtze River cable car

    Eat: Suanlafen

  4. Day 4

    Ciqikou old town

    Eat: Maoxuewang

  5. Day 5

    Three Gorges Museum

    Eat: Grilled fish

Where to stay

Stay within a 10-minute walk of a metro station inside the inner ring. Chongqing has a metro, so most journeys cost ¥2–10 and avoid traffic.

Getting there

Chengdu 1h15 on the high-speed line; Wuhan 6h downstream by the conventional railway along the Yangtze.

The main airport is Jiangbei International (CKG).

When to go

The most comfortable months are March, April, October, November. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and the Spring Festival travel period.

  1. January — not a peak month
  2. February — not a peak month
  3. March — recommended
  4. April — recommended
  5. May — not a peak month
  6. June — not a peak month
  7. July — not a peak month
  8. August — not a peak month
  9. September — not a peak month
  10. October — recommended
  11. November — recommended
  12. December — not a peak month

What it costs

Per person per day, excluding flights. Multiply by 5 for this trip.

Daily budget tiers for Chongqing
TierDailySleepingEating
Budget¥300–500Hostel dorm or simple guesthouseStreet breakfast, noodle shops
Mid-range¥800–1,5003–4★ hotel near a metroSit-down restaurants, one splurge
Comfort¥2,500+5★ or boutique courtyard hotelFine dining and tasting menus

Questions people ask

Is 5 days enough for Chongqing?

Yes. The city page budgets 3 nights, so 5 days leaves room for one headline sight a day plus a slower neighbourhood or food afternoon.

When is the best time to visit Chongqing?

The most comfortable months are March, April, October, November. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and the Spring Festival travel period unless your dates are fixed.

How do I get to Chongqing?

Chengdu 1h15 on the high-speed line; Wuhan 6h downstream by the conventional railway along the Yangtze. The main airport is Jiangbei International (CKG).

What should I budget for 5 days?

Excluding flights: budget ¥300–500, mid-range ¥800–1,500, comfort ¥2,500+ per person per day. Multiply the daily figure by 5; hotels drive the difference more than food.

Do I need a visa?

Visa policy is national, not city-level. Check your passport against the current visa-free and transit routes before booking.