Travel guide · Taiwan
Taipei travel guide
Night markets, temple incense, hot springs and mountain trails by MRT
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 毛貓大少爺, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Taipei is Taiwan's capital, a compact city of about 2.5 million people in a basin ringed by green mountains. The 508-metre Taipei 101 dominates the Xinyi skyline, the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's largest collections of Chinese imperial art, and temples such as Longshan are busy with worshippers from early morning. Evenings belong to the night markets — Shilin, Raohe and Ningxia — where pepper buns, oyster omelettes and bubble tea cost a few dollars. A clean, efficient MRT reaches hot springs at Beitou, tea houses at Maokong and the riverside at Tamsui, and trains and buses make Jiufen, Shifen and the north coast easy day trips. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are March–April and October–December.
Key facts
- Country
- Taiwan
- Best time to visit
- March–April and October–December
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- TPE, TSA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Taipei 101, Night markets, National Palace Museum and Beef noodle soup
Why visit Taipei
- Night markets such as Raohe, Ningxia and Shilin make Taipei one of Asia's great street-food cities, at low prices.
- The National Palace Museum displays treasures from the Chinese imperial collection, from bronzes to jade and calligraphy.
- Nature is close: Elephant Mountain, Yangmingshan's volcanic trails and Beitou's hot springs are all reachable by MRT or city bus.
- The MRT, buses and YouBike bike-share all work with one EasyCard, making the city simple to navigate alone or with children.
- Day trips to Jiufen's hillside lanes, Shifen's sky lanterns and the sculpted rocks of Yehliu take an hour or two by train or bus.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Taipei 101 Observatory
The 508-metre tower was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Shilin
National Palace Museum
One of the world's largest collections of Chinese art, much of it from the former imperial collection in Beijing, including bronzes, ceramics, jade carvings, painting and calligraphy.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
A white memorial hall with a blue octagonal roof stands at the end of Liberty Square, framed by a monumental gate and the classical-style National Theater and National Concert Hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Wanhua
Longshan Temple
Founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, Longshan Temple is Taipei's best-known temple, dedicated mainly to Guanyin but housing many other deities.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Market · Shilin
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's largest night market sprawls through the streets near Jiantan MRT station, with snack stalls, games, clothing and an underground food court.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- Kids
- Shopping
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
A steep stone staircase from near Xiangshan MRT station climbs through forest to rocky viewpoints overlooking Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline in about 20–30 minutes.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
- Couples
Where to stay
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
$$ · Best for budget, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers
Ximending
Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, nightlife and couples
Xinyi
Taipei 101, glossy department stores, skybridges and the city's club scene
$$$ · Best for food lovers, families and couples
Da'an
Leafy residential district of cafés, Yongkang Street eateries and Da'an Forest Park
What to eat
- Beef noodle soup — Taiwan's signature soup: thick wheat noodles and tender braised beef shank in a soy and star-anise broth (hong shao), or in a lighter clear broth, topped with pickled mustard greens.
- Xiaolongbao — Delicate steamed pork dumplings with a pleated top and a spoonful of hot broth inside.
- Braised pork rice — Finely chopped pork belly braised in soy sauce, rice wine and spices, spooned over rice with pickles.
- Pepper bun — A crisp bun filled with peppery pork and spring onion, baked on the walls of a cylindrical clay oven and eaten piping hot.
- Oyster omelette — Small oysters, eggs and leafy greens fried in a sweet-potato starch batter that becomes gooey and crisp, topped with a sweet-savoury red sauce.
- Gua bao — A soft, folded steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, coriander and sweet peanut powder, sometimes called the Taiwanese hamburger.
When to go
The best times to visit Taipei are October to December, when the weather is mild, drier and comfortable for walking and hiking, and March to April, when it is warm with spring blossom. July and August combine intense heat and humidity with the peak of the typhoon season, which can disrupt plans and flights. Winter is cool and drizzly but good for hot springs.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warm, changeable weather with cherry blossom and calla lilies on Yangmingshan; the plum rains start in May. |
| Summer | June–September | Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms and typhoons, especially in July and August; mango season and lively nights. |
| Autumn | October–November | The most comfortable season, with warm, generally settled weather ideal for hiking and night markets. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but grey and damp, with frequent drizzle; perfect for hot springs, and festive around Lunar New Year. |
Getting there and around
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is about 40 km west of the city. The Airport MRT express train reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35–40 minutes, airport buses take about an hour, and taxis about 45–60 minutes. Songshan Airport (TSA), inside the city on the MRT brown line, handles domestic flights and some short regional routes.
Taipei is one of Asia's easiest cities to get around: the MRT is clean, frequent and signed in English, buses cover the rest, and a single EasyCard pays for metro, buses, YouBike bikes and convenience-store purchases.
Plan your days
Three days covers Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple, Dihua Street and two night markets. Five days adds Beitou, Maokong or Yangmingshan, and a day trip to Jiufen and the Pingxi line.
Practical information
- Currency
- TWD
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 110 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but most residents boil or filter it; use the drinking fountains in MRT stations or bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Taiwan.
Taipei has low levels of street crime. The main risks are natural: typhoons from about July to September, earthquakes and summer heat. Follow official alerts sent to phones, take care crossing roads as scooters turn into crossings, and watch your footing on wet mountain trails.
Flights to Taipei
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Taipei?
Three days covers Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple, Dihua Street and two night markets. Five days adds Beitou, Maokong or Yangmingshan, and a day trip to Jiufen and the Pingxi line. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Taipei?
The best times to visit Taipei are October to December, when the weather is mild, drier and comfortable for walking and hiking, and March to April, when it is warm with spring blossom. July and August combine intense heat and humidity with the peak of the typhoon season, which can disrupt plans and flights. Winter is cool and drizzly but good for hot springs.
+What is Taipei known for?
Taipei 101, Night markets, National Palace Museum, Beef noodle soup, Bubble tea, Xiaolongbao, Beitou hot springs and Temples. Night markets such as Raohe, Ningxia and Shilin make Taipei one of Asia's great street-food cities, at low prices.
+Is Taipei expensive?
Taipei is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Taipei?
No. Public transport covers the city and most day trips. A car or scooter is useful only for touring the east coast or central mountains, and driving in Taipei's traffic is stressful.