History · Taipei · Taiwan
8 historic sites to see in Taipei
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Aguilera Sánchez, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Longshan Temple. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–14 hours across 6 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 13–14 hours
- Areas
- Shilin, Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) and Wanhua
Historic sites in Taipei
Museum · Shilin
1.National Palace Museum
Only a small rotating selection is shown at a time; star pieces such as the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone are not always on display.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
2.Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The grounds include gardens and ponds, and exhibitions inside cover Chiang Kai-shek's life and modern Taiwanese history.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Wanhua
3.Longshan Temple
Its carved dragon roofs, stone columns and constant flow of worshippers casting moon-shaped divination blocks make it one of the most atmospheric places in the city.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Experience · Beitou
4.Beitou hot springs
Many hotels offer private hot-spring rooms by the hour.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
.jpg){kind=link}
Street · Dadaocheng (Datong)
5.Dihua Street and Dadaocheng
The small Xiahai City God Temple is famous for its matchmaker deity, and the area fills with stalls before Lunar New Year.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Museum · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
6.National Taiwan Museum
A converted bank building across the road houses its dinosaur and natural-history displays.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Religious site · Datong
7.Dalongdong Baoan Temple
The quieter Taipei Confucius Temple stands next door.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Wanhua
8.Bopiliao Historic Block
Some buildings hold small exhibitions on Wanhua's history and local education.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Shilin | National Palace Museum | 3 hours |
| Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and National Taiwan Museum | 1 hour + 1.5 hours |
| Wanhua | Longshan Temple and Bopiliao Historic Block | 45 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Beitou | Beitou hot springs | Half a day |
| Dadaocheng (Datong) | Dihua Street and Dadaocheng | 2 hours |
| Datong | Dalongdong Baoan Temple | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Beitou hot springs; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Shilin and Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)): National Palace Museum → Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) and Wanhua): National Taiwan Museum → Longshan Temple → Bopiliao Historic Block, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Beitou): Beitou hot springs, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Dadaocheng (Datong) and Datong): Dihua Street and Dadaocheng → Dalongdong Baoan Temple, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds. Still hot with a continued typhoon risk, easing late in the month; families barbecue outdoors for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- August: highs of 34°C (93°F), about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds. Peak heat and peak typhoon risk; storms can close attractions and cancel flights for a day or two.
- January: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool and often grey, with drizzle brought by the north-east monsoon; ideal weather for hot springs.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) — The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Ximending — Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights
- Wanhua — Taipei's oldest district, around Longshan Temple and the old Bangka port
- Dadaocheng (Datong) — Old merchant quarter of tea traders, herbal shops and riverside sunsets
- Beitou — Hot-spring suburb at the foot of Yangmingshan, with spa hotels and steaming valleys
More of Taipei
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Taipei?
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.
+Which of these are free in Taipei?
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Dihua Street and Dadaocheng, Dalongdong Baoan Temple and Bopiliao Historic Block.