Solo travel · Taipei · Taiwan
Solo travel in Taipei
How to enjoy Taipei at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 翁維德 (Wei-Te Wong), CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Taipei is a natural choice for solo travellers: street crime is low, transport is easy, English signage is good, and eating alone at night markets and noodle shops is normal. Many solo travellers base themselves in Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng).
Key facts
- Base
- Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
- Getting around
- Metro
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien
Solo travel tips
- Stay near Taipei Main Station or Ximending for hostels and easy transport to day-trip destinations.
- Join a free walking tour or a night-market food tour to meet other travellers.
- Hiking trails such as Elephant Mountain are busy with locals, so solo walks are easy to do.
- Download offline maps and translation apps; menus at small stalls are often only in Chinese.
- Check the typhoon forecast in summer and keep a flexible day in your plans.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
Taipei Main Station combines the MRT, Taiwan Railway, the High Speed Rail and the Airport MRT, so staying nearby makes day trips and airport runs easy. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 228 Peace Memorial Park and Ximending are within walking distance, and hotels range from capsule hostels to international chains.
- Good
- Direct Airport MRT; Trains to every day-trip destination; Wide range of hotels
- Watch out
- The station complex is confusing at first; Busy, commercial streets
- Nearby
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 228 Peace Memorial Park, Ximending, National Taiwan Museum
Great on your own
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Taipei 101 Observatory
Go on a clear afternoon and stay through sunset; check visibility before buying tickets, as low cloud often hides the view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Shilin
National Palace Museum
Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid tour groups, and use the audio guide; check which highlights are on display before you go.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Visit in the early evening when the buildings are lit and locals rehearse dance routines on the square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Wanhua
Longshan Temple
Come in the early morning or around evening prayers to hear the chanting; visitors are welcome to watch quietly.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Climb about 45 minutes before sunset and stay until the city lights come on; bring water and a torch for the descent.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
- Couples
Experience · Beitou
Beitou hot springs
Bring swimwear for the public bath (it is mixed and requires costumes), or book a private hotel bath for a more relaxing soak.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
Meeting people
- Night market crawl — Graze through Ningxia or Raohe night markets, sharing small portions of oyster omelette, pepper buns, braised pork rice and taro balls.
- Tea in Maokong — Take the gondola up to Maokong and spend an evening brewing oolong at a hillside tea house overlooking the city.
- Xinyi — Clubs, rooftop bars and lounges around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building.
- Da'an — Intimate cocktail bars and craft-beer pubs on the lanes off Zhongxiao East Road and Anhe Road.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Staying connected
- Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are sold at Taoyuan Airport, and the city's free public Wi-Fi covers many stations and public buildings.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Taipei good for solo travellers?
Taipei is a natural choice for solo travellers: street crime is low, transport is easy, English signage is good, and eating alone at night markets and noodle shops is normal.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Taipei?
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng): The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.