Where to stay · Taipei · Taiwan
Where to stay in Taipei
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yu tptw, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng). The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Best alternatives — families: Da'an; nightlife: Ximending.
Key facts
- First visit
- Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
- Families
- Da'an
- Budget
- Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
- Nightlife
- Ximending
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall |
| Families | Da'an | Leafy residential district of cafés, Yongkang Street eateries and Da'an Forest Park |
| Couples | Xinyi | Taipei 101, glossy department stores, skybridges and the city's club scene |
| Budget | Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall |
| Luxury | Xinyi | Taipei 101, glossy department stores, skybridges and the city's club scene |
| Nightlife | Ximending | Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights |
| Food lovers | Da'an | Leafy residential district of cafés, Yongkang Street eateries and Da'an Forest Park |
| Solo travellers | Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall |
| Shopping | Ximending | Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights |
| Quiet stays | Dadaocheng (Datong) | Old merchant quarter of tea traders, herbal shops and riverside sunsets |
Taipei neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
Taipei Main Station combines the MRT, Taiwan Railway, the High Speed Rail and the Airport MRT, so staying nearby makes day trips and airport runs easy. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 228 Peace Memorial Park and Ximending are within walking distance, and hotels range from capsule hostels to international chains.
- Good
- Direct Airport MRT; Trains to every day-trip destination; Wide range of hotels
- Watch out
- The station complex is confusing at first; Busy, commercial streets
- Nearby
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 228 Peace Memorial Park, Ximending, National Taiwan Museum
$$ · Best for budget, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers
Ximending
Ximending, in Wanhua, is a car-free grid of streets lined with sneaker shops, street-food stalls, cinemas and karaoke, centred on the octagonal 1908 Red House, which has LGBTQ-friendly bars around it. It is lively until late and has many budget and mid-range hotels, with Longshan Temple one MRT stop away.
- Good
- Lively day and night; Good-value hotels; Snacks and shops everywhere
- Watch out
- Crowded at weekends; Can be noisy late at night
- Nearby
- Red House, Longshan Temple, Taipei Main Station
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, nightlife and couples
Xinyi
Xinyi is the modern business and shopping district around Taipei 101, linked by elevated walkways between malls such as the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi stores and Breeze Nan Shan. It has the city's top international hotels, rooftop bars and clubs, and the trailhead for Elephant Mountain is a short walk away.
- Good
- Skyline views; Upscale dining and nightlife; Covered walkways in rain
- Watch out
- Expensive; Less traditional character
- Nearby
- Taipei 101, Elephant Mountain, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
$$$ · Best for food lovers, families and couples
Da'an
Da'an is one of the most pleasant places to stay: tree-lined lanes, independent cafés and the food streets around Yongkang Street, where the first Din Tai Fung opened on Xinyi Road. Da'an Forest Park has playgrounds and lawns, and Shida night market serves the university crowd.
- Good
- Excellent food and cafés; Green and relaxed; Central MRT links
- Watch out
- Fewer large hotels; Prices higher than older districts
- Nearby
- Yongkang Street, Da'an Forest Park, Shida Night Market
$$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers and first-timers
Zhongshan
Around Zhongshan MRT, small lanes such as those near Chifeng Street are full of independent boutiques and cafés, while department stores line Nanjing West Road. Linsen North Road to the east has Japanese-style izakayas and late bars. It is a short walk to Taipei Main Station and Dadaocheng.
- Good
- Central with good MRT links; Stylish shops and cafés; Plenty of mid-range hotels
- Watch out
- Some nightlife streets feel seedy; Busy main roads
- Nearby
- Chifeng Street, Dadaocheng, Taipei Fine Arts Museum
$ · Best for budget and culture
Wanhua
Wanhua grew around the Bangka river port in the 18th century. Longshan Temple, the restored brick street of Bopiliao and traditional markets such as Huaxi Street keep an old-Taipei feel, and hotels here are among the most affordable in the city.
- Good
- Strong historic character; Low prices; Close to Ximending
- Watch out
- Some streets feel run-down; Fewer upscale restaurants
- Nearby
- Longshan Temple, Bopiliao Historic Block, Ximending
$$ · Best for culture, food lovers and quiet stays
Dadaocheng (Datong)
Dadaocheng was a 19th-century tea-trading port, and Dihua Street's restored shophouses still sell dried goods, herbs and fabrics alongside new cafés and design shops. The Xiahai City God Temple and the riverside pier, popular at sunset, are nearby, and Ningxia Night Market is a short walk.
- Good
- Historic streets and cafés; Near excellent night markets; Quieter evenings
- Watch out
- MRT stations are a walk away; Fewer hotels
- Nearby
- Dihua Street, Ningxia Night Market, Dadaocheng Wharf
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and luxury
Beitou
Beitou, at the northern end of the red MRT line, developed as a hot-spring resort during the Japanese era. Hotels with private hot-spring baths line the hillside, and the Hot Spring Museum, Thermal Valley and a public open-air bath are walkable from Xinbeitou station.
- Good
- Hot-spring baths in your hotel; Peaceful and green; Gateway to Yangmingshan
- Watch out
- About 30–40 minutes by MRT from the centre; Quiet at night
- Nearby
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Thermal Valley, Yangmingshan National Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | $$ | Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 228 Peace Memorial Park, Ximending, National Taiwan Museum |
| Ximending | $$ | Red House, Longshan Temple, Taipei Main Station |
| Xinyi | $$$$ | Taipei 101, Elephant Mountain, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park |
| Da'an | $$$ | Yongkang Street, Da'an Forest Park, Shida Night Market |
| Zhongshan | $$$ | Chifeng Street, Dadaocheng, Taipei Fine Arts Museum |
| Wanhua | $ | Longshan Temple, Bopiliao Historic Block, Ximending |
| Dadaocheng (Datong) | $$ | Dihua Street, Ningxia Night Market, Dadaocheng Wharf |
| Beitou | $$$ | Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Thermal Valley, Yangmingshan National Park |
Getting to your hotel
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is about 40 km west of the city. The Airport MRT express train reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35–40 minutes, airport buses take about an hour, and taxis about 45–60 minutes. Songshan Airport (TSA), inside the city on the MRT brown line, handles domestic flights and some short regional routes.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Taipei for first-time visitors?
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng). Taipei Main Station combines the MRT, Taiwan Railway, the High Speed Rail and the Airport MRT, so staying nearby makes day trips and airport runs easy.
+Where should families stay in Taipei?
Da'an: Excellent food and cafés.
+Which area of Taipei is best for a budget stay?
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) ($$): The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.