Are you wondering what to do, see, and eat during your trip to Taipei? We have all the answers here in this ultimate travel guide. From the abundant food options, night markets, historical sights, mountains, and natural beauty of the area, there are endless activities and sights to enjoy for any amount of time. About the author: I am a long-time Taipei resident. So far, I have lived for over 9 years in Taipei City. Originally, I am from the USA, but I now call Taiwan my home. Specifically, I currently live in Nangang District, but I have also lived in Da’an District and Sanchong. Exploring Taipei is my passion.

🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮

Here are some top travel tips for you:

Brief Historical Background of Taipei:

The land on which Taipei now stands was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers ever came.
Chinese settlers from Fujian began living here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕), which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei. Most of the buildings were one-story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later, western-style houses were built. The walls and gates of Taipei were completed in 1884.
In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed.
During the Japanese era, in 1904, the walls of Taipei were destroyed after less than 30 years, and Taipei was re-planned into the capital of Taiwan.
After the ROC took control of Taiwan, Taipei continued as the capital city, as well as the financial hub of Taiwan. During the Taiwan miracle, many rural families moved from southern Taiwan to factories and offices in Taipei, making Taipei the most populous urban area in Taiwan.
Currently, Taipei is the most advanced and affluent city in Taiwan. It also has Taiwan’s most advanced public transportation system, making it easy for millions of commuters to live outside the city, where rents are cheaper. Now, most of Taiwan’s economic activity is based in this city.

Basic Taipei Travel Tips:

  • There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
  • Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions, such as for street food, still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here.
  • Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiF,i such as from Klook here so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
  • The electrical voltage is 110V.
  • Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
  • For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here. 

When should you go to Taipei?

In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October-November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Cherry blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here. 
Summers are also nice, with the sunniest weather, but also hot and rainy.
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet.
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year.

Hotels in Taipei:

High end:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), which are all very high-quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel, which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Budget Hotels:
We have stayed at and also recommend  Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home, which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Attractions in Taipei:

There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here.

Activities in Taipei:

Don’t forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen’ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Klook here or KKday here.

How to get there:

The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei’s Songshan and Toayuan Airport.
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei.
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here.
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei’s city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line.
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.

How to get around in Taipei:

Taipei’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. â€‹You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Tourist Site Map:

Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated:


Now enjoy our full guide to Taipei!

Taipei 101 Tower Travel Guide (臺北101)

The Taipei 101 (aka Taipei World Financial Center) is the tallest building in Taiwan, standing at a height of 509 meters. It was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010 and is now the 11th tallest building in the world as of 2023. It stands as an icon and symbol of Taiwan’s economic prosperity and may be the most recognizable building in Taiwan. It also features observatories on the 89th, 91st, and 101st floors with some of the best views of Taipei.
Check out our full guide to the Taipei 101 Tower here.

Top Tourist Sites In Taipei 臺北景點指南

Taipei is Taiwan’s most popular city for international tourists, and there are many attractions to choose from. However, if you have no idea what there is to see and do in Taipei, check out this list of the top attractions in Taipei.

Best Views of Taipei (Best Places to see New Year’s Fireworks) 欣賞101煙火的最佳地點

Wondering where you can find the best glimpse of the Taipei 101 fireworks? In this blog, we will share a list of the best views of Taipei 101 and therefore the best places to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. These places are also great locations to take stock photos to get less cliché photos of Taipei. Check out our full guide to the best views of Taipei here.

Taipei Museum Guide 臺北博物館指南

Taipei is full of some of the best museums in Taiwan. Besides the National Palace Museum, there are dozens of museums in Taipei that can provide you deeper insights into Taiwan’s unique history and culture. 
Check out our full Taipei Museum Guide here.

Family and Kids Guide to Taipei 家庭及小孩台北旅遊指南

Taipei is full of fun places and activities for kids. In the past few years, more and more fun parks, restaurants, museums, and theme parks have opened. In this blog, we will show you some of the funnest activities and places around Taipei that are fun for kids. 
Check out our full Taiwan Family and Kids Guide here.

Taipei Night Market Guide 臺北夜市指南

Taipei is full of vibrant night markets that will make your mouth water. With this guide, you can eat your way through Taipei’s best night markets. Sometimes one night market is not enough, so why not visit them all?
Check out our Taipei Night Market Guide here for some of the best Night Markets that we know of around Taipei.

Taipei Old Street Guide 台北老街指南

Taipei has some amazing old streets waiting to be discovered by you. Each one of the old streets around Taipei has a special story to tell that can help you understand more about Taiwan’s History and Culture. In this guide, we will introduce the most popular old streets in Taipei, as well as some that are less well-known. 
Check out our full Taiwan Old Street guide here.

Taipei Hiking and Trails Guide 台灣爬山指南

Taipei is full of very accessible hikes right next to the city center. You can find amazing views of Taipei City, as well as make some adrenaline-pumping hikes up some very steep peaks in New Taipei and Keelung. We highly recommend checking out what hikes Taipei has to offer. In this guide, we will list some of the most amazing hikes around Taipei.
Check out our full Taipei Hiking guide here.

Taipei Beach Guide 台北前10名的沙灘

Taipei is not usually known for its beaches, but there are some great beaches just outside the city on Taiwan’s Northern Coast, all within an hour’s journey from the city center. Popular activities on these beaches include swimming, surfing, windsurfing, SUPing, paragliding, snorkeling, and more.
Check out our guide to the very best beaches in Taipei here.

Taipei Waterfall Guide 台北瀑布指南

Taipei is home to some of Taiwan’s most magnificent waterfalls, and most of them are just a short trip away. In this guide we have compiled a list of the most easily accessible waterfalls around Taipei. 
Please note this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more waterfalls in Taipei than are listed in this blog. Get out there and discover Taipei’s waterfalls for yourself!

Waterfall Map:

Check out a map of Taipei’s Waterfalls below.

Taipei Festival Guide 臺北節指南

Taipei is full of festivals throughout the year. Here are a few festivals of note:

You can check out our full Taiwan Festival Guide here.

Taipei Day Trip Guide 台北一日遊景點

On your next trip to Taipei, you should not just limit your time to inside Taipei City limits. Expand your horizons and find some awesome day trips that will help you discover another part of Taiwan and appreciate this island in a new way.
Check out our guide to the best day trips that we know of around Taipei here.

Guide to the North Coast 台灣北海岸懶人包

Taiwan’s northern coast is an amazing, beautiful area with unique geology and rocks, lots of sandy beaches, amazing mountain views and hikes, old streets, night markets, historical sites, and much more to discover. Don’t not come here.
Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Guide to Beitou 北投溫泉英文指南

Beitou is Taiwan’s Premiere Hot Spring area. Originally built by the Japanese on natural hot spring water flowing down from Yangmingshan, this area is now springing with hot spring baths, hotels, museums, hikes, restaurants, and more. It is one of the best day trips near Taipei. In this guide, we will tell you how to enjoy this area like a local, and at the same time soak like Japanese royalty.
Check out our full Beitou Hot Springs guide here.

Guide to Tamsui 淡水最佳的景點

Tamsui District of New Taipei is famous for its delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well-known areas in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood. Historical places near here include Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, Tamsui Old Street, Bali Old Street, and the Shihsanhang archaeological site. There is plenty here to see and do for almost every kind of traveler. 
Check out our full guide to Tamsui here.

Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包

Pingxi District of New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations along the Pingxi Railway Line (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan’s history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place. 
Check out our full guide to Pingxi and Shifen here.

Guide to Yangmingshan

Yangmingshan National Park is a mountainous area in Taipei and New Taipei, known for its volcanic activity, hiking trails, wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and sulfur vents. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Yangmingshan National Park here.

Guide to Wulai 烏來指南

Wulai has the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan, and here you can find a street with snacks and restaurants and a gondola that leads to a second tier of the waterfall and an amusement park. In addition, there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
Check out our full guide to Wulai here.

Off the Beaten Path Locations

Guide to Nangang District of Taipei 南港區旅遊指南

Nangang District of Taipei City is quieter and less busy than nearby Xinyi District, but here you can find a relaxed atmosphere with beautiful mountains, historic buildings, museums, fun parks, great food, and a lack of crowds. Currently, Nangang is being turned into Taipei’s “next Xinyi District” and is the new artistic and cultural heart of Taipei.  It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Nangang here.

Guide to Shiding 石碇懶人包

Shiding District is a secret mountain paradise in New Taipei City, in northern Taiwan (新北市石碇區). Lots of people simply pass through here without knowing much about what there is to see. In this guide, I will show you some of the secret historical and natural destinations in this amazing place. 

Neighboring Counties and Cities Worth Checking Out:

Check here for a list of neighboring counties and cities near Taipei that make for an easy day trip from Taipei:

Keelung 基隆

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Keelung is a small city in the northern part of Taiwan, known for its deep harbor. Here you can find interesting historical sites dating back to the Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Now the town is a bustling urban area with tons of food options, amazing coastline, waterfalls, mountains, and much more to explore. It should definitely be on your bucket list of places to visit in Taiwan. 
Check out our full guide to Keelung here. ​

Yilan County 宜蘭

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Yilan is a gem on Taiwan’s northeast coast. It has rugged mountains, waterfalls, a flat coastal plain, a volcanic island, hot springs, and some of the best beaches in Taiwan. In addition you can find night markets, seafood markets, museums, and much more to explore here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan. 
Check out our full guide to Yilan here.

Miaoli 苗栗

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Miaoli is a large rural county in central Taiwan. For years I myself never visited, because I didn’t know what was there and had no reason to go. It turns out there are quite a few attractions here in this secret paradise.
Check out our full guide to Miaoli here. 

Hsinchu 新竹

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Hsinchu is not only Taiwan’s technological hub, but is also rich with historical sights, Hakka culture, and natural beauty. It has numerous old streets, preserved Japanese-era and Qing-era buildings, zoos, mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, and much more to explore. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan.
Check out our full guide to Hsinchu here. 

Taoyuan 桃園

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Taoyuan is a largely rural and industrial county in northern Taiwan, known for having Taiwan’s largest airport. But Taoyuan also has hidden treasures such as one of the best historical old streets in Taiwan, amazing seafood markets, and mountain areas to explore. 
Check out our full guide to Taoyuan here. 

Outer Islands Near Taipei 臺北附近的外島

There are a few islands near Taipei that can be easily reached via only a one-hour plane ride from Taipei Songshan Airport. For more information, see the list below or check out our full guide to Taiwan’s outer islands here.

Matsu Islands 馬祖列島

The Matsu Archipelago is a group of small islands off the coast of China that belong to Taiwan. Acting for a long time as military outposts for Taiwan, the islands have recently opened to tourists. Here you can find traditional stone house villages, magical “blue tear” bioluminescent phenomena, wild sika deer, military  museums, a Mazu memorial park including the largest Mazu statue in the world, a variety of local food, and much more to explore…(read more)

Kinmen 金門

Kinmen (aka Jinmen or Quemoy) is a group of islands off the coast of Xiamen, China, belonging to Taiwan. For years, it was the front lines and closest territory to China during the Chinese Civil War, which has not officially ended. Now that the war with China has come to a close due to the establishment of the “status quo,” Kinmen has been open to tourism, especially from China. Kinmen has the highest concentration of museums and historical buildings in almost anywhere in Taiwan, as well as local cuisine, beaches, and scenery, making it an ideal vacation destination for Taiwanese, Chinese, and other foreign tourists…
(read more).

Penghu Islands 澎湖群島

If Taiwan is the best-kept secret in Asia, then Penghu is the best-kept secret of the best-kept secret in Asia. It has just everything you could possibly want from a tropical island vacation getaway. Less than an hour plane ride from Taipei with multiple flights daily, it’s also easy to get to. We are sure that a trip to Penghu is one that you will not regret, and there will be more things to do than you could ever have time for…(read more)

You can discover endless tours and activities in Taiwan through Klook here or KKday here. 
​
For more information about Taiwan, check out our full guide to Taiwan here.

Complete List of Our Guides to Taipei:

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. 

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