Quick Answer
Taipei is the cleanest, friendliest Asian capital and a food city to its core. Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, the National Palace Museum's Chinese imperial collection, and day trips to Jiufen and Yehliu cover the highlights. Hotels start from $80/night. October through April has the best weather, and the food scene is the actual reason to come.
Explore Taipei in Detail
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Hotel listings for Taipei are currently being updated.
Top Tours in Taipei
Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu Day Trip
Coach to the Yehliu Geopark rock formations, Jiufen Old Street tea houses, Shifen waterfall, and sky lantern releases. Includes hotel pickup.
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Taipei Night Market Food Tour
Local guide walks you through Raohe Street or Shilin Night Market with stops for stinky tofu, oyster omelet, beef noodle soup, mango shaved ice, and bubble tea.
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Taipei 101 Observatory Skip-the-Line
Skip-the-line entry to the 89th-floor observatory and the tuned mass damper viewing room, plus access to the outdoor 91st-floor deck.
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The experiences travelers come back to Taipei for, year after year.
Itineraries for Taipei
Day-by-day plans built by travelers who actually went.
Taipei in 3 Days
The essential first-time itinerary — the must-sees you came for, plus the local moments you came home talking about.
Taipei for Couples
Quiet mornings, slow dinners, and the views the brochures don't show. Built for two.
Taipei with Kids
Activities everyone enjoys, restaurants that welcome little ones, and downtime built into the plan.
Getting Around Taipei
Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore Taipei at your own pace. Compare rates from all major suppliers in one search.
Best Time to Visit Taipei
Best months to visit Taipei: April–June and September–October offer mild weather and fewer crowds. July–August is peak season. December–February is coldest but cheapest.
Why Visit Taipei?
Taipei is the city that quietly takes the title of Asia’s friendliest, cleanest, and best-fed capital. The metro is spotless, locals will walk you to your destination if you ask, and there’s a night market within walking distance from almost any hotel.
The National Palace Museum holds the most important collection of Chinese imperial art in the world (taken from Beijing in 1949 by the retreating Nationalists). The Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone are tiny but you’ll wait in line for them. Taipei 101 was briefly the world’s tallest building (until 2009) and the observatory on the 89th floor includes the tuned mass damper, an 800-ton steel ball that stabilizes the tower in earthquakes. Longshan Temple, in the older Wanhua district, is the city’s most atmospheric place of worship. Shilin Night Market is the largest and most famous, but Raohe Night Market is smaller and arguably better. Beyond the urban food scene, Jiufen (the inspiration for Spirited Away’s bath house) is 90 minutes north by bus, perched on hills above the coast with tea houses and old-style streets. Yehliu Geopark has the bizarre Queen’s Head rock formations. Sun Moon Lake is the country’s largest body of water, 3 hours south. Taiwan also has serious hot spring culture and Beitou, on the MRT, has affordable public baths in volcanic mineral water.
Frequently Asked Questions — Taipei
How much do hotels in Taipei cost?
Hostels start at $20/night for private rooms. 3-star hotels run $80-$140. 4-star hotels are $140-$280. Luxury 5-star hotels like Mandarin Oriental Taipei or W Taipei are $400-$900/night.
When is the best time to visit Taipei?
October through April delivers the most pleasant weather (60s-70s, dry). May through September is hot, humid, and typhoon-prone. December has Christmas lights at Banqiao. Chinese New Year (Jan or Feb) shuts down the city for 3 days.
How many days do I need in Taipei?
Three days for the city itself: museums, Taipei 101, two night markets, and a temple. Four to five days lets you add Jiufen and a day trip to Yehliu or Sun Moon Lake. Pairs well with a Taroko Gorge weekend if you have a week.
Is Taipei safe for tourists?
Taipei is among the safest large cities in the world. Violent crime is essentially nonexistent. Petty theft is rare. Solo female travel is very comfortable. Tap water is generally safe but most locals drink bottled or filtered.
What area should I stay in?
Xinyi for business travelers and Taipei 101 proximity. Ximending for younger, livelier streets and the cheapest hotels. Zhongshan for upscale department stores and easy MRT access. Da'an for residential calm and excellent restaurants.
How do I get around Taipei?
The MRT (metro) is world-class: clean, English signs, and covers everything tourists need. Get an EasyCard on arrival for transport and convenience stores. The MRT runs to Taoyuan Airport in 35 minutes. Taxis are cheap and meter-honest.
What food should I try in Taipei?
Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) at Din Tai Fung (the original), beef noodle soup at Yong Kang, bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang (the inventor), pineapple cakes at SunnyHills, oyster omelet at any night market, and pepper buns near Longshan Temple.