Taipei Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget mealNT$100.00≈ $3.12
- Mid-range mealNT$500.00≈ $15.58
- CappuccinoNT$110.00≈ $3.43
- Domestic beerNT$100.00≈ $3.12
- Taxi (per km)NT$25.00≈ $0.78
- Public transport ticketNT$30.00≈ $0.94
- Museum entryNT$350.00≈ $10.91
- Mid-range hotel (night)NT$3,200.00≈ $99.74
Food & Drink
- Din Tai Fung (Xinyi flagship)Taiwanese/Chinese · $$
World-famous xiaolongbao chain that originated in Taipei, known for its precise 18-fold soup dumplings.
- Ay-Chung Flour-Rice NoodleStreet food · $
Ximending street stall famous for its thick, gelatinous rice noodle soup topped with pig intestine.
- Shin Yeh RestaurantTaiwanese · $$
Long-standing Taiwanese restaurant chain known for three-cup chicken and stir-fried squid with basil.
- RawContemporary Taiwanese · $$$$
Chef Andre Chiang's contemporary tasting-menu restaurant in Zhongshan, structured around seasonal chapters.
- Mingyue TangbaoTaiwanese/Chinese · $$
Popular soup dumpling spot in Da'an praised by locals as a Din Tai Fung alternative.
- Fu Hang Dou JiangTaiwanese breakfast · $
Famous breakfast counter near Shandao Temple serving soy milk and flaky scallion pancakes with egg.
- Addiction Aquatic DevelopmentSeafood · $$$
Upscale seafood market and sushi hall in Zhongshan with a sashimi bar and grill stations.
- Raohe Street Night Market
One of Taipei's oldest night markets, famous for pepper buns baked in charcoal ovens near Ciyou Temple.
- Shilin Night Market
Taipei's largest and most famous night market, packed with street food stalls and clothing vendors.
- Ounce Taipei
Award-winning cocktail bar in Da'an known for its inventive, ingredient-driven drinks menu.
- OMNI Taipei
Large multi-level nightclub in Xinyi with international DJs and a young late-night crowd.
Culture & History
- National Palace Museum
Houses one of the world's largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts, including the famed Jadeite Cabbage carving.
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Monumental hall honoring Taiwan's former president, with a changing-of-the-guard ceremony and surrounding gardens.
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Modern art museum in Zhongshan hosting the Taipei Biennial and contemporary Taiwanese exhibitions.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei
Housed in a 1921 Japanese-era school building in Datong, focused on experimental contemporary art.
- Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi
Large multiplex in the Xinyi shopping district with IMAX and premium screens.
- SPOT Taipei Film House
Art-house cinema in a former U.S. embassy residence, showing independent and classic films.
- Dragon Boat Festival
Races on the Keelung and Tamsui rivers with zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) eaten citywide.
- Taipei Summer Festival events
A season of outdoor concerts and cultural performances held in city parks and Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
Nature & Outdoors
- Fulong Beach
Popular sandy beach on the northeast coast reachable by train, known for its sand sculpture festival and river mouth.
- Shifen Waterfall
Taiwan's widest waterfall, nicknamed the 'Little Niagara,' near the sky-lantern town of Shifen.
- Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Popular short hike with a viewing platform overlooking Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline, best at sunset.
- Yangmingshan National Park
Volcanic park with hiking trails, hot springs, and sulfur vents just north of the city.
Active & Fun
- World Gym Xinyi
Large Taiwanese gym chain branch in Xinyi with weights, cardio, and group fitness classes.
- Fitness Factory Da'an
Boutique gym near Da'an Park popular with expats for personal training and functional fitness.
- Taipei Water Park
Water park in Gongguan with pools and slides built around the historic waterworks museum, popular in summer heat.
- Taipei Children's Amusement Park
Compact family theme park near Yuanshan with rides, a carousel, and a science-themed play area.