Taipei
Discover Taipei
Taipei (臺北; Tâi-pak in Taiwanese, Táiběi in Mandarin) is the capital of Taiwan and a major global city. Located in the north of the island, nestled in a basin between the Yangming and Central Mountains, Taipei serves as the financial, cultural, and political heart of Taiwan. The city is a vibrant blend of Chinese heritage infused with strong Japanese and American influences—distinct in character yet refreshingly unhurried by global urban standards. Beyond well-known attractions like Taipei 101 and Ximending, the city offers a rich cultural landscape that includes traditional tea houses, art galleries, bustling night markets, and historical landmarks. Green spaces abound, from inner-city parks to nearby natural areas easily reached by public transit or car.
What to Experience in Taipei
Taste of Taipei...
Taipei is a foodie's paradise. Almost every street and alley offers some kind of eatery. Although Taiwanese cuisine is primarily based on the cuisine of southern Fujian, the huge influx of Kuomintang refugees from mainland China after losing the Chinese Civil War means that Taipei is also one of the best places in the world to sample regional cuisines from all over China, with many of these also having been given a unique Taiwanese twist. In addition, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Italian cuisines are also popular. Basically, East Taipei, especially around Dunhua and Anhe Roads, and also the expat enclave of Tianmu are where to clash chopsticks with the rich and famous, whereas West Taipei offers more smaller, homey restaurants. Convenience stores are open 24/7 and are extremely useful for travelers. You can buy cheap meals, withdraw cash, and buy toiletries. There are several night markets (夜市) in each district. Some are open during daytime, and all are open until around midnight. Night markets consist of restaurants and stores at the permanent locations and little booths along the center. Every night market has a huge variety of food, so a visit to any one is a good bet for good food. A lot of Taiwanese street food didn't actually originate in Taipei, but any popular xiaochi (small snack) eventually makes their way up to the capital.
Climate
Taipei has a semi-tropical climate characterized by hot and humid weather. The most comfortable season to visit is the fall, when the rainfall is at its lowest and the temperatures average a pleasant mid 20 °C. February to April are particularly damp with little sunlight, while the summers can be very hot and humid, but often punctuated by heavy thunder showers. Taipei is prone to typhoons from May to October, though the highest concentrations are in August and September. Summer temperatures average around 34 °C (93 °F) during the day, sometimes climbing up to 36 °C (97 °F) or higher, and typically around 27 °C (81 °F) at night, with some nights around 28 °C (82 °F). The humidity can make these summer temperatures feel much hotter, it typically feels like 40 °C (104 °F) during the day and 29 °C (84 °F) under average humidity levels. The hottest, most humid days of the summer can feel like 48 °C (118 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F) at night, in cases of extreme humidity and heat.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Taoyuan Airport MRT rail is the fastest travel option fo/from the airport. Other options, listed from cheapest to most expensive: There is a night service, although it's really hard to find information about it. Best source is the airport website. As of February 2012 there is overnight bus service to Taipei Railway station at the following times 01:30, 03:00 for Terminal 1 (exit B5), add 10 mins for Terminal 2 (bus station, 1819 stand). Ticket can be purchased from the driver - NT$165. Another bus at 04:00, Wednesday & Saturday at Terminal 2, is unconfirmed. From the Taipei Railway you can take overnight train to connect to other cities or bus from the adherent bus station. It takes about 55 min from the airport to the city (at night). All inter-city trains, operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration (臺鐵) and Taiwan High Speed Rail (臺灣高鐵), arrive at and depart from 25.0478121....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Taipei City has a very clean, efficient and safe Mass Rapid Transit system known most commonly as the MRT, but also called Metro Taipei (臺北捷運). Fares are between NT$20 and NT$65 for one-way trips around town. It has been widely lauded as one of the most reliable and efficient systems in the world, and is often cited as a gold standard to which Metro systems around the world should aspire to. Stations are clearly identified in English as well as Chinese. All stops are announced in four languages: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. All stations have information booth/ticket offices close to the ticket vending machines. There is no eating or drinking while in the stations or on the trains. There are priority seats. If you need a seat, there are stickers offered at the information booth that allow passengers to identify those in need. Trains generally run from 06:00 to 00:00, with convenient bus connections outside the stations.
Where to Stay
Taipei offers an important number of various accommodations ranging from basic dorms to 5-star luxury hotels. See the districts articles to read detailed listings. Tourists sleeping one night in Taipei might want to stay in Zhongzheng, near the Main Train Station, where many budget accommodations can be found. Hostels can be found in the old Taipei area. Hotels around the Ximending area would be convenient for those wanting to eat, shop and party all in one area. Business travelers would probably prefer to stay in Xinyi, the financial district, where many luxury hotels are found. The Grand Hotel in Zhongshan, built back when Chiang Kai-shek decided there wasn't a suitable hotel in which to welcome foreign dignitaries, may appeal to those interested in classical Chinese architecture and history. 10% service fee and 5% VAT are usually not included in the top end hotel rates.
Money & Budget
It has been said that Los Angeles has no center. In contrast, one could say that Taipei is all center, and as such it has been given the epithet - "the emporium without end." Basically, however, the main shopping area can be divided into two districts: East and West. West Taipei is the old city and is characterized by narrow streets packed with small shops. East Taipei boasts wide tree lined boulevards and the biggest shopping malls are in this area. The busiest part of East Taipei is in between MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua Station and MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station (Bannan Line). The axis of this shopping area is Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 4, which is surrounded by numerous department stores. SOGO has three branches in this area, mainly sales various of boutique.
Language & Talk
Taipei is a city of people from many different origins, most of the Chinese population can be divided between those whose families arrived in Taiwan during the 17th to 19th centuries, and those who came over with the ROC government after the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s and 1950s. While Mandarin is the lingua franca, and is spoken and understood by most people under the age of 60, other Chinese languages can be commonly heard as well. Among the earlier immigrant groups, while speakers of Taiwanese form the majority, there is also a significant number of Hakka-speakers living in Taipei. English is compulsory in all Taiwanese schools, and most people under the age of 40 will have at least a basic grasp of English. Learning some Mandarin and/or Taiwanese will make your trip much smoother.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Taipei is one of the safest cities you will ever visit, and violent crime is extremely rare. Most people, including female travellers, will not encounter any problems roaming the streets alone at night. However, while not as rampant as in major European cities, pickpockets operate in crowded areas, so you should be vigilant of your belongings, particularly in night markets. Homeless people tend to congregate near Taipei Main Station. While most of them are harmless and will not bother you, you may want to avoid the area late at night if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Walking while smoking can result in a penalty fee. Local police are a resource you can turn for help, and many officers speak at least basic English. As the People's Republic of China (PRC) does not allow other countries to have diplomatic relations with both itself and the ROC on Taiwan, many of the world's nations do not have official embassies or consulates in Taiwan.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Taipei
city skyline during night time
Taipei from Elephant Mountain, Taiwan
Toy Cranes and Pork Buns!
Night Views of Taipei with Taipei 101
architectural photography of city buildings
assorted-color cars on road
city skyline under blue sky during daytime
Taipei City at sunset
Skyline view of Taipei with Taipei 101 taken from Elephant Mountain
Sunset over Taipei City
city skyline during night time
Taipei from Elephant Mountain, Taiwan
Toy Cranes and Pork Buns!