Taipei is one of Asia's best-kept secrets. The Taiwanese capital offers world-class food at street stall prices, ancient temples beside modern towers, natural hot springs within the city limits, and some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. It's clean, safe, efficient, and endlessly fascinating - a city that rewards slow exploration.
Top Attractions
Taipei 101
The 508-meter tower was the world's tallest from 2004-2010 and remains an engineering marvel. Its design resembles a bamboo stalk - a symbol of growth in Chinese culture. The 730-ton tuned mass damper (world's largest) stabilizes the building in typhoons and earthquakes. The elevator rockets to the 89th floor in 37 seconds.
Visitor Information
- Admission: NT$600 (89th floor), NT$1,200 (outdoor 91st floor)
- Hours: 9am-10pm (last entry 9:15pm)
- Tip: Visit at sunset for day and night views
- Shopping: Basement has a massive food court and mall
Shilin Night Market
Taiwan's most famous night market is a sensory overload of sizzling woks, carnival games, and endless food stalls. The underground food court alone has hundreds of vendors. Must-tries: stinky tofu, oyster omelette, pepper buns, and the XXL chicken cutlet. Open nightly from 4pm to midnight.
Longshan Temple
This 280-year-old temple survived WWII bombing and an earthquake. Watch devotees practice traditional rituals - throwing crescent-shaped divination blocks, burning incense, and making offerings. The intricate roof carvings, dragon columns, and stone sculptures are exquisite examples of Chinese temple architecture.
Jiufen Old Street
This mountainside village was a gold mining town that now draws visitors with its narrow alleyways, red lanterns, and Japanese-era teahouses. The stunning views over the Pacific Ocean are best at sunset. Local legend says it inspired the bathhouse in Miyazaki's Spirited Away (though officially denied).
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
A 20-minute hike up steep steps rewards you with the most famous view of Taipei - the 101 tower framed by the city skyline. Come before sunset to secure your spot among photographers. The trail is well-maintained and lit, making sunset/night hikes safe and popular.
Beitou Hot Springs
Taiwan sits on volcanic hot springs, and Beitou offers natural thermal baths just 30 minutes from downtown by metro. Visit the free public foot baths, splurge on a private hot spring hotel, or see the surreal green Beitou Hot Spring Museum. The Hell Valley thermal spring reaches 100°C.
Taipei Food Guide
Taipei is a street food paradise. Night markets are the heart of Taiwanese food culture, where you'll find everything from stinky tofu to Michelin-recommended dishes for under $5. The city also has an incredible fine dining scene and invented bubble tea.
Must-Try Dishes
Beef Noodle Soup
Taiwan's national dish - braised beef in rich broth with chewy noodles. Hours of simmering create deep flavor. NT$150-250.
Try: Lin Dong Fang or Yongkang Beef Noodles
Xiao Long Bao
Soup dumplings with scalding hot broth inside. Din Tai Fung started here and is now a global chain. NT$200-300.
Try: Din Tai Fung (original) or Hangzhou Xiaolong
Bubble Tea
Taiwan invented it in the 1980s. Chewy tapioca pearls in sweet milk tea. Now a global phenomenon. NT$40-70.
Try: Chen San Ding or 50 Lan
Stinky Tofu
Deep-fried fermented tofu - smells strong but tastes crispy and delicious with pickled cabbage. NT$50-80.
Try: Any night market stall with a queue
Lu Rou Fan
Braised pork rice - minced pork belly simmered in soy sauce over rice. Simple comfort food perfection. NT$35-50.
Try: Jin Feng or Formosa Chang
Gua Bao
Taiwanese pork belly bun - the original "Asian taco." Soft bun with braised pork, pickled greens, peanuts. NT$50-70.
Try: Lan Jia or any night market
Practical Information
Getting Around
- MRT: Fast, clean, efficient. NT$20-65 per trip
- EasyCard: Rechargeable card for MRT, buses, convenience stores
- YouBike: Bike-share with stations everywhere. NT$10/30 mins
- Taxis: Cheap and honest. Base fare NT$70
Budget Guide (Per Day)
- Budget: NT$1,500-2,500 (hostels, night market food, MRT)
- Mid-range: NT$3,500-5,500 (3-star hotels, restaurants, tours)
- Luxury: NT$8,000+ (5-star hotels, fine dining, experiences)
Best Time to Visit
- Oct-Dec: Best weather, comfortable temperatures
- Mar-May: Spring, cherry blossom season
- Jun-Sep: Hot and humid, typhoon season
- Feb: Lantern Festival - spectacular!
Interactive Map
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Key Attractions on Map
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