Taipei Travel Guide
By China On Arrival Editorial Desk · Checked and updated · Research basis: Editor research
At a glance
A compact, friendly capital built around night markets, steaming beef-noodle shops and the National Palace Museum imperial collection - ride the MRT to Taipei 101, soak in Beitou hot springs, then cable-car up Maokong for tea, all on one EasyCard.
Suggested stay: 2-3 days · Airports: TPE (Taoyuan) / TSA (Songshan) · Train hubs: Taipei Main Station (MRT + rail + HSR + airport line hub) / Banqiao (HSR, New Taipei) / Nangang (east-coast HSR)
What is Taipei known for?
- Taipei 101 observatory
- Shilin & Raohe night markets
- National Palace Museum
- Beitou public hot springs
- Elephant Mountain ridge walk
How do you arrive in Taipei?
TPE (Taoyuan) and TSA (Songshan) handle the international arrivals; Taipei Main Station (MRT + rail + HSR + airport line hub) is the high-speed rail entry point.
Where should you stay in Taipei?
Ximending is the default first-timer base — first-timers - central, walk to Ximen MRT, endless street food. Before paying, check the property's guest policy and, for smaller hotels, confirm the front desk can register a foreign passport — licensing rules still exclude some budget properties. Hotel-by-hotel picks: where to stay in Taipei →
| Area | Best for | The honest note |
|---|---|---|
| Ximending | first-timers - central, walk to Ximen MRT, endless street food | The youth district: Red House, cinema street, noodle lines, night market energy at the door; two MRT lines cross here |
| Xinyi & Taipei 101 | skyline seekers - 101 views, department-store food courts, East-end shopping | The modern face: 101 observatory, bar floors, linked malls; quieter at night than Ximending |
| Zhongzheng (Main Station / CKS Memorial) | museum walkers and rail riders - walk to the Memorial Hall, first train out | Government-quarter calm, broad walkways, the cheapest business hotels near the station |
Area picks are editor research, verified — not sponsored placements. Book through the links below to support this site.
How do you get in from the airport?
TPE: Airport MRT Express runs direct to Taipei Main in 35-39 min, NT$160 (about $5), 06:00-22:55 - after 23:00 take bus 1819 instead (NT$135-140, 24h); taxi NT$1,100-1,600. TSA Songshan sits on the Brown Line inside the city, 15-20 min MRT to Taipei 101.
Plan your trip around these questions
- 🔍 The 3-day Taipei itinerary
- 🔍 Which hotels can foreigners book
- 🔍 Paying without a Chinese bank card
- 🔍 Landing with data: eSIM setup
Explore the Taipei guides below, organised around the questions travelers ask before booking.
Which cities pair with Taipei?
- 🔗 Hongkong-macau — direct flights 1.5 h