Top 25 Taipei Attractions (2023)
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and is a vibrant city waiting to be explored. Home to one of the tallest towers in the world, Taipei 101 continues to shine as an iconic monument of the country. This capital is always bustling with tourists who seek to explore it’s rich culture and heritage sites together with the night markets, that is the essence of the country. Here we list out the best 25 attraction that you should visit when you are here.
Beitou
1. Beitou Park
Beitou Park is a hot spring valley that is located in the heart of Beitou River. You will be able to reach this six hectares of land by exiting at the Xinbeitou MRT station. This is one of the popular attraction in Taipei ideal for a tranquil and relaxing getaway from the main city. The top characteristic of this park is the five small waterfalls which each sporting its own hot spring pool for dipping. During your trip here, you are free to hop into any of the public bathing springs that are available here or opt for a private session within any of the hotels that operate here.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
2. Yangmingshan National Park
This is one of the most well-known scenic spots in Taipei that is heavily frequented by tourists. Yangmingshan National Park is located in the borders of Taipei and New Taipei City and is one of the nine National Parks in Taiwan. Spanning across 114 square kilometres, it is home to Taiwan’s tallest dormant volcano, Qixiang Mountain. Nonetheless, this park boasts a beautiful natural landscape and is known for its cherry blossom sightings from February to March. The park also offers a few hiking trails for avid hikers to surmount new territories, with each path providing an equally stunning panoramic view at the top.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
Daan
3. Daan Forest Park
Situated in the centre of Daan district, Daan Forest Park is a vast green space that occupies 26 hectares of land. This park is the lungs of Taipei and is densely planted with flowers and trees. Resembling New York City’s Central Park, Daan Forest Park is also a recreational space for city-dwellers to relax. There is plenty you can do here from people watching to jogging and join local group exercise activities that teach tai chi, martial arts and dance lessons.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Datong
4. Ningxia Night Market
Ningxia Night Market is a locals night market that is located 8 minutes away from Shuanglian Station. This night market mainly focuses on two things, the street food and also the mini carnival games offering light entertainment to visitors. No matter rain or shine, the market is open every day thanks to the permanent structure that was built to provide shelter on both sides of the street. As it is no secret that all night markets in Taiwan centres on food, so why not try out the delicacies that are served here such as the grilled king oysters, braised beef noodles and fried taro balls with chicken floss and salted egg yolk stuffing.
Operating Hours: Daily, 5:00pm – 1:00am
Ticket Price(s): Free
Pingxi
5. Shifen Old Street
Situated in Pingxi district is another old street you will have to visit. Many people visit this place to catch a glimpse of the famous train station and the active railway tracks that goes through the town. Another highlight of this town will be the sky lanterns. You can purchase one of these lanterns and have your wishes written on it before releasing them into the air. It is not just a tourist gimmick but releasing sky lanterns symbolises good luck and hope to have the messages fly to the heavens, near enough for God to see them.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
6. Shifen Waterfall
Located not too far from Jiufen, Shifen is another old town famous for its gorgeous waterfall. The walk to the waterfall is long but scenic with the walk easy on the well-maintained wooden pathway. There will be plenty of stairs to climb, but once you hear the water splashing, you know that it is close by. This 40 metres high curtain waterfall is magnificent and is known throughout the country. This place offers a few platforms for visitors to appreciate the waterfall from different angles and proximity.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to your rates.
Renai
7. Keelung Miaokou Night Market
Located on the northern side of Taiwan, Keelung Miaokou Night Market is another night market famous for its food, but more specifically their seafood dishes. The travelling time takes up to 40 minutes, but the long journey will be worth it once you get there. This place comes alive at night, bustling with people from all over to catch a nice dinner. Some of the famous dishes are grilled meat, squids, shellfish and crab soup that is sold out very fast.
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday, 12:00pm – 12:00am | Sunday, 8:00am – 12:00am
Ticket Price(s): Free
Ruifang
8. Bitou Cape
One of the Three Capes of North Taiwan, Bitou Cape is a coastal mountain site that is popular for its scenic trails. Trekking through the rocky steps at the side of the cape, the journey to the end will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. Surrounded by greens and rocky cliffs, Bitou Cape offers three trails which each of paths well built and maintained. The trail though arduous but to be able to see the beautiful panoramic view of this place is undoubtedly worth it.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
9. Jiufen
Jiufen is a small town that is located in a gold mining mountain area in Ruifang district which can be accessed by a train and bus ride. This quaint town is always bustling with tourist wanting to catch a glimpse of this exotic ancient street. There are plenty of tea houses around the area, and A-mei is by far the most famous of the lot. You will be able to recognise the tea house by the vibrant red lanterns that decorate the exterior of the building. With the place so beautiful and unique, it had captured and inspired Hayao Miyazaki during the making of Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed Spirited Away when he visited Jiufen.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
Shilin
10. Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is the largest and most well-known night market in Taiwan that is situated near to Jiantan Station. Shilin might be the most touristy night market and items sold here are priced slightly higher compared to other night markets in town. Nonetheless, this is an excellent option to understand the culture and taste a myriad of Taiwanese flavours. You stroll through the 539 stalls here selling clothes, homeware, local products and many more. As for food, it offers a variety of Taiwanese snack, but the must-try snacks will be the infamous oyster omelette and the giant fried chicken fillet.
Operating Hours: Daily, 5:00pm – 1:00am
Ticket Price(s): Free
11. Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
Taipei Children’s Amusement Park is one of the most popular spots for families to visit. Located just a few minutes away from the Shilin Station, this park consists of three main zones, Dream Ocean, Toy Soldier and Fantasy Forest. Spanning across 5 hectares of land, there are a variety of fun and thrilling rides that is suitable to be enjoyed by the whole family. You can ride on the Ocean Carousel, Wave Swinger, Roller Coaster and many more. On weekends and public holidays, head to the theatre as educational and lively shows are performed to entertain the kids.
Operating Hours: Weekday, 9:00am – 5:00pm | Weekend, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – NT$30 | Child – NT$15
Songshan
12. Raohe Night Market
Just located across the street of Songshan Station is one of the oldest Taiwan Night Markets. Raohe Night Market is the essence of Taiwan night markets offering a variety of delicious local cuisines. This night market is 600 metres long and is packed with food stalls while historical Buddhist temples are surrounding the site. This night market is always bustling with people, and you can quickly identify popular food by the long queue. Some of the things you must try are the Fuzhou pepper buns, deep-fried milk cubes and the shaved ice with glutinous rice balls. Grilled seafood is also a galore here from squids to scallops and yummy abalones as well.
Operating Hours: Daily, 4:00pm – 12:00am
Ticket Price(s): Free
Tamsui
13. Fort San Domingo
Fort San Domingo is a National Historical site in Taiwan and has been around since 1628. It was formerly built as a wooden fort by the Spanish Empire and was continuously managed by the Dutch, British, Japanese, Australia and America before returning it to China in 1980. This popular tourist attraction that is perch on the hillside overlooking the Danshui River is a popular attraction, with many curious people wanting to learn about Taiwanese history. During your visit here, you will be able to see the fort and explore the red Victorian Mansion that which was formerly a British Consul’s residence.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
14. Danshui Old Street
Just 40 minutes away from Taipei Main City, Danshui Old Street is a heritage street that is situated by the Tamsui River. This is a peaceful waterfront area with many unique finds around the town. There are plenty of shops that sell the infamous preserved black herbal eggs, brown sugar tea and also local handmade crafts that can only be found here. During your visit, you should also try out Danshui speciality food such as fishballs and Ai-ge tofu that is stuffed with glass noodle and fish paste. You can also take a 20 minutes ferry ride to the nearby Fisherman’s wharf where you will get to see to the infamous Lover Bridge of Tamsui.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Wanhua
15. Lungshan Temple
Built in 1738 by Fujian settlers, Lungshan Temple is one of the largest and oldest temples in Taiwan. This place is famous because this temple is dedicated to not only one faith but offers the devotees of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist a place to worship. One of the main highlights of the temple is the Matchmaking god that resides here. People often visit to offer their prayers and requests for a successful and happy love life.
Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
16. Ximending
Ximending is the heart of Taipei’s shopping scene. Attracting youths from all over, Ximending is a vibrant entertainment and a must-visit shopping hub. You will get to see a myriad of bars, restaurants and boutiques offering local and international products. Along the alleys, you can also curb your cravings for good Taiwanese street food as you will be able to find the infamous Ah Zong Mian Xian vermicelli noodle, 50 Lan’s bubble tea and the mince meat rice dish.
Operating Hours: Daily, 11:00am – 12:00am
Ticket Price(s): Free
Wenshan
17. Maokong Gondola
The best way to appreciate the landscape of Taipei will have to be through riding the Maokong Gondola. This gondola system is the first in Taiwan and measures at 4.03 kilometres long. There are four substations where you can stop either at the Taipei Zoo Station, Taipei Zoo South Station, Zhinan Temple Station, and the Maokong Station. The journey up is very picturesque as you will be able to see mountains, nature terrains and the Jingmei River in this 30 minutes journey. The three best recommended time to ride the gondola is after it rains, during sunset and at night when you can see the city lights gleaming from afar.
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9:30am – 8:30pm | Saturday – Sunday, 8:30am – 9:30pm
Ticket Price(s): From NT$70 onwards.
18. Taipei Zoo
Taipei Zoo is the largest Zoo in Asia and is also one of the most popular attractions in Taiwan. To get to this place, you will have to hop on the Wenshan-Neihu MRT Line and stop at the station with the same name. The Zoo has been in operation since 1914 and is consist of seven indoor and eight outdoor exhibits where you will get to see a collection of insects, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. Spanning across 165 hectares of land, it is home to 400 animal species, and the highlight has to be the two giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan which was sent by China on an animal exchange program.
Operating Hours: Weekday, 9:00am – 5:00pm | Weekend, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – NT$60 | Child – NT$30
Wulai
19. Wulai Hot Springs
Located an hour away from Taipei City, this is a small town that is located in the south region. Upon reaching this area, you will be amazed with the deep turquoise Nanshi River that flows across the town. Wulai is another district that is renowned for its natural hot springs where you will be able to find many facilities and homestays that offers a private bathing area. Not only will the minerals sooth your skin problems and keep them moist, but it also has a calming effect to all that get a chance to take a dip here.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Xinyi
20. Elephant Mountain
Elephant Mountain or Xiangshan by the locals is a mountain area where you will get to see the best 360 views of the Taipei City. Situated at 183 metres high, you will be able to access this mountain by taking the red MRT line to Xiangshan Station. The trail is 1.5 kilometres long and only take 20 minutes to get to the top. The place is equipped with plenty of facilities to allow you an enjoyable and comfortable journey up.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 9.30pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
21. Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is an iconic skyscraper in Taiwan that stands at 508 metres high. Resembling a stalk of bamboo, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world up till 2010. This magnificent structure is home to offices, luxurious shopping malls and an observation deck that is situated on the 88th to the 91st floor. On the 91st floor, you can view the spire when you step out of the building. It is indeed mesmerising but be careful as the winds can get very strong up there.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
22. Wufenpu Shopping District
Wufenpu Shopping District is a shopping paradise for ladies that is located 5 minutes away from Houshanpi Station. One of the largest fashion districts, you will get to browse through 1,000 over shops that sell apparels that are of the latest trend. Most of them also operate as a wholesaler, where you will get more saving if you purchase more items from the same shop. Even though the marketplace is open every day, we would suggest you to not visit on Mondays as new stocks arrive then thus they will be too busy to attend to you.
Operating Hours: Daily, 1:30pm – 11:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
Zhongshan
23. Miramar Ferris Wheel
Miramar Ferris Wheel is an iconic Ferris wheel that is perch on the top of the Miramar Entertainment Park. Standing at 100 meters tall, this is the first Ferris wheel in Taiwan that was built on a rooftop. There are a total of 48 gondolas, and the whole round will take approximately 17 minutes. The view from the Ferris wheel is breathtaking, as you will be able to see the panoramic view of the city. If you are up for an adventure, why not try out the glass floor gondola and have see the world beneath your feet.
Operating Hours: Daily, 11:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Weekday, Adult – NT$150 | Child – NT$120 & Weekend, Adult – NT$200 | Child – NT$150
Zhongzheng
24. National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Encompassing 250,000 square meters of land, National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the most famous attractions to visit when in Taipei. This is a National monument which was built in remembrance of Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China. The building is painted in shades of white and blue that embodies the dominant colours in the Republic of China flag, which stands at 76 metres tall. Within the monument, you will find documentation of Chiang Kai-shek’s life and his career that is tightly intertwined with Taiwan history here in the museum.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
25. National Taiwan Museum
Built during the Japanese colonisation era in 1908, the National Taiwan Museum is the oldest in Taiwan. The Historic Site is divided into five exhibits – anthropology, botany, earth sciences, education and zoology. The building was designed resembling a Gothic church with 32 tall columns, high dome ceilings and stained glass windows. This is a perfect place to learn of the country’s history and development through the extensive collection of artefacts, pictures and relics.
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – NT$350 | Child – Free
Taipei is a street food paradise where food can be found in every street and corner of the city. The local flavours will tantalise your tastebuds, offering you a gourmet experience like no other in Asia. Not only that, Taipei is also famous for its natural areas such as hot springs in Beitou and Wulai district; with each providing you a relax and rejuvenating getaway. From shopping to ancient museums to stunning temples, Taipei has something for everyone. So come and explore this city today.