Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, a dense and walkable city of night markets, hot springs, temples, and mountain trails set in a basin ringed by green hills. Its skyline is anchored by Taipei 101, while the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art. Taipei pairs an efficient metro, a famously food-obsessed street culture, and easy access to hot springs and tea-growing hills within the city limits.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Taipei.
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1
Taipei 101
508 m tower, world's tallest building 2004-2010, with an indoor observatory on floors 88-91 (NT$600) and the open-air Skyline 460 on floor 101 (combined NT$980, about $31). Houses a 660-tonne tuned mass damper visible from the 88th floor.
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2
National Palace Museum
Home to roughly 700,000 pieces of Chinese imperial art moved from Beijing's Forbidden City in 1949, including the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone. One of the world's major Chinese art collections.
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3
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Blue-tiled, white marble memorial completed in 1980 and set in Liberty Square between the National Theater and National Concert Hall. The guard-change ceremony runs hourly, and a museum inside covers Chiang Kai-shek's life.
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4
Longshan Temple
Buddhist and Taoist temple founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, rebuilt after wartime bombing. Known for carved dragon pillars and a crowded, active worship hall.
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5
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's largest and best-known night market, with the food hall in the Shilin Market Building, oyster omelettes, fried chicken cutlets and street games. Arrive on a weekday to avoid the densest crowds.
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6
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Short steep stair climb of around 600 stairs to the classic viewing platforms with the Taipei 101 skyline. About 20-30 minutes to the main viewing spot.
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7
Beitou Thermal Valley
A sulfur hot-spring pond with steaming green water that is the source of Beitou's hot springs. Bathing is not permitted; the area is for viewing only.
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8
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
Former 1913 public bathhouse built in Japanese-era style, now a museum with a Roman-style bath and tatami hall. Pairs well with a nearby public hot spring.
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9
Maokong Gondola
Cable car from Taipei Zoo to Maokong, a hillside tea-growing area with tea houses and city views. One-way fares start around NT$70 on EasyCard for shorter sections; verify the full-line fare.
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10
Dihua Street
Historic Qing- and Japanese-era trading street in Dadaocheng, lined with traditional herbal medicine, dried goods and tea shops. Center of the Lunar New Year goods market.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Taipei 101
508 m tower, world's tallest building 2004-2010, with an indoor observatory on floors 88-91 (NT$600) and the open-air Skyline 460 on floor 101 (combined NT$980, about $31)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Blue-tiled, white marble memorial completed in 1980 and set in Liberty Square between the National Theater and National Concert Hall
Presidential Office Building
Red-brick Japanese-era building completed in 1919 as the Governor-General's office and now the president's office
Museums
National Palace Museum
Home to roughly 700,000 pieces of Chinese imperial art moved from Beijing's Forbidden City in 1949, including the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
Former 1913 public bathhouse built in Japanese-era style, now a museum with a Roman-style bath and tatami hall
National Taiwan Museum
Taiwan's oldest museum, founded in 1908 and housed in a neoclassical building in 228 Peace Memorial Park
Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Taiwan's first museum for modern and contemporary art, with rotating exhibitions and a sculpture garden
Temples
Longshan Temple
Buddhist and Taoist temple founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, rebuilt after wartime bombing
Xingtian Temple
Guan Gong temple, one of the busiest in Taipei
Taipei Confucius Temple
Quiet Confucian temple built in 1939 in Southern Fujian style, with a calm courtyard
Baoan Temple
Taoist temple dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, restored after 1995 and awarded a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage prize in 2003
Markets
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's largest and best-known night market, with the food hall in the Shilin Market Building, oyster omelettes, fried chicken cutlets and street games
Dihua Street
Historic Qing- and Japanese-era trading street in Dadaocheng, lined with traditional herbal medicine, dried goods and tea shops
Ningxia Night Market
Compact night market known for local snacks such as oyster omelet, taro balls and Michelin-listed stalls
Raohe Street Night Market
One of Taipei's oldest night markets, with a covered strip, pepper buns and a temple entrance at one end (Ciyou Temple)
Natures
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Short steep stair climb of around 600 stairs to the classic viewing platforms with the Taipei 101 skyline
Beitou Thermal Valley
A sulfur hot-spring pond with steaming green water that is the source of Beitou's hot springs
Guandu Nature Park
Wetland reserve near the Tamsui River with birdwatching hides and mudflats
Attractions
Maokong Gondola
Cable car from Taipei Zoo to Maokong, a hillside tea-growing area with tea houses and city views
Taipei Zoo
Largest zoo in Taiwan, with pandas, koalas and a large Formosa-animal area
Culturals
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Former 1914 sake distillery turned arts complex with cafes, galleries, a small cinema and exhibitions
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
1937 tobacco factory converted into a design hub with exhibition halls, Eslite Spectrum's store and a landscaped pond
Ximending
Pedestrian shopping and entertainment district with street fashion, cinemas, the Red House and Taipei's LGBT bar scene
Treasure Hill Artist Village
Squatter village on a hillside saved from demolition and turned into an artist residency, with galleries and cafes overlooking the Xindian river
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums open 9:00-17:00 and many close on Mondays; temples open from early morning to about 22:00; night markets from around 17:00
- Fees
- Taipei 101 observatory NT$600 (about $19), National Palace Museum NT$350 (about $11); most temples, parks and night markets are free
- Best Times
- October-December and March-April for mild, clearer weather; typhoon season (July-September) can cancel viewpoint visits
- Booking
- Buy Taipei 101 tickets on the official site taipei-101.com.tw or at the counter; use an EasyCard for MRT, buses and YouBike
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Tap an EasyCard or contactless card for MRT, buses and the gondola
Many museums close Mondays; check official sites before going
Rain is frequent, so pair indoor stops such as the National Palace Museum with outdoor ones in dry spells
Prices here convert at 31.8 TWD per USD
Frequently asked questions
How much is Taipei 101 observatory?
Standard admission is NT$600 (about $19) for floors 88-91; the Skyline 460 combo is NT$980 (about $31).
Is the National Palace Museum worth visiting?
Yes; it holds about 700,000 Chinese imperial artefacts. Adult admission is NT$350 (about $11).