Taipei is Taiwan's capital, as well as its most advanced and vibrant city. It is usually the first stop for most international visitors. In this guide, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this amazing city.
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taipei to those who have never been there. Brief Historical Background of Taipei: The land on which Taipei now stands on what was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers ever came. Chinese settlers from Fujian began living here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s. The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800's during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕) which also became the central market in the area. The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei. Most of the buildings were one story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later western style houses were built. The walls and gates of Taipei were completed in 1884. In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed. During the Japanese era, in 1904 the walls of Taipei were destroyed after less than 30 years, and Taipei was re-planned into the capital of Taiwan. After the ROC took control of Taiwan, Taipei continued as the capital city, as well as the financial hub of Taiwan. During the Taiwan miracle, many rural families moved from southern Taiwan to factories and offices in Taipei, making Taipei the most populous urban area in Taiwan. Currently, Taipei is the most advanced and affluent city in Taiwan. It also has Taiwan's most advanced public transportation system, making it easy for millions of commuters to live outside the city where rents are cheaper. Now, most of Taiwan's economic activity is based in this city. Basic Taipei Travel Tips:
When should you go to Taipei? In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October - November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain. Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year. Hotels in Taipei: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), which are all very high quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City. We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours in Taipei: There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. Here are some of the most popular tours of Taipei on TripAdvisor:
Attractions in Taipei: There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children's Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Activities in Taipei: Don't forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. How to get there: The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei's Songshan and Toayuan Airport. Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan's largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It's about an hour's journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei. You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here. Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei's city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line. You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. How to get around in Taipei: Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below: By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as sun moon lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Frequently Asked Questions: How do you pronounce Taipei? Tie Pay. Where is Taipei on a Map?/Where is Taipei in Taiwan? Taipei City is located in northern Taiwan, laying in the middle of the Taipei Basin surrounded by New Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
Who is mayor of Taipei?
Jonny Chiang 蔣萬安 Why visit Taipei?/ Why Taipei? Taipei has friendly people, a safe environment, convenient public transportation, nice weather, good food, cheap cost of living, and tons of things to see and do! Where should I stay in Taipei? High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), which are all very high quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City. We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How many days does it take to tour Taipei?/ How many days should I tour Taipei? This depends on how much time you have, I have been touring Taipei for 2 years already! What should I do in Taipei? Where should I travel in Taipei? 1 day tour: Morning: National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物館 Afternoon: The Taipei 101 (臺北101) Night: Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 You can check out our full one day guide of Taipei here. 3 day tour: Day 1: National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物館, The Taipei 101 (臺北101), and Night markets. Day 2: Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉, and Jiufen Old Street 九份老街. Day 3: Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園 and Pingxi 平溪 Other notable sights in Taipei:
What are the best night markets in Taipei?
What are the best old streets in Taipei? 1. Tamsui Old Street 淡水老街 2. Shenkeng Old Street 深坑老街 3. Sanxia Old Street 4. Yingge Old Street What should I eat in Taipei? Taiwan has some of the best food in the world, and it’s a big reason why foreigners like us love coming back. A lot of these foods cannot easily be found elsewhere, which makes leaving Taiwan that much harder. Our top 10 most delicious Taiwan foods are as follows: 1. Hot Pot Buffet 火鍋吃到飽 2. Roast Duck 烤鴨 3. Fried Chicken 炸鷄 4. Taiwan Lunchbox (Bento) 自助餐/便當 5. Bubble Milk Tea 珍珠奶茶 6. Red Bean Soup 紅豆湯 7. Dumplings and Fried Dumplings 水餃/鍋貼 8. Steamed Buns 包子 9. Fruit Shaved Ice 水果冰 10. Onion Pancake 葱抓餅 How much is the Taipei zoo? Adults – 60 NT Students – 30 NT You can book discount tickets to Taipei Zoo on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book a Taipei Zoo and Maokong Gondola tour on TripAdvisor here. Preschoolers and disabled persons – Free Groups of 30 or more – 30% discount What time does the zoo open/close in Taipei? 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM What time does the MRT/Metro open/close in Taipei? The Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs close at 12:00 AM midnight. They open again at 6:00 AM. The last train at the MRT usually leaves from 11:00PM-12:00AM midnight. To search for exact times for the last train, click here. What time does the Taipei 101 open and close in Taipei? The Taipei 101 Observatory is openevery day from 9 AM to 10 PM. What time does the National Palace Museum open/close in Taipei? The museum is open 8:30 – 6:30 on weekdays and 8:30 – 9:30 on weekends year round. Where is the Taipei 101? On Xinyi road in Taipei, on the red MRT line Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. See below for a map:
What is the Taipei 101?
It was the highest building in the world from 2004-2010. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. It is an icon of Taiwan’s technological advancement. How is Taipei 101 earthquake proof? How does the Taipei 101 withstand earthquakes? The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. How much does the Taipei 101 sway? The most that the Taipei 101 damper has ever swayed was during Typhoon Soudelor, swaying 100 centimetres (39 in). How much did the Taipei 101 cost? NT$ 58 billion (US$1.934 billion) How does the Taipei 101 damper work? The damper works by offsetting strong wind gusts, absorbing the forces and turning them into kinetic energy, moving the damper. How was Taipei 101 built? The Taipei 101 was built in a period of 5 years from 1999-2004. The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. Who is Chinese Taipei? What is Chinese Taipei? It is the name of Taiwan used in sporting events such as the Olympics as to not upset its bully neighbor the PRC (China). What should I buy in Taipei? Where should I shop in Taipei? If you are looking for cheap food, delicious snacks, and souvenirs, go to one of the many night markets in Taipei. If you are looking to buy expensive brand named items, go to an outlet or mall such as Sogo. Another popular shopping district in Taipei is Ximending. Where should I buy electronics in Taiwan? Online (PC Home and Shoppee), at a night market, at Carrefour, Cankun, or Guanghua Digital Plaza in Taipei. What is New Taipei City? New Taipei city is the area surrounding Taipei city, and was formerly known as Taipei county. Where is New Taipei City? New Taipei City (formerly Taipei County), is located in northern Taiwan, surrounding Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
What time is it in Taipei?
Check this link: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/taiwan/taipei What is the population of Taipei? 2,704,974 as of 2016. What is the capital of Taiwan? Taipei City. How is the weather in Taipei in November? Record high 34.3 °C (93.7 °F) Average high 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) Daily Mean 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) Average low: 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) Record low: 1.1 °C (34 °F) Avg rainfall, 83.1 cm (3.2 inches) Avg rainy days, 12.4 Avg. Relaticve uhumididty: 75% Mean sunshine hours: 99.4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei#Climate How is the weather in Taipei in December? Record high 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) Average high 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) Daily Mean 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) Average low: 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) Record low: 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) Avg rainfall, 73.3 cm (2.8 inches) Avg rainy days, 11.7 Avg. Relaticve uhumididty: 75% Mean sunshine hours: 90.7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei#Climate What is the weather like in Taipei? Taipei has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are long, hot and humid, and have heavy rainstorms including Typhoons between June and October. Temperatures range from 26-34 °C (78-93 °F). Winters are short and warm with relatively less rain, but have less sunshine. Temperatures range from 14-20 °C (57-68 °F). Why does it rain so much in Taipei?/ Why does it always rain in Taipei? Rainstorms are typical in the summer in Taipei due to monsoon weather and Typhoons. Most of the rain falls in the summer, but other months also see rain daily. There are typically between 11-15 rainy days in any given month in Taipei, so it does not always rain in Taipei. How cold does Taipei get? The average low temperature during winter in Taipei is 14 °C (57 °F), but can often get to as low as 10 °C (50 °F), but rarely any lower. The record low temperature in Taipei was recoded in February at -.02 °C (31.9 °F). How is the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei? It’s a high end, 5 star hotel in Taipei, with just about all the amenities you can think of. Why is the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei haunted? The Grand Hyatt Hotel is believed to be built on an old POW camp on which people were executed, and is thus haunted. The Hotel has refuted these claims, stating that the Hotel was only built on top of a munitions warehouse. We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here) Why is Taipei the best city? Taipei is not the best city in Taiwan. But if it were, it would be because it has a modern infrastructure and transportation systems, world class talent, a safe environment, low cost of living, and friendly people. Have any more questions about Taipei, or have any suggestions for a tour of Taipei? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list! Please like, follow, and share to help everyone know that Taiwan is a friendly and inviting place to travel year round! More of our guides to Taiwan: Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here. Check out our family and kids guide to Taipei here. Check out our Taipei Night Market guide here. Check out our Taipei Museum Guide here. Check out our guide to Taipei’s Waterfalls here. Check out our Taipei hiking and trails guide here. Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here. Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here. Check out our guide to Taipei’s Old Streets here. Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
2 Comments
Nate
1/9/2019 11:54:28 am
Wow, did you take that picture of Taipei 101? I expected so much more smog!
Foreigners in Taiwan
1/9/2019 05:11:08 pm
Hi Nick, Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
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