Beitou is Taipei’s hot spring capital! Hop on the MRT from Taipei and in less than 20 minutes, you’ll arrive in Beitou, known for its lush greenery, geothermal springs and public baths.
Hot spring bathing in this area dates back to the Japanese era, which is why the district is so full of character and incredible architecture – even the modern Beitou library is one of the most idyllic spots in Taipei.
Beitou things to do and highlights include Beitou Thermal Valley (free), the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (also free) plus Sulfur Valley – and as you’d expect from a natural hot spring area, much of the town smells of sulfur (but you’ll soon get used to it). Beitou Plum Garden Museum has also reopened in late 2026 after two years of renovations.
From Beitou hot spring highlights to hillside hikes, here is our guide to Beitou in Taipei, Taiwan (and remember to bring your swimming costume / trunks)! We last stayed in Beitou in October 2026, staying at the Wellspring By Silks Beitou hotel.
This article was originally published on 19 September 2024.
How to get to Beitou
To get to Beitou from Taipei, take the Taipei Metro (MRT) to Beitou MRT Station on the red Tamsui-Xinyi Line.
Once at Beitou Station, change platforms and jump on the Xinbeitou Line one stop to Xinbeitou MRT Station.
The entire journey lasts less than 20 minutes so it is a very easy day-trip from Taipei.
The shuttle MRT train between Beitou and Xinbeitou is pretty unique – it has themed carriages with installations relating to Taiwan and Beitou, including a cute Bravo the Bear model that people love to pose with, plus a hot spring style carriage and an art gallery carriage.
Or you can do this Beitou and Yangmingshan one-day tour with Klook or Viator.
Taiwanderers Tip
Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.
Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >
Recommended Beitou Taipei accommodation and hotels
Luxury ($$$)
Wellspring by Silks Beitou
Treat yourself to a stay at newly built 5 star Wellspring by Silks Beitou, opened in late 2025 and one of Beitou’s most luxurious spring hotels.
We stayed here in October 2026 and enjoyed exploring Beitou by day and relaxing in our own private in-room hot spring bath by night and making use of the spa, swimming pool and hot spring.
From elegant, chic rooms with mountain views to lounge access with complimentary drinks and snacks, this is ideal for a Taiwan vacation or spa retreat.
There are two onsite restaurants – the Japanese style Mihan Beitou (where we had a decadent dinner and big buffet breakfast) and Bando Club, serving top Taiwanese cuisine brought to you by a five-star chef team from Regent Taipei.
Read more in our Wellspring by Silks Beitou review >
Check rates and availability on booking.com, agoda.com, expedia.com and trip.com
Luxury ($$$)
The Gaia Hotel – Taipei
One of Beitou’s best known hot spring hotels, or you can just spend a day in their public hot springs in a gorgeous garden environment.
From funky features to workspaces and contemporary design like its Instagrammable (The) Library, the Gaia is ideal for a rejuvenating retreat.
Here is our review of The Gaia Beitou (we were hosted by The Gaia). Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Hotel Double One
Elegant hotel with suites that include a balcony with hot spring bathtub. The hotel also provides a free shuttle bus to the MRT station. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Budget ($)
On My Way – Taipei Hostel
Popular hostel located a few minutes walk to the Beitou hot spring area with spacious common lounge area. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Things to do in Beitou, Taipei
Beitou is a nice way to escape the city with a beautiful backdrop of mountains, forest and natural hot springs and streams.
Beitou was discovered and ‘sprung’ up (sorry not sorry) during the Japanese colonial era, resulting in numerous tourist hotel resorts and public hot springs opening up.
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com (use the code TAIWANDERERS for a discount), expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels.
For booking tours, transfers and buying SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Klook, Get Your Guide, Viator or KK Day.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
Find safe storage spaces across Taiwan with Bounce (and get 5% discount).
For more recommendations, check out our Taiwan travel booking resources page >
All set for Taiwan? Do one final check with our Taipei first timers guide and our packing list guide. Travelling with kids? Check out our Taipei For Kids eBook >
Beitou Thermal Valley
Start your day exploring Beitou’s Thermal Valley, a free to visit natural wonder that bubbles with steam and smells very sulfuric. There are boardwalks all around the springs and it is amazing to see the bubbling water in what locals refer to as Hell Valley.
Located in the valley between Zhongshan Road and Wenquan Road, Beitou Thermal Valley is incredible to see and our photos don’t do it justice.
It is one of the most popular spots in Beitou and a short walk from Beitou Hot Springs Museum so if you don’t like crowds, maybe take the bus to Sulfur Valley instead (more on this in a moment).
As one of the main sources of all of Beitou’s hot springs, it is also known as ‘Jade Spring Valley’ due to its turquoise ‘jade like’ spring waters that shine green in the sun.
At the entrance to Beitou Thermal Valley, there is a small hot spring basin so you wash your hands in the ‘rejuvenating’ spring waters, plus if you are hungry, there are a few stalls on the road up including a HiLife plus a small kiosk selling Taiwanese tea eggs for NT$20.
Fact fans – check out Beitou Rock in Thermal Valley, which contains the radioactive element ‘radium’ and is the only ore named after a Taiwan location. Taipei rocks!
Please note that Beitou Thermal Valley is closed on Mondays – toilets are also available onsite.
Read more in our Beitou Thermal Valley guide >
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Beitou Park
Afterwards, go for a walk along the river and around Beitou Park – in the park, you’ll find one of Taipei’s most scenic libraries (more on this in a moment), plus various hot-springs and elderly locals playing Xiangqi (Chinese chess).
Beitou Park is very picturesque and was once listed as one of the four major parks of Taipei during the Japanese era. The Beitou River flows nearby (you can smell the sulphur from it) and there are lots of pathways to follow the water.
Inside the park, as well as the Hot Spring Museum, you’ll find a water fountain, woodland areas plus traditional bridges – it is very photogenic and a great free Beitou activity.
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
To ‘dive in’ and learn about the rich thermal history of the area, take a visit to Beitou Hot Spring Museum (free admission – note like Thermal Valley, it is also closed on a Monday).
Upon arrival, take your shoes off and staff will give you a fetching pair of slippers to wear whilst wandering around.
Opened in 1913 and once the largest bathhouse in East Asia, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum has two levels.
The ground floor shows the former public bath (still with water in it) with a history of the building whilst the upper area has exhibitions, gift shop, a traditional spa resting area (very popular) with a woven matt floor plus a balcony to look out over Beitou Park.
Some of the technology here feels a bit dated (like cameras that make it appear you are in a hot tub virtually) but the it is genuinely interesting to understand more about the history of Beitou and the importance of its hot springs over the decades.
Beitou Library
Billed as Taiwan’s first ‘green library’, this is a must visit thing to do in Beitou for book-lovers (it has a foreign language book section too).
The award-winning building has been designed to conserve energy and blend into the park (ish) and offers nice views over Beitou Park and the nearby rivers and streams.
Beitou Library has ample arm-chairs, seats and relaxation spaces plus an outdoor terrace and free bathroom facilities.
Beitou Public Hot Springs (now closed for a renovation)
Update – the Beitou Public Hot Springs are temporarily closed for a major renovation and are due to reopen in late 2026. Note they were supposed to reopen in February 2026 but there have been many delays so check online before making a special trip – it looked nowhere near complete when we last walked past in October 2026!
Remember we told you to bring swimmers? We’d also recommend going for a soak in the Beitou Public Hot Springs (map). We did this a few years ago and it is quite fun to mix with the locals in natural hot-tubs.
There are lots of different pools to soak in, all at various temperatures, which are clearly marked. We found the higher temperature ones a little uncomfortable and couldn’t stay in them for long.
We visited one weekday morning and found it quite busy, so we presume it’ll be very busy at weekends and after work – do it though as it is quite a unique Taipei experience.
Admission to the hot springs is only NT$60 – bathing is mixed but you must bring your own swimming gear. Swimming caps are also required and lockers are available.
Alternatively, try the Spring City Resort in Beitou >
Sulfur Valley
A little out of Beitou, take the S7, S26 or S9 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Beitou Zhuzi Lake bus (it cost us NT$15 one way as of October 2024) to Sulfur Valley which is located at the end of the Tatun Volcano area in Yangmingshan National Park.
You can also walk it in about 40 minutes from Beitou Thermal Valley.
It is a famous foot soaking area and is a gorge with a naturally formed blue-green pool, reminiscent of Rotorua in New Zealand. There is a boardwalk around most of the perimeter plus various look-outs and seating areas.
Given the mountainous backdrop and green colours of the pool and trees combined with the plumes of white smoke, it is a very popular photo spot.
Afterwards, check out the free Sulfur Valley foot hot springs next to the car-park – there are several pools which are always busy with locals and hikers. Note Sulfur Valley is closed on Mondays.
Check out more things to do in Beitou Sulfur Valley with Klook >
Read our guide to Sulfur Valley in Beitou >
Xinbeitou Historic Station
From Taitung to Taichung, Hualien to Kaohsiung, Taiwan is famous for its historic railway stations and old train lines that have been preserved and opened as vintage visitor attractions.
Beitou is no different and just behind the newer Xinbeitou station, the former Xinbeitou Historic Station has a museum and visitor center plus an old static train in the park outside that you can go aboard.
Inside the old station, you can learn about the railway history of the area plus there are some cool train themed Taiwan souvenirs inside plus local area gifts like a book on Beitou Market. You can also collect several Taiwan souvenir ink stamps.
Foot-Soak Hot Springs
If you don’t want to fully submerge into a hot tub or you forgot your swimming costume, Beitou has several foot soaking hot springs.
The three best known Beitou foot hot springs are Fuxing Park and Quanyuan Park (both have clear blue sulfur springs) and ‘Sulfur Valley’ – famous for its more milky waters (classed as ‘white sulfur’ springs).
In Beitou, all certified hot springs fall into three categories – blue, white and iron sulphur springs – be sure to check for the red ‘Hot Spring Mark’ to ensure the spa you visit has been assessed for quality and hygiene.
Love hot springs? Also check out out guide to Wulai in Taipei, with riverside hot springs and spa resorts >
Local Hikes in Beitou
Beitou is a fantastic place to escape city life and the hustle and bustle of downtown Taipei – walk a little away from Beitou center and you have a whole host of local trails and hikes to complete.
When staying at Gaia Hotel, we discovered there was a Danfeng Mountain Trail nearby which led up from the road all the way to the top in about 40 minutes – amazingly, we went up and down the trail in around 90 minutes and didn’t see another soul once!
The views of Beitou’s thermal springs and local mountains from near the top created a gorgeous green vista and we even found an old shelter on the trail hollowed out into the rocks. Note the trail we did was a mix of easy steps coupled with steep sides which required the help of trail ropes to walk up the higher inclines.
Perhaps the most popular trail and hike in Beitou is Junjianyan Hiking Trail 軍艦岩親山步道 (Battleship Rock area) for a longer walk (we didn’t do this – hopefully next time).
FuCun Coffee 北投馥村咖啡
Can you believe this beautiful Beitou coffee-shop is located amongst the aisles of a Carrefour / Uni Prosperity supermarket store?!
FuCun Coffee 北投馥村咖啡 (map) is such a cute place and one of the best cup of coffees we’ve had in Taipei – and served in such beautiful cups (the friendly elderly owner told me my mug was made in Poland, Europe). Prices were reasonable too.
Operating since 1991 and run by the same couple for over 30 years, this is a hidden gem of a cafe – literally as it is in the back of the supermarket.
We LOVED this sublime (and slightly surreal) experience this afternoon so if you are ever in Beitou, please do come and support this amazing local coffee shop instead of the nearby Starbucks.
Beitou Plum Garden
After over two years of extensive renovations, Beitou Plum Garden (map) reopened in September 2026 – although note it is more of a museum located in an old 1930s old house than an actual garden.
Like the nearby Beitou Hot Springs Museum, it is free to visit, has several enthusiastic volunteers to show you around and you must remove your trainers before exploring inside.
Beitou Plum Garden 北投梅庭 was once the summer residence of a calligraphy master, Yu You-ren who founded the influential “Standard Cursive Calligraphy Society”.
Based over two levels, only the ground floor was open when we visited in October 2026 and to be honest, the main focus now seems to be the gift shop.
Kahu Craft Beer
We love Taipei craft beer bars and Beitou has its very own waterside beer garden and brewery, Kahu Craft Beer (map).
With a wide range of craft beers on tap (mainly from Island Life brewery located in Tamsui), this was a popular place with expats when we visited.
Serving up pub grub like Mexican food and pizza, this is a Beitou craft beer bar with a regular roster of live music, themed nights and a new weekend brunch menu.
The beer garden and terrace outside is the star of the show here, as is the walk from town, following one of the thermal streams. It is also very close to the famous Beitou Thermal Valley so you can follow the hot steam with an ice cold beer – cheers!
Beitou Manhole covers
The streets of Taipei (including Beitou) are adorned with colorful Taiwanese manhole covers.
Turning a practical item into something so colourful and cool is nothing new but these creative Taiwan manhole covers are a fun thing to spot – and you can now even buy miniature manhole coasters at Taipei souvenir shops.
On our latest trip, we discovered this rather marvellous manhole in Beitou depicting the iconic Beitou Hot Springs museum – it is entitled “100 Years Bathing Place Lion of Beitou” and created by Chang Han-Ning.
Check out our guide to Taipei’s colourful manhole covers + map >
Puji Temple
A very small but tranquil temple, Puji Temple 普濟寺 (map) can be found up a couple of flights of steps and is one of the last remaining Japanese-era Buddhist temples, built in the early 20th century.
It was built to celebrate Guanyin, the local guardian spirit of the Beitou hot springs. It was very quiet on the afternoon we visited, a world away from the dozens of tourists at nearby Beitou Hot Springs.
On the walk up to the temple, there is a small ritual purification well with wooden bowls.
Feng Qing Yang
On our latest Beitou stay in October 2026, our first port of call was to eat at local restaurant Feng Qing Yang 丰清揚小吃店 (map). Said to have been started by an ex Din Tai Fung chef (although we can’t seem to verify this), what we do know is this is some tasty Taiwanese food at relatively low prices.
We enjoyed four huge dishes (egg fried rice with pork, spicy chilli wontons, wonton noodle soup and dan dan noodles) and our whole meal cost just NT$390. However they do not serve xiaolongbao soup dumplings like Din Tai Fung does.
We got to Feng Qing Yang one weekday morning just after they opened at 11am and managed to beat the queues.
There is literally only room for about a dozen diners at a time so be prepared to line-up for a long time during peak periods (or grab a takeaway).
You might like our guide to Din Tai Fung restaurants in Taiwan >
Moon Moon Food Beitou
Recommended several times before by Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group members, Moon Moon Food (雙月食品社) has a branch in Beitou (near the library) and certainly lived up to the hype in particular their famous al dente truffle noodles (NT$99).
We also tried their super spicy sesame noodles (NT$79), grilled fish (NT$160), clam soup (NT$110), kelp $NT30 and a side of greens.
Moon Moon Food (雙月食品社) is a Taiwanese ‘healthy’ restaurant chain that is recognised as a Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery – they also have a snack range available in convenience stores.
We’ve read some branches have big queues especially in Taipei but we didn’t have to line up at the Beitou branch in the evening.
Ordering is via an electronic kiosk (with English options) and we really enjoyed our food – you could even say we were totally over the moon (Moon)!
Beitou Market
A traditional Taiwanese day-time market that opens early (around 5am) to mid afternoon, Beitou Market is a fun place to explore and get some breakfast or lunch after a visit to the hot-springs.
Note that there is both an indoor Beitou Market (more of wet market with fresh fruit and veg) plus an outdoor market along Xinshi Road (map).
We’d suggest walking through the first indoor market from Guangming Road then exiting to explore the outdoor area on Xinshi Road which has more food stalls and kiosks.
From Taiwanese food like rice noodle soup (just NT$25) to more international fare like kebabs, Beitou Market is a bustling local produce place with many food stalls.
A famous dish to try in this particular Beitou market area is braised pork with rice (‘lu rou fan’) from the Ai Zi Cai Braised Pork Rice shop (矮仔財滷肉飯 on Google maps). We got there just after 2pm and it was closed so learn from our mistake!
This family-run Taiwanese pork rice stall has been dishing out delicious dishes for almost 50 years – expect big queues at lunchtime!
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s best night markets including Ningxia Night Market and Raohe Night Market
Other things to do in Beitou, Taipei
Hopefully we’ve given you a good Beitou itinerary and things to do – other activities and Beitou tours include:
- Bath of the Gods hot spring tour >
- Yangmingshan, Beitou 1-day tour: Qingtiangang Grassland, Calla Lily Season at Bamboo Lake, Hydrangea Season, Daylily Season, Xiaoyoukeng, and Lengshuikeng >
- Visit the Beitou Museum of Art, in a gorgeous garden setting >
- Taipei: National Palace Museum, Beitou and Dadaocheng day tour >
Ketagalan Culture Center – just across from Beitou Park, this cultural center promotes the works and history of local indigenous cultures, including the Ketagalan tribe.
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