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).
From Beitou hot spring highlights to riverside walks, here is our guide to Beitou in Taipei, Taiwan (and remember to bring your swimming costume / trunks)!
This article was originally published on 19 September 2024.
You might like – Our 1 Taipei highlights itinerary or ‘the best of Taipei’ 3 day itinerary including Beitou
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 very easy 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 >
You might like – 30 cute and cool Taiwan EasyCard and iPass designs >
Recommended Beitou Taipei accommodation and hotels
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
Luxury ($$$)
Hotel Double One
Elegant hotel with suites that include a balcony with hot spring bathtub. The hotel also provides a free shuttle bus to the MRT station. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
The Gaia Hotel – Taipei
Elegant hotel with outdoor pool, hot spring, spa, 3 restaurants and free shuttle bus to the MRT station. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
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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.
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Try this – Taipei tours with Klook, Viator, KK Day or Get Your Guide
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.
Try this – Top Taipei massages and spas with Klook >
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.
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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.
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Beitou Public Hot Springs (now closed for a renovation)
Update – the Beitou Public Hot Springs are temporarily closed for a major renovation. We walked past the hot springs in March 2026 and it looks like it might be a while until it re-opens!
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 >
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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.
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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 >
Try this – Tamsui historic site & Beitou hot spring day tour from Taipei >
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!
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Plum Garden (temporarily closed until 2026)
Built in the late 1930s, Plum Garden was the former home of famous calligrapher Yo Youren in the 1950s and has been renovated several times over the years.
Inside you’ll find a small museum dedicated to calligraphy (free to visit) plus an air-raid shelter in the basement and gorgeous gardens to explore.
Please note the Plum Garden and museum closed in early 2024 for more renovations and will reopen some time in 2026.
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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 >
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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