Traveling to Taipei (Taiwan) for the first time? You are in for a treat as Taipei for first timers is an easy entry point to explore Taiwan and an excellent place to base yourself.
From city transport to Taipei day trips, we’ve got you covered – and Taiwan is relatively inexpensive especially if you plan your accommodation ahead of time.
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The food and shopping scene in Taipei is amazing and Taipei is suitable for families, couples or solo travellers on their first trips to Taiwan.
From pre-travel tips to Taiwan (including booking a Taipei hotel) to getting to the city from Taoyuan Airport, this is our guide on how to get the most from your first time trip to Taipei.
You might like – Our 1 day Taipei highlights itinerary or our best of Taipei 3 day itinerary
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook.
Before you arrive in Taipei
If you are looking for helpful hints and tips from other travellers before your first trip to Taipei, be sure to join our Taiwanderers / Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group – it has over 35,000 members and is a free Taiwan travel resource.
You can ask any questions about anything not covered here, plus every day, there are lots of posts from other like-minded travellers to Taiwan. It is a great resource, and hopefully you might share your photos and experiences too, helping other future first time visitors to Taipei.
You might also like our Taiwanderers Instagram account and Tik Tok account.
Flights to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport & Taipei Songshan Airport
Most flights arrive into the larger Taoyuan Airport which is located about 40km west of Taipei, but some arrive into Songshan Airport which is located in the city.
The national airline for Taiwan is EVA Air but many other airlines also fly into Taipei via Taoyuan Airport or Taipei Songshan Airport.
Another popular Taiwan based airline is Starlux who offer direct flights from the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Macau and more. China Airlines is based out of Taiwan too as is Tiger Air Taiwan and Uni Air.
Generally, it is best to book your Taipei flights at least several months in advance as fares usually become more expensive the closer you leave it to the departure date – we’ve also found Taipei flights departing mid week are often cheaper. Peak season flights like Lunar New Year will be more costly too.
There are lots of bargains to be had if you are willing to fly to Taipei via a stopover in China. These fares are sometimes half the price of direct EVA Airlines flights but the journey is usually a lot longer with a considerable stopover time in China (plus many still use Russian airspace).
You might like – Top Taipei tours with Klook, Get Your Guide or KK Day
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Group!
Need help with your Taiwan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to the most fun and fastest growing Taiwan Facebook group with 35k+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Lucky Land Draw Taiwan
Are you heading to Taipei / Taiwan before the end of June 2025? If so, be sure to enter the Lucky Land lottery for free, organized by Taiwan Tourism.
Celebrating over 6 million tourists coming to Taiwan, tourists can win prizes such as NT$5,000 accommodation vouchers or pre-loaded EasyCards or iPass cards. Since it was launched in 2023, over 3 million travelers have already played for free.
From a step-by-step guide on how to play Taiwan Lucky Land once you arrive at the airport to the pre-registration procedures, here is our ultimate guide for tourists on how to take part in Taiwan’s Lucky Land draw for free >
Try this – Top 10 Taipei tours and excursions with Viator >
Stopover in Taipei
If you have a layover at Taipei Airport (Taoyuan International Airport), take advantage of the free Taipei tour (half day) available to transit and transfer passengers.
The free half day tour from Taoyuan International Taipei Airport departs twice daily and lasts around four hours. Note there is also an occasional evening tour but it only accepts group reservations.
The daytime tours include locations such as Yongkang Street and Longshan temple in the morning and Daxi Old Street on the afternoon tour.
From the tour itinerary to how to book it, here is our guide to the free Taipei city tour (half day) from Taipei Airport >
Try this – Sun Moon Lake one-day tour departure from Taipei >
Getting from Taipei airports to downtown Taipei
Both Taoyuan and Songshan airports are well served by the Taipei Metro with their own stations.
Most first time travellers to Taipei from overseas will likely arrive into Taoyuan Taipei International Airport.
There are several ways to get from Taipei Airport to Taipei including taxi and bus. However, the most common public transport to take from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei Main Station is the Taoyuan Airport MRT train.
We’d highly recommend buying an EasyCard in advance via Klook or at the airport as it makes getting around Taipei so…erm… easy! More on this shortly.
Costing just NT$150 for a one way journey between Taiwan airport to Taipei Main Station (less if you get off at an earlier station), it is one of the cheapest international airport trains in the world. Yet another reason why we love Taiwan and Taipei so much!
From fares to train times, here is our guide to getting Taoyuan Taipei Airport to Taipei city >
Buy your Taoyuan Airport MRT to city ticket in advance here >
Alternatively (and better if you are part of a large group or have lots of luggage), pre-book a Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport transfer >
Taiwan EasyCards
A travel essential for anyone visiting Taiwan for the first-time, EasyCards are so simple to buy and top up.
They can be used on public transport, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, taxis and more.
Plus there are so many cute EasyCard designs in Taiwan, which we’ve written about here and in our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group.
EasyCards can be used pretty much anywhere in Taiwan but some regions also have their own additional transport cards too like iPass in Kaohsiung and south Taiwan (which are also accepted everywhere).
Most convenience stores in Taiwan sell EasyCards in a variety of designs, or they can be bought at the airport when you arrive or in advance of your trip via Klook.
Check out our guide to using the Taiwan EasyCard here >
Taiwan SIM Cards and E-Sims
SIM card and eSIM are available to purchase from a handful of kiosks in Taipei Taoyuan Airport both before and after passport control/luggage pickup, and in the arrivals area at Songshan Airport.
The Taiwan SIMs are inexpensive, fast and have unlimited data. Some come with a Taiwan phone number as well. The below image was taken in 2024 and shows rough pricing for different packages (2025 pricing might be different).
WiFi routers are also available to hire. If you wish you can pre-book your SIM on Klook, but we have always just queued up and paid on arrival.
If you wish to have data as soon as you land, then we recommend MobiMatter for purchasing cheap eSIMs. You can use the code CAROL86604 to receive cashback on your first purchase.
Check out our Taiwanderers guide to the best phone apps to download for your Taiwan trip >
Getting around Taipei
Taipei has one of the best transport infrastructures in the world – even the Taipei Airport MRT to Taipei city is so easy and very cheap at NT$150 one way.
Both the bus network and Subway / Metro network in Taipei is efficient and inexpensive. If possible, we’d recommend getting a Taipei hotel within walking distance of a Metro / MRT station so you have easy access to other parts of the city.
Uber or local taxis are also very safe and inexpensive in Taipei and across Taiwan.
This also allows you to consider day trips from Taipei like Wulai or the Pingxi Line which has incredible towns and attractions to visit like Houtong Cat Village or Shifen Waterfall – Taiwan’s most famous waterfall.
Taiwan travel apps
There are several travel apps we’d recommend you consider / download to your phone before arriving in Taiwan / Taipei.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions in our Facebook group and most local people and travellers recommend the following apps:
- The official Go! Taipei Metro app to see which is the quickest and best route for you.
- Google Maps or Citymapper. Many of our Taiwan group also recommend Bus Taiwan.
- The Taiwan High Speed Rail official app for time-tables / travel disruption updates if you plan to visit other cities on the HSR train network. Try the TRA app for local trains too.
- Taiwan Weather app – Taipei weather (and in Taiwan in general) can be quite changeable so instead of your usual weather app, try using the more accurate Taiwan Weather app.
- Google Translate – many restaurant chains like Din Tai Fung have English menus but some of the smaller local restaurants only have Mandarin menus so Google Translate in Taipei can come in handy.
- LINE messaging – a local alternative to What’s App where lots of local businesses share codes / offers for events and promotion e.g. free Taipei whisky tasting at Eslite was a recent one. LINE Pay is also accepted and a good way to pay bills if your credit card isn’t accepted.
- Charge spot – great if you need to find a portable power bank to hire if you don’t have one on you.
- Transport hire apps like Uber taxi or YouBike (bicycle hire in Taipei).
- Hotel apps like booking.com and agoda.com (very popular in Taiwan).
- Food delivery in Taipei via the Food Panda app.
- Taipei tour apps like Klook and KKDay – often they will notify you of any Taipei and Taiwan tour sales and discounts.
Taiwan weather / best time of the year to visit Taipei
Taipei weather can be quite changeable and this is one of the most frequently asked questions in our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) group.
In 2024, there were several devastating storms and typhoons across Taiwan which meant some travellers had to unexpectedly change their plans.
Summer in Taipei can be very hot (June to August usually has highs of up to 35c and lows of 25c) so you may want to avoid that time of year if you prefer cooler temperatures.
July and August are usually the hottest months in Taipei / Taiwan whilst January is the ‘coldest’ month with an average temperature of around 15c (which is still warm to us Brits)!
The wettest seasons in Taipei / Taiwan are usually August and September but rainfall is not high compared to other east Asian countries.
Lunar New Year in Taiwan in February also sees lots of stores and businesses closing as locals go on holiday – expect public transport and accommodation prices in Taiwan to be at their peak during Lunar New Year especially in popular places such as Juifen and Sun Moon Lake.
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s capybara cafe or Taiwan’s highest coffee shop, Simple Kaffa Sola atop Taipei 101
Taipei neighborhoods
Which Taipei neighborhood or area should you stay in when visiting Taiwan?
With late night entertainment centers like Ximending, historic districts like Dadaocheng and Dihua Street plus riverside accommodation in Tamsui, there are many Taipei districts to choose from.
We would recommend one of the following Taipei neighborhoods:
| Taipei Area | Why stay in this Taipei Neighbourhood? |
| Ximending | The perfect area for first time visitors to Taipei with a central location, excellent transport links (close to Taipei Main Station), multiple affordable hotels and night-time fun |
| Xinyi | Taipei’s central business district with a lot of shopping malls, cheap chain restaurants plus famous landmarks like Taipei 101 |
| Zhongshan | Chock full of cool cafes, vintage stores and hipster hangouts, this is Taipei’s trendiest neighborhood where the cool kids hang out |
| Zhongzheng | The area immediately around Taipei Main Station with great transport links, lots of budget hotels and restaurants galore – central and convenient |
| Dadaocheng & Datong | A central Taipei neighborhood with lots of history, many mid-range hotels plus Taipei’s famous Dihua Street |
| Daan | Central location famous for Da’an Park, Rongjin Gorgeous Time plus Taipei’s tastiest neighborhood, Yongkang Street |
| Shilin | Famous for Taipei’s largest night market, you will not go hungry in Shilin – enjoy temples, theme parks and cultural sites like the National Palace Museum |
| Beitou | Beitou is Taipei’s hot spring capital, known for its lush greenery, thermal springs and public baths. An easy 20 minute journey into downtown Taipei on the MRT |
| Tamsui | Located at the very end of the Xinyi Tamsui MRT line, this historic port has hotels with riverside views, plus so much local food to try |
| Dalongdong | Quiet neighbourhood located on the red MRT line, and close to Taipei Expo Park and Maji Square |
Taipei hotels and recommended accommodation
Some of our recommended hotels would be:
Mid-Range ($$)
citizenM Taipei North Gate
Highly rated modern hotel located close to both Taipei Main Station and the Ximending neighborhood. Check rates and availability on booking.com or agoda.com
Mid-Range ($$)
Midtown Richardson
Popular hotel located in the Ximending neighbourhood with rooftop terrace. Check rates and availability on booking.com or agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Grand Hyatt Taipei
5 star elegant hotel located in the heart of the Xinyi district. Facilities include an outdoor pool, spa, a sauna and fitness centre. Check rates and availability on booking.com or agoda.com
Currency / ATMs
The currency of Taiwan since 1949 has been the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD).
There are lots of Taiwan based banks (Bank of Taiwan, Land Bank of Taiwan etc) and overseas banks (such as Citibank) with ATMs all over Taipei.
Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Taipei shopping malls also have ATMs.
Although many restaurants, businesses and convenience stores accept debit and credit cards it is important to carry cash as well as some proprietors (especially Taiwan night market stalls) only accept cash. We also found on occasion our UK debit card wouldn’t work in some stores.
Line Pay is another way to link your phone / payment card to make cashless transactions in Taiwan.
Taiwan currency exchanges are not that common outside of the airports so it is important to bring some form of debit, credit or payment card with you. When using ATMs, it is usually cheaper to take out money from your account in the local NTD currency rate, to avoid additional fees.
You might like – Things to do in Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan >
Tipping in Taiwan
There isn’t really a tipping culture in Taiwan / Taipei although some restaurants may add a 10% service charge (but are usually very upfront about it).
Tour guides in Taiwan often accept tips if offered but it isn’t expected (but likely appreciated) as do food delivery drivers like FoodPanda or Uber Eats.
You might like – Things to do in Hualien, Taiwan or in Keelung, Taiwan
Taipei itineraries
If you are a first time visitor to Taiwan, we would recommend spending at least a few days in Taipei as there is so much to see and do (and eat) in the city itself, plus in the surrounding areas like Tamsui or Beitou.
We have a Taiwanderers recommended itinerary if you only want to spend one day in Taipei or our 3 day Taipei highlights itinerary which is the best of the city plus a choice of day trips from Taipei.
Some of the best things to see and do in Taipei include:
Taipei 101
Taiwan’s most famous building, Taipei 101 is 508 metres high and has…you guessed it… 101 floors!
Looking out across Taipei, the observation deck runs between floors 88 and 91, whilst there are two floors of high-up restaurants on floors 85 and 86.
It is also home to Simple Kaffa Sola (Taiwan’s highest coffee shop), plus the skyscraper lights up on New Year’s Eve with fireworks (these are the best firework and Taipei 101 viewpoints).
Book your discounted Taipei 101 observation deck ticket here >
Chiang Kek Memorial Hall
Easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taipei, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is free to visit with a museum on the lower levels.
The famous changing of the guard ceremony inside is now performed twice a day outside at Democracy Boulevard.
The building is a national Taiwan monument and built in the memory of former President Chiang Kai-shek. The grounds are extensive and also one of the best places to spot cherry blossoms in Taipei in the spring months.
Ximending and Red House
The Ximending area has many things to do, from street performers to 24 hour shopping – featuring Taipei’s flagship Pop Mart store to interesting eateries like Modern Toilet, you’ll never get bored walking around Ximending day or night.
The back-streets are full of sublime street art plus most of the buildings in Ximending are several stories, containing numerous bars, restaurants, arcades and more.
It is also Taipei’s main LGBTQ+ district, centered around the iconic Red House.
Check out our guide to Ximending >
Elephant Mountain
Elephant Mountain (also known as “Xiangshan” in Mandarin) is one of the best free things to do in Taipei, with several incredible viewpoints within walking distance of a Metro station.
Although steep, there are several short Elephant Mountain viewpoints and trails, all offer stunning views of Taipei and its cityscape, including Taipei 101 and the Xinyi District.
Check out our Taiwanderers guide to the best Xiangshan lookouts at sunset and watch dusk descend over Taipei city.
Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple (also known as Bangka Lungshan) is Taipei’s most famous temple, renowned for its (en)chanting ceremonies.
Whilst not always serene (it attracts huge crowds of tourists and worshippers), it is certainly one of the most beautiful temples in the city – read more in our Longshan Temple guide >
Yongkang Street
Yongkang Street is one of the yummiest things to do in Taiwan, packed full of cool cafes, decadent desserts and oodles of noodle shops and delicious dumplings.
It is also a good way to eat lots of local foods if you only have as short amount of time in Taipei and can easily be combined with Da’an Park, one of Taipei’s biggest and best urban parks.
Dihua Street
The historic district of Dihua Street and Dadaocheng in Taipei is perhaps most famous for its amazing architecture, traditional Chinese medicine shops and Lunar New Year celebrations.
In recent years, Dihua Street has welcomed an influx of coffee shops and craft beer bars – Dadaocheng Wharf is also a great place to enjoy sunset sips and street-food overlooking the river.
Check out our Dihua Street and Dadaocheng neighborhood guide >
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Taiwan’s best creative park (and most bustling), Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei is packed full of permanent and pop-up shops and exhibitions, street performers plus bars and restaurants.
A former wine factory, Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei’s Zhongzheng district is home to cute cafes, music theaters plus incredible crafts and unique souvenirs – read more in our guide to Huashan 1914 Creative Park >
Raohe Night Market and Songshan Temple
Raohe Night Market is open daily from 5pm to 11pm and is one of the best (and tastiest) night markets in Taipei.
From the famous pork pepper buns and musical mushroom stall (truly a ‘fun-guy’!) to the fairground games, Raohe Night Market is one of the best things to do in Taipei at night. Check out our detailed guide to all the best stalls at Raohe Night Market >
Afterwards, check out Songshan Ciyou Temple, lit up at night and one of the most beautiful temples in all of Taipei. There are often evening ceremonies and chanting. It is an incredible place to walk around and there are several stalls selling religious blessings and random fortunes.
Taipei food
You will never go hungry in Taipei as there are so many tasty Taiwanese treats (and international foods if you tire of stinky tofu and dumplings).
For cheap eats in the evening, head to a Taiwan night market – our recommendations would be Ningxia Night Market (famous for its oyster omelets), Raohe Night Market or perhaps best of all, Gongguan Night Market (a local night market popular with students).
Breakfast is also great in Taipei with its breakfast wraps and soy milk – one of the most famous places to try is Fuhang Soy Milk (skip the queues and book your Fuhang Soy Milk breakfast on Klook) but we also really rate Yong He Soy Milk in Ximending.
Some other top Taipei food spots and restaurants include
- Liu Shandong Beef Noodles in Ximending
- Taipei Tian Jin Scallion Pancakes on Yongkang Street
- Din Tai Fung, Taiwan’s famous dumpling chain >
- Raohe Night Market, Shilin Night Market and Huaxi Night Market
- Our guide to Taipei’s best craft beer bars >
You might like – Our guide to all the Somebody Feed Phil Netflix eating / restaurant locations in Taipei >
Taipei day trips
If you’re looking to escape Taipei for the day, there are numerous day trips from Taipei, many of which can be done independently using the Metro or Taiwan Railway / High Speed Rail.
From the popular Taipei day trips like Jiufen and the Pingxi Line to the hidden gems of Wulai, Taiwan’s natural wonders are just a bus or train ride away.
A little further afield, head to Sun Moon Lake or take a 1 hour high speed train to Taichung – alternatively, for budget breaks, just use the Metro to visit the likes of Tamsui or Beitou.
With destination highlights and how to reach all of them from Taipei, here is our guide to the best day trips from Taipei >
Shopping in Taipei
Where to shop in Taipei? From underground shopping malls to supersized shopping centers, there are many Taipei shopping streets and malls to explore all over the city.
From Songshan Cultural and Creative Park to several supersize shopping centers in Xinyi, Taipei is retail heaven.
There are also lots of quirky shopping malls in Taipei from Zhongshan Underground Book Street to the kid’s rooftop park at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A8 shopping center.
Currently in 2025, the coolest shopping mall in Taipei has to be Syntrend Creative Park, with 13 floors of technology, digital goods, pop-ups plus whole floors dedicated to anime and manga merchandise plus a Pop Mart store.
From trendy boutique stores and thrift shops in Zhongshan to the epic Eslite stores, check out our is our ultimate guide to Taipei shopping malls and the top Taipei shopping districts.
P.S. Make sure you keep all your shopping receipts in Taipei as tourists can enter the ‘Taiwan Receipt Lottery’ for free >
Taipei evening activities
Time for Taipei at night! Taiwan’s capital is terrific by day but Taipei at night comes alive and is the perfect destination for night owls, late night bites and party people.
Taipei at night is a world-class city with many wonderful things to do – from the bright neon lights of Ximending to the trendy bars in Zhongshan via the themed 24 hour 7-Eleven stores there is much to enjoy in the evenings.
From night markets to Modern Toilet, here is our guide to Taipei at night and some epic evening experiences >
Taipei with kids
Planning a first-time trip to Taipei with kids? Taipei is a safe, family-friendly city with lots of theme parks, colorful attractions, cute character stores and fun things to do.
From city parks to Pokémon, capybara cafes to cat villages, there is something to suit all tastes and ages.
And Taipei children’s activities don’t have to be expensive for families – many child friendly and kids attractions are free or inexpensive like stamp trails or popcorn factories!
Here is our guide to the best things to with kids in Taipei, Taiwan >
Taiwan festivals and events
Finally, your first time in Taipei might coincide with a major Taiwan festival or event like the Taipei Lantern Festival or the Lunar New Year market in Dihua Street.
Christmas in Taipei sees a whole host of shopping mall light displays plus Taipei Christmasland pops-up.
For all the best Taipei events, exhibitions and festivals, bookmark our Taipei events guides and monthly selections >
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