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First time · Taipei

First time in Taipei臺北

Taipei is an MRT city: temples and old streets in the morning, air-conditioned malls and museums at midday, night markets after 18:00 — and carry cash and an umbrella.

Everything here is a short version of the Taipei guide. Prices and hours are estimates: check before you rely on them.

The honest verdict

Taipei's sights are spread over a flat basin and the MRT connects them, but the city is hot and wet for much of the year and small food stalls are cash-only. The trips that go wrong pay for it in three ways: noon walks in July, no umbrella in a typhoon-season shower, and a landing after 23:00 when the airport MRT has stopped. Four walking clusters cover a first visit; one bed is enough.

You will like

  • Night markets
  • A cheap MRT
  • Temples and tea

What wears you down

  • Summer humidity
  • Rain and typhoons
  • Scooter traffic
Overview and trade-offs →

Five things not to miss

  1. 1Longshan TempleThe city’s oldest working temple; incense, prayers and carved dragons; go at dawn.Best 06:00–08:00 · Free
  2. 2Taipei 101 and XinyiThe landmark tower with a 37-second lift to a view; malls for a wet day.Best Late afternoon to dusk · About NT$600 (≈ US$20)
  3. 3National Palace MuseumA huge collection of Chinese imperial art, including the Jadeite Cabbage; plan half a day.Best Weekday morning · About NT$350 (≈ US$12)
  4. 4A night market (Shilin or Ningxia)The food that defines the city; eat the local snacks at the stalls.Best 17:30–20:00 · NT$300–600 (≈ US$10–20)
  5. 5Chiang Kai-shek Memorial HallA vast plaza and a guard change; free and easy to combine with Yongkang Street lunch.Best Opening · Free
The full top 10 →

Where to stay on a first visit

  • XimendingFor: First visit, 2–4 nights, snacks and nightlifeShortest walk to street food, cinemas and one stop to Taipei Main.
Compare every sleep area →

From the airport

Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Fastest
Airport MRT (express or commuter) to Taipei Main Station · about 40 min · about NT$160 (≈ US$6)
Cheapest
Airport bus to Taipei Main Station (check the last departure on the board) · about 60 min · about NT$150 (≈ US$5)

Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.

Airport-to-bed timings →

How long to stay

1 day
A stopover
2 days
The usual Taipei stay
3 days
First visit with a museum day
5 days
A longer stay with a day trip and a slow day
Itineraries by length →
Show 5 more blocksHideThree mistakes to avoid, Money and SIM, Etiquette, The best time to go, A first day

Three mistakes to avoid

  • Taxi driver who says the meter is broken or takes a long route: use the Uber app or a licensed yellow cab with the meter running; the meter start is NT$85 (≈ US$3).(Scams)
  • Temples: do not step on thresholds or point at statues; follow signs on photos.(Survive · red lines)
  • Cross at signals; scooters turn against the light.(Survive · safety)
Scams and safety →

Money and SIM

Budget day
NT$1,000–1,800 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Paying
Cards work in hotels, malls, department stores, chain restaurants and convenience stores. Night-market stalls, soy-milk shops, temples and small noodle counters are mostly cash only. Carry NT$1,000–2,000 (≈ US$35–70) in small notes and coins.
Cash
Keep NT$1,000 (≈ US$35) in small notes for night markets; use convenience-store or bank ATMs, not machines on dark streets.
SIM
Tourist eSIM bought before you fly: No counter or queue; data-only on most plans.
Money, SIMs and apps →

Etiquette: the top three

MRT
No eating, drinking or chewing gum in the paid area; stand on the right of escalators and let people pass on the left; give priority seats to those who need them.
Temples
Enter by the right (dragon) door and leave by the left (tiger) door; do not step on thresholds; be quiet near worshippers; photos are fine outside prayers.
Queues
Orderly at bus stops and counters; line up on the marked spots for the MRT.
All etiquette notes →

The best time to go

MarAprOctNovDec

Mar: Mild, drizzle.

Spring (Mar–May): Mild days, drizzle, cherry blossoms in the hills and Tomb Sweeping.

Month-by-month verdicts →

A first day

Day 1 — Longshan at dawn, Bopiliao, a 11:30 noodle bowl

Start about 07:30

  1. 1Longshan Temple
  2. 2Bopiliao Old Street

Fixed point: Noodles by 11:30, before the queue

Hotel or AC café 13:00–16:00; Ximending and the Red House for the evening.

Timed version: Taipei in 3 days
All day plans →

Your Taipei checklist

The money points and the first-timer mistakes from this page in one list. Tick each one when you have handled it.

0 of 7 done

Ticks stay on this device only.

The full Taipei guide →