In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Taiwan
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.
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.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Local name
- 臺北
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · Oct · Nov · Dec
- Time zone
- Asia/Taipei
- Stay
- 2 days: Longshan + Ximending, Chiang Kai-shek Hall + Xinyi
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TWD
- Money
- 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 in small notes and coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget NT$1,000–1,800 excl. bed · Mid NT$1,800–3,500 excl. bed · High NT$3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid tourist SIM at the airport counters in the arrivals hall (passport needed). Most hotels and cafés have Wi-Fi; the government's iTaiwan hotspot needs registration.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Tourism helpline (English, 24 h) 0800-011-765
- Plugs
- 110 V, 60 Hz, two flat pins (type A, sometimes with a ground pin, type B). US and Canadian plugs fit as they are; UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand visitors need an adapter and a dual-voltage charger.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Hotels and many sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill; taxi drivers do not expect a tip and round the fare to the nearest NT$5 or NT$10.
- Water
- Do not drink straight from the tap. Boil it or use the filtered water dispensers found in hotels, hostels and MRT stations. Bottled water costs NT$15–25 at a convenience store.
- Toilets
- Free and usually clean in MRT stations, department stores, parks and convenience stores. Many older buildings ask you to put used tissue in the bin, not the bowl; look for the sign. Carry tissues, as paper is sometimes missing.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bubble milk tea | NT$50–80 |
| Soy-milk breakfast (soy milk and a flatbread) | NT$60–150 |
| Beef noodle soup | NT$200–450 |
| Night-market snack | NT$50–120 |
| MRT ride with EasyCard | NT$16–45 |
| Taxi start | NT$85 |
| Airport MRT to Taipei Main | NT$160 |
| Taipei 101 observatory | About NT$600 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
- TPE to Taipei: the airport MRT to Taipei Main Station in about 40 minutes, then one MRT hop; the risk is landing after 23:00, when the last airport train has gone and a taxi costs NT$1,400 or more.TPE to Taipei: the airport MRT to Taipei Main Station in about 40 minutes, then one MRT hop; the risk is landing after 11:00 PM, when the last airport train has gone and a taxi costs NT$1,400 or more.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei Main Station (臺北車站) | Airport MRT, Taiwan Railways, High-speed rail, Bannan and Tamsui-Xinyi MRT lines, long-distance buses | Everything is 1–3 MRT stops away; Ximen is one stop by Bannan line |
| Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | International flights | Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, about 35–50 min, NT$160 |
| Songshan Airport (TSA) (松山機場) | Domestic flights and some flights to Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai | MRT Brown line to central Taipei; taxi 15 min |
| High-speed rail (THSR) Taipei Station | Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and the west coast | Same building as the MRT |
| Taiwan Railways (TRA) | East coast (Hualien, Taitung), north coast and Yilan | Same building as the MRT |
| Taipei Bus Station | Long-distance buses to Taichung, Kaohsiung and the airport | Walk 5 min to the MRT |
Typical fares
- TPE → Taipei Main, airport MRT
- NT$160, about 35–50 min; last train about 23:00 (check)NT$160, about 35–50 min; last train about 11:00 PM (check)
- TPE → Taipei, taxi
- NT$1,200–1,500, 45–60 min; night surcharge may apply
- Ximen → Longshan Temple, MRT
- About NT$20, 8–11 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster and take the MRT between clusters. The MRT covers nearly everything a visitor wants and runs about 06:00–00:00; buses fill the gaps; Uber and taxis handle bags and late nights.Walk inside a cluster and take the MRT between clusters. The MRT covers nearly everything a visitor wants and runs about 6:00 AM–12:00 AM; buses fill the gaps; Uber and taxis handle bags and late nights.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside Ximending, Dihua Street, Yongkang Street and the Xinyi malls |
| MRT (metro) | NT$16–65 with EasyCard; single-journey tokens cost the same or slightly more | Everything between clusters and the airport |
| City bus | NT$15 a section (EasyCard) | Places off the MRT, such as the National Palace Museum and Yangmingshan |
| Taxi and Uber | Start NT$85; NT$150–350 across the centre; a night surcharge may apply | Luggage, night, rain and the airport late at night |
| YouBike 2.0 | About NT$10 per 30 minutes | Short rides along the river and in parks |
| Walking and cycling along the river | Free or bike hire | A sunset ride from Dadaocheng to Guandu |
| Tour bus | About NT$500–700 | Orientation |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. An MRT ride is NT$20–35 with an EasyCard; a short taxi starts near NT$85.
- Late at night
- The MRT stops around midnight; taxis and Uber run all night. Check the last train in Google Maps before dinner.
See and do
01Longshan Temple艋舺龍山寺
The city’s oldest working temple; incense, prayers and carved dragons; go at dawn.
Hours: best 06:00–08:00 · Price: Free · Time: 45–60 minHours: best 6:00 AM–8:00 AM · Price: Free · Time: 45–60 min · 25.0372, 121.4999
02Taipei 101 and Xinyi台北101
The landmark tower with a 37-second lift to a view; malls for a wet day.
Hours: best Late afternoon to dusk · Price: About NT$600 · Time: 1.5–3 h · 25.0339, 121.5645
03National Palace Museum
A huge collection of Chinese imperial art, including the Jadeite Cabbage; plan half a day.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: About NT$350 · Time: 3–4 h
04A night market (Shilin or Ningxia)
The food that defines the city; eat the local snacks at the stalls.
Hours: best 17:30–20:00 · Price: NT$300–600 · Time: 2 hHours: best 5:30 PM–8:00 PM · Price: NT$300–600 · Time: 2 h
05Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall國立中正紀念堂
A vast plaza and a guard change; free and easy to combine with Yongkang Street lunch.
Hours: best Opening · Price: Free · Time: 1 h · 25.0361, 121.5219
06Elephant Mountain sunset
The classic view of Taipei 101 from a short climb; free.
Hours: best Sunset · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 h
07Bopiliao and Dihua Street剝皮寮歷史街區
Old streets with tea, herbs and history; walkable half-day.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 2 h · 25.0358, 121.5014
08Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung鼎泰豐 101店
The famous soup dumplings from the best-known name; a queue is normal.
Hours: best 11:00 or 14:00 · Price: NT$400–700 · Time: 1 hHours: best 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM · Price: NT$400–700 · Time: 1 h · 25.0338, 121.5644
09Beitou hot springs
Public baths and a thermal valley; an easy half-day by MRT.
Hours: best Weekday · Price: NT$40–800 · Time: 3–4 h
10Jiufen and the north-east coast
Hillside tea houses and steep lanes; go on a weekday morning.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: NT$300–800 for transport and tea · Time: Full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jiufen and Shifen | Bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT or a train and bus, about 1–1.5 h each way | Full day |
| Beitou hot springs | MRT Red line to Beitou, about 30–40 min | Half day |
| Tamsui and Bali coast | MRT Red line to Tamsui, about 45 min | Half day |
| Maokong gondola | MRT to Taipei Zoo, then the gondola, about 45 min | Half day |
| Yehliu Geopark and the north coast | Bus from Taipei Main or Tamsui, about 1.5 h | Half to full day |
| Taroko Gorge and Hualien | Taroko Express train, about 2–2.5 h | Overnight |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuhang Soy Milk (Huashan Market) | Salty soy milk and a flaky flatbread · Shandao Temple | NT$60–150 | Budget |
| Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle | Oyster vermicelli in a bowl · Ximending | NT$60–80 | Budget |
| A convenience store meal | Rice ball, tea egg and a drink · Any 7-Eleven or FamilyMart | NT$60–120 | Budget |
| A lunch box shop (bian-dang) | Rice with meat and vegetables · Any street | NT$80–120 | Budget |
| Yong Kang Beef Noodle Shop | Braised beef noodle soup · Yongkang Street | NT$250–450 | Mid-range |
| Din Tai Fung, Taipei 101 branch | Xiaolongbao and fried rice · Taipei 101 | NT$400–700 | Mid-range |
| Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market | A night-market snack crawl · Wanhua | NT$200–500 | Mid-range |
| Ningxia Night Market | Snack crawl on one street · Datong | NT$200–500 | Mid-range |
| A Michelin-listed restaurant | Tasting menu · Zhongshan or Da’an | From NT$2,000 (check) | Splurge |
| A hotel dim sum lunch | Cantonese dim sum · Xinyi or Zhongshan | NT$1,200–2,500 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in NT$. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | NT$600–1,000 dorm bed · NT$1,500–2,500 private room | Ximending, near Taipei Main Station | Hostels, small guesthouses |
| mid | NT$2,500–5,500 | Ximending, Zhongshan, Taipei Main Station | 3–4 star hotels, business hotels |
| high | NT$6,000–12,000 | Xinyi, Zhongshan, Da’an | 4–5 star hotels |
| splurge | NT$12,000–25,000+ | Xinyi, Zhongshan | Five-star and luxury hotels |
Per room per night in NT$, 2026 estimate; Lunar New Year, holiday weekends and the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve add 30–100%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 你好nee-how |
| Thank you | 謝謝syeh-syeh |
| Excuse me / sorry | 不好意思boo-how ee-suh |
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢？juh-guh dwo-shao chyen |
| One of these, please | 我要一個這個wo yao ee-guh juh-guh |
| No meat, please | 我吃素wo chr soo |
| Not spicy | 不要辣boo yao la |
| To go | 外帶wye-dye |
| The bill, please | 買單my-dan |
| Where is the MRT station? | 捷運站在哪裡？jyeh-yun jan dzai na-lee |
| Please take me to this address | 請帶我去這個地址ching dye wo chyu juh-guh dee-jr |
| Toilet | 廁所tsuh-swo |
| Exit | 出口choo-ko |
| Help / police | 救命 / 警察jyoh-ming / jing-cha |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- 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.
- Tipping: Not expected; a 10% service charge is added in many restaurants.
- Shoes: Take them off when entering a home or a guesthouse room with a shoe rack.
- Chopsticks: Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people at prayer or in shops; do not photograph inside some museums and government buildings.
Red lines
- Temples: do not step on thresholds or point at statues; follow signs on photos.
- MRT: no eating, drinking or chewing gum in the paid area.
- Do not photograph worshippers at close range.
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
- Tea-house or “art student” invitations near tourist spots: decline; the bill arrives at a very high price.
- Fake “friendly” guides at the airport and Taipei Main Station: use the official desks and the MRT.
- Night-market stalls with no prices: ask the price before they cook, and pay only what was named.
- Unofficial ticket sellers outside Taipei 101 and the Palace Museum: buy on the official site or at the counter.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover. Skip: The Palace Museum and the hot springs; both need a half-day.
- 07:007:00 AMLongshan Temple at dawn
- 09:009:00 AMBopiliao Old Street
- 10:3010:30 AMSoy-milk breakfast or noodles
- 12:3012:30 PMBeef noodle lunch near Yongkang Street
- 14:302:30 PMCKS Memorial Hall
- 17:005:00 PMTaipei 101 at sunset
- 19:007:00 PMDinner at Din Tai Fung
2 days
The usual Taipei stay. Skip: The Palace Museum, Beitou and Jiufen.
Day 1 — Wanhua and Ximending
- 07:007:00 AMLongshan Temple
- 09:009:00 AMBopiliao Old Street
- 11:3011:30 AMNoodles in Ximending
- 14:002:00 PMRed House Theater and Ximending walk
- 18:306:30 PMHuaxi Street night market
Day 2 — Monument and Xinyi
- 08:308:30 AMCKS Memorial Hall
- 10:3010:30 AMBeef noodle lunch at Yongkang Street
- 13:001:00 PMMuseum, park or a café
- 16:304:30 PMTaipei 101 observatory
- 19:007:00 PMDumplings at Din Tai Fung
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: eng.taiwan.net.tw/
- Taipei Travel (Taipei City tourism): www.travel.taipei/en
- Wikivoyage - Taipei: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Taipei
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Taipei臺北
請帶我去這個地址
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- 艋舺龍山寺Longshan Temple
- 台北101Taipei 101
- 國立中正紀念堂Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- 剝皮寮歷史街區Bopiliao Old Street
- 鼎泰豐 101店Din Tai Fung, Taipei 101 branch
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline (English, 24 h)0800-011-765
The American Institute in Taiwan is in Neihu; the other offices are in Xinyi and Songshan. Write your own office’s 24-hour line below.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/taipei). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.