Red House Theater (Ximen Red House)
Place · Ximending & Red House
A 20-minute look at the 1908 red-brick octagon on the way to Ximending; go in the afternoon when the creative market is open.
- Free
- 1908 red brick
- Shops from 11:00
- Go 12:00–17:00
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 8Older streets have covered arcades with parked scooters a…
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- Northern Taiwan ↗The north coast and Jiufen are wet for much of the year; carry a compact umbrella and do not plan a sunset view around clear skies.
- Taipei ↗Older streets have covered arcades with parked scooters and stalls: large suitcases go from the car or MRT exit to the door, not along the arcade.
- Taipei ↗The MRT stops around midnight; after that use taxis and the Uber app. Check the last train before dinner.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 11:00–21:30Usually 11:00 AM–9:30 PM
- Crowds
Quietest around 11:00 · go 12:00–17:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free
- Time to spend
- 25–40 min · up to 60 min if you linger
Best time to go
Crowded on weekend afternoons and evenings; quiet before 12:00.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Sat, Sun.
Opening hours
- Hours
- 11:00–21:30 (typical, check)
- Note
- The plaza is open always; shops and the theatre have their own hours; not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- The building and shops about 11:00–21:30; the theatre has show times (check).
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junbusy
- Julheavy
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octbusy
- Novbusy
- Decheavy
Quietest Jan–Jun · Sep–Nov · busiest Jul–Aug · Dec.
Estimate: desk reasoning; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Ximen Station (Blue and Green lines), exit 1
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Not recorded
Accessibility
- YesStep-free entrance · A few steps at some shops.
- Check firstLifts
- Check firstAccessible toilet
- YesRamps · A flat plaza with a ramp to the building (check).
- YesWheelchair · The plaza and main hall are reachable (check).
- YesStroller · Fine on the plaza.
- YesPlaces to sit · Cafés and seats.
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd4/5 High
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Footwear that suits the rule · On.
- Shoes: On.
- No bag check.
- Allowed; ask before photographing vendors.
- No drones; tripods discouraged when crowded.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: The café inside the building
- rain: Ximen Station concourse
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Red House Theater plaza (WC, food)
Problem
Red lines
- Follow posted signs and keep walkways clear.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- It is an octagonal red-brick market built in 1908, converted into a theatre and creative-market plaza.
- The plaza behind is popular with young people; the bar street around the back is known for its gay scene.
- Shops open around 11:00; there is little to see before then.Shops open around 11:00 AM; there is little to see before then.
- The plaza is free; only shows cost money.
- Exit 1 of Ximen Station is at the door.
Best time of day
Go 12:00–17:00. Plan 25–40 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; weekends run one level higher
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Plaza and building: Open
- Theatre performance: Box office or online
- Entry is free; shows are ticketed (check the programme).
- Queues
- Theatre performance: Book ahead for popular shows.
- Dress code
- Shoes: On.
- Bags & lockers
- No bag check.
- Photos
- Allowed; ask before photographing vendors.
- No drones; tripods discouraged when crowded.
- What's closed
- WeeklycheckShops and the theatre keep their own days.
- Lunar New YearcheckSpecial hours.
- Inside: Theatre or exhibitioncheckDepends on the programme.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaza and building | Free | Open | No line. |
| Theatre performance | From about NT$300 (≈ US$10) (check) | Box office or online | Book ahead for popular shows. |
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plaza and building | Free | No ticket. |
| Theatre show or exhibition | From about NT$300–1,000 (≈ US$10–35) (check) | Depends on the programme. |
| Creative-market items | NT$100–800 (≈ US$4–30) | Small design goods and gifts. |
How to do it well
- 1Take the MRT to Ximen Station, exit 1.
- 2Walk around the octagon and the plaza.
- 3Browse the creative market and take a coffee.
- 4Continue to the pedestrian zone.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
25min
Typical
40min
p95
60min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (40 min).
With the other 5 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Ximen Station2 min on foot · 3 min spare
- Ximending pedestrian zone5 min on foot · 0 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
The octagonal building
10 minRed brick, an old market of 1908; walk around the outside.
Creative-market plaza
15 minSmall design and craft stalls.
Café and shop inside
10 minA rest stop with AC.
optionalTheatre or exhibition
30 minDepends on the programme.
optionalextra ticketcheck
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- quiet
- Leave by
- 11:4011:40 AM
- Closing buffer
- 560′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 21:00. Shops close about 21:30 (check).
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesA few steps at some shops.
- Lifts: check · check
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Ramps: yes · yesA flat plaza with a ramp to the building (check).
- Wheelchair: yes · yesThe plaza and main hall are reachable (check).
- Stroller: yes · yesFine on the plaza.
- Places to sit: yes · yesCafés and seats.
A flat plaza with a ramp to the building (check).
Step-free route
- 1Ximen Station exit 1 has a lift.
- 2The plaza is flat; a ramp reaches the building (check).
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | In the building and in Ximen Station. |
| Seating | yes | Cafés and plaza seats. |
| Food and drink | yes | Cafés inside and snacks across the street. |
| Card payment | yes | Cards at most shops; small stalls prefer cash. |
| Wi-Fi | check | Public Wi-Fi nearby. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun–Sep | Heat | The plaza is exposed; use the café. | check |
| Lunar New Year | Lantern displays (some years) | Busy evenings. | check |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Taipei | ok | A short stop on the Ximending walk. |
| Shoppers | good | Design goods and small gifts. |
| LGBTQ travellers | good | A long-running bar scene behind the building. |
| Families with small kids | ok | Fine before 17:00.Fine before 5:00 PM. |
| Wheelchair users | good | Flat plaza and ramps. |
Skip it if
- You are short on time.
- You dislike crowds on weekend evenings.
Rules on site
- food
- Fine on the plaza.
With kids
- with kids
- Fine in the afternoon; skip the bar street after dark.
- child price
- Free
Combine with
Combine with
- 2 minXimen Station
- 5 minXimending pedestrian zone — Snacks and cinemas.
- 6 minAy-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle · eat — A standing bowl nearby.
- —Taipei 101 and Xinyi malls — Malls and food courts.
Walk the Ximending & Red House area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| The octagon from the front plaza | Late afternoon | Do not block the entrance. |
| Cross-shaped building from the side street | Blue hour | Watch scooters. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is the Red House worth it?
For a 20-minute look and a coffee, yes; it is more of a street stop than a museum.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What is the Red House?
An octagonal red-brick market of 1908, now a theatre and creative-market plaza.
Is it free?
Yes for the plaza and building; shows are ticketed.
How long do I need?
20–40 minutes.
When should I go?
Afternoon, when the shops are open; evenings are crowded.
How do I get there?
MRT Blue or Green line to Ximen Station, exit 1.
Photos
Photos
Red House Theater Photo: 氏子, CC BY-SA 4.0
Red House Theater Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Red House Theater Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialTaipei Travel (city tourism)
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.