Taipei travel guides
In-depth guides to help you plan every aspect of your Taipei trip — night markets, Longshan Temple, Beitou hot springs, day trips to Jiufen and Shifen, MRT logistics and honest tourist-trap verdicts
Taipei essentials (4)
How many days do you need in Taipei?
3 days covers the city core. 5 days adds day trips. 7 days unlocks regional Taiwan. Honest breakdown by pace and priorities.
Is Taipei worth visiting?
Taipei is genuinely underrated — great food, cheap transport, easy temples and accessible day trips. Here's what it delivers and where it disappoints.
Taipei first-timer guide
Everything a first-time Taipei visitor needs — transport, money, temples, night markets, day trips and the tourist traps to avoid.
Taipei on a budget — honest cost guide 2026
Realistic daily costs for Taipei on a tight budget — accommodation, food, transport and day trips, with prices in TWD and EUR.
Food and night markets (5)
Best street food in Taipei — what to eat and where
The essential Taipei street food guide — 15 dishes you need to try, where to find the best versions, prices in TWD and what to skip.
Din Tai Fung and xiaolongbao in Taipei — the honest guide
Everything you need for Din Tai Fung in Taipei — which branch, what to order, how to skip the queue, prices in TWD, and whether the hype is justified.
Shilin vs. Raohe night market — which one should you visit?
Detailed comparison of Taipei's two most popular night markets — food quality, prices, crowds, MRT access and honest verdict on which to prioritize.
Taipei bubble tea guide — where to drink it and what to order
Taiwan invented bubble tea. This guide covers the best Taipei shops, what to order as a first-timer, major chains vs. independents, and prices in TWD.
Taipei night markets — complete guide for 2026
Honest comparison of all major Taipei night markets — which to visit, what to eat, when to go, and which ones are overrated for tourists.
Temples and culture (3)
Best temples in Taipei — which ones are actually worth visiting
Honest ranking of Taipei's best temples — Longshan, Bao'an, Xingtian, Guandu and more. All free. Which ones to prioritize and how to combine them.
Dadaocheng and Dihua Street — Taipei's historic quarter guide
Guide to Dadaocheng and Dihua Street in Taipei — historic shophouses, the fabric market, dried goods, Yongle Market and what to eat in the area.
Longshan Temple guide — Taipei's most atmospheric temple
Complete guide to Longshan Temple in Taipei — history, what to see, best times to visit, etiquette, nearby food and MRT directions. Entry is free.
Museums (2)
Best museums in Taipei — which ones are worth your time
Honest ranking of Taipei's best museums — National Palace Museum to niche gems like the Museum of Drinking Water. Prices, hours and what to skip.
National Palace Museum guide — Taipei's world-class collection
National Palace Museum Taipei — 700,000-piece collection, what to prioritize, ticket prices TWD 350, opening hours and how to visit without wasting time.
Hot springs (3)
Beitou hot springs guide — everything you need to know
Complete guide to Beitou hot springs near Taipei — best bathhouses, public pools, free spots, opening hours, prices in TWD, and how to get there.
Beitou vs Wulai vs Jiaoxi — which hot springs should you visit?
Honest comparison of Taiwan's three most accessible hot spring destinations near Taipei. Prices, access, water quality, atmosphere, and who each suits.
Hot spring etiquette in Taiwan — what to do, what to avoid
Practical guide to hot spring etiquette in Taiwan — shower rules, swimwear vs nude, tattoo policies, what to bring, Beitou and Wulai-specific norms.
Day trips (7)
Best day trips from Taipei — ranked by effort, crowd level, and reward
The 10 best day trips from Taipei ranked honestly — Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu, Beitou, Wulai, Houtong, Maokong, Pingxi, and Yangmingshan.
Houtong Cat Village guide — visiting Taiwan's famous cat village
Houtong Cat Village day trip from Taipei — train (NT$63), how many cats, what to see, coal-mine heritage, and how to combine with Jiufen or Shifen.
Jiufen day trip guide — transport, what to see, and when to visit
Complete Jiufen day trip guide from Taipei — train to Ruifang, bus options, best teahouses, food, what to skip, and the honest verdict on crowds.
North coast loop guide — Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen in one day
How to do the north coast loop day trip from Taipei — Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, and Shifen in one day by tour or private car, with timing and logistics.
Pingxi Line day trip guide — sky lanterns, waterfalls, and mountain villages
How to do the Pingxi Branch Line from Taipei — train schedule, day pass, sky lanterns at Shifen and Pingxi, Sandiaoling waterfall trail, and village stops.
Shifen sky lantern guide — how to release a lantern and what else to do
Guide to Shifen sky lanterns — train route, lantern prices, Shifen Waterfall, best time to visit, and how to combine with Jiufen.
Yehliu Geopark guide — Queen's Head rock, formations, and how to visit
Yehliu Geopark guide — bus from Taipei, entry price NT$80, Queen's Head rock, best time to visit, and photo tips for the formations.
Nature and hiking (4)
Elephant Mountain hike — the Taipei 101 view trail explained
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) hike guide — MRT access, 20-minute trail to the top, best time for Taipei 101 views, what to bring, and how crowded it gets.
Maokong gondola guide — tea plantations, views, and how to visit
Maokong Gondola guide from Taipei — ticket prices, cable car schedule, best teahouses for oolong tea, and how to combine with Taipei Zoo.
Taipei best hikes — ranked by effort, views, and access from the MRT
The best hiking trails in and around Taipei ranked by difficulty, access from MRT, and scenic reward — from Elephant Mountain to Yangmingshan to Wulai.
Yangmingshan hiking guide — trails, transport, and what to see
Yangmingshan National Park hiking guide — Seven Star Mountain, Xiaoyoukeng fumaroles, cherry blossoms, bus routes from Taipei, trail difficulties.
Neighbourhoods (4)
Taipei neighborhoods guide — district by district
District-by-district guide to Taipei's neighborhoods — what each area looks like, where to eat, and which MRT line gets you there.
Where to stay in Taipei — choosing the right neighborhood
Honest breakdown of Taipei's best neighborhoods for tourists — location, vibe, price range and which district suits your travel style.
Ximending guide — what to do, eat, and skip
Practical guide to Ximending — Taipei's pedestrian entertainment district. Food stalls, the Red House, what to skip, and how to get there.
Xinyi district guide — Taipei 101, shopping, and skyline views
Complete guide to Taipei's Xinyi district — Taipei 101 observatory, Elephant Mountain hike, rooftop bars, malls, and what is actually worth your time.
Getting around (5)
EasyCard guide — how to use Taiwan's transport card
Everything about the Taiwan EasyCard — where to buy it, how to top up, what it covers (MRT, buses, convenience stores), and whether you need it.
Taiwan High Speed Rail from Taipei — routes, fares, and tips
Using Taiwan's High Speed Rail from Taipei — how to reach Sun Moon Lake, Taroko, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Real fares, booking, and station
Taipei MRT guide — lines, fares, and how to use it
Complete guide to Taipei's metro system — 6 lines, color codes, fares, EasyCard, Airport MRT, and the stops every tourist actually needs.
How to get from Taipei to Jiufen — train, bus, tour, taxi
Getting from Taipei to Jiufen by train, bus, tour, or taxi. Real fares, departure points, journey times, and the most common mistakes to avoid.
Taoyuan Airport to Taipei — every option compared
How to get from Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Taipei city. Airport MRT, shared bus, taxi, and private transfer compared with real fares and times.
Trip planning (4)
Taipei itinerary guide — 3, 5, and 7 day plans
Practical day-by-day itineraries for 3, 5, and 7 days in Taipei. Honest priorities, realistic timing, and day-trip routing to Jiufen, Beitou, and
Taipei packing tips — what to bring and what to leave home
Practical Taipei packing guide — climate by season, what to wear at temples, rain prep, power adapters, and what to buy in Taipei instead of packing.
Taipei travel budget — what things actually cost in 2026
Real daily budget for Taipei 2026 — accommodation, food, transport, entry fees, and day trips. Budget, mid-range, and comfort tiers with actual NT$ prices.
Taiwan visa and entry requirements — what you need to know
Who gets visa-free entry to Taiwan, how long you can stay, the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC), passport requirements, and what to expect at Taoyuan Airport.
Seasonal guides (4)
Best time to visit Taipei — month by month guide
Honest month-by-month breakdown of Taipei's weather, crowds and costs — including typhoon season, cherry blossoms and sky-lantern festivals.
Taipei cherry blossom guide — when, where and how to see them
When and where to see cherry blossoms in Taipei, including Yangmingshan timing, crowd management and transport options for peak bloom weekends.
Taipei in winter — what to expect in December, January and February
What Taipei's winter is actually like — mild but damp, with cherry blossoms in February, Lunar New Year closures and excellent indoor options year-round.
Taipei typhoon season — what travelers actually need to know
Honest guide to Taipei's typhoon season (June–September): real disruption risk, how to monitor storms, what stays open, and whether to cancel your trip.
Comparisons (3)
Jiufen vs Shifen — which should you visit (or can you do both)?
Jiufen vs Shifen compared honestly — atmosphere, crowds, what to do, travel time and whether combining both makes sense for a day trip from Taipei.
Taipei vs other Asian cities — honest comparison for first-timers
How Taipei compares to Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and Hong Kong on cost, food, transport, safety and crowd levels — an honest guide for first-time Asia
Tour vs DIY day trips from Taipei — which makes sense for you
Guided tour vs DIY for Taipei day trips — honest comparison for Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu, Yangmingshan and farther destinations like Taroko and Sun Moon
Taipei with kids (1)
Tea culture (2)
Jiufen teahouses vs Maokong — which is right for your Taipei tea experience
Comparing Jiufen's atmospheric hillside teahouses with Maokong's serious tea-village experience — which to choose for a Taipei tea afternoon or evening.
Taipei tea culture guide — gongfu cha, teahouses and Taiwan's best teas
Taipei's tea culture explained — gongfu cha ritual, Taiwan's best tea varieties, Maokong and Pinglin visits, and where to find genuine teahouses.
Honest Taipei (2)
Taipei scams and overrated experiences — what first-timers need to know
What's actually overrated in Taipei and the rare scams that do exist — an honest guide for first-time visitors who want to spend their time and money well.
Taipei tourist traps — what to skip, what's genuinely overrated, and what's worth it
Honest guide to Taipei's tourist traps — overpriced Shilin stalls, overcrowded viewpoints, unnecessary taxi upgrades, and where the real value actually is.