Taipei, what to see and do in Taiwan's capital city

Taipei is the capital, social, cultural and tourist heart of Taiwan.

It is a diverse and chaotic city with an eclectic mix of influences from China, Japan and the Philippines, blending the best of the region's traditions and gastronomy.

This dynamic north-east Asian metropolis is extremely modern while retaining a traditional spirit that has much to offer those who live here thanks to a high level of security, a ramified public transport network, one of the best street food scenes in Asia and a long list of scenic and architectural attractions.

Taipei what to see and do

• Taipei 101

• Rainbow Walkway

• Peace Park

• The Red House

• Beimen Station

• Tianhou Temple

• National Museum of Taiwan

• Lungshan Temple

• National Palace Museum

• Zhishan Garden

• Beitou Thermal Valley

• Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

• Elephant Mountain

• Yangmingshan National Park

Among the many ways to discover the city during a stay is to visit one of the many night markets each with its own special characteristics, such as the renowned Yongkang Street market where you can enjoy delicious street food, or explore the ancient Taoist temples and modern skyscrapers that embody the city's current cultural climate.

Taipei's skyline is one of the most striking in the world, the view holds together modern buildings and lush green hills of the surrounding jungle.

From the many vantage points in the city, exceptional views can be enjoyed, such as from the iconic Taipei 101 among the world's tallest skyscrapers at over 500 metres, which offers a spectacular view of the Yehliu Geopark, or from Elephant Mountain with a hike of about 25 minutes leading to two main viewpoints once the mountain summit is reached.

Places such as the Taipei National Palace Museum, the Chiang Kai-shek Hall, built to commemorate the former president of China, the Longshan Temple and the National Shrine of Revolutionary Martyrs provide a closer insight into local traditional culture.

As cultural venues, you can also visit the Huashan and Songshan art theme parks, for relaxation, there are the Beitou hot springs , and for more lively nightlife, head to the Ximending area.

Modern, cosmopolitan and full of a sense of exuberance Taipei is a bustling metropolis full of fascinating contrasts, a fusion of tradition and modernity, imbued with the sparkling energy and friendly smiles of the Taiwanese.

The Best Time to Visit Taipei

Located fairly close to the equator, Taipei has a humid, subtropical climate with long, sultry summers and short, cold, foggy winters. From February to May, the rainy season begins and peaks from June to September with tropical storms and typhoons.

Despite a long 'typhoon season' that should not be too frightening, June, July and August are the peak months for tourism in Taipei with maximum temperatures of 40°C and humidity at around 75 per cent consistently throughout the year.

For an authentic cultural experience, one can also plan a trip around one of the many popular festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival in late June, the Moon Festival in September or even Chinese New Year.

The night markets

Taipei is home to incredible markets, such as the Jianguo Jade Market with enchanting gemstone displays and numerous night markets.

The Shilin Night Market is a popular destination for buying clothes, toys and electronics, snacking at the many street food stalls or enjoying a relaxing massage, it is the largest of its kind in Taiwan with over 400 stalls.

The Raohe Street Night Market is the second most popular in the city, ideal for antique shopping and sampling dumplings or stopping at one of the Michelin-starred food stalls.

The Tonghua Night Market is popular with the locals thanks to its many stalls of delicacies to eat at, Snake Alley in the former red light district, takes its name from the fact that many tourists used to come here to eat snake meat dishes.

The Ningxia Night Market is one of the smallest, easy to explore and specialises in selling delicious oysters.

The Temples

In Taipei, different religions coexist peacefully together as followers of Buddhism and Taoism gather to pray in the same temple.

The Longshan Temple in honour of the goddess of mercy, the Temple of Confucius named after the famous philosopher and the Bao an Temple of Taiwanese folk religion and UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the mid-18th century, houses two dragon columns over two centuries old and is particularly striking when lit up at night.

Art: Taipei's museums

Heading towards the Zhongshan area, one encounters the thriving local art scene that nurtures an alternative culture in small exhibition spaces that crowd the neighbourhood including the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, located in a former primary schools building that has now become a cultural centre for the city with exhibitions by renowned local artists.

The Shin Leh Yuan (New Paradise) Art Space, collectively run by an artists' cooperative, is a space that hosts monthly exhibitions and lectures on art.

Another small gallery worth visiting is Beyond Gallery, located behind an unimpressive façade, with only enough space to display the work of one or two artists.

The artists' village of Treasure Hill near the National Taiwan University is a lovely place for a late afternoon stroll. It began as an illegal settlement and is now a labyrinth of old buildings and hidden artist spaces.

To learn about ancient Chinese art, visit the National Palace Museum with displays of ancient ceramics, paintings and bronze artefacts and one of the world's largest collections of almost 700,000 pieces.

The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial is a national monument in honour of a former president of the Republic of China.

The square near the memorial is called Freedom Square and often serves as a gathering place during national holidays with a museum documenting the general's career and life.

Nature and hot springs

Although Taipei is a major metropolitan area with many things to do in the city itself, it is also a good base for a variety of excursions and outdoor activities.

Taipei is located close to rivers, ocean and mountains and thus strategically placed for nature adventures such as at the magnificent Yangmingshan National Park.

Known for its breathtaking views, hot springs, sulphur deposits, hiking trails and beautiful cherry blossoms, Yangmingshan National Park is also home to Taipei's highest dormant volcano, Seven Star Mountain.

Another experience to try on a trip to Taipei is to soak in the Beitou hot springs , a big draw for locals and tourists alike.

The area surrounding the Xinbeitou underground station in Beitou is full of public and private hot springs to choose from to enjoy a rejuvenating bath to suit your needs, as well as modern accommodation facilities where you can stay.

Travelling all the way along the brown metro line to the end, one can discover a number of Taipei's hidden gems such as the Taipei Zoo, one of the largest on the mainland, and not far from the start of the Maokong Gondola, a beautiful cable car ride whose last stop leaves one in the midst of spectacular traditional tea gardens.

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