Things to Do in Taipei
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Taipei, Taiwan, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Taipei. Night markets that never seem to actually close, a tower that held the world record for a good while, a capital city where street food culture runs late into the night, once home to the tallest building in the world, and holding one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial artefacts anywhere, moved here during a pivotal moment in 20th-century history. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Taipei: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the late-night appetite. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 held the title of the world's tallest building for several years after opening in the 2000s, it was eventually surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, still one of the most recognisable buildings in Asia, its design, inspired by a bamboo stalk with tiered segments, incorporates traditional elements alongside cutting-edge engineering, including a massive tuned mass damper visible from the observation deck that helps stabilise the tower during earthquakes and typhoons.
The observation deck offers sweeping views over the whole city, worth timing a visit for late afternoon into evening to see both daylight and illuminated night views in one visit.
Hours Daily, roughly 11am–9pm
Address Taipei 101, Taipei
Taipei's Night Markets
Taipei is famous for its lively night markets, offering a huge variety of street food, stinky tofu and bubble tea are just two of the countless local specialties found stall to stall, worth a proper evening at one of the major markets, Shilin and Raohe among the most popular, an immersive way to experience Taiwanese food culture.
It's worth going with an appetite and a willingness to try something you can't quite identify, this is exactly how the markets are meant to be experienced, worth grazing across several stalls rather than committing to one meal.
Best time Evening, markets run late into the night
Address Shilin Night Market, Taipei
The National Palace Museum
Taipei's National Palace Museum houses one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial artefacts, brought over during a pivotal historical event, a vast collection was relocated here as the government retreated to Taiwan in 1949, worth understanding this context, the museum's holdings represent centuries of Chinese imperial art and artefacts, moved here amid the upheaval of China's civil war and now forming one of the most significant collections of its kind anywhere in the world.
It's worth a proper half-day at minimum, the collection's scale means only a fraction is on display at any time, rotating exhibitions ensure repeat visits offer something different each time.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–5pm
Address National Palace Museum, Taipei
Best time to visit Taipei
October through December and March through April give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild without summer's heat and typhoon risk.
Typhoon season runs roughly June through October, worth checking forecasts closely if travelling during these months, particularly given how outdoor plans can be affected.
Getting around Taipei
Taipei's MRT is efficient and covers the city well, one of the best metro systems in Asia, worth relying on it for getting between the night markets, Taipei 101, and the museum.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Taipei worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, Taipei 101, one of the most recognisable buildings in Asia, the city's excellent night market food scene, and the National Palace Museum's imperial collection all give it real, varied depth.
- How many days do you need in Taipei?
- Three days covers Taipei 101, a proper night market evening, and the National Palace Museum comfortably.
- Is Taipei expensive?
- No, generally affordable, particularly for food, street food and local transport remain cheap even by regional standards.
- What is Taipei famous for?
- Taipei 101, formerly the tallest building in the world, its lively night market food culture, and the National Palace Museum's extensive collection of Chinese imperial artefacts.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
