Taipei
Taiwan's capital — the Taipei 101 skyline, night views from Elephant Mountain, buzzing night markets and the lantern-lit hills of nearby Jiufen, in a warm, food-loving city.
Taipei right now · July
In season now: 🍧 Mango season, 🥵 Hot summer & typhoons
Coming up
- 🎇Taipei 101 countdownDec 31in ~22 weeks
- 🏮Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival~Feb 12in ~28 weeks
- 🛶Dragon Boat Festival~Jun 10in ~45 weeks
Travel videos from Taipei
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10 days in Taiwan — Taipei, Jiufen…
▶ Mei Time
Taiwan 4K 60fps — stunning views
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Taipei drone film 4K (1 hour)
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Taipei 4K travel film
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Driving downtown Taipei 4K HDR
▶ J Utah
Taipei — cinematic travel film
▶ —
Scenes of Taipei
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Top spots
- 1
Taipei 101
The 508m symbol of Taipei — observatory views and famous New Year fireworks.
2Elephant Mountain
A short, popular hike with the classic Taipei 101 view — best at dusk and after dark.
3Ximending
Taipei's youth quarter — neon, street food and shops, often called its Harajuku.
4Jiufen
A mountainside old street of red lanterns, tea houses and stone steps — a dreamy day trip from the city.
5National Palace Museum
One of the world's great museums of Chinese art — home to the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone.
6Dadaocheng
A retro quarter of old trading houses along Dihua Street — tea and dried-goods shops and renovated cafés.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
When to visit Taipei
Best months & festivals — filled = recommended
🏮Pingxi Lantern Festival
Sky-lantern release at Lunar New Year.
🍃Pleasant spring
🥵Hot summer & typhoons
🍧Mango season
Best time for mango shaved ice.
🍃Pleasant autumn–winter
Key events & festivals
- 🏮
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival~Feb 12
Sky lanterns released for the Lantern Festival (lunar).
- 🛶
Dragon Boat Festival~Jun 10
Dragon-boat races for the Duanwu festival (lunar).
- 🍧
Mango seasonJun 1–Aug 31
Peak season for ripe-mango shaved ice.
- 🎇
Taipei 101 countdownDec 31
The New Year fireworks off Taipei 101.
What to eat in Taipei
Signature local dishes to try
🍜Beef noodle soup
Tender beef in a deep broth - Taiwan's signature noodle bowl.
🥟Xiao long bao
Soup dumplings bursting with hot broth - home to famous Taipei shops.
🌃Night-market eats
Stinky tofu, scallion pancakes, pepper buns - graze the stalls.
🍧Mango shaved ice
Fluffy shaved ice piled with ripe mango - the summer classic.
🧋Bubble tea
Tapioca milk tea was invented in Taiwan - try it at its birthplace.
About Taipei
- 🌤️ Best season
- Autumn (Oct–Nov) and spring (Mar–Apr) are most comfortable; summers are hot, humid and typhoon-prone, winters drizzly.
- ✈️ Getting there
- Direct flights to Taoyuan (TPE) and Songshan (TSA); the MRT reaches the city in ~40 min from Taoyuan.
- 🚇 Getting around
- The MRT is clean and easy; tap an EasyCard for transit and shops.
- 🕒 Time & currency
- Taiwan Time (UTC+8). Currency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD).
Tips & hidden gems
💡 Night markets are a must
Graze the Shilin, Raohe and Linjiang night markets — pepper buns, beef noodles, mango shaved ice and bubble tea.
💡 Day trip to Jiufen
A lantern-lit mountainside old street, magical at dusk — an easy day trip by bus or train + bus.
💡 Tap with EasyCard
Works on MRT, buses and convenience stores — buy at the airport or a konbini to move around easily.
💡 Rain & typhoons
Summer to early autumn brings typhoons and downpours — carry an umbrella and mix in indoor spots.
Travel essentials
Payments, transport, connectivity and safety — before you go
Payments
Cards and mobile pay in cities; cash for night markets. The EasyCard is handy.
Getting around
Uber and local taxi apps work well.
SIM / eSIM
Tourist SIMs at the airport; eSIM available.
Plugs & voltage
Types A/B, 110V.
Tipping
Tipping is largely not expected.
Tap water
Boil tap water, or stick to bottled.
Safety
Very safe.
Suggested routes
Taipei city — full day
~1 day / MRT
Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum and the city's must-sees by MRT.
- 1National Palace Museum
One of the world's great museums of Chinese art — home to the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone.
- 2Taipei 101 observatory
The 508m symbol of Taipei — observatory views and famous New Year fireworks.
- 3Sunset & night view from Elephant Mountain
A short, popular hike with the classic Taipei 101 view — best at dusk and after dark.
Night markets & old quarter — half day
~4 hrs / MRT & walking
The retro Dihua quarter and a night-market food crawl.
- 1Dadaocheng & Dihua Street
A retro quarter of old trading houses along Dihua Street — tea and dried-goods shops and renovated cafés.
- 2Ximending
Taipei's youth quarter — neon, street food and shops, often called its Harajuku.
- 3Graze a night market
Jiufen day trip
~half day+ / bus & train
Head to the nostalgic mountainside teahouse town of Jiufen by bus and train.
- 1Jiufen old street at dusk
A mountainside old street of red lanterns, tea houses and stone steps — a dreamy day trip from the city.
- 2Sky lanterns at Shifen
- 3Rest at a tea house
Live highlights
Live24/7👁 65Elephant Mountain, Taipei 101 View
Live24/7👁 3Jiantan Mountain, Taipei
Live24/7👁 2Dajia Riverside Park, Taipei
Live24/7👁 48Dadaocheng Wharf, Taipei
Live24/7👁 9Taipei Riverside Night View
Live24/7👁 5Bishan Rock, Taipei
Plan your trip to Taipei
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