Taipei

First time in Taipei? What to know before you go

Base yourself in Taipei for 4–5 nights and use the MRT: temples, the National Palace Museum and night markets sit on one map, with Beitou hot springs and Jiufen as day trips. Arrive at Taoyuan (TPE) before 22:00 to catch the airport MRT. Go Oct–Dec or Mar–Apr; with only two nights, stay in one district and skip the day trips.Base yourself in Taipei for 4–5 nights and use the MRT: temples, the National Palace Museum and night markets sit on one map, with Beitou hot springs and Jiufen as day trips. Arrive at Taoyuan (TPE) before 10:00 PM to catch the airport MRT. Go Oct–Dec or Mar–Apr; with only two nights, stay in one district and skip the day trips.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideTaipei

Key facts

Nights needed: 4–5 in Taipei; 5–7 for a first Taiwan trip
Best months: Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr (parent country facts)
Airport: Taoyuan (TPE); airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, land before 22:00
Getting aroundcheck: MRT with an EasyCard; most central trips NT$20–40 (2026 estimate)
Cashcheck: Night markets are mostly cash; carry small notes
Tap watercheck: Not normally drunk; bottled or boiled water is the norm
Language: Mandarin and Taiwanese; English signage on the MRT

Top picks for a first visit

A first trip works best as one base plus short hops. Everything below is reachable on the MRT or a booked day trip, so you never need a car. Prices and hours are 2026 estimates and change with the season — confirm before you go.

Top picks for a first visit
Pick	Price	Hours	Getting there	Best for
National Palace Museum	NT$350 (2026 estimate, check)	09:00–17:00, closed Mon (check)	MRT to Shilin, then bus (check)	Rain, first-timers, half a day
Longshan Temple	Free	06:00–22:00 (check)	MRT Bannan line, Longshan Temple station (check)	Temples, dusk prayers
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall	Free	Park 05:00–24:00; hall 09:00–18:00 (check)	MRT to CKS Memorial Hall (check)	History, photos, an hour
Taipei 101 observatory	NT$600 (2026 estimate, check)	11:00–21:00 (check)	MRT to Taipei 101/World Trade Center (check)	Views, clear evenings
Beitou hot springs	Public baths from NT$40 (2026 estimate, check)	09:00–17:00, closed Mon (check)	MRT Tamsui–Xinyi line to Beitou (check)	Half-day, cool weather
Shilin Night Market	Free entry; food NT$50–150 (check)	Evening, roughly 16:00–24:00 (check)	MRT to Jiantan (check)	First night, eating
Jiufen day trip	Bus fare under NT$150 each way (2026 estimate, check)	Go on a weekday	Bus from Taipei, about 1 h 15 (check)	Hill town, coast
Maokong gondola	NT$120 one way (2026 estimate, check)	09:00–21:00, closed Mon (check)	MRT to Taipei Zoo, then gondola (check)	Tea hills, families

Hours and fares are 2026 estimates; confirm before you go.

Map

Central Taipei is compact: Taipei Main Station, Ximending, the CKS Memorial Hall and Taipei 101 sit within a few MRT stops of each other (check). Longshan Temple is west of Taipei Main Station; Shilin and Beitou are north on the Tamsui–Xinyi line (check). Jiufen is a bus ride east of the city, not on the MRT.

Taipei Main Station — MRT hub and airport MRT terminus
Ximending — shopping and evening food, near Main Station (check)
Taipei 101 — south end of the Xinyi line (check)
Shilin and Beitou — north on the Tamsui–Xinyi line (check)
Jiufen — bus from Taipei, about 1 h 15 (check)

Practical tips

Get an EasyCard at an MRT station and top it up; it covers the MRT and most buses, and many convenience stores accept it (check). Fares are cheap, so a taxi is only worth it late at night or with luggage. Night markets are cash-first, so keep small notes (check).

Tap water is not normally drunk; buy bottled water or use a hotel kettle (check). Convenience stores are everywhere and open late, which makes a first evening easy (check). English signage on the MRT is good, and station staff can point you to the right exit.

Buy and top up an EasyCard at the station (check)
Carry cash for night markets (check)
Drink bottled or boiled water (check)
Use the MRT exit letters; they save a lot of walking

When to go

October to December and March to April are the months the parent country guide recommends for Taipei, and they are the easiest for walking (check). Summer is hot and wet, and typhoon season can disrupt flights and day trips — check forecasts before booking (check).

Chinese New Year closes some shops and restaurants and fills transport; if you travel then, book trains and hotels early (check). Weekdays are better for Jiufen, which gets crowded at weekends (check).

Questions people ask

First time in Taipei? What to know before you go?

Stay 4–5 nights in Taipei and use the MRT. See the National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple and one night market, then add Beitou or Jiufen as a day trip. Go Oct–Dec or Mar–Apr, and land at Taoyuan before 22:00 for the airport MRT.

How much does it cost in Taipei?

MRT rides are around NT$20–40 and most temples are free. Paid sights such as the National Palace Museum (about NT$350) and Taipei 101 observatory (about NT$600) are the main costs. Night market food runs NT$50–150 a dish. All 2026 estimates.

What is the best time to visit Taipei?

October to December and March to April give the best walking weather. Summer is hot and wet, and typhoon season runs roughly July to September. Chinese New Year brings closures and busy transport, so book early if you travel then.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check