10 Fantastic Things to Do in Taipei

Taipei 101 the tallest building in the world between 2004 until 2010 gives you unprecedented views of the city from its 89^th and 91^st floors on any day. However, it’s not the best the building has to offer as one of the coolest things to do in Taipei on New Year’s Eve is to watch the firework show put on by the building. Every year thousands of tourists and the city’s residents flock around the skyscraper for some of the best parties in the city or set up at any vantage point that gives the front-row seat to the building’s extravagant fireworks. Although it’s ideal to stay closer to Taipei 101, during the show you can still get a great view from any part of the city.

To put on the city’s best New Year’s Eve display, the skyscraper’s exterior is lined with 140,000 LED lights that go all the way from the 35^th floor to the 90^th floor. The lights put on an animated show which is synchronized with pyrotechnics to produce a dazzling effect. Countdown to the midnight along with thousands of others and the skyscrapers and enjoy the fireworks that last for 5 minutes or more. If you want an even better party, try the ‘Jazz Night Lounge Party’ at the building’s office centre which can accommodate 1,010 guests. What’s even better than 500 of them will be allowed to go to the top of the building to get the best view in the city of the fireworks and lights shows all around.

Located in the Shilin District the Taipei Palace Museum started out originally in the Beijing Forbidden City in 1925 and was moved to Taipei in 1949 following the relocation of the government of Republic of China. The museum’s 600,000 articles were moved to Taipei during the Chinese Civil Way for their preservation and safety. The museum uses state-of-the-art technology to preserve its ancient artefacts and enhance the experience of visitors. Divided into multiple levels, the museum features special exhibits, rare books, religious scriptures and furniture from the Qing and Ming dynasty on level 1. Level 2 displays calligraphy, paintings and abundant variety of Chinese ceramics plus an interactive area with videos and virtual tours. Level 3 is dedicated to some stunning collection of Jade artefacts and weaponry from the Ming and Qing dynasty.

Admission for the museum costs NT$250 for general visitors and NT$150 for students. It also includes access to Zhishan Garden right next to the museum and Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines located close by. These attractions are well worth having on your list of things to do in Taipei. There are free guided tours to the exhibits in English at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm with a maximum limit of 30 people with you can sign up for online or register for 20 minutes before th3 tour. If you prefer to explore at your own pace, you can pick up an English headphone guide for NT$150 and go about. There’s also a gift store in the museums that sell souvenirs, and collectables that is worth visiting while you’re here.

To get to the museum take the MRT to the Shilin Station and take the Exit 1 to Zhongzheng Rd and take the R30 minibus. Busses 18, 19, 255, 304 and 815 will do as well. The journey is 15 minutes to the museum.

The Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is intended to be the ‘Creative Hub of Taipei’ where the city’s creative talents and energy is nurtured and given a direction. The park has plenty of lush gardens, a lake, workshops, design studios and plenty of cafes and galleries. It is built on what was once a tobacco factory and carries on its nearly century-old reputation of being a place for creativity. The premises of the Songshan Tobacco Factory was that of a pioneering ‘model factory’ that was built with a graceful Japanese modernist architecture and highly revered in the community. After the factory’s shut down, the city’s government included it in the list of historic sites and its facilities which included the warehouses, boiler rooms, sheds and other architectural highlights were modified to become a base for the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. It has since been a venue for designers, creative businesses and an exhibition venue.

The park is open on all days from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and offers facilities such as toilets, locker rooms and even shopping and eating venues. Admission is free but exhibitions and performances have tickets set by the presenters. It’s a great place for creative things to do in Taipei for both families and children and to hang out and look at some of the most inspiring displays of arts and science in the city. The closest metro station is Taipei City Hall Station. Take Exit 1 and walk for about 400m till you get to lane 553, section 4, Zhongxio East Road.

Built after the former President of the Republic of China; Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the memorial hall is a landmark and a famous national monument which was opened along with the national park and gathering area in 1980. The 76m tall building is in the shape of an octagon which represents the number 8 which is associated with good fortune and wealth in the Chinese traditions. It is also covered in tiles of blue and red hues reflecting the flag of the Republic of China. The memorial features 89 steps representing the age of Chiang’s death and leads to the main hall which houses a giant bronze statue of the former leader which is protected by military personnel who shift hourly. The statue faces west symbolically to represent mainland China and the Presidential Office Building. The characters behind the statue mean “Ethics”, “Democracy” and “science”. There is also a museum below the hall dedicated to Chiang’s life along with exhibits relating to the history of Taiwan. Its vast collection of important history earns it a spot on your list of things to do in Taipei.

It is easy to get to the memorial hall as there’s an MRT station right in front of it named C.K.S. Memorial Hall. Take either the Red Line or the Green Line. It is open all day from 9 am to 6 pm.

Taipei’s premier shopping and entertainment district, Ximending is on the top of the most fun things to do in Taipei of travellers and residents of the city like. The shopping district has a massive variety of clothing, fashion stores and boutiques along with eclectic bars, restaurants and clubs. The place came into being as part of the Wanhua District during the Japanese colonisation as an entertainment district and has maintained its reputation and charm and grown into a cultural icon.

Ximending really comes to life in the night and you need to start with square by the Red House close to Exit 6 of the MRT station. This place has some 20 bars and cafes serving some fine spirits and light fare. The Red House is also an iconic landmark with a thriving cultural scene that hosts exhibitions and even live performances. You will also find plenty of local boutiques and designers and organic beauty products. The best cafes include Somebody Cafe on Chengdu Road and The Hive Cafe on Chongqing South Road while some of the great restaurants you must try to include Lao Wang Ji on 15 Tao Yuan Street, Ramen Nagi on 52, Hanzhong Street and Ximen Mango Shaved Ice on 17, Hanzhong Street.

Getting here is quite easy; you can take either the Blue Line or the Greenline MRT and get off at Ximen Station. The area is best explored on foot so you won’t miss out on all the exciting things.

The Yangmingshan National Park located only 14km from the city is one of the most popular attractions for visitors. A day trip to the national park is one of the best things to do in Taipei especially when you have plenty of time on your visit. The park which covers 114 sq km is home to plenty of hiking trails, numerous parks and gardens, world-famous hot springs and a range of flora and fauna. The park’s Japanese influence can be found in many of the areas including hot springs and gardens with trees such as acacia, black pines and the Formosan sweet gums making it popular among Japanese tourists. Many of the volcanic vents were also sulphur mines while the vast plains were agricultural plantations in history. The mines are now exhibits while the agricultural fields are replaced by flower gardens to make them tourist.

With every season the national park gets a different personality which attracts admirers from around the world. With spring, the mountain slopes are covered in cherry blossoms and rhododendrons, while summer brings thundershowers and changing weather that can be absolutely breathtaking. The popular sports in the park include Yangmingshuwu which was Chiang Kai-shek’s summer home, the Xiaoyoukeng where visitors can see active volcanic vents, Qingtiangang the parks’ vantage point for some splendid views of the city, the Datun Nature Park and Erziping popular for its plant and insect biodiversity.

To get to the national park you can either take a bus or hire a taxi. Busses R5 or the small tour busses that stopover at the bus-stop next to the Jiantan MRT Station charge about NT$15 to Yangmingshan station which is the base to start exploring the park. Hiring a taxi is however the best way to explore as the park is huge and you will need to save time on travel. The taxis charge around NT$3500 to NT$4000 for an 8-hour driving service which is about the time you need to explore the park.

Widely regarded as one of the best places to take in the views of the Taipei skyline and the surrounding nature as you have a splendid cup of tea, Maokong is a quiet village located on top of a hill. A favourite spot for tea enthusiasts, the village has a number of tea houses that serve an extensive selection of tea. Visitors can also relax unwind and have a great meal while enjoying the view around easily making it one of the best things to do in Taipei.

The best way to get to the top of the mountain is through Maokong Gondola which is a cable car that takes visitors up on an absolutely scenic ride. Spanning a length of 4.03km the cable car is the first of its kind in the city with stops at places starting from Taipei Zoo Station, Taipei Zoo South Station, Zhinan Temple Station, and finally the Maokong Station. The one-way ride can last a total of 30 minutes and the ride can also be cancelled on account of the weather. The experience of riding the cable car to the Maokong village is relaxing and best done in the evening. The prices are as follows: NT$120 (adults), NT$50 (children 6-12 and seniors), Free rides for children under 6 with each accompanying adult being allowed to take 2 children each. If you use Easy cards, you can avail a discount of 20%. Timings are from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm (10:00 pm on weekends).

If you’ve seen many of the picturesque shots of the city with Taipei 101 standing majestically, there’s a good chance some of them were taken from here! Also known as the Elephant Mountain for its shape, the Xiang Mountain is a popular tourist destination for its incredible views of the city both during the day and night. The Nangang District Hiking Trail which starts from Taipei 101 to the top of the mountain is also among things to do in Taipei by tourists and locals. The 15-20 minute hike to the top has plenty of stops for rest and enjoying the scenic views of the mountain. The hike trail forks at one point and staying on the right is how you get to the top, the viewpoints and boulders, a short hike from there takes you to the main viewing point which is usually crowded with photographers. Taking a left at the fork takes you to a landing area where you can find restrooms and other facilities. The best times to visit the mountain is in the evening where you can catch the sunset and stay longer until it becomes dark and city lights come on for a more splendid view. The hiking trail can get pretty crowded on weekends, therefore, plan your visit ahead.

Since the hiking trail starts at the edge of the city, it’s quite easy to access. Take the MRT from any part of the city to the Xiangshan station which is the last station on the red lline which is also the stop for Taipei 101. Take Exit 2 and follow the signs to get to the trail.

While Taipei is the sophisticated city that it is during the day, your visit will never be complete without checking out the night markets looking for all the things to do in Taipei such as trying out the street foods, shopping for cheap clothes and even playing arcade games. The Datong Night Market or the Ningxia Night Market is one of the oldest markets in the districts with a charming nostalgic vibe that sets it apart from the rest of the city’s nightlife and markets. As you explore the narrow lanes and the crowded streets with food stalls and people, you would feel like being in a place that is far removed from its time to the past with some of the stores been in operation for more than 50 years.

The market’s specialities include traditional gourmet snacks, barbecued fish, squid, sesame chicken, rolls, oyster omelette and a lot more. What are also amazing are the prices which are very reasonable making them popular with the tourists. You will also find some arcades and quirky stalls which are quite old school and very reminiscent of the 80’s.

Located in the Datong District roundabout, the night market is open from 5 pm to 1 am every evening.

Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, Taipei has the best foods, sights and experiences to offer to all visitors. No matter how long your stay is in the city, there is a experience waiting for you that is worth the visit and the effort. While you’re here it’s essential you book the right accommodation closes to the best attractions. Therefore the next time you book flight tickets to Taipei with us, ensure you also book your hotels to get cheap deals and plan the best trip to the city. Your booking is fast and secure while you enjoy the best prices on your travel and stay when reserved months in advance.