Taiwan
Taipei
A food-obsessed capital with hot springs and hiking trails at the edge of town. Stay 3 days. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
from our route notes
30°C / 86°F avg high
19°C / 66°F avg high
about 263 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Taipei
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Taipei across Shilin, Wanhua and Zhongzheng. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Peellden · CC BY 3.0SeeNational Palace Museum
One of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art, jade and calligraphy.
Tip Arrive at opening and head straight for the Jadeite Cabbage gallery.
Photo: はせがわたくみ · GoogleSeeLongshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Si)
Ornate 18th-century temple, busy with worshippers from dawn to night.
Tip Visit in the evening when chanting fills the courtyard.
Photo: AngMoKio · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeChiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Vast white memorial and plaza flanked by the National Theater and Concert Hall.
Tip The honor guard changes on the hour.
Photo: Aimee Gener · GoogleSeeTaipei 101 Observatory
Observation decks on the 89th floor with a view of the giant tuned mass damper.
Tip Clear afternoons give the longest views.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Taipei in Beitou.
Photo: Wing1990hk · CC BY 3.0DoBeitou Hot Springs
Thermal valley with a public hot spring, Thermal Valley steam pool and a wooden library.
Tip Bring a swimsuit for the cheap Millennium public hot spring.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Taipei.
Photo: 跳表逼逼 · GoogleOutdoorsElephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Steep 20-minute stair climb to the classic view of Taipei 101.
Tip Go 30 minutes before sunset and stay for the lights.
Eat
2 places to eat across Songshan and Da'an, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Fauzty · CC BY-SA 4.0EatRaohe Street Night Market
Compact night market known for black-pepper buns baked in clay ovens.
Tip Start at the Ciyou Temple gate for the pepper bun queue.
Photo: 神秘客 · GoogleEatDin Tai Fung Xinyi
The original location of the soup dumpling chain, still known for precise xiaolongbao.
Tip Take a number early; wait times can top an hour.
Drink
1 bar or café in Da'an for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: 青田茶館 · GoogleDrinkQingtian Tea House
Gongfu tea service in a restored Japanese-era professor's house on a quiet Da'an lane, with a small gallery inside.
Tip Message ahead to book a tea slot; it fills on weekends.
How to fit Taipei into a trip
Taipei is stop 1 of 4 on our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route. Follow it as-is or lift Taipei into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 4
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
Night markets, mountain towns and marble cliffs
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Pace
- moderate
- Next: Jiufen and Pingxi
Getting here and onward
- Taipei to Jiufen and PingxiJiufen and Pingxi is about 29 km / 18 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Taipei month by month
Average daily highs run from 19°C / 66°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 263 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan19° / 66°F average high
- Feb20° / 68°F average high
- Mar22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr24° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- May27° / 81°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun29° / 84°F average high
- Jul30° / 86°F average high
- Aug30° / 86°F average high
- Sep28° / 83°F average high
- Oct26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov24° / 75°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec20° / 69°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Taipei weather and the best time to visit →
Near Taipei
3 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Taipei questions, answered
How many days do you need in Taipei?
Our route notes suggest 3 days in Taipei. On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route it is stop 1 of 4 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Taipei best known for?
A food-obsessed capital with hot springs and hiking trails at the edge of town. Stay 3 days. Standouts on our list: National Palace Museum (One of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art, jade and calligraphy); Longshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Si) (Ornate 18th-century temple, busy with worshippers from dawn to night); Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (Vast white memorial and plaza flanked by the National Theater and Concert Hall).
When is the best time to visit Taipei?
Our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route is best Oct – Dec, Mar – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (19°C / 66°F) and the most rain in August (about 263 mm).
What are the best things to do in Taipei?
Start with National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Si), Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) and Taipei 101 Observatory. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Taipei?
Our picks: Raohe Street Night Market (Songshan); Din Tai Fung Xinyi (Da'an). Start at the Ciyou Temple gate for the pepper bun queue (Raohe Street Night Market).
What is near Taipei?
The closest destinations in our guides are Jiufen and Pingxi (about 29 km / 18 mi), Hualien and Taroko (about 116 km / 72 mi) and Tainan (about 264 km / 164 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Taipei with your crew
Open the Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.