Best Places to Visit in Taipei

Published November 18, 2019 · Updated June 2, 2021

Being the capital city of Taiwan, Taipei boasts several unique sightseeing locations. Whether it is misty mountains, artistic temples, contemporary buildings or picturesque gardens, you will find everything in this city to stroll around. Tourists traveling to Taipei from outside Asia often overlook visiting this spectacular city. If you are planning to visit this incredible city in the coming time then here is a Taipei travel guide that will offer you all the information. Check out these top things to do and the best places to visit in Taipei to make your tour memorable:

Bopiliao Old Street: Bopiliao Old Street consists of one or two floors, old brick buildings in Fujian, one of the most popular places to visit in Taipei. The Qing Dynasty ancient road is protected with a museum and a schoolroom. It has maintained locations. In the buildings in this street, there is an exhibition about the educational sector of the Rural Education Centre. Shops, restaurants, museums, bars, and exhibitions of art are available here. You will be in the Heritage and Cultural Centre and graduate school with active learning tools at the further end of this street.

Martyr’s Shrine: This is a magnificent shrine facing the Keelung River. This shrine is artistic and one of the top tourist attractions in Taipei. It is influenced in ancient Beijing City by the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The sanctuary dedicates the monument to the three ninety lake soldiers murdered among communist forces and Chinese Republicans during the war of rebellion and civil war. A 15-minute charge of the honorary watch ceremony will take place at the main gate of the sanctuary. The local people assemble here on national holidays to pay respects to the martyrs.

Shilin Night Market: You must visit the Shilin Night Market, a fashion destination, and shops in street fashion if you’re passionate about shopping. It is also Taipei’s most busy and largest evening market, which combines modernity and patrimony. Here, from drinks to gifts, clothing, and jewelry you will find everything at great prices. A wide range of local meals from typical Taiwanese appetizers to the main dish is also on offer here. Alleys and side streets alongside the food courts are bordered by roads and stalls. If you are looking for some of the fun things to do in Taipei then you should take a walk through this night market.

Danshui Old Street: Danshui Old Street is one of the most renowned day trips in Taipei and features gift shops and apparel shops along the narrow peat road, along with lots of street vendors. There are also some of the most animated food stands for sampling local and foreign specialties. A few booths and ice cream rooms are also available to keep the kids entertained thereby making it one of the fun places to visit in Taipei with kids.

Fort San Domingo: Fort San Domingo is a medieval fortress on a mountain that bears witness to other nations. In 1628 the Spaniards erected the fort and demolished it when the Hollands expelled them from Tamsui in 1642. In 1744, the Netherlands reconstructed the fort with costly stone. The fort gives magnificent views of the boats and ships entering the busy port. All these reasons make it one of the top places to visit in Taipei with your family.

Hobe Fort: This is an old fort near the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre known for its majesty and stunning architecture. It views the entrance of the River Tamsui and was founded shortly after the Chinese-French war when the Qing Dynasty saw the importance of the river for shipping and commerce. The location of Fort San Domingo comprises the British consul’s house, the main fortification, and the south gate erected in the Qing Dynasty. Four guns, which can be dated back into Jiaqing times, were installed in front of the fort.

Lovers Bridge: You must discover the Lovers’ Bridge at Fisherman’s Wharf if you’re seeking Taipei’s romantic spots to visit. It is a nicely built white cable bridge, which changes its color in the evening, making it a pleasant sight for the tourists. You can also enjoy the magnificent view of the sunset from this amazing bridge with your spouse. The overall length of the bridge is about 96 m, and it takes around three minutes to walk through this Bridge.

Longshan Temple: If you want spiritual happiness and illumination, then you must visit the temple of Longshan which is classified in Fujian as one of the seventh “National Cultural and Historical Sights.” It is about 300 years old and several natural catastrophes have taken place. The temple is a wonderful mixture of the Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucianism religions, and an incarnation of the united spirit. The major deity in this place is Yue Lao, and singles can locate and worship their real love in this temple.

National Taiwan Museum & 228 Memorial Park: Take a visit to the Taiwan National Museum, and to Memorial Park, 228 February for your devotion. The Park is the first public park in Taiwan to be created in 1908 mainly by the Japanese. The Park has a classical style with Japanese gardens and swimming pools, walkways, an amphitheatre, and arched bridges. The 228 exhibit shows the dark side of the history of Taiwan concealed by Taiwan officials for almost 30 years because of a fear of reprisals. It has over 10,000 items and has a dreadful facade, a hall, and a front paddle with acanthus leaves.

The Presidential Palace: The Presidential Palace is also one of Taipei’s nicest spots, and is within a stone’s throw of the National Theatre and Chiang Kai-Memorial sheik’s Halls. This five-story building, built of amazing red brick, is one of Taipei’s most significant ministries of government. This is the official workplace of the President of the Republic of China as well as the official meeting venue for the Cabinet of China. Uheiji Nagano erected the palace between 1912 to 1919 and first served in the Japanese colonial period as Governor-General of the Taiwanese office. A guide will take you around the several rooms of the ground level with displays about the building’s structural marvel.

Yangmingshan National Park: You have to visit Yangmingshan National Park with sulphur crystals and hot springs to get yourself attractive as an inventor and nature lover. As you approach the park, a dense covering of clouds, wet meadows, foggy woodlands, bubbling waters, and shimmering grasses welcomes you. It is located on the northern tip of Taiwan over a surface of 43,78 square miles. The summer residence of Chiang Kai-shek, former Taipei President, is one of the historical landmarks in the park. The Park offers relaxing strolls, the fumaroles smell like sulphur or the highest peak in YangMingShan, Mt Qi Xing.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall: End with a tour of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to remember Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founder of R.O.C. You will see the greatest sites to see in Taipei. It is a big, octagonal skyscraper created in 1931 by Lu Yanzhi with cash collected from Chinese citizens abroad. The architecture of the church inspires the architecture of the building and it is an area where performances and large gatherings are held. It is officially designated as one of the leading cultural relics in the Guangdong province.

National Palace Museum: If you want to get acquainted with the great culture and history of China then a visit to National Palace Museum is a must. Here you can spot more than 700,000 different artifacts that are dating back to the old centuries. Few of the most popular tourist attractions of Taipei that you will find here include meat-shaped stone. If you are a history and art lover then you will love visiting this museum which is recommended by several Taipei travel guides. It is one of the most extraordinary museums you will come across in Taiwan that attracts crowd in huge numbers.

Taipei 101: Whether you are traveling from a foreign country or you are a native traveler, you will prefer to add this iconic structure in your priority list. This bamboo-shaped building is also rated amongst one of the tallest buildings in the world. You can take a ride through an extremely quick elevator here and reach to an observation deck. At Taipei 101, you will enjoy the most fabulous views of city along with a stabilizer ball of 720 tons which is making the building earthquake-proof. No wonder, it is one of the best places to see in Taipei all around the year.

CKS Memorial Hall: It is one of the most majestic buildings you will come across in the city which is added in every Taipei travel guide. The entire structure of the building is a combination of white and blue color which is a pleasing experience to watch. CKS Memorial Hall is located at Liberty Square and also features National Concert Hall and National Theater. The hall is also used for organizing several exhibits and public events that attract crowd in huge numbers.

Beitou Hot Spring: If you are traveling to Taipei to enjoy its diverse wonders then a visit to Beitou Hot Spring is recommended in each Taipei travel guide. It is an ideal location to spend some peaceful time close to nature away from bustling city life. Some of the key attractions that you can cover here include historic Japanese bathhouse, Beitou Geothermal Valley and hot spring ramen. It is one of the ideal tourist spots in Taipei that you will prefer to visit with your entire family.

Elephant Mountain: If you wish to get stunning views of the city at the day as well as night time then come to Elephant Mountain. The views here are extremely similar to those you see in the postcard. Climbing this mountain is an exciting experience that every tourist wants to enjoy. No wonder you will find several adventure lovers traveling to Taipei to visit this destination. While been here, you can also prefer to visit some other mountains such as Lion, Leopard and Tiger to add an element of thrill to your journey.

What’s next waiting for you?

The best things to do and top places to visit in Taipei discussed above are some of the key highlights that you must add to your itinerary. If you are hiring a Taipei travel guide then he will definitely help you to cover few more destinations in a short time. Few other places you consider visiting include Taipei’s Riverside Parks, Shengkeng Old Street, Xingyi Road, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Songshan Ciyou Temple and many more. Now you know exactly where to go and what to do in Taipei, you can plan your journey on your own. If you are planning to visit some famous places to visit near Taipei then check out our Asia travel guide.