Taipei: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Taipei Travel Guide

Overview

Taipei is one of Asia's most underrated capitals. Ringed by green mountains and hot springs, it combines a laid-back, friendly atmosphere with world-class food, efficient transport and a deep layer of Chinese culture and history preserved in temples and museums. Night markets are the soul of the city, where locals queue for steaming dumplings and bubble tea, a drink invented in Taiwan. Within an hour you can be hiking volcanic trails, soaking in hot springs or exploring old mining towns in the hills.

Best Time to Visit

• Autumn (October–December): Generally the most pleasant season, with mild temperatures and less rain.
• Spring (March–May): Warm, with cherry and azalea blossoms in early spring; the "plum rain" season can bring wet spells from May into June.
• Summer (June–September): Hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms and typhoon risk, especially from July to September.
• Winter (January–February): Cool and often damp but rarely cold by northern standards. The Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival (including the sky lanterns of Pingxi) are highlights, though some businesses close for several days around New Year.

Top Attractions

1. Taipei 101 – Once the world's tallest building, with a high-speed elevator to the observatory; nearby Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) offers the classic sunset view of the tower.
2. National Palace Museum – One of the world's greatest collections of Chinese imperial art, including jade, ceramics and calligraphy.
3. Longshan Temple – A historic temple in Wanhua, busy with worshippers and incense, best visited in the evening.
4. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall – A monumental hall and plaza with the National Theater and Concert Hall; watch the changing of the guard.
5. Night markets – Shilin is the biggest, Raohe is compact and atmospheric, and Ningxia is known for traditional snacks.
6. Beitou Hot Springs – Public and private hot-spring baths, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum and Thermal Valley, reachable by MRT.
7. Jiufen and Shifen – Day trips to a hillside old town of lantern-lit teahouses and to Shifen, where visitors release sky lanterns along the railway line and see the nearby waterfall.
8. Yangmingshan National Park – Volcanic landscapes, fumaroles, flower fields in spring and hiking trails just north of the city.

Food to Try

Taiwanese food is a highlight of any trip. Try xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), beef noodle soup, lu rou fan (braised pork rice), gua bao (pork belly buns), oyster omelette, scallion pancakes, pepper buns baked in clay ovens and stinky tofu if you are brave. Finish with bubble tea, mango shaved ice and pineapple cake. Taiwan is one of the easiest places in Asia to be vegetarian, thanks to a strong Buddhist tradition: look for the 素 (su) sign marking vegetarian restaurants and buffets. Indian restaurants are found in the Xinyi and Da'an districts.

Getting There and Around

Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the main international gateway, linked to Taipei Main Station by the Airport MRT. Songshan Airport (TSA), right in the city, handles some regional flights. High-speed rail runs the length of Taiwan's west coast.

The Taipei Metro (MRT) is clean, punctual and easy to use. An EasyCard works on the MRT, buses, YouBike bike-share, trains and convenience stores. Taxis are yellow, metered and affordable. Eating and drinking are prohibited inside MRT stations and trains.

Where to Stay

• Zhongzheng (around Taipei Main Station): Excellent transport links, convenient for day trips and the airport train.
• Ximending: Lively youth-oriented shopping and entertainment district, good value.
• Xinyi: Modern, upscale area around Taipei 101 with malls and nightlife.
• Da'an: Leafy residential district with cafés, Yongkang Street's restaurants and Daan Forest Park.
• Beitou: Hot-spring hotels for a relaxing stay.

Budget Tips

• Eat at night markets, local eateries and convenience stores.
• Use an EasyCard and the MRT; YouBike is cheap for short trips.
• Many temples, hiking trails and parks are free.
• Public hot-spring baths in Beitou are inexpensive compared with private rooms.
• Hotels are often cheaper midweek and outside Lunar New Year.

Practical Information

• Visa: Many nationalities enter visa-free; Indian passport holders may need a visa or may qualify for an online travel authorisation if they hold certain other visas. Check the Bureau of Consular Affairs (Taiwan) website.
• Currency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD). Carry cash for night markets; cards work in larger shops.
• Language: Mandarin Chinese (with Taiwanese Hokkien also spoken). English signs are common on transport.
• Safety: Taipei is very safe. Follow typhoon warnings in summer and be careful on slippery mountain trails after rain.
• Etiquette: Tipping is not expected, and quiet behaviour on public transport is appreciated.

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