Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and is visited by more than 6 million visitors each year.
In Taipei you’ll find skyscrapers, modern malls, ancient temples, top class restaurants serving western food as well as traditional dishes, a vibrant night life and colour full night markets.
Taipei shares the basin of an ancient lake with New Taipei City. The Tamsui River runs through the cities, which are separate administrative entities. With the Tropic of Cancer just to the south, Taipei enjoys a hot summers and warm winters and it is humid year-round.
As most travellers do, make plans to spend three or four nights in Taipei. Visit the city’s famous landmark skyscraper – Taipei 101 Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, the wonderful national Palace Museum which houses hundreds of thousands of Chinese antiques and art works and the fabulous Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall downtown.
Taipei also has a lot to offer as the sun goes down. This is the time when the night markets open up and usually tend to be packed with tourist hunting for a bargain. Once you are done with the shopping , dive into one of the very many number of bars and nightclubs.
When the city becomes too stifling, visitors can head for the hills to the northwest to relax at one of the spas built to utilise the Bei Tou area’s hot springs, or take a hike through the Yang Ming Shan National Park.
Taipei is an eclectic and interesting destination which will certainly make for a memorable stay.
Fast Facts
Best time to travel
In general, autumn and winter are the best times to visit Taiwan, though early summer (May to July) can also be pleasant at higher elevations and in the north, and the high temperatures in midsummer make watersports and beaches far more tempting at this time.
Places of interest
The National Palace Museum
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Park
Fort San Domingo
Taipei 101 Tower
Shilin Night Market
