Taipei: top things to do, hidden gems and key tips

Give Taipei three days, and keep one of them away from a Monday: the National Palace Museum, the Maokong Gondola and Beitou’s hot spring sights close that day. Everything below is on or near the MRT.

How long have you got?

• One day: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for the changing of the guard, the National Palace Museum, then Taipei 101 and a night market.
• Two or three days: add Elephant Mountain, the Maokong Gondola and Beitou, and a day trip to Jiufen or Shifen.
• A Monday: stick to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Taipei 101 and Elephant Mountain, which all stay open.

When are you going?

• New Year’s Eve: fireworks from Taipei 101 at midnight, about six minutes long, after a free concert and countdown at Taipei City Hall Plaza from 19:00.1Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com
• February or March: the Taipei Lantern Festival, timed to the lunar Lantern Festival. In 2026 it ran from 25 February to 15 March at Ximending and Taipei Expo Park.2Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival falls at the same time.

Top things to do

• Taipei 101 Observatory: the 88th and 89th floors, NT$600, open 10:00 to 21:00 daily.Tip Buy full-price tickets online; the 91st-floor outdoor deck opens only in good weather.3Taipei 101 (opens in a new tab)taipei-101.com.tw
• National Palace Museum: imperial Chinese art, NT$350, 09:00 to 17:00 with last tickets at 16:30.Tip Closed on Mondays, apart from a few announced special openings.4National Palace Museum (opens in a new tab)npm.gov.tw
• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: the hall opens 09:00 to 18:00, and the park 05:00 to midnight.Tip The honour guard changes on the hour from 09:00 to 17:00, but not in rain.5CKS Memorial Hall (opens in a new tab)cksmh.gov.tw
• Longshan Temple: built in 1740, a few minutes’ walk from Longshan Temple MRT station.6Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan): a steep 1.5 km trail to a view over Taipei 101, free and open around the clock.Tip The trailhead is a short walk from Xiangshan MRT station, exit 2.7Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)travel.taipei
• Maokong Gondola: up to the tea fields, NT$180 one way or NT$300 for a day pass, 09:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and to 22:00 on holidays.8Taipei Rapid Transit (opens in a new tab)english.gondola.taipeiTip It closes most Mondays, and stops in strong wind, lightning and typhoons.9gondola hours (opens in a new tab)english.gondola.taipei
• Beitou: free hot spring foot baths, 08:00 to 18:00, and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum.Tip Both close on Mondays.10Taipei City (opens in a new tab)english.gov.taipei
• A night market: Raohe, by Songshan MRT station, or Shilin, by Jiantan station.11Raohe (opens in a new tab)travel.taipeiShilin (opens in a new tab)travel.taipei

Do this instead

• Instead of the observatory ticket: have a coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola, on the 88th floor of Taipei 101, one of the two floors the NT$600 ticket covers. Open 09:00 to 19:00 daily. Book a window seat online (opens in a new tab), where a minimum spend applies; other seats are walk-in, with a waiting list.12Simple Kaffa (opens in a new tab)simplekaffa.com
• Instead of two gondola tickets: if you’re riding Maokong both ways, buy the NT$300 day pass, not two NT$180 singles.13Taipei Rapid Transit (opens in a new tab)english.gondola.taipei

Hidden gems

• The flag ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: the flag is lowered at 17:10 from October to March, and at 18:10 from April to September. Raised at 06:30 and 06:00.14CKS Memorial Hall (opens in a new tab)cksmh.gov.tw
• Dadaocheng and Dihua Street: the old merchant quarter of tea, fabric and herb shops, about three minutes from Daqiaotou MRT station, exit 1.15Taipei City (opens in a new tab)english.gov.taipei
• Tamsui: the end of the MRT Red line, for the old street and a ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf.16Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw

Getting there and around

• From the airport: see Arriving at Taoyuan Airport.
• Getting around: the MRT takes an EasyCard or a contactless bank card. See Taiwan trains and transit cards.
• On the MRT, don’t eat, drink or chew gum past the gates: the fine is NT$1,500 to NT$7,500.17Mass Rapid Transit Act, art. 50 (opens in a new tab)law.moj.gov.twTaipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com
• Taxis: hail one, or book by app. Taipei’s transport office lists the apps of its top-rated fleets, including Taiwan Taxi and Yoxi.18Taipei Public Transportation Office (opens in a new tab)pto.gov.taipei

If it doesn’t go to plan

• It’s Monday? Swap the Palace Museum, Maokong and Beitou for Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Taipei 101 and Elephant Mountain.
• Gondola stopped? Take bus Brown 15 or S10 up to Maokong.19Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com Day-pass holders get a same-day refund at any gondola station.20Taipei Rapid Transit (opens in a new tab)english.gondola.taipei
• Raining? Go to the Palace Museum or Taipei 101. The honour guard doesn’t change in rain.