TaipeiTravel Guide

The five-star Grand View Resort Beitou is near the source of Taipei’s white sulphur springs and offers you incredible views over Beitou. If the Zen-inspired ultra-modern architecture doesn't entice you into lingering in your room a little longer, then the incredible bathtubs will. There's also an on-site spa to ensure pampering is on your agenda and three restaurants to choose from once all this self-love has left you peckish.

We also recommend staying at the Grand Mayfull Taipei, a skyscraper hotel with jaw-droppingly magnificent interiors and luxurious suites. Check out the poolside bar, fitness centre and five places where you can dine. Choices, choices…

On the banks of Tamsui River, the Zhongzheng District is an excellent choice for first-time travellers to Taipei due to its location. If themed accommodation appeals to you, Roaders Hotel will make you feel as though you’ve stepped onto a Wild West movie set. The hotel is budget-friendly, offering many free amenities and services, such as a 24/7 big-screen movie player, a photobooth, arcade machines, snacks and toiletries (in case you forgot your toothbrush).

Travelling with family or friends and looking for a budget hotel? The quirky CityInn Hotel Plus Ximending Branch with its arty installations is a great choice. It has all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay and there are single, twin, triple and family rooms to choose from. Thanks to its location, just a five-minute walk from the Ximen MRT Station, it’s a great area to stay to explore the city

Want something to brag about after your trip to Taipei? Visit one of the world’s tallest buildings, Taipei 101, which is 509.2m high and has 101 floors. If you don’t have a fear of heights, head up to the observation deck on the 101th floor, where you will be strapped into a harness before stepping outside. The reward for your fearlessness is an incredible 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the Taipei basin.

Taiwan has more than 100 hot springs, and the famous Beitou Hot Spring is a stone’s throw from central Taipei via the Taipei Metro (get off at Xinbeitou MRT Station). There are plenty of bath houses, but for a private experience, book a hot spring room. The public baths are either traditional Japanese-style (separated by gender without bathing suits) or Taiwanese (mixed gender with bathing suits and swimming caps).

To fully immerse yourself in the hot spring culture, Millennium Hot Spring with its outdoor pool and Spring City Resort are popular choices for friends, families or couples visiting Taiwan together. If you want to go fully traditional, visit Longnice Hot Spring, the oldest bathhouse in Beitou.

Taipei is where the cat café trend was born back in 1998 before it quickly spread all over the world. Some cafés charge a small entrance fee but all of them are cat-loving spaces where you can enjoy your drink or meal surrounded by the purrfect company. Highly rated is the Genki Cat Café where Maine Coons rule the roost. While Genki Cat Café doesn’t have a website and only a Chinese Facebook page, just google and you’ll find loads of photos and reviews.

Taipei at night, some say, is even busier than by day. So, if you’re a party animal you’ve come to the right place! Head straight to Xinyi, which is the clubbing mecca. Taipei also offers up a wealth of bars, lounges, live music venues and pool parties.

Taiwan’s fascinating cultural diversity developed over thousands of years from indigenous tribes through to colonisation by the Chinese, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese. The National Palace Museum showcases 8,000 years of Chinese history across four floors with exhibitions of rare books, religious sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, and an impressive jade collection.

Whether you follow your nose or the Michelin recommendations, Yongkang Street, and the nearby Qingtian Street, should be approached with an empty stomach. Enjoy local fare at Dongmen Dumplings or one of the best-known noodle spots, Yongkang Beef Noodles.

For something sweet, you can’t go wrong with mango shaved ice, especially as Yongkang Street is the birthplace of this refreshing dessert. Don’t miss out on the traditional teahouses like Juluo Shan Hai Teahouse and Douhua Shop. For something more off the beaten track make your way to Qingtian Street for the beautifully preserved Japanese residences that’ve been converted into teahouses.

Taipei has a host of fine-dining eateries. Din Tai Fung in Xinyi Road, Da'an District, has been named by The New York Times as one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world, and it’s famous for tangbao (soup-filled steamed dumplings).

There’s also Raw, run by a Michelin starred chef and boasting “bistronomy” – haute cuisine that won’t break the bank. You'll find it packed full of patrons, all enjoying its tasting menus and super-impressive décor.

Taipei is known for its bustling night markets and each one offers a unique experience. One of the best is the Shihlin Night Market, and the proof is in the tofu pudding (douhua) and the crowds. Hundreds of vendors sell some unusual and even bizarre-looking treats. If you dare, start with stinky tofu, which is deep-fried, pickled, and definitely an acquired taste. Other famous street foods include scallion pancakes, pan-fried dumplings and ice-cream wraps (like a burrito filled with ice-cream, cilantro and peanut brittle shavings). And don’t forget to taste bubble tea with its chewy tapioca balls, which has its origins in Taiwan.

The Shida Night Market is smaller than Shihlin Night Market and is situated in the centre of Taipei's university district. It’s popular for its lively atmosphere and long rows of street vendors, and the students always flock here. The street food here will have your tastebuds on their toes with oyster omelettes and squid balls to more exotic fare for the bravest of travellers, like pork blood cake.

Open until the early morning hours, Ningxia Night Market may be small but with “Taipei’s Stomach” as its nickname, you can see why it’s a foodie destination. Some stalls have people lining up before they even open. Try the mocha (Japanese rice cakes), pork ribs and sesame chicken. Or pop over to Liu Ya Zai – they specialise in taro balls. To escape the summer heat, enjoy the air conditioning in the underground food court and cool down at Beer Ammo with a selection of more than 300 craft beers.