Taipei is an easy city to see. Nearly everything worth your time is a few minutes from an MRT station, and the big sights spread out nicely across the map: the tower and the hills in the east, the temples and old streets in the west, the palace treasures up north. Here is where to start.
Only a few days? Start with Only in Taipei: 25 things to do while you're here, from sky lanterns to shrimp fishing.
The big sights
If you only have a day or two, these are the eight to choose from. Pair Taipei 101 with a sunset climb up Elephant Mountain, Longshan Temple with the night markets of Wanhua, and the Memorial Hall with an evening show next door.
- ViewsTaipei 101The 89th-floor observatory, the Top Deck and the Skyline 460 roof walk.
- MuseumNational Palace MuseumThe imperial Chinese collection. Free for anyone 17 and under.
- TempleLongshan TempleTaipei's best-known temple, founded in 1738, open 06:00 to 22:00.
- LandmarkChiang Kai-shek Memorial HallThe white hall, Liberty Square and the hourly honor guard.
- HikeElephant MountainA short, steep climb to the classic Taipei 101 view.
- Gondola and teaMaokongA cable car into the tea hills. Rests on Mondays.
- NatureYangmingshanVolcanic craters, steaming vents and grassland on the city's doorstep.
- Family dayTaipei ZooPandas, elephants and Taiwan's own animals, next to the Maokong Gondola.
Food, museums and temples
Every evening, somewhere, a night market is filling up. By day the city has one world-class museum and a handful of good small ones, and temples that are open from early morning and full of life.
- FoodNight marketsRaohe, Shilin, Ningxia and five more, all open every night.
- MuseumsMuseums and culture parksFine Arts Museum, MOCA, National Taiwan Museum, Huashan and Songshan.
- TemplesTemplesLongshan, Bao'an, the Confucius Temple, Xiahai and Xingtian.
- ShoppingShoppingXinyi malls, Dihua Street, electronics, and how the tourist tax refund works.
- CalendarFestivals and eventsLantern festivals, dragon boats, Pride and New Year's Eve, month by month.
Get outside, and only in Taipei
The city is ringed by mountains and cut by rivers, so a trail or a riverside path is never far. And some things you can only really do here: cheer at a baseball game, get lost in the malls under Taipei Main Station, or fish for shrimp at midnight.
- Start hereOnly in Taipei25 things to do while you're here, from sky lanterns to street performers.
- TrailsHikes from the MRTElephant Mountain, the Four Beasts, Yangmingshan and more, each from a station.
- Green spaceParks and riverside pathsDa'an Forest Park, the Botanical Garden and miles of riverside bike paths.
- Game nightBaseballDrums, chants and cheer squads at the Taipei Dome and Tianmu.
- UndergroundTaipei Main StationThe station, the long malls beneath it, and the old trains nearby.
- Late nightShrimp fishingRent a rod, catch giant prawns, grill them on the spot.
After dark and out of town
One of the things we loved most about living in Taipei was the shows: there is always a concert, a play or a dance company on somewhere. And when you've seen the city, the hills, hot springs and coast are close by.
- After darkShows and nightlifeConcerts, theater, bars and rooftops, and how to get tickets.
- Out of townDay tripsJiufen, Tamsui, Pingxi, Yehliu and Wulai.
Good to know: Mondays catch people out. The National Palace Museum, most other museums and the Maokong Gondola all close on Mondays, so put temples, Taipei 101, Elephant Mountain and the night markets on that day.
→ Ready-made itineraries · A rainy day in Taipei · Getting around on the MRT · Neighbourhoods
Sources
Hours, closed days and prices on this page come from the guides linked above, each of which names its official sources. Checked October 2026.