Taiwan is a beautiful mix of various cultures, due to its Chinese, Japanese, and even Dutch and Spanish influences, resulting from waves of migration (mostly from China) and colonisation. This is reflected heavily in Taipei, the capital city, and where you’ll experience a busy urban lifestyle with skyscrapers, large shopping malls, and fun night markets.
But alongside the modern city life, you’ll find that some of the best things to do in Taipei focus on cultural and traditional activities, including visiting ancient temples, learning about the Indigenous people of Taiwan, and maybe even learn to make bubble tea, which originated from Taiwan in the 1980s.
If you’re a first-time visitor (or even if you’re not), here’s what to do in Taipei for an immersive and cultural experience, with insider tips from my own experience (and here’s a carefully organised Taipei itinerary and tips on where to stay).
What are all the best things to do in Taipei?
1. Visit Taiwanese temples
One of the most popular cultural things to do in Taipei is to visit temples. Most temples in Taiwan are dedicated to Buddism, Taiwanese folk deities, Confucius, or Taoist emperors. Below are the ones to not miss when visiting Taipei.
Mengjia Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple, the most famous temple in Taipei, is a peaceful and beautiful religious site with intricate designs and dragon sculptures. It’s a very active temple, dedicated to the god of mercy, so you’ll see people lighting incense, making offerings, and throwing moon blocks to communicate with the gods. The courtyard is designed in a classic siheyuan (traditional Chinese) architectural style, with three gates leading into the main hall, and is the ideal place to learn more about Taiwanese folk religion.
Insider tip: The best time to visit is at dusk, when the lanterns light up, making the atmosphere even more beautiful and almost magical.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple
Located in the Datong district, Dalongdong Baoan Temple (also known as Taipei Baoan Temple), is one of the oldest temples in Taiwan and is dedicated to the Taoist deity Bao-Sheng Emperor. Pay attention to the design details, including the dragon sculptures on the rooftop. This is also where the Baosheng Cultural Festival takes place, honoring the Taoist god of healing, the Grand Emperor Baosheng.
Songshan Ciyou Temple
Ciyou Temple, located in Songshan District in Taipei, is a temple dedicated to Mazu. It’s an impressive temple in size, with 6 floors, a large main hall with lion sculptures, and a roof with dragon sculptures facing each other.
Responsible travel tips when visiting temples in Taiwan
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Avoid shorts, miniskirts, and sleeveless tops.
- Take your shoes off before entering temples. If in doubt, look at others who are inside, and try to spot a shoe rack.
- Always step over a raised wooden or stone threshold at the door, rather than stepping directly onto it, because it represents the deity’s shoulders.
- Keep your voice low and do not engage in exuberant behaviour or PDA.
- Do not take photos of people praying, or doing anything for that matter, without consent.
2. Explore Taipei’s unique neighbourhoods
Taipei is a busy city with important landmarks like Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum. And one of the best things to do in Taipei is to explore its distinct neighbourhoods, like the ones listed below.
Ximen
Ximen is a busy area with lots to experience, such as bubble tea shops, craft markets, street performers, fashionable youths, cocktail bars, street art, and the Red House Creative Market (a century-old brick building with artisanal shops, local and independent designers, and popups). It’s an interesting hub for sure, but it’s also quite busy with lots of bright lights, which can be chaotic.
Dadaocheng
For a calmer vibe, head to Dadaocheng, Taipei’s oldest district. It’s filled with historical buildings and museums, including the AMA Museum, which highlights the hardships of the comfort women of the Japanese occupation.
Don’t miss Dihua Street, the oldest street in Taipei, built during the Dutch colonisation era of the 17th century, and the night market nearby, Ningxia Night Market.
Zhongshan
Known as Taipei’s trendiest neighbourhood, Zhongshan is where you’ll find trendy cafes, second-hand stores, and unique concept stores. It’s very centrally located, and you can easily explore on foot. It’s also one of the best places to stay in Taipei.
Bopiliao
Explore Bopiliao, a historic neighbourhood with well-preserved heritage, old streets, traditional houses, and brick buildings from over 200 years ago. Here you’ll get a feel of old mixed with new, adding to the charm of this neighbourhood.
3. Learn about Indigenous Taiwanese people
The Indigenous people of Taiwan, unfortunately, make up a very small percentage of the population today (about 3%). There are different communities, and most live in small villages outside of the urban areas. The closest Indigenous village you can visit close to Taipei is Wulai village, where you can learn about traditional arts and crafts, cuisine, and ancient folklore. You’ll also find museums and hot springs there.
If there’s no time to visit the villages, you can always learn about the Taiwanese Indigenous people from museums like the National Taiwan Museum, and the Ketagalan Culture Center)
4. Ride the Maokong Gondola
The Maokong Gondola is a tram ride with gorgeous views of Taipei and the tea hills. While the ride is an experience in itself, once you reach the top, you will reach a mountainous village where you can have a meal or snacks, or even visit the Zhinan Temple. There are also a few traditional tea houses, such as Redwood Tea House, Ice Climber, Shia Mu, or Lazy Day Cafe, and you can enjoy hiking trails to lookouts like Camphor Tree Trail.
5. Experience a tea ceremony in Taipei
The tea ceremony originated in China in 618–907 AD, during the Tang Dynasty. It started in monasteries by Buddhist monks, as a meditative experience, but turned into a cultural tradition when the Japanese started practicing it in the 12th century.
A traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony is a beautiful way to experience local culture beyond sightseeing. Tea plays a huge role in everyday life in Taiwan, especially high-mountain oolong teas, and many tea houses in Taipei offer guided tasting sessions where you learn how to brew, pour, and appreciate different varieties. The experience is usually calm and unhurried, focusing on aroma, temperature, and the ritual of preparation rather than rushing through cups of tea.
Important: a tea ceremony in Taiwan is not always a deep cultural learning experience, as sometimes there’s not much explanation, and you’re simply just drinking Taiwanese tea in a tea house or cafe. Still, look for traditional tea houses that specialise in Taiwanese high-mountain tea rather than modern or generic tourist demonstrations in trendy cafes.
What are some traditional tea houses in Taipei?
- Qingtian tea house
- Liuyu tea house in Wanhua
- Xiaoyin Tea Temple Dongmen
- Maokong tea houses (there are many to choose from. Take the Maokong cable car and get off at Maokong Station)
- Eighty-eightea Ribansyo (currently closed for renovations)
- Wistaria tea house (closed for renovations, will reopen in 2028)
Where to have a modern tea ceremony experience in Taipei?
- Jing Sheng Yu tea at Yongkang Concept Store
- Stop by Tea House (they have a really cool tea room in the basement with a water stream running through it)
- ASW tea house in Dadaocheng
6. Stay in a Buddhist temple in Taipei
To truly get a feel of Buddhism and its religious importance, one of the best things to do in Taipei is to stay at a Buddhist temple. Most of them (if not all) offer free accommodation, but donations are always welcome. Foguangshan Taipei Vihara in Taipei is best for visitors with only a short time in Taiwan, who want to try mindfulness and meditation.
7. Attend the Taiwanese Opera
Taiwanese Opera is a unique experience where you can learn about Taiwanese folk cultures and stories. The costumes and makeup are elaborate and colourful, and the performance is often improvised. The most popular Taiwanese Opera in Taipei is Taipei Eye, though you can also check out Taiwan Traditional Theatre Centre, National Theatre and Concert Hall, and performances at temples, especially during specific festivals.
8. Try Taiwanese food at Taipei’s markets
Casual street food is a big part of Taiwanese culture, and you’ll find the best street food at markets, particularly night markets. The most famous night markets in Taipei are:
- Raohe
- Shilin
- Ningxia
- Tonghua (Linjiang)
- Nanjichang
Insider tip: These markets get really crowded, with barely any space to move, especially between 7-10pm. If you really don’t like the crowds, check out the day markets, like Nanmen Market. It can also feel overwhelming with the amount of choices, and taking a guided food tour is the best solution.
9. See Taipei from the Taipei 101 observatory
One of the world’s tallest buildings (and the tallest in Taiwan), Taipei 101 is a skyscraper with offices, restaurants, and a shopping mall, built in a unique pagoda-like design.
It also has a huge 660-tonne suspended steel pendulum, which stabilizes the skyscraper during earthquakes and strong winds.
You can enjoy views of Taipei from its indoor and outdoor observatory, though I believe the best views of Taipei are with the Taipei 101 building in it.
10. Explore the museums in Taipei
There’s a variety of museums in Taipei, and here are the most important ones to not miss.
Taipei Astronomical Museum
The Taipei Astronomical Museum is a must-visit for those interested in astronomy. The exhibits are in Taiwanese and English, and the best part is the 200-meter ride, where you get into a space capsule.
National Taiwan Museum
The National Taiwan Museum is the oldest museum in Taiwan, and was established in 1908, during the Japanese rule. Here you’ll learn about Taiwan’s Indigenous people, cultural artefacts, and endemic plants and animals.
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum in Taipei is a must-visit for those interested in history, art, Chinese culture, and ancient historical artefacts. Two highlights of the National Palace Museum are the Cabbage sculpture made of jade, and the meat-shaped stone (jasper carved like braised pork).
AMA museum
Not for the faint-hearted, the AMA museum shares tragic stories of comfort women and their hardships during the Japanese occupation
11. Enjoy Taipei’s beautiful parks and gardens
Taiwan is a subtropical island, meaning that with the rainy season and humid temperatures, there’s plenty of green spaces and beautiful flora, such as:
- Songshan Cultural and Creative Park: a tobacco factory from 1937 transformed into a creative hub
- Huashan 1914 Creative Park: occasional art exhibitions and performances
- Taipei Botanical Garden
- Huanan Park: for views of Taipei 101 without hiking
- Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence Park: a beautiful outdoor park where you can rent traditional cheongsam dresses and do photoshoots
- A bit outside of Taipei you’ll find the closest national park: Yangmingshan National Park. It’s a huge area with hot springs (the famous Beitou hot springs is just outside the park), hiking trails, a volcano massif, and historic attractions
12. Dip into Beitou Park’s hot springs bathing pool
A little outside of Taipei, near the Yangmingshan National Park, Beitou Park is the best place to enjoy Taipei’s hot springs. You’ll find it to be a picturesque area with boardwalks, a few waterfalls, and even a children’s play area. Keep in mind that due to the natural hot springs, it will smell like sulfur, so if you’re sensitive to smells, it might not be a great activity for you.
13. Hike Elephant Mountain for views
It takes about 1.5 hrs total to hike Elephant Mountain from the Xiangshan MRT to; it’s a short but steep climb, offering views of Taipei 101 and the city. Keep in mind that Elephant Mountain is the most popular one, so it can get crowded.
For a less busy experience, go to Tiger Mountain, Fuzhoushan Park, or Jiantan Mountain for views of Taipei. For views: try Huian Park if you want the skyline view without the strenuous hike
14. Unmissable food experiences in Taipei
One of the coolest things to do in Taipei is to experience these specific cultural food journeys that are unique to this city. The list below is based on popularity and deliciousness. Some might say they are tourist traps, while others would agree that these are unmissable things to do in Taipei.
- Breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk
- Dumplings at Din Tai Fung
- Pineapple cake, either from ChiaTe (most popular) or Fong Da (award-winning)
- Food from convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart: unlike in many Western countries, the food from these types of stores is fresh, high-quality, and delicious. Although this isn’t unique to Taiwan (e.g., Japan’s convenience store food is quite popular), Taiwan’s stores offer their own unique Taiwanese food that one must try.
15. Learn to make bubble tea in Taipei
Bubble tea (also called Boba tea in California) originated from Taiwan in the 1980s, and is a must-try when in Taipei. Better yet, you can learn to make bubble tea yourself and learn about the history and how it came about. If you’re in willing to travel outside of Taipei, one of the best places to learn is at Chiliwan Boba Story Museum in Yilan county.
FAQs: the best things to do in Taipei
What are some popular attractions you can’t skip in Taipei?
There are plenty of attractions and experiences you can’t skip in Taipei, and these include:
- A traditional tea ceremony
- Visiting temples
- Going to the night markets
- Seeing a Taiwanese Opera performance
- Learning about the Indigenous people of Taiwan
Is going up the Taipei 101 observatory worth it?
In my opinion, it’s not worth it. Sure, you’ll get views of Taipei from above, but the best views have the Taipei 101 building in them.
What’s the best neighbourhood to stay in Taipei?
Dadaocheng, Taipei’s oldest district, and Zhongshan are the best neighbourhoods to stay in Taipei. Dadaocheng is historical, and is home to Dihua Street, the oldest street in Taipei, while Zhongshan is trendy and easily walkable, with lots of unique cafes.
How do I get around Taipei?
Taipei (and Taiwan in general) has an excellent public transport system, making it easy to get around without needing a car. The best way to get around Taipei is to take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit or Metro Rail Transit), a clean and affordable rail network.
