Taiwan is located in East Asia, in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, to the east of China. The island’s rich cultural heritage, where Chinese traditions blend with Japanese and indigenous influences, creates a unique cultural mosaic. The island’s climate is subtropical and tropical, so pleasant weather awaits travelers year-round, ideal for both city sightseeing and nature exploration.

Best places in Taiwan

Taipei

Taiwan’s capital and economic center is a wonderful blend of modern architecture and ancient Chinese traditions. The city’s symbol is Taipei 101, which was once the world’s tallest building and still offers an impressive sight at 508 meters high. From the tower’s observation deck, an unparalleled panorama unfolds before visitors.

The cultural heart of the city is represented by the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which boasts a huge park and buildings in traditional Chinese architecture. Longshan Temple is the city’s oldest and most beautiful Buddhist temple, dating from the 18th century. The National Palace Museum houses one of the world’s largest Chinese art collections, with nearly 700,000 artifacts.

Taipei’s night markets, especially Shilin Night Market and Raohe Street Night Market, are the centers of Taiwanese street food culture. Here you can taste local specialties like stinky tofu, bubble tea, or guabao. The Beitou district is famous for its hot springs, where visitors can try traditional Japanese-style hot baths.

Taipei attractions, weather

Taroko Gorge

Located on Taiwan’s eastern coast, this is one of the island’s most spectacular sights. The gorge, situated in Taroko National Park, was formed over millions of years as the Liwu River cut through the marble mountains.

In the nearly 19-kilometer-long gorge, vertical marble walls rise up to 1,000 meters high in places. The most famous route leads to the Eternal Spring Shrine, a temple built in memory of workers who lost their lives during the gorge’s construction. The Swallow Grotto section is particularly popular, where the narrow path runs directly alongside the marble walls.

Taroko Gorge offers numerous hiking trails, from easy walks to multi-day treks. The Shakadang Trail winds alongside the river’s crystal-clear pools, while the Zhuilu Old Trail is a historic path offering breathtaking views of the gorge. Thanks to the area’s rich flora and fauna, you can often encounter Taiwanese macaques and special bird species.

Kaohsiung

Taiwan’s second-largest city in the southern part of the island is an important port city and cultural center.

Alongside the city’s symbol, Longshan Temple, are the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, two seven-story pagodas on Lotus Lake, which can be reached via a dragon-shaped bridge. The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastery near the city is one of the world’s largest Buddhist complexes. At the center of the area stands the monumental Great Buddha statue, which is 120 meters tall.

Pier-2 Art Center is a former warehouse district that has been transformed into an art quarter, filled with galleries, cafés, and street art. The night markets, especially Liuhe Night Market, are excellent venues for discovering local cuisine. One of the gems of the city’s modern public spaces is the 1,914-meter-long Love River promenade, which creates a romantic atmosphere.

Alishan Mountain Range

A stunning mountain range in central Taiwan, located at an altitude of 2,000-2,500 meters and famous for its sunrises, sea of clouds, and ancient cypress trees.

The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is the center of the mountain range’s tourist experiences. The most popular activity is the dawn train ride to watch the sunrise, when visitors can witness the sun slowly emerging from the sea of clouds. This experience is one of Taiwan’s most iconic natural spectacles.

The mountain range is home to the Alishan Forest Railway, a historic narrow-gauge railway built in 1912 that still operates today. Along the route, spectacular views of the mountains and valleys unfold. The Sister Ponds are two picturesque mountain lakes associated with a romantic legend about two indigenous sisters. The Sacred Tree, a 2,300-year-old cypress, was once the area’s symbol, though now a museum preserves its memory.

Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan’s largest natural lake in the central part of the island, near the small town of Yuchi. The lake gets its name from its unique shape: one part is round like the sun, the other is crescent-shaped.

Around the lake, you’ll find several temples and cultural attractions. Wenwu Temple is an imposing structure dedicated to Confucius and the god of war. Ci-En Pagoda is a 46-meter-high tower offering an unparalleled view of the lake and surrounding mountains. Lalu Island in the middle of the lake is a sacred site for the indigenous Thao people.

The cycling path around the lake is nearly 30 kilometers long and was chosen by CNN as one of the world’s most beautiful bike routes. The route passes grassy hills, bamboo forests, and tea plantations. Visitors can try the cable car, which crosses above the lake and leads to the nearby Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village. In the evening, shops and restaurants along the lakeshore create a romantic atmosphere.

Jiufen

A picturesque hillside town in northern Taiwan that was once a gold mining settlement and is now a favorite destination for artists, craftsmen, and tourists. Due to its narrow, stepped alleyways and traditional teahouses, it’s often called „Taiwan’s Santorini„.

The town’s main street, Jiufen Old Street, is a labyrinthine alley where traditional sweets, handicrafts, and local specialties are sold. The teahouses are particularly famous, where visitors can experience the traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony while enjoying stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

Jiufen inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s famous animated film Spirited Away, and indeed exudes a fairy-tale atmosphere, especially in the evening when red lanterns illuminate the narrow streets. The Gold Mine Museum provides insight into the town’s gold mining past. The nearby village of Jinguashi is also worth visiting, where the Crown Prince Chalet Museum is located.

Yushan National Park

Taiwan’s largest national park encompasses the island’s central mountain range. At the heart of the park is Yushan, or Jade Mountain, which at 3,952 meters is the highest peak in Taiwan and all of Northeast Asia.

Climbing Yushan is one of Taiwan’s greatest adventures. The hike takes two days, with a night spent at a mountain hut. From the summit, in clear weather, a breathtaking 360-degree panorama unfolds. During the climb, you pass through different vegetation zones, from bamboo forests at lower levels to alpine vegetation near the summit.

The national park includes more than 30 peaks over three thousand meters, offering numerous challenges for experienced mountaineers. The area’s rich wildlife includes the Taiwanese black bear, the island’s national animal, as well as more than 200 bird species. Waterfalls and crystal-clear mountain streams in the park’s lower regions are additional attractions.

Tamsui

A historic port town at the mouth of the Tamsui River in northern Taipei, now a popular excursion destination for both locals and tourists. The town’s rich history dates back to Spanish and Dutch colonial times.

The town’s symbol is Fort San Domingo, built of red brick, a 17th-century fortification originally under Spanish and later Dutch control. The fort operates as a museum and provides insight into Taiwan’s colonial era. The nearby Tamsui Old Street is a bustling promenade where local street food, handicrafts, and souvenirs are available.

Fisherman’s Wharf is particularly popular for watching sunsets and offers great dining options. Lover’s Bridge, a white, sail-shaped pedestrian bridge, creates a romantic atmosphere. Several historic temples are found in Tamsui’s old town, including Fuyou Temple and Longshan Temple. The area’s tea plantations and hillside trails offer excellent hiking opportunities.

Kenting National Park

This tropical paradise at Taiwan’s southernmost point was the island’s first national park. The park uniquely combines mountain landscapes, coral reefs, tropical forests, and white sandy beaches.

Its most famous beaches include Nanwan Beach, popular with surfers, and Baisha Beach, whose white coral sand and crystal-clear water are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Eluanbi Lighthouse stands at the park’s southern tip, surrounded by a beautiful park from which the Philippines can be seen on clear days.

Longpan Park is a grassy plateau that drops steeply to the ocean and is particularly popular for stargazing due to minimal light pollution. Maobitou is a rocky peninsula that got its name from its cat-head-shaped formation. The Kenting Forest Recreation Area within the park welcomes visitors with rich vegetation and hiking trails.

Tainan

Taiwan’s oldest city was once the island’s capital and is now the center of traditional Taiwanese culture and history. The city boasts numerous temples, historic buildings, and traditional markets.

Chihkan Tower is a 17th-century structure that was originally a Dutch fort, later supplemented with Chinese-style pavilions. Anping Old Fort also dates from the Dutch colonial period and is an important historical monument. The city has more than 300 temples, including the Confucius Temple, built in 1665 and Taiwan’s oldest Confucius temple.

Tainan is also known as a gastronomic paradise, with local cuisine offering many dishes not found elsewhere. Shennong Street is a picturesque street with traditional wooden houses that have been converted into cafés, galleries, and workshops. The night markets, especially Garden Night Market, are full of local specialties. Nearby salt flats and mangrove forests are additional natural attractions.

Shifen Waterfall

This natural wonder, also known as „Taiwan’s Niagara Falls”, is located in the northern part of the country, in New Taipei City. The waterfall is 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, making it Taiwan’s widest waterfall.

The waterfall’s distinctive feature is its curtain-like water flow, where water cascades down an even, wide surface, creating a mist-like fog around it. On sunny days, a rainbow is often visible in front of the waterfall, making the sight even more spectacular. The walkways created around it allow visitors to admire this natural phenomenon up close.

Shifen town itself is also an interesting sight, where the railway tracks run directly through the main street. It’s traditional for visitors to release sky lanterns inscribed with wishes, especially during the Lantern Festival, when thousands of colorful lanterns cross the sky. The nearby Pingxi Line is a scenic railway connecting several small towns, each with its own unique charm.

Lukang

A historic town on Taiwan’s central-western coast, one of the country’s best-preserved traditional settlements. Once Taiwan’s second most important port city, it is now a living museum of ancient Chinese culture.

At the heart of the town is Longshan Temple, built in 1647 and one of Taiwan’s most beautiful and best-preserved temples. The temple is stunning with its carved wooden decorations, stone carvings, and traditional architectural style. The Lukang Folk Arts Museum provides insight into traditional Taiwanese lifestyle and craftsmanship.

The narrow alleys of the old town, „Nine Turns Lane” and „Half-Edge Well” are historic sights showcasing ancient architectural solutions. The alleys were deliberately built narrow to provide protection from wind and pirates. Local craftsmen still create their works using traditional techniques, so you can buy handmade lanterns, wood carvings, and temple decorations.

Yehliu Geopark

A unique geological wonder on Taiwan’s northern coast, famous for its special rock formations. The rocks in the coastal park have been shaped over millions of years by wind, rain, and seawater.

The park’s most famous formation is the „Queen’s Head”, a mushroom-shaped rock resembling a human head with a crown. This formation is the park’s symbol, though due to natural erosion, the „neck” is getting thinner, and geologists say it may break off within a few decades. Other notable formations include the „Fairy Shoe”, „Candle Rocks”, and „Elephant Rock”.

The geopark is divided into three zones, each with different types of rock formations. The first zone is the most accessible and contains most of the iconic formations. The second zone offers a wild, untouched natural environment, while the third zone stands out with pools formed by seawater and special erosion. Visitors can walk among the rock formations, but climbing on them is prohibited for protection purposes.

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The meeting of historical and cultural heritage with modern skyscrapers makes Taipei one of the most spectacular cities in the East Asian region. It is often referred to as the „Cultural Melting Pot of East Asia” and the „Culinary Capital of Taiwan”.

Taipei attractions

Taipei 101

One of Taipei’s most famous and iconic symbols was for years the tallest building in the world.

The 508-meter-tall skyscraper, completed in 2004, has an eight-section bamboo-like structure reminiscent of traditional Chinese pagodas while representing cutting-edge technology: the building houses one of the world’s fastest elevators, which takes visitors to the 89th-floor observatory in just 37 seconds.

The tower features a unique engineering solution: protection against earthquakes is provided by a massive 660-ton pendulum-like steel sphere located between the 87th and 92nd floors. This structure is also open to visitors.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

One of Taipei’s most popular tourist destinations built in honor of the former president of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The impressive white marble monument was inaugurated in 1980, combining classical Chinese architectural elements with modern design. The white walls and blue roof reflect the colors of the Taiwanese national flag. The building stands in the middle of a beautiful 250,000 square meter park.

Inside the hall is a monumental 4.6-meter-high bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek, guarded by an honor guard. The changing of the guard ceremony is one of the most spectacular events, taking place every hour, and many tourists come specifically to witness it.

The lower levels of the building house a museum displaying the general-president’s personal items, military uniforms, and important documents of Taiwanese history in the form of interactive exhibitions.

Liberty Square Gate

The monumental gate is one of the most famous entry points to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall area.

The gate is designed in classical Chinese style, with its five-arched structure and ornate roof structure. The roofs are covered with blue coloured tiles. In the centre, the inscription „Liberty Square” is written in calligraphic Chinese characters.

One of Taiwan’s most important public spaces, it is a frequent venue for political demonstrations, cultural events and celebrations. Behind it, in a symmetrical arrangement, is the National Theatre on the left, the National Concert Hall on the right and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall opposite.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

This impressive building erected in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, considered the father of modern China, is one of the city’s most important cultural centers.

Built in traditional Chinese palace style, the hall was opened in 1972 to mark the 100th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth. The vast square in front of the building frequently hosts national celebrations and cultural events. The hall is an important symbol of Taiwanese democratic values and national identity.

Inside is a 4-meter-high bronze statue depicting Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The hall regularly hosts classical music concerts, opera performances, and traditional Chinese art presentations.

The gardens surrounding the main building, with pavilions, rocks, and lakes, create an idyllic environment where locals often practice tai chi in the early morning hours. The roof of the hall offers an unparalleled view of the city and nearby Yangming Mountain.

Presidential Palace

One of the most significant buildings in Taipei’s historic city center is the center of Taiwan’s political power.

Originally built in 1919 during the Japanese colonial period, the palace features a red brick façade and northern Renaissance-style decorative elements. The building served as the office of the Japanese governor, then became the seat of the Taiwanese government after 1949. The central tower is 60 meters high and was for decades the tallest structure in the city.

Part of the building can be visited as a museum, displaying exhibitions on the evolution of Taiwanese history and political system. Particularly valuable are documents and artifacts from the Japanese occupation and the democratic transition period. Flag-raising ceremonies and elaborate guard changes are regularly held in front of the palace.

Longshan Temple

One of Taipei’s oldest and most important religious sites is the center of Taiwanese Buddhism and folk religions.

The temple was founded in 1738 by immigrants from Fujian to remind them of their homeland. Over the centuries, the temple has been destroyed multiple times by earthquakes and World War II bombings but was always rebuilt, preserving its original beauty and religious significance. The colorful building is a masterpiece of traditional South Chinese temple architecture, with carved dragons, phoenix birds, and carefully crafted stone columns.

Its specialty is that it is not just a Buddhist shrine but also home to deities of Taoism and Chinese folk religions. More than a hundred statues of gods and goddesses can be found on various altars, including Matsu, the goddess of the sea, and Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

Beitou Hot Spring District

The enchanting hot springs district in northern Taipei allows visitors to experience the Taiwanese version of Japanese onsen culture.

Thanks to Beitou’s volcanic activity, the area is famous for its thermal springs, which were first utilized during the Japanese colonial period. The central attraction of the area is the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, housed in a beautifully renovated Japanese bathhouse built in 1913. The building was the island’s first public bath and now hosts exhibitions on the history of balneology in Taiwan.

Another special point in the area is Hell Valley, where bubbling, sulfurous springs and rising steam provide an extraordinary, almost otherworldly sight. Visitors can choose from numerous public baths and luxury spas to relax in thermal waters of various temperatures and mineral compositions.

Ximending

Taipei’s most vibrant and youthful district, often nicknamed the „Taiwanese Shibuya”, referring to the famous Tokyo fashion and entertainment district.

This vibrant shopping and entertainment zone emerged in the 1930s and was Taiwan’s first pedestrian shopping district. The influence of the Japanese colonial past is still felt in the architecture and cultural character. Colorful neon advertisements, giant screens, and the bustling crowd make it the epicenter of Taiwanese pop culture.

The center of Ximending follows the fashion and beauty trends of young people, with numerous boutiques, cosmetic shops, and underground fashion designer workshops. The area is also famous for its street food offerings, where visitors can taste traditional Taiwanese street foods alongside Japanese and Korean delicacies.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

A cultural center converted from a former Japanese sake factory is now one of the most important hubs of Taipei’s creative industry.

Founded in 1914, the factory was closed in the 1990s, then occupied by artists who created galleries and studios in the unused industrial spaces. In 2005, the government officially transformed the complex into a cultural park, preserving the character and atmosphere of the original industrial buildings.

The park houses numerous exhibition spaces, art galleries, designer shops, and creative workshops. Contemporary art exhibitions, independent film festivals, and experimental theater performances are regularly organized here. On weekends, craft markets and food truck festivals await visitors.

Daan Park

The huge green area in the center is often called the „lungs of the city” or „Taipei’s Central Park”.

The 26-hectare park was opened in 1994 after the previously existing unofficial settlement was cleared. The park’s design combines Taiwanese and Chinese garden design traditions with modern urban planning principles.

One of the central elements of the park is the large open grassy area where families picnic and children play on weekends. The promenade around the lake is particularly popular with joggers and evening walkers. There are also numerous themed gardens, including an herb garden and rose park.

Shilin Night Market

Taipei’s largest and most famous night market is a whirlwind of Taiwanese street food and shopping opportunities.

The market, with more than 100 years of history, underwent a complete renovation in 2011 but preserved its authentic atmosphere. The original site developed around the Shilin City God Temple and gradually grew over the decades. Today, the market extends to several streets and a huge covered hall where food vendors are concentrated. Evening after evening, thousands of visitors flock to the bustling market, which usually comes to life around 4 PM and lasts until midnight.

The most attractive part of the market is undoubtedly the gastronomic offerings, where visitors can taste local specialties. The market’s specialty is also the arcade section, where visitors can try traditional Taiwanese games such as fishing or duck catching, of course, all in game form.

Maokong

The mountainous area in the southeastern part of Taipei is famous for its tea plantations, natural beauty, and breathtaking panorama.

Maokong was once one of Taiwan’s most important tea-producing regions, and numerous tea plantations and traditional teahouses still operate in the area. Visitors can taste different varieties of world-famous Taiwanese oolong tea in an authentic environment. Most of the teahouses on the hillside are family businesses that have preserved tea-making traditions for generations.

The area can be reached via the Maokong Gondola cable car, opened in 2007, which takes passengers 4.3 kilometers to the mountaintop. Some of the cabins have glass floors, allowing visitors to enjoy the view beneath their feet as well. Several hiking trails start at the upper station, leading through surrounding forests and tea plantations. The Teapot Mountain trail, leading to the teapot-shaped rock at the mountain top, is particularly popular.

Zhinan Temple

The impressive religious complex located on the hillside in the southern part of Taipei is one of the most important Taoist shrines in Taiwan.

The temple was founded in 1882 and dedicated to Lu Dongbin, one of the eight Taoist immortals. Over the centuries, it has continuously expanded and today has grown into a vast complex of shrines, gardens, and pavilions arranged on three levels. The architectural style bears the characteristics of classical Chinese temple architecture, with gilded roofs, red columns, and detailed wood carvings.

Along the path leading to the temple is a sculpture park depicting figures from Taoist mythology. The square in front of the main shrine offers a stunning view of Taipei city, especially at sunset.

National Palace Museum

Home to one of the world’s most significant Chinese art collections, it preserves nearly 700,000 artifacts from 8000 years of Chinese history.

The museum was founded in Beijing in 1925, and during the Chinese Civil War in 1948-49, the most valuable treasures were evacuated to Taiwan. The current museum building was opened in 1965, designed in classical Chinese palace style, on a green hillside among picturesque lakes and gardens. The collection is so rich that the exhibited material is regularly changed every three months.

Among the museum’s most famous pieces are the jade cabbage, an extremely lifelike statue carved from semi-precious stone, and the meat-shaped stone, which looks astonishingly similar to a dish called dongpo pork. The collection of ancient Chinese bronze vessels, calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain presents the development of Chinese art in chronological order.

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Taiwan National Museum

The island’s largest natural science and anthropological museum provides a comprehensive picture of Taiwan’s natural world, the culture of its indigenous peoples, and the history of the island.

The museum, founded in 1908 during the Japanese colonial period, received its current building in 1986, characterized by a blend of modern architecture and traditional Taiwanese style elements. The four permanent exhibitions deal with the island’s geology, wildlife, indigenous cultures, and the history of Taiwanese Han Chinese immigrants. The collection numbers more than 150,000 items.

The ground floor hall contains full-size dinosaur skeletons and models of Taiwanese geological formations. The section exhibiting indigenous cultures is particularly valuable, as it presents the traditions, rituals, and daily lives of Taiwan’s 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes through original objects and reconstructions. The museum’s specialty is the live butterfly garden, where visitors can observe the island’s characteristic butterfly species up close.

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Taipei weather: when is the best time to visit?

Taipei has a subtropical monsoon climate, which includes hot, humid summers and mild, rainy winters.

Spring (March-May):

Spring is pleasantly warm but rather rainy in Taipei. The average temperature ranges between 18-25°C, and this is one of the rainiest seasons. Sudden showers and thunderstorms are common, especially in April and May. Due to the high humidity, the perceived temperature may be higher than the actual temperature. In spring months, the city’s parks burst into bloom, with cherry blossoms being particularly beautiful.

Summer (June-September):

Summer in Taipei is extremely hot and humid, with frequent rainfall and occasional typhoons. The average temperature ranges between 28-35°C, but due to the high humidity, the perceived temperature can often rise above 40°C. The typhoon season begins in June and can last until the end of September. These tropical storms bring strong winds and intense precipitation, potentially causing disruptions in transportation and daily life for several days.

Autumn (October-November):

Autumn is one of the most pleasant periods in Taipei. The weather gradually moderates, with average temperatures between 20-28°C, and the air is less humid than in summer. The amount of precipitation also decreases significantly, although short showers remain common. The autumn foliage colors provide a spectacular sight, especially in the mountainous areas surrounding the city. This season is ideal for sightseeing and exploring outdoor attractions.

Winter (December-February):

The winter months in Taipei are mild but rainy and often foggy. The average temperature ranges between 15-20°C, although temperatures below 10°C can occur occasionally, especially in January. Snowfall in the city is extremely rare, but it can happen in the surrounding mountains. Precipitation usually comes in the form of drizzle, which can last for days. During the winter months, the city’s famous hot springs areas are particularly popular.

Best time to visit:

The most ideal time to visit Taipei is autumn (October-November) and early winter (December), when the weather is pleasant, precipitation is moderate, and tourist attractions can be enjoyed under optimal conditions. Spring months can also be suitable if the visitor is prepared for more frequent rainfall.

Frequently asked questions about Taipei

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