Things to do in  Taipei

Taroko National Park, home to the Taroko Gorge, is one of Taiwan’s foremost tourist attractions. Highlights of this diverse landscape include the looming Qingshui Cliff, the twisting vistas of the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and the dramatic hanging bridges of Swallow Grotto. Then there’s the Eternal Springs Shrine, which hugs a lush green hillside next to its namesake springs. And the Baiyang Trail, which leads to a waterfall.

Horseshoe-shaped Shifen Waterfall is one of the most famous falls in Taiwan. Torrents of water plunge into a deep pool and raise a shroud of mist that creates a rainbow effect on sunny days. With a width of more than 131 feet (40 meters), Taiwan’s Little Niagra isn't quite as big as Niagara Falls but its shape is similar.

At a soaring 1,667 feet (508 meters), Taipei 101 was the world’s tallest building when it was completed in 2004—Dubai’s Burj Khalifa overtook it in 2010. A landmark in Taipei, it houses offices, restaurants, and a multilevel shopping complex, as well as indoor and outdoor observatories offering stunning panoramic views of Taipei.

First constructed in 1921 to transport coal, the Pingxi Branch Rail Line—often known simply as the “Pingxi Line”—is today an enchanting tourist attraction. Stretching eight miles (13 kilometers) through some of the Taipei area’s loveliest scenery, the single-track railway wends its way through the photogenic Keelung River Valley.

Located in northeast Taiwan, the mountainside village of Jiufen was once the country's gold mining center. Today, it’s a popular tourist destination known for its quaint streets and lantern-lit alleyways; traditional teahouses; myriad food stalls and souvenir shops; and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Pacific Ocean. It’s also said to have inspired the setting for the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away.

This street that once served as Taipei’s major commercial center during the late Qing Dynasty still caters to more traditional tastes, giving visitors a glimpse at what the city was like in decades past. The market stalls and Chinese medicine shops sell a variety of teas, herbs, dried mushrooms, sweets, and other dried goods.

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is one of the most prominent landmarks and popular attractions in Taipei, and sees thousands of visitors daily. Learn about the life of Chiang Kai-Shek and the history of Taiwan inside this impressive building set within a 62-acre (25-hectare) memorial park with gardens, pools, and walkways.

Often compared to Tokyo’s Shibuya or Harajuku, Ximending is a lively shopping and entertainment district in Taipei. Located in historic Wanhua, the area teems with shops selling clothing, accessories, electronics, and more, as well as myriad dining and entertainment venues. It’s a place to see and be seen for locals and visitors alike.

Set amid the historic houses of one of Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods, Ningxia Night Market offers a taste of traditional Taiwan with its age-old street vendors and neon-fronted buzz. Here, locals and tourists mingle in search of an evening snack, and enjoy smaller crowds than you’d find at the more famous Shilin Night Market.

Don’t be deterred by the name Elephant Mountain. A relatively easy climb takes you to the top of a hill that affords panoramic views of Taipei. Nestled among other rolling green hills, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan Hiking Trail) is indisputably the best place in Taipei to enjoy a sunset over the capital’s skyline.

Visitors come from throughout Asia and the world to soak in the healing waters of Taiwan’s natural hot springs. One of the most famous collections of natural volcanic hot springs are clustered in the Beitou District of Taipei in an area known as Hell Valley. The sulfurous mist gives the area an otherworldly vibe.

During the nineteenth century, the seaside village of Danshui (also known as Tamsui) was Northern Taiwan’s busiest shipping and commerce port. Today, this historic town at the mouth of the Danshui River is known for its European architecture (Spanish, Dutch, and British influences), delicious seafood, and stunning sunsets.

Located on the northern edge of Taiwan, just a quick trip from Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park offers a dose of nature for city-dwellers and those touring the bustling capital. Visit Yangmingshan to hike through its volcanic scenery and rolling hills, soak in its hot springs, and, in the spring, see the cherry blossoms in bloom.

Modeled after the oldest and largest Confucius temple in the philosopher’s hometown in Shandong, China, the Taipei Confucius Temple displays all the characteristics of traditional Chinese temple architecture. The temple as it stands today was erected in 1930, though it briefly served as a Shinto shrine during World War II.

The Lin Family Garden represents the best preserved surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Built in the late nineteenth century in Qing Dynasty style for one of Taiwan’s wealthy merchant families, the mansion and asymmetrical gardens were designed to make the residents feel closer to nature.