Taipei
Taiwan
- Safety rating
- 8.9/10
- Best time to visit
- October to December and March to May for the most pleasant temperatures. July–August is hot and humid with typhoon risk. Chinese New Year (January/February) is festive but many businesses close.
- Population
- 2.7M
Overview
Taipei is Asia's most underappreciated great city — a seamless blend of traditional Chinese culture (temples on every corner, incense-thick shrine courtyards) with Japanese precision (spotless MRT, incredible convenience store culture) and a Taiwanese warmth that makes it one of the world's most genuinely welcoming destinations. The night markets are world-famous.
Top attractions
Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Jiufen (day trip), Elephant Mountain, National Palace Museum, Beitou Hot Springs, Ximending district, Raohe Night Market
Getting around
MRT is excellent — fast, cheap, and goes almost everywhere. YouBike (shared bikes) from MRT stations. Uber and taxi apps for areas not on MRT. High Speed Rail (HSR) connects south in 90 minutes.