Where To Stay in Taipei – A Guide to the Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

As the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, is a diverse and thriving city with a population of almost 3 million people. The modern metropolis is a hub of cultural, technological, economic, and political significance. From the gurgling hot springs of Beitou to the busy, energetic nightlife, Taipei is filled with excitement and adventure around every corner during every hour. There is something for every kind of traveler in this beautiful city.

As it is a vast and fast-paced city, it can be very confusing to find the best places to visit and stay. The options are quite limitless. In this article, we will present you with the most noteworthy and attractive neighborhoods, some great activities to do while you’re there, and the best places to stay so you can rest peacefully.

Where to Stay in Taipei

Let me help you figure out where to stay in the city with a breakdown of the various neighborhoods that suit your travel style, needs, and budget.

The Main Taipei Neighborhoods

1. Zhongzheng – This is a central part of Taipei, because it is home to Taipei Main Station where you can get around anywhere you want with ease from this district.
2. Xinyi – Being one of the most modern districts, Xinyi is a noteworthy neighborhood to venture as attractions like Taipei 101, Elephant mountain, and Songshan Cultural are located here.
3. Da’an – If the buzz of the city is not for you, Da’an, known as the “lungs of Taipei”, could be your best bet, because of the natural and green-space it offers in the city.
4. Shilin – In terms of cultural attractions, Shilin is home to sought-after locations like the National Palace Museum, filled with ancient artifacts, and the famous Shilin Night Market, which guarantees fantastic local cuisine such as oyster omelettes and more.
5. Zhongshan – Another great district within Taipei is Zhongshan, which has famous landmarks like Grand Hotel and Taipei Fine Arts Museum that offers numerous activities.
6. Beitou – Beitou is a popular place for tourists who want to enjoy the hot springs, steamy basins, and beautiful scenery.

Taipei Quick Travelling Tips

How to Get Around 

Taipei has various means of traveling. You can rent a bike to cycle through the city and sightsee the monuments along the way or you can get a transit card to navigate the city by means of the MRT. Here are some budget-friendly and efficient options for traveling.

Taipei MRT

The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit system is the most cost-effective way of transportation. It is convenient for most international travelers as the station is both bilingual in Chinese and English. The Taipei Metro goes throughout many districts of the city so that you can reach any destination you like. It is the largest metro subway system in Taiwan. However, reading the map can be confusing at first, but it is actually quite simple after you begin to learn what each color means and where it takes you. There are many choices for the ticket. For example, there’s a single-use token, EasyCard, or 24-hour metro pass. According to your needs and preferences, choose one that best fits you. I highly recommend you get the EasyCard, which enables you to get a 20% discount and you go travel worry-free with an initial deposit. Additionally, you can use the card for not only the subways, but also for the taxi, bus, ship, bikes, and even pay for chain shops. It is absolutely great for traveling with ease.

Cruise Ship

As Taipei is a wonderful island, you shouldn’t be limited to the land. You can take a cruise ship and take a nautical adventure by sightseeing the Tamsui River from Twautia, Dajia, and more.

Train

Trains are still a very popular means of travel as well. The Taipei Railway Station is the largest within the city. You can speed through the regions to arrive safely at your destination by the railways. Cities such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Karoshiung are some of the places you can go to. Their system also offers high-speed trains that can take you much more quickly to different locations.

Bus

Of course, there’s always a bus you can ride on whether for travel or for sightseeing purposes. Only a short distance away from the train railway, Taipei Bus Station is the biggest one in the city. There are both long and short-distance busses that can help you get around. The prices for the bus would be a lot higher than the MRT.

Taxi

Taxis are a common choice for traveling in Taipei. This option would be a bit pricer. There are fees for waiting, night time, trunk usage, and of course, the miles driven.

Neighborhood Map

Above is a visual map of all the amazing sites and must-visit neighborhoods.

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#1 Zhongzheng

What’s there and why visit

Zhongzheng is a popular district for tourists who want the full experience. National Taipei government buildings, Taipei botanical garden, Japanese garden, Chiang Kai-shek memorial hall, and the National Theatre are all located in this district. You can definitely learn more about the political system, history, and culture of Taipai in this region. You can find some of the best hotels in Taipei in this area. Some are more luxurious and high-end. On the other hand, there are also cheap hotels in Taipei. There’s definitely something for everyone.

Suggested hotels near Zhongzheng

Things to see near Zhongzheng

National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall– If you’re in Zhongheng and need some guidance on where to go first, you should see the famous National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. It is an extremely popular point of interest for tourists because it is a building erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, who was the former President of China. The building has 8 sides which represent fortune and wealth. You will be enriched with the history of Chiang Kai-shek as well as how he played a significant role in the culture of Taiwan. There are boutique hotels in Taipei that are located in this district. You can easily find places to stay in Taipei within this area that are close to landmark attractions.

Qidong Street Japanese Houses – You’ll want to go see the Qidong Street Japanese houses. In history, the Qidong street played a vital role in trade and food by moving rice from the Taipei basin to other harbors. It has several of Japanese colonial-era houses. You can see the interesting mix of cultures of Taiwan and Japan here.

Getting there

National Memorial Hall– You can take the Taipei Tamsui Xinyi line (Red) and go to the Memorial Hall after taking an exit at 5.

Qidong Street Japanese Houses– The street is within walking distance west of Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station of the metro.

Suggested Activities In Zhongzheng

Full-Day Private Custom Taipei Tour– You can get a private sightseeing tour with the help of a local guide of the National Memorial Hall, Dalongdong Baoan Temple, Taipei 101 skyscraper, and more.

Hakka Discovery Tour from Taipei– Learn more about Hakka culture and go to various locations in Taipei, including the colonial Japanese houses from this tour.

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#2 Xinyi

What’s there and why visit

Xinyi is a highly modernized, commercial district. It is known for Taiwan’s best shopping centers, luxurious restaurants, and sleepless nightlife. You can also reserve fine dining at their European-inspired restaurants or try out their unique and creative Taiwanese food joints. This is where the tall Taipei 101 skyscraper is located, which was once the world’s tallest building in 2004. Many local tours are happening here yearly that fit every traveler’s desires and budget.

Suggested hotels near Xinyi

Things to see near Xinyi

Taipei 101– You can take a look at the extremely tall skyscraper, Taipei 101. There are shopping malls, food court, and luxurious high-end malls are located within the building. You can go inside and experience full-on the modern culture of Taipei or you can go to Elephant Mountain to see the skyscraper from afar.

Xiangshan Park– This is park for individuals and families alike. Especially when you’re in the city, you may need to take a break from the hectic buzz of city life. There are walkways to jog on and mountains to climb at this park. During the spring and fall seasons, the scenery is wonderful and busy with visitors.

Getting there

Taipei 101 – Take the red line to go to the skyscraper or you can take a bus to go directly to the building.

Xiangshan Park – On the metro, take the red line to go to Xiangshan and leave off of the last stop. Next, take Exit 2 and you’ll see further directions for the park.

Suggested Activities In Xinyi

Taipei 101 Observatory– This ticket will get you on the skyscraper observation decks on the uppermost floors, which offers 360-degree panoramic views.

Private Custom Tour: Taipei in a Day- On this tour, you will visit the best sites of the city such as Taipei 101, Memorial Hall, Longshan temple, Beitou hot springs, and more for 8-hours.

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#3 Da’an

Da’an, which means great peace, is an important place that has many educational institutions such as the National Taiwan University, night markets, forest parks, concert venues, and dessert shops. Due to the many different points of interest, there are all kinds of people residing here, creating a diverse culture and environment. There’s a variety of several activities to do here. You should visit here particularly for the Daan Forest Park as thousands of people visit there yearly. About the size of 3 major league baseball fields, the city park has special events year-long round.

Suggested hotels near Da’an

Things to see near Da’an

Daan Forest Park– This forest is great for any nature lovers. It is one of the largest ecological parks in the city. It is a refreshing and scenic place to go for a jog where you can breathe in the clean air of the trees. The park offers grassy picnic areas, playgrounds, footpaths, ponds with wildlife, and concert areas for special events.

Yongkang Street– If you want Instagram-able, innovative, and mouth-watering food, this is the place to go. Many travel websites have referred to this street as a must-visit for travelers. You can find Taiwanese cuisine on every corner for every budget. They have the famous Mango Snowflake Ice here. From cafes, street foods, and restaurants, they conveniently have worldwide cuisines that are Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Western.

Getting there

Da’an Forest Park– Visitors can access the park by going to the Metro Daan Park station.

Yongkang street– You can arrive at the famous street by taking the red line of the Metro to Dongmen.

Suggested Activities In Da’an

Private Full-Day Walking and Food Tour of Taipei’s Yongkang District with Michelin Star Lunch– Through this tour, you can eat the most delicious foods in the Yongkang district as well as see the Daan Park Forest and more of the top-notch places from the area.

2-Hour Biking Tour: Amazing Taipei City Discovery including Shida Night Market– You can cycle through the city of Taipei and go to the Shida Night Market and Da’an Forest Park.

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#4 Shilin

What’s there and why visit

Shilin is home to the National Palace Museum, which has a wide collection of Chinese artifacts. In this district, there are residences, expensive and affordable restaurants, and it has the widely popular Shilin Night Market where you can eat hot and freshly-made oyster omelettes and more from the food stalls and buy clothes from the vendors nearby.

Suggested hotels near Shilin

Things to see near Shilin

National Palace Museum– Out of the many points of interest in Shilin, you cannot miss out on seeing the National Palace Museum. Thousands of people yearly go see this museum. It has nearly 700,000 valuable Chinese artifacts and art pieces. It is definitely one of the largest museums of its kind. You can take your time to take a blast to the past and know more about the deep histories of the vast country of China. Taipei hotels both luxurious and cheap and everything in between are located near this monument, so you don’t have to fret about where to stay in Taipei.

Tianmu Creative Market– Another attraction is the Tianmu Creative Market. This is where artists and vendors of all kinds sell crafts, clothes, household items, and secondhand goods. There’s no doubt you will find a special item to take home with you here. It’s great because most of the items are handmade by locals and not found anywhere else in the world.

Getting there

National Palace Museum– You can reach the museum by taking the metro’s red line to Shilin station then take a bus R30 to the museum.

Tianmu Creative Market– Take bus #200 or #220 to reach the market.

Suggested Activities In Shilin

Jiufen Complete Tour– For 5 hours, you can go on a luxury vehicle to explore the famous Shilin Night Market and a friendly guide with help you along the ride.

One-day Taipei Tour Package – On this tour, you can explore the main landmarks of Taipei such as the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Shilin Night Market, and more.

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#5 Zhongshan

What’s there and why visit

Zhongshan is a growing district both technologically and financially, which is along mountains. The city was named in honor of Sun Yat-sen who is commonly known as the father of modern China. According to this travel source, the local tech industry in Zhongshan is evolving rapidly. Furthermore, it is home to trendy shopping centers such as Chifeng, art museums such as the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art, and unique, independent stores in the area. On your travel itinerary, you should go to the famous Din Tai Fun restaurant to eat their steamed hot soup dumplings. It is no wonder that this district is a notable choice to visit for many tourists. Innovation, culture, and tradition are all flourishing in this exciting neighborhood. You can find places to stay in Taipei by browsing the many 5-star hotels or boutique hotels in Taipei within this district.

Suggested hotels near Zhongshan

Things to see near Zhongshan

Meiti Riverside Park– The Meiti Riverside park is a natural waterfront that is along the Keelung River. There are nice scenic locations in Zhongshan due to its geographical location. The park is a favorite among locals and visitors. You can go for a calming stroll, take on a nice boat ride, or go cycling. This area is overflowing with different varieties of flowers and trees unique only to Taipei.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum– Creative and innovative new artworks are hung on the walls of the Taipei museum. The place was built to look very modern and sophisticated. It has the biggest contemporary art collection in the city. Many tourists come to see the pieces yearly. About 5,000 works are in this building.

Getting there

Meiti Riverside Park– You can take the metro or taxi to go to the Xihu station of the Taipei Metro.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum-You can take the metro to go to the Zhongshan district.

Suggested Activities In Zhongshan

Taipei Night Tour including Din Tai Fun Dinner- You will meet a guide who will take you to the Longshan Temple, Huaxi street, and the famous restaurant, Din Tai Fung to eat their delicious soft soup dumplings.

Taipei: Discover the Best Highlights & Hidden Gems– On this tour, you can experience a Feng shui inspired temple, a beautiful fine arts park, as well as an authentic market where the locals do their daily shopping.

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#6 Beitou

What’s there and why visit

Beitou is a mountainous area with great natural attractions that offers many memorable activities. This district is popular for its hot springs and natural greenery. Specifically, the Beitou Hot Spring Park is where they have open-air springs of both hot and cold temperatures. You can relax in the hot springs, letting your muscles receive the much-needed rest they need. There is also a public bathhouse inspired by a Euro-Japanese style. Furthermore, the Thermal Valley has steamy, sulfurous waters where you can experience the beautiful scenery.

Suggested hotels near Beitou

Things to see near Beitou

Beitou Hot Spring Park– The history of the park goes back to when the Japanese occupied the region. The Japanese created resorts, hotels, and inns near the natural hot springs. There are 3 different kinds of hot springs: green, white, and iron sulfur. Within this area, there are more locations such as the museum, hot springs, valley, and other sulfur lakes.

Thermal Valley– Of all the Beitou hot springs, Thermal Valley is by far one of the most famous. The pool of water is a jade color with very high warm temperatures. Eerie rolls of steam come off the waters at the valley. The rocks on the valley contain radium, which is known for its healing properties.

Getting there

Beitou Hot Spring– Take the red line to Beitou station then transfer to the pink line for just 1 station of Xinbeitou.

Thermal Valley– Take the red line to Beitou, then go to the Xinbeitou station, and finally walk out of the station to go to the Zhongshan road.

Suggested Activities In Zhongzheng

One-day Yangmingshan NP Beitour Hot Spring Park– You can actually see active volcanoes and enjoy the hot springs of Beitou.

From Taipei: 1-Day Hakka Village Discovery Tour– Dive into the local culture with this one day tour. The Hakka people are widely known for their unique food culture and after the walking tour enjoy a refreshing cup of lei tea, a traditional Hakka drink.

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There you have it! These are my top choices for where to stay in Taipei. If you’ve stayed anywhere else I’d love to hear about it, drop a comment below with your picks for best places to stay in Taipei.