Taipei, Taiwan travel guide

Night markets, mountain hot springs, and the friendliest megacity in Asia.

Best time to visit: October-December and March-April
Average daily budget: $45 to $85 USD
Ideal trip length: 4 to 5 days

Taipei is the easiest big city in Asia to land in alone. The metro is spotless and signed in English, strangers walk you to where you're going rather than just point, and you can eat like royalty for the price of a coffee back home. Joy Plus threads the temples, the hot-spring suburbs and the right night market for each evening into a 4-day plan that never feels rushed.

Taipei itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Beitou hot springs. Soak in a public or private onsen-style bath after a day on your feet.

Afternoon: Explore Da'an, Leafy, central, café-dense. The best base for solo travellers.

Evening: Elephant Mountain sunset. A 20-minute climb for the classic Taipei 101 skyline shot. Go an hour before dusk.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Maokong gondola up to the tea houses for a pot of high-mountain oolong.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Ximending, Taipei's youth and street-fashion hub, neon and energy after dark.

Evening: Shilin or Raohe night market. Raohe is tighter and tastier. Pepper buns first, then wander.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Fujin Street in Songshan for the city's calmest café strip.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Xinyi, Taipei 101, malls, and the trailhead for Elephant Mountain.

Evening: Longshan Temple at dusk. Incense, chanting, and the most atmospheric temple in the city.

Best neighbourhoods

Da'an: Leafy, central, café-dense. The best base for solo travellers.
Ximending: Taipei's youth and street-fashion hub, neon and energy after dark.
Xinyi: Taipei 101, malls, and the trailhead for Elephant Mountain.
Datong: Old Taipei: Dihua Street, temples, and traditional shophouses.
Beitou: Hot-spring suburb in the hills, 30 minutes by metro.

Must-do experiences

Elephant Mountain sunset: A 20-minute climb for the classic Taipei 101 skyline shot. Go an hour before dusk.
Shilin or Raohe night market: Raohe is tighter and tastier. Pepper buns first, then wander.
Beitou hot springs: Soak in a public or private onsen-style bath after a day on your feet.
Longshan Temple at dusk: Incense, chanting, and the most atmospheric temple in the city.

Hidden gems

Maokong gondola up to the tea houses for a pot of high-mountain oolong.
Fujin Street in Songshan for the city's calmest café strip.
Jiufen as a half-day trip when the coach crowds thin after 4pm.
Yongkang Street for beef noodle soup and mango shaved ice.

Daily budget

$45 to $85 USD per day.

What to eat

Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung (the original is here)
Beef noodle soup on Yongkang Street
Pepper buns at Raohe night market
Mango shaved ice (when in season, May-September)

Getting around

The MRT metro is fast, cheap and English-signed; get an EasyCard at any station and tap on everything including buses and convenience stores. Taxis and Uber are cheap for late nights. The city centre is flat and walkable between metro stops.

Safety

Taipei is among the safest big cities in the world, including for solo female travellers at night. The main hazards are summer typhoons (June-September) and humidity. Tap water is best filtered or boiled; bottled is everywhere. Locals are exceptionally helpful if you look lost.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Taipei?

Four to five days covers the temples, two or three night markets, a hot-spring afternoon in Beitou, and a day trip to Jiufen or the north coast.

Is Taipei good for solo travellers?

Exceptionally. It's safe, affordable, easy to navigate in English, and the food culture is built around eating quick and casual, so dining alone never feels awkward.

Is Taipei cheap?

Very, by big-city standards. Night-market dinners run a few dollars, the metro is under a dollar a ride, and clean private-room hostels start around $30-40 a night.

When is the best time to visit Taipei?

October-December and March-April is the sweet spot for weather and crowds. Shoulder season brings lower prices and easier bookings, while peak months mean higher accommodation costs and longer queues at the best known sights, so book early if you travel then.

How much does a trip to Taipei cost?

Budget around $45 to $85 USD per person per day, covering a mid range room, local transport, two or three meals out and an activity or entry ticket. You can go lower with hostels, markets and free walking tours, or far higher with boutique hotels and private guides.

Is Taipei safe for solo female travellers?

Taipei is generally a comfortable place to travel solo, including for women, as long as you use normal city sense. Taipei is among the safest big cities in the world, including for solo female travellers at night. The main hazards are summer typhoons (June-September) and humidity. Tap water is best filtered or boiled; bottled is everywhere. Locals are exceptionally helpful if you look lost.

How do you get around Taipei?

Tours and activities in Taipei | Taipei in 3 days | Taipei in 5 days | Taipei in 7 days