//
Capital city of Taiwan
Photo: Volksabstimmung, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Taipei (臺北; Tâi-pak in Taiwanese, Táiběi in Mandarin) is the capital of Taiwan and a major global city. Located in the north of the island, nestled in a basin between the Yangming and Central Mountains, Taipei serves as the financial, cultural, and political heart of Taiwan. The city is a vibrant blend of Chinese heritage infused with strong Japanese and American influences—distinct in character yet refreshingly unhurried by global urban standards.
Wanhua District located in the city center of Taipei. Ximending is known as the "Shibuya of Taipei" and "Harajuku of Taipei". It is a famous shopping district centered on youth culture, Korean culture and subculture. Ximending is a popular tourist destination for international tourists and young people.
Zhongzheng is the political center of Taiwan and the location of the Presidential Office and important government ministries. Its prime tourist attraction is the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Gongguan, on the other hand, has a youthful feel thanks to students from the Taida and Shida universities visiting the area.
Daan and Xinyi are the modern commercial and financial districts of Taipei, and can be collectively referred to as the East District. Offering department stores, plenty of fashion boutiques, lounge bars, and atmospheric restaurants, and some of the most expensive real estate in the city, it is also home to Taipei 101, the Taipei World Trade Center, and the International Convention Center.
Zhongshan has riverside parks, the Martyrs' Shrine, the Fine Arts Museum, and a large pub and bar scene. Many firms and financial institutions are in Songshan, which is directly north of the East District. Raohe Street Night Market is one of the oldest of Taipei's famous street markets.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
陽明山國家公園
A favourite destination, particularly during spring when thousands of calla lilies, peonies and cherry blossoms bloom in the valleys. Besides that public hot springs, as well as hot sulphur blow holes and sources are equally worth the visit. There are dozens of hiking trails in the park, most marked out on maps from the visitors centre. Qixingshan is the highest peak in Yangmingshan, and looks out over the Taipei Basin and the north coast.
Often referred to as the Oscars of the Chinese film world, while films in the awards section are all in Chinese, they have English subtitles and there is also a large non-competition foreign language section.
臺北電影節
An international festival with two award sections – Taipei Award Nominees and International New Talent Nominees. Films are shown at several venues throughout the city.
(誠品) – Eslite offers a good selection at most of their branches, although the 24 hour flagship store (2F, 245 Dunhua South Rd. has the best selection. Eslite Book Store and shopping mall (11 Songgau Road), which incidentally is the largest book store in Taiwan, have the greatest selection. The Songgau Rd branch is next to MRT Station 'Taipei City Hall'.
來來
This shop has a small but interesting selection of English material.
Specialists in English language textbooks and teaching material.
This is an excellent collection of English literature books, albeit a little expensive.
You'll find a reasonable selection of English titles here.
By train
All inter-city trains, operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration (臺鐵) and Taiwan High Speed Rail (臺灣高鐵), arrive at and depart from Taipei Railway Station on Zhongxiao West Road, Sec 1 - opposite…
By bus
Intercity buses arrive and depart from the Taipei Bus Station, which is on Chengde Road, behind Taipei Main Station.
By boat
CSF operates fast ferries (about 3 hr) from Pingtan in mainland China to Taipei (actually Bali District in New Taipei) and back.
By bus
Taipei City has a very efficient bus service, and because all buses display information (destination and the names of stops) in English, the system is very accessible to non-Chinese speaking visitors.
By taxi
Taxis are the most flexible way to get around, and are extremely numerous. They are expensive in comparison to mass transit, but are cheap compared to taxis in the rest of the world.
By rideshare
Uber operates in Taipei, but only taxi license holders are allowed to drive for Uber, making it no cheaper than taking regular taxis. It is, however, an excellent way to avoid the language barrier.
By bicycle
Even though motorized traffic is very heavy in Taipei, bicycles are still legitimate vehicles to get around. There are long cycle paths beside most rivers in the city.
By car
Renting a car is not only unnecessary, but not recommended in Taipei unless you are planning to head out of the city.
Address system
The Taipei address system is very logical and user-friendly.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Taipei (Songshan) · International · TSA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Taipei and Taiwan.
Travel tipsFull 2026 list of visa-free countries for Philippine passport holders. Check ASEAN entry rules, stay limits, and Bureau of Immigration clearance tips.
6 min read
ItinerariesPlan your 7-day Taiwan itinerary from Taipei to Kaohsiung for 2026. High-speed rail tips, night markets, Sun Moon Lake, and realistic travel costs.
7 min read
InspirationCelebrate Chinese New Year 2027 with festival dates, temple blessings, lantern displays, and top party spots across Singapore, Penang, and Taipei.
7 min read
ItinerariesThe 88 Temple Pilgrimage (八十八ヶ所巡り hachijūhakkasho-meguri) is Japan's most famous pilgrimage route, a 1,200-km loop around the island of Shikoku. It is also known as the Shikoku Henro (四国遍路).
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.