Top Things To Do In Taipei

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Local guide posing with tourists on a family tour of Taipei

Top things to do in Taipei

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

Wondering what to do in Taipei?

A kaleidoscope of cultures, with traditional Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and western influences, Taiwan’s capital city is as diverse as its endless list of things to do. Taipei at first glance appears to be a modern metropolis, but the true spirit of the city bubbles below the surface of its futuristic facade. In fact, Taipei can at times feel like an open-air museum with its multitude of Taoist temples dotted amongst towering skyscrapers, museums filled with treasures dating back 5000 years, and old merchant villas transformed into museums or shops. Between the old and new halves of this dynamic city, the things to do in Taipei are anything but ordinary.

Meet some of our Taipei local hosts

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Local guide showing a couple of tourists the city highlights of Taipei

Tangible history

At 300 years old, Taipei is one of the youngest cities in Asia. Even so, the city’s history is remarkable – in its lifetime, Taipei has been a Chinese tea-trading post, a Japanese colony, and a KMT base. Exploring the things to do in Taipei will likely lead you to a wealth of landmarks that illustrate the city’s storied past. From centuries-old Taoist temples to Japanese-era mansions to old merchant villas, the historic sights are embedded in the fabric of the modern city – it’s impossible to separate the two. Today, the things to do in Taipei reflect a city filled with centuries of stories.

Tourists enjoying the view of the city skyline and Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain in Taipei

The great outdoors

Break away from the frenetic city center and you might be surprised to discover pristine wilderness on Taipei’s doorstep. The city’s gorgeous natural surroundings offer a wealth of incredible things to do in Taipei, with cliff-hugging hiking trails through densely forested mountains leading to all sorts of natural wonders. The most memorable things to do in Taipei aren’t limited to inside the city limits, and lovers of the outdoors are spoiled for choice. You could go surfing at a nearby beach, mountain biking through a forested trail, climbing up cliffs, or even hiking among tea plantations.

Local vendor selling fresh fruit at a typical street stall in Taipei

Midnight snacking

When the sun sets, the list of things to do in Taipei gets even longer. The city’s nightlife is buzzing with cool clubs and crowded bars, but you’ll likely find most locals spending their evenings elsewhere. Above all else, dusk signals the start of the city’s iconic night market scene, and crowds descend on the colorful, chaotic, crisscrossing lanes of late-night food markets spilling out onto the streets. If the aromas of local specialties wafting from hundreds of street food stalls are too difficult to ignore, spend your night like the locals do – midnight snacking as a social event.

Taipei travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Taipei and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

We arrived in Taipei after a 5 week trip to SE Asia. I had been to Taipei previously but my wife had not. After getting a good night´s sleep our guide Winnie met us at our airport hotel. She arrived early and waited for us while we finished our breakfast. She was very friendly and provided us with a briefing of what we could do in the 6 hours that we had to explore the city. She was very interested in making sure that we did what we were interested in doing and also recommended must see attractions. She was also very conscious about making sure that we could get back to the airport in time to check in for our flight. Aside from being extremely knowledgeable and personable, she was extremely funny. We spent more of the day being entertained while being educated. I cannot speak highly enough about Winnie and how much we enjoyed her company and the day tour. I highly recommend Winnie and City Unscripted.

November 2019

Robert B
Book this tour (and ask for Nina)! I was in Taiwan for work for a very short time, but wanted someone local to help me navigate the night markets and find some great local sights, foods, and drinks. My host Nina was exceptional - she met me at my hotel, we walked around the Xinyi neighborhood, tried some small bites and bubble tea, then took the MRT about 15 minutes away to visit some tranquil temples I absolutely never would have found on my own. We continued to a great (and tiny) beer bar that had some amazing Taiwanese craft beers. We ended the night going to one of the night markets, which is when I was especially glad to have a local to help me navigate. Prior to the tour, I had communicated with Nina some of the types of things I was looking to see, and she put together a perfect evening. It was more like visiting the sites with a good friend rather than a tour guide. I can not recommend this tour, or Nina, highly enough! I could not have asked for a better host for my free night in Taiwan. Thank you City Unscripted and thank you Nina!

November 2019

Matthew A
en was our guide for our Tapei layover tour! He spoke English VERY well and had a great sense of humor! He was knowledgeable about the areas culture and history which made the day very interesting!! I would Recommend Ben to anyone!!!!

May 2019

Linda B
We only had one night to explore Taipei and this visit worked out just perfectly, providing insight into both the old and new of Taipei. I would recommend our guide Nina.

November 2019

Tom L