Top Things To Do In Taipei

Tailoring each experience to your wishes by locals who love their city

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

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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

Winnie

Taipei

Adventurous explorer and street food aficionado with a deep passion for Taipei's vibrant culture, always on the lookout for the city's most fascinating attractions and mouth-watering markets.

Megan

Taipei

Lifestyle editor and savvy insider with a deep understanding of the best restaurants, night markets, and city spots in various locales.

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

Green met us at the hotel we were staying at in Taipei. He asked us what we would like to see and tailored the tour accordingly. We used the MRT so that we could see as many sites as possible which included the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, temple and dock. We also walked along streets to get a "feel" of what life was like in Taipei with Green pointing out interesting buildings along the way. Green shared his knowledge of the city with us. We had a very enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend the tour.

Jul 2025
I had an absolutely wonderful day with Charlotte. It was my fourth and last day in Taiwan, and she took me to many places and I hadn't seen yet, and encouraged me to try the things I'd heard about but didn't know where or how to try. So we had tea eggs (hard boiled eggs marinated in tea) a type of fruit I've already forgotten the name of, and various nut and sesame and tea infused treats. We went to a traditional market, and I got to ask all my many questions, mostly: what is THAT? I have traveled in Asia before, to Japan and Singapore and Indonesia, but it was a luxury to ask all my questions. We went the beautiful Grand Hotel built by Chaing Kai-shek to receive his guests, and also to a lovely smaller temple, My favorite thing was that we went to a tea house to have traditional Taiwanese tea. The Makong Gondola was closed for maintenance this week, and there wasn't enough time to go up the mountain, but Charlotte found me a tea house in town. It was very soothing to have the tea demonstration and then sit and enjoy it. I highly recommend the experience. I also highly recommend this tour and Charlotte!

Jun 2025

Katie W
We were given a full 6 hours if experiences and sightseeing from a lovely local guide who was very knowledgeable.

Jun 2025

Magrit F
My tour guide and the tour company were super helpful. They're also very informative and quick to response. I got contacted 5 days before the tour. Winnie- my tour guide speaks fluent English, very nice, and answered all my questions. She explained the history and culture of Taiwan and also showed me how to navigate around the subway station. Would definitely recommended.

June 2025

Tiffany N