Where To Stay: Taipei, Taiwan

Where To Stay: Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is one of Asia's most underrated city destinations — a place where neon-lit night markets sit beside tranquil Confucian temples, and world-class cuisine costs less than a coffee back home. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned Asia traveller, choosing the right neighbourhood to stay in can completely transform your experience of this brilliant, buzzing capital.

Overview

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, a self-governed island located roughly 100 miles off the southeastern coast of China. With a population of around 2.5 million in the city proper, it punches well above its weight when it comes to food, culture, nightlife, and sheer livability. Visitors come for the legendary night markets, the hiking trails that begin almost within city limits, the hot spring retreats in nearby Beitou, and a food scene that many culinary travellers rank among the best in Asia.

The city is compact, easy to navigate, and remarkably affordable by international standards. It rewards slow exploration — linger in a tea house in Maokong, lose a morning in the National Palace Museum, or simply wander the lanes of Yongkang Street with a bag of scallion pancakes in hand.

Essential Information

• Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). As a guide, USD $1 is approximately 32 NTD.
• Language: Mandarin Chinese is the official language, though English is widely spoken in hotels, tourist areas, and restaurants.
• Time Zone: UTC+8 (no daylight saving time).
• Visa: Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most EU countries can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days.
• Best time to visit: October to December offers the most pleasant weather — cool, dry, and clear. Spring (March to May) is also lovely. Avoid July and August if you can, as typhoon season and high humidity make the city uncomfortable.
• Safety: Taipei is one of the safest cities in Asia. Petty crime is rare, and solo travellers — including women — generally feel very comfortable.

Practical Tips

• Get an EasyCard: This rechargeable smart card covers the MRT (metro), buses, YouBike rentals, and even some convenience store purchases. Pick one up at any MRT station for around USD $1.50.
• Download Google Maps offline: Taipei's MRT is colour-coded and bilingual, making it very easy to navigate without a local SIM — though a Taiwan eSIM is cheap and worth getting for convenience.
• Carry cash: While card payments are increasingly common, many night market stalls, local restaurants, and small shops remain cash-only.
• Eat at 7-Eleven: This sounds like a joke, but Taiwanese convenience stores are genuinely excellent. Hot food, fresh onigiri, and good coffee for under USD $2.
• Respect temple etiquette: Dress modestly when visiting places of worship, and avoid pointing directly at religious objects or altars.

Getting There

Most international flights arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), located about 25 miles southwest of the city centre. Direct flights operate from major hubs including Los Angeles, New York (via connecting hubs), London Heathrow, Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Airlines including EVA Air, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines serve the route frequently.

From Los Angeles, expect a flight time of around 12 to 13 hours. From London, it's typically 13 to 14 hours with one stop. Fares vary widely, but booking 6 to 8 weeks in advance often yields the best prices — budget around USD $600–$900 return from the US West Coast in economy.

From TPE airport, the Airport MRT Express runs directly to Taipei Main Station in about 35 minutes and costs roughly USD $5. It's clean, reliable, and runs from early morning until midnight.

Accommodation Options

Budget (under USD $50/night): The areas around Ximending and Zhongzheng District offer a range of hostels and guesthouses with great access to public transport. Star Hostel Taipei Main Station and Meander Taipei are both well-reviewed options for solo travellers and backpackers, with dorm beds from around USD $15 and private rooms from USD $35.

Mid-Range (USD $80–$160/night): Da'an District is the sweet spot for mid-range stays. It's residential, leafy, and full of excellent cafés and restaurants. Hotels like Cozzi Blu Minsheng Taipei and the boutique-style Hotel Proverbs Taipei offer stylish rooms, strong service, and easy MRT access without the premium price tag of the city's luxury tier.

Luxury (USD $200+/night): The area around Xinyi District — Taipei's glittering commercial heart, home to Taipei 101 — is where the city's top-end hotels cluster. The Mandarin Oriental Taipei delivers outstanding service and a beautiful spa. W Taipei brings a livelier, design-forward energy. Expect rates from USD $250 upwards, with suites climbing significantly higher during peak season.

Taipei rewards every kind of traveller, and with the right neighbourhood as your base, the city quickly begins to feel like home. Whether you're here for a long weekend or a fortnight, it has a habit of leaving you quietly planning your return before you've even landed back at the departure gate. Ready to start planning? Browse the latest hotel availability and flights to TPE and lock in your trip to one of Asia's most exciting cities