Taipei Travel Guide (2026)
Taiwan's capital and its gateway. The airport is 35 minutes from downtown by MRT, and night markets, hot springs and mountains all sit within an hour on the metro. Prices run below Japan and moving around is simple, so even three nights fills up.
- Recommended stay
- 2-3 nights recommended
- Budget feel
- About KRW 450,000-850,000 per person (excluding flights, 3-star hotel and local meals)
💰 As of 2026, a 3-night Taipei trip for two costs about $815–$1,700 in total, $405–$850 per person. See full cost breakdown →
Food & dining
Shilin and Raohe night markets do the work of a restaurant district. Beef noodle soup and braised pork rice differ shop to shop, while Din Tai Fung's xiaolongbao and the mango shaved ice on Yongkang Street have hardened into fixtures. Bubble tea chains let you set sweetness and ice.
Getting around
The Airport MRT Express reaches Taipei Main Station in 35 minutes from Terminal 1, at NT$160 one way. In town the MRT is dense, and an EasyCard takes 20% off each fare. If you expect six or more rides in a day, the NT$150 MRT day pass wins instead.
Highlights
The Taipei 101 observatory, Shilin Night Market, the old streets of Jiufen, Beitou's hot springs and the National Palace Museum. Yehliu and the Pingxi line make easy day trips.
Places to visit
Itineraries
Taipei Pineapple Cake DIY Guide: Bake Your Own Box of Souvenirs at Kuo Yuan Ye
Pineapple cake DIY workshops have become one of Taipei's signature experiences. The best-known venue is the Shilin branch of Kuo Yuan Ye (郭元益), a pastry...
Taipei 4-Night 5-Day Itinerary: Taipei 101, Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu & Night Markets (AI-Generated Plan)
Pack the best of Taipei into 4 nights and 5 days, Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, Ximending, and Longshan Temple; Din Tai Fung soup dumplings and mango shaved ice on Yongkang Street; the Shilin and Raohe night markets; and day trips out to Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen (release a sky lantern). Split by area, one zone per day, with no wasted backtracking. Plus real-world tips on the MRT and EasyCard, 90-day visa-free entry, must-eat beef noodle soup, lu rou fan, bubble tea, and pineapple cake, and a per-person budget for the whole trip. A Tripop AI plan refined with on-the-ground routing and budget.
Trip cost
Good to know before you go
When is the best time to visit Taipei, and what should I avoid?
October through April is cool and dry and by far the easiest window. June to September pushes towards 35C and is when typhoons concentrate, so travelling then means accepting the risk of losing days outright. February and March are mild but wet enough that an umbrella becomes permanent luggage. Around Lunar New Year many shops and restaurants close for the holiday, so check that year's dates and plan around them.
How do I get from Taoyuan Airport into Taipei?
The Airport MRT Express (purple) is the reliable choice: 35 minutes from Terminal 1 to Taipei Main Station, 39 from Terminal 2, NT$160 one way in 2026, running roughly every 15 minutes. EasyCard and iPASS both work. The blue commuter train costs the same but stops more often and takes around 50 minutes. The MRT stops running late at night, so for a late landing check the Kuo-Kuang airport bus or a taxi instead.
EasyCard or a day pass in Taipei?
An EasyCard takes 20% off every MRT fare and also works on buses, at convenience stores and on YouBike, which makes it the better default. With base fares starting at NT$20, three or four rides a day stays cheaper on the card. The MRT day pass at NT$150 and the 48-hour pass at NT$280 only pull ahead from about six rides in a day. The card deposit is refunded when you return it.
eSIM or physical SIM for Taipei?
An eSIM installed before departure is simplest, at roughly USD 7-10 for a five-day plan in 2026. Buying an unlimited local SIM at the Chunghwa Telecom or Taiwan Mobile counters in Taoyuan arrivals is equally common and costs about the same. Coverage holds across central Taipei and out to Jiufen and Yehliu.
Do I need a visa for Taiwan, and what is the entry process?
Korean, US, UK, Japanese and most EU passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days, but since 1 October 2025 every visa-free arrival must submit the online TWAC (Taiwan Arrival Card). File it within three days of arrival at the immigration agency's own site, twac.immigration.gov.tw. It is free and takes a few minutes. Without it you cannot proceed through immigration, so finish it before you fly. It replaces the old paper arrival card.
How much cash do I need in Taipei? Are cards accepted?
Department stores, chains and convenience stores take cards, but night markets, older restaurants and small shops run on cash, and Taiwan overall still leans that way. Carry NT$3,000-5,000 per person. The MRT and buses are covered by an EasyCard, which you top up with cash at any convenience store. For more cash, the ATMs inside 7-Eleven and FamilyMart accept foreign cards and are easier to find than bank branches.
More city guides
Plan this trip in Tripop
One sentence and AI builds your itinerary, checklist, and budget