Taipei travel guide

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is nestled between the Yangming Mountains and the Central Mountains in the northern part of the island. Auspiciously located on the Danshui River, Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan, and also its most important cultural, financial and industrial centre. The city has a rich, rather short history, and there are many historical sites and monuments left as a legacy from the past. Taipei is a city that can please just about anyone: there are plenty of museums to keep an eager tourist busy for days, parks and recreation areas and a lively nightlife. Taipei manages to harmoniously combine the old and the new, the eastern and the western. Winding streets, traditional houses and small eateries are still an integral part of the city despite the surge of modern shopping malls and skyscrapers. This Taipei Travel Guide offers some basic information about this beautiful eastern capital.

Taipei Travel Guide - Transport

The closest international airport to Taipei is Taoyuan Airport, located at about 30 kilometers from the city. The airport is a hub for China Air, and it is the country’s busiest airport. There are connections to many major cities not only in Asia, but on other continents as well. Taoyuan serves mostly international flights, but it covers a few destinations on mainland China, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen.

If you are already in China, you should probably check out the flight schedule of Songshan Airport, Taipei’s domestic airport, which has connections with Xiamen, Shantou and other cities from the island and the mainland. You can get from the airport to the city centre either by bus, by rail or by taxi. Some buses head straight to the city centre, but others, although slightly cheaper, make several stops along the way. The fastest way by far to get to Taipei is by high speed railway, but you will have to take a bus to Taoyuan high speed rail station. Once you are in the city, you can easily get around using public transport. Taipei is quite large and it might take a while to walk from one landmark to another, so taking the metro is the best option.

Taipei Travel Guide - Accommodation

In recent years, Taipei has become a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers, and there is a wide range of hostels and budget hotels available to visitors. Ever Green Hotel is rather small and not very new, but the rooms are clean and comfortably furnished, and the hotel restaurant is quite good. Taipei Visitor Hostel offers single and double rooms and it has friendly and helpful staff that will gladly give you directions and suggestions for sights worth visiting.

If you are looking for more luxurious accommodation, this Taipei Travel Guide recommends Charming City Hotel, located in the city centre, a spacious establishment decorated in a lush baroque style. Shangri-La Far Eastern Hotel is one of the best five star hotels in the city, but keep in mind that the price reflects the level of comfort offered.