Bagintravel
Download
Taipei

Taiwan travel guide

What to see in Taipei

The capital of night markets and temples, with Taipei 101 and hot springs on the outskirts.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to June and from November to January
  • Typical food: Gua bao
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

Taipei highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Taipei 101

    A viewpoint up on the cliff.

  2. Longshan Temple

    The most famous in the city.

  3. Shilin Night Market

    The largest.

  4. National Palace Museum

    Chinese imperial treasures.

  5. Elephant Mountain

    A view of Taipei 101 at sunset.

Day trips from Taipei

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Taipei

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Taipei are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from July to September

    Typhoon season

    In July, August and September typhoons can pass through: transport and outdoor attractions close for a day or two.

    What to do: Leave a flexible day and check the local weather warnings.

  • from July to September

    Typhoons

    From July to September typhoons can arrive and stop trains and flights for a couple of days.

    What to do: October, November and spring are the best times.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

Typical food of Taipei

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Taipei from your kitchen).

Gua bao
Photo: LeoAlmighty · CC BY 2.0

Gua bao

The “Taiwanese burger”: a steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, pickled greens, peanut powder and coriander. It’s eaten at Taipei’s night markets.

  • Serves 6
  • 3 h

Ingredients

  • Dough: 300 g flour, 4 g yeast, 30 g sugar, 160 ml lukewarm milk, 1 tablespoon of oil
  • 600 g pork belly in thick slices
  • 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 of rice wine, 1 of sugar and 1 star anise
  • Pickled mustard greens (or pickled cabbage)
  • Toasted peanuts ground with sugar
  • Coriander

How to make it at home

  1. Braise the pork belly with the soy sauce, wine, sugar, star anise and water to cover, over a low heat for 1½ hours.
  2. Knead the dough ingredients, leave to rise for 1 hour, divide into 12, roll into ovals and fold in half with a little oil in between.
  3. Leave to rise for 20 minutes and steam for 10 minutes.
  4. Open each bun and fill with pork belly, pickled greens, sugared peanuts and coriander.
  5. Serve them hot.

The trick: A square of baking paper under each bun stops them sticking to the steamer.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a night market. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Taiwan guide.

Frequently asked questions about Taipei

What to see in Taipei?

Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, Shilin Night Market, National Palace Museum and Elephant Mountain.

What to see in Taipei in one day?

Don’t miss Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, Shilin Night Market, National Palace Museum and Elephant Mountain. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Taipei?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Taipei are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

What day trips can you take from Taipei?

Jiufen and Pingxi.

What is the typical food of Taipei?

Gua bao. The “Taiwanese burger”: a steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, pickled greens, peanut powder and coriander. It’s eaten at Taipei’s night markets.

Bagintravel · We travel together

Shall we plan your trip to Taipei?

Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

The app is currently available in Spanish.

Download Bagintravel See how it works

More in Taiwan

Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.