Taipei is made up of twelve distinct districts, the most popular with tourists are the Beitou district, famous for its hot mineral springs and bathhouses and the Shilin district, the oldest section of Taipei that is the home of the magnificent National Palace Museum, as well as the 'expat ghetto' of Tianmu.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Taipei is in Autumn, when the temperature hovers around a mild 20 degrees Celsius, and the typhoons of Spring are avoided. Getting around the city is easy using the Metro (or MRT). The network is clean, safe and efficient and although the zones can be a little confusing, the inexpensive multi-use Smartcard (around NT$5,000) make mistakes a cheap learning tool. The taxi system is also inexpensive and safe, with regulations governing the strict standardization of meters. Remember that night journeys attract an extra NT$20 charge and to take your destination written in Chinese as the cab drivers will speak no English.
Places to See
Monuments to the past are everywhere in Taipei. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built in honor of the 'founding father' of Taiwan. As well as the magnificent architecture, there is also a nineteen-feet tall bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, flanked by guards reminiscent of the completely still guards at London's Buckingham Palace.
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is the icon of Taipei and Taiwan. The Hall also includes a museum dedicated to life of Chiang. Get there before dawn and you can participate in the daily Tai-Chi session held by locals in the grounds.
Outdoor Attractions
Public spaces are well maintained and well used. The Hua Shan Cultural and Creative Industry Center is host to theater productions and open-air performances in a kind of amphitheater, as well as eateries and playgrounds for the kids.
Near the Shandoa Temple is the Taipei Artists Village, a retreat for creative minds from around the globe. During business hours on weekdays, the Village is open to the public and there are couple of good cafes to break the day up nicely.
Taiwan Storyland
Taiwan Storyland is a combination of theme park and cultural center, with a recreated old-world village that is open to the public in a hands-on display of early Taiwanese life.
One of the best, and smallest, museums in the city is the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan. This is a private museum, owned and run by an obsessive miniatures-maker, and the top attraction is the chandelier, a forty-bulb work of art slightly smaller than a grain of rice.
Hot Springs
Taipei is known for its hot springs and almost all hotels will offer spa facilities. There are numerous public baths too, although ettiquette is strict and for hygiene reasons nudity is compulsory (except in mixed-sex bathing areas), hair must be kept tied up and a thorough shower before and after bathing is required. Wulai, Beitou and the Yangmingshan National Park are the three most popular bathing facilities.
Hotels
Hotels in Taipei tend to be inexpensive, clean and very comfortable. Well-appointed rooms (with all the standard facilities like private bathrooms) sell for around $60 per night, for two people.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Taipei.
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