Although Taipei is one of Asia’s most compact capitals, it’s still surprisingly easy to get lost when exploring this beautiful city, famous for the forested hills that surround it, and the sky-scraping buildings that tower over its temples, night markets and museums.
Use our guide to Taipei's neighborhoods to explore beyond the center without losing track of where you are and what delights await you.
Say hello to one of Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods. Dadaocheng is a wonderful tangle of narrow streets full of beautiful architecture, family-fun businesses and heritage sites. Chief among them is Museum 207, a former private home that has been filled with artifacts intended to provide insight into Taipei’s history.
Dihua Street, which runs north to south, is the neighborhood’s main artery (and Taipei’s oldest street). Head here for a reminder that the city was once at the forefront of the export trade. Although most of the tea factories and tea shops that lined this road are now gone, several remain, wedged alongside independent stores specializing in everything from pottery to art.
Beitou, Taipei’s northernmost district, is a wonderfully wild neighborhood easily accessible from the city center. It’s where you’ll find the country’s only metro-accessible hot springs (you’ll need to take the Tamsui–Xinyi line to get there), nestled at the base of the mountains that fill Yangminshan National Park. The park is dominated by Qixingshan, a dormant volcano.
Don’t miss the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, with its 800kg (about 1760lb) chunk of Beitou stone (famous for its white, diamond-shaped crystals) and make sure you take the time to bathe, too. Image-based information boards explain the etiquette, but in summary, you’ll need to get naked.
We also recommend visiting Thermal Valley, a short walk from the metro station. A steamy – and admittedly stinky – area filled with steam-belching hot springs, the valley has a network of walking trails that weaves around the sulfur pools.
A city center neighborhood often compared to Tokyo’s Harajuku district, Ximending is where you’ll find everything from cosplay cafés and street art to luxury hotels and some of the city’s best independent boutiques. It’s also a major nightlife hub; head to bars like Hanko 60 or Geography Bar & Café to sip cocktails and people-watch.
But most people come to shop. Ximending is often referred to as Taipei’s arts district, and its hub is the historic Red House, filled with independent arts and crafts stores. On the weekend, it’s the setting for a brilliant market. Love stylish sneakers? You’ll find Taipei’s best trainer stores here, including ABC-Mart, which specializes in limited editions.
When it’s time to refuel, we recommend Snow King, where you can try
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A watch was assembled for the first time at an altitude of over 30,000 ft, thanks to a unique collaboration between Geneva Tourism and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). A groundbreaking collaboration between Geneva Tourism, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), and SWISS has emerged to celebrate Swiss quality and craftsmanship. At a cruising altitude of 30,000 ft, a watch was meticulously assembled during an unexpected watchmaking workshop on SWISS airline’s Geneva to New York flight, showcasing the precision, craftsmanship, and watchmaking expertise of Geneva. The assembly was carried out by a flight crew member, accompanied by an independent master watchmaker. This unique and unprecedented watch will be unveiled alongside the 84 watches from the official pre-selection of the GPHG traveling exhibition in New York, where standing it will stand as a testament to Swiss excellence. Adrien Genier, Director of Geneva Tourism and member of the GPHG Foundation Board, who was attending the flight, explained the project’s genesis: “As the capital of fine watchmaking, Geneva shines the light on the entire industry worldwide. This one-of-a-kind precision endeavor allows us to take this craftsmanship on a journey.” Romain Vetter, SWISS Director for Western Switzerland, added, “Assembling a watch at 30,000 ft altitude is a fusion of two sectors that represent Swiss quality and reliability. SWISS is thrilled to enable this high-flying assembly.”