Taipei & Keelung
Taipei & Keelung at a Glance
What it's like
Northern Taiwan (Taipei/New Taipei/Keelung) is the hub of Taiwan travel: the main international gateway, with the highest density of night markets and top-tier attractions like the National Palace Museum. It works well as the first stop of a round-island trip, or as a standalone 3-5 day in-depth city visit.
Good for
Ideal for first-time visitors to Taiwan, food and night market lovers, and families (MRT-friendly, with a high proportion of indoor attractions); if you're after remote mountain and coastal scenery, consider splitting half your time between Yilan/Hualien/Taitung or the outlying islands.
Suggested days
3-4 days for the city highlights; 5 days recommended if adding day trips to nearby spots like Jiufen and Pingxi.
Best season
October-November and March-April are dry, mild, and the most comfortable; December-February is damp, cold, and rainy due to the northeast monsoon (especially noticeable in Keelung and along the north coast), so pack rain gear and a windproof jacket; avoid the May-June plum rain season and the July-September typhoon season.
Getting around
From Taoyuan Airport to the city: the Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in about 40 minutes; within the city, the MRT plus YouBike covers most attractions; for nearby spots like Jiufen and Pingxi, taking the TRA train with a bus connection or hiring a private car is easiest.
Things to note
Night markets are mostly cash-only, so bring small change; the National Palace Museum and Jiufen get very crowded on weekends and holidays—visit on weekdays if possible; scooters and pedestrians share the roads, so watch for right-turning traffic when crossing the street.
Wulai Log Cart
Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area
Neidong National Forest Recreation Area
Zhengbin Fishing Harbor Colorful Houses
Mangrove Ecology Education Center
Places to Stay
Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei
The Landis Taipei
Grand View Resort Beitou
Palais de Chine Hotel
Grand Hyatt Taipei
Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel
Local Eats
Bonjour Bakery (朋廚烘焙坊)
Ren'ai Market
Badouzi Tourist Fishing Port
Heping Island Tourist Fish Market
Keelung Miaokou Night Market
Jinxing Malao (金興蔴粩), Keelung Miaokou
Events
Metal Craft in Flux: Where Tradition Meets the Contemporary
Our Lives with the Sea: Taiwan–Korea Maritime Culture Exchange Special Exhibition
The Golden Eagle Returns: Longxingge Glove Puppetry Special Exhibition
2026 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival
2026 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival Series
2026 Xinzhuang Great Shows
FAQ
What's the most convenient way to get from Taipei to Jiufen?
Taking the TRA train to Ruifang and transferring to a bus is the cheapest option; for groups, a chartered car saves the most time and can be combined with sky lantern release in Pingxi.
What is the easiest way to get from Taipei to Jiufen?
Taking the TRA train to Ruifang and transferring to a bus is the cheapest; for groups, a private charter saves the most time and can include releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi.
Is 4 days enough for an independent trip to Taipei?
4 days is enough for the city's key attractions (Ximending, the National Palace Museum, Xinyi District); extend to 5 days if you want to add nearby trips like Jiufen/Pingxi.
Is Taipei suitable for traveling with seniors and kids?
Very suitable — the metro has excellent accessibility, many attractions are indoors, and both the night markets and the National Palace Museum appeal to all ages.