By Taipei is a very proud global city. It features countless travel attractions drawing in visitors from every corner of the world. You can enjoy various stunning views, enjoy the culture, relax at incredible spas, and so much more.
If you are a first-time visitor, you want to seriously consider the following four top destinations. They are so easily accessible through Cathay pacific routes like London to Taipei.
Taipei 101
At 101 floors high, it towers over Taipei’s capital city – making it easy to spot from far away and acting as a landmark when exploring on foot. Some believe its design resembles bamboo with 8 sections (an auspicious number in Chinese culture); others see resemblance with Western-style Chinese food takeout boxes popular here in Taiwan due to their convenience of use when carrying food takeout orders are popularly carried around by residents.
Lower aboveground levels feature a luxury atrium mall, while floors above serve as office space and public observatories. An outdoor observatory on Floor 91 is open to the public while special tours may access an indoor observatory on Floor 90 for viewing large-scale buildings around the world; tours provide free audio guides in eleven languages as well as high-powered field glasses, snacks and professional photography services for learning more about building design and construction at this public observatory.
Taipei 101’s New Year fireworks display draws crowds of thousands each year to the streets around it, drawing thousands upon thousands of visitors who watch its impressive fireworks shoot out and above its structure, creating a breathtaking spectacle that begins around midnight during New Year’s countdown and continues for several minutes thereafter. Although the tower itself closes during this show, you can still view from nearby Taipei City Hall Plaza or Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.
If fireworks aren’t your thing, the tower offers plenty of other activities as well. Dining with a view is one such activity – Diamond Tony’s Steakhouse can be found on 85F while A Joy Xiang provides five-star all-you-can-eat buffet service on 86F. Plus there’s the mall itself; featuring plenty of upscale shops as well as food courts and weekend bazaars with unique souvenirs available on its lower level – plus there is even an underground electronic store!
National Palace Museum
Modern technology is employed throughout to display this incredible collection and enhance visitors’ museum experiences. Although you are welcome to tour without guide, audio tours provide much greater insight into object histories and context.
Once your museum tour is over, head to Taipei’s Zhishan Garden to relax with a cup of tea in one of Taipei’s most visited attractions – often filled with tourists! Free entry offers a pleasant respite from bustling city streets outside.
Museum of World Religions in Yonghe is another lesser-known but worthwhile museum, housing miniature models of temples, cathedrals and other religious buildings from all around the world. While not as impressive as Museum of Miniatures, this is an easy and fun way for kids to learn about world religions in an engaging way.
The Museum of World Religions can be reached in approximately 15 minutes by walking from either Dingxi or Yonan Market MRT stations on the orange line, as well as via bus.
If you want to avoid the usual tourist crowds at the National Palace Museum, try timing your visit so it ends by nightfall and head straight over to Shilin Night Market for street-side snacking and shopping. Or take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line metro train and head directly over to Beitou after your museum tour, with its hot springs. Or book one of Taipei Experience Tour’s all-inclusive day trips; this way both transportation and entry into the museum will be handled for you!
Shilin Night Market
Avoid crowds and have an enjoyable night market experience by visiting on weekdays. Maokong was once known for its tea plantations, so you’ll find winding footpaths to explore, teahouses and cafes to visit, stunning city lights glimmering at night… all things you’d find during an enjoyable visit to Maokong night market.
One unique and memorable way to explore the city by night is via Maokong Gondola, an unforgettable ride that whisks passengers up Maokong Mountain for stunning panoramic views of the city below. While expensive, this experience will remain memorable.
This museum is an invaluable source of Chinese culture and history, housed in a classic building featuring green tiles on yellow walls. Notable exhibits at this museum include its impressive jadeite cabbage carving and meat-shaped stone, as well as many rare treasures that can be purchased online in advance to save time at the entrance gate.
To reach the National Palace Museum, the easiest and fastest way is via Tamsui-Xinyi Line or red line and getting off at Jiantan Station – then walk two minutes towards Jiantan Night Market! Additionally, combined tickets may also be purchased which cover both museums in an efficient manner if time is of essence and you want to visit both attractions at once.
Taipei Zoo
Indoor and outdoor exhibition areas divide this zoo into three zones. Nearest the main entrance lies the Children’s Zoo, offering close encounters with domesticated animals like ponies and rabbits as well as an insectarium and koala house. If you want a glimpse of Taiwanese wildlife such as black bears or Formosan rock macaques visit Formosan Animal Area while for something different try Penguin House which boasts both King and Jackass penguins to simulate tropical rainforest environments.
Most visitors to zoos come for one main purpose – seeing the resident panda family! Arriving early often allows visitors to get up close enough for photographs with these cubs. Furthermore, the Panda House provides invaluable education about pandas’ delicate existence as endangered animals while helping you understand how best to support their survival efforts.
Other animals on display at the zoo include eastern grey kangaroos, emus and southern cassowaries; Queensland’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has provided two koalas that visitors can get close to. A huge netted space called Bird World allows visitors to walk through and watch birds flying, eating and behaving naturally as you stroll by; fruit feeders encourage closer observation by the birds.
The zoo features an impressive collection of plants as part of its mission to conserve biodiversity. Visitors can stroll through botanical gardens or visit greenhouses that house an array of species from across different nations. If visitors are particularly passionate about plants, guided tours are available – for more information regarding conservation initiatives check the website of the zoo.
