Taipei Travel Essentials

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"The complete experience"

Taipei Tourism

Capital of Taiwan, Taipei is the city where the government of the Republic of China shifted after the revolution in 1949. Today, it has developed by leaps and bounds, becoming an all encompassing tourist destination and also home to the world's 8th tallest building, the Taipei 101.

Taiwan as a country has for long been subjected to takeover bids by China. It is often regarded as a renegade province of China and Taipei is it's single most important city. Taipei has been the centre of massive development throughout the 20th century and today the city is a proper metropolitan. As a visitor, you will find Taipei's vibe mostly young and energetic. People in this city are hardworking and honest. They are very welcoming to tourists and are known to help out to the best of their abilities. This is made even better by the fact that the city has so many things to do! It is full of museums, historical monuments, beautiful gardens and age-old temples. There are tons of famous places to shop, with a buzzing atmosphere and people everywhere, such as the famous Shilin Night Market and Ximending. Even the party scene in Taipei is always on! Taipei is also home to the Taipei 101, which at 508 metres tall is the world's 8th tallest building. It has a popular shopping mall, as well as stunning views from its observation decks. And if you're looking for a day or two of pure relaxation, visit Beitou. It's picturesque greenery and soothing hot springs will take all your tensions away, making Taipei the complete experience!

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Exchanging Money in Taipei

There are several money changers throughout the city, especially in areas like the main station and Ximending. Even banks change currency and are usually the most used form of currency exchange as they give the best rates.

Shopping in Taipei

Taipei is a shopper's paradise. There are so many bustling markets and popular night markets that you'll be absolutely spoilt for choice. Ximending area is a favourite for shopping among the locals and tourists, and Shilin is the biggest night market of the city. The streets in Wahua are also lined with loads of shops. Even shopping malls are present all over the city, like the Taipei 101 and the Bellavita Shopping Mall only to name a few.

Nightlife in Taipei

Nightlife in Taipei is actually quite super! Taipei has several nightclubs and bars which will make your night outs in Taipei memorable. Some of the most popular nightclubs in the city are Myst, OMNI, Room 18 and Luxy, constantly vying for the top stop. Other really good places are Lava Club and Elektro. And these are just a few of them, so you can very well assume that your nights won't be a let down!

History of Taipei

Taipei was initially settled upon by the Ketagalans. Soon, in the 17th and 18th century, there was a major influx of immigrants from China, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty. It became the capital of the province of Taiwan in 1894. The very next year, Japan acquired Taipei as a condition of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, after the first Sino-Japanese war, hence the Japanese culture which still has it's essence in the city today. Under the Japanese rulers however, Taipei was greatly developed, as the Japanese firmly believed in physical progress. After the Japanese surrender after WW II in 1945, Taiwan was given back to the Republic of China. After the revolution in China, the government of the Republic of China shifted to Taipei and declared it their capital in 1949. In 1990, the military rule of Taiwan was finally broken by a huge movement, carried forward by the country's students and since then the city is the seat of the democratic government of Taiwan.

Language of Taipei

The official language of Taipei is Standard Mandarin Chinese. It is widely used and spoken in the city. You will find that a large section of school students speak English. English and Japanese are popular foreign languages in Taipei.

Taipei Customs

In Taiwan, people rarely shake hands. A simple nod of the head and a 'Hello' is enough. Trying to shake hands might land you in an awkward situation. You'll also notice they smile a lot, and that is because they are very polite people. Another thing to be careful about is not to leave your chopsticks upright in your food while eating, as this is done for food left for the dead. Tipping in Taipei isn't considered necessary or expected. You can always tip your porter at the hotel if you'd like, or the waiter if you find that your service was exceptional.

Religion of Taipei

Buddhism is the largest religion in Taipei.

Daily Budget for Taipei

Prices and expenses in Taipei are not very expensive. Expenditure depends mostly on where you eat, how many attractions you visit, if you go for parties etc. A low end budget should lie around TWD 1500 - 2000, a mid range budget in the range of TWD 2500 - 3500, and a high end budget can start around TWD 5000 - 6000 and above.

Currency in Taipei

New Taiwan Dollar is the only currency accepted in Taipei. Visa and MasterCards are accepted. However, it is best to stick to using cash in the city to avoid any chance of fraud.

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FAQs on Taipei

What are the places near Taipei?

The top places near to Taipei are Shanghai which is 689 km from Taipei, London which is located 9788 km from Taipei, Dubai which is located 6601 km from Taipei, Amsterdam which is located 9456 km from Taipei, New york city which is located 12533 km from Taipei

What are the things to do in Taipei?

The top things to do in Taipei are National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Chaing Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Ximending, Longshan Temple, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. You can see all the places to visit in Taipei here

What are the top hotels in Taipei?

There are 935 in Taipei which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Taipei are JM inn, 3 Bedrooms+1 Study room (Near Taipei 101 and MRT), HaHaCat Apartment, LUXURY N HOUSE, Ba Yi, SongShan Luxury Baroque. You can see all the hotels in Taipei here

What is the local food in Taipei?

Food in Taipei is available in all cuisines. Taipei is a very modern city and as such has restaurants catering to all the tastes.The island nation's local cuisine includes seafood and other poultry in a lot of it's dishes. Rice is also eaten a lot here. The influence of Chinese cuisine cannot be denied and plays a major role in the traditional flavours of Taiwanese food in general. Taiwanese sausages are a popular street food here in Taipei which you should definitely try. The Gua bao is a snack which usually has a pork belly with seasonings stuffed in a soft flat bread. The oyster omelette is one of the city's favourite seafood specialities. Other local specialities include the hotpot and the beef noodle soup.
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What is the best time to visit Taipei?

March-May and September-November is the best time to visit Taipei. Taipei is usually underrated by the Western travellers, but very few actually know about the beauty of this place. The magnificent Taiwanese architecture, the historic temples, the national parks and some of the most beautiful unexplored beaches encompass Taipei, one of the most loved cities in Taiwan. The spring season in Taipei is sunny and yet comfortable for exploring the places during day time. The spring months falls under the peak season and hence, the streets and other public places will be usually filled with tourists. May, however, gets a fair share of rainfall. Again, the autumn months of September-November is absolutely stunning in Taipei. The weather is cold and balmy. Also, there’s very little to no rainfall during this time and it’s great for outdoor activities. July and August are the wettest months in Taipei and there are high chances of Typhoon as well.
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