TaipeiCapital
Taiwan · Country profile
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, a dense, energetic and dramatically set city in the northern basin of the island, ringed by the green mountains and threaded by the great brown river, with the famous tower of the Taipei 101 rising over its centre. The night markets of the city, the largest and the most famous in Asia, spill the street food, the games and the crowds of the evenings, and the museums, the temples and the quiet lanes of the old neighbourhoods hold the deeper culture. The city is clean, safe and superbly served by the metro, and the hot springs, the hills and the coast of the north reach out from the basin. Modern, friendly and endlessly eatable, Taipei is one of the most pleasant capitals of the region.
About Taipei
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. The city's documented population is around 2,500,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) and Chinese is spoken; the dialling code is +886. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
The Night Markets, the Tower and the Basin of the Mountains
Taipei is a compact, hospitable, superbly organised capital, and its fame runs on the night markets, the street food and the great tower of the Taipei 101. The city is easy: the metro covers everything, the English signs are everywhere and the pace is relaxed and friendly. The day trips of the region, the hot springs of the Beitou, the teahouses of the Maokong hills and the coast of the north, all run effortlessly from the basin. It is a city that mixes the modern and the traditional, the temple and the convenience store, and its food, its markets and its general good manners make it one of the most welcoming capitals in Asia.
The Subtropical Seasons, the Metro Card and the Stalls of the Shilin
The weather runs the subtropical cycle, with the comfortable autumn, the mild spring, the hot and humid summer with its storm season, and the cooler, damper winter. The metro is the great transport and a transport card covers the bus, the rail and the convenience stores. The night markets are the essential dining experience and the queues of the famous stalls are very much part of the fun. The temples of the city, the Longshan and the Confucian, ask for the quiet and the respect, and the shoes come off at the entries. The currency is the New Taiwan dollar, cards are widely accepted and the city is safe, orderly and famously polite. The English is limited outside the tourist areas, and a translation app bridges the gap.
The Teahouses, the Springs and the Temples of the Quiet City
The Taipei 101, with its high-speed lift and its observation deck, is the essential tower of the city, best visited at the sunset for the light over the basin. The night markets, from the Shilin to the little ones of the neighbourhoods, are the great food festivals of the evening, and the beef noodle soup, the stinky tofu and the bubble tea are the sacred items of the table. The lush green of the Maokong and the tea houses of its hills, and the hot springs and the public baths of the Beitou, are the classic escapes into the mountains. The memorial halls, the museum of the national palace with its jade and its porcelain, and the temple lanes of the old city fill out the culture. The whole city is friendly, safe and endlessly good to eat in.
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- Country
- Taiwan
- Population
- 2,500,000
- Coordinates
- 25.0777, 121.2328
- Capital
- Taipei
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +886
- Country code
- TW
Entry requirements for Taiwan
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Taiwan for tourism.
Getting to Taipei
Airports we list for Taipei:
Frequently asked questions
Is Taipei the capital of Taiwan?
Yes — Taipei is the capital of Taiwan.
What currency do I need in Taipei?
The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). Languages spoken in Taiwan include Chinese.
What is the dialling code for Taiwan?
The international dialling code for Taiwan is +886.
Which airport should I fly into for Taipei?
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the airport we list for Taipei.
Do I need a visa to visit Taiwan?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Taiwan visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Taipei? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.