Hotels in Taipei City

Taiwan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, and it is not surprising why. Its lively traditions, exhilarating diversity, and colourful culture enable Taiwan to have a charm that travellers simply cannot resist. Despite being a highly-technological city, Taipei still retains traces of its colourful history in the form of museums, monuments, and institutions located throughout the city. In fact, Taipei is home to various world-renowned architectural landmarks such as the Taipei 101 Tower, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Ximending, just to name a few.

How to Get There

From Malaysia, the best mode of transportation to travel to Taipei is by taking an international flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. There are many direct and transit flights to Taoyuan International Airport throughout the day, which means that you have the option of choosing the one that best suits your travel plans. The typical duration of a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei should take around 5 hours, provided there are no delays.

Public Transportations Available

As one of the busiest hubs in East Asia, public transport accounts for a substantial portion of the different transportation available in Taiwan. As the capital of the country, Taipei is equipped with an extensive network to facilitate its citizens and travellers to commute around the city and to other parts of Taiwan easily. The public transportation options include the subway, bus, conventional rail, and high-speed rail, with Taipei Station being the central hub that connects all the public transportation networks. It is convenient to travel around Taipei via public transportation in Taipei especially through the EasyCard. The EasyCard is a contactless smartcard which can be used across all modes of public transit as well as in several retail outlets as well.

Taiwan Metro

Also known as the MRT, the Taipei Metro is the main public transport system that is most convenient to travel as a tourist. To differentiate the various lines, they are labelled in three ways: colour, line number, and depot station name. They are known as the Wenhu Line (Brown), Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red), Songshan-Xindian Line (Green), Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange), and Bannan Line (Blue). The metro system currently consists of five lines that covers most areas of central Taipei. There is also a route that links directly to Taoyuan International Airport, enabling you to travel to and from the airport with ease.

Rail

If you wish to travel from Taipei to the west coast and vice versa, then this high-speed train system is the best option to go for. The bullet train connects Taipei with the west coast cities of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying (Kaohsiung) at high speeds, effectively cutting down the travelling duration to these locations.

Bus

The Taipei Joint Bus System is an extensive city bus system that serves the metropolitan areas that are not covered by the metro. It is a good way to explore the city, especially when you are not rushing for time. Moreover, the EasyCard also offers discounted fares on buses, so be sure to take advantage of the lower rates to help you save more as you travel.

Tourist Attractions

Taipei is on the bucket list of many tourists, and for good reason. The city is well-known for preserving its cultural heritage, evident by the commemorative sites, museums, temples, and monuments that you can find throughout the city. Of course, this modern city also boasts its own world-class skyscrapers that befits its status as a metropolitan city.

Liberty Square

Located at Zhongzheng District, Liberty Square is one of the must-visit landmarks in the city for domestic and international tourists alike. This public plaza houses the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which was erected in memory of General Chiang Kai-Shek. At the lower level of the memorial is a library and a museum which documents the life and career of Chiang Kai-shek as well as details of Taiwan’t history and development, while the upper level houses a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek.

The square is flanked by the National Concert Hall on the north and the National Theatre in the south, making it a popular choice for mass gatherings such as outdoor festivals and concerts. This is also the site where the Taipei Lantern Festival is organised. Moreover, the National Theatre and Concert Hall host over 800 events annually.

Ximending

Known as Taipei’s very own “Harajuku”, this pedestrian shopping haven is comprised of a wide array of fashion clothing stores, eclectic restaurants, hip clubs, and bars. In fact, Ximending was founded during the Japanese colonisation era as a recreation district, which eventually grew into a cultural icon with inspiration from its Japanese roots. Located just west of the Taipei Main Station, tourists are able to visit the area easily through public transportation.

Shilin Night Market

Another popular attraction in Taipei that you should not miss is its night markets, and the most famous amongst them is Shilin night market. The night market encompasses up to 539 stalls, with the majority selling food – making it one of the best areas to enjoy Taipei’s street food scene. The most popular delicacies there include fried chicken fillet, oyster omelette, bubble tea, and stinky tofu. The vendors typically begin opening around 4:00pm daily, with crowds reaching their peak between 8:00pm-11:00pm. Tourists are able to travel there via the Taipei Metro, with Jiantan Station (Tamsui-Xinyi Line / Red Line) being the closest platform to the night market.

Where to Stay

Hosting millions of tourists domestically and internationally, there is definitely no shortage of accommodation that suits your personal preference and budget. In fact, the accommodations recommended below are situated strategically near the Taipei Metro network and other public transportation hubs, making them ideal selections for visitors and tourists.

The Okura Prestige Taipei

Planning to splurge on your accommodation? Then there is no better choice than The Okura Prestige Taipei. You’ll be able to enjoy the highest quality service accompanied with extensive facilities such as a health club, an outdoor pool, and guided tours of the city. Staying in this prestigious hotel also gives you quick access to the Taipei Film House and the famous Fuda Dumpling shop – both located only 200m away from the hotel.

Taipei M Hotel, Main Station

Located within walking distance of the Taipei Railway system and the Ximending Shopping Street, the Taipei M Hotel enables you to be right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of this city – making it a suitable choice for budget travellers who also want easy access to the best sights and sounds that Taipei City has to offer. Despite being known as a budget hotel, the hotel offers basic amenities you will require for your stay, while the rooms provided are spacious and clean.

Hotel Fun, Linsen Branch

Another hotel to consider is the budget-friendly Hotel Fun which is located at Linsen N. Road. Apart from the Instagrammable interior, other perks that this hotel enjoys include free buffet breakfast, walking distance to the MRT station, and even free massage chairs! Furthermore, this hotel also enables you to enjoy traditional Chinese and Taiwanese performances at TaipeiEYE, which is less than 10 minutes away by foot. Shin Yeh, one of Taiwan’s most popular restaurants that has been serving authentic Taiwanese cuisine since 1977, is also within walking distance away.