Trips Around the City of Taipei
General Information
The city of Taipei Taipei, the capital of Taiwan Taiwan located in Southeast Asia near China, is a huge, vibrant, and interesting city. The city is located in the north of the island of Taiwan. Taipei has nearly 3 million residents, and together with its surrounding metropolitan area, there are 7 million residents—almost a third of Taiwan's entire population.
For trips in the city of Taipei, read the article: Trips and Attractions in Taipei.
For weather and the recommended visiting season on the island, read the article: Weather and When to Travel in Taiwan.
In the following article, I will describe the recommended destinations for a trip around the city of Taipei, suitable for star trips from Taipei—less than an hour's drive each way, so there is no need to change hotels and you can stay overnight in the city of Taipei.
Recommended Hotels in Taipei
Home Hotel
A modern 5-star hotel in a perfect location near Taipei 101 Tower in an upscale shopping and entertainment area. The hotel features a restaurant, bar, and fitness room. Free internet and parking.
W Taipei
A luxury 5-star hotel also located near Taipei 101 Tower. All stylish guest rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Taipei 101, the surrounding mountains, and Taipei City. The hotel features a beautiful swimming pool, a large gym, and a spa. The hotel also features a popular, high-quality restaurant, a bar, free parking, and free internet.
AMBA Taipei Ximending
A quality 4-star hotel in a central location in the Ximending district, known as the "Times Square" of Taipei. A modern hotel surrounded by bustling pedestrian streets with plenty of young people, restaurants, cafes, shops, cinemas, and more. Free internet, free washers and dryers, large comfortable beds, and a restaurant.
CityInn Hotel Plus - Ximending Branch
A 3-star hotel in the Ximending district, very popular with young people. The hotel offers modern guest rooms with colorful designs and unique artworks. Free internet. The hotel also has family rooms suitable for families of 4-5 people.
Destinations and Attractions Around the City of Taipei
♦ Recommended tours from Taipei to attractions outside the city:
Yehliu Geopark
The special geological park of Yehliu is located 33 km northeast of Taipei. The park is situated on a narrow and long spit of land where the winds and ocean waves eroded the sandstone and created special and interesting rock shapes that earned various nicknames; the most famous is the Queen's Head shape.
There is a group of rocks close to the sea that resemble candles and another group that resembles ginger.
Some of the formations are in the shape of large mushrooms taller than a person. There are also beautiful fossilized seashells.
The site features walking paths, some elevated and on bridges with successful viewpoint spots, but most paths are on and between the rocks. The site is very popular and many tour buses can be seen at the site.
Upon exiting the park, you pass by a food and souvenir market. There is nothing like hot ginger tea after a walk in the park in the winter.
Short video about Yehliu Park:
Shifen Waterfalls
The town of Shifen is located about 30 km east of Taipei. Near it are the Shifen Waterfalls.
From the parking lot, a short and pleasant walking trail starts, passing through 2 suspension bridges to a wide and impressive waterfall.
It is recommended to walk along the trail surrounding the waterfall and view it from several viewpoints, some from above and some from below.
The way to the site passes through two suspension bridges with nice views and of course near a temple next to which are statues and swings. Of course, the site has plenty of food stalls (like everywhere in the country).
Short video about Shifen Waterfalls
Lantern Releasing in Shifen
A popular attraction in the town of Shifen is releasing sky lanterns. On the old street in the town near the railway track between the buildings on the street, many burning lanterns are released into the sky. Visitors to the site write wishes with a brush on all four sides of the giant lantern made of paper or another biodegradable material, and the local operator ignites a fire inside the lantern using a flammable material located at the bottom in the center, which causes hot air to form inside and makes it rise into the sky. Lantern releasing takes place here all hours of the day from morning until late evening.
Once a year, a lantern festival called the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is also held here, where a huge amount of such lanterns are released into the sky. The festival takes place on the 15th of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar and lasts for two weeks. In 2020, for example, the dates are February 8-23.
Video about releasing lanterns in Shifen:
Jiufen
The town of Jiufen is located 35 km east of Taipei near the sea. Gold was discovered in this area in the past, which accelerated the development of the place. The town is famous today for its steep old street which is packed with souvenir and food shops, tea houses, and restaurants. The town is built on a mountain slope and offers a spectacular view of the mountains, the sea, and the bays at its foot.
There is not much parking inside the town. The many tourist buses arriving at the place park at the foot of the town and tourists walk up and down to it, or if they arrive in a smaller vehicle, the driver drops off the passengers on the upper street in the town and the travelers walk down its streets and meet the driver at the foot of the town.
The town is very popular among Japanese tourists mainly because of the special tea houses in the town. The streets are narrow and crowded with tourists even during weekdays.
You can also get from Taipei to the town by train to the nearby city of Ruifang and from there by bus or taxi to Jiufen.
Video about the town of Jiufen:
Yangmingshan National Park
A national park located about ten km north of the city of Taipei. The park is known for its hot sulfur springs and the sulfur smells emanating from them. The park offers viewouts of the city of Taipei and plenty of walking trails.
There are roads in the park that are closed to private cars on Saturdays and Sundays and are only allowed for buses. In the summer for about a month, entry to the entire park is allowed by bus only.
Smoking sulfur pools and walking trails around them can be seen in Sulfur Valley located at the southwestern end of Yangmingshan Park:
Flower Clock Park
A walking and picnic park whose main attraction is the flower clock. Adjacent is a building with souvenir and food shops. On the second floor are exhibits related to the tea industry. The park has a variety of fruit trees, including many cherry trees known for their beautiful blossoms in early spring.
Visiting Chung-shan Building
In a mountainous area in Yangmingshan National Park, near sulfur springs, a large building was established in 1966 with huge halls that once hosted political conferences. Today it is used for state ceremonies and visits as well as various conferences. The picture of the building was featured on the 100 New Taiwan Dollar banknote.
Halls inside Chung-shan Building:
Miniature model of Chung-shan Building:
Qingtiangang Grassland Summit
The site features a visitor center and walking trails in an area characterized by vegetation that is mostly grass due to the altitude of the place. The place is often blanketed in fog due to its height. The temperature here is 8 to 10 degrees lower than in the city of Taipei, so it is advisable to bring warm clothing, a jacket, an umbrella, or a raincoat.
Shiding Thousand Islands Lake
About 30 km southeast of Taipei among the mountains, a wide river meanders, which further down crosses the city of Taipei and is called Tamsui River. Tea fields are cultivated on the slopes around the river.
The site has several spectacular viewpoints overlooking the meandering river combined with the tea fields.
There are also several restaurants in the area where you can view the scenery and drink tea. Downstream from the river, a dam was built and a hydroelectric power plant was established.
Video about Thousand Islands Lake:
♦ Trips in Taipei and Surroundings for Cruise Passengers from Keelung Port
The closest cruise port to Taipei is Keelung Port, located about 20 km northeast of the city of Taipei. From this port, you can book guided tours through Viator both in and outside of Taipei. The following recommended tours include pickup and drop-off at Keelung Port.
♦ Booking tours from Keelung for cruise passengers via Viator: