Holiday in Taipei

What makes Taipei special as a destination?

Taipei is one of the most exciting metropolises in Asia — a city where ancient temples stand alongside futuristic skyscrapers, steaming night markets coexist with Michelin restaurants, and subtropical mountains reach right to the city limits. The capital of Taiwan combines Chinese tradition, Japanese influences from the colonial era, and an energetic modernity into a unique identity. Taipei 101, until 2007 the tallest building in the world, rises 508 meters into the sky and is a landmark of the city with its bamboo shoot architecture. The observation deck on the 89th floor offers a 360-degree panorama over the Taipei Basin to the surrounding mountains. Inside, a 660-ton damper pendulum swings, stabilizing the building during typhoons and earthquakes. The night markets are the soul of Taipei: The Shilin Night Market, the largest in the city, spans several city blocks and offers hundreds of stalls with street food ranging from Stinky Tofu to Bubble Tea to giant fried chicken legs. The Raohe Night Market is smaller and more authentic, while the Ningxia Night Market focuses on traditional Taiwanese cuisine. The hot springs of Beitou in the north of the city provide a unique experience: volcanically heated sulfur water feeds public and private baths in a green mountainous landscape — reachable in 30 minutes by MRT from downtown. The Beitou Hot Spring Museum, located in a Japanese colonial building, documents the bathing culture since 1913. Longshan Temple, founded in 1738, is the oldest and most impressive temple in Taipei: Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian deities are worshipped together here. The scent of incense sticks, the murmuring of prayers, and the intricate dragon carvings create an atmosphere of deep spirituality.