Top Things To Do In Taipei

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Local guide posing with tourists on a family tour of Taipei

Top things to do in Taipei

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

Wondering what to do in Taipei?

A kaleidoscope of cultures, with traditional Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and western influences, Taiwan’s capital city is as diverse as its endless list of things to do. Taipei at first glance appears to be a modern metropolis, but the true spirit of the city bubbles below the surface of its futuristic facade. In fact, Taipei can at times feel like an open-air museum with its multitude of Taoist temples dotted amongst towering skyscrapers, museums filled with treasures dating back 5000 years, and old merchant villas transformed into museums or shops. Between the old and new halves of this dynamic city, the things to do in Taipei are anything but ordinary.

Meet some of our Taipei local hosts

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Local guide showing a couple of tourists the city highlights of Taipei

Tangible history

At 300 years old, Taipei is one of the youngest cities in Asia. Even so, the city’s history is remarkable – in its lifetime, Taipei has been a Chinese tea-trading post, a Japanese colony, and a KMT base. Exploring the things to do in Taipei will likely lead you to a wealth of landmarks that illustrate the city’s storied past. From centuries-old Taoist temples to Japanese-era mansions to old merchant villas, the historic sights are embedded in the fabric of the modern city – it’s impossible to separate the two. Today, the things to do in Taipei reflect a city filled with centuries of stories.

Tourists enjoying the view of the city skyline and Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain in Taipei

The great outdoors

Break away from the frenetic city center and you might be surprised to discover pristine wilderness on Taipei’s doorstep. The city’s gorgeous natural surroundings offer a wealth of incredible things to do in Taipei, with cliff-hugging hiking trails through densely forested mountains leading to all sorts of natural wonders. The most memorable things to do in Taipei aren’t limited to inside the city limits, and lovers of the outdoors are spoiled for choice. You could go surfing at a nearby beach, mountain biking through a forested trail, climbing up cliffs, or even hiking among tea plantations.

Local vendor selling fresh fruit at a typical street stall in Taipei

Midnight snacking

When the sun sets, the list of things to do in Taipei gets even longer. The city’s nightlife is buzzing with cool clubs and crowded bars, but you’ll likely find most locals spending their evenings elsewhere. Above all else, dusk signals the start of the city’s iconic night market scene, and crowds descend on the colorful, chaotic, crisscrossing lanes of late-night food markets spilling out onto the streets. If the aromas of local specialties wafting from hundreds of street food stalls are too difficult to ignore, spend your night like the locals do – midnight snacking as a social event.

Taipei travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Taipei and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

My guide Charlotte spoke perfect English and had excellent communication skills following my booking to find out my interests and keep me informed about the tour logistics. She met me in the lobby of my hotel on time and had the day planned out. We used the MRT to get to the locations and then walked. I saw the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, including the changing of the guard and the interesting basement museum and then on to the Bao’An Taoist Temple. We had local snacks along the way and finished the tour at an historical street with all sorts of local products and food. I learned a great deal about Taipei from Charlotte. She is an excellent ambassador for the city.

May 2024

Nancy P
We had a great Taipei city tour with Vila. She is passionate, great communicator, provided us with a lot good information about history and culture. All together an excellent tour. Highly recommended.

May 2024

Elzbieta P
Great tour . Wish I had done this the first day I got here. This personalize tour catered to my needs and interest. My tour guide was excellent, easy to talk , very knowledgeable and would recommend her to any solo travelers.

April 2024

Peggy P
Vila enquires about your interests and then gives you several options to choose from. She adapts easily to any issues (I.e weather , traffic , etc ) and ensures that the activities are to your liking . I would recommend Vila to any new travelers to Taiwan especially solo travelers..

April 2024

Peggy P