Explore Taipei: A Family Guide to 10 Must-See Attractions
We were so fortunate to score an amazing deal on a flight to Taiwan and spent 5 days exploring the capital city, Taipei. It was going to cost the same to do a stopover in Taipei on our way to Japan, as to fly direct to Osaka. Well, we are never ones to miss a good side trip opportunity!
We had no idea what to expect and Taipei completely blew us away! It’s a vibrant city with something for everyone: delicious food, bustling night markets, peaceful nature escapes, coffee culture, fascinating history, and – much to our son’s delight – open spaces, claw machines, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Here are our top 10 picks for family-friendly activities in this captivating capital city:
Iconic Sites
1. Taipei 101 Observatory – Witness the breathtaking panoramic views of Taipei from the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan, shaped like a lucky bamboo stalk! Tickets are NT$600 (approx $27 AUD) for adults to visit the 91st floor, or you can upgrade to visit the 101st floor. The golden damper weight is a must see! Klook offers convenient booking options, potentially saving you time waiting in lines – especially helpful with kids as it is very popular.
Bonus tip – the lines down can also be long! We accidentally timed our trip down with sunset, which worked out beautifully. The line was shorter (as most people stayed on the upper levels for sunset) and as you zig zag through the line you keep coming back alongside the window so are able to get a great view over Taipei as it turns from day to night.
We were also ucky enough to be in Taipei for New Years Eve and were able to see their incredible 360 degree, world famous fireworks display. If you happen to be in Taipei for New Years Eve, be sure to check out it out!
2. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: Immerse yourselves in Taiwanese history at this magnificent complex. Photos don’t do justice to the sheer scale of this landmark! Witness the changing of the guard ceremony (check timings beforehand) and explore the National Theatre and National Concert Hall located within the grounds. The lush gardens provide a peaceful retreat and somewhere for kids to expend some energy. The area often hosts events – worth checking the schedule beforehand.
Green Space and Leisure
3. Elephant Mountain – Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) is Taipei’s most famous hike. This short but moderately difficult trail (unless, like us, you start the wrong hike and have to climb back down and start again..) leads you up to viewpoints with stunning cityscapes, including the iconic Taipei 101. Keep in mind the steep stairs and uneven terrain, so it might not be suitable for very young children.
On our visit, a friendly older local came to chat with us. He ended up coming up the mountain with us, along with his Walkman with his families karaoke version of the Backstreet Boys on repeat!
4. Daan Park – This sprawling urban park offers a nature escape within the city. We were staying in an AirBnB near here so it was a regular visit for us. We particularly enjoyed turtle and bird watching, taking a relaxing walk and chatting with some friendly locals. Our son was kept very happy with the open space, playgrounds and spotting playful squirrels!
5. 228 Peace Park – Explore this historical park dedicated to the 228 Incident, a significant event in Taiwanese history. Use the park map to navigate the serene gardens and memorials. We found the memorials to be really unique and we learnt a lot about the history of Taiwan from this visit (and a fair bit of extra Googling to learn as we explored!)
6. Taipei Botanical Gardens – These gardens were a hidden gem for us. They aren’t the manicured, perfect gardens you might be imagining, but it was a great break from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are 17 different areas and 9 ponds to explore and it is located near the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Art Museum.
We grabbed a fantastic coffee from a little cafe called FF.coffeeholic just down the road on our way in.
Culture and Shopping
7. The Red House – A beautiful historical building, now a vibrant cultural hub, houses exhibitions and events. We enjoyed browsing the market stalls inside and out, soaking up the atmosphere of the Ximending neighbourhood. We found a second story restaurant to sit and people watch the huge crowds from the windows over dinner.
8. Raohe Night Market – Sample endless varieties of Taiwanese street food in this 600m long market. The black pepper buns were a highlight! The crowds were quite intimidating for my son so head there early with kids during peak tourist season, but there were the traditional kids games and claw machines which helped! He also really loved the vibrant fruit stalls and grabbed a bag of rockmelon.
9. Longshan Temple – Literally means Dragon Mountain Temple. It is the most famous temple in Taipei and is visited daily by plenty of locals engaging in their daily prayers. If you are lucky, you might catch a chanting ceremony which happen several times throughout the day.
10. Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola – we missed this one but I felt that it belonged on this list over some of the other things we did. Take a scenic gondola ride up Maokong, a hilltop tea plantation region. The Maokong Gondola offers stunning mountain views and at the top you can explore charming teahouses and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. Pair this gondola adventure with a visit to the renowned Taipei Zoo and its vast array of animals. Visit https://english.zoo.gov.taipei/ for more information.
Additional Tips
Taipei is a fabulous, family friendly city and we can definitely recommend a visit. We can’t wait to get back and explore more of the country.
Transport is very efficient and easy to navigate using the public transport system (MRT). You can pick up an IC card, or there are a range of different options via Klook.
Leave a comment below about your favourite family activity in Taipei! I will share some more in depth posts in the future about transport, accommodation, night food markets, day trips from Taipei and more!
Final bonus tip – bins are hard to come by in Taipei so be prepared to carry your rubbish around with you. We always found train stations a good option for finding a bin!
