Taipei has a semi-tropical climate characterized by hot and humid weather. The most comfortable season to visit is the fall, when the rainfall is at its lowest and the temperatures average a pleasant mid 20 °C. February to April are particularly damp with little sunlight, while the summers can be very hot and humid, but often punctuated by heavy thunder showers. Taipei is prone to typhoons from May to October, though the highest concentrations are in August and September.

Summer temperatures average around34 °C (93 °F) during the day, sometimes climbing up to36 °C (97 °F) or higher, and typically around27 °C (81 °F) at night, with some nights around28 °C (82 °F). The humidity can make these summer temperatures feel much hotter, it typically feels like40 °C (104 °F) during the day and29 °C (84 °F) under average humidity levels. The hottest, most humid days of the summer can feel like48 °C (118 °F) and35 °C (95 °F) at night, in cases of extreme humidity and heat.

Winters can be quite chilly, with temperatures occasionally falling below10 °C (50 °F) at night, though snowfall has never been known to occur except on very rare occasions at higher elevations in Yangmingshan National Park. Winter sunrises and sunsets occur at 06:40 and 17:05 respectively, but extend up to 05:05 and 18:45 in the summer months.

• Taiwan Tourism Bureau – The official Tourism Bureau website.
• Taipei Travel Net – The official travel guide from the Taipei City Government.

All inter-city trains, operated by theTaiwan Railway Administration (臺鐵) andTaiwan High Speed Rail (臺灣高鐵), arrive at and depart from25.0478121.51715Taipei Railway Station on Zhongxiao West Road, Sec 1 - opposite the 53 story Shinkong Mitsukoshi Building (新光三越). Taipei Main Station is a huge facility. Ticket counters are on the first floor and platforms on B2. There is also a food court on the second floor, several underground shopping malls, and directly connects to Taipei Main Station on the Taipei Metro which is served by Tamsui (Red) line and Bannan (Blue) line. In addition to ticket counters, the first floor also has a tourist office, a post office, stores selling aboriginal handicrafts and several booths offering head and neck and full body massage (NT$100 for every ten minutes).

There are also three other train stations in Taipei city. Wanhua Station (萬華車站) is in the south-western part of the city and is within walking distance of MRT Longshan Temple Station and is only served by local trains. Songshan Station (松山車站) is close to Raohe Street Night Market and all trains operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration stop at the station. Nangang Station (南港車站) is on the eastern end of the city and is served by local trains and some express trains. It is directly connected to Nangang Station on Taipei Metro's Bannan (Blue) line and the Taiwan High Speed Rail is expected to operate into the station by the beginning of 2015.All train stations in Taipei city accept Easy Cards to enter the station in addition to tickets bought at the vending machines or counters.

The THSR stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible car (wider doors, ample space, accessible bathroom). The official English guide for online reservations distinguishes between "senior or disabled tickets" and "handicap-friendly seats"; while it's possible to buy a ticket for the former online ("correct passenger ID" required), a ticket for the latter has to be reserved by calling the ticketing office on the phone.

Intercity buses arrive and depart from the25.0491121.51866Taipei Bus Station, which is on Chengde Road, behind Taipei Main Station. Generally speaking, the buses operated by private companies are more comfortable and sport such amenities as wide reclining seats and individual game and video monitors. The government run buses are blue and white and are calledguóguāng hào (國光號). All intercity buses are known askèyùn (客運) and can be distinguished from the local city buses calledgōngchē (公車) by the fact that they do not have a route number, but only the name of the destination.

CSF^{[dead link]} operates fast ferries (about 3 hr) fromPingtan in mainland China to Taipei (actuallyBali District in New Taipei) and back. As of Feb 2019, the Taipei-Pingtan-Taipei route runs Tu W F and Sa (full schedule^{[dead link]}). Adult fares for non-Taiwan citizens start at NT$3,000/5,300 one-way/round-trip if purchased in advance (fare table^{[dead link]}), a couple hundred more if purchased at the pier (fare table^{[dead link]}). Fares are cheaper for Taiwan/ROC citizens (advance^{[dead link]} /pier^{[dead link]}).

Taipei City has a very clean, efficient and safeMass Rapid Transit system known most commonly as theMRT, but also calledMetro Taipei (臺北捷運). Fares are between NT$20 and NT$65 for one-way trips around town. It has been widely lauded as one of the most reliable and efficient systems in the world, and is often cited as a gold standard to which Metro systems around the world should aspire to. Stations are clearly identified in English as well as Chinese. All stops are announced in four languages: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. All stations have information booth/ticket offices close to the ticket vending machines. There is no eating or drinking while in the stations or on the trains. There are priority seats. If you need a seat, there are stickers offered at the information booth that allow passengers to identify those in need. Trains generally run from 06:00 to 00:00, with convenient bus connections outside the stations.

Women and/or children traveling at night can benefit from theSafe Zones - sections of platforms that are under heavy surveillance - in some of the subway lines. Stations and trains (including the monorail) are wheelchair-friendly, but when there are multiple exits from a single station, usually only one of these is equipped with a lift. All trains havepriority seats (博愛座bó ài zuò) that have a dark blue colour distinct from that of the other seats; these are reserved for the elderly, disabled people, pregnant women and women carrying young children, so do not sit in them unless one of those situations applies to you.

You can use credit cards to tap in and out at the barriers, or you can purchase single journey tickets or theEasyCard (oryouyouka, as in 'yo-yo-ka', also 悠遊卡) from a vending machine. The vending machines do not accept credit cards. EasyCard vending machines charge $500 for a card including $400 of ride credit and a $100 non-refundable card fee. Unused credit can be refunded at the end of your trip. EasyCard vending machines do not accept notes greater than $500 and do not give change. Single journey vending machines only give change as coins. One advantage of using EasyCard is it gives you a 20% discount on all MRT rides, and if you transfer from the MRT to an ordinary city bus, or vice versa, within an hour, the bus ride is only NT$7. The discount is automatically calculated when you leave the MRT station. It is also possible to buy day cards just for the metro system for NT$200 (refundable deposit of NT$50) and for NT$180 you can buy a card that works on both the metro and buses. Alternatively, the Taipei Pass costs NT$250 (no deposit) and covers travel on the metro and Maokong Gondola for one day, which is cheap and convenient if you take at least six trips.

Often limited-edition cards are issued by the transit authority depicting artworks, famous characters, landscapes, etc. These are quite collectible and are perfect souvenirs for your trip. Single-journey tokens are recycled when you exit the stations, so if you want to keep a particular one you should purchase an extra.

If you're coming from southern Taiwan,Kaohsiung's iPass can be used interchangeably with the EasyCard in Taipei.

When using escalators, be sure tostand on the right so people in a hurry can pass you on the left.

Taipei City has avery efficient bus service^{[dead link]}, and because all buses display information (destination and the names of stops) in English, the system is very accessible to non-Chinese speaking visitors. Payment can be made by cash (NT$15) or EasyCard (seeTaiwan#Get around) for each section that the bus passes through. For local buses (all local buses have a number, so do long-distance buses) the maximum will be two sections with a total cost of NT$45. The confusion, however, arises by not knowing where the section boundaries are, and the fact that there is often a buffer zone to prevent people who get on one stop before the boundary from overpayment. Besides that, if you are transferring from the MRT to a bus within one hour, there is a discounted bus fare when using the EasyCard, and vice versa, see#By metro.

Riders paying by cash must always pay when boarding the bus. No change is provided. Riders paying by EasyCard must tapon and off when entering/exiting the bus. The EasyCard system will automatically calculate the number of zones travelled and deduct this from your card balance. Failure to tap your EasyCard upon exiting the bus will not lock your card; however, you will not receive the MRT, bus, or YouBike transfer discount.

Taxis are the most flexible way to get around, and are extremely numerous. They are expensive in comparison to mass transit, but are cheap compared to taxis in the rest of the world. Taxis are metered, with the meter starting at NT$70 (an additional NT$20 is added at night). Most taxi drivers cannot speak English, and non-Chinese speakers will need to have their destination written down in Chinese.Tipping is neither necessary nor expected.

All passengers are required to buckle their seatbelt. Women or children traveling at night are advised to use one of the reputable taxi companies. The toll free taxi hotline is 0800-055850 (maintained by Department of Transportation).

Taiwanese taxi drivers tend to be more honest than in many other countries. They are notorious for their strong opinions on politics. A large majority of them support Taiwan independence as they spend all day listening to talk radio. They will probably be unable to share any of this with you if you do not speak Chinese. Avoid any potential political discussion.

Lone women traveling at night should not hail a random taxi from the street. It is best to have the number of one of the bigger taxi companies and to call for a cab.

Uber operates in Taipei, but only taxi license holders are allowed to drive for Uber, making it no cheaper than taking regular taxis. It is, however, an excellent way to avoid the language barrier.

Even though motorized traffic is very heavy in Taipei, bicycles are still legitimate vehicles to get around. There are long cycle paths beside most rivers in the city. Bicycles can also be carried on the Taipei metro but only at Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays and via some stations. Bicycles aren't permitted in larger interchange stations such as Taipei Main Station and Zhongxiao Fuxing, and bicycles are only permitted in the first and last carriages. Properly packaged folded bicycles are exempt from the restrictions upon ordinary bicycles. There are not many segregated bike lanes but on some busy streets cycling on the pavement (sidewalk) is permitted where signed or marked, as in Japan.

Taipei has a great bike sharing system:YouBike. It is very cheap if you register through their site or via large touch panel screen at major parking stations but you need a local mobile number to have a 4 number code sent to it to prove it's yours. The first half hour is NT$5, which is enough for most every ride you need, then additional half hours are charged at NT$10. You useEasyCard oriPass (the same as for the subway and buses) to rent them. It's all very easy and the bikes are modern and convenient. Check each bicycle for defects before you use them; bike seats are turned backwards to signal some form of maintenance is required. You can't take another bike from the same parking station for 15 minutes after parking. A very useful smart phone app calledbikefriend shows where each Youbike bike station is located and how many bikes or parking spots are available.

Renting a car is not only unnecessary, but not recommended in Taipei unless you are planning to head out of the city. Traffic tends to be frantic, and parking spaces are expensive and difficult to find. Most of the main tourist destinations are reachable by public transport, and you should use that as your main mode of travel.

The Taipei address system is very logical and user-friendly. The hub of the city is the corner of the east–west running Zhongxiao (忠孝) and north–south running Zhongshan (中山) Rds, however while the north–south divide is made at Zhongxiao here, further east it is made instead at Bade (八德) Rd, something which confuses even people who have lived in Taipei for years. All major roads are identified by their direction in relation to these roads. For example, all sections of the north–south running Fuxing (復興) Rd north of Bade are called Fuxing North Rd (復興北路). Likewise, those sections to the south are called Fuxing South Rd (復興南路). Those that cross Zhongshan road are similarly identified as either east or west. Section (段; duàn) numbers begin at 'one' near the two defining roads and increase at intersections of major highways. For example, Ren'ai (仁愛) Rd (which has only an east location and therefore does not have a direction suffix), Section 1 will be close to Zhongshan South Rd. The section number will increase as one moves further away from Zhongshan Rd. So, for example, when Ren'ai Rd reaches Dunhua South Rd (敦化南路) far in the east of the city, a typical address could be: 7F, 166 Ren'ai Rd, Section 4. The house and lane numbers begin at zero every section. Lanes (巷; xiàng) lead off roads (路; lù) and streets (街; jiē), while alleys (弄; lóng) branch off lanes.

Several memorial halls like theChiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall inZhongzheng District andSun Yat-sen Memorial Hall inXinyi commemorate the most recognized leaders of the Nationalists to the lesser known war dead in theMartyrs' Shrine inZhongshan District. All three have honor guards which change at set hours, demonstrating military precision and solemn respect for the ROC leaders and soldiers before them. Built in the middle of large parks, the memorial halls are also good places for some quiet reflection.

While Taipei is largely secular, the elaborate Taoist and Buddhist temples such asLongshan Temple andBao'an Temple in the older districts ofWanhua and Datong still draw locals who maintain the old rituals and traditions. On theglitzier side of town,Taipei 101 may have relinquished its tallest building status but remains a very popular attraction for its architectural style and observation deck. On New Year's Eve, Taipei 101 becomes a beacon of lights and fireworks.

Anyone with even the slightest interest in Chinese history should visit theNational Palace Museum inShilin, which holds the singular best collection of historical artifacts from China, expertly curated by its staff. It is large enough that only one percent of what it owns is displayed at any one time, chief among them ancient paintings, scrolls, books and ceramics that span over 5000 years. TheNational Museum of History inZhongzheng also holds valuable relics. There are other quirky little private museums such as the Miniatures Museum (Adult NS$200) and Museum of Drinking Water for more off-beat exploration.

Art in classical and contemporary forms can be appreciated too, in theTaipei Fine Arts Museum and theTaipei MOCA. Local artists have gathered in various artist villages to find inspiration and cultural centers likeHuashan Cultural Center are interesting informal spaces for a creative spark. Taiwanese auteurs dream of becoming the next Ang Lee, displaying their independent films in the Spot-Taipei Film House. All these can be found inZhongshan.

If the cityscape gets a little dreary, there are plenty of parks to escape to.Daan Park is one of the largest in the city, earning the moniker of Taipei Central Park.228 Peace Park inZhongzheng was named to remember the bloody 228 Incident of 28 February 1947 and also holds the National Taiwan Museum and the 228 Memorial Museum. A few green spaces can also be found along the banks of the Keelung River, such asZhongshan District's Dajie Riverside Park.

Visit theTaipei Zoo inWenshan to see giant pandas, brown bears and gorillas for a low, low price. It's more akin to a walk in a leafy park, where animals are free to roam around in their open enclosures. Combine it with a ride up on theMaokong Gondola, which has a few special glass-floor carriages, to relax further in the hilltop teahouses.

Even though very little ancient architecture remains in Taipei, four of Taipei's five original city gates still stand. The city walls which surrounded the old city and the West Gate were demolished by the Japanese to make way for roads and railway lines. Of the four gates still standing, the Kuomintang renovated three of them in its effort to "sinicize" Taipei and converted them from the originalSouth Fujian style architecture to northern Chinese palace style architecture, leaving only theNorth Gate (beimen 北門 or more formallyCheng'en men 承恩門) in its original Qing Dynasty splendor today. Long obstructed by a busy elevated freeway, the freeway was decommissioned and removed in 2016, and a park has been built around the gate.

Hot springs (溫泉) come in various brands in Taipei, ranging from basic natural pools, to plush spas at five star hotels. The three main places to have a soak in the Greater Taipei area are:Beitou (北投),Wulai (烏來) andYangmingshan National Park (陽明山). The basic free 'rub and scrub' type public baths are run by the city. Most hotels offer the option of a large sex-segregated bathing area that generally consists of several large baths of various temperatures, jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath and also private and family rooms. Some hotels also have outdoor baths (露天溫泉), which offer restful views over the surrounding countryside. Prices range from around NT$300 to NT$800.

The law in Taiwan states that for safety reasons, individuals are not allowed to bathe in the private rooms, and there must be at least two people. Etiquette requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering public baths, do not wear clothing (which includes swimwear, though this is not the case for mixed-sex public areas) and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water. Finally, people with high blood pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the baths.

The mountains around Taipei make hiking a popular exercise in the city. The main hiking spot closest to the city is theFour Beasts Mountain which borderXinyi andNangang. One of the most rewarding walks is onElephant Mountain, where steep steps lead up to several different viewpoints that give a striking contrast between Taipei 101 and its neighboring low-rise buildings, especially against the orange hues of sunset. Continuing on separate trails will head towards the remaining 'beasts' of Leopard, Lion and Tiger, and Nangang mountain and Jiuwufeng beyond them.

• Yangmingshan National Park(陽明山國家公園)(just north ofBeitou).A favourite destination, particularly during spring when thousands of calla lilies, peonies and cherry blossoms bloom in the valleys. Besides that public hot springs, as well as hot sulphur blow holes and sources are equally worth the visit. There are dozens of hiking trails in the park, most marked out on maps from the visitors centre. Qixingshan is the highest peak in Yangmingshan, and looks out over the Taipei Basin and the north coast. 

There are a few amusement parks around Taipei. One is theChildren's Recreation Center inShilin, great for younger kids. TheTaipei Water Park near Museum of Drinking Water inGongguan is also a good place to spend time during summer, with its water slides and swimming areas.

Taipei hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, but as many follow the lunar calendar the dates according to the Gregorian calendar are inconsistent. Check the Taiwan Tourist Bureau's events section before planning to attend an event.

• The Lantern Festival is a dazzling display of lanterns and lasers which runs for several days around the fifteenth day of the lunar new year. While the main city event is held at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and Taipei City Hall grounds, Renai Road perhaps offers the most elegant display, with the whole tree-lined boulevard transformed into a delicate tunnel of lights.Pingxi inNew Taipei City celebrates the festival with the release of huge lanterns that float serenely across the night sky, carrying with them the dedications and aspirations of those who release them.
• Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The festival is marked by races of colorful dragon boats held at various locations throughout the island, with one of the best places to view a race in the Taipei area being theBitan River inXindian. Special sticky rice balls calledzongzi (pronounced like "dzongdz") are also eaten on this day. The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
• Golden Horse Chinese Language Film Festival.Often referred to as the Oscars of the Chinese film world, while films in the awards section are all in Chinese, they have English subtitles and there is also a large non-competition foreign language section. 
• Taipei Film Festival(臺北電影節).An international festival with two award sections – Taipei Award Nominees and International New Talent Nominees. Films are shown at several venues throughout the city. 
• Taipei Pride Parade. 

The busiest part ofEast Taipei is in between MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua Station and MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station (Bannan Line). The axis of this shopping area isZhongxiao East Road, Sec. 4, which is surrounded by numerous department stores. SOGO has three branches in this area, mainly sales various of boutique. Another notable one is Mingyao Department Store which has the flagship store of Uniqlo in it. East Taipei is also famous for the small stores inside the alleys. On the other hand,Daan Road in the other side of the area, has more elegant clothing shops.

Xinyi is arguably the premier shopping area in Taipei, if not all of Taiwan, and is anchored by a number of department stores and malls. Key among them isTaipei 101 Mall, as part of the larger Taipei 101 complex, and the massive Xinyi branch of theShin Kong Mitsukoshi departmental store chain, which is the largest department store in Taiwan.Eslite Mall is an upscale market-style shopping center with a 24-hour bookshop (with a good English selection) on the second floor and ethnic music store in basement. For absolute luxury, tryBellavita Shopping Mall orBreeze Center. Also in the East District at near the Zhongxiao Fuxing Metro station is the flagship store of theFar Eastern Sogo department store chain, consisting of two separate buildings.Songshan has some shopping malls with distinctive architectural features, such as theMiramar Entertainment Park, which sports a giant ferris wheel along with an IMAX theater.

For trendier fashion catering to youths, check outXimending (西門町) inWanhua just west of Downtown. If it's pink, plastic, and imported from Japan, you can probably find it on sale in a store. Sneakerheads will also find shoe stores with the latest limited releases here in sneaker-crazy Taipei, though you need to get a number and wait in a queue buzzing with anticipation. Several night markets don't just sell food but also have a large variety of clothing, handbags and more, likeShida Night Market near the university areas inGongguan andShilin Night Market.

As the sales headquarters for many homegrown multinational electronics manufacturers (including Asus, Garmin and Acer among others), good bargains and unique models can be found in Taipei. Those interested in picking up inexpensive electronic goods and cameras should wander the lanes and alleys around Kaifeng Street and Zhonghua Road, as well as the malls connected toTaipei Main Station.

Computer buffs will enjoy a visit toGuanghua Digital Plaza (光華數位新天地). Specializing in computer and electronic goods, this market has the largest number of stalls selling hardware and software under one roof in Taiwan, and all at very competitive prices. Along with it isSyntrend Creative Park (三創生活園區) opened in 2015, specializes in electronics of all kinds and is a location for large companies such as Asus, Samsung, BenQ, and Acer to showcase their newest products. TheTaipei Zhongshan Metro Shopping Mall (Easy Mall) is a long underground shopping area that houses several stores selling all manner of items, not necessarily limited to electronics. A few stores in the Easy Mall carry current and vintage video games, hardware and software.

For jade, flowers and jewelry in one central location, check out theJianguo Holiday Market inDaan. There are actually three different markets, the Weekend Jade Market, Weekend Flower Market and Weekend Handicrafts Market in this same location. As the names suggest, they are open only on weekends until 18:00. TheChinese Handicraft Mart inZhongzheng is also good for handicrafts.

Wanhua's Dihua Street, Bopiliao Old Street and Snake Alley night market are throwbacks to the older days of Taipei, back whenherbal remedies and aphrodisiacs were extremely popular. Pottery enthusiasts will enjoy a visit toYingge inNew Taipei City. Its old street is a crescent of beautifulpottery shops interspersed with coffee shops and tea houses.

Zhongshan North Road (中山北路) is a tree-lined boulevard featuring numerous international and local brands. Gucci and Louis Vuitton are among the brands who operate stores along this street. This road, particularly along the second section, is also famous for its numerouswedding picture studios and gown boutiques. It is possible to find a great deal for wedding portraits here as competition is stiff.

Go to justnorth of the junction with Zhongxiao West Rd on Zhongshan North Rd, sec 1 (west side of the road) fortrekking and backpacking stores selling a wide range of high quality equipment, and you'll be ready for all the outdoor hiking that Taipei and Taiwan offers.

Taipei has greatbook shops, and roads such asChongqing South Road are packed with stores specializing in Chinese language books. TheStation Front Area (站前) is a section of downtown Taipei just south of the Taipei Railway Station. It is a bustling area filled with shops and stores of all kinds, but it is particularly well known for its high concentration of bookstores due to the bloom of bushibans (also known as cram schools).

The following book stores all have good selections ofEnglish titles:

• Eslite,☏+886 2 2775-5977.(誠品) – Eslite offers a good selection at most of their branches, although the 24 hour flagship store (2F, 245 Dunhua South Rd. has the best selection. Eslite Book Store and shopping mall (11 Songgau Road), which incidentally is the largest book store in Taiwan, have the greatest selection. The Songgau Rd branch is next to MRT Station 'Taipei City Hall'. 
• Caves Books (敦煌) has two branches (54-3 Zhongshan North Road, Sec 2, near Yuanshan MRT Station. tel +886 2 2599-1166). This is a temporary location, while the old store is demolished and rebuilt. The other branch (5, Le 38, Tianyu St, Tianmu. Tel: +2 886 2874-2199) is one of the original book stores in Taipei specializing in English titles. And, although it has been surpassed by the newer arrivals, it is still a good place to pick up a popular novel and English language textbooks.
• Lai Lai(來來),4F, 271 Roosevelt Road, Sec 3,☏+886 2 2363-4265.This shop has a small but interesting selection of English material. 
• Crane Publishing Company,200 Section 2, Jinshan S Rd, Da’an District,☏+886 2 2393-4497.Specialists in English language textbooks and teaching material. 
• Bookman Books,Room 5, 2F, 88 Xinsheng South Road, Sec 3,☏+886 2 2368-7226.This is an excellent collection of English literature books, albeit a little expensive. 
• Mollie Used Books,12, Alley 10, Lane 244, Roosevelt Road sec 3,☏+886 2 2369-2780.You'll find a reasonable selection of English titles here. 

NB: In order to protect the environment, a government policy rules that plastic bags cannot be given freely at stores in Taiwan, but have to be bought (NT$1) - bakeries being an exception as the items need to be hygienically wrapped. Re-usable canvas and nylon bags are sold at most supermarkets.

There are several night markets (夜市) in each district. Some are open during daytime, and all are open until around midnight. Night markets consist of restaurants and stores at the permanent locations and little booths along the center. Every night market has a huge variety of food, so a visit to any one is a good bet for good food.

A lot of Taiwanese street food didn't actually originate in Taipei, but any popularxiaochi (small snack) eventually makes their way up to the capital. Some of the best known night market snacks are:oyster vermicelli (蚵仔麵線; ô-á mī-sòa),oyster omelet (蚵仔煎; ô-á-chian),fried chicken fillet (雞排; jīpái),stinky tofu (臭豆腐; chòudòufǔ) andaiyu jelly (愛玉冰; ài-yù-bīng) among a long list of others. Because of the vast selection, the recommendation is to go with a few people and share the food. Otherwise, honestly the best way to eat is to join the longest queue in the market, or just buy whatever catches your eye! Vendor food is generally safe to eat, but use common sense though if you have a sensitive stomach.

The most famous one in Taipei is theShilin Night Market (士林夜市). It is easily accessible via the MRT at either the Jiantan (劍潭) or Shilin (士林) stations. Locals in Taipei view Shilin as touristy, with food catering to the tastes of mainland visitors. Another excellent option isNing Xia Night Market (寧夏夜市) inDatong near theTaipei Circle (建成圓環) and accessible via the MRT at Zhongshan (中山) station.Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市) is also a viable option. It is a mere stone's throw away from the Songshan (松山) railway station.

While it might be possible to spend all your dinners at night markets, Taipei also has plenty of sit-down restaurants with more substantial dishes. For upmarket Taiwanese cuisine, which revolves around the mild yet flavorful trio of basil, garlic and chili, in addition to white rice or sweet potato congee (no wheat-based products for example), tryChing-yeh Aoba inZhongshan orShinyeh Table inDaan. But for more down-to-earth experiences, don't forget to go to one of the many "hot fry" (熱炒) restaurants in Taipei where the locals go to eat Taiwanese food and drink beer and kaoliang. Be prepared for a noisy atmosphere, tiny seats, lots of empty beer bottles and excellent food at a low price.

The influx of KMT refugees makes Taipei one of the easiest places to sample a quality spread of regional Chinese cuisines.Xiaolongbao (小籠包) or soup dumplings is aShanghainese dish made famous byDin Tai Fung, whose first storefront atXinyi Road remains heavily patronised by fans of the world-wide franchise. They have many branches all over the city too, though their branch at Taipei 101 is also extra crowded. Around the corner from Xinyi Road isYongkang Street, which boasts quite a mix of old and new restaurants likeKaochi orJin Ji Yuan. Both servexiaolongbao, along with other dishes such as fried chicken, good alternatives for when the queue to Din Tai Fung is an hour long.

Beef noodle soup is a national icon; Taipei even holds a yearly judging event every September to appraise competitors. There are two main types:hongshao (紅燒牛肉麵), a strongly flavored dish derived fromSichuan spicy bean paste and soya sauce braised beef, andqingdun (清燉牛肉麵), a clear light broth, derived from the cuisine ofShandong, although there are even tomato varieties popping up around the city. OnYongkang St alone, there're already two beef noodle shops,Yongkang Beef Noodle andLao Zhang, which have their own regulars. Those more game to get to hard-to-find places can reward themselves at Lin Tung Fong inZhongshan or the one atTaoyuan Street near Ximending.

Another popular dish in Taipei isginger duck (薑母鴨)，which originated inSouth Fujian, but has undergone its own unique evolution in Taiwan. It is only eaten in the winter, and shops selling this dish close for the summer months. Ba Wei Ginger Duck (霸味薑母鴨) is a famous shop selling this dish, and while its main branch is inSanchong, it also has many branches throughout the city.

Vegetarian food (素食) is also common fare, with the city boasting more than two hundred vegetarian restaurants and vendor stands. Another Taipei specialty isvegetarian buffets. They are common in every neighborhood, and unlike the 'all-you-can-eat' buffets listed below (which charge a set price, usually ranging from NT$250-350 including dessert and coffee/tea), the cost is estimated by the weight of the food on your plate. Rice (there is usually a choice of brown or white) is charged separately, but soup is free and you can refill as many times as you like. NT$75-120 will buy you a good-sized, nutritious meal. Many of these veggie restaurants are Buddhist in nature and so meals do not contain garlic or onion (which traditionalists claim inflames passion).

• Minder Vegetarian. This is a restaurant chain offering the above-mentioned vegetarian buffet. Aside from the usual line of vegetarian dishes, contemporary cuisine such as rice rolls, tempura and a range of desserts, all entirely vegetarian, are offered as well. Major branches in Taipei are available atTaipei Main Station 2F, Breeze Taipei Branch, No. 3, Beiping North Road,Eslite Bookstore B2, Xinyi Branch, Xinyi District, No. 11, Songgao Road andEslite Bookstore B1, Dunhua South Branch, Da-an District, No. 245, Dunhua South Road, Sec. 1.
• ^{[dead link]}Lotus Pavilion Restaurant,153-155 Xinyi Rd B1, Sec. 4(entrance in alley behind Changhwa Bank),☏+886 2 2703-5612.An upscale all-you-can-eat buffet. 
• King Join,No 18 Shin-Wei Rd,☏+886 2-2701-3225.Traditional Chinese setting. 
• For a special Taipei street experience, check out theveggie vendor outside No. 30, Lane 216, Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 4 (in the alleys behind the Dunhua South Road Eslite Mall and book store). The rice noodles are especially delicious and cheap and a plate of their dougan (dried tofu) makes a great side dish.

Xinyi is where the biggest and most flashy clubs are, especially theATT4FUN Building which has an excellent view of Taipei 101, while smaller shophouses around theTaida and Shida university areas host live music gigs (although lessened after noise complaints). The "Combat Zone" inZhongshan used to be the go-to district forUS soldiers in theVietnam War and remains fairly gritty with quite the collection of dive bars. The area aroundRed House Theater near Ximending has a large number of gay bars. Visit theTaiwan Beer Bar, also known as Taipei Brewery, inZhongzheng if you fancy trying cheap and fresh brews of the local favorite Taiwan Beer.

Cover charges are usually required for entry, but these will include a free drink at the very least, with some places even offering free flow of house pours for the whole night after payment. Wednesday nights are ladies' night in most venues.

Taiwan's speciality teas areHigh Mountain Oolong (高山烏龍, a fragrant, light tea) andTieguanyin (鐵觀音, a dark, rich brew). The hills south of Taipei are known forBaozhong (包種茶, a light, almost-floral tea).

Tea stores are scattered throughout the city. Most will invite you to sit down for an extended sampling of their tea. Some are relaxed, as if running the shop was an excuse for the owner to chat and drink all afternoon, others are excited to share with you the best tea in all of Taiwan. The tastings are free, but there is an expectation to buy if you find something you like. Tea houses operate more like cafes, with menus to order from and open or semi-private seating. Tea houses are easiest to find near Yongkang Street and Dihua Street.

The mountainousMaokong area of Muzha in theWenshan district of the city has dozens upon dozens of teahouses, many of which also offer panoramic views of the city. Its especially spectacular on a clear evening. AMaokong Gondola (cable car) system services the Taipei Zoo MRT station to Maokong. The S10 bus comes up from the Wanfang Community MRT station.

While traditionally a nation of tea drinkers, the Taiwanese have really embraced the cafe culture, and all the usual chains can be found here in abundance. For cafes with more character, roam the back streets near National Taiwan University between Xinsheng South Road and Roosevelt Road inGongguan. More cafes are in the area around Renai Road, Section 4 and Dunhua South Road. There are also some interesting and characterful places between Yongkang Park and Chaozhou Street, and in the alleys around Shida Road. However, for a particularly impressive range of styles, visit Bitan inXindian, where all the cafes offer restful views over the river and mountains beyond (though can be noisy during weekends).

• The internationally acclaimed Chan (Zen) Master Sheng-yen (who passed away in Feb 2009) has a monastery inBeitou where there are regular meditation meetings with instruction given in English. SeeBeitou page for more information.
• Tibetan Buddhism has become very popular in Taiwan, and the Taipei area alone boasts more than fifty centers. So, on any given night there will be teachings and rituals being held in the city. Taipei has become a regular port of call for many of the well known rinpoches. While most teachings are given in Tibetan with translation into Chinese, some are given in English. For information on teachings, check notice boards at vegetarian restaurants. (For purchase of Buddha statues and other Buddhist artifacts, see 'Potala' under listings for 'Buy')
• The international Buddhist foundationThe Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation has its headquarters in Taipei. The foundation publishes books on Buddhism in various languages (including English) which it offers for free. For detailed information check the foundation'sweb site^{[dead link]}.

• National Taiwan University(國立臺灣大學).Taiwan's uncontested number one university. Colloquially known by the shortened 臺大 (Táidà). 
• National Taiwan Normal University(國立臺灣師範大學).Colloquially known by the shortenedShida, one of the oldest universities in Taiwan. NTNU runs the Mandarin Training Center, an excellent program teaching several levels of Mandarin Chinese in semester-long segments. 
• ^{[formerly dead link]}National Taiwan University of Science and Technology(國立臺灣科技大學).The first technical university in Taiwan. 

• Mandarin Training Center,National Taiwan Normal University (Shida), 162 Heping East Rd, sec. 1.,☏+886 2 2321-8457,+886 2 2391-4248,fax:+886 2 2341-8431,mtc@mtc.ntnu.edu.tw.This school, which is part of Shi-da University, remains one of the most popular schools in Taiwan for serious students of Mandarin. 
• International Chinese Language Program National Taiwan University(Taida).This program, which used to be called the IUP program, has a long history of Chinese language training, especially for advanced learners and primarily targeting graduate students, scholars and professionals studying in China and Taiwan. It has very small classes, very high quality instructors and textbooks, but may be considerably more expensive than the alternatives. Only students who expect a very intensive experience, usually with a year or more of time to dedicate to study, should consider this program. 
• Mandarin Daily News Language Center(more commonly known locally as Guo-Yu-Ri-Bau),2F. 2 Fu-zhou Street,☏+886 2 2391-5134,+886 2 2392-1133 ext 1004,fax:+886 2 2391-2008.Along with the Center for Chinese Language and Culture Studies, this is one of the most popular schools in Taiwan for serious students of Mandarin. 
• Maryknoll Language Service Center,Rm. 800, 8 Fl., Chung Ying Bldg. 2 Zhongshan North Rd., Sec. 1(Near a Taipei Station MRT stop exit),☏+886 2 2314-1833.The Maryknoll Language Service Center offers Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakka classes. Mostly one-on-one tutorials although you may be able to arrange a group class. 

• Unless you have a recommendation, the best way to find a good teacher is to visit a park at sunrise and check out the scene for yourself. If you spot a group that impresses you, approach one of the students and inquire about joining them. Most teachers will be happy to have a new student, though some old masters may 'play hard to get.' In the latter case, persistence is required. Most teachers will expect some sort of fee for their tuition. However, as it is considered impolite to directly ask the teacher this question, use a fellow student as mediator. Furthermore, when offering the money on the allotted day, place it in a red envelope (hongbao - available at all convenience and stationery stores) and slip it to the teacher subtly. Offering cash openly to a teacher of a traditional art or religion is considered undignified and demeaning. Most parks host tai'chi groups, but the most popular places are the grounds of theChiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (nearest MRT station - CKS Memorial Hall) andSun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (nearest MRT station - SYS Memorial Hall) as well as228 Peace Park (formerly known as New Park - nearest MRT station - National Taiwan University Hospital).

• The Coriander Cooking Studio.Offers Taiwanese small eats cooking classes, Certificate of Excellence From Tripadvisor in 2019. 
• Jodie's Kitchen Cooking School,2F, 29-1 Zi Yun St.,☏+886 2 2720-0053.Offers Taiwanese and Chinese cooking classes 
• Many community colleges, such asZhongzheng Community College andTamsui Community University offer weekly cooking courses. These include Chinese, Italian and Thai cooking, for example. The classes are in Chinese or Taiwanese language only. The prices are quite low because the colleges are government-funded.

• Chung-shan Hospital(中山醫院),11, Lane 112, Renai Road, Sec. 4(Nearest MRT: 'Zhongxiao-Dunhua' (a fifteen minute walk)),☏+886 2' 2708-1166.A small hospital popular with expats 
• Buddhist Tzu-chi Hospital(慈濟醫院),Jianguo Road, Xindian City,☏+886 2 6628-6336,+886 2 6628-9800.A very friendly and efficient hospital with an especially caring environment. 
• 25.058737121.5223712Mackay Memorial Hospital(馬偕紀念醫院),92 Zhongshan North Road Sec. 2(nearest MRT Station: Shuanglian),☏+886 2 2543-3535.One of the best hospitals in Taipei 
• 25.042717121.5175533National Taiwan University Hospital(臺大醫院),1 Changde Street(Nearest MRT Station: NTU Hospital),☏+886 2' 2312-3456.One of Taiwan's largest and most famous hospitals 
• 25.0478121.5474Taiwan Adventist Hospital(臺安醫院),424 Bade Road Sec. 2,☏+886 2 2771-8151.This hospital has English-speaking staff. 
• Yang-ming Hospital(陽明醫院),105 Yusheng Street, Shilin.Popular with the Tianmu expat community 

• Cathay Pacific (國泰航空) –+886 2 2715 2333
• China Airlines (中華航空) –+886 2 2715 1212
• EVA Airways (長榮航空) –+886 2 2501 1999
• KLM Asia (荷蘭皇家航空) –+886 2 2711 4055
• Delta (達美航空) –+886 2 2772 2188
• Singapore Airlines (新加坡航空) –+886 2 2551 6655
• Thai Airways (泰國航空) –+886 2 2509 6800

For up-to-date information on cheap flights, check the advertisement pages of one of the three local daily English newspapers (see 'Media' section below).

Taiwan has a very free and liberal press. As of November 2023, there is one daily local newspapers available in English, theTaipei Times (founded in 1991). Its two former English-language competitors,The China Post (founded in 1952) andTaiwan News (founded in 1949 asChina News) are no longer available on paper.Taiwan News continues to exist online. The website ofThe China Post was closed in 2021. Most media in Taiwan has a political slant. TheTaipei Times largely supports the pan-green political alliance.

Free news and information are available from the following:

• Centered on Taipei^{[dead link]} is a free monthly designed for expats living in Taipei, but it is also very useful for visitors. It can be found in many of the major hotels throughout Taipei, and also in many businesses in the Tian Mu area.
• This Month in Taiwan^{[formerly dead link]} is a free magazine that lists events and has an exhaustive directory of useful numbers in Taiwan. It can be found at tourist offices and major hotels.
• FTV English Edition^{[dead link]} – This show is an hour of English news shown on Channel 53 (2005) on the local TV station Formosa TV (FTV) at 23:00 every night. The program features 30 minutes of local news, as well as cultural events. The show is archived online.
• ICRT (short for "international Community Radio Taipei") is an English-language radio station available across Taiwan on FM 100. The programming consists mostly of popular music. There are news bulletins every hour on the hour M-F between 07:00 and 20:00, and Sa between 10:00 and 18:00.

Mobile phone coverage is relatively good in Taipei. Among the major providers areChunghwa Telecom (中華電信),Taiwan Mobile (臺灣大哥大), andFar EasTone (遠傳電訊). Taipei has both 4G and 5G networks and roaming might be possible for users of such mobile phones, subject to agreements between operators. Most payphones work with telephone cards (電話卡) which are available at all convenience stores. Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased ranging 300NT~1000NT depending on use cases with a passport. The cheapest available data rated SIM is 280NT for 2.4GB(16 days), and 300NT for unlimited 4G(5 days). 5G packages tend to be more expensive than their 4G counterparts. The prices are competitive enough that all the major companies provide roughly the same rate.

• Tourist Information Office: 9F, 290 Zhongxiao East Road., Sec. 4.TEL:2349-1500 – There is also a branch tourist office next to the ticket purchasing counters at Taipei Main Station, and near exit 16 in the Metro Mall underground shopping plaza that runs between MRT the Zhongxiao-Fushing and Zhongxiao-Dunhwa Stations.
• Tourist Information (emergency number) -☏+886 2 2717-3737.

All 24-hour convenience stores, such as 7-11 and Family Mart, have a flat screen monitor. With a USB, this monitor can be used to print documents on the store's photocopy machine.

All 24 hour convenience stores offer a reservation service. A flat screen monitor (usually near the check-out) has lists of trains, theater, and movie screenings. Once a reservation has been confirmed, payment can be made at the check-out in exchange for a ticket.

As the People's Republic of China (PRC) does not allow other countries to have diplomatic relations with both itself and the ROC on Taiwan, many of the world's nations do not have official embassies or consulates in Taiwan. However, as the PRC allows recognition of Taiwan as a separate economy, many nations maintain a "Trade Office", "Institute" or something of a similar name in Taipei. These missions serve asde facto embassies that perform consular activities, such as issuing visas.

The following countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan and have embassies in Taipei.