Taipei is easy to get around, and the MRT puts almost any sensible base within half an hour of the main sights. The choice comes down to atmosphere, budget and how many day trips you plan. Stay near a station, ideally on the red or blue line, and you will rarely need a taxi. Here are the areas that work best for a first visit, and the hotel we would pick in each.
Taipei Main Station and the North Gate: for convenience
The area around Taipei Main Station is the city’s transport hub, where the red and blue MRT lines, the high-speed rail, ordinary trains for Ruifang and the Pingxi Line, and the Airport MRT all meet. It is the best base for a short trip or for day trips, and it is walking distance from the North Gate, the 228 Peace Park and Ximending. The downside is that it is busy and practical rather than pretty. Our pick is citizenM Taipei North Gate, a design hotel opposite the old city gate with smart compact rooms and a canteen that never closes. On a tight budget, CityInn Hotel Taipei Station Branch I has 51 simple rooms about five minutes on foot from the station.
Ximending: for energy and nightlife
Ximending is Taipei’s pedestrian shopping district, full of neon, cinemas, snack shops and street performers, with Longshan Temple and the old Wanhua district one MRT stop away. It suits young travellers, families who want food on the doorstep and anyone who likes a lively evening. It can be noisy late at night. amba Taipei Ximending, a Taiwanese design hotel above a shopping complex, has 160 cheerful rooms, a music-themed floor and a 24-hour laundry, five minutes from Ximen MRT station.
Da’an: for cafés and local life
Da’an is the neighbourhood many locals would choose: tree-lined streets, Daan Forest Park, independent cafés and some of the best food in the city around Yongkang Street and the Eastern District. It is central, between the old city and Xinyi. Kimpton Da An, on a quiet lane by Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station, is the city’s favourite boutique hotel, with an evening social hour, bikes to borrow and a rooftop terrace.
Songshan and Dunhua North Road: for luxury and calm
North of the Eastern District, the broad avenues around Dunhua North Road and Minsheng Community are upscale, green and quiet, and close to Songshan Airport. Mandarin Oriental, Taipei is the city’s grand luxury address, with a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, an outdoor heated pool and a spa.
Matching base to trip
For a romantic splurge, choose the Mandarin Oriental. For style and a local feel, Kimpton Da An. For a first visit with day trips, citizenM by the North Gate. For nightlife and families, amba in Ximending. For the tightest budget, CityInn by the main station. Wherever you stay, book early for Lunar New Year and the busy autumn season, and check whether breakfast is included.
