Where to Stay in Taipei: Best Areas Based on Your Interests

I’m going to make finding your perfect accommodation super easy for you. But before I do, you should know that public transportation in Taipei is incredibly easy, efficient, and affordable. The MRT connects the city well, taxis are inexpensive, and most places you’ll want to visit are easy to reach. That means almost any area in Taipei is a good place to stay. So instead of worrying too much about finding the one perfect location, choose an area that fits your plans and your vibe.

Love cafés, restaurants and little independent shops? Stay in Zhongshan. Coming to Taipei to shop, see Taipei 101 and hike Elephant Mountain? Xinyi makes sense. Planning lots of day trips around Taiwan? Find a good hotel near Taipei Main Station and make getting out of the city as easy as possible.

There is one thing I’d watch out for when comparing hotel prices: you’ll often find nice hotels for lower prices in Banqiao and Neihu. It’s tempting to book those hotels, but there’s a reason why they are cheaper. First, Banqiao is technically in a different city, New Taipei City. And Neihu is farther away from most of the places you’ll want to visit. Both are well connected by public transport, but for your first trip, I’d invest a little more to be in a hotel in central Taipei.

So, where should you stay in Taipei? Let’s find the neighborhood that best matches your interests, your plans, and your travel style.

Where should you stay in Taipei? Find your perfect match

The best area to stay in Taipei depends on what fills your itinerary. Zhongshan is my pick for café hopping, second-hand shopping and exploring the older streets around Dadaocheng. Xinyi puts you close to luxury shopping, Taipei 101, rooftop bars and Elephant Mountain. Ximending brings neon lights, street food, LGBTQ+ nightlife and a little bit of Tokyo energy. Da’an is a great match if your Google Maps is mostly restaurants and cafés, while Taipei Main Station makes sense if you’re planning plenty of day trips. Songshan puts Raohe Night Market and the city airport close by, and Beitou is the one to choose when hot springs and spa time are high on your Taipei wishlist.

Best Taipei Neighborhoods by Travel Style

Start with how you like to travel, and the right Taipei neighborhood gets much easier to choose.

Your travel style & interests	Your Taipei district match
☕ Café hopping · 🧥 Second-hand & vintage shopping · 🏮 Old streets · 🍜 Restaurants · 🛍️ Independent shops	Zhongshan
👜 Luxury shopping · 🏙️ Taipei 101 · 🍸 Rooftop bars · 🥾 Hike Elephant Mountain · ✨ 5-star hotels	Xinyi
🌈 LGBTQ+ nightlife · 🌙 Late nights · 🍢 Street food · 🎮 Anime & arcades · 👟 Youth fashion · 💰 Cheap accommodation	Ximending
🍜 Eating your way through Taipei · ☕ Cafés · 🥐 Bakeries · 🌳 Parks · 🚶 Neighborhood wandering	Da’an
🚄 Day trips · 🧳 Exploring more of Taiwan · ✈️ Airport connections · ⏰ Early trains · 📍 Convenience	Taipei Main Station
🌶️ Raohe Night Market · ✈️ Songshan Airport · 🍜 Local food · 🌙 Easy evenings · 🏙️ Eastern Taipei	Songshan
♨️ Hot springs · 🧖 Spa days · 🌿 Nature · 🍵 Slow mornings · 🏨 Hotels worth spending time in	Beitou

Got a match? Good. Now let’s look at what staying there will mean for your trip, and which hotels I’d book in each area.

Zhongshan: Best for cafés, second-hand shopping & old Taipei

You and Zhongshan are a match if: your perfect afternoon involves finding a new café, browsing second-hand shops and wandering down streets that make you stop every few metres because you’ve spotted somewhere else you want to go inside.

Zhongshan is probably the area I’d recommend to most first-time visitors to Taipei. Stay close to Zhongshan MRT Station and you’re one stop from Taipei Main Station, with plenty to explore on foot as well. Around Chifeng Street, old buildings have been turned into cafés, vintage shops and little independent stores, while a longer walk takes you towards Dadaocheng and Dihua Street, where Taipei starts looking much older. That’s where you find traditional shops, tea houses, historic shophouses and some of my favourite streets for wandering around.

Food is another good reason to stay here. You have restaurants and cafés everywhere, Ningxia Night Market is within easy reach, and this is also where you’ll find Regent Taipei. It’s worth keeping on your radar if a very serious hotel breakfast is part of your holiday planning.

One mistake to avoid when booking a hotel in Zhongshan

Check the map before you book. Zhongshan District is huge, and a hotel advertising itself as being “in Zhongshan” can be nowhere near the Zhongshan Station area I’m recommending here.

For this kind of stay, I’d look specifically around Zhongshan MRT Station and the surrounding streets. You’ll get the cafés, shopping, and walkability that make this area such a good base, while keeping Taipei Main Station close when you want to explore beyond the city.

Xinyi: Best for luxury shopping, Taipei 101 & 5-star hotels

Stay in Xinyi if: your Taipei plans involve designer shopping, rooftop drinks, a great hotel, skyline views, and squeezing in a hike up Elephant Mountain before breakfast.

Xinyi is Taipei at its most polished. Taipei 101 is right here, surrounded by some of the city’s biggest department stores and luxury shopping, while Elephant Mountain is close enough to make a sunrise or sunset hike easy to fit into your day. In the evening, you have plenty of restaurants, bars and rooftop spots nearby.

It’s also one of the best areas to stay if the hotel itself matters to you. Xinyi has some of Taipei’s big-name luxury hotels, including the Grand Hyatt Taipei, which is high on my list for one particular reason: its breakfast buffet. If choosing a hotel based partly on what you get to eat at 8 a.m. sounds perfectly reasonable to you, we’re on the same page.

Best hotels in Xinyi

One thing to keep in mind when booking in Xinyi

The trade-off is the atmosphere. Xinyi gives you skyscrapers, malls, wide streets and modern Taipei. For old shophouses, tiny lanes and traditional markets, you’ll be getting on the MRT. But if you want Taipei 101 outside your door, luxury shopping within walking distance and plenty to do after dark, Xinyi is hard to beat.

Ximending: Best for nightlife, street food & affordable accommodation

You and Ximending might be a match if: you like neon lights, late nights, street food, anime and arcades, and would happily spend the money you save on your hotel somewhere else.

Ximending has a little bit of Tokyo energy to it. Giant signs light up the pedestrian streets, shops stay open late, claw machines and arcades are everywhere, and the busy crossing outside Ximen MRT Station might give you a tiny Shibuya moment. Add street performers, youth fashion, food stalls and crowds well into the evening, and this is one of the liveliest places you can base yourself in Taipei.

It’s also the center of Taipei’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. The bars behind the historic Red House are particularly popular with the gay community, with tables spilling out onto the square in the evening. That makes Ximending a good match if nightlife is high on your list and you’d like plenty happening within walking distance of your hotel.

Another advantage is accommodation. Ximending has a huge selection of hotels and hostels, including plenty of affordable options, so it’s one of the first areas I’d check if you’re trying to keep your Taipei hotel budget down while still staying central. Ximen MRT Station also puts you on both the Blue and Green MRT lines.

Who might prefer somewhere else?

Ximending is busy, bright and touristy, which is exactly why some people love staying here. If your ideal Taipei morning involves quiet streets, a long café breakfast and browsing little independent shops, I’d match you with Zhongshan or Da’an instead.

But if you want to walk out of your hotel at 10 p.m. and immediately have somewhere to eat, shop, drink or play, Ximending makes a very convincing case for itself.

Da’an: Best for food, cafés & neighborhood wandering

You and Da’an might be a match if: your Google Maps is mostly restaurants, bakeries and cafés, and you like exploring a city by walking around until something looks good enough to stop.

Da’an is a great choice if eating is going to dictate a large part of your Taipei itinerary. Around Yongkang Street and Dongmen, you have everything from beef noodle soup and dumplings to dessert shops, coffee shops and bakeries packed into an area that’s easy to explore on foot. This is the kind of Taipei where leaving the hotel without a lunch plan tends to work out just fine.

You also have Da’an Forest Park nearby, which gives the area a greener, more residential feel than Xinyi or Ximending. The streets around the park and towards Dongmen are made for wandering, with cafés, restaurants and smaller shops mixed between apartment buildings. You’re still very central and well connected by MRT, so choosing Da’an doesn’t mean giving up convenience for atmosphere.

If you’re specifically searching for where to stay in Taipei for food, Da’an would be one of my first picks. Zhongshan gives it serious competition, but I’d choose Da’an if your priority is restaurants and neighborhood exploring, and Zhongshan if cafés, second-hand shopping and easy access to Dadaocheng sound more like you.

Hotels to consider in Da’an

One thing to keep in mind when booking in Da’an

Da’an is another fairly large district, so I’d pay attention to the nearest MRT station. Dongmen and the area around Da’an Forest Park make particularly good bases for the experience I’m describing here. A hotel can technically be in Da’an while putting you quite a bit farther from Yongkang Street and the cafés and restaurants that made you choose the area in the first place.
Taipei Main Station: Best for day trips, short stays & exploring more of Taiwan

You and Taipei Main Station might be a match if: your Taipei itinerary includes early trains, several day trips and a suspicious number of places you’re trying to squeeze into one holiday.

Taipei Main Station: Best for Day Trips, Short Stays & Exploring More of Taiwan

If you’re planning to use Taipei as a base for exploring more of Taiwan, find a good hotel near Taipei Main Station. From here, you have access to the MRT, Taiwan Railways, High Speed Rail and the Airport MRT, making it easy to head out of Taipei in the morning and come back in time for dinner.

It’s also a practical choice for shorter stays. If you’re only spending a night or two in Taipei before continuing to Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung or the east coast, staying near the station saves you from crossing the city with your luggage every time you move on.

Location is the main reason I’d choose this area. For cafés, little shops and evenings spent wandering around your neighborhood, Zhongshan would be my pick instead. Plus, it’s only one MRT stop away. But when your alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. for a day trip, having your train a few minutes from your hotel feels like a very good decision.

Hotels to consider near Taipei Main Station

One thing to keep in mind when booking near Taipei Main Station

Check which side of the station your hotel is on and how you’ll reach it. Taipei Main Station is enormous, with underground malls, passages and a collection of exits that can turn “five minutes from the station” into a small luggage-based expedition.

For the easiest stay, I’d choose a hotel with a straightforward route to the station rather than simply picking whichever property looks closest on the map.

Songshan: Best for Raohe Night Market, easy airport access & a more relaxed base

You and Songshan might be a match if: night-market dinners are high on your priority list, you like staying somewhere a little calmer, or your flight happens to arrive at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), instead of Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).

Taipei has two airports. Most international flights arrive at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), which is outside Taipei. Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) is right in the city and serves domestic flights as well as selected international routes. If your ticket says TSA, staying in Songshan makes your arrival and departure particularly convenient.

The biggest food-related reason to stay in Songshan is Raohe Night Market. It’s one of Taipei’s most popular night markets, and staying nearby means you can wander over for pepper buns, grilled meats, sweet potato balls and whatever else catches your eye, then come back the next night for everything you didn’t have room for.

If your flight lands at Taoyuan, choose Songshan for the neighborhood rather than the airport connection. You’ll have Raohe Night Market nearby and easy access to eastern Taipei, including Xinyi and Taipei 101. Songshan can therefore be a good alternative if you like Xinyi’s location but prefer a quieter neighborhood as your base.

Hotels to consider in Songshan

One thing to keep in mind when booking in Songshan

If Raohe Night Market is the reason Songshan caught your attention, check how close your hotel is to Songshan Station. The district covers a much larger area, including the airport side, so “Songshan District” on a booking site can put you in a very different location from the night-market area.

For a first trip, I’d still give Zhongshan the edge as an all-round base. Songshan becomes the better match when Raohe Night Market, eastern Taipei or easy access to TSA specifically fit your plans.

Beitou: Best for hot springs, spa hotels & a slower Taipei stay

You and Beitou might be a match if: hot springs, spa treatments, nature and spending a little more time at your hotel sound like a very good use of a holiday.

Beitou offers a completely different Taipei experience from the other areas in this guide. The neighborhood is famous for its natural hot springs, and many of the hotels have their own hot-spring baths, private bathing rooms or spa facilities. You’ll also have Thermal Valley, Beitou Hot Spring Museum and Beitou Park nearby, with the mountains of Yangmingshan just beyond.

I’d especially consider Beitou if you’re spending more than a few days in Taipei and want to turn part of the trip into a mini retreat. Instead of heading back to the same central hotel every night, you could spend your final night or two in Beitou, book a room with a private hot-spring bath and give your feet a break after several days of exploring Taipei.

Hotels to consider in Beitou

One thing to keep in mind when booking in Beitou

Pay attention to Xinbeitou versus the wider Beitou District. If you’re coming for the hot springs, look for accommodation around Xinbeitou MRT Station and the hot-spring area rather than choosing a hotel simply because its address says Beitou.

For most first-time visitors, I’d use it as an addition to a central Taipei stay rather than my base for the entire trip. Spend a few nights exploring the city, move to Beitou for a night or two, soak in a hot spring and finish Taipei at a much slower pace.

Where should you avoid staying in Taipei?

If you’re asking this question because you’re concerned about safety, Taipei is one of the safest cities in the world and an excellent destination for solo travelers. In a 2023 ranking of 424 cities, Taipei came fourth for safety, with particularly low levels of crime including muggings, robberies and physical attacks.

That matches my own experience here. I feel comfortable walking home alone at night, taking public transport after dark and exploring areas I don’t know by myself. As a woman, that sense of safety is one of the things I value most about Taipei.

Of course, use the same common sense you would anywhere else, but there isn’t a tourist neighborhood I’d warn you away from because it’s known for being dangerous or dodgy. If you’re travelling solo (especially as a woman) Taipei is a fantastic city for it.

The areas I’d think twice about are about convenience rather than safety.

Remember those cheaper hotels in Banqiao and Neihu from the beginning of this guide? They can be perfectly good hotels, but for a first Taipei trip, the lower room rate probably wouldn’t convince me to give up a more central location. You’ve flown all the way to Taiwan; I’d invest a little more in a hotel that puts more of Taipei within easy reach.

Hotel Sorted. Now Make Your Taipei Budget Go Further.

Found your Taipei base? Next, learn how to save money while travelling in Taiwan, then check whether the Taipei FunPASS is worth buying for your trip. I did the break-even calculations so you can spend less time comparing ticket prices and more time exploring Taipei.