#FeedGoals: The 12 Most Instagrammable Places In Taipei
These photogenic places will have you flying to Taipei in no time.
by Cristina Morales | November 19, 2019
Instagram has changed the way we travel, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, social media has given us more incentive to see the world (or more specifically, the most photogenic destinations in the world). People visiting Taiwan will be delighted at the amount of Instagrammable places in Taipei. Here are just some of them.
1. Taipei 101 Observatory
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The iconic Taipei 101’s observatory is spread over four floors. There, visitors can take in the breathtaking views while learning about the engineering behind the world’s tallest green building. On the 89th floor is the indoor observatory, which stands 382 meters above the ground and boasts an unobstructed view of Taipei from any direction. The outdoor observatory on the 91st floor is accessible by stairs from the 89th. From there, you can see the 508-meter high spire. Understandably, the 91st floor is only open on days with good weather.
Tickets to the Taipei 101 observatory cost NT$600.
2. Elephant Mountain
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The top of Elephant Mountain has some of the best views of Taipei. The hike to the top takes just about 15-20 minutes, but be prepared to take on a lot of stairs. Hit the trails during the late afternoon so you can catch the daytime view, sunset, and the gorgeous city lights at night. Try to do this on a weekday, as the trail can get quite crowded during the weekend.
3. Ximending District
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The Ximending Pedestrian Area is known as the “Harajuku” of Taipei, due to its eclectic shops and restaurants, as well as exhibitions and street performances. It also has Japanese roots, as it was founded during the Japanese occupation as a recreation district.
4. Lungshan Temple
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Perhaps the most famous temple in Taiwan, the Longshan Temple in Taipei’s Wanhua District was built in 1738 by settlers from China. The entrance to the temple is free, but donations are highly appreciated.
5. Jiufen Old Street
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Jiufen rose to popularity after being featured in the Taiwanese film City of Sadness, then later after it was rumored to be the inspiration behind the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. Though Hayao Miyazaki (the latter film’s director/animator) debunked that rumor, the historic street does have that whimsical Ghibli-esque atmosphere that tourists find so endearing.
6. Maokong
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Maokong is a charming little mountaintop village that lets you take in the amazing view of Taipei. And you can do it while enjoying an amazing cup of local tea, as Maokong is known for a great variety of teahouses. The best way to get to Maokong is by taking a scenic glass-bottomed cable car up the mountain from the MRT Taipei Station. It costs NT$120 each way for adults, but Easycard users get a 20% discount on weekdays.
7. Wulai
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Visitors to Taipei probably expect to see a lot of Chinese culture, but Taiwan wasn’t originally populated by Chinese. Before the Chinese began migrating to the island in the 17th century, Taiwan was inhabited by aboriginals. Wulai is the closest aboriginal village to Taipei, and is home to natural hot springs. Filipino visitors to Wulai may be surprised to see the similarities between the Atayal tribe and the Igorot peoples in northern Luzon.
Wulai also boasts plenty of hot springs. You could even make your own makeshift hot spring by simply digging a hole at the riverbanks! To get to Wulai, board the 849 bus from Taiwan.
8. Shifen Old Street
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Shifen Old Street is a tangle of tight lanes and alleyways round the Shifen railway station, which was originally built to transport coal during the Japanese era. The marketplace, which has plenty of yummy snacks and souvenirs, surrounds the train station, so tourists can freely walk along the tracks (just make sure to get out of the way when the train comes!). Tourists also often write wishes on Chinese lanterns and release them into the sky. Each year, the Sky Lantern Festival is held during the first full moon of the lunar year, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
9. Thermal Valley
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Located in the Beitou Hot Springs area, the Thermal Valley springs are so hot that they consistently give off thick steam that creates a eerily beautiful vibe.
10. Yehliu Geopark
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Located along Taiwan’s north coast, Yehliu Geopark has a breathtaking landscape of unique formations formed by the sea, the most famous formation being the iconic Queen’s Head. The geopark is also home to birds like egrets and ospreys.
11. Taipei Public Library (Beitou Branch)
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Found within Beitou Park in the Beitou Hot Springs area, the Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch attracts plenty of visitors due to its unique architecture. Opened in November 2006, it is Taiwan’s first green library, making use of large windows for natural light and natural ventilation.
12. National Palace Museum
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Originally established as the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing in 1925, the museum’s collection was relocated to Taiwan during and after the Chinese Civil War. Apart from the ancient artifacts, visitors can also enjoy the sights at Zhishan Garden. Tickets for adults to the museum costs NT$250.
Which places in Taipei will you be getting your ‘gram on?
