Good food, deep culture, and easy getting around make these areas stand out
Taiwan’s main city isn’t just a hub for traveling to and from the island. Taipei abounds with affordable food and deep culture. Either as its own trip or part of a broader East Asia and Southeast Asia itinerary, Taipei is a great place to visit, especially with kids. As you plan your trip, here’s where to stay in Taipei, including family friendly neighborhoods.
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What goes into our Taipei accommodation recommendations?
Our family of four spent 2 months in Taiwan, including both Taipei and Taoyuan. Along with traveling with kids, Jodie is an amputee who uses a prosthetic leg for her walking mobility. If someone we know were asking us where to stay in Taipei, especially if they were visiting with their kids, here’s what we’d base our recommendations on:
- Overall family friendliness of an area or neighborhood
- Walkability, access to public transportation, and more daylife than nightlife
- Range of affordable and convenient dining (which by and large is pretty ubiquitous in Taipei)
- Access to groceries and convenience stores
Since everyone has different travel styles and needs, we rarely recommend specific hotels or lodging. Instead, we’ll share resources for finding the accommodation that’s right for you, and we’ll talk about the area we stayed in.
Overview of our Taipei recommendations
After traveling around many of the city’s highlights and researching where we’d want to go on our next visit to Taipei, here are the 5 areas we’d suggest for where to stay in Taipei:
- Ximending: Bustling streets for shopping, people-watching, and dining, in a hub of the city
- Taipei 101 area (Xinyi District): Proximity to one of the world’s tallest buildings, but also closeness to local neighborhoods, parks, and easy access to sightsee in other parts of Taipei
- Zhongshan District: Northern area can make it easier to jaunt out to Shilin Night Market, waterfront Tamsui, Beitou hot springs, and green spaces such as Yangmingshan National Park
- Da’an District: Has overall quieter, more residential areas, plus proximity to Linjiang Night Market and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Taipei Main Station area: Major train stations are natural accommodation hubs, and the area around Taipei Main Station has lots of options for accommodation and dining. It’s also easy to hub here and head out to other parts of the city.
We’ll talk through each area in more detail, and share some of our own recommendations for activities and more.
1. Ximending: Taipei’s family sightseeing and shopping hub
Pedestrian shopping district is a hub for special events such as Lunar New Year
As one of Taipei’s main shopping and sightseeing hubs, you can also find a broad range of accommodation in Ximending.
Some of our most enjoyable sightseeing and general wanderings were in the Ximending area. Along with being close to train stations and bus stops, Ximending offers pedestrian streets that abound with cafes, shops, bubble tea stalls, and souvenir places.
You can find cultural and historical attractions here, such as the Red House. This historic octagonal structure combines snippets of Taiwanese history with a shopping area where you can find artisan goods.
Around the Lunar New Year season, Ximending is also home to Taipei’s Lantern Festival. Enjoying these displays one evening was a highlight of our time in Taipei, and we could imagine staying in this area for more Lunar New Year celebrations.
Pros
- Pedestrian-friendly shopping district
- Abundant family dining options, street food, and iconic Taipei brands such as Xing Fu Tang (we enjoyed both the iconic bubble tea and their soup dumplings)
- Ximen and Beimen MRT stations make it easy to use the train
- Easy access to historic sites and family attractions
- Vibrant yet safe
Cons
- Evenings, weekends, holidays, and special occasions can make Ximending pretty crowded
- Few parks and limited green space
- Accommodation prices tend to be higher
Find places to stay in Ximending
2. Taipei 101 area (Xinyi District): modern neighborhoods and shopping areas
Where to stay in Taipei for families seeking modern amenities and local neighborhoods
The blocks around Taipei 101 not only include one of the world’s tallest buildings. The flat area makes for easy walking for access to shopping centers, outdoor dining, pedestrian streets, and even parks.
You’ll find a growing number of hotels, including global brands, in this area. Modern apartment blocks and condo developments also dot much of the area to the east. While there are some impressive buildings, these blocks also have less to offer in the way of dining, shops or conveniences.
However, Taipei 101 makes up for much of that. In addition to visiting the observation decks on the 89th and 101st floors, the lower level food courts include not only a Din Tai Fung dim sum location, but an excellent, budget friendly food court.
About 650 meters east, Xiangshan Park and Playground offers excellent green space to relax, plus a romp-friendly playground (and toilets). Just off the south end of adjacent Sanli Park, hikers can pick up the trailhead for the Xiangshan Trail, also known as the Elephant Mountain trailhead. This popular trail heads to XiangShan Peak (Elephant Mountain) for views of the city, especially Taipei 101.
We stayed in the Xinyi District area
Our own Taipei accommodation was about a kilometer south of Taipei 101, in a vacation rental in the Xinyi District.
We especially enjoyed this area for how many restaurants, bubble tea places, and food stalls there are. Many blocks had multiple restaurants, and our month in Taipei was the least we’ve ever cooked at home or on our travels. With so many affordable local dining options, we gave ourselves permission to enjoy lots of dining out.
Depending on where you stay in the Xinyi District, buses and Uber rideshare may be easier for getting around than taking the MRT. However, buses are affordable and frequent (though sometimes crowded and not often on time). We mostly used the bus.
Xinyi’s walkability was excellent, especially with so many shops and restaurants for day-to-day amenities.
Pros
- Wide, flat sidewalks make it easier to get around with strollers, small children, or for people with mobility disabilities
- Pedestrian-only streets lined with cafes, bars, restaurants, and shopping
- Close to Taipei 101, family-friendly attractions, and excellent parks
- Clean and safe environment
- Dining includes upscale restaurants, international chains, and large shopping mall food courts, plus local cafes and restaurants in Xinyi
- Red Line MRT runs along the Xinyi Road, for easy access to other areas and attractions, including Daan Park, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and National Taiwan Museum
Cons
- Overall more upscale neighborhood can mean higher prices and room rates
- More modern and global right around Taipei 101 itself, so finding more historical or traditional Taiwanese culture and areas will mean going to other parts of the city
- More commercial and business focused, with less of a neighborhood feel, though you can find this by going a little south into Xinyi
Find places to stay around Taipei 101 area and Xinyi
3. Zhongshan District: Urban amenities with easy access to northern natural areas
Combo of family friendly destinations, green spaces, and cultural attractions
If there were an area we’d like to spend more time in Taipei, it’s Zhongshan. While we visited the area for the Shilin Night Market (on an excellent private tour), a future search for where to stay in Taipei would have us looking to base in this area.
Zhongshan’s northern location puts visitors near cultural attractions such as the National Palace Museum and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
While most travelers fly in and out of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to the west, staying in Zhongshan puts you right across the Keelung River from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA). Limited international flights use TSA, but if you do, staying in nearby Zhongshan could cut your airport transit time significantly.
The main reason we’d consider staying in Zhongshan is its proximity to many areas to the north of Taipei, including the Beitou District’s hot springs, Yangmingshan National Park, and Tamsui.
Pros
- Easy access to northern Taiwan’s natural, historic, and recreational areas
- Range of accommodation types and prices
- Family-friendly parks and green spaces
- Modern conveniences combined with an authentic neighborhood feel
- Proximity to multiple MRT lines and stations, such as the Tamsui-Xinyi Line and Wenhu Line
Cons
- Rush hours can cause slow traffic
- More travel time may be needed when visiting attractions in other parts of the Taipei area
Find places to stay in Zhongshan
4. Da’an District: quiet family retreat
Neighborhoods, parks, and university campus proximity
Toward the southern end of Taipei City, the Da’an District includes multiple parks. Residential areas and neighborhoods can give families a quieter place to stay. Located near the National Taiwan University campus, this area is generally considered more affluent and upscale, which can show up in the accommodation prices.
We’d considered Da’an District primarily for its proximity to Da’an Park. Especially for travelers with kids, this large urban green space includes a cherry blossom viewing area for the spring blossom viewing season, a children’s theatre, playground, skating rink, and basketball courts.
Since Da’an is along the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line and Wenhu Line, reaching cultural attractions such as Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and Linjiang Night Market can be easier too.
Pros
- Residential areas with tree-lined streets
- Daan Forest Park is a great recreation spot for kids or anyone seeking some green space
- Generally quieter and more peaceful than other parts of the city
- Neighborhoods are generally considered safe, walkable, and convenient
Cons
- Farther from many attractions and other sightseeing areas, with fewer major attractions within walking distance
- Fewer accommodation options than more central districts
Find places to stay in Da’an
5. Near Taipei Main Station: Convenient access to main transportation hub
Riverside sightseeing, public transit, and gateway to the rest of Taiwan
The Tamsui River marks the western edge of Taipei City, with New Taipei on the other side of the river. With Taipei Main Station as a center point for where to stay in Taipei, you gain convenience not only to public transit on the MRT, but to some of Taipei’s best sightseeing areas.
We’d consider staying near Taipei Main Station for the proximity to Dihua Street, Lungshan Temple, Ximending’s shopping and sightseeing areas, Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza, and the Ningxia Night Market.
However, being near the main station can make it much more convenient for jaunting out to other parts of Taipei, making this area a useful hub when your Taipei itinerary has you visiting points throughout the city. The Main Station is also a hub for local buses.
More than that, a stay near Taipei Main Station puts you at the threshold of the rest of Taiwan. Transportation to other parts of the island generally leave from Taipei Main Station, and when you return you’ll typically be coming back to this station as well.
Pros
- Staying near a major transportation hub makes it more convenient to use MRT and buses
- Wide range of accommodation options and prices
- Easier access to all parts of Taipei and Taiwan
- Abundant dining options within walking distance
- Perfect for families planning day trips outside Taipei
- Underground shopping areas great for rainy days
Cons
- More likely to be crowded, hectic, and noisy
- Some areas can be more commercial and less residential
Find places to stay in around Taipei Main Station
Various accommodation types and cost ranges abound across all areas of Taipei
As a major urban hub not only for the island of Taiwan but for East Asia, Taipei hosts a range of accommodation. Where to stay in Taipei could include hotels (including international brands such as Marriott and Four Seasons), vacation rentals (such as our 2-bedroom apartment with a view of Taipei 101), and other types of stays.
Budgets vary as well. High-end hotels are an option, but so are hostels and hotels that can be lighter on the wallet. Our overall sense was that Taipei in general could cost more for accommodation, but savvy travelers would find it easy to balance out the expense of where to stay with savings on public transportation and food.
Depending on your Taipei itinerary and length of stay, figuring out where to stay in Taipei could include a hotel if you prefer more convenient areas. For more space and a kitchen, you could choose a vacation rental instead.
While we chose a vacation rental, we still rarely cooked, given Taipei’s boundless options for affordable dining and takeaway.
Hotels
- International chains offer consistent family friendly amenities
- Local hotels may offer cultural experience and local connection
- Family rooms and connecting rooms widely available
- Can have more convenient access to attractions
Vacation Rentals (Airbnb and alternatives)
- Apartment-style accommodations can be more ideal and budget friendly for longer stays
- Kitchen facilities give you more options for eating, or if you need to cook to meet your family’s dietary needs
- Typically offer more spacious accommodation, layouts, and multiple rooms
- These accommodations are often in local neighborhoods
You can choose from many options for where to stay in Taipei
A range of neighborhoods, areas, attractions, and features gives you extensive options for finding where to stay in Taipei. You can be more central to urban amenities or attractions, or you can find peaceful neighborhoods that give you easy access to green spaces.
We enjoyed an apartment vacation rental where we could gaze at Taipei 101 from the balcony. On a future stay, we could easily imagine staying farther north, so we could spend more time in the hot spring and natural areas just outside the city.
Among the many lovely things about Taipei? There’s so much to choose from, you can find the right place to stay for you—and odds are you’ll be close to public transit and many delicious restaurants.
