Where to stay in Taipei: Best areas and locations for Malaysians

While you can't convert to TWD in advance on Wise, you'll still be able to spend seamlessly in MYR directly with Wise’s auto conversion at the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees

Taipei is a great choice as a city break from Malaysia, and also offers the opportunity to extend your stay to explore more of Taiwan with easy access to other key points on the island. Whether you’ve got a week or just a few days, Taipei is a fun destination which offers great food, a refreshing city buzz, shopping, and more.

We’ve got a roundup of places and neighbourhoods you might want to consider if you’re wondering where to stay in Taipei for a first time visit, or if you’re on a budget. We’ll also talk about the Wise card, to make spending and cash withdrawals cheap and easy in Taipei.

What types of accommodation are there in Taipei?

Taipei has a broad range of accommodation on offer, from high end hotels to hostels for backpackers, family run guest houses, serviced apartments, villas and more. There’s a good choice of high end accommodation if you’re in Taipei on a special trip, but there are also cheap options if you’d prefer to keep your money for eating, drinking and enjoying the local experiences.

You’ll need to work out where to stay in Taipei to make sure you can make the most of your trip there. The city is pretty sprawling, but has excellent internal transport links and also good connections to other destinations in Taiwan. This means that by selecting an area which is close to the sites you’ve got on your itinerary, and which offers easy access to transport networks, you can manage your time effectively.

This guide covers where to stay in Taipei for family, for a first time visit and on e budget to help you select.

Is Airbnb legal in Taiwan?

Airbnb is available in Taiwan, but hosts must comply with fairly strict local licensing laws to operate legally¹. To make sure you’re on the right side of the law you’ll want to select hosts which have a long history of operating with Airbnb and which have many positive reviews. This should also help to make sure you have a great visit.

Overall, Airbnb can be a great place to look out for accommodation in Taipei with over 9,000 properties listed. This includes flats, rooms and entire homes in popular neighbourhoods like the ones we feature in this guide, with many family and budget friendly picks to consider.

Where to stay in Taipei for first timers?

If it’s your first visit to Taipei you'll have plenty to fit in - and as the city can feel quite overwhelmingly large, prioritizing accommodation which offers good transport links is a good strategy. Many people also pair a visit to Taipei with day trips elsewhere on the island, so being somewhere with good transport from the airport and out of the city again for local trips can make a lot of sense. Here are a couple of our selections for where to stay in Taipei for first timers in the city.

Taipei Main Station Area (Zhongzheng)

The Taipei Main Station area is the heart of the city’s transport network, which can be a huge bonus if you’re trying to make the most out of your first visit to Taipei. You can still walk to popular areas like Ximending shopping area, and you’ll be able to pick up the MRT to go to the districts of the city which are a bit further away. There’s a direct line from the airport, and you can also grab the bus here conveniently.

Because this is a very popular place for tourists to stay in Taipei, it’s home to many different hotels and hostels. This means there’s a good range of price points, with lots of local competition leading to some on the cheaper end of the scale if you’re working to a stricter budget.

Dadaocheng

Dadaocheng is a historic area of Taipei and a great place for a first time visitor looking for beautiful architecture and traditional experiences. You can visit local tea shops, wander the streets and watch people pass by during the day, and by night hit the nearby night markets to keep up the buzz. In the evening head down to the river to Pier 5 which is home to bars, and restaurants, and offers excellent views of the skyline at sunset.

The neighbourhood has several MRT stations so choosing a hotel close to one of these makes getting around the city a breeze, and should ensure that you can visit all of the sights on your list during your stay.

Where to stay in Taipei with family?

Visiting Taipei with family might mean choosing accommodation which has large room sizes, and convenient transport links - or you may prioritise somewhere which is within walking distance of the specific sights you’re targeting on your visit to taipei. We’ve covered a couple of good options here - but most of the areas we have featured in this guide could also be smart choices for a family stay. Browse the hotel options within your budget to get a feel for what’s available and to make sure you pick the right place for your visit.

Taipei 101

The soaring Taipei 101 tower defines the skyline in Taipei, and is in one of the newer districts of the city. It's a good choice when you’re visiting with family as there are many higher end accommodation options in the neighborhood which offer a bit more space. This district draws in tourists looking to experience the finer things, from great dining and shopping through to nightlife and bars. The infrastructure is excellent so it’s simple to navigate even with a stroller and you can get out of the sun and into a mall for a break when you need to.

As well as visiting the tower for unparalleled views over the city, this is a good place to start some of the hikes in the hills surrounding the city. These walks also offer great views and relatively easy ways to get out into nature if you’re looking for a change from the frenetic atmosphere.

Da’An Park

If your family likes an outdoor stroll, the area around Da’An Park can be an excellent choice. This 26 hectare mix of forest, parkland and landscaping is often compared to New York City's Central Park.

Many of the hotels in the area are at mid-range price points, and the park itself has playgrounds and picnic spots to keep kids happy during a bit of downtime. You can easily get to great cafes and bars, and as this area is also home to many of the local university buildings, there’s a student vibe which means there’s often a great atmosphere.

Where to stay in Taipei on a budget?

Accommodation is likely to be a large part of your spending, so finding a cheap place can mean you have more in your pocket to enjoy your trip to Taipei. There are plenty of hostels which can make an attractive choice for budget travelers, including some which are in prime locations. You may sacrifice space for location - rooms can be pretty small - but you’ll be in the very centre of the action and close to easy transport links for your sightseeing. Here are some places to think about when you book your Taipei budget accommodation.

Ximending

Ximending is home to many cheap hostels, and offers plenty to do, in a central location. There are temples and historic sites within walking distance, but you’re also in the heart of the shopping area with many restaurants and stores. This area is pretty youthful, so could be a good pick for younger travelers and backpackers as well as families working on a fixed budget for accommodation.

The neighbourhood is partly pedestrianised which means there’s a constant crowd of locals and tourists browsing the stores and watching street entertainment from jugglers and gymnasts to artists and musicians. There are also lots of good places to grab a bite to eat or stop for a drink to watch people passing by. Don’t miss out on the opportunity for bubble tea in the country that invented it.

Zhongshan

Zhongshan is an excellent area in terms of its location and proximity to attractions, so although it’s not the very cheapest place to stay in Taipei, you could find a reasonable price hotel here and keep down commuting time and cost. You’re close to traditional temples, and attractions like the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, and if you decide you need a break there are also karaoke bars, eateries and places to relax all around you. Zhongshan is also known for its boutiques and second hand and thrift stores, making it a good choice for a little retail therapy.

If you’re looking for a good place to base yourself for a very short visit to Taipei it is worth having a look in Zhongshan as while many of the hotels are relatively costly, there are some hidden gems, and the location can help you make the most out of your trip if time is at a premium.

Save even more on your travels when paying in foreign currency with the Wise card

Check out Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home. Top up in MYR from your bank or with a card, and manage your money in TWD with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

You can use your Wise card to spend in 150+ countries around the world, in over 40+ currencies. Start spending with your free virtual card, or order a physical Wise card for a one time fee. This grants you some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR each month as you travel, to save time waiting at a money changer.

Unfortunately, you can’t hold a TWD balance in your Wise account yet, so you’ll only be able to spend in MYR directly with Wise’s auto conversion. Nonetheless, you’ll be getting the rate you see on Google, so you’ll know you’re getting a great deal without the hassle and foreign exchange fees.

Spend in TWD for less as you eat and shop your way around Taipei with a Wise card. You’ll get the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees for currency conversion, to spend and withdraw as you go with no foreign transaction fee to worry about.

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