Guest Contributor: My Favorite Neighborhoods to Stay in Taipei and Live like a Local

🏠Best neighborhoods to stay in Taipei

Many travelers I meet spend two weeks or more in Taiwan rather than just coming for a brief visit, which is great! I personally think one needs at least a week just to get a first taste of Taipei and the surrounding northern part of the island, and that a two-week-trip is the absolute minimum to get a feel for the rest of Taiwan without being rushed. Because of this, having the right “home base” is so important—for comfort and for making it easy to get around.

My favorite areas to stay in Taipei are Daan Park and Zhongshan (around Shuanglian MRT Station). Most first-time visitors tend to stay in the Ximending pedestrian district, which is very popular with tourists due to its convenience and the abundance of mid-range hotels. Personally, though, I prefer these other neighborhoods because they feel more local and ‘real’. That said, almost any central area is a great choice – as long as you’re within a few minutes’ walk of an MRT station. Taipei’s MRT system (and Kaohsiung’s as well) is very convenient, fast, clean, affordable, reliable, and safe—making it easy even for first-time visitors to navigate the city and reach all major sights.

I especially love the Daan Park area for its residential feel, central location, the tree-lined elegance of Renai Road, and of course the beautiful park itself—where it’s easy to spend several hours a day, also with kids. Taipei 101, the CKS Memorial, and Taipei Main Station are all just a few MRT stops away on the Red Line. Meanwhile, the park itself, the Jianguo Jade & Flower Holiday Market, Yongkang Street (with its charming shops and delicious food options), and Dongmen Day Market are all within easy walking distance. All of this makes Daan Park one of the best areas to stay with kids too.

Zhongshan (around Shuanglian MRT Station) is my other favorite choice for a home base. It’s an older part of the city with tons of character, countless small shops, and what feels like an endless selection of restaurants, family eateries, and Japanese izakayas. In Zhongshan, you’re never more than a few feet away from excellent food.

I love this area for two additional reasons:🍢 the famous and very popular Ningxia Night Market is just a short walk away. 🛍️ my absolute favorite Taipei street for shopping and strolling—Dihua Old Street—is also within walking distance or a short, direct bus ride away.

The short term rental apartments we return to every single time in Taipei are also, in large part, responsible for us feeling comfortable and “at home” in the city. One is near Daan Park on beautiful, palm tree–lined Renai Road, and the other is in the Zhongshan District, surrounded by fantastic food joints and small shops. Both are perfect for extended stays; the owners’ hospitality is legendary, and we feel right at home every time. If you are—or plan to become—a repeat Taiwan traveler, I highly recommend finding your favorite accommodation and sticking to it. Having a “home away from home,” whether a hotel or short-term apartment, enriches the experience and makes each return feel special. Hosts also reward your loyalty and make you feel especially welcome on your return.

We now have favorite home bases in Kaohsiung, Xiaoliuqiu (Lambay Island), and Shizuo (Alishan area) – that are all VERY affordable. Returning to a comfortable, familiar place while enjoying new adventures truly hits the sweet spot.

🤔 What can be challenging to manage during your Taiwan visit

In the interest of balance, I also want to share a few things worth being aware of as a first time visitor—stuff that can be challenging and may require some preparation to minimize frustration. These are entirely personal and depend a lot on what you’re used to.

💸 Cash reliance:
Many small businesses still only accept cash, or cash along with local credit cards. Foreign cards are being accepted more widely every year, and I’ve seen this shift toward more digital payments from trip to trip. That said, for anyone used to paying exclusively with a digital wallet, or credit card – Taiwan does require some advance planning when it comes to cash. I typically use cash versus cards and digital payments about 50/50 during my stays. Your best bet is to gat cash at the airport when you arrive: use the ATMs to draw NTD from your foreign debit card or exchange foreign currency at one of the Bank branch kiosks. Exchange rates are the same as in the city, but Bank branch opening hours are more limited – so the airport branches are more convenient.

(More cards are accepted in larger cities; rural areas rely much more heavily on cash. As an example, during three days in the Alishan area we didn’t use our cards even once—it was essentially cash-only everywhere. In contrast, I used my digital wallet almost everywhere for weeks in Kaohsiung.)

⛅ Weather:
The heat and humidity are no joke for at least six months of the year (April through September), and often longer. On our last trip, it was extremely hot and humid even in early October, making it difficult to enjoy being outdoors for more than 15–30 minutes at a time. Frequent convenience-store stops or escapes into air-conditioned spaces are essential for those accustomed to milder temperatures and humidity levels below 80%. October to April is most pleasant.

🚩 Typhoons and earthquakes:
Taiwan is prone to both, and they can be unsettling when experienced for the first time. The good news is that typhoons are predictable and usually forecast at least a week in advance, giving everyone time to prepare. Earthquakes, on the other hand, can’t be forecast—but with close to 200 felt-earthquakes each year, Taiwan is extremely well prepared. Buildings are designed to withstand seismic activity, and serious damage is rare. Because I lived there in the past, I’ve grown accustomed to both and they don’t bother me much, though my husband was understandably anxious during his first few earthquakes in 2024. He was, however, quite curious to “watch” a large typhoon pass through Taipei from the safety of our sturdy rental apartment. 😉

🦟 There are LOTS of biting insects:
If you are a mosquito magnet like me, you’ll almost certainly get bitten by mosquitoes and no-see-ums in Taiwan. No matter what repellent I use—or how carefully I try to avoid parks or bodies of water at sunset—they get me good every single day 🤦🏼‍♀️. Using a DEET-containing repellent is essential (and works well for many people, just not me), wearing clothing that covers ankles and arms helps, and applying a cooling balm after bites provides some relief. I’ve found that Tiger Balm works wonders for soothing the itch. Some people may also need antihistamines to reduce swelling and itchiness.

⚓ Now that we’ve gotten the more challenging bits out of the way, I want to end this post on a more fun note than earthquakes and biting insects! 😉

My bonus tip for this episode finally takes us outside of Taipei, a 90-minutes High Speed Train (HSR) ride away. It’s about where to stay in Taiwan’s fantastic southern port city, Kaohsiung! I’ll talk more about Kaohsiung later—it completely surprised us on our first visit with two of my friends and unexpectedly stole my heart with its port-city vibes, stunning coastal sunsets, modern architecture, vibrant artsy scene, fresh spirit, and easy access to actual, swimmable beaches 🥰It became a beloved 2nd Taiwan home-base over the years.

The best area to stay near to all of the above is Yancheng District, which is well connected by MRT and Light Rail stops. If you want it all (like we usually do!)—including fantastic river and harbor views on top of the great location—try to stay near Pier-2 Art Center, Love Pier, the Music Center, or Glory Pier. The sunset and evening views are so beautiful, you won’t want to leave!See you next time – for my favorite Taipei spots to visit, my top-list of easy day-trips and tried & tested helpful resources for travel planning and apps I use daily in Taiwan!

Xoxo, Emese