Beitou Hot Springs

The Beitou area of Taipei is renowned for its high concentration of thermal spa centres. There are establishments to fit any budget, from the low-priced open-air Public Hot Spring (modest swimwear required) to private hotels and resorts uphill, all offering hot spring baths at various price points. One option most resorts offer is renting a private room with a large bath that can be filled with hot spring water. The Spring City Resort in Beitou is a great mid-range option. A session here includes access to about a dozen thermal pools of varying water temperature (from seemingly boiling-hot to rather chilly), plus robe, towel, and slipper rental. They even offer a free shuttle bus to the metro station. For a luxurious spa treatment, look into the offerings of Hotel Regent Taipei, for example. Wellspring Spa offers a wide range of relaxing treatments including massages, body wraps, skin polishing and facials. Take the elevator to the top floor and unwind at this urban sanctuary.

• Address:

  Beitou, Taipei

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The Taipei landmark, Chiang Kai-Shek National Memorial Hall, was constructed in memory of Chiang Kai-Shek, former president of R.O.C. The large area is dominated by the colours of the national flag: blue, white and red. These colours symbolise independence, universal love and equality.

• Web:

  www.cksmh.gov.tw

• Address:

  21 Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei

• Phone:

  +886 2 2343 1100

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9am–6pm

• Subway:

  Exit 5, CKS Memorial Hall MRT Station. Or Exit 3, Dongmen MRT Station.

Cycling Tours

With a tour company like Taipei Bike Works you can explore the city in a fun, fast and efficient way — on a bicycle! Taiwan offers a very friendly cycling environment with many incredible things to discover.

• Web:

  taipeibikeworks.com/en/tours

• Phone:

  +886 982 277 996

Daan Forest Park

Daan Park is a quiet escape from the big city life of Taipei, and a great place to catch a breath of fresh air. The park has a wide range of flowers, plants, bamboo trees and banyan trees. It is also full of activities such as a skating rink, basketball court and children's playground.

• Address:

  1, Section 2, Xinsheng South Road, Da’an District, Taipei

• Phone:

  +886 02 2700 3830

• Subway:

  Daan Park MRT Station

Fine Arts Museum

If you love art, then this is the right place for you. The Taipei Fine Arts Museum has something for any art enthusiast. It opened its doors in December 1983 and was the first museum of modern art in Taiwan. Today, it has more than 4,000 works of art.

• Web:

  www.tfam.museum

• E-mail:

  info@tfam.gov.tw

• Address:

  181 Zhongshan North Road, Section 3, Zhongshan District, Taipei

• Phone:

  +886 2 2595 7656

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Fri & Sun 9:30am–5:30pm, Sat 9:30am–8:30pm, Mon closed

• Subway:

  Exit 1, Yuanshan MRT Station

Lungshan Temple

Originally built in 1738, this is the oldest and most popular worship temple in Taipei. It has bronze dragons on pillars symbolising protection, and Buddha sculptures in the main hall. A visit to this magnificent temple will grant you an understanding of Chinese architecture and religion.

• Web:

  www.lungshan.org.tw

• Address:

  211 Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei

• Phone:

  +886 02 2302 5162

• Opening hours:

  Daily 6am–10pm

• Subway:

  Lungshan Temple MRT Station