Why visit
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. A practical starting point for museums, food, and onward routes into the country.
Taipei at a glance
City population
2.6 million
Metro: 7.0 million
Elevation
10 m
33 ft
Time zone
UTC+8
Asia/Taipei
Airport
TPE
Taoyuan International
Founded
1709
Getting around
MRT (6 lines, clean, efficient), buses, YouBike bikeshare
Signature dish
Beef noodle soup, xiaolongbao, bubble tea (invented here), oyster omelet, stinky tofu
Neighborhoods for travelers
XimenXinyiDatong (Dihua)ShilinDa'anBeitou (hot springs)
Taiwan at a glance
Country center
23.5°, 121.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
36,193 km²
13,974 mi²
Country population
23.9 million
661/km²
Subregion
Eastern Asia
Currency
New Taiwan dollar ($)
TWD
Dial
+886
Language
Chinese
Demonym
Taiwanese
Internet
.tw
ISO code
TW / TWN
Where in the world
23.5° · 121.0°
Taiwan
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Taipei 101 was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010: designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons with a 660-ton tuned mass damper.
- Bubble tea (boba) was invented in Taichung (Taiwan) in the 1980s and popularized globally from Taipei.
- Taipei has over 20 major night markets. Shilin is the largest and most famous.
- Taiwan produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors: TSMC alone makes ~50% of the world's advanced chips.
- Taipei 101 has one of the world's fastest elevators: 60.6 km/h to the 89th floor in 37 seconds.
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Taipei
What currency is used in Taipei?
Taipei uses the New Taiwan dollar ($), ISO code TWD.
What languages are spoken in Taiwan?
The primary language is Chinese.
What is the international calling code for Taiwan?
The calling code is +886.
What airport serves Taipei?
Taoyuan International (IATA: TPE).
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