Beitou Hot Springs in Taipei, 30 minutes via Train

Beitou Hot Springs
30 minutes by Train from Taipei 101
Recommended for a Day Trip, Family Friendly Area

Beitou - River Hot Spring

For a short and quick getaway from the city center, Beitou Hot Springs is a 30 minutes train journey away from Taipei 101. It is a great place for a day trip. You could cover most of the attractions in the area by aligning at Beitou Station, and transfer to XinBeitou Station, walk up a hill called Zhongshan Road, and visit a trial of museums, hotels with indoor hot springs and historical buildings built by the Japanese before World War Two. Entering into Beitou, is like entering into a Japanese countryside, while in Taiwan. There are many parallels between Japan and Taiwan, for those with keen observation, the food, culture and fashion are intertwined, and the Taiwanese gladly follow Japan, technologically and culturally wise.

How to Get to Beitou

Hop into any train in Taipei, take the green line to Beitou, and transfer to XinBeitou Station.

Walk towards the direction of Zhongshan Road. The signs are tourist friendly and in English.

Walk up Zhongshan Road to visit the trial of historical buildings, hot springs and hotels

Travel light as the Zhongshan Road is a hill going upslope, or take a taxi from the station up the hill (US$3) and walk down

Best Dates to Travel to Beitou – Weekdays

Weekdays, especially on Mondays, hotel rates will go down and you will get good deals

Hotel rates jack up on weekends, and the whole of Taipei descends on Beitou for a weekend getaway

Try to avoid Beitou on weekends to avoid conjestion, and schedule it on a weekday.

Beitou Attractions: Zhongshan Road Walking Trial

(exit XinBeitou Train Station, and look for directions to Zhongshan Road – up a hill)

Beitou Hot Springs Museum, carefully restored by the locals with pride

Beitou Public Library - A Green Library built in the middle of a Zen Park

Beitou Outdoor Hot Spring

Beitou Public Hot Spring – Open Air with Bathing Suits

After a tiring walk up and down the hill, hop into a open air hot spring, for mix genders. You are required to wear a bathing suit. Unlike their Japanese counterparts (where no bathing suit is required), the Taiwanese are more conservative and shy. Expect stares if you decide to go in with a bikini, but there is nothing technically wrong with that. The Taiwanese dress conservatively, and baring a shoulder in a spaghetti shirt will induce stares as well.

Beitou Indoor Hot Spring

If you would like your own privacy, and don’t fancy sharing an open air bath with strangers, simply book a private hot spring bath in most hotels in the area. You could simply walk into any hotel, ask for a quotation on 2hours usage of their indoor hot spring. Some hotels throw in bonuses such as free lunch or high tea, and even a private room. Feel free to experiment. Hotel Recommendations: Royal Seasons Hotel (on top of Zhongshan Road), Golden Hot Spring Hotel, Atami Hotel Taipei or Spa Spring Resort.

Health Concerns

*If you are taking the train, do wear a Flu Mask if you are prone to catching flu. Two of our editors fell sick with flu after the train ride to Beitou. The local Taiwanese doctor advised that flu is most easily transmitted while on the train, and it is very common for locals to wear the flu mask, available in all Pharmacies. You will blend in easily with a flu mask. They might think you are local too.

Taipei Smart Travel Guide

Taiwan is a unique country. It has a 200 history of Japanese colonization, and the influx of Chinese capitalism from KMT during the 1940s, along with 1/3 of the best imperial treasures combined with an acceptance of the indigenous people of the land.

Understanding Taiwan

Taiwan is a strange country, the moment you think you understand it, it seems to slip away from your fingers, just like its famous Taiwanese Cuisine – Fried Oyster Omelette. Its slimy texture, made with a combination of flour and beaten eggs, set your tongue into a gastronomic journey through the senses, when you seem to understand it, it slips down into your throat, and it is gone.

Traveling Around in Taiwan

A great way to understand this country is to speak Mandarin. The Taiwanese are not fluent in English. Hence it is a hindrance to international visitors if they can’t communicate in Mandarin or have a local guide. It is recommended to hire a local driver, which can be arranged with the hotel’s concierge in most 4 to 5 star hotels. In 3 star hotels, some do provide this service, but you will not go wrong with international hotels.

Taiwan Food and Transport Cost

The main modes of transport are by Taxi and MRT. Taxis are every where in the cities, and you can flag them easily along the street. The average fare is about US$5 for each trip. A meal in a road side stall is about US$1 – $2, a family owned restaurant for about US$3 – 10, a Din Tai Fung meal at US$20 per person.

Taiwan Hotel Grades and Cost

You can go for 3 star local hotels starting from US$65 – US$100, and 4 star hotels from US$100 – US$200, and US$200 onwards for 5 star hotels. From experience, local 4 star hotels are quite comparable to 5 star hotels without the facilities or fancy bell boys or restaurants for a decent clean room. 3 star hotels are very basic, and are decent for budget conscious travelers.

Taipei Hotel Recommendations

This guide is complied from our experience, to save you all the trouble from reading on trip advisor where to book the best hotel rooms that are nearest to the action. These recommendations guarantee you are right in the middle of where you should be in each unique district, without walking too far from the main action.

Royal Palace Hotel

3 1/2 Stars
Da’an District opposite SOGO Departmental Store
Recommended for the Trendy & Upscale Traveler

A hip and trendy district for 20 – 50 age group. It is SOHO inspired from New York, with a vibe of Holland Village from Singapore combined with the affluence and sophistication of Tokyo. It is a great shopping area with many independent designer stores, and branded goods with little alley way cafes hidden at every niche and corner. The hotel is located near the famous celebrity lane, which has upscale shops with unusual designs and designs of one of a kind.

inHouse Hotel

4 Stars
Ximending, Taipei
Recommended for Teenagers, Young Adults and Young Couples
For the budget conscious traveler who want to stretch their dollar

If you like Harajuku in Tokyo, this is the Taiwan’s version of Harajuku. Rows of little shops selling small items from hand phone covers to handbags, this is a girl’s paradise, for those who like to stretch their dollar for more. There is nothing fancy about the streets of Ximending, just plain haggling with street store owners, and a little alley way of night market stores to fuel the hunger with tons of shopping bags after a great scoop on a sale.

The men can head for 24 hour massage parlous, one just located below the hotel. Or unlimited milk tea stores to clench the summer thirst, hot pot or sukiyaki to beat the winter blues. It is a eating paradise, as stores open till late and the action mostly kicks off when night falls.