New Taipei, Taiwan: travel guide
Hillside old streets, waterfalls and hot springs around the capital
Encircling Taipei on three sides, New Taipei is Taiwan's most populous city — a mosaic of hillside gold-mining towns (Jiufen, Jinguashi), coastal hot-spring resorts (Wulai), mangrove wetlands (Tamsui), and artisan tow…
About New Taipei
New Taipei is the sprawling city that wraps around Taipei, and it holds many of the area's best-loved day trips. The landscape runs from mountain villages and coastal cliffs to river towns and quiet fishing ports.
In Jiufen and Jinguashi you can walk old hillside streets that once served gold mines, while Wulai brings hot springs and forest, Shifen draws visitors for its waterfall and lantern tradition, and Tamsui offers sunsets over the river mouth. Sanxia has a beautiful old street and a famous temple.
New Taipei suits travellers who want to leave the capital for a day or two. Autumn and spring are generally drier, and cloud over the hills can be common in winter.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Currency
- TWD
- Time zone
- Asia/Taipei
- Nearest airport
- TPE
Last updated
Top places to visit in New Taipei
Jiufen Old Street
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Hillside mining town famed for red-lantern teahouses and stone-paved alleys overlooking the Pacific. Best visited at dusk when lanterns light up.
Shifen Waterfall
Waterfall · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Taiwan's widest waterfall (40 m wide, 20 m tall), nicknamed the "Taiwan Niagara." Short walk from Shifen Old Street where sky lanterns are released.
Things to do
- Shifen Sky Lantern Release on the Railway Track Cultural · 1.5 h · from TWD 130 per person
- Jiufen Evening Lantern Walk & Tea Ceremony Cultural · 3.5 h · from TWD 810 per person
Where to stay in New Taipei
- Tamsui Old Street about TWD 1,400 per night
Riverside sunset town at MRT terminus. Colonial fort, tofu pudding vendors, and ferry links.
- Jiufen Village about TWD 2,200 per night
Hillside gold-rush village of red lanterns and Pacific views. Limited but charming B&B options.
Hotels
- Fullon Hotel Tamsui Fishermen's Wharf 5-star · TWD 4,800 to TWD 15,000 per night
- Dandy Hotel Tamsui 3-star · TWD 1,800 to TWD 4,200 per night
Where to eat
- A-Mei Tea House taiwanese · about TWD 540 per person
Getting to New Taipei
Nearest airport: Taipei, Shung Shan (TSA), about 11 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Scooter Rental
- Taxi
- Walking
More in Taiwan
Frequently asked questions about New Taipei
- What are the top-rated places to visit in New Taipei?
- The highest-rated places in our New Taipei guide are Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen Old Street.
- Where should I stay in New Taipei?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in New Taipei: Tamsui Old Street, Jiufen Village.
- How do I get around New Taipei?
- Ways to get around New Taipei covered in our guide: City bus, Scooter rental, Taxi, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to New Taipei?
- The nearest airport to New Taipei has the code TPE.