The oldest part of the city, along the river — the restored merchant shophouses and temples of Dadaocheng, the fabric and dried-goods lanes of Dihua Street, and a wave of hip tea rooms and bars in the old buildings. Atmospheric, characterful and more local, a short metro from the centre; the base for travellers who love history, tea and quiet lanes.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€65–120
typical per night in Taiwan
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Taipei — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Datong & Dadaocheng and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Ximending19 min walk1.6 km
- Longshan Temple28 min walk2.4 km
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall8 min taxi2.6 km
- Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung10 min taxi3.2 km
- Shilin Night Market11 min taxi3.8 km
- Taipei 10118 min taxi5.9 km
- Elephant Mountain20 min taxi6.8 km
- Beitou hot springs27 min taxi9.0 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 3.National Palace Museum — One of the greatest collections of Chinese art in the world — nearly a million imperial treasures spirited from Beijing's Forbidden City, from jade and bronzes to the famous 'meat-shaped stone' and jadeite cabbage. So vast only a fraction shows at once; a genuinely world-class half-day, up in the northern hills and easily reached by bus from the metro.
- 10.Dihua Street & Dadaocheng — The most historic street in Taipei — a long parade of beautiful old merchant shophouses selling dried seafood, herbs, tea and fabric, now dotted with stylish cafés, design shops and tea rooms. Loveliest around Lunar New Year, when it becomes the city's great festival market; a wander here is a step into old Taipei, with the riverside temples close by.
- 13.Raohe Street Night Market — The most atmospheric of Taipei's night markets — a single lantern-lit street bookended by a gorgeous temple, famous for its black-pepper buns baked in a tandoor at the entrance, plus every Taiwanese snack you could want. Smaller and more manageable than Shilin, with a great buzz; combine it with the rainbow-lit Rainbow Bridge over the river alongside.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Datong & Dadaocheng; flights via Google Flights.