Best accommodation in Taipei

Taipei has a plentiful supply of mid-range and luxury hotels scattered all over the city, with hefty discounts available year round – however, beware of major trade shows such as Computex (May/June), which can lead to a shortage of rooms. Budget accommodation is also easy to find, with Taipei the only city in Taiwan that offers a decent choice of hostels. Most of the cheap accommodation is concentrated in the old city centre, but in recent years a new crop of hostels has emerged in Shida, near the major universities and plenty of nightlife.

With a bigger budget, where you stay will largely depend on your priorities: Zhongzheng and the area around the train station is the best base for getting around and convenient if arriving by bus or train, but Zhongshan is where you’ll find most of the mid-range hotels and several five-stars. This district is not quite as convenient for transport, but there’s plenty to eat and Zhongshan Road is one of the city’s more leafy (and upmarket) thoroughfares. Wanhua and Datong are historic neighbourhoods, good for temples and traditional food, but with less choice when it comes to hotels and a long way from the nearest nightlife. East Taipei, which includes Songshan, Xinyi and most of Daan district, is where the majority of luxury hotels are located – this is the modern financial and commercial heart of the city, as well as the location of its trendier restaurants and bars, and beds are priced accordingly.