Capital city, Taiwan
Taipei for solo travelers
Is Taipei good for solo travel?
Asia's easiest big city for a first solo trip or nomad base: safe, clean, great food and fast MRT, with hiking minutes away. Humid summers, rainy winters and small apartments are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 5/5 · Excellent for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, day and night. Late-night harassment is uncommon; women-only MRT carriages are not used, but staff are helpful. |
How to meet people in Taipei
Hostels in Ximending, language-exchange nights, Meetup and Facebook groups, hiking clubs, board-game cafés and coworking events. Taiwanese are shy but helpful once you talk.
Good things to do alone
- Eat your way through Raohe or Shilin night markets
- Hike Elephant Mountain at sunset
- Soak in Beitou hot springs
- Cycle the riverside paths
- Take the gondola to Maokong for tea
Where to stay in Taipei
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Da'an and Zhongxiao Dunhua | Cafés, Daan Park, MRT access; popular with expats and nomads |
| Zhongshan–Datong | Boutique hotels, old streets, bars and easy MRT lines |
| Ximending and Wanhua | Budget hostels, nightlife, central station access, lively at night |
| Gongguan and Guting | Students, language schools, cheap eats, riverside bike paths |
| Xinyi | Taipei 101, malls and upscale apartments; pricey |
Solo travel across Taiwan
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Tainan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kaohsiung | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Taichung | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Hualien | 4/5 | Limited |
| Jiufen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sun Moon Lake | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kenting | 4/5 | Limited |
| Alishan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Taitung | 4/5 | Limited |
| Penghu | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiaoliuqiu | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hsinchu | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Taipei good for solo travelers?
Excellent for solo travel (5/5). Asia's easiest big city for a first solo trip or nomad base: safe, clean, great food and fast MRT, with hiking minutes away.
How do you meet people in Taipei?
Hostels in Ximending, language-exchange nights, Meetup and Facebook groups, hiking clubs, board-game cafés and coworking events. Taiwanese are shy but helpful once you talk. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Taipei?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Taipei safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, day and night. Late-night harassment is uncommon; women-only MRT carriages are not used, but staff are helpful.
More about Taipei
Going to Taipei solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Taipei meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Taipei Metro
- Taoyuan International Airport
- Taiwan Tourism Administration
- National Taiwan University Hospital
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.