This comprehensive guide to Taiwan attractions includes opening hours, tickets, and the best routes.
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Taipei's old streets are experiencing a quiet revolution. Different from the purely nostalgic narratives of a decade ago, these districts that have witnessed the Japanese colonial period, the Republic era, and contemporary times are becoming experimental grounds for designers, artists, and independent entrepreneurs. You'll find boutique coffee shops on the first floors of century-old buildings, meet emerging designers in studios converted from old houses, and discover late-night bookshops in corners of traditional business districts—this is the true appearance of contemporary Taipei's old streets.
Why Taipei's Old Streets Are Worth Rediscovering
Taipei's old streets are not a frozen museum. After 2020, with the progress of urban renewal and the arrival of creative workers, these districts began to show different vitality. Dadaocheng, the area around Beimen, and Ximen Red House are no longer just tourist nostalgic landmarks but boundaries where locals live and experiment with creativity. This transformation reflects the maturity of Taiwan's cultural and creative industry—from purely business operations to the pursuit of cultural quality.
Recommended Spots
1. Dadaocheng (Dihua Street area, Datong District, Taipei City)
Dadaocheng is the most complete old business district preserved in Taipei, but it's no longer just about dried goods and herb shops. In the past three years, cultural creative coffee shops, lifestyle aesthetics showrooms, and independent design brands have increased significantly. Recommended new spots to explore: Most newly opened boutique coffee shops are concentrated around the intersection of Minsheng West Road and Dihua Street, with coffee at NT$60–90. The owners are often young people who returned to Taiwan from other cities to start businesses. They renovate Japanese-era old houses, preserving the original facades and wooden structures while using modern space design to attract new customer bases. Walking around on weekends, you'll find young office workers and grandparents buying different things on the same street—this is what a truly healthy old street looks like.
2. Beimen and City Light Gallery (Zhongxiao Road Section 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City)
Beimen is the oldest city gate still existing in Taipei (completed in 1884). The surrounding area has seen the completion of the "Beimen Plaza Regeneration Project" in recent years. The City Light Gallery, opened in 2024, is a free attraction featuring artistic installations and projections at night. The focus isn't on the attraction itself, but on the heritage activation around it—the old post office has been converted into an exhibition space, and the police station from the Japanese colonial period is now a restaurant. This area is great for walking, especially in the evening when light streams through the windows of old buildings, allowing you to feel the texture of accumulated time. Nearby consumption is affordable, with bentos at NT$70–100 and coffee at NT$50–70.
3. Around Ximen Red House (Chengdu Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City)
Ximen Red House itself is a red brick octagonal building from 1908, now serving as a creative market and performance space. The creative market held every weekend attracts many independent designers selling handmade accessories, illustrations, and hand-brewed coffee, with prices ranging from NT$100–500. What's more notable is the neighborhood transformation around it—extending from the Red House, you'll find traditional fabric shops and theaters now flanked by small art galleries, vegetarian restaurants, and independent select shops. This is where "the most intense collision between old and new" occurs. It's lively at night, and elderly residents go about their daily lives here during the day. It's not a touristified street but a genuinely mixed community.
4. Zhongshan Road Heritage Cluster and Around Zhongshan Hall (No. 1 Zhongshan Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City)
Zhongshan Hall was the "Public Hall" during the Japanese colonial period and is now a performing arts space. The surrounding area houses many Japanese-era and Republican-era buildings, including the old court (now an exhibition space) and coffee shops converted from historic buildings. This area is relatively "quiet," suitable for those who love architecture and art. The hall regularly hosts concerts, lectures, and small exhibitions, with ticket prices varying by event (NT$200–800). Nearby coffee shops are concentrated at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Chongqing Road, mostly converted from Japanese-era old houses, with consumption at NT$60–120. The atmosphere is quiet, suitable for working or daydreaming.
5. Nanjing East Road Section and Around Songyan (Between Nanjing East Road Section 5 and Guanqian Road, Songshan District, Taipei City)
This isn't a "old street" in the traditional sense, but this area is undergoing a transformation from a department store district to a cultural/hipster district. Next to the old high-end department stores, many independent bookstores, design furniture stores, and new-style restaurants have recently opened. The Songyan Cultural and Creative Park (converted from the old Japanese-era cigarette factory) is nearby and is a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts, with free entry (internal shop consumption is optional). This area represents the "future appearance" of Taipei's old streets—not returning to the past, but the coexistence of heritage and contemporary design.
Practical Information
Transportation: Most old streets in Taipei are accessible by MRT. For Dadaocheng, take the Songshan-Xindian Line to "Beimen Station" or "Zhongshan Elementary School Station"; for Ximen Red House, take the Blue Line to "Ximen Station"; for Zhongshan Hall, take the Red Line to "Taipei Main Station" and walk for 5 minutes; for Nanjing East Road, take the Green Line to "Nanjing Fuxing Station."
Costs: Most old street attractions are free to enter, with consumption optional. Coffee shops average NT$50–120, Chinese restaurants NT$80–150 for lunch, NT$120–250 for dinner. Market and performance event prices vary, typically NT$0–500.
Business Hours: Coffee shops and galleries are usually 10:00–18:00 (may extend to 20:00 on weekends); traditional shops start at 8:00 AM and close around 5:00–6:00 PM; new-style dining establishments stay open until 10:00–11:00 PM. Some small shops are closed on Mondays, so it's recommended to check in advance.
Accessibility: Most old street buildings are old houses, with some uneven ground surfaces. Dadaocheng's Dihua Street has accessible toilets (near MRT Beimen Station); Ximen Red House has elevators and accessible facilities; Zhongshan Hall and Songyan Park have better accessibility. Wheelchair users should avoid peak hours (weekend afternoons before 3:00 PM or weekdays) and contact attractions in advance to confirm accessible routes.
Travel Tips
Best Season: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) have mild weather, coffee shops have outdoor seating, and walking around old streets is most comfortable. Summer is possible, but midday sun is strong, so indoor dining and galleries will be the main activities.
Avoiding Crowds: Saturday afternoon 2:00–5:00 is the busiest time at Ximen Red House and Dadaocheng. To experience the "local feel" of old streets, it's recommended to visit on weekday mornings (10:00–12:00) or Sunday evenings (16:00–18:00).
Food Culture: Taipei's old streets are undergoing a transformation of "old food, new approach"—next to traditional rice noodle soup (Zhongzheng Road, NT$50–70) are newly opened no-menu restaurants. You don't have to eat at "long-established shops"; instead, trying new restaurants opened by young owners in old houses will help you better understand the contemporary significance of Taipei's old streets. Most new shops in Dadaocheng are at the intersection of Dihua Street and Minsheng West Road; new vegetarian restaurants around Ximen Red House are concentrated at the intersection of Chengdu Road and Hanzhong Street.
Local Customs: Traditional merchants on old streets still retain the "bargaining" culture (especially for dried goods and fabrics), but new design shops and coffee shops have fixed prices. There's no need to rush through all attractions—the value of Taipei's old streets lies in "lingering"—spending an hour at a coffee shop, watching the ceiling of an old house interact with sunlight, is the most authentic experience.
