Hotel
Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
A luxury hotel on Dunhua North Road with a full spa, the Cantonese restaurant Ya Ge and quick access to Songshan Airport.
A sociable budget hostel five minutes' walk from Taipei Main Station, with a skylit lounge, free breakfast and free guided walks and hikes.
Good to know
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station is one of the hostels picked out by the city's official TAIPEI Quarterly magazine in summer 2026, and it is a strong choice for budget travellers who want comfort, company and a central base. It occupies the fourth floor of a building on Huayin Street in the Datong District, about five minutes' walk from the West 1 exit of Taipei Main Station, the city's main rail and MRT hub.
The rooms cover both dormitories and private rooms, and the tourism office highlights the generous storage space, which matters when you are living out of a backpack or suitcase for a week. The centrepiece of the hostel is the Green Lounge, a two-storey atrium lit by skylights, which gives the shared space an airy feel and makes it easy to meet other travellers or plan the next day.
What sets Star Hostel apart is how much is included in the room rate. Breakfast and fresh coffee are complimentary, and the hostel runs free guided walks and hikes, as well as game nights, movie nights and DIY food sessions. For solo travellers in particular, this is a simple way to see more of the city with company and local knowledge, and to make friends to explore with afterwards. Ask at reception for the current schedule of walks and events when you arrive.
The hostel suits solo travellers, budget-minded couples and friends travelling together. Families with young children may prefer a private room or a hotel, and anyone who wants complete quiet should ask for a private room rather than a dorm. Book directly through the official website to see current room types and rates, and check the policies on check-in times and luggage storage if you are arriving early or leaving late.
The location is ideal for getting around. Taipei Main Station links the MRT, the high-speed rail and the airport MRT, so day trips and airport transfers are straightforward, and the surrounding streets have plenty of local eateries. The Palais de Chine and its Le Palais restaurant are close by if you want a splurge, while Dihua Street, Dadaocheng and Wang Tea are a short walk or ride to the north-west. The National Taiwan Museum, 228 Peace Memorial Park and Astoria Cafe are also within easy reach on foot.
On the 4th floor of No. 50, Huayin Street, Datong District, about five minutes' walk from Taipei Main Station's West 1 exit.
Both dormitories and private rooms, with ample storage.
Yes, breakfast and fresh coffee are complimentary.
Yes, free guided walks and hikes, game nights, movie nights and DIY food sessions are included in the room rate.
A two-storey skylit atrium that serves as the hostel's common area.
Yes, the included activities make it easy to meet people.
Through the official website, starhostel.com.tw.
Yes, Taipei Main Station, a short walk away, is served by the airport MRT.
Restaurant
A three-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant on the 17th floor of the Palais de Chine Hotel, known for roast duck, Peking duck and refined dim sum.
Thing to do
Taipei's best-known night market spreads through the lanes of Shilin, combining a large food court with street snack stalls and clothes shops.
Café
The Huashan flagship of Simple Kaffa, the speciality coffee company founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Wu Tse-lin.
Attraction
The observation floors of Taipei 101, the 508-metre Xinyi tower, offer views across the Taipei Basin and a close look at its giant tuned mass damper.