Where to stay in Taipei on your own

6 min read · Updated 2026-10

Taipei is compact and the MRT is easy, so you can’t go far wrong. For a solo trip, the simplest choice is a hotel or hostel within a few minutes’ walk of an MRT station in one of the central areas below. Pick by what you want on your doorstep: trains, late-night food, quiet cafes or shopping.

We don’t review hotels. Instead, each area below links to the solo-friendly places we have checked there, so you can see what is close to your door before you book.

The short answer

Taipei Main Station

The city’s transport hub. The Airport MRT, the high-speed rail, Taiwan Railway trains and two city MRT lines all meet here, which makes it the easiest base if you are arriving late, leaving early or taking day trips by train. Underground malls connect the station to the Q Square mall and the bus station.

• On your doorstep: the Q Square B3 food court and the station’s 2F food court for a meal for one in any weather, a railway bento, beef noodles at Liu Shan Dong, plus the Railway Department Park and the free National Center of Photography.
• Good to know: the area is busy by day and calmer at night, with fewer late-night food stops than Ximending. Ximen is one stop away when you want more.
• See more: our near Taipei Main Station list.

Ximending and Wanhua

Taipei’s busiest pedestrian shopping area, popular with young locals and visitors at all hours. It has many budget hotels and hostels, and plenty of food open late. Lungshan Temple and the old Wanhua night markets are one MRT stop away.

• On your doorstep: individual hot pot at Chan Chi, a bowl of Ay-Chung mee sua, and noodles through the night at Ximen Noodle Shop and Xiao Wu.
• Good to know: the main streets are crowded and noisy on weekend evenings. Budget rooms can be small, and some have no window, so read the room description.
• See more: Ximending on your own and all places in Wanhua.

Zhongshan and Shuanglian

A calmer area along the tree-lined linear park between Zhongshan and Shuanglian stations, with cafes, small shops and the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department stores. The old streets of Dadaocheng are a walk away.

• On your doorstep: set meals for one at Li Zhang Gui and many small ramen and curry counters, the Shuanglian morning market, Ningxia night market and Dihua Street in Dadaocheng.
• Good to know: quieter at night than Ximending, with fewer late places, though Lin De Dian serves beef noodles into the small hours.
• See more: Zhongshan and Datong and Dadaocheng.

East District (Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Dunhua)

Department stores, side lanes full of restaurants and cafes, and one of the biggest choices of checked places to eat on this site. Hotels here tend to cost more than in Ximending.

• On your doorstep: the SOGO Fuxing B2 food court, soy milk and breakfast at Lao Jiang Jia, open around the clock most days. Linjiang Street night market is a short MRT ride away.
• Good to know: it is a good base for eating well and shopping, and a little farther from the old-city sights in Wanhua and Dadaocheng.
• See more: all places in Da’an.

Xinyi

The newest part of the city, around Taipei 101, with large malls and newer hotels that often cost more.

• On your doorstep: the Taipei 101 observatory and the short, steep Elephant Mountain trail for the classic view of the tower.
• Good to know: there are fewer cheap places that serve one person than in the older areas, and most of the old-city sights are 20-30 minutes away by MRT.
• See more: all places in Xinyi.

Beitou

A hot spring district at the north end of the city, worth one or two nights if hot springs are the point of your trip. Many hotels have hot spring water in the room, and there are public baths you can use on your own.

• On your doorstep: public baths such as Longnice Hot Spring (Takinoyu), plus the walk through Beitou Park.
• Good to know: it is about 30-40 minutes by MRT from central Taipei, with a change at Beitou station, and evenings are quiet.
• See more: Beitou hot springs on your own.

Booking a room on your own

• Stay close to the MRT. A five-minute walk to a station matters more than the exact area, especially in summer heat or rain.
• Check what “single” means. Many hotels charge per room, and a “single” can be a double bed for one person. Compare the room size and price.
• Look for a window. Some budget rooms in Taipei have no window. If that matters to you, check the room description or photos.
• Think about noise. Rooms above night markets or busy pedestrian streets can be loud late into the evening. A higher floor or a room at the back helps.
• Check for a lift. Some older buildings have only stairs, which is hard with a big suitcase.
• Carry some cash. Hotels usually take cards, but many small food stops near them are cash only. See paying in Taiwan.

Getting there from the airport

From Taoyuan International Airport, the Airport MRT express runs to Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 minutes. From there, the city MRT reaches Ximen in one stop on the Blue line and Zhongshan in one stop on the Red line. If you fly into Songshan Airport, it has its own stop on the Brown MRT line inside the city.

Getting online: mobile phone counters in the arrival halls sell prepaid SIM cards for visitors (bring your passport). If your phone supports eSIM, you can also set one up before you fly, for example Airalo’s Taiwan eSIM (paid link: we earn a commission). On your own there is no one to share a hotspot with, and mobile data makes maps, the MRT and translation apps much easier.

Check the latest: Taoyuan Airport MRT for timetables and fares, and Taipei Metro for the city lines.

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