Taipei 101 is the city's defining skyline landmark, a 508-metre tower shaped like a stack of bamboo sections, and it was the tallest building in the world when it opened in 2004. Today you can ride one of its very fast lifts to an indoor observatory, see the huge pendulum that steadies the building in typhoons, and shop in the mall at its base. This guide covers how to get to Taipei 101 by MRT, observatory tickets, the best time to go and what else to see nearby.
Why visit Taipei 101
The design draws on Chinese symbolism. The tower is divided into eight segments of eight floors each, eight being a lucky number, and decorative motifs on the facade echo ancient coins and ruyi charms. From the observatory you look out over the Taipei basin to the mountains around it, with Elephant Mountain close by and, on clear days, views far beyond the city.
The engineering is a highlight too. Taiwan has frequent earthquakes and typhoons, and the tower uses a giant steel ball, a tuned mass damper, suspended near the top to reduce swaying. Unusually, visitors can see it up close.
Getting to Taipei 101 by MRT
The nearest station is Taipei 101/World Trade Center on the Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line). The station connects directly to the building, so you can walk into the Taipei 101 mall without going far at street level, which is welcome in rain or summer heat. Follow signs for Taipei 101 inside the station.
City Hall Station on the Blue Line is the other option. It is a walk of roughly ten to fifteen minutes through the Xinyi district, partly along covered skybridges that link the department stores.
Pay with an EasyCard or other stored-value card for the smoothest journey on the MRT.
Taipei 101 observatory tickets and hours
The mall is free to enter. The observatory is paid, and the ticket office is inside the mall on an upper floor, with clear signs. Standard tickets cover the indoor observatory on the 89th floor and a view of the damper. An outdoor deck higher up opens only when the weather allows, and there are premium experiences with extra access. Fast-track tickets can save time on busy days.
Prices, hours and package options change, so check the official Taipei 101 Observatory website before you go, and book ahead for peak times such as weekend sunsets.
Best time to visit Taipei 101
Visibility is everything. Check the weather and look at the sky before buying a ticket; on cloudy days the top can disappear completely. Late afternoon is a popular choice, allowing you to see the city in daylight, at sunset and lit up at night, but it is also the busiest slot. Weekday mornings are quieter.
Allow about one to one and a half hours for the observatory, plus time for the mall and food court. New Year's Eve fireworks launched from the tower are famous, but the crowds that night are enormous.
Highlights at Taipei 101
The high-speed lift
The ride to the observatory takes well under a minute, and a display shows your speed as you climb. Your ears may pop.
The tuned mass damper
The damper is a massive golden sphere hanging between the upper floors. Displays explain how it moves against the building's sway, and its cartoon mascots, the Damper Babies, appear on souvenirs.
The views
Windows on all sides look over the city grid, the Keelung River and the hills. Audio guides point out landmarks.
The mall and food court
The lower floors hold luxury shops, a large food court in the basement, and a branch of a famous dumpling restaurant that has long queues; take a number and explore while you wait.
Nearby on the same stop
Xinyi is Taipei's modern shopping and nightlife district, with department stores linked by skybridges. One stop along the line at Xiangshan, the steep trail up Elephant Mountain gives the classic view of Taipei 101 from outside, best at sunset. Four Four South Village, a preserved former military housing community, sits at the foot of the tower and has cafes and a weekend market. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is a short walk north.
See more around this station on the Taipei 101 page on Around the Metro, or browse other stops on the Taipei MRT map.