Book your tickets online or buy them from the 5th floor inside Taipei 101’s mall. You can get tickets for the 89th or 101st floors. To reach Taipei 101, you can take the Taipei Red Line to Taipei 101 Station.
I’ve visited all the floors tourists can access in the Taipei 101 World Trade Center. I want to share my experience, how to navigate this skyscraper, and compile other information I found.
Throughout this guide, you’ll learn how to visit Taipei 101, some exciting things to see while you’re there, and fun facts about Taiwan’s tallest building.
Taipei 101 is a striking skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. Standing at 508 meters, it was the world’s tallest building until 2010. With its unique bamboo stalk design, it features an observatory for breathtaking city views, high-end shopping, and a gourmet food court.
Don’t miss the massive tuned mass damper, designed to stabilize the building against earthquakes and typhoons.
Visit Taipei 101 in the late afternoon. That way, you can enjoy the daylight cityscape, watch the sunset, and see the dazzling city lights after dark. Remember, it’s less crowded on weekdays.
Taipei 101 Facts
| Phone Number | 2-81-018-800 |
| 35th Floor Starbucks Phone Number | 2-8101-0701 |
| Website | taipei-101.com.tw |
| Address (English) | No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110 |
| Address (Traditional Chinese) | 110台北市信義區信義路五段7號 |
| Hours | Sunday–Thursday: 11 AM–9:30 PM |
| Friday & Saturday: 11 AM–10 PM | |
| Opened | December 31, 2004 |
| World’s Tallest Building Rank | 10th place [1] |
| Number of Floors | 101 |
| Elevator Speed | 37.7 miles (60.67 km) per hour |
| Location | Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Chinese Name | 臺北101 |
| Building Height | 1,667 ft (508.1 m) |
| Included in Taipei Fun Pass? | Yes |
Taipei 101 Floor Plan
Here’s everything you’ll find on each floor in Taipei 101:
| Floor | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 101 | Outdoor observation deck |
| 93–100 | Mechanical rooms |
| 87–92 | Tuned mass damper |
| 91 | Outdoor observatory |
| 87 & 90 | Mechanical rooms |
| 88–89 | Indoor observatories |
| 85–86 | Diamond Tony’s 101 Panorama restaurant |
| 13–84 | Mix of office suites and mechanical rooms |
| 9–12 | Taipei stock exchange |
| 7–8 | Mechanical rooms |
| 6 | World Gym |
| 5 | 89th floor Observatory deck elevator entrance |
| 1–4 | Taipei 101 shopping mall |
| B1 | Taipei 101 World Trade Center MRT Station (Exit 4) |
| B2–B5 | Parking garage |
What’s There To Do at Taipei 101?
You can do the following inside Taipei 101:
- View outdoor exhibits
- Eat at the food court
- Shop at the mall
- Work out
- Visit the secret Starbucks
- Visit the 89th-floor indoor observatory
- Take an elevator to the 101st-floor outdoor observatory
- View the fireworks show
The plaza outside of Taipei 101 holds a lot of public art pieces. And protestors for various causes.
From my experience, protestors have remained peaceful. Nor do they approach you and try to force you into whatever cause they’re protesting. So they won’t interfere with your experience.
If you arrive around December, you’ll find many Instagrammable Christmas decorations and light displays.
1. Visit the World’s Highest Starbucks
Taipei 101 has a Starbucks on the 35th floor that you can only enter by reserving in advance. You must spend a minimum of NT$200 ($6.50).
You’ll need to call 886-2-8101-0701 to reserve an appointment. If you can’t speak Mandarin, speak English. The operator will likely transfer you to someone who speaks English.
I cover scheduling a reservation in-depth in a separate guide. Check it out before visiting this hidden Starbucks.
And yes, it’s “hidden.” You won’t find it on Starbucks’ website.
This Starbucks doesn’t have any hidden menu items. But it gives you an excellent view of Taipei City during the day. At night, you may have an awkward time seeing outside. Because of the glossed windows.
It’s worth the visit, though.
2. Taipei 101 Observatory: 89th Floor
Taipei 101’s 89th floor holds various exhibits that display Taiwan’s technical prowess. It also gives you access to the seismic damper on the 87th floor.
The last time I was there, I saw an augmented reality(ish) flower display.
I’m a stamp collector. I punch stamps from various MRT stations and tourist attractions in a book. You’ll find some stamps in this observatory.
Otherwise, you can visit the gift shops, cafés, and get a breathtaking view of Taipei without having to shell out the extra money to visit the top of the tower.
How to Visit Taipei 101: 89th Floor Observatory
You’ll need NT$600 for a ticket. You can buy this ticket online or on the 5th floor of Taipei 101’s shopping mall. Or online.
When it’s time for you to take the elevator to the 89th floor, you’ll make your way to the 5th floor and wait for the staff to take you there. The time you’ll wait will vary.
But there’s seating, cafes, and other miscellaneous displays you can check out while waiting.
After you ride the lightning-fast elevator, you can roam the observation deck.
3. Taipei 101 Skyline 460: 101st Floor
Visiting the 101st floor of Taipei 101 will lead you outside. You’ll get a stellar view of Taipei and New Taipei Cities.
When I went, I saw a rainbow. So keep an eye out for that.
There’s not much to do in this spot other than to relax (or panic) and gaze at the bustling concrete jungle below.
By the way:
The staff will put harnesses on you, which they will attach to the outside railing. It’s for your safety. That way, you don’t fall from one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Once everyone has their gear on, the tour guide will take you to the rooftop. The security guard waiting at the top will connect the carabiners on your straps to you to some ropes attached to the top of the building.
The one downside to the tether you’ll have while on the rooftop is that you can’t freely move around. That’s because you have the people ahead of you blocking. However, being safe beats falling into oblivion.
The Skyline tickets also include a photo shoot. You can set yourself up on the corner of the rooftop, and the staff will snap a photo of you. Later on, the team will send you the pictures via email.
They used to print the photo. But now they only deliver them through email.
Once you’ve had enough fun on the roof, you can check out floors 88, 89, and 91 as you please.
When you’re ready to leave, let someone on the 89th floor know, and they’ll escort you to the lobby.
How to Visit the Top Floor of Taipei 101
You’ll need to pay NT$1,000–3,000 for a ticket to the 101st floor of Taipei 101. You can get tickets on the 5th floor of the shopping center or from online.
If you use travel deals websites, I’m sure that you’ll find a deal.
Once you order your ticket and are ready, you’ll have to wait in line until your tour guide is ready to take everyone to the top. From there, you will ride a series of elevators—I say “series” because you will need to transfer a couple times.
4. Taipei 101 Shopping Center
Floors 1 through 4 have a series of stores like:
- Boutique stores
- Watches and jewelry
- Accessories
- Souvenir shops
- Skincare
- Another food court: Jean-Paul Hévin, Shi Ling Shabu, and Salt Stone are a few examples
There’s a World Gym Elite on the 6th floor. A great place for you to break a sweat.
The 5th floor also has a small food court with an Ikari Coffee and some other restaurants. This is also where you’ll buy your tickets for the 89th and 101st floors.
5. Taipei 101 Basement Food Court
B1 has some fashion stores like Lululemon and crocs. It’s also home to tens of restaurants.
One is Taiwan’s famous Din Tai Fung. It’s pricey and known for dumplings and other tasty Taiwanese food. Other restaurants and fast food joints you’ll find include:
| McDonalds | Mos Burger | Starbucks | Mister Donut |
| Jasons (Supermarket) | Hsin Tung Yang | Aguan Hotpot Taipei 101 | TKK Fried Chicken |
| Yu Jan Shin (bakery) | Juice Bear | KQ Tea | Kavalan Whiskey |
Prices for these restaurants seem consistent with other restaurant pricing throughout Taipei. But it’s often crowded.
If you arrive during a lunch or dinner rush, you may have difficulty finding a seat.
6. Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show
Every December 31st, Taipei 101 will host a massive firework show once the clock strikes midnight.
Before the fireworks begin, you can explore the various food stalls throughout Xinyi and gaze at the advertisements covering the side of Taipei 101.
Upon entering the new year, the building will erupt into colors and smoke.
If you want a great view of the fireworks, you can surround yourself with locals and see them up close.
If you don’t mind watching from afar, visit Maokong Mountain. This prevents you from following the masses like a school of fish once the fireworks end. You also avoid the massive MRT congestion.
One year, I’ve had to wait in line for an hour to get in an MRT cart. Efficiency for transporting people may have improved over the years.
If you have money, you could visit a nearby club or restaurant and view the light show in style.
Brief History of Taiwan’s Taipei 101
Taipei 101, which was formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, was a project led by Harace Lin and other corporations in 1997. From there, the Samsung C&T Corporation and various contractors worked hard and quickly constructed this massive building.
Then came December 31, 2004. When it presented a massive fireworks display to celebrate the building’s opening.
It held the crown as the world’s tallest building until 2009, when the Burj Khalifa took its place. But it remains as the world’s tallest green building [2]. It earned the LEED V4 platinum certification to achieve this title.
That means it scored points in the highest category possible regarding water efficiency, building materials used, indoor environmental quality, and other factors.
Design Choices
The 8 segments represent a gargantuan bamboo stalk towering over Taiwan. The number eight symbolizes “prosperity” in Eastern culture.
The disks mounted on the building represent ancient gold coins.
The curled ruyi figures throughout the structure represent heavenly clouds.
From 6 PM to 10 PM you’ll see a different color illuminating the top of the tower. The following are what days correlate with the varying colors you’ll see at the top of Taipei’s massive tower:
- Monday: red
- Tuesday: orange
- Wednesday: yellow
- Thursday: green
- Friday: blue
- Saturday: indigo
- Sunday: violet
There are a lot more interesting design choices that went into building Taipei 101. But I want to cover another marvel that this tower contains.
1. It Has One of the World’s Fastest Elevators
Taiwan’s landmark’s elevator can reach speeds up to 37.7 miles (61 kilometers) per hour, which makes it one of the quickest lifts out there [3]. The elevator can take you from the 5th to the 89th floor in around 37 seconds.
2. Taipei 101 Damper: How It Works
Taipei 101’s tuned mass damper, seismic damper, or harmonic absorber. It’s a massive golden ball suspended by eight cables toward the tip of Taipei World Financial Center.
It produces a reaction force to counter vibrations or shocks from the outside. The tuned mass damper will prevent the landmark from swaying during an earthquake or typhoon.
Prestige Club
Those over 15 years old could pay NT$1.01 million (around $36k) to become an “Extreme” member. The secret membership gives you access to an exclusive VIP parking lot with:
- 6 hours of free parking a day
- Private shopping service
- Discounts at some stores
- Access to art events
- Early access to fashion events
It’s an interesting perk I’ve never heard about until researching this guide.
Global Partnership: Taipei 101 Discount Card
If you’re a member of the Ginza Six (Japan), Times Square (Hong Kong), or Parco (Japan) programs, you can get the following discounts at Taipei 101:
- 5–10% off participating shops in the Taipei 101 mall
- 10–20% off tickets to the observatory: you can get a maximum of 4 tickets
- 10–20% off Skyline 460 tickets: once again, max. of 4 tickets per card
Present your membership card at these companies to the customer service counter on the B1 floor to get your discounts.
Taipei 101 has other membership programs like the Prestige Club, 101 Point, 101 Member, and 101 Pay. But these point-based membership programs only benefit locals and expats.
Things To Do Near Taipei 101
Where to Stay Near Taipei 101
Here are some options for hotels you’ll have near Taipei 101:
Grand Hyatt Taipei
No. 2, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, 11051 Taipei, Taiwan
Great for 2 travelers
- Airport shuttle
- Great view of Taipei 101
- 8.5 rating
- Free Wi-Fi
- Hot tub
- Steam room
Humble House Taipei
No. 18, Song Gao Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Best for proximity to tourist spots
- 8.9 rating
- Stellar rooftop pool
- View of Taipei 101
- On-call doctor
- Spa
- Garden paths
Shangri-La Far Eastern
201 Tun Hwa South Road, Section 2, Taipei City, Taiwan
Best for a swimmers (multiple pools)
- Rooftop pool
- Spa
- Family rooms
- Free Wi-Fi
- 8.8 rating
- View of Taipei 101
The staff at all the mentioned hotels speak English and Mandarin.
If you’re on a budget, consider looking into Airbnbs or house sitting.
Don’t mind hunkering down with strangers? Consider a hostel.
Formosa 101 is a hostel that’ll give you the best view of Taipei 101. It has features like:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Luggage storage
- A game room
- Private check-in/out
- Room service
- Private quarters
- Soundproofing
- Kitchen stuff: microwave and fridge
Prices start at NT$495 ($16) per night. If you stay in the bunk beds. I’ve seen some single-bed private rooms for NT$1,366 ($44) a night.
Not a bad deal considering the amazing you’ll have of Taipei 101.
How To Get to Taipei 101
Ways that you can reach Taipei 101 include taking public transportation like:
- Taipei’s subway
- City bus
- Rideshare or taxi
- Walking
- Youbike
Let’s explore your options.
1. Ride the Taipei MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)
Take the Taipei Metro Red Line to Taipei 101 World Trade Center Station. Once you depart from the MRT station, you’ll be outside of the monument.
You can also take the Blue Line to Taipei City Hall station and leave through Exit 2.
It’ll take you about 10 minutes to walk to the Taipei Financial Center from here. But you can also explore the malls throughout Xinyi if you have extra time to spend.
The cost to get to the Taipei World Financial Center or Taipei City Hall by using the subway, it’ll cost you between NTD$20–$60 (between $0.71 and $2.15).
It can take you two to 40 minutes. The latter time depends on whether you’re coming from the opposite side of New Taipei City (Tamsui).
Learn more about Taipei’s metro system
2. Taipei City Bus
To use this mode of transportation to reach Taipei 101, I recommend taking bus 1815 if you’re by Taipei Main station.
Take any route that leads or connects to Xinyi Administrative Center, Hotel Grand Hyatt Taipei, Taipei City Hall, or the World Trade Center station.
Before taking this bus, you’ll want to download the Bus+ app by using one of these links:
If you prefer touring the entire city, you can take the Taipei Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off bus.
It departs from Taipei Main Station (Exit M4) and will cruise around most of the city. They have friendly tour guides and offer English tour guide headsets.
3. Taxi or Uber
If you prefer using Uber or don’t want to deal with hailing a taxi, you can download the app or first use the rideshare program’s price estimator.
Otherwise, just hail a taxi that’s approaching and show them Taipei 101’s address. Pay attention to the meter and pay them when the ride’s over.
You can also call one of these numbers to order a taxi:
- 55850: ask for a cab in English and the operator should connect you to someone
- 27997997: English-Speaking Drivers’ Association
I have a list of other important transportation-related numbers in a separate post.
4. Walk
Taipei City is the most walkable city that I’ve experienced. If you want decent exercise, you could walk from a number of popular tourist destinations and reach Taipei 101 within an hour.
For instance, walking from Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall would take you a little less than an hour.
5. Rent a YouBike and Cycle There
You can rent a YouBike and park at a station in front of Taipei 101.
You’ll only need an EasyCard or iPASS card to register and pay for your rentals. Here are the prices:
| Price | Duration |
|---|---|
| NT$5 ($0.17) | First 30 minutes |
| NT$10 ($0.34) | Per 30 minutes (for the next 4 hours) |
| NT$20 ($0.68) | Per 30 minutes (for the next 4–8 hours) |
| NT$40 ($1.36) | Per 30 minutes (after 8 hours) |
Here’s a map of all of the YouBike stations around Taipei 101:
I’m not done, yet.
I have a thorough guide that covers registering for YouBike’s service. If you can’t register for a YouBike, you can always find other local bicycle rental services.
If you can’t register for a YouBike, you can always find other local bicycle rental services.
FAQs for Taipei 101
Still curious about Taipei 101? Explore some of these frequently asked questions about Taiwan’s capital city’s monument.
What Is Taipei 101 Used For?
The lowest parts of Taipei 101—floors 1–6–are used as a luxury shopping mall and a gym. Floors 88–91 serve as a public observatory. The rest of the floors serve as office space and mechanical rooms.
What Is Taipei 101’s Pendulum Weight?
Taipei 101’s mass damper weighs 660 metric tons (600,000 kg). The massive steel sphere is 18 feet (5.4 meters) in diameter.
How Much Did Taipei 101 Cost To Build?
Taipei 101 cost around $1.8 billion to build [4]. This price puts it near the top of the list of the most expensive buildings on Earth.
