Taipei 101 is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist attractions and most photographed landmarks. One of the reasons why I've been wanting to visit Taiwan is to see and climb the famed Taipei 101. That is why, when we were planning this trip, I made sure that a visit to Taipei 101's observatory is included in our itinerary. So before flying to Taipei, we booked in advance our discounted Taipei 101 observatory tickets via Klook.
Taipei 101, "Taiwan's Most-Popular Tourist Attraction"
Taipei 101 is considered as one of the tallest buildings in the world. It held the record of being the "tallest building in the world" with a height of 509.2 meters from 2004 to 2010.
Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, this 101-floored tower is designed and constructed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. It is an icon of modern Taiwan, a landmark that incorporates traditional design elements with a modern take.
Getting to the observatory, we entered Taipei 101 Mall, took the elevator and went up to the 5th floor where we exchanged our Klook e-voucher tickets to actual Taipei 101 observatory ticket. We then lined up and took the elevator going to the 89th floor. Indeed, it's the world's fastest elevator! It only took us about 37 seconds to get to the observatory at the 89th floor! Whoa!
Please note that since there are a lot of tourist groups visiting this place, lines going up could be quite long, even on a typical weekday. What we did is we went here few minutes before it opens at 9:00 am. It's good! There were not too many tourists during that time, and the line is not that long.
Amazed and excited upon reaching the 89th floor, I took this chance to enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views of Taipei from the glass windows in every corner of the building. It's a wonderful sight to see the mountains and the valley of Taipei, and to see the various structures in the city. You may also use the long-range telescope for a closer view of the surroundings.
We wanted to climb the 90th floor where the outdoor observatory is. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit due to strong winds. So we just decided to go down to the 88th floor to see the World's Largest Wind Damper, which provides stability to the building amidst strong winds and harsh weather conditions. With a diameter of 5.5 meters and weighing 660 metric tons, this damper was designed to reduce wind movement of the structure. It's also a must-see when visiting Taipei 101.
After seeing the damper, we decided to walk towards the elevator to get down. Since it's already around 11:00 am, there's already a long line of tourists waiting for the elevator to get down. But it was okay, we just waited for about 10 minutes and we're able to go down and exit the building.
Elephant Mountain, "In Search for the Best View of Taipei"
If you're wondering where to get the best view of the city and of Taipei 101, I highly suggest that you climb the Elephant Mountain. It requires a hike to the stairs to get to the viewpoint where you will be greeted with an amazing view of Taipei City and the towering Taipei 101 dominating the city's skyline.
The 30-minute hike is all worth it! With this view, I didn't mind even if it's too cold, raining, and slippery just to get here.
The best time to visit is during the late afternoon to catch the sunset. But since the weather is not good during our visit, we didn't see the sunset. But it's still an awesome view even without the sunset.
Tourists visiting Taipei for the first-time should make sure to see this icon. Taipei 101 is an architeural landmark in Taipei you shouldn't miss when traveling to Taiwan. Be sure to include this in your Taiwan itinerary.
ALSO READ: 3 Awesome Ways to Explore and Discover Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei 101 Opening Hours
- 9:00 am - 10:00 pm daily (last admission: 9:15pm)
- Opening hours on national holidays may change
Taipei 101 Tickets
Taipei 101 observatory tickets normally cost TWD 600 (PHP 1,005.00), but you can get them at a discounted rate of PHP 858.00 when you purchase your tickets through Klook.com. Free admission for children under the height of 115 cm. Children must be accompanied by one adult.
ALSO READ: Taipei, Taiwan Travel Guide 2018 - DIY Itinerary, Things To Do, Budget, and more!
How to get to Taipei 101
From anywhere in the city, take the MRT red line to Xiangshan Station and alight at Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. You can also take the blue line 5 bus to Taipei City Hall station and walk a few meters to Taipei 101. This is also one of the stops of the Taipei Sightseeing bus tour or the Double Decker hop on Hop off bus tour, so you could also make a stop here if you're taking the tour.
How to get to Elephant Mountain
Take the MRT red line, alight at Xiangshan Station and take Exit 2. Walk and pass the park, and when you reach the end of the road, turn left going uphill until you see the entrance or start of the Xiangshan Hiking Trail (see photo here) on the left side of the road. The hike takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how fast you climb the stairs.
Cheap Flights to Taipei Taiwan
With Taiwan's visa-free entry privilege given to Filipinos, this is now the best time to visit Taiwan. There are several airlines departing from Manila and Cebu that has direct flights to Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport.
EVA Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific have daily flights to Taipei. To search for cheap flights to Taiwan, I highly recommend booking via Traveloka.com - one of Southeast Asia's leading travel booking sites. I've been using it in my travels and I can assure you that you'll always get the best deals and promos on hotels and flights! And don't forget to use their weekly promo codes to get more discounts!
READ: How I got to Book a Manila to Taipei Flight for 4,696 Pesos with FREE 30 kilos Baggage Allowance, In-flight Meal, and Philippine Travel Tax?
WHERE TO STAY IN TAIPEI?
As the capital city of Taiwan, Taipei offers a wide array of accommodation options that can fir your budget and needs. From cheap and affordable hostels, to mid-range budget hotels, to luxury hotels, one can find a temporary home to stay at the heart of the city. Book in advance to avail up to 50% discount on published room rates via Agoda!
Please note that ticket prices and airfare are subject to change and depend on the date of your booking.
This trip to Taipei, Taiwan was made possible by Traveloka and Klook Travel.
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