Explore the Best Museums in Taipei, Taiwan
With millennia of Indigenous history followed by encounters with the Chinese, Europeans, and Japanese, Taiwan has always been a cultural crossroads. This vibrant island democracy holds many fascinating stories, and the museums found within its capital Taipei might tell them best. On a rainy day (or any day except Monday), visit their galleries for insight into tribal communities, Hakka heritage, and the contentious relationship between Taiwan and China.
National Museum of History Offers Powerful Historical Insights
Founded by Japanese colonists in 1908, the National Taiwan Museum is Taiwan’s oldest, positioned at the edge of 2-28 Peace Memorial Park in central Taipei. Explore the park and its many pagodas before the day gets too hot, discovering commemorations of the “February 28 Incident” on the site where Taiwanese civilians protested against police brutality in 1947.
Inside the museum’s galleries, visitors can explore Taiwan’s cultural and natural history – including taxidermy models of indigenous animals and dinosaur bones – before moving across the street to enjoy free access to the century-old bank vault at Land Bank Exhibition Hall.
International Art Lovers Will Love the Taipei Fine Arts Museum
One of Taipei’s premier art galleries, the Fine Arts Museum, is a fine place for a day out. This museum frequently hosts international traveling exhibitions covering fashion, design, and art. Additionally, TFAM showcases local artists and hosts the Taipei Biennial within its modern architectural space. The entrance fee is usually 30 NTD, but it is free on Saturday evenings.
See the Splendors of Chinese Art at the National Palace Museum
If you visit only one museum in Taipei, make it this one. The National Palace Museum boasts a permanent collection of 700,000 Chinese artworks and artifacts—the world’s largest and finest collection, with 8,000 years of Chinese history on glorious display across four vast floors. Come prepared for a visual feast: items on display include ceramics, antique calligraphy, jades, and bronze vessels that once belonged to Chinese emperors.
The museum’s grand entrance befits the historical significance of its contents, featuring a wide walkway lined with manicured shrubs and fountains, surrounded by a complex designed in the style of a Chinese palace.
Learn About Alternative Histories at Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines
Located just down the road from the National Palace Museum, the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines provides an alternative perspective on Taiwan’s history, offering diverse displays of the island’s native cultures, with a focus on ethnology and the varied customs and lifestyles of its different tribes.
Experience the Wonders of the Universe at the Taipei Astronomical Museum
Unleash your inner space enthusiast at the Taipei Astronomical Museum, where you can explore the universe’s many wonders through a range of educational exhibits and interactive facilities. This includes an equatorial telescope, star dome, and ecliptic sundials.
Walk Through a Forest of Euro-Japanese Architecture at the Beitou Hot Spring Museum
A replica of the Shizuokaken Idouyama bathhouses in Japan, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum is an unexpected treasure in the foothills of Yangmingshan mountains. Built in 1913 on the site of natural hot springs, this complex blends Eastern and Western architectural styles and once served as a public bathhouse for Japanese colonialists.
Visitors can swap shoes for slippers to walk on the tatami-mat flooring, getting a closer look at the arched hallways and tiled walls of the old bathing area as they explore historical exhibits. You may also enjoy resting on the pavilion overlooking Beitou Park or venture down the road for a more immersive experience at the active Beitou Public Hot Spring.
Take a Quiet Walk by Jade Artifacts at the National Museum of History
Set within the serene environment of the Botanical Gardens, the National Museum of History features exquisite Ming-style architecture – all red columns and sloped turquoise roofing – backing onto a tranquil lotus pond. Visitors can explore textiles, handicrafts, and jade jewelry spanning six Chinese dynasties and enjoy the gardens afterward.
Guandu Temple Offers Living Lessons in Religious Practices
Guandu Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, serves as a living museum. Dating back to the mid-17th century and expanded during the Qing Dynasty, it is now a multi-denominational temple that tells diverse narratives through carvings and dragon sculptures throughout.
Take in the Newest and Latest at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Another notable gallery in Taipei is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), which features an eclectic program of modern international exhibitions housed in a Japanese colonial building just north of Taipei Main Station.
Sample Some Kitsch at the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan
On the smallest scale of them all, the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan showcases one couple’s unique collection of global attractions in miniature. Exhibits include a tiny Buckingham Palace, Tudor castle, and Roman ruins beside fantastical scenes from beloved fairy tales like Pinocchio and Jack and the Beanstalk. It’s charming and slightly whimsical.
