The Ultimate Beitou Hot Spring Guide (2024 info!)

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Beitou Hot Spring area is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Taipei City – I’ve probably been there over 20 times. In fact, my wife and I went on our first date there after we met in Taipei in 2009!

While hot springs are the focus, meaning you’ll definitely want to visit Beitou if you’re spending winter in Taipei, there are enough fascinating cultural and historic sights at this Taipei hot springs to justify visiting at any time of the year.

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting the most famous of all of Taiwan’s hot springs, including its history, things to do there, my hot spring recommendations (public and private), where to eat in Beitou, and more.

Below you’ll find some unique information found nowhere else online in English. I was even once hired by Taipei Tourism to proofread all the content for an audio tour they were developing for Beitou! Now, let’s get to it.

Tips for Visiting Beitou

Two kids walking along a hot creek in Beitou, one of the best things to do in Taipei in December
My kids running along the hot creek in Beitou Hot Spring Park

– If you’re traveling to Beitou during Chinese New Year, which usually takes place during January or February in Taipei, find out out what will be open or closed in my Taiwan Spring Festival guide.

– Avoid visiting Beitou on Monday, when several things there are closed.

– Beitou Hot Springs are located at Xinbeitou MRT station. You’ll have to get to Beitou station first on the red MRT line, then transfer onto the 2-stop pink line to reach Xinbeitou. You may want to consider combining your visit with Tamsui Old Street and Fisherman’s Wharf in Tamsui, the terminal stop on the red line.

– You can also find some good deals for Beitou on Klook, such as this highly discounted entry for Spring City Resort, the best mixed-sex/family friendly hot spring in Beitou. Sign up for Klook with this link and a discount will be applied to your first booking.

– Beitou is a great place for a staycation. But it’s a little far from the city center, so you may not want to base yourself here for exploring Taipei. See more info in my guide to where to stay in Taipei and the best places to visit in Taipei.

– If you prefer to have a local guide show you around, you can visit the area on this Beitou and Yangmingshan tour. Many people visit Beitou and Yangmingshan on the same day – see my Yangmingshan guide for all the details.

– Beitou is also the starting point of the Beitou-Zhuzihu tourist shuttle bus (S9), which is a great way to explore Yangmingshan, the dormant volcano beside Beitou. Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass holders enjoy free rides on the shuttle bus. Find out more info in my article explaining the Taipei Fun Pass and Tourist Shuttle Buses.

A Short History of Beitou

Beitou (北投) is a district of Taipei City at the foot of Yangmingshan (陽明山 or Yangming Mountain), a collection of mountain peaks that make up Yangminshan National Park. These include Seven Star Mountain (七星山 or Qixingshan), a dormant volcano that last erupted around 700,000 years ago.

Beitou is the only metro-accessible hot spring in Taiwan, which is a godsend for anyone living in Taipei, thanks to the two-station (pink) line connecting Xinbeitou to Beitou station on the Tamsui (red) line. You can already smell the area’s hot springs as you are making the transfer. You’ll notice the pink line travels really slowly, as it is going uphill toward the base of the mountains.

Beitou MRT door
The cute and colorful Beitou to Xinbeitou hot spring area MRT line.

Xinbeitou (新北投), the hot spring village around Xinbeitou MRT station, occupies a lush valley that is home to 1200 species of plants, 110 species of bird, and 160 varieties of butterflies. Nature truly spills into the city in Beitou.

Although Beitou is part of Taipei City, going there really feels like you’ve taken a day trip to somewhere far away from the rush of the city center. In fact, I put Beitou in the first spot on my list of the 40 best day trips from Taipei!

Xinbeitou Taipei
Looking down on lush Beitou from one of the hot spring hotels further uphill

The main source of the “white sulfur” hot spring water that is used in most Beitou hot spring establishments today is Liuhuanggu (硫磺谷) and Longfenggu (龍鳳谷) thermal valleys located further uphill in Yangmingshan National Park.

Beitou Thermal Valley (also called Beitou Geothermal Valley or Hell Valley) is a second, highly acidic “green sulfur” hot spring that is a major tourist attraction in Beitou and the source of the hot creek running through Beitou Hot Spring Park.

The spring water is high in radium, which in the past underwent a corrosive reaction with the andesite rocks on the river bed about 150 meters downstream, creating layers of cream and white diamond-shaped crystals named Hokutolite or “Beitou stone”, the only mineral in the world to be named after a region of Taiwan.

You can see an 800-kg example of Beitou Stone in the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (see “things to do in Beitou” section below).

A third, “iron sulfur” spring source is located to the east of Beitou around Xingyi Rd. (see “off-the-beaten-track Beitou hot spring recommendations” below).

The Beitou area also produces fine white china clay that is perfect for firing pottery, rushes that can be used for making tatami, and stones that were used in the construction of the Taipei City walls.

Read more about Taiwan’s unique aboriginal culture in my articles on Sun Moon Lake and Orchid Island.

Beitou hot spring creek before development
Beitou Hot Spring Creek before it was developed

The Ketagalan tribe, who originally occupied the Taipei Basin, were aware of Beitou’s hot springs but didn’t use them. They called the area called “Pataauw,” which meant “Residence of the Witch,” due to the year-round mist that envelops the valley.

Similarly, later inhabitants of Taiwan did not develop a hot spring culture until the Japanese arrived.

The first outsider to take note of Beitou’s hot springs was a German sulfur merchant, who in 1894 built a hot spring club there. The next year Japan took over the island, and quickly realized the high quality and commercial value of the springs.

The first hot spring establishment to be opened was Tenguan Hot Spring Hotel (Tian Gou An天狗庵), near today’s Hot Spring Museum (see “Remains of Tenguan Hot Spring” below). Other popular hotels such as Songtaoyuan soon followed.

By the early 1900s, Hokuto (the Japanese name for Beitou) boasted a thriving, upscale hot spring and entertainment scene, complete with geishas, primarily for Japanese are upper class Taiwanese visitors.

Eventually some 70 hot spring establishments were opened, as well a children’s amusement park and Shinhokuto train station (see “Old Xinbeitou Station” below).

Hokuto (Beitou) Taiwan in Japanese times
Beitou, or “Hokuto”, in Japanese times
Hokuoto (Beitou or Peitou in the Japanese era)
Painting of Hokuto

After the Japanese colonial occupation came to an end and the KMT arrived in Taiwan, the model of Xinbeitou hot spring hotels was preserved, and the area came to be particularly known for prostitution until it was outlawed 1979, after which Beitou went into sharp decline.

In 1995, students and teachers from Beitou Elementary School inspired local residents to create the Taipei Peitou Association and to advocate the preservation of the Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath Pool, originally built in 1913, but left to decay.

By 1998, the historical building was remodeled into the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, kick starting the rejuvenation of Beitou as the popular tourist destination that is has now become.

Most recently, in 2017, the original Xinbeitou Train Station was returned to its original place, now sitting right beside the current Xinbeitou MRT station.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Beitou?

Beitou is fun to visit year round, but the best season for hot springs is surely winter. Usually around October or November the weather starts dropping to hot spring-suitable temperatures. Usually the Beitou Museum holds a hot spring festival and anniversary event around this time to open the hot spring season. Learn more in my guide to Taiwan’s festivals.

December through March in Taipei are the coldest, and hence most suitable time to visit hot springs in Beitou.

April, May, June, September, and October can be quite warm in Taipei, but it’s still a fine time to visit Beitou, especially for exploring the thermal area and its many attractions rather than actually taking a hot spring bath, but surely it can still be done!

In summer in Taipei, the weather is too hot to really want to soak in hot springs though, and having the steam of Hell Valley (Beitou Thermal Valley) blowing in your face while you’re already soaking with sweat isn’t ideal. Therefore, if you’re visiting in summer and want to experience the hot springs, I would suggest coming in the evening after the sun sets, or trying one of the indoor springs (see my recommendations below.

Find more info in my guide to the best time to visit Taipei.

Things to Do in Beitou

The following things to do in Beitou begin from Xinbeitou MRT station, going uphill toward Yangmingshan. In the next section, I’ll list my Beitou public and private hot spring recommendations, and the best Beitou restaurants at the end of the article.

Note that most of the below Beitou attractions are closed on Mondays, so it’s best not to visit on that day. And the good news is that most of the below things to do in Xinbeitou are free!

Xinbeitou Historic Station and Qixing Park

Old Xinbeitou Station
The Old Xinbeitou Train Station

The Xinbeitou line was originally opened in 1916 to provide access to Beitou hot springs, branching off from the Tamsui line. At 1.2 kilometers, it is one of the shortest railway lines in Taiwan.

The original Xinbeitou station (新北投車站) was removed to make way for the MRT in 1988, and sold for a symbolic dollar to the Taiwan Folk Village in Changhua county, which later closed down.

The station was returned and fully restored in 2017. It now sits right beside the MRT station on the eastern end of Qixing Park so you can’t miss it. The building houses historical displays and there are often craft and fruit stalls set up beside it.

There’s also a free hot water bath for your hands in front of the history railway station building.

If you’re interested in Japanese-era wooden architecture, also check out the Natural Way Six Arts Cultural Center in Taichung. Learn more in my Taichung itinerary and Taichung City Guide posts.

Another fascinating place with Japanese-era history is Jiufen, an easy day trip from Taipei.

Beitou Hot Springs Park

Beitou hot spring park
My kids by the hot spring creek in Beitou Hot Spring Park

Across from Xinbeitou MRT station, you’ll find the entrance to Beitou Hot Spring Park, which runs up the valley between Zhongshan (中山路) and Guangming (光明路) roads. A hot spring creek, which originates at Beitou Thermal Valley (Hell Valley), runs through the park.

The park is a good place to relax, go for a stroll, and observe the steaming creek. Visitors were once allowed to soak their feet at certain points, but this is no longer permitted. If you’d like to soak your feet in a hot spring pond for free, head to Fuxing Hot Foot Bath (復興公園泡腳池) at Fuxing Park, about five minute’s walk north of Xinbeitou MRT station and Beitou Hot Spring Park.

The below nine sights are all situated in or very near Beitou Hot Spring Park.

Ketagalan Culture Center

Ketagalan Culture Center, the Beitou aboriginal museum

Built in 2002 on what was once a military police base, the 12-story Ketagalan Culture Center (凱達格蘭文化館) now houses art and cultural items from Taiwan’s main recognized aboriginal tribes. It is named after the Ketagalan tribe, who occupied the Beitou area in the past.

Permanent displays and temporary exhibits are on B1, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors, and entrance is free (9am to 5pm, closed Mondays).

Beitou Library

The Beitou Public Library in Beitou Hot Spring Park

The Beitou Public Library (北投圖書館), an official Taipei City library branch, is one of the most visually stunning buildings in Beitou today. Built in 2006, it replaced the original Beitou Library and was the first “green” building in Taiwan to get a diamond from the EEWN, Taiwan’s green building certification system.

The structure resembles a wooden ship that has docked in the middle of the park. Made of wood, it pays tribute to Beitou’s Japanese history. The library gets 10% of its energy from solar panels and 40% of its water from rainwater that trickles through the layer of soil and plants on the roof.

Natural ventilation and large windows keep the library cool and bright, while lower bookshelves enhance views of the lush greenery outside.

Beitou Library
Beitou Library kind of looks like a tree house…

It’s worth popping in for a quick look at the large, open interior, but do keep in mind that this is a real library, so you should keep quiet. Photos inside are not allowed (I snuck the photo below from the entrance—shhh!)

If you want to sit and read, there are reading terraces along the side facing the Beitou Creek, where you can observe steam rising.

A good spot to admire the library is from Lotus Pond to the north of the building, along Zhongshan Rd.

Read about my other two favorite neighborhoods in Taipei, Ximending and Dadaocheng.

Inside Beitou Library
Interior of Beitou Public Library

Remains of Tenguan Hot Spring Hotel

Tiangouan Hotel, the first Beitou hot spring hotel
Tiangouan Hotel, the first hot spring hotel in Beitou

Tenguan Hot Spring Hotel (天狗庵 or Tiangouan), opened in 1896, was the first hot spring hotel in Beitou. It was located across Guangming road from the Beitou Library.

The original Japanese owner later sold it to a Taiwanese man, then in WWII it was used as a treatment facility for wounded soldiers. After the war it was purchased by a Japanese hot spring hotel chain, and eventually closed.

The only remains you can see today are a stone staircase and a few columns, which lie just west of Radium Kagaya International Hotel (日勝生加賀屋國際溫泉飯店), an upscale resort where you’ll notice women dressed like geishas greeting arriving guests on the street. You can book a private/public hot spring soak at Radium Kagaya here.

The ruins are marked “天狗庵史蹟公園” on GoogleMaps.

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Beitou hot spring museum

If you’re at all interested in learning about Beitou’s unique ecology, hot spring history, and local culture, a stop at the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館) is a must. The building’s handsome exterior is made of brick (first floor) and wood (second floor), complete with stained glass windows, but you really have to enter to fully appreciate it.

On the site of some of the oldest public bathing sheds on the Beitou Creek, the Beitou Public Bathhouse (originally the Hokuto Public Bathhouse) dates to 1913. The bathhouse was one of the largest and most magnificent in East Asia at the time, and played a major role in the rise of Beitou as a recreational village.

Beitou Hot Spring Museum second floor
Second floor of the Beitou Hot Spring Museum

After the Japanese left, the building served as a KMT service center and was eventually abandoned. In 1994, students and teachers from Beitou Elementary School petitioned the government to save the building. Taipei Peitou Association took on the task, renovating and remodeling it as a hot spring museum, which was opened to the public in 1998.

Entrance to the museum is free (9am to 5pm, closed Mondays) and you need to check in your shoes at the door. The second floor, where you enter, features a large tatami-covered lounging area, while the main hot spring bath and private bathing rooms occupy the first floor.

There are highly informative displays and fascinating old photos on display, so I’d really recommend budgeting at least half an hour to spend in here during your Beitou visit.

Beitou Public Hot Spring (Millennium Hot Spring)

Millennium hot spring Beitou (aka Beitou public hot spring)
Millennium Hot Spring, AKA Beitou Public Hot Spring

After you pass the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, you’ll reach the large, outdoor Millennium Hot Spring (北投公園露天溫泉), the cheapest and most popular hot spring in Beitou.

See the “Beitou public hot spring recommendations” section below for all the details and history of this hot spring, including some important info about times and what to wear.

Longnice Hot Spring

Longnice Hot Spring Beitou

Opposite the Beitou Public Hot Spring on Guangming Road, Longnice Hot Spring (瀧乃湯) is the oldest continuously running bathhouse in Beitou. In the small yard at the front, there is a historic stone stela commemorating a visit to Beitou by Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito. Taking a soak here is a good way to immerse yourself in Beitou’s history in a traditional Japanese bathhouse setting.

See more information about Longnice in the “Beitou public hot spring recommendations” section below.

There’s another somewhat historic hot spring hotel near Longnice called Phoenix Pavilion (Feng Hwang Ger Hotel) (book hot spring experience or see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor). Built over 40 years ago, it has an old-time Taiwan vibe and decent, airy private rooms. According to the hotel’s website, many Taiwanese films and TV shows have been shot on site. Kids are not allowed.

Plum Garden

Plum Garden Beitou

Just past Millennium Hot Spring on Zhongshan Road, Plum Garden (北投梅庭) is another building worth a quick look. The small museum is built in the former summer getaway home of Yu Youren (于右任), a famous Chinese scholar, politician, and calligrapher.

The residence overlooks Beitou creek, and the yard is filled with lush vegetation including sweet olive bushes, camphor trees, and plum trees, which bloom in January, just before cherry blossoms (see my guide to sakura spots around Taiwan).

The bottom floor of the building served as air raid shelter. On the main floor, the friendly attendants eagerly welcome visitors and are more than willing to give you a free tour.

Across Beitou creek from the residence, there’s a new hot spring hotel being built that you should keep an eye out for. They were setting up a row of gorgeous cherry blossom trees in front of it that, when in bloom (as they were when I last visited in late February), will only enhance the view from Plum Garden.

Entrance to Plum Garden is free (9am to 5pm, closed Mondays).

Beitou Thermal Valley

Beitou Thermal Valley (also known as Beitou Geothermal Valley or Hell Valley Beitou)

Beitou Thermal Valley (also known as Beitou Geothermal Valley or Hell Valley/ 地熱谷), is undoubtedly the most awesome sight in Xinbeitou. The enormous pool of scalding green sulfur spring water gives off sulfuric steam in a manner that is mesmerizingly beautiful, and clouds of steam rising up from it can be seen from far away.

While this spring is the source of Beitou Creek, which runs through Beitou Park, where some of the earliest bathing facilities made use of its waters, none of today’s hot spring hotels in Xinbeitou use water from this source.

When I take my kids here, I tell them that we are in dinosaur land, and it really does feel like that. If you visit in summer, the hot winds coming off the pool can be practically overbearing.

For a completely different view, you can see Beitou Thermal Valley from above through the trees on Wenquan (Hot Spring) Road (溫泉路) if you follow it past Puji Temple (see below). Go to this spot to enjoy the view, which you could do on the way to the below three sights and/or Spring City Resort, my most recommended hot spring in Beitou.

Beitou Thermal Valley is free to visit (9am to 5pm, closed Mondays) and there’s a little souvenir shop on site.

Puji Temple

Puji Temple, Beitou, Taiwan

Little, wooden Puji Temple (普濟寺) feels like a secret attraction because of the easy-to-miss wooden gate and staircase leading up to it through the woods from Wenquan Road. Puji Temple and two other Beitou temples are included on my list of the top 30 temples in Taipei.

The Japanese-style temple was built in 1905 using donations from Japanese railways employees and honors Avalokiteshvara, the Goddess of Mercy. It belongs to the Shingon sect of Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism, which is headquartered at Koyasan in Japan (read about my experience staying at a temple in Koyasan).

Puji Temple entrance
The entrance to Puji Temple. Don’t miss it!

Beitou Museum

Beitou Museum Taipei

Located a ways uphill from the main sights of Beitou and hidden among upscale resorts, Beitou Museum (北投文物館) is well worth the trip. You can walk here in about 15 minutes from Beitou Hot Spring Park and Puji Temple, or take minibus #25 from this bus stop in front of Quan Du Hotel (泉都溫泉飯店) near Xinbeitou MRT station. It is just past Spring City Resort, which is my most recommended hot spring in Beitou.

One of the best preserved wooden Japanese buildings in Taiwan, the Beitou Museum was built in 1921 as the Kazan Hot Spring Hotel and was later used as lodging for Kamikaze pilots during World War II.

The museum houses rotating exhibits on Japanese culture in Taiwan, aboriginal culture (including a beautiful replica of a Tao canoe from Orchid Island), and more. On the second floor, you can see a large Japanese-style banquet hall that would make a good wedding venue!

Second floor of Beitou Museum
Banquet Hall in the Beitou Museum

Besides exploring the various rooms and internal courtyards of this elegant home, the highlight of visiting for us was the artfully presented, multi-course vegetarian kaiseki meal that we enjoyed in the museum’s restaurant. See the details and pictures in the “Beitou restaurants” section at the end of the article.

Beitou Museum is open 10am to 6pm (closed Mondays) and tickets cost NT120 (adult), 50 (students or 65+), under 6 free. There are free guided tours at 11am and 2:30pm (weekends or holidays) and free audio guides for rent.

Beitou Museum internal courtyard
Internal courtyard in Beitou Museum
Beitou hot spring museum
Elegant Beitou Museum

Marshall Zen Garden

Marshall Zen Garden, one of the best things to do in Beitou
Even the steps down into Marshall Zen Garden from the main road are beautiful.

If you made it up as far as the Beitou Museum, you might as well go a few steps further to Marshall Zen Garden (少帥禪園), also commanding a fine view over Beitou. Marshall Zen offers these bathing + fine dining packages.

Like the Beitou Museum, the beautifully restored complex was a lavish hot spring hotel during Japanese times, the Xin Gao Hotel, and it was also used to Japanese Kamikaze pilots, supposedly before their suicide operations. Later it was used for the house arrest of Chinese General Zhang Xueliang, and finally converted to a zen garden in 1984.

The upscale restaurant here serves set meals with dishes supposedly popularized by the General and his wife, while the private hot springs rooms are some of the best and most atmospheric in all of Beitou.

Note that there is a cover charge of TWD200 per person to enter the grounds if you haven’t booked a package (personally, I would choose the Beitou Museum if you only visit one of these two places), or a minimum charge of 450 per person (which covers a drink and a snack) in the tea house.

Sulfur Valley Recreation Area

Sulfur Valley Recreation Area, Yangminshan National Park
Sulfur Valley Recreation Area in Yangmingshan National Park

If you want to see where most Beitou hot spring hotels get their hot spring water from, you can travel further up Quanyuan Road (泉源路) from Marshall Zen Garden to Sulfur Valley Recreation Area (硫磺谷遊憩區) and Longfengu Valley (龍鳳谷). It’s a little far to walk, so you’d need to take a bus.

Sulfur Valley is the more photogenic of the two, with various lookout points over the steaming lake and rocks, as well as geysers spewing water and steam. You get a real sense that you standing inside a volcanic crater.

If you want to visit by public transportation, you can take minibus #7 or minibus #9 from Beitou Park bus stop (right in front of the park across from Xinbeitou MRT) to Mituo Temple (彌陀寺, about 6 minutes), from where it’s a short walk.

For something even more dramatic, you can travel further into Yangmingshan National Park and hike to the fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng. See more info in my guide to Taipei’s top hikes.

My Beitou Hot Spring Recommendations

My Beitou private hot spring recommendations
Typical windowless private room

There are 20+ hot spring hotels and bath houses in the Xinbeitou hot spring area, and pretty much all of them offer private hot spring rooms (湯屋), while only some of them offer shared or “public” baths (大眾湯).

Rates for private hot spring rooms range from NT400 to NT3000+ for 60-120 minutes (2 people), but most hotels charge around 1000-1500, and some have deals that include a meal in their restaurant after you soak. Cheaper rooms tend to be small, windowless caverns with stone or tile tubs (see photo above), while more money generally gets you a modern hotel-like room that often includes a bed and sometimes even a view.

Generally speaking, Beitou’s hot springs are more expensive than elsewhere in Taiwan, but you pay for the proximity to the city. Some of them raise their prices for private rooms on weekends.

Golden Hotel Spring Hotel, one of my Beitou private hot spring recomendations)
A typical private hot spring room in an older hotel with a view of Beitou Hot Spring Park

Public hot springs in Beitou come in two varieties: Japanese-style (sex segregated and nude) and Taiwanese/Western style (mixed sex with bathing suits and swimming hats required). They range in price from 40NT (Beitou Pubic Hot Spring) to nearly TWD 2000 at the fanciest resorts.

Across from the Xinbeitou MRT station, either side of Hot Spring Park is lined with modern hot spring hotels, with a few traditional choices. Further up from the park, narrow Wen Quan (Hot Spring) Road leads up to a number of large, upscale resorts and one traditional choice overlooking Beitou.

–The most famous hot spring spa in the greater Yangmingshan area is Tienlai Resort, but it requires a 1-hour bus ride from Taipei to get there. It is not MRT accessible like the resorts in Beitou.

– For even more hot springs, head to Jiaoxi Hot Spring in Yilan County, Wulai Hot Spring in New Taipei City, or Taian Hot Spring in Miaoli

– For a more remote hot spring experience in Taiwan, check out my article on secret Wenshan Hot Spring in Taroko Gorge.

– For something truly unique, try bathing in thermal mud at Guanziling, Tainan

Best Public (Mixed Sex) Hot Springs

There are only two public, mixed-sex hot springs in Beitou that I know of. The first one is the cheapest and easiest to reach, so many travelers go here. The second one is better for families and has a better view, but it is more expensive and further from Xinbeitou MRT.

Beitou Public Hot Spring

Millennium hot spring Beitou (aka Beitou public hot spring)

Beitou Public Hot Spring (formerly “Millennium Hot Spring”) is the cheapest and most popular public hot spring facility in Beitou today. It was named after the fact that it was opened to the public in December 1999, around the time the Beitou Hot Spring Museum was being restored. It is located at the upper end of Beitou Hot Spring Park, about 8 minutes walk (slightly uphill) from Xinbeitou MRT station.

The 1000m-square open-air complex includes three hot pools ranging from warm to scalding and two ice-cold ones. It tends to be quite crowded. Note that it is closed at intervals every day for cleaning. The opening times are usually 5:30am–7:30am, 8am–10am, 10:30am-1pm, 1:30pm–4pm, 4:30pm–7pm, and 7:30pm –10:00pm.

Entrance is only TWD 60. Towels are not provided, and showers are cold unless you insert a 10NT coin. The dress code for bathing here has become stricter in recent years. For women, bikinis are not allowed. For men, loose board shorts are not OK – you need to wear a speedo or tight swimming shorts (enforcement is a little sporadic on this one). Swimming caps are required – they sell caps and appropriate swimwear if you need it. There are coin lockers available or you can just stash your clothing on a shelf.

Children are loosely tolerated. You might have to try to convince them to let your kids in like I did, and they may or may not let you. Honestly, if you’re visiting with kids, the below option is much better, plus it doesn’t have a dress code.

Spring City Resort

Spring City Resort Beitou Hot Spring Resort
Kid-friendly (and bathing suit friendly) Spring City Resort

If you’re willing to spend more money and travel further from the MRT, the outdoor public spring facility at Spring City Resort is without a doubt the best public hot spring in Beitou. It is also the best for visitors with kids, but great for adults too – and any bathing suits are allowed.

The outdoor facility includes a shallow warm pool and a large cold pool for kids, as well as eight hot pools with bubbles and jets. The pools are surrounded by verdant vegetation and there’s a lovely view looking down on Beitou. Lockers, robes, sandals, towels, soap/shampoo and hair driers are all provided.

There is an amazing deal for Spring City here on Klook. You get around 50% off the regular entrance fee! Children under 110cm are free, and 110-140-cm can buy a children’s ticket at the door. They provide a locker, drinking water, Japanese robe, towel, flip-flops, soap, shampoo, and plastic swimming cap. There’s also the option to add a meal after you soak for quite a bit cheaper than what you would pay there.

The hotel also has private hot spring rooms. The basic ones that we tried were very basic (small, no window), while the upscale (and much pricier rooms) look fancier.

There is a free shuttle bus to and from Xinbeitou and Beitou MRT stations. We’ve actually walked all the way from Xinbeitou MRT (about 30 minutes), but it was a little tough with kids. The Beitou Museum (see below) is only a few minutes further uphill from Spring City Resort.

If you want to spend the night, here are the reviews / prices on Booking / Agoda.

Best Public (Nude) Hot Springs

If you want a traditional, Japanese-style hot spring experience, you’ll need to get neked. Men and women are of course separate. As per the custom, you’ll need to shower thoroughly before going in.

Again, the options range from cheap and basic to fancy and expensive.

Historic Longnice Hot Spring

Longnice Hot Spring Beitou
Entrance to the men’s hot spring bathhouse at Longnice Hot Spring

Longnice Hot Spring (瀧乃湯) is the oldest continuously operating bathhouse in Beitou and the best hot spring in Beitou if you are looking for a traditional but cheap experience. It was built in 1913 and originally called Tanglong Bath Pool, named after the waterfall in the hot spring creek right in front of it. Private bathing pools were added 70 years ago, and more recently a women’s section.

In front of the building there is a historic stone stela commemorating a visit to Beitou by Crown Prince Hirohito (soon to be emperor of Japan). See here for more details about his visit and the history of Long Nice Hot Spring, or more photos on the official website.

Each side features two scalding hot stone pools (one 42-44 and the other 43-46°C) under a wooden roof. Entrance is 150 per person. A locker is provided, but no soap, towels, or water.

Longnice also offers some of the cheapest private bathing rooms that I know of in Beitou: NT400 (2-person small room) and NT600 (2 person large room, add 50NT per additional person up to 5 people). Private rooms are only open noon to 6 pm.

Upscale Choices

The following large resorts offer more upscale nude bathing experiences. All three include the choice to add a discounted meal after your soal.

Some of the larger resorts in Beitou, like Villa 32, Grand View Resort, and Asia Pacific, have some of the classiest (and most expensive) public nude springs in Beitou. They also offer massage and spa treatments. These are quite expensive, so consider staying overnight at the hotel, which will give you free access to the hot springs.

Kawayu Spa (Off-the-Beaten Track)

Kawayu Spa, Xingyi Rd., Beitou
Atmospheric and off-the-beaten-track Kawayu Spa, Xingyi Rd., Beitou

If you want to escape the tourist crowds at Xinbeitou Hot Spring, there’s a small cluster of hot spring hotels in Beitou District on Xingyi Road (行義路) that very few tourists know about, and are slightly cheaper for what you get. Even though it’s technically in Beitou district, it’s in a totally different area that you can only reach by bus.

Kawayu Spa (川湯溫泉養生餐廳) has one of the most atmospheric bath house exteriors I’ve seen in Taiwan. From the parking lot, you descent a long staircase, upon which the walking path divides the two sections of the building. It has a “Spirited Away” feel to it, just as Jiufen famously does.

Kawayu’s public bath (NT200) is pretty simple, but the overall experience of visiting this facility, and perhaps dining there after, is what really makes it. There are also private rooms, but they are small cement rooms with no windows.

To get there, take bus 508 or 535 from Shipai MRT station and get off at Xingyi Road 3 stop (行義路站三), or take a taxi (approximately NT200).

Find more lesser-known hot springs and places to visit in my Taipei off-the-beaten-path guide!

Kawayu Hot Spring Hotel in Xingyi Road hot spring area, Beitou

Beitou Private Hot Spring Room Recommendations

Almost every hotel in the Beitou area offers rooms with private hot spring rooms that you can typically use for 60 to 120 minutes.

Most of the hotels are on either side of Beitou Park. The quality, age of the hotel, and prices vary a lot. Most places have higher prices on weekends and holidays. You can always see pictures of the rooms at the front desk before you decide.

Best Value

Kyoto Hot Spring Hotel Beitou, Taipei
Hot spring soak with my kids at Kyoto Spring Hotel

JBG Hot Spring Hotel Resort (see on Booking / Agoda) has one of the best value options in the area. They offers private a room for 2 hours for around TWD 1000 (weekdays only). Afternoon tea after you soak is also included if you visit between 2 and 8 pm!

They even allow one child (under 100 com) for no additional charge. Some rooms have a view of Beitou Hot Spring Park. You can book your soak here.

If you are willing to walk a little further, Kyoto Spring Hotel near Puji Temple is a small Japanese-style hot spring hotel has the best low-budget private hot spring rooms in Beitou. It’s located on Wenquan Road, just past the entrance to Puji Temple, about 15 minutes walk from Xinbeitou MRT (slightly uphill).

The cheapest room is only NT500 for 90 minutes, but we love the NT720 rooms, which include a large, modern style (not stone) tub and window. This is the cheapest deal we’ve found in Beitou for a room that isn’t a windowless cavern. It is also a decent budget choice if you want to spend the night in Beitou (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor).

Historic and Atmospheric

Marshall Zen Garden (少帥禪園) offers some of the most atmospheric private hot spring rooms in Beitou. These package deals include set meal or afternoon tea. It’s located about 30 minutes walk uphill from Xinbeitou MRT, near Beitou Museum. You can catch minibus #25 from this bus stop in front of Quan Du Hot Spring Hotel (泉都溫泉飯店) to Beitou Museum (北投博物館) stop.

The private hot spring rooms come with fine views over Beitou, Guanyin Mountain, and the Guandu Plain (consider visiting in the evening!) While the rooms themselves are fairly simple, the chance to explore the grounds makes the visit worth it and dine in such at atmospheric setting make it worth it!

Phoenix Pavillion is another option that isn’t so far from the MRT and has this private soak deal. The spa is historic and has been featured in Taiwanese films. Note that kids are allowed.

Mid-Range

Radium Kagaya (see on Booking / Agoda) is one of the most famous hot spring hotels in Beitou. You can’t miss it, as there is often a group of women dressed as geishas welcoming guests out front. It is conveniently located beside Beitou Hot Spring Park, only 5 minutes’ walk from Xinbeitou MRT. You can book a private hot spring room (or public nude soak) here.

Waterhouse (see on Booking / Agoda / Klook) offers a variety of private hot spring rooms in the mid-range price category, as well as a public (nude) option. It is also quite convenient located beside Beitou Hot Spring Park, just a little further away from the MRT from Radium Kagaya.

This is a newer hotel (unlike some of the really old ones in Beitou), so I highly recommend it. It is called 享溫泉 on GoogleMaps.

Classiest Choices

Gaia Hotel is one of the more luxurious hot spring resorts in Beitou. Make sure to visit the hotel’s photogenic library with over 20,000 books arranged up the walls when you visit. You can book a private or public (nude, sex segregated) hot spring soak at Gaia Hotel here.

Some of the larger resorts in Beitou, like Villa 32 (no kids allowed and very pricey), Grand View Resort (nicest resort), and Asia Pacific (family friendly), have some of the classiest private hot spring rooms in Beitou. They also offer massage and spa treatments. Reservations are usually needed, including for private hot spring room.

Off the Beaten Track

Yuse spa, Xingyi Road hot springs, Beitou Taipei
Sushi meal included in our soak at Yuse Spa in Xingyi Road hot spring area.

Yuse Spa (湯瀨溫泉SPA) is one of the first establishments you’ll notice when you arrive in the Xingyi Road hot spring area because the black wooden exterior makes it look like a haunted house. There is a range of private rooms, and we always take advantage of the deal that includes money towards a meal in the Japanese restaurant on site.

Kawayu Spa (川湯溫泉) is the most atmospheric spa up there (just have a wander though to see it!) But their private rooms are tiny cement boxes.

For info on getting there, see the previous section, where I also mentioned Kawayu.

Best Beitou Hot Spring Hotels for Staying Overnight

Best Budget Hotel

The cheapest hotel that I know of in Beitou is Kyoto Spring Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), and the rooms come with private hot spring tubs. It’s in a quiet but convenient location on Wen Quan (Hot Spring) Road.

A Fun Choice

Quandu/Chyuan Du Hot Spring Hotel (泉都溫泉會館) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) is right by Xinbeitou MRT station. We stayed here once and our room included not only our own private bath but also a sauna, plus a free Wii Video Game system rental (only included in some rooms)!

Upscale Beitou Hot Spring Resorts

Beitou Hot Spring Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor): A good medium-range choice very close to Xinbeitou MRT.

Asia Pacific Hotel Beitou (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor): A full range of facilities and Western or Japanese style rooms overlooking Beitou. This huge resort offers the ideal getaway and is very family-friendly.

Grand View Resort Hotel Beitou (see on Booking / Agoda / Klook / TripAdvisor): Sleek, ultra-modern Japanese-style, and built of grey stone, this is one of Beitou’s most elite choices and is located just up the road from Asia Pacific, right before the Beitou Museum, which means is also has great views over Beitou.

Villa 32 (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor): The most exclusive property in Beitou, hidden away right beside Beitou Thermal Valley (see below). Once chosen as one of the world’s best newly rising hotels, the grounds are crafted like a tranquil and lush work of art. Under 16 not allowed. It is one of the most expensive hotels in Taiwan.

Best Beitou Restaurants

Most people don’t come to Beitou specifically to eat, but you may very well spend enough time in Beitou that you’ll want to, and there are actually several restaurants here that are worth the trip. Unsurprisingly, most of them center on Japanese fare rather than typical Taiwanese food. Here’s where to eat in Beitou:

Budget Restaurants in Beitou

Hot Spring Ramen and Eggs

Beitou hot spring ramen
Seafood hot spring ramen at Mankewu

The two most popular restaurants around Beitou Hot Spring Park are both hot spring ramen shops: Man Lai Hot Spring Ramen (满来温泉拉麵) near Xinbeitou MRT and Mankewu Taiwanese Style Ramen (滿客屋台式拉麵) near Puji Temple. Both offer similar menus featuring a variety of ramen, hot spring eggs, hot spring tofu, etc., and while both usually have a line, it moves fast.

We’ve only ever tried Mankewu, and found their hot spring eggs (almost totally uncooked and served with toppings) particularly delicious. Their noodles taste homemade and are very delicious, but don’t expect very authentic Japanese ramen.

Also, despite what I initially though, they don’t actually cook the ramen in hot spring water. It’s just called hot spring ramen due to the fact that you eat it in a hot spring area (according to one of the restaurants, when I asked). But still, have a hot bowl of these delicious noodles feels like part of the hot spring experience.

Best Beitou restaurants: hot spring ramen
Really, really delicious hot spring eggs and tofu at Mankewu

Other budget options

At the entrance to the small road that leads from Beitou Hot Spring Park to Beitou Geothermal Valley, there is a simple noodle shop, convenience store, and usually a few stalls selling sausages and hot spring eggs (hard boiled with gooey center).

If you don’t want to wait in the line at one of the hot spring ramen shops, there’s always Sushi Express on the corner opposite Xinbeitou MRT, beside the 7-11.

There’s also an odd-looking Japanized Western food restaurant called Spring is Home (春乃家洋食館) on Guangming road near the Beitou Library.

Beitou hot spring eggs
Eggs boiled in Beitou’s thermal waters

For other unique food in Taipei, see Burma Street food tour and my food guide to Ximending!

Atmospheric Dining in Historic Japanese Houses

Beitou Museum restaurant
My kids at the exquisite Beitou Museum restaurant

There are two historic houses I described above, Beitou Museum and Marshall Zen Garden, where you can enjoy artfully prepared Japanese meals in a gorgeous, old-time Japanese setting.

Beitou Museum restaurant table
Romantic setting at Beitou Museum restaurant

We recently tried the multi-course vegetarian kaiseki meal (NT880 + 10% service charge) at the Beitou Museum and loved it. All the dishes were picture-worthy, and the baked eggplant with teriyaki sauce was to-die-for. There were meat/seafood set meals as well, and we showed up on a weekend without a reservation.

The restaurant is open 10am to 5:30pm (closed Mondays) and afternoon tea is also available. The restaurant and museum staff were particularly friendly during our visit and we would highly recommend it.

Beitou Museum Restaurant: a great vegetarian restaurant in Beitou
Amazing vegetarian eggplant dish at Beitou Museum Restaurant
Vegetarian kaiseki meal, Beitou Museum
Our kaiseki meal at Beitou Museum
Beitou Museum vegetarian food in Beitou
Vegetarian dishes at Beitou Museum

We haven’t tried it, but a similar dining experience can be enjoyed just up the road at Marshall Zen Garden. With a similar atmosphere but more upscale than Beitou Museum, the vegetarian or seafood-heavy set meals range from NT1800 to 2800 plus tea fee and service charge.

Some of the dishes were supposedly popularized by the Chinese General and his wife who were under house arrest here for years, and the chefs incorporate zen philosophy in their cuisine and presentation.

Beitou Museum restaurant, Taipei
Fine dining in a traditional Japanese setting

Hot Spring + Meal Packages

Several hot spring deals also include a meal at the hotel’s restaurant. These include the following:

  • Spring City Resort: You can choose the option of adding a meal in their Japanese restaurant for much cheaper than purchasing on site. Best choice for families.
  • Gaia Hotel: You get the option of adding lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner
  • Waterhouse: Afternoon tea is included if you visit on a weekday between 2 and 8 pm. Great deal!

Well, that brings us to the end of this Beitou Hot Spring blog. I hope you’ve found all the information you needed and more about these fascinating Taipei hot springs. If I’ve missed anything or you’ve found information that is wrong, please let me know in the comments below!

56 thoughts on “The Ultimate Beitou Hot Spring Guide (2024 info!)”

  1. Thanks for another helpful write up 🙂 we arrive Taoyuan at 5:30 am and cannot check in our hotel near Taipei main station until 3 pm.. I thought it might be a good idea to visit a hot spring in the early morning. Do you think spending a few hours in Beitou and rushing back to Taipei is worth it? Or, would you spend one night in Beitou? We only have 2 days in Taipei before going to Kaohsiung to meet up with family

    Reply
    • Hi Christine!
      Personally, I think that’s more than enough time to enjoy Beitou. I wouldn’t bother to spend the night (unless you prefer to stay there instead of Taipei city center). If you land at 5:30, exit the airport at 6:30, you will probably arrive at Beitou by 8 am if you use public transportation. You can soak for 1-2 hours, explore the area for 1-2 hours, have lunch there, and still plenty of time to get to your hotel before check-in.

      Reply
    • Hi Andrea,
      Thanks for your comment! In the article I was talking about the hot river creek in Beitou Park (the large park right in front of Xinbeitou MRT). This hot creek is still closed for feet soaking or any kind bathing. The government article you shared mentions two other places: 1. Hand soaking at Qixing Park. This is actually right beside Xinbeitou MRT. There’s a wooden basin where you can put your hands in; you’ll see it after you exit the MRT. 2. Foot Soaking pond at Fuxing Park (北投復興公園). I didn’t mention this park in my article. It’s about five minutes walk north of Xinbeitou MRT and Beitou Hot Spring Park. It’s called “Fuxing Hot Foot Spa” on GoogleMaps. I’ve actually never been there and didn’t know about it, so thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  2. I thought that this was a good write-up. Thanks for all the info. I am planning to stay in Beitou from 12/24 to 12/26. Are most places open during the Christmas time such as Beitou museum, restaurants, and shops?

    Reply
    • Hi Sunny,
      Yes, everything will be open. Christmas is a normal business day like any other in Taiwan. At Lunar New Year some restaurants and shops may be closed though, but most hotels and hot springs should still be open.
      Enjoy your trip!

      Reply
  3. Thank you for the abundance of information. My wife and I just moved to Taiwan and have been searching around for things to do, there are so many that it can be a bit overwhelming. We’ve been meaning to check out the Beitou Hot Spring area and your guide is just what we needed to make the leap into the springs. The detailed information about how to get to each of the places you recommended is always a plus, we get lost pretty easily and sometimes that can be very frustrating when you are in a country where you don’t speak the language, you’ve certainly made it easier for us. Cheers!

    Reply
    • Thanks a lot Pasha, I’m really glad to hear that the info here helped you guys out! Enjoy Beitou, and please let me know if you have any questions!

      Reply
  4. Ni Nick,
    Which route should we take if we were to travel by foot from Beitou Park? Should we just follow the road of Zhongshan Road all the way (I see some sort of a dead end through this road on google maps)? Or should we make a big round by Wenquan Road?

    Reply
    • Hi Katherine,
      Where exactly do you want to go? Do you just want to explore the area? Most of the sights of Beitou are around the park. Going up Wenquan road is mostly hot spring hotels.

      Reply
  5. Dear Nick, thanks for your awesome and extensive article!
    I want to take my boyfriend to Beitou for a romantic (sexy?) time, so I was thinking of booking a private room, possibly for a night. What is a cheap and romantic, private option (we are students)?

    Reply
    • Hi Mechtold,
      I feel like in Taiwan (and especially Beitou), cheap + romantic are seldom found together. Most cheap places are kind of dingy, and they are not even that cheap. What is your budget like for spending the night? If you just want to go for the shorter option, one idea is to just walk along the park and check out the deals in each hot spring hotel. All of them have pictures of the different types of rooms at the front desk, which you can see before you decide.

      Reply
  6. Hi Nick Im arriving 4.30 am fri hotel check in not till 3.30pm so thought I’d relax in hot springs- which do you think would suit Xinbeitou or Wulai? Any recommendations for a single female prefer upmarket clean n easy accessible public transport ta Kei

    Reply
    • Hi Kei,
      Based on what you said, I would recommend Xin Beitou. It’s easier to get to because it’s on the MRT line. There are several good upmarket choices; please see my recommendations in this article. Beitou also has other things to see and do if you need to pass the time. Wulai is a little harder to get to; you need to take the MRT then a winding bus ride for 45 minutes. It also has few upscale choices. Best of luck, and enjoy your trip!

      Reply
  7. Dear Nick,

    Thanks to this article, my daughter and I had a wonderful last day in Taipei. We went to the Gaia Hotel public hot springs pool and maybe because of the coronavirus scare had to pay only NT $1000 apiece. We had the spa pretty much all to ourselves for four hours (two or three other people were there but we scarcely saw them). I also went to the Beitou Museum the next day. It is an absolutely lovely place to spend a few hours; the people who work there were charming and the food was delicious. I would never have found either of these places without you! Even the local taxi drivers didn’t know them. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Dear Julie,
      Thank you so much for your comment, and I’m really glad to hear that you had a wonderful day at in Beitou! The area is one of my favorites in all of Taiwan, and sounds like you mostly had it to yourself!

      Reply
  8. Hi Nick,

    Thank you for the detailed write up on everything hot spring related in Beitou. I saw your recommendation of the private bath in kyoto spring hotel, the one priced at 720NTD for 90 mins was it? I was wondering do you have to make a reservation for this or do they take walk ins? Must you book one if their hotel rooms to enjoy this private bath? Also do you know if children under 1 are allowed? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Melanie,
      I have always just walked in without a reservation, even on the weekend. Each private hot spring is located in a private room, like a small hotel room. The cheapest ones are very basic, like not bed, but more expensive ones have a bed in the room. I went there with my daughter when she was around 2 and they seemed fine with it. So for a baby, they should be fine, but I can’t really guarantee that. If they seem concerned, which is possible, you could try to tell that them you don’t intend to put her in the water. Good luck!

      Reply
      • thank you! So which room price was the one you paid for your family? Given that you are not staying overnight but just for those hours for the facility. Thanks again!

        Reply
        • We just went for the lowest price one because we only cared about the bath tub and didn’t need a bed. All the hot spring hotels in the area have a price for short use (usually 90-120 minutes) or staying overnight. I’m sorry I don’t remember the exact price at Kyoto hotel, but I think it was 700-800, while the bigger hotels near Beitou Hot Spring Park and closer to the MRT charge around 900-1200.

          Reply
    • There are none that I am aware of. You can find some regular food stalls and restaurants around Beitou MRT station (not Xinbeitou), but no major night market. The closest one would be Shilin Night Market.

      Reply
  9. Hi,
    thak you for the website , the part on Taiwan is highly relevant and documentated
    I have just followed most of your guide for a day trip in Beitou area. Thank you again for this relevant piece of advice. On the basais of yoru website, I have created a personnal itinery map in Beitou on google mymap, If you’d like I could share it. Two things to mention for others :
    1) if you’d like to have Kaiseki lunch or dinner at Beitou Museum as suggetsed in the web site (I testify that the food pictures there are appealling) you should absolutely book in advance, especially on week ends. I tried naively to have lunch this saturday, but it was all booked..
    2) It is definitively worth taking bus 230 to the sulfur valley. Walking along the road allows to see hot water fumes and some of the surrounding forest but dut to the absence of proper pedestriant paths and the high car traffic along teh road it is quite unpleasant, though the 30 minutes hike of the sulfur valley istself is worth it.

    Reply
  10. Hello Nick,
    I have enjoyed soo, soo much your articles and would appreciate your help in my planning for Beitou Hot Spring for Feb 25. I plan to reserve the Yudaki Falls Suite Guest Room Bathing (on Klook). I believe that the bathtub is close to the window and that we can enjoy the mountain view from the tub, am I correct? How late can I reserve my chunk of 120 minutes? What are their hours for enjoying the soak?
    I plan to have the Kaiseki lunch at Beitou Museum, maybe around 13:30 before the hot spring soak. Is it smart, health related? How long is the Kaiseki lunch? How long do I need to plan for it?
    Thank you for your advices!
    Ngan-Ha

    Reply
    • According to the pictures, it looks like yes, the room will have a window with view. You can also see more pictures by searching the hotel on GoogleMaps, where it is called 北投享溫泉. Most of the view will be of Beitou Park. This is a park in the center of Beitou Hot Spring Area which has a hot spring river. So I think you will mostly see the trees of the park from your window, not so much a mountain. It’s true that Yangmingshan Mountain is near, so you might be able to see part of it from the window, but not really guaranteed. According to the instructions on Klook, the hotel is open 24 hrs, but you would need to book your time slot by calling them. You can plan maybe 1 hr for lunch and 15 minutes for walking from Beitou Museum to the hot spring hotel. Maybe add a little extra time just in case. Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  11. hi I plan to arrive on a Monday 4/10 at 6:30am from the US. I will be alone with two children 6&9. I wanted to reserve two nights in Beitou, but I see MOnday you mentioned many attractions are closed. I think we will be very tired. Do you recommend we check in luggage at the taipei train station and walk around taipei before going to Beitou? Or do you reccomend we go direct to Beitou, drop luggage at hotel, and just hang out in Beitou? At this rate maybe just the lobby if we are tired. OR could we lightly explore Beitou on Monday and do something relaxing before check in? Would the hotsprings be open monday? Thank you for all your help!

    Reply
    • I think it’s still OK to just go directly to Beitou. Probably you will be very tired and trying not to fall asleep all day due to the time change. The things closed in Beitou on Monday are Hot Spring Museum, Beitou Thermal Valley, Ketagalan Museum, Xinbeitou Historic Station, Fuxing Hot Food Spa, Plum Garden, and Beitou Museum. But things still open are Beitou Park, Beitou Public Hot Spring, restaurants, and all hot springs in hotels. If you need something more to do on Monday to stay awake, after you check in to hotel, you can ride the MRT to Tamsui and take a walk along the river there, with lots of shops and food stalls. You can see my Tamsui guide for details. Or you could take the MRT to Shilin Night Market in the evening. You can explore those other things in Beitou on Tuesday.

      Reply
  12. Dear Nick,
    Thank you so much for your recommendations.
    I have been today at Kawayu Spa (川湯溫泉). Nice place and easy explanations on the spa website to reach the spa by MRT and bus!
    Cheers.
    Luc (aka fagouojeune)

    Reply
  13. Hi! We will be coming from Tianyuan Temple. May we ask what you can recommend in terms of bus/taxi we can take going to Beitou Thermal valley? Then from Beitou Thermal valle, will do the Fuxing Hot Foot Bath and Beitou Hot Springs. Also, how to go back to Taipei. Thank you!

    Reply
    • The most convenient way would be to ride the bus from Tianyuan Temple back to Tamsui MRT station (probably where you came from). Then MRT to Beitou, and transfer to the pink line to Xinbeitou. From there, you can walk to all the main sights in Beitou hot spring area.

      Reply
  14. Hi Nick, fantastic article that’s got me excited about Beitou. However, I’m coming with 3 kids (11, 8, 6) in JULY when it’s hot! What’s the best resort that has options for indoor hot springs (in air-condition?) where we can go in as a family and other options such as a swimming pool or other options for the kids? Any thoughts on Asia Pacific Hotel?

    Reply
    • I have visited hot springs at Beitou in summer. We went for outdoor ones at night time. It was fine, though just not as good of an experience as in winter, because in summer I just feel too hot all the time so it reduces my desire or enjoyment of sitting in hot water. So if you want to do it, it’s a good idea to go somewhere with the indoor option. I’ve never personally stayed at Asia Pacific but it is often described as a family-friendly hot spring hotel in Beitou. My understanding is that there is a large indoor pool for families/kids, and it can be busy. As for the hot springs part, I’m not 100% sure, but don’t be surprised if you find that the spa area is still not kid friendly, and is nude/adults only. This is very common for almost every shared hotel hot spring in Beitou. You should have your own private one in your room too, though, depending on which room you choose. The only hotel I know with a public/shared hot spring facility that is family friendly with bathing suits is at Spring City Resort. It’s quite good, but it’s outdoors (including one cool pool that kids love swimming in and one very shallow toddler pool).

      Reply
      • It looks like a hotel too- is it worth staying there? As a hotel guest, do you have to pay for the pool entrance? Or would it be better to pay for the pool entrance but stay elsewhere?

        Reply
        • I’m referring to the Spring City Resort public pool with the klook tickets you mention above. We’ll be riding the MRT from Taipei, planning to walk around, see the museum, and the thermal vent. Sulfur Valley sounds really cool, and my kids would love to see it. But we’re travelling with my dad who tends to get anxious when we go off the beaten track. How easy is it to ride Bus 7/9 to the temple to walk to see the Sulfur Valley Rec area? I was thinking afterwards, we can go to the Spring City Resort pools, but wondering if we should just stay the night there as well since the kids may just want to jump into pools all afternoon/night long. If we do stay there, I was wondering if the pool entrances are included. If you know, let me know? Thanks! Your site is awesome! Going to read the Sun Moon Lake page next…

          Reply
          • If you’re staying at Spring City, it won’t be convenient to take a bus to Sulfur Valley Recreation Area because the bus doesn’t pass close to the hotel. I would honestly suggest just taking an Uber or taxi, and same thing for going back to the hotel. Sulfur Valley is a little further up the mountain, but I wouldn’t really call it off the beaten track. As for Thermal Valley in the main Beitou Hot Springs are, it’s really cool too and worth seeing. Just make sure to avoid Monday when it is closed.

        • Yes, it is a hotel too. Most of the hot spring facilities in Beitou are also hotels. I’ve never personally stayed at Spring City Resort’s hotel, so I can’t say how it is. But yes, you would get access to the hot springs with your stay. It’s probably ideal to stay in the same hotel where you plan to soak, because it’s so nice and convenient for taking an early morning or late evening bath then going directly to your room.

          Reply
  15. Hi!

    I have stumbled unto your website/blog before (March 2023) and it has been my guide to almost all of the places I wanna go to in Taiwan. So thank you very much for all the infos. I’ll be coming back to Taiwan next year first week of January 2024 and has been planning our itinerary. I would like to ask if it would be better to go to Beitou first then Yangmingshan or Yangmingshan then Beitou in terms of transportation? Also, I will be travelling with my parents who are elderly, and I’m nervous if they can walk all the awesome sites you mentioned in Beitou and if in any case they can’t is there a bus with routes that go to maybe not all but mostly majority of these sites or would the walk be okay for elderlies? Thank you!

    Reply
    • I suggest you head over to my new website TaiwanObsessed, where I have just published 2 detailed Yangmingshan guides, one for places to visit in the park, and one for all the transportation info. Also you might consider to rent a car for 6 hours on Klook for visiting Beitou and YMS. The price is pretty reasonable.

      Reply
      • hi!
        I was able to visit your new site before I saw this comment when I tried looking for more details thank you for the very detailed articles you make.

        Reply
  16. Hi,
    The only time we will. be able to visit Taipei is in July (work schedule ). We still plan to visit beitou. Is it really not advisable to visit this time of the month?

    Reply
    • Well basically it will be 35 degrees outside and you will be soaking it a hot tub. So it’s not ideal, but there’s nothing stopping you from doing it. I would only say, if you plan to visit an outdoor one like Spring City or Beitou Public Hot Spring, go in the evening, then at least you won’t have the strong sun shining on you. OR, go to an indoor one.

      Reply
  17. Hello Nick, greatly enjoyed your treasure trove of a website. For private hot spring rooms, can a single traveler be allowed to book? I’ve seen some of the Beitou hotel websites which indicated that they don’t allow single-person booking, are there exceptions to the rule? Thanks much!

    Reply
    • I think the reason they have this rule is because if anything bad happens to you (for example, some people pass out after getting too hot in the bath), then they would have no way to know. I haven’t personally tried to book private rooms on my own in Beitou or across Taiwan, so I’m not sure how common this rule is outside of Beitou. My guess, though, is that the further you get from Taipei and the big city, the more possible it may be that people may not worry about this, but I’m only guessing.

      Reply
  18. Hi Nick,
    Thank you so much for providing all the information – you’re a gem!

    We’re in the process of sorting out our plans to explore Beitou, following your recommendations on the main attractions. Do you have any advice on the best way to see them? Would it be better to book a car or hire a driver? Additionally, do you have any recommendations for car rental or driver services in the Beitou area?
    Second thing- how would you suggest to travel (fastest option) from Hualien to Beitou?

    Thanks so much, Tina

    Reply
    • Most of the main attractions in Beitou can be explored on foot. You don’t really need a car for that area. Only a few (Beitou Museum, Spring City Resort hot springs, and Marshall Zen Garden) are a little further walk, like 15 minutes from the main area. If you want to explore Beitou AND Yangmingshan, then a driver would be much more useful, but this can also be done by bus (just slower). You can find private drivers on Klook or my recommended ones in my article on my other website: https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/taiwan-private-driver-tour-guide/ Hualian to Taipei catch the train. Search then times and book on the Taiwan trains website. I have also have an article on TaiwanObsessed about how to book the tickets. Fastest train is 2 hours, but they often sell out so you need to book early. At Taipei Main Station, take the MRT red line to Beitou, then transfer to the pink line and ride one stop to Xinbeitou.

      Reply
  19. Hi Nick,
    Thanks for the wealth of information for Taipei. I am traveling with two other women and would like to book a package for three. Spent many hours and have yet to find anything other than for two persons. Any suggestions?
    Thank You Kindly
    Ling

    Reply
    • Do you mean hot springs soaking package? It’s true, most are meant for couples, but I’m sure that some places will be OK with three people. We’ve even gone before as a family (2 adults, 2 kids). If you aren’t able to book it online, you can just go to Beitou and walk around to the different hotel spas. There are several besides Beitou Park. At the lobby, they will have photos of the different room options. Just avoid peak times like weekends.

      Reply

Leave a Comment