Where to Stay Your First Two Weeks in Taipei Before You Find an Apartment
By Raytio Ray
Hostel, hotel, Airbnb or serviced apartment? How to pick a short-term base in Taipei so you can look for a long-term apartment in person.
Why not book an apartment from abroad?
Many newcomers try to lock in a long-term place before they fly. It feels safer, but it's usually harder than it looks. Good apartments are listed and rented quickly, landlords generally want tenants who can view in person and move in soon, and photos rarely show what matters: the humidity, the noise, the light, the smell of the stairwell.
The approach that works for most people is simpler. Book a short-term base for your first one to two weeks, land, and search in person. This article is about choosing that base.
The main options
Hotels. Simple, flexible and easy to book from abroad. You get a front desk, cleaning and often luggage storage. The trade-off is cost if you stay longer than a few nights, and small rooms.
Hostels and guesthouses. The cheapest way to stay in central Taipei, often with private rooms as well as dorms. Good for people who are comfortable with shared spaces and want to meet others. Quality varies a lot, so read recent reviews.
Short-term apartment rentals (Airbnb and similar). More space and a kitchen, which helps if you'll be here for more than a week. Regulations around short-term rentals in Taiwan can be complicated, so read reviews carefully, confirm the check-in process and check the cancellation terms.
Serviced apartments and monthly stays. Some buildings offer furnished units for a week or a month at a time. They cost more per night than a hostel but usually less than a long hotel stay, and they're a good fit if your search might take longer than expected.
How to choose the location
- Near an MRT station. You'll be traveling around the city to view places, so easy transit matters more than a nice view.
- Central rather than remote. Areas around Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan or Da'an make it easy to reach most parts of the city.
- Close to where you want to live, if you know. If you already know you want to be near your office or school, staying in that area for the first week lets you learn it.
- Near food and convenience stores. Your first days are easier when you don't have to plan meals. Our guide to what convenience stores can do covers why that's useful.
How long to book
Plan for one to two weeks for most cases. Once you're in Taipei and viewing places in person, finding the right apartment typically takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on your requirements and the market at the time. Choose a booking with free cancellation or an easy extension so you're not stuck if things go faster or slower.
Also allow a buffer for moving in. Lease signing, paying the deposit, and getting your keys don't always line up with your last night in the short-term stay.
Checklist for booking
1. Confirm the check-in time and whether you can drop luggage early if your flight lands in the morning.
2. Check whether the room has air conditioning, and whether there's a window.
3. Ask if there's a washing machine or a laundromat nearby.
4. Save the address in Chinese for taxis. Our guide from the airport to Taipei covers what to have ready.
5. Make sure you can get a receipt or booking confirmation, since you may need proof of address in the very short term.
Getting from the airport to your base
Your first trip in Taiwan is the one with the most luggage and the least local knowledge: a long flight, two or three suitcases, and an address you can't pronounce yet. If you'd rather not figure out the Airport MRT or explain the address to a taxi driver on arrival, our airport transfer service covers pickups from Taoyuan or Songshan airport. Someone waits for you at arrivals and takes you straight to your hotel, hostel or serviced apartment. We quote individually.
What to do in the first days
Use the short-term stay as your base for getting set up:
- Get a local SIM or eSIM.
- Get an EasyCard for transit.
- Start viewing places and take notes on what you liked and didn't like.
- Read our guide on what to bring to a first apartment viewing.
Our guide to your first 72 hours in Taipei has the full landing checklist.
The short version
A short-term base costs a little more per night than a long-term rental, but it saves you from committing to a place you haven't seen. If you'd like help searching once you've landed, our services page explains how we work with new arrivals.