How To Celebrate Christmas In Taipei

Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Taipei, but there are still plenty of festive activities, and though many locals don’t actually celebrate, it doesn’t stop them from joining in. From bus drivers in Santa suits, to Baristas in antlers, you won’t have to look far to be reminded that Christmas is on the horizon.

Head for Christmasland

You’ll find this celebration of all things Christmas in the newly developed area around Banqiao train station. It’s a full-on Christmas fair with a market, a winter playground and carolers singing festive tunes. The neighborhood is also home to Mega City department store, so you can pick up some gifts for the family while there. This is among the most festive areas you’ll find in Taipei, and the entire area is decorated with Christmas lights and has a massive Christmas Tree at the center. It’s well worth a visit, but be warned—the area is always busy, but at Christmas it can be hectic, to say the least.

Banqiao Train Station, 7 Xianmin Boulevard Section 2, Banqiao District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Assuming there are some festive flicks on at the cinema, spend an evening in Xinyi shopping district. The area is fully decked out for the entire month of December, and after the movie, you can stroll the walkways between the neighborhood department stores to window shop, see the local buskers and grab a bite to eat. Last year, the city government arranged a Christmas festival here throughout December with a market that gave Banqiao a run for its money. No announcement has been made so far for 2017, but one can only hope that Santa and Co. make another appearance.

Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan

Have Dinner with all the Trimmings

As residents of Taipei become more intrigued with Christmas, local restaurants, and particularly hotel restaurants, have embraced the festive season. Many now offer Christmas dinners for a few days before and after, and though it might not taste like the turkey you had as a child, they do a pretty good job. The Grand Hyatt Christmas dinner is probably the most famous (and most expensive), but you’ll need to book well in advance. For those who prefer to cook at home, head to Thomas Meat, where they import smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving—plan ahead so you can pop one in the freezer for Christmas.

Grand Hyatt, 2 Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan, +886 2 2720 1234

Party Under the Mistletoe

OK, perhaps there won’t be any mistletoe, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy yourself at one of the many parties in the city. Places like Carnegie’s and Brass Monkey are well known for throwing crazy Christmas bashes, and bars, such as On Tap, also get in on the act. It’s worth checking out your favorite bar’s website for details, as parties tend to be on Fridays and Saturdays regardless of what day Christmas falls on.

Enjoy the Fireworks

Wait, fireworks? Yes, you’ll have to wait until New Year’s Eve, but the holiday spirit is still very much alive at this time, especially around Xinyi, where shops leave up their decorations well into January. The show at Taipei 101 is among the biggest events of the year. It’s best to arrive early, or you risk getting stuck on public transport. Book dinner at a local bar or restaurant ahead of time, and then you can just pop outside, watch the show and head back in to your warm seat and cold drink when it’s finished.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.