Gay Taipei Travel Guide: Taipei is one of Asia’s leading gay travel destinations and Taiwan’s most gay friendly city. In fact, Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalise equal marriage!
During my time in Taipei, I felt incredibly safe, welcome and was super happy to see other LGBTQ+ couples walking around hand in hand.
I was very pleased to learn about and to experience the gay scene in Taipei. The gay scene in Taipei is very easy to navigate as the majority of the scene is conveniently concentrated in one district
In this Gay Taipei travel guide, I will tell you how to find the gay area in Taipei, share the best gay friendly hotels, my experience of Taipei Pride, the gay bars, gay saunas, LGBTQ+-friendly attractions and practical travel tips.
If you would like to read about gay travel across the whole of Taiwan, read my Taiwan Gay Travel Guide.
Is Taipei Gay Friendly?
Yes! Taipei is a very gay friendly city in Taiwan, with its’s own dedicated gay village and plenty of LGBTQ+ owned busineses.
More widely, Taiwan has long been considered as one of the most gay-friendly destinations in Asia. So it is perhaps no surprise, that the capital city of Taipei, is one of the most gay friendly spots in Taiwan.
And whilst for the most part, public displays of affection are kept for behind closed doors (in line with the majority of Asian cultures), the younger generations are starting to be more open. During the time that I spent in Taipei, I noticed quite a few gay couples walking hand-in-hand, which is always encouraging to see!
I could not have felt safer and more welcomed!
You can read more about LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan here in my Taiwan Gay Travel Guide.
Where is the gay area of Taipei?
The main gay area of Taipei is located in the Wanhua district, specifically in and around what is known as “The Red House District”, or Ximending.
Taipei is celebrated for its thriving and vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife offerings, and its drag community. The city is home to some of the most famous gay bars, not just in Taiwan, but in Asia as a whole.
The Red House, often called Ximending Red House, is an icon of the Wanhua district. It is in itself not specifically gay – it is actually a theatre that hosts many different cultural events. However, it has become known as the landmark for locating the gay area, because huddled around The Red House you will find, for want of a better word, a “complex” of over 25 gay bars, gay shops and restaurants.
Gay Hotels in Taipei
Whilst there are no dedicated gay hotels in Taipei, there are plenty of very gay-friendly options for your to stay. The below recommendations include places I have stayed, as well as brands I know work hard to welcome their LGBTQ+ guests.
Amba Taipei
I was certainly spoilt on my trip to Taiwan, finishing my visit with a stay in the gorgeous 4-star Amba Taipei.
The rooms were so spacious and comfortable here, and the majority of them also feature amazing views of the Taipei skyline.
The location was also perfect – the hotel is actually located in the Ximending district, and is only a few minutes’ walk to the Red House – so the perfect location for LGBTQ+ travellers wanting to go out and explore the scene.
There is also one of Taipei’s most popular night markets less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and also Ximen MRT station is a few minutes’ walk too to head to other points of interest around the city.
Oh – but perhaps what most excited us – the free laundry facilities including tumble dryer to do all your washing before heading home. I mean, tell me you’re a British traveller without telling me you’re a British traveller!
Address: No. 77, Section 2, Wuchang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10843
Kimpton Da An Hotel
I have always had positive experiences with the Kimpton brand and seen their support for the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
The Kimpton Da An Hotel is a 5 star boutique hotel, with Japanese inspired rooms, a rooftop terrace and Michelin recognised restaurants on site.
Located in the Da’an District it is just 10-15 minutes form iconic things to do in Taipei such as Taipei 101 and has good connections to the gay area in Taipei.
Address: No. 25, Lane 27, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei 106
Hotel Indigo – Taipei North
Hotel Indigo is another boutique hotel in Taipei, specifically the Dazhi/Zhongshan area.
It is colourful, with a lot of character, has a rooftop deck offering panoramic views of the city below. Location here is a little calmer, but you still have easy access with the MRT to the gay area in Taipei.
Address: No. 200, Zhifu Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei 104
Doubletree by Hilton – Taipei Zhongshan
Hilton is another brand that consistently puts the work in to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Doubletree by Hilton is a 4 star hotel, centrally located with easy access to Taipei main station – ideal if you are going to travel out from Taipei to other locations in Taiwan.
Gay Bars in Taipei
Taipei has a reputation for offering some of the best gay nightlife in Asia, with plenty of gay bars to choose from, the majority of which are centred around The Red House District in Ximending.
Here you will find over over 25 gay bars and clubs clustered together. Below I have shared three of my favourite gay bars, but for a full rundown of all the gay bars in Taipei (and the rest of Taiwan), head to my dedicated Gay Bars in Taiwan Guide.
Café Dalida – starting calm, Cafe Dalida is a small and cozy gay bar in Taipei, right in the heart of the gay area. It is a great spot day or night and has some great drag shows!
G. Star – Predominantly a gay club venue (more so than a gay bar), this is a great place for dance after midnight. The venue has two floors and private karaoke rooms upstairs!
Commander D – and then at the other end of the spectrum, somewhere a little more underground with dim red lighting and dark corners, about 10 minutes’ walk from The Red House. Attracts a mixed crowd, and yes, the name is exactly what you think it is.
Taipei Pride – Taiwan LGBT+ Pride
Taipei Pride is also known as Taiwan LGBT+ Pride, as this is the main and largest pride for the entire country – is is also the largest pride in Asia!
Taipei Pride runs over the course of a full weekend, with a full schedule of events, activities and parties (including some big circuit parties organised by Formosa Rainbow Music Festival).
The big event, is of course the pride parade, where you can join in with the celebrations and march amongst the floats and parade goes – this is the style of parade I love the most, one with barriers where everyone can get stuck in!
During Taipei Pride weekend, they also have the Taipei Pride Village. The Pride Village is usually located in front of the Town Hall, and is the place to be to continue the celebrations once the parade has finished. This is where you will find the main stage for acts and performances over the weekend, stalls and booths supporting the charities and organisations Pride helps, and of course plenty of food and drink vendors and merchandise.
Things to do in Taipei for Gay Travellers
Taipei 101
By far this was one of my favourite activities whilst in Taipei!
Taipei 101, formerly known as Taipei World Financial Center is a skyscraper located in the Financial District of Taipei.
The building was officially the tallest building in the world (overtaking the Petronas Towers) from its opening on 31 December 2004, just in time to celebrate New Years Eve! In fact, just a few hours after the formal opening, visitors rode to the Observatory to observe the first Taipei 101 firework show – a firework show that has now become an annual event.
And Taipei 101 managed to hold onto this tallest building status for the next five years, when it was displaced by the Burj Khalifa. And it was actually the first skyscraper in the world to exceed a height of half a kilometre – standing at 508 metres, with 101 floors, as the name suggests!
The observatory is located on the 89th floor, and the elevators to take visitors up are amongst some of the fastest in the world, with ascending speeds of almost 17 metres per second! Visitors are whisked from the 5th floor, to the 89th floor in just 37 seconds.
But the view from the observatory is definitely worth the journey. Once you reach the observatory, you are rewarded with a panoramic, 360-degree view of the entire city – shopping malls, more skyscrapers, and surrounding the city, rolling green hills and mountains. It is one of the most incredible views I have seen.
And if you feel really brave enough – you can even ascend to floor 101, which is the outdoor observation deck – but be warned, it gets quite windy up here!
Taipei 101 is also adjoined to a large, multilevel shopping mall, so once you have ascended and taken in the views, you can head back down for some shopping, or food at one of the many food and drink outlets.
Visit GinGin, the gay bookstore
GinGin is the first, and as a result Taiwan’s most famous LGBTQ+ bookstore, having been open for over 25 years.
GinGin has English speaking staff that are more than happy to assist, and as well as books, it also sells DVDs, magazines, items of clothing and more.
GinGin is also a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights for the people of Taiwan – they have long been avid participants in Taiwan Pride, and also use the store as a culture shop, featuring exhibitions, as well as holding different arts and cultural activities instore.
GinGin can be found on a small quiet street behind Taipower Building, full address 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Roosevelt Rd, Section 3, Ln 210, Alley 8, 8號1樓.
Just something to note – no filming or photography is permitted inside the store.
Visit the Rabbit God Temple
Taiwan has a god for the gays, including a temple where you can go to worship and make offerings and pray.
It was really interesting to learn about the history of The Rabbit God, especially the fact that such a large number of people make the journey to the temple each year.
Even if you don’t want to make any offerings or pray to the God yourself, it is still a really cool place to visit – after all, it is the only religious shrine/place of worship in the world that is dedicated just for us gays!
228 Peace Memorial Park
228 Peace Memorial Park is a historic, municipal park located in Taipei, within walking distance from Ximending.
The park contains memorials dedicated to the victims of the February 1947 massacre, including the 228 Memorial itself standing at the centre of the park.
However, the park itself has been adopted by the gays. Prior to the days of social media, and meeting apps, the park was once a major meeting site for gay men. It was even nicknamed “company”, due to its visitors showing up like clockwork each day.
In more recent times, the park was designated as a “Rainbow Landscape” and in 2016 it even had its iron gate painted in the colours of the rainbow to show support for gender equality and LGBTQ+ equal rights.
To date, it is still used as a gay meeting spot, particularly amongst Taipei’s older generation, so if you do decide to explore, especially on an evening, just bear this in mind!
Visit The Red House District
The Red House District may be most well-known for its thriving gay nightlife, but it’s not all about what happens at night time.
The Red House is an iconic landmark of this district, and in itself is worth a visit. This octagonal building, so named from the red brick it is constructed from is a beautiful building, dating back to 1908. It was in fact, Taiwan’s first public market and one of the most well-preserved historical buildings in the city.
Around The Red House are many shops and restaurants, a lot of them gay-owned, selling gay merchandise or just popular with the LGBTQ+ community because of their location.
Gay Saunas in Taipei
Is there a gay sauna in Taipei? Yes! There are 4 gay saunas in Taipei with Soi 13 In being one of the most popular. Full details of each gay sauna in Taipei are listed below.
Soi 13 In
Soi 13 In is one of the most popular gay saunas in Taipei with the crowd being typically younger locals and international tourists. they have all the usual facilities you would expect and are open 24 hours so you can visit anytime! Evenings and weekends are of course the busiest (same for all these gay saunas in Taipei).
Address: No. 13, Section 1, Minsheng East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10491, Taiwan.
I/O Taipei
I/O Taipei is a modern and quite large gay sauna in Taipei over three floors. This sauna also has a karaoke lounge and hosts themed events so is more of a social sauna vs some of the more traditional gay saunas you might have visited.
Address: No. 12-1, Lane 49, Shuangcheng Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10491, Taiwan.
Hans Men’s Sauna
Han Mens Sauna is one of the longest running gay saunas in Taipei with a mixed crowd, usual facilities and close to Ximending, i.e near the gay bars. This gay sauna is also open 24 hours.
Address: 8F, No. 70, Xining Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108, Taiwan.
Pengqun Sauna (Former Emperor Sauna)
Pengquen is a gay sauna in Taipei that is more traditional and popular with the locals. This is also close to the gay nightlife in Taipei.
Address: No. 20, Xining Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108, Taiwan.
Where to eat in Taipei?
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat in Taipei. Here are a few highlights:
Din Tai Fung (Taipei 101)
Pop down here after you have been up Taipei 101, this place is famous for its Xiao Long Bao, but my highlight was the Chocolate Xiao Long Bao – a warm chocolate-filled dumpling with a melted chocolate centre that’s is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Address: B1, Taipei 101, No. 45, City Hall Road, Xinyi District, Taipei.ei.
Yong Shin Tea
This is a modern Taiwanese restaurant that reimagines traditional local dishes. It gets very busy and popular for lunch.
Address: Breeze Xinyi, 2F, No. 68, Songgao Road, Xinyi District, Taipei.
Ningxia Night Market
If you prefer to grab and go and try lots of different things, Ningxia is one of Taipeis most popular night markets.
Address: Ningxia Road, Datong District, Taipei.
85TD
And finally, somewhere a little more premium, this is Michelin-recommended Cantonese restaurant located on the 85th floor of Taipei 101. Dine with amazing views of Taipei below, maybe one for your final evening.
Address: 85th Floor, Taipei 101, No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei.
Practical tips for visiting Taipei
- If you are specifically interested in the gay scene in Taipei, then look to stay close to The Red House in the Ximending district.
- The MRT is easy to use to get around Taipei, however Uber costs are also quite reasonable.
- Taiwan has a sub-tropical climate, with generally warm weather all year round.
- The currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. Cash is widely used in Taiwan, and preferred to credit cards – and of course you will need cash when visiting the local markets.
- International flights to Taiwan will likely arrive into Taoyuan International Airport, in Taipei. From the airport there are plenty of connection options into the city centre, such as MRT train, buses and taxis. Once in Taipei you can also make your connections onwards.
- The main spoken language in Taiwan is Mandarin, however many locals, and in particular the younger generation do speak English. Even a lot of the signage, such as when using the public transport system is also in English.
- Power outlets are the same as in the US and Canada, so pack an adaptor!