Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉, Xinbeitou
Famous home of hot springs in the Taipei area, Beitou is the most convenient area for travelers visiting Taipei to enjoy authentic thermal hot springs.
During the Japanese occupation, the area around the natural hot springs was developed into a resort destination filled with nice resorts, inns, hotels, tea houses, parks, and public baths. As a result of its immense popularity, a train line and station were built to attract visitors from far and wide to enjoy the beauty of the area.
The area around Xinbeitou station is filled with various public and private baths. Each bath may have different etiquette and general rules, so be sure to first check the rules before entering the bath.
Private hot springs in the Beitou area are very popular, so it is recommended to book a private room in advance for convenience while travelling.
The three common types of hot springs include green sulfur (slightly green colored and only found in Beitou and Akita, Japan), white sulfur (a milky colored spring which make up the majority of springs in the area), and iron sulfur (transparent springs found around the Ding Beitou area).
Each bath may have rules regarding gender separation, whether or not bathers are permitted to wear clothing, and other regulations such as those regarding food and drink.
Recommended Hotels in the Beitou Area:
Favourite Attractions:
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館)
- Thermal Valley (地熱谷)
- Beitou Museum (北投文物館)
- Ketagalan Culture Center (凱達格蘭文物館, KCC Beitou Aboriginal Museum)
- Liuhuanggu Sulfur Lake (硫磺谷)
- Xingyi Road Hot Springs (行義路溫泉)
More hot springs and natural sites can be found inside Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園).
Take the MRT Red Line 2 to Beitou Station (北投), then change to the train bound for Xinbeitou (新北投). Upon exiting the station, walk straight on either side of the park to find hot springs.
While riding the Xinbeitou branch line, check out the small museum on board the train to enjoy public art displaying Beitou's history and culture.
Beitou is a district of Taipei City, however, the hot springs are located close to the Xinbeitou MRT station, so in practice this specific area is generally referred to as "Xinbeitou" (新北投).
Before entering the bath, be sure to first slowly help your body acclimate to the hot water by first wetting your feet and slowly move up along your body. Completely immersing your body in the hot spring immediately is not a smart idea.
The Taipei MRT's red line follows the train tracks originally built to service the Beitou area.