Do as the locals do, by bathing in the thermal pools in this public open-air park with a traditional museum and a lake.
Visit Beitou Hot Springs Park to experience a picturesque and serene spot that makes use of the thermal waters in the northern reaches of Taipei. Relax in these warm outdoor pools and notice the unusual scent of sulfur in the air. You are expected to gradually work your way up to the hottest of its multiple pools of varying temperatures.
Sit back and watch those around you in this favorite Taiwanese activity. Soothe aching muscles in the natural water that some people believe provides health benefits. Arrive with your own swimsuit and towel and bring coins to work the individual lockers.
The site is also known as the Millennium Hot Spring, as it opened in 1999. The complex is free to access and opens daily from morning until evening. Note that each shift lasts 2 hours, between cleaning times.
The fascinating complex provides a glimpse into a public tradition, but can get rather crowded. Check out some of the deluxe spas and hotels in the surroundings that also use these thermal waters. Wander along the bridge and sit by the lake in the adjoining parkland.
For a comprehensive understanding of the historical and societal importance of hot springs in the Taiwanese culture, head to the adjacent Beitou Hot Springs Museum. Admire the intriguing architecture of the elegant building, which has a redbrick base and a wooden upper half. Its exhibits trace the history of the use of thermal waters in these parts.
Beitou Hot Springs Park is on the eastern side of Beitou Park in the namesake district of northern Taipei. From the city center, travel by metro to the Xinbeitou MRT Station and walk east through Qinshui Park to get here.
Stay in this district to see other surrounding highlights such as the Ketagalan Culture Center, the Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch and the Beitou Park Fountain.
