Taipei 101 Observatory Review 2026: Your Essential Visit Guide
Planning a trip to Taipei? Don't miss the iconic Taipei 101 Observatory! We'll guide you through everything from booking tickets to navigating your visit to the 89th floor.
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Planning a trip to Taipei? Don't miss the iconic Taipei 101 Observatory! We'll guide you through everything from booking tickets to navigating your visit to the 89th floor.
Must-Visit Places in Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei 101 Observatory Tower Review
Written & Photographed by ©Hi-Bubu
When exploring a vibrant new city, heading up to an observatory is an absolute must, right?
In Taipei, there is the iconic landmark representing all of Taiwan:
the magnificent Taipei 101.
Today, I'm going to share everything from Taipei 101 observatory ticket tips, how to get there,
to my honest review of the 89th floor!
First, let's start with some essential info on Taipei 101.
Taipei 101 Observatory |
Hours: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Closed: None (Open year-round) Location: A 5-minute walk from Taipei 101 Station Ticket Price: Approx. ~$15 (On-site purchase: Approx. ~$17) |
The Taipei 101 Observatory is open year-round with no holidays
📍 daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Just take the MRT Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line),
get off at Taipei 101 Station, and follow the signs
for about a 5-minute walk to find the observatory entrance.
On-site tickets for Taipei 101
cost 600 TWD, which is about ~$17.
However, if you book in advance online using the link below,
📍 you can grab them for around ~$13!
> Book Taipei 101 Tickets Here <
Next, let me guide you through how to get up
to the Taipei 101 Observatory.
To reach the Taipei 101 Observatory,
you first need to head to the ticketing counter on the 5th floor.
Once you enter the Taipei 101 building,
simply make your way up using the elevators or escalators.
At Taipei 101, entry is based on designated time slots,
and you line up to enter when your slot is called.
The queues can get surprisingly long during popular night-view hours,
so I highly recommend arriving a bit early to secure your spot in line.
(Or, opting for a Fast Track ticket is also highly recommended!)
Depending on the type of ticket you have, the entry process differs slightly.
If you booked standard online tickets, you can enter directly with your voucher.
However, if you're using a FunPass or a Fast Track voucher,
you must exchange it for a physical ticket first.
You can do this either at the service counter or self-serve
at the ticket kiosks located on the left-hand side.
Just for reference, I used the Taipei FunPass
and exchanged it on-site without any prior reservation.
While there were plenty of slots available when I went, they can
sometimes sell out depending on the season, so please keep that in mind.
Now, let's talk about my experience heading up
to the 89th-floor observatory of Taipei 101.
To reach the 89th floor, you take a high-speed elevator,
which shoots you all the way up in just 45 seconds!
The screen at the front of the elevator shows your current altitude,
speed, and the countdown timer, making the ride up
even more thrilling to watch.
Around the observatory, there are maps pointing in each direction,
along with cool exhibits like a mini model of Taipei 101.
The upper deck was much more crowded than I expected,
with most of the prime window spots already taken.
Unfortunately, the day I visited
was cloudy with non-stop rain all day.
The fog was so thick up at the observatory
that we could barely see any of the night view.
Even so, they had set up quite a few cute photo zones
with bright neon signs and unique backdrops,
which made for some fun, memorable shots.
There was also plenty to do, from Korean-style photo booths
to souvenir shops and cute dessert cafes.
If the weather is nice and you have time to spare, hanging out
at the observatory cafe would be a lovely experience.
If you take a flight of stairs down to the 88th floor,
you can see the observatory's massive wind damper.
Weighing a whopping 660 tons, it's designed to stabilize the building
and minimize swaying during high winds or typhoons.
It's a fully functional tuned mass damper,
and you can actually watch it in action if there's enough movement!
Fun fact: the video above shows the wind damper actually moving
when Typhoon Soudelor hit Taiwan back in 2015.
(Source: Taipei 101 Official YouTube)
Isn't it fascinating to see something so massive
and heavy sway with the wind?
Even though the rainy night view was a bit of a letdown,
seeing this engineering marvel up close was absolutely worth it!
Once you're done looking around and ready to head down,
you'll have to wait in another long line for the elevator.
You can board from either the 89th or 88th floor,
but the queue on the 88th floor is usually slightly shorter.
Since the wait can easily take 15 to 20 minutes,
be sure to budget enough time if you have dinner reservations
or other plans scheduled afterward!
Even though the night view was completely hidden in the fog,
the Taipei 101 Observatory is definitely a must-visit spot
at least once during your trip to Taiwan.
It's relatively affordable compared to observation decks in other major cities,
and with all the cute photo zones and things to do inside,
it's bound to be a satisfying and memorable experience.
Plus, getting to see the tower's massive wind damper actually working
up close on the 88th floor makes it all the more fascinating.
However, if the weather is as poor as it was on the day I visited,
you might not be able to see anything at all even if you head up.
💡 So, if the weather looks promising on the day of your visit, booking in the morning
could be a great way to go.
Also, the wait times for both going up and coming down
can easily take 20 to 30 minutes or more,
so I highly recommend budgeting plenty of extra time in your schedule.
Keep these tips in mind and have an amazing experience
at Taiwan’s iconic landmark, Taipei 101!
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If you purchase tickets on-site, it costs 600 TWD, which is ~$17. If you book in advance, you can buy them for roughly ~$13. You can also use the Taipei Fun Pass to exchange for a physical ticket on-site.
This damper serves to minimize the building's sway during strong winds. If you go down to the 88th floor, you can view the passive damper currently in use up close.
To get to the observatory, you must first go to the ticket counter on the 5th floor, verify your ticket, and line up at your designated time. Once you board the elevator, it takes only 45 seconds to reach the 89th floor.
You can board the descending elevator on both the 89th and 88th floors, but the queue on the 88th floor is usually slightly shorter. Since you may still have to wait for about 15 to 20 minutes to go down, it is recommended to leave plenty of time for your next schedule.
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