Climb Elephant Mountain for the Most Popular View of Taipei

If we could recommend 1 thing to do on a trip to Taipei, it’s this.

Climbing elephant mountain isn’t overly difficult or time consuming, but the payoff is huge – a spectacular view of the city that rivals all the picturesque images of Taipei.

There’s no entrance fee and if you’re fit it takes about 15 – 20 minutes to climb the staircases to the top. It takes longer than that depending on your speed and how many breaks you take.

The best time to go is in the late afternoon so that you can see the city during the daytime, watch the sunset, and then see all the lights come on as darkness falls.

Best of all, it’s right next to the city and you can even take the metro close to the base of the mountain! There’s no huge commitment if you’re only in Taipei for a short amount of time.

Here’s how to do it:

Get off at Xiangshan MRT station, just past Taipei 101 on the red line.

Follow the signs toward Xiangshan Hiking Trail. If you’re planning on staying here a while, we recommend stopping at the nearby Family Mart to pick up some picnic food before beginning the hike.

Here’s the entrance! Once you’ve stocked up on snacks and drinks, you’re ready to go.

And so it begins…

There’s a preliminary viewing platform about halfway up the stairs. This is a good place to stop if you need a rest, but you’re not done yet!

Almost there…

Boom! There are a bunch of large rocks that you can climb up on for better vantage points.

The rocky area can get a little bit crowded (especially if the weather is nice) but it’s totally worth this view.

If you keep climbing higher, you’ll see the trail split and branch off. Take the left fork to continue heading to a further platform, or the right fork to find the bathrooms. There are also trails leading down the other side of the mountain if you’re in the mood for more hiking.

Once you get to the final viewing platform, you’ll find a sheltered area with tables and seating. This is the best spot to watch the sunset and have your picnic.

Stay until nightfall to see the skyline light up! Don’t worry about being there too late: the paths are open 24 hours and lights come on to guide you back down the path.

Visited: October 2017

What’s the vibe?

Staircases up the side of a mountain lead to viewing platforms that are busy with people taking photos on nice days. The climb can be tiring if you’re not fit, but it’s a breeze for experienced hikers.

Worth it?

Absolutely.

It doesn’t cost anything, it doesn’t take much time, and it’s not overly demanding – especially if you’re in good shape.

Would you go back?

Yes.

Any time we have visitors to Taipei, this will be #1 on the agenda.