Museums & galleries
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, also known as Taipei Palace Museum, is a national museum headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum was re-established in Shilin, Taipei, in 1965, later expanded with a southern branch in Taibao, Chiayi, in 2015.
What it is
The National Palace Museum holds one of the largest collections of Chinese imperial art and artifacts in the world, originally assembled by the Qing dynasty court in Beijing and moved to Taiwan in the late 1940s. Exhibits span bronzes, ceramics, jade carvings, calligraphy, and painting scrolls, with rotating displays since the permanent collection is far larger than what can be shown at once. It's the main destination in Taipei for anyone interested in Chinese art history rather than a general city museum.
Getting there
From central Taipei, the museum is most easily reached by MRT to Shilin Station, followed by a short bus ride or taxi, or a direct bus from stations closer to downtown. Allow around 30–40 minutes door to door depending on your starting point and connections.
Time to allow
Most visitors spend two to three hours inside, longer if you want to read the exhibit notes closely or are especially drawn to a particular gallery, such as ceramics or painting.
When to go
Weekends and Taiwanese public holidays tend to draw large crowds, particularly around the most famous jade and ceramic pieces, so a weekday visit is more comfortable. Arriving earlier in the day generally means smaller crowds in the first galleries you pass through.
Combine it with
- Miramar Entertainment Park (2.3km) — a shopping and entertainment complex, useful for a meal or a break afterward.
- Shilin Night Market (2.9km) — one of Taipei's best-known night markets, a good option if you finish at the museum in the late afternoon and want dinner nearby.
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum (4.1km) — for contrast, a modern and contemporary art museum rather than historical artifacts.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
