Okay, let’s go now, getting there is super simple and honestly, it doesn’t take that long.
What is the National Palace Museum?
Is one of the museums with the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts, almost 700,000. Why are these relics in Taiwan and not in Mainland China?
In 1949 when the national government fell to communism, they decided to flee to Taiwan. They took with them a huge cargo of Chinese antiques that were in the National Museum of Beijing.
Step Number 1 – Get to the closest MRT station
In order to reach the National Palace Museum from the center of the city -Taipei- you’ll have to first get to Shilin MRT Station. This station is on the red line.
Since I live in Zhongshan area, I simply went to Zhongshan station and took the subway towards Tamsui.
Shilin station is on the way.
Depending on where you’re staying you’ll have to transfer lines to get to Shilin station.
Or who knows maybe you are already near this station and can just walk over there, or maybe for you is more convenient to take a bus.
Here’s the exact location of Shilin station, simply click on it and check -using Google maps- how to get there.
Step Number 2- Get off at Shilin Station
Assuming you’re using the metro, once you reach Shilin Station, take exit 1, zhongzhen Road.
Go down and you’ll see some signs directing you to the bus stop you need to go to.
Luckily for you, I took some pictures, but to be honest you won’t even need them.
All you gotta do is go downstairs -Exit 1- pay your fare and out of the station and walk straight until you reach the road.
Once you’re there just turn to your right and you’ll see the bus stop
Step Number 3 – Switch to a Bus
There are a couple of buses that will take you to the National Palace Museum. I took R30 (the same as 紅30) and it took around 15 minutes to get there.
The bus stop you’ll get off at is The National Palace museum stop, so it’s really difficult to get lost.
Step Number 4 Get off the bus and walk into the Museum
The bus R30 will drop you off inside the premises of the National Palace Museum.
As you’re riding the bus, if you take a look at your left side you’ll see when you’re reaching the palace.
The bus will turn and enter the palace premises and drop you off in front of a souvenir store, in a basement area, not in front of all the steps you’re seeing in the picture.
All you gotta do now is enter the building and go upstairs to pay for your tickets.
You can go to the right or left and line up to buy the ticket. Then you have to line up to pay for the audio tour device (optional), and finally, there is a lockers area where you have to put your bags.
Right after that, you’re ready to go through security and enter the gallery area.
How much is the ticket?
NTD 350, regular entrance for adults, after you enter the gallery and they tear your ticket, you can still go out and enter again.
Just make sure they put a stamp on your hand so they know you already paid for the ticket.
The Highest Mountain in Taipei. Qixing.
Additional costs
- 150 NTD for audio tour device (Optional)
- 10 NTD to use the locker
More about the Museum
They have different collections showing on different days. You can check more details here the official website of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
Here are some pictures I took of what caught my attention the most
Are there restaurants inside the National Palace Museum?
Yes, there are, there is a cafe near the area where you pay for your tickets, and there are other 2 outside, still inside the premises of the museum but on a different building.
For lunch, I and my friend went to a restaurant in the basement, you can see it in the video.
I must say the food was okay, not really good but not bad either, I do think is overpriced, for some spring rolls, a lunch set menu, noodles bowl, a Tainan toast and two can drinks it was almost 2,000 NTD.
Here’s an image with the map of the National Palace Museum, it might be useful.
Conclusion
If you care about art and history you’ll like this place. Getting there on your own is no problem at all, the staff overall is very helpful.
There are restaurant options inside the National Palace Museum, at least the one restaurant I went to was okay in terms of food quality, a bit overpriced though.
If you’re a tourist in Taipei and you’re looking for Indian Food or Spanish food just click Best Indian Restaurants in Taipei or Best Spanish Restaurants in Taipei
Thank you for reading.