National Palace Museum

Shahram K.★★★★★★★★★★5.02 weeks ago

The National Palace Museum is slightly overrated compared to some of Taiwan's other historical attractions, but it is still well worth a visit. The museum houses an impressive collection of cultural and historical artifacts that provide valuable insight into Chinese history and heritage. The exhibits are well presented, and the quality and significance of the collection are undeniable. If you have an interest in history, culture, or art, it is definitely a worthwhile stop during your visit to Taiwan.

Γαλνανατ Πυχομχιτ★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

This is the largest museum in Taiwan, housing more than 600,000 historical artifacts. Opening hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on Mondays), with an entrance fee of 350 NT. 🚇 Getting There Take the MRT Red Line and get off at Shilin Station. From Shilin Station, it’s a short walk to the bus stop. The area has many restaurants and cafés, so it’s easy to grab a meal before or after your visit. Take bus R30 and get off at National Palace Museum. Some bus routes shown on Google Maps stop at the lower entrance, which requires a longer uphill walk. Choosing a bus that stops at the upper entrance is much more convenient. For the return trip, we waited for the bus at the front of the museum. The wait time was short, and there were several bus routes available. ℹ️ Things to Know Before Visiting If you don’t want to queue at the ticket counter, there are self-service ticket machines available. Lockers are provided for bag storage, with secure key locks. Bags smaller than A3 size can be brought inside. No flash photography or tripods allowed. Please keep your voice down, as many visitors use audio guides. English guided tours are available for groups. According to the website, tours are at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM (we missed the timing, so didn’t get to confirm on-site). After purchasing your ticket, you’ll receive a paper ticket with a unique design—beautiful and collectible! ✨ We spent about 3.5 hours inside the museum. Even though we can’t read Chinese, many exhibits have English descriptions. For those who want deeper insight, audio guides are available for an additional 150 NT. On the day we visited, the famous Jadeite Pork Belly was not on display, but the Jadeite Cabbage was exhibited. Each floor is divided into zones by artifact type, such as painting galleries and ancient jade collections. If you’re short on time, you can focus on the sections that interest you most. The souvenir shop has lovely items like jade keychains and decorative replicas of the cabbage and pork belly. Prices start from around 100 NT and up. Many of the artifacts are over a thousand years old, yet they are incredibly well preserved—it honestly makes you wonder how they maintain them in such pristine condition. The craftsmanship is exquisite in every detail. Highly recommended for anyone who loves art and history. If you want to truly enjoy the experience, plan to spend at least 4 hours here..

Robert Walshe★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

An outstanding museum experience and a masterclass in how cultural institutions should be run. From arrival to exit, everything is calm, efficient and beautifully organised. The galleries are spacious, the flow is intuitive, and the collections are nothing short of world-class. Imperial bronzes, jade, porcelain and calligraphy are presented with clarity and confidence, allowing the objects to speak for themselves. The Ming Dynasty galleries in particular are exceptional — refined, elegant and genuinely arresting. These are pieces that stop you in your tracks and reward slow looking. Despite the name, this is not a palace you wander through. The building is purpose-built, and the term “Palace” refers to the Forbidden City collections that were evacuated from Beijing during the Chinese Civil War and brought to Taiwan for safekeeping — a fascinating historical backstory that adds real depth to the visit. Easy to reach via metro from the city centre, followed by a short Uber ride into the hills. Calm, grand, intellectually rich and utterly absorbing. A must-visit in Taipei.

YG “Nias” P★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

My visit to National Palace Museum was both fascinating and slightly bittersweet. The museum itself is an impressive institution, housing one of the world’s most extensive collections of Chinese imperial artefacts. From intricately carved jade pieces to delicate ceramics and ancient calligraphy, each exhibit reflected remarkable craftsmanship and deep historical significance. The layout of the museum was well organised, making it easy to navigate through different dynasties and artistic periods. Informational displays were clear and provided helpful context, allowing me to better appreciate the cultural and historical value of the pieces. I particularly enjoyed the bronze and porcelain collections, which showcased both technical mastery and aesthetic refinement. However, a notable disappointment was that some of the museum’s most iconic artefacts—Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone—were not on display during my visit. These pieces are widely regarded as highlights of the collection, and their absence did leave the experience feeling somewhat incomplete. Despite this, the museum still offered a rich and rewarding experience overall. The depth of the collection and the quality of curation made it well worth the visit. It remains a must-see destination for anyone interested in Chinese history, art, and cultural heritage. I'll be back to visit again!

Kye★★★★★★★★★★5.0a month ago

Massive collections of treasures were beautifully displayed across three floors. I could have spent the entire day in the museum, but there were simply too many visitors. In some areas, it was difficult even to move through the crowds. It may have been because admission was free that day. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the opportunity to view priceless artifacts unique to this museum.