If you’re staying in Ximending and planning to visit Longshan Temple, getting there is quick, affordable, and incredibly easy.
I’ve visited Taiwan five times and have been to Longshan Temple three times. Every visit reminds me why I love Taipei—its MRT system is efficient, tourist-friendly, and makes exploring the city stress-free.
Whether it’s your first time in Taipei or you’re returning for another trip, here’s exactly how to get from Ximending to Longshan Temple.
Planning your Taipei itinerary? Check out my UltimateTaiwan Travel Guidefor more tips on transportation, hotels, and must-visit attractions.
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon
Payment Option: EasyCard accepted on all Taipei MRT lines
Table of contents
How to Get to Longshan Temple from Ximending
Option 1: By MRT (Recommended)
Head to Ximen Station.
Take the Bannan Line (Blue Line) toward Dingpu.
Ride for one stop and get off at Longshan Temple Station.
Exit via Exit 1.
Turn right and walk for 1–2 minutes.
You’ll arrive at Longshan Temple.
It’s one of the easiest day trips you can do in Taipei, especially if you’re staying in Ximending.
Alternative Ways to Get There
Walk from Ximending
If you enjoy exploring on foot, you can walk from Ximending to Longshan Temple in approximately 20–25 minutes.
The route takes you through Wanhua District, one of Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods, where you’ll pass local shops, traditional markets, and hidden food spots.
Taxi or Uber
A taxi ride from Ximending to Longshan Temple takes around 5–10 minutes, depending on traffic.
Estimated fare: NT$100–150.
This option is convenient if you’re traveling with luggage, children, or older family members.
Public Bus
Several Taipei city buses serve the Wanhua area. However, for first-time visitors, the MRT remains the easiest and fastest option.
My Experience Visiting Longshan Temple
I’ve been to Taiwan five times and have visited Longshan Temple three times.
What I love most is how accessible it is from Ximending. Even if you only have a few hours in Taipei, you can easily fit it into your itinerary.
I usually visit early in the morning when it’s less crowded and the atmosphere feels especially peaceful. Watching locals pray and seeing the beautiful traditional architecture offers a meaningful glimpse into Taiwanese culture.
Since admission is completely free, it’s one of the best budget-friendly experiences in Taipei.
Travel Tips
Bring an EasyCard for convenient MRT travel.
Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to explore the surrounding Wanhua area.
Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Be respectful when taking photos inside the temple grounds.
Consider pairing your visit with nearby attractions like Bopiliao Historical Block and Huaxi Street Night Market.
Final Thoughts
Longshan Temple is one of the easiest attractions to visit from Ximending. With just one MRT stop between them, you can reach this iconic Taipei landmark in minutes.
If you’re building your Taipei itinerary, this quick and free cultural experience deserves a spot on your list.
Hi, I’m Helena! 👋
I’m the creator of Mommy Helena, a travel blog where I share detailed itineraries, hotel reviews, food discoveries, and travel tips based on my personal experiences across Asia.
As a solo traveler from the Philippines, I love exploring destinations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and beyond. My goal is to help fellow travelers plan smarter, save time, and make the most of every trip.
✈️ Follow my adventures and discover practical travel guides, budget tips, and honest recommendations from my journeys.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you book through them at no extra cost to you. I only recommend hotels, tours, and travel services that I personally use or believe may be helpful for fellow travelers. Thank you for supporting Mommy Helena and helping me continue creating free travel content.
Quick Summary Box
How Much Does a Taiwan Trip Cost?
One of the most common questions I receive is:
“How much money should I bring to Taiwan?”
To help fellow travelers plan their budget, I’m sharing my actual expenses from my recent 6 Days 5 Nights Taiwan trip covering Taichung and Taipei.
During this trip, I visited:
Alishan
Qingjing Farm
Qingjing Skywalk
Sun Moon Lake
Ximending
Taipei
This breakdown includes my hotels, transportation, food, tours, travel tax, eSIM, and travel insurance.
Important Disclaimer
✈️ Flight fare is NOT included in this budget breakdown.
Taiwan was part of my multi-country trip, so airfare was booked together with other destinations and would not accurately represent a standalone Taiwan trip cost.
Also keep in mind that:
Hotel costs may vary depending on your accommodation preference.
Food expenses will depend on your eating habits.
Activities can be customized based on your interests.
Shopping and souvenirs are excluded from the main travel budget since they are optional expenses.
If you’ve been following my Taiwan adventures, you’ll know I love exploring local cafes as much as tourist attractions.
This budget includes meals, coffee stops, milk tea, snacks, and convenience store purchases.
Day
Cost
Day 1
₱948
Day 2
₱921
Day 3
₱795
Day 4
₱1,361
Day 5
₱1,350
Day 6
₱1,032
Total Food Cost
💰 ₱6,407
Average Daily Food Budget
💰 ₱1,068 per day
Taiwan Budget Summary
Category
Cost
Pre-Travel
₱2,627
Hotels
₱16,724
Transportation
₱2,943
Activities
₱6,498
Food
₱6,407
TOTAL
₱35,199
Is Taiwan Expensive for Filipinos?
Based on my experience, Taiwan offers excellent value for money.
For approximately ₱35,199 excluding flights, I was able to:
✔️ Stay for 6 days and 5 nights
✔️ Visit Alishan
✔️ Visit Qingjing Farm
✔️ Explore Sun Moon Lake
✔️ Travel between Taichung and Taipei
✔️ Enjoy cafes, local food, and sightseeing
Compared to many other destinations in Asia, Taiwan remains one of the easiest and most budget-friendly countries to explore independently.
Final Thoughts
My total essential travel cost for this Taiwan trip was:
💰 ₱35,199 (excluding flights)
If you’re planning your own Taiwan adventure, I hope this breakdown gives you a realistic idea of how much to budget for hotels, transportation, food, and attractions.
Taiwan continues to be one of my favorite destinations because of its convenient transportation, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and beginner-friendly travel experience.
Hi, I’m Helena! 👋
I’m the creator of Mommy Helena, a travel blog where I share detailed itineraries, hotel reviews, food discoveries, and travel tips based on my personal experiences across Asia.
As a solo traveler from the Philippines, I love exploring destinations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and beyond. My goal is to help fellow travelers plan smarter, save time, and make the most of every trip.
✈️ Follow my adventures and discover practical travel guides, budget tips, and honest recommendations from my journeys.
Last Updated: May 2026 Based on my actual Taiwan trip in December 2025 via Clark International Airport and Starlux Airlines
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally use during my travels.
Taiwan Arrival Guide for Filipinos
Taiwan is one of the countries I keep returning to. I’ve now visited Taiwan five times, and every trip has become easier because I already know what to prepare before leaving the Philippines and what to do immediately after landing.
This arrival guide is based on my actual experience during my last Taiwan trip in December 2025. For this visit, I flew from Clark International Airport to Taiwan via Starlux Airlines and followed the exact steps outlined in this guide—from completing my eTravel registration before departure to taking the Airport MRT into Taipei after landing.
If it’s your first time visiting Taiwan, this post will walk you through exactly what I personally do before departure and after arriving at Taoyuan Airport.
My Latest Taiwan Trip at a Glance
📅 Travel Date: December 2025
✈️ Airline: STARLUX Airlines
🛫 Departure Airport: Clark International Airport
🛬 Arrival Airport: Taoyuan International Airport
🏨 Base Area: Ximending, Taipei
🇹🇼 Taiwan Visit Number: 5
Quick Taiwan Travel Information
📍 Destination: Taiwan
✈️ Main Airport: Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
🛂 Visa Required: No
📅 Visa-Free Stay: Up to 14 days
💳 Transportation Card: EasyCard
💵 Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NTD)
📶 Recommended: eSIM
Good News: Taiwan is Visa-Free for Filipinos
One reason Taiwan remains one of the easiest destinations for Filipino travelers is its visa-free entry program.
Filipino passport holders can currently enter Taiwan visa-free for tourism for up to 14 days.
Even though a visa is not required, you should still prepare the following:
✔️ Passport with at least 6 months validity
✔️ Return or onward ticket
✔️ Hotel booking confirmation
✔️ Taiwan Arrival Card
✔️ eTravel Registration
✔️ Proof of sufficient funds (rarely requested but good to have)
I always save screenshots of these documents in a dedicated album on my phone before every trip.
🎥 Watch My Taiwan Arrival Guide in Under 60 Seconds
If you’re short on time, you can watch my Taiwan Arrival Guide video before continuing with the detailed step-by-step guide below.
Before Your Flight
Step 1: Complete Your eTravel Registration
Before leaving the Philippines, all departing passengers must complete their eTravel registration.
As a solo traveler, I always prioritize hotels near MRT stations because it makes getting around Taipei much easier.
I also love staying in Ximending because it’s convenient, lively, and packed with restaurants, shopping, and transportation options. Most of my Taiwan trips have been based in this area.
Here are some hotels I’ve personally stayed at:
🏨 Tomorrow Hotel A budget-friendly option located right in the heart of Ximending.
🏨 Rainbow Hotel One of the most convenient locations in Ximending and just a short walk from the MRT.
🏨 Airline Inn Ximen A modern hotel with comfortable rooms and excellent access to shopping and transportation.
🏨 Hotel Puri One of my favorite choices for solo travel thanks to its location near Ximen Station.
💡 Compare hotel prices before booking. I usually check multiple platforms because prices can vary depending on promotions and travel dates.
💡 Check Airport MRT operating hours if arriving late at night.
💡 Take screenshots of hotel bookings and return flights.
💡 Download Google Translate before your trip.
💡 If staying in Ximending, use the Airport MRT + MRT combination instead of taking a taxi.
Final Thoughts
After five visits to Taiwan, I’ve realized that arrival day becomes much easier when you prepare everything before your flight.
Completing your eTravel registration, Taiwan Arrival Card, transportation bookings, and eSIM setup ahead of time means less stress and more time enjoying your trip.
Taiwan remains one of the easiest destinations in Asia for Filipino travelers, and it’s a country I always look forward to visiting again.
“Every trip starts long before the plane takes off. The better you prepare, the more you can enjoy the journey.”
– Mommy Helena
✨ Ready to explore?
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Travel smart, travel with style. See you on the next adventure! ✈️
Hi, I’m Helena! 👋
I’m the creator of Mommy Helena, a travel blog where I share detailed itineraries, hotel reviews, food discoveries, and travel tips based on my personal experiences across Asia.
As a solo traveler from the Philippines, I love exploring destinations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and beyond. My goal is to help fellow travelers plan smarter, save time, and make the most of every trip.
✈️ Follow my adventures and discover practical travel guides, budget tips, and honest recommendations from my journeys.
