The Best Hotels in Ximending (With Map and Directions)

Ximending (西門町) is one of the most popular areas to stay in Taipei.

Arguably the most Japanese-looking neighborhood in Taipei, with Japanese-era buildings and brightly colored signs, the bustling pedestrian shopping district is packed with cute cafés, souvenir shops, street art, performances, delicious foods, and quirky things to do.

Ximending is also filled with hotels, especially in the budget to midrange category – so many that choosing where to stay in Ximending can be overwhelming.

In this guide, I’ll give my personal top hotel in Ximending based on multiple stays plus repeat recommendations from members of my Taiwan Travel Planning group to help you find the best hotel in Ximending for your budget and needs.

Choosing Where to Stay in Ximending

Ximending is a neighborhood in Wanhua District, the original Old City of Taipei. Ximen (西門) literally means “west gate”, referring to one of the ancient gates to the original walled city, and ding is a Japanese word for neighborhoods.

The neighborhood lies to the southwest of Taipei Main Station. Hotels in Ximending are mostly within 10-20 minutes’ walk from the station, or you can ride the MRT Blue Line one stop from Taipei Main Station or the Green Line one stop from Beimen.

If you prefer to be closer to the station, see my similar guide to the best hotels around Taipei Main Station.

The borders of Ximending are undefined, but typically it refers to the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area (西門町商圈, here), which is typically packed (great for people watching) but lacks cars/scooters (a major plus!) A few hotels I’ll recommend below are right in the pedestrian area.

But most hotels on my list will lie just outside the pedestrian area. Ones to the south and west of it are naturally further from Taipei Main Station, while ones to the north and east are closer to it.

In the end, your walking time to the nearest MRT station exit matters most. I’ve listed the times from every hotel to the nearest MRT entrance.

Ximen MRT Exit 6 (here) is the classic Ximending MRT exit. It’s a popular meeting spot, site of the Taipei Rainbow Road (here, see rainbow icon on my map), often with street performers in the evening, and it feeds directly into the heart of the shopping district.

Just south across the road from it, Ximen MRT Exit 1 (here) is another major one closest to Red House Theater, with its weekend design market and LGBTQ+ bar district.  

If you stay to the east of Zhonghua Road (a major north-to-south roadway), you’ll be very close to other exits to Ximen MRT station (Exits 3, 4, and others), but you’ll have to cross the big road to enter the Pedestrian Shopping Area.

My Top-5 Ximending Hotel Picks

Map of the Best Hotels in Ximending

In the above map, I’ve pinned every hotel that I will mention in the article below. Click on any pin to see its name, or click at the top-left to see the full list of them.

You can compare these pins to the other map above to see which hotels are right inside, or very close to the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area.

Hostels in Ximending

Ximending has at least half a dozen hostels, but below I’ve shortlisted my top-three. The first one stands out as superior (but the priciest) choice.

It’s worth noting that most hostels in Ximending raise their prices significantly on weekends.

If you can’t find one that meets your budget or needs, browse my full list of the best hostels in Taipei.

Oani

My top pick for hostel in Ximending goes to the brand new Oani (see on Booking / Agoda), Taipei’s most luxurious hostel.

This hostel’s dorms and bunk beds are the nicest I’ve ever seen and the beds are super comfy. They offer free coffee and snacks around the clock, free draft beer (set times), massage chairs, shared kitchen, luggage storage, laundry, and they are one of the few hostels with a 24-hour front desk. They also have private doubles and family rooms.  

The only downside is that this is the priciest hostel in Taipei – a dorm bed costs similar to a private room in a budget hotel (see next section). I got a significant discount by booking early (about four months in advance), but note that prices literally double on Friday and Saturday nights.

Oani is sandwiched right between exits 3 and 4 of Ximen MRT, but you have to cross a small but busy vehicle road to access either one. The main entrance to Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area is just across Zhonghua Road (the large, busy road).

Meander Taipei

One of my best friends (a fellow former Taipei resident) stays at Meander Taipei (see on Booking / Agoda) every time he returns to the city.

In a country where hostels tend to be on the quieter side, Meander is relatively more social, with a nice large common area and additional hangout space on the rooftop.

The capsules are quiet and well-equipped with lights, curtains, and international sockets. You may find that it’s not possible to book a single Saturday night here until the last minute.

Meander is one of the furthest options from the MRT. You’ll need to walk 10 minutes east down Chengdu Road to reach Ximen MRT Exit 6.

Dan Hostel

The third and final hostel I want to recommend in Ximending is Dan Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda). While this is the lowest-rated of my three picks, it still scores points for location.

Dan Hostel features an atmospheric industrial design. Dorm rooms and common spaces can feel a little cramped (see photo above), while some guests complain that the beds are not the most comfortable.

Prices can range from quite reasonable to quite expensive, depending on the time of year and how early you book.  

On the plus side, Dan Hostel has an excellent location. It is just south of the Red House Theater (including its LGBTQ+ bar area and weekend design market) and the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area. It’s only a one-minute walk from Ximen MRT exit 6.

Cheap Hotels in Ximending

As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, it’s no surprise that Ximending (and the greater Wanhua district around it) is abundant in low-budget hotels.

However, you need to be a little careful here – Wanhua is also known for its massage and karaoke parlours, and some hotels with rock-bottom prices cater to hourly clients from these. If you choose the cheapest room you can find, expect smoky smells and possible off-putting noises from other rooms.

My recommendations below are not the absolute cheapest, but they are best suited for travelers. If you do go with something cheaper than those I’ve listed here, make sure to read the reviews first.

Hourly Hotels in Ximending: Need to rest for a few hours before or after a long flight? Most budget hotels in Ximending offer a rate at the door to “take a break” (休息) in a private hotel room for 1.5 to 3 hours. Reputable hotels offering this include here, here, and here.

Rainbow Hotel

Rainbow Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) is my top budget pick in Ximending and incredibly high-value, though it’s not as cheap as the next two entries below.

This hotel is ideally located smack in the middle of the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area, which means lots of people (but no cars or scooters!) right outside. Guests enjoy being able to grab foods from the shopping area and escape to the hotel’s public lounge to enjoy them. There are free snacks and drinks, too.

The only repeat complaint is that the AC isn’t strong enough in hotter months.

Rainbow Hotel is only a three-minute walk along Hanzhong Street (the main street of the pedestrian area) from Ximen MRT Exit 6.

Ximen Garden Inn

Ximen Garden Inn (see on Booking / Agoda) is my personal go-to place for a cheap stay in Ximending, but you get what you pay for.

When I arrived at the hotel, I checked myself using the self-check-in machine and noted that there was free luggage storage available in the (speaking honestly, a little messy) lobby.

My room was no different than your average low-budget hotel the world over – a little dated, not the prettiest, but passable for my needs. I had tons of natural light from the large window looking down on busy Zhonghua Road. There’s a little noise from traffic and other guests, but it wasn’t enough to affect my sleep.

The hotel’s location is good. While it does face a busy road, it’s right on the edge of the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area – a few seconds’ walk and I was in it. Ximen MRT Exit 6 is five minutes away. Take the elevator up to 3F. 

Taipei Triple Tiger Inn

I haven’t personally stayed at Taipei Triple Tiger Inn (see on Booking / Agoda), but it came up in my searches and struck me as a very low-priced yet well reviewed and perfectly passable budget hotel in Ximending.

Rooms are colorful and the public areas are playfully decorated, while reviewers say it is clean, comfortable, and quiet. There are water dispensers and free tea/coffee. One repeat complaint is that the bathrooms are small. Front desk is NOT open 24-hours. There are also family rooms, but note that you’ll have to go up some steep stairs to your room.

The hotel is located on a quiet side street just west of Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area, six minutes’ walk from Ximen MRT Exit 6.

Ximen Airline Inn

My final recommendation in this section, Ximen Airline Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) sits at the upper end of the budget price range.

This hotel scores points for the fun airline theme, with rounded features in the rooms and airplane “windows” in the hallways. But, to be honest, I feel they could have gone even further with the theme.

The rooms are as you’d expect for upper-budget range, but a few rooms let in noise from neighboring businesses in the evening.

Location-wise, it’s great. While it does face a busy road (Zhonghua Road) and requires an elevator to reach the lobby and rooms, it’s right around the corner (10 seconds walk) from the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area and only one minute to Ximen MRT Exit 6.

Midrange Hotels

Ximending also has some very strong choices in the midrange category, including two of personal favorite hotels in Ximending.

Besides the midrange hotels I list below, also consider the private and family rooms at Oani (see on Booking / Agoda), which I introduced in the “best hostels” section above. These fall under midrange prices but come with the same benefits I described (brand new, clean, 24-hour front desk, free beer and snacks, etc).

amba Ximending

I frequently cite amba (see on Booking / Agoda) as my most recommended hotel in Ximending.

Amba is a chain hotel with two other locations in Taipei. My room was one of the more spacious ones I’ve stayed in for this price in Taipei and the bed was very comfortable. The bath robe was a nice touch.

My room was very quiet and I took advantage of the free self-serve laundry during my stay. Staff are very helpful and a breakfast buffet is included with some room deals. The hotel also stands out for offering early check-in for a small extra fee – just make your booking first then contact them to request it (subject to availability). The front desk is 24-hours.

The hotel is a highly recognizable silvery building on Cinema Street (a street with many movie theaters and even a cool cinema-themed speakeasy bar) at the northern end of the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area.

This means no cars (but lots of people) on the six-minute walk to Ximen MRT Exit 6.

Comma Boutique

Comma Boutique (see on Booking / Agoda) is a hidden gem in Ximending. This one comes highly recommended by two different group experts in my Facebook group. I’ve taken their advice and booked a room here for my next trip.

The simpler rooms at Comma Boutique actually fall under the budget category, but I especially recommend it for the midrange rooms with balconies (a rarity in compact Ximending).

The Classic Suite is the ultimate room here. At 44m², it’s the largest room I’ve seen in Taipei outside of the luxury category. Unfortunately, despite the size, it can only take two people max.

But even with the cheaper rooms, or the smaller family room, you gain access to a public lounge and balcony on the top floor of the skinny building.

The hotel is on a relatively quiet street just one block north from the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area, which means a seven-minute walk from Ximen MRT Exit 6. But this also puts you within walking distance (10-15 minutes) of Taipei Main Station (train station and Airport MRT).

Cho Hotel

Cho Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) is another highly reviewed midrange hotel in Ximending.

This small, vintage-inspired boutique hotel belongs to a chain which includes the Cho Stay Capsule Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) inside Taoyuan International Airport (see my Taoyuan Airport hotels guide).

The Ximending location of Cho Hotel has friendly staff, free snacks, laundry, and 24-hour front desk. Rooms are on the smaller side, with no desk or table to put luggage. There’s a very small toddler playroom.

In terms of location, the hotel is just west of Red House Theater and the LGBTQ+ bar district, or only five minutes’ walk to the Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area and Ximen MRT Exit 1.

Art’otel Ximending

Art enthusiasts may enjoy staying in Art’otel Ximending (see on Booking / Agoda) because it is located in a part of Ximending known for its street art.

Art’otel is opposite Taipei Cinema Park, which has lots of murals and skateboarding, and near America Street, which has more artwork and cool shops.

The hotel itself and its rooms have a minimalist industrial design. Japanese influence is evident in the sliding doors and black grid windows. Members of my Facebook group have described this hotel as having cool rooms and awesome staff.

The hotel is as far west as you can go in Ximending, so the 10-minute walk to Ximen MRT Exit 6 may not be ideal for some.

CityInn Hotel Plus

CityInn Hotel Plus (see on Booking / Agoda) is the Ximending branch of this popular Taiwanese midrange hotel chain (I introduce three others around Taipei Main Station here and another here in Taichung).

CityInn hotels are known for their value and practicality. You get helpful, English-speaking 24-hour front desk staff, free snacks/tea/coffee, exceptionally clean rooms, and the Ximending location is particularly convenient.

The hotel is in the same building as Oani (see hostels section). That means it’s mere steps from Ximen MRT Exits 3 and 4 and just across the main road from Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area. There’s a FamilyMart right outside.

Family-Friendly Hotels

There’s only one hotel in Ximending with a decent children’s playroom, which I’ll introduce here.

Overall, families will find better kid-friendly hotels around Taipei Main Station (like here or here) or in Xinyi District (in the luxury category).

If you just need a hotel in Ximending that offers family-sized rooms, I’ve mentioned several in the other sections of this article (including Oani, Taipei Triple Tiger Inn, Comma Boutique, and Just Sleep).

Larger families (5-6 people) can fit into one room at Hotel Papa Whale (see on Booking / Agoda), which is in northern Ximending but closer to Beimen MRT.

Roaders Hotel Zhonghua

For a lower budget family-friendly hotel in Ximending, I recommend Roaders Hotel Zhonghua (see on Booking / Agoda).

The hotel has a toddler playroom, free drinks and snacks like instant noodles, basketball net, darts, and arcade games in the lobby, a very small gym, and some family rooms which even come with a children’s tent.

This hotel is not technically in Ximending but rather in the neighborhood to the south of Taipei Main Station. It’s only a couple minutes’ walk to Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area, and even less to an entrance to an underground walkway leading to Ximen MRT (find it in front of the Hello Kitty 7-Eleven here).

It’s also only 10 minutes’ walk to the Airport MRT and 15 minutes walk to Taipei Main train station.

Don’t confuse this hotel with Roaders Plus, which belongs to the same chain and is also kid-friendly, but closer to Taipei Main Station and comes with city views. Read about it here.

Another similar family-friendly option a few blocks east of Roaders Hotel Zhonghua is Finders Hotel Fuqian. Read about it here.

Upper Midrange Hotels

The nicest accommodations in Ximending are four-star hotels – there simply aren’t any hotels with swimming pools or true international five-star hotels in Ximending. That’s why I’ve named this section “upper midrange hotels”.

If you’re looking for true international five-star hotels, you’ll be better off checking around Taipei Main Station (like here or here) or especially in Da’an and in Xinyi district.

The below upper midrange hotels are priced nearly as high as some of those international five-stars, but you’re paying for the convenience of being in popular Ximending.

Just Sleep Ximending

Just Sleep (see on Booking / Agoda) is the Ximending branch of a chain hotel occupying the upper midrange price level and frequently recommended by members of my Facebook group for its coziness, cool art, and convenience.

Sitting literally right on top of a Hello Kitty-themed 7-Eleven, the hotel and many of its rooms feature graffiti-style artwork – very appropriate for Ximending.

The common lounge area is one of the coziest I’ve ever seen, including games for kids. You get a welcome drink plus free snacks and coffee. There’s also a very small gym and laundry for a fee. A breakfast buffet is included with most room deals.

The hotel is right next to an entrance to an underground walkway to Ximen MRT, while Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area is just across the main road and Taipei Main Station is 10-15 minutes away on foot.

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Taipei Ximen

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) is a relatively new (2023) addition to the Ximending hotel scene.

This is the first (and so far only) branch of the Japanese business-oriented Solaria Nishitetsu chain in Taiwan. A member of my Facebook group reported that the hotel is new, modern, and exceptionally clean.

The hotel occupies one of the tallest buildings in Ximending, right at the northeastern corner of the Pedestrian Shopping Area. There’s a buffet breakfast (added fee) and self-service laundry, but rooms are on the small side given the price.

Westgate Hotel

My final entry in this guide is Westgate Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda). Westgate is a literal translation of “Ximen”.

Westgate has rooms ranging from upper midrange to luxury end pricing, but doesn’t have the services or facilities that would push it into five-star hotel territory.

Still, Westgate is the top choice for a higher-end stay with the convenience of being right in Ximending. Just don’t forget that as soon as you step outside, you’re in Ximending, which is an older neighborhood with decaying buildings and crowds of people.

The hotel is right around the corner from Ximending Pedestrian Shopping Area and Ximen MRT Exit 6. Unusually for a hotel of this price, there’s no parking on site, but that’s the norm in compact Ximending.

Did I miss your favorite hotel in Ximending? Please let me know in the comments below!