Christmas Day 2024

It can be quite difficult to find your Christmas spirits in Taipei, but it’s time to do so now. But actually, Taipei does well at many Christmassy markets and fairs so just begin from one end and enjoy some of these many events.

There are endless sparkling lights and Christmas trees, as well as colorful decorations and art installations to be found throughout Taiwan. In this article, we will focus on events around Taipei, where you can be dazzled by the spirit.

So bring your family and friends together and follow this heartwarming Christmas atmosphere! All locations could be reached by public transport, which is recommended, as the venues are well-visited.

Local governments would even take responsibility to hold Christmas celebrations officially; shopping malls across the island would also put up Christmas trees and light shows to attract more customer interest.

🗓️ Christmas Day is an observed holiday, all schools and businesses should still be running as usual. However, there may be events and celebratory activities organized by various schools and companies across Taiwan.

Places to visit around Taipei over Christmas

Christmasland, New Taipei City

Christmasland in New Taipei City is undoubtedly the most well-known Christmas venue in Taipei with various family-friendly events, and an uncountable number of Christmas lights, concerts, and markets scattered around Banqiao station.

Here you will definitely get a great Christmas feel. This year there will be Disney characters such as Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo, and Alice in Wonderland.

Location: Along the way from New Taipei City Hall Square to Fuzhong Shopping Area,

MRT: Take the blue line, alight at Banqiao station, and go to Exit 2 or 3A.

Train or THSR: Alight at Banqiao station and walk for a rough 5 mins.

ℹ️ You can find more information by viewing the Christmasland 2022 event.

Visit Gongguan Christmas

For the Christmas season, Taipei Water Park is completely redecorated with lights, flowers, and decorations.

Location: Taipei Water Park – find them by using their location map on their official Taipei Water Park site.

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European Christmas Market

🇪🇺 European Food / Beverages / Crafts / Gifting
🎪 European Cultural Performances
💗 Charity Event & Lucky Draws
🎄 European Christmas Spirits
🎅 Christmas vibes and decorations

The event revenue gets donated to a local charity dedicated to CCSA (Chinese Childrenhome & Shelter Association).

Location: Xiangti Plaza, Xinyi District (near Taipei 101, next to Mitsukoshi)

More information

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German Christmas Market

Join the German Christmas Market at one of 50 booths promoting and selling German food, beverages, snacks, brands, kids’ products, and more!

Experience an authentic German Christmas atmosphere around a sparkling Christmas tree while enjoying German specialties, Christmas music, and fun family activities.

It will be a family-friendly event including an entertaining stage program and fun activities such as live Christmas choir music, singing, storytelling for children, a quiz, live candle making, a model railway show, a board game area, and a meeting with Santa Claus.

Location/Transport: Butterfly Hall – Front Plaza, Yuanshan Expo Park (next to Zhongshan North Road), around 10 minutes walk from Yuanshan MRT Station (red line), Exit 1.

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Gloriday Xmas Fantasy Parade

If you’re looking for a Christmas market with that American Mall feeling and light displays, falling snow, Santa, and Show – then this is the one to go for.

Location/Transport: Gloria Outlet – Take the HSR 20 minutes from Taipei Main, and get those Holiday gifts sorted in one go.

You can find more information here.

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Shilin Residence Chrysanthemum Festival

Shilin Residence Chrysanthemum Festival is the largest of Taipei’s flower festivals. This year it will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

For a beautiful flower landscape with a feeling of Christmas go to the Shilin Residence Chrysanthemum Show, which is the largest autumn chrysanthemum show in Taipei. Each year.

Keep in mind that not all Christmas is connected to Santa and the red color but also to the beauty that nature brings us in the shape of flowers.

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Visit Christmas Alley in Beitou

Every year – usually around the last two weeks in December, the residents of Ji-Qing Village of Beitou district decorate their houses for Christmas. In Ji-Qing Village of Beitou district, You’ll see the dazzling lights and ornaments of the residents in the area and immerse yourself in their creative Christmas decorations.

If you’re in the mood for a stroll to see the Christmas lights, then Ji-Qing Christmas alley is the way to go. Originally a local church activity at the San-Ai church, and now become the annual celebration of the village. Each year a theme is chosen, whereafter all families in the area decorate their houses accordingly.

The Ji-Qing Christmas Alley has been voted as one of the ten most romantic Christmas attractions of Taiwan, even though the decorations are very individual: It is a very festive walk of lights and ornaments in a residential area.

Very few homes in Taiwan get decorated for Christmas, so this is quite a unique sight. It can be enjoyed at Alley 15, Lane 71, Section 1, Shipai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City.

Location/Transport: Take the MRT red line and alight at Shi-pai station. Exit 1 will give you the easiest access to the alley.

You can find out how to get there on this map.

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Things to do around Taipei over Christmas

Go Christmas shopping

There will also be Christmas stores popping up all over Taipei in the month of December, but the highest concentration of Christmas shopping in the city is found just north of Taipei Main Station. Along the stretch of Chang’an West Road between Chongqing North Road and Chengde Road – you’ll find around a dozen Christmas costumes and decoration shops.

Most of the stores are pretty similar and cater to kids, for which there are plenty of options. The adult costumes are somewhat limited in scope, but they have all of the basics covered and sell plenty of accessories like Christmas hats, Christmas wreaths, candles, candy sticks, etc. The shops also have a decent selection of decorations to really get in the Christmas spirit.

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Enjoy some seasonal baking

Taiwan today is awash with cafes and bakeries and they will all be rolling out their festive desserts and treats for the Christmas season. And when it comes to novelty baking, Taiwan has the edge in just about everywhere. You can pick up doughnuts shaped like snowmen and Santa Claus, reindeer red-bean buns, and countless Christmas biscuits.

Visit your local cafes to see what festive treats you can snap up. Most will be playing out Christmas music for the rest of December. If you like a bargain, Donutes Caféand Bakery, which has branches across the country, will be holding their annual sale on Christmas Eve from 8pm. Everything must go and it’s all half-price.

Let your hair down at a Christmas party

Christmas Day lands on a Sunday this year, so there will be plenty of Christmas parties to enjoy throughout the Christmas weekend. Many bars and pubs across the country will be getting into the festive spirit with Christmas parties featuring Christmas music, seasonal drinks such as mulled wine and eggnog, festive food, and much more.

In Taipei, places like Brass Monkey and Carnegie’s are renowned for their raucous Christmas bashes.

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Go to church

If you prefer Christmas to be a more spiritual affair or just want to get away from the festive maelstrom and enjoy something a bit more fulfilling, why not visit a church over the Christmas period? It does not really matter whether you are Christian or not, there is something about the atmosphere in a church at Christmas that can be uplifting and relaxing at the same time.

There will be plenty of Christmas carol services taking place in English and Chinese in Churches around the country and if you are really keen, you could join groups of churchgoers who visit places like prisons and orphanages to sing carols there. For that festive feel, check out the Jinan Church in Taipei.

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Take in Taipei 101’s Frozen-themed Christmas carnival

There is usually a Christmas-themed event at Taipei 101; this year is no exception. If your kid is a fan of the Disney movie Frozen (and I am yet to meet a child that is not) then they will love the Taipei 101 Christmas Festival which this year has a Frozen theme.

There is an ice-skating rink, Christmas marketplace, and various other kid-friendly activities being held throughout the Christmas period. And although activities cost money – better still, it’s free to enter.

See some real snow

If you want a real feel for Christmas, then why not enjoy a real Winter feel with cold weather and some real snow. This can be done in Taiwan, but you will have to venture a little further afield to enjoy it. Up into the mountains to be precise.

Snow usually falls this time of the year on Yushan Mountain, Taiwan’s tallest mountain during the cold snap. There is also the mountain of Hehuanshan, the most popular destination for Taiwan’s snow fans. Suggestively, closely monitor the weather before planning your trip to get a good idea of what the snowy conditions are for each mountain.

Source: Focus Taiwan