VIBE

This lovely village in the hills on the outskirts of Taipei was first developed as a hot springs resort by the Japanese in the early 20th century. After fading a bit for several decades after WWII (think red light district), it’s been tastefully revived as a cultural and spa destination. There's a plethora of hot springs resorts to choose from (our favorites are chic spa SweetMe, elegant boutique Villa 32, and family-/tourist-friendly Spring City Resort). Other highlights include the BeiTou Hot Springs Museum, which is housed in a historic Euro-Japanese spa building; Guandu Temple, an ornate Taoist temple dating to the 1660s; and the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum, a garden-filled former spa estate featuring exhibits on traditional Taiwanese art and 20th century history.

GO HERE WITH

Hot springs enthusiasts; culture or history buffs; family; friends

WHY WE LIKE IT

Soaking in a BeiTou hot spring tub filled with mineral waters is an unmissable Taipei experience. Plus, the museums are lovely–they’re set in historic Japanese spa buildings with charming architecture and gardens, and they provide a lot of interesting context about spa culture. If possible, try to hit Guandu Temple during Lantern Festival, when it’s beautifully decorated and humming with activity.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

As with any hot spring district, there’s a slight sulfuric smell in the air.

GOOD TO KNOW

The Guandu Temple (ZhiXing Rd., No. 360; (886) 02-2858-1281) is the oldest temple devoted to sea goddess Matzu in the city, and there are special ceremonies held in her honor on March 23rd. If you’re looking for a light bite, check out the delicate TWD 500 and TWD 800 set menus at the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum (YouYa Rd., No. 32; (886) 02-2891-2318; www.folkartsm.org.tw). And if nature’s your thing, Yangmingshan National Park is just up the mountain from BeiTou, and worthy of a hike.

CLOSEST COMPS

Yangmingshan National Park (Taipei); Wulai (Taipei); Atame (Japan)