The Xinyi Shopping District (信義威秀商圏) houses the biggest collection of department store in Taipei, as well as one of its top attractions, the Taipei 101 Observavatory. High-end brands, as well as more reasonably priced shops can be found here, and many of them offer tax-free shopping for tourists and free wifi.
Shopping and dining
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi
There are four interconnected Shin Kong Mitsukoshi stores. A collaboration between the Japanese department store chain Mitsukoshi and Taiwanese conglomerate Shin Kong, they feel just like a Japanese department store on the inside. Taipei Xinyi Place A4 is aimed at women, A8 focuses on new brands and family items, A9 has the largest selection of luxury brands and A11 targets younger generations. There are also food courts on the lower levels, plus more expensive restaurants on the top floors. Tax rebates can be done at the foreign currency exchange center in A8.
Hours: 11am to 9:30pm
Official website: skm.com.tw
Taipei 101
As well as Taipei’s top tourist attraction, the Taipei 101 shopping mall has one of the more modern food courts. Here you can try out famous restaurants such as Din Tai Fung, as well as a variety of Asian cuisine at a reasonable budget. The higher floors contain stores for high-class brands such as Apple, Louis Vitton, Gucci and Cartier. Tax rebates and currency exchange can be done on the basement floor.
Hours: 11am to 9:30pm (until 10pm Friday and Saturday)
Official website: taipei-101.com.tw
Eslite
Tucked behind Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A4, Eslite has a maze of food courts and numerous souvenir shops on the lower levels, as well as a 7-Eleven convenience store.
Hours: 11am to 10pm
Official website: eslite.com
ATT 4 FUN
ATT 4 FUN has a better collection for those without such big budgets, with stores such as Japanese budget clothing chain Uniqlo and several cheap popup takeout joints outside.
Hours: 11am to 10pm (until 11pm Friday and Saturday)
Official website: att4fun.com.tw
Breeze
Breeze has a northern branch outside Taipei City Hall Station, and a southern one near Taipei 101. As well as high-cost brands, Breeze has a good selection of more mid-range ones, such as United Colors of Benetton. The higher floors in the southern branch have a particularly wide selection of Japanese stores, restaurants and cafes.
Hours: 11am to 9:30pm (until 10pm Thursday to Saturday)
Official website: breezecenter.com
Access to Xinyi Shopping District
The Xinyi Shopping District is located between Taipei City Hall Station on the blue line and Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station on the red line to the south. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk between the two, so it doesn’t really matter which station you arrive at. Coming from Taipei Station, you can get here on the blue line (10 mins, NT$20) or the red line (13 mins, NT$25). Taipei City Hall Bus Station also has a wide selection of highway buses, such as to Keelung and Taoyuan Airport.
