Gay neighborhood taipei

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There are over 25 gay bars in this area to choose from – so you won’t be short of choice!

What most people like about visiting The Red House District is how easy it is to do a little bar crawl. And not just in the capital of Taipei either – there are gay bars, gay clubs and even gay owned cafes and restaurants in most of the major cities!

And there are gay bars to suit everyone regardless of the night you are after – a quiet drink with friends, somewhere to dance the night away, and even gay bars for those wanting to get a little “cheeky”…

I have included the most popular bars in each of the three major cities – Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, but have also put together a separate blog post including more options, found here.

Gay Bars in Taipei

Taipei is definitely the beating heart of gay Taiwan, celebrated for its thriving and vibrant gay scene and LGBTQ+ nightlife, with something to suit everyone.

As mentioned above, the majority of the gay bars in Taipei are found in and around The Red House District, or Ximending.

The annual average temperature of the northern part is around 22℃ (71℉) while is around 24℃ (75℉) in the southern part.

The currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. From the airport there are plenty of connection options into the city centre, such as MRT train, buses and taxis. This historic building houses numerous LGBTQ+-friendly bars, clubs, and shops, making it the perfect spot to begin your queer Taipei adventure.

Once you reach the observatory, you are rewarded with a panoramic, 360-degree view of the entire city – shopping malls, more skyscrapers, and surrounding the city, rolling green hills and mountains. The hotel’s colorful design and friendly staff make it an excellent choice for a comfortable stay in Taipei.

Taipei is a must-visit destination for LGBTQ+ travelers seeking a mix of vibrant nightlife, rich culture, and tantalizing cuisine.

Some of these are open, and have different exhibitions to see.

Continuing the walk to the museum, you will see the Big Buddha Statue in the background – over 108 metres high, making it the tallest sitting bronze Buddha in the whole of Asia.

Once inside the museum itself, points of interest include the main hall, with its exhibition of holy relics, other exhibition halls, an auditorium which hosts seminars, and 2 other Buddha statues to see – gold and jade.

If you want fewer crowds and cheaper rooms, go in March or November; you’ll still get comfortable temperatures and a steady nightlife. Ruifeng Market has a reputation for being the most crowded of all the night markets in Kaohsiung.

Things to do in Taichung

Visit the Rainbow Village

Definitely one for the Instagram lovers – the rainbow village of Taichung!

This small village, made up of former veteran homes was due for demolition in the 1990s.

Must-try dishes include stinky tofu, oyster omelettes, and gua bao.

Beitou Hot Springs: Relax and rejuvenate in the natural hot springs of Beitou, a district in northern Taipei. It was huge, apparently with over 1000 stalls, serving every kind of traditional Taiwanese food and snacks you could want to try – including their delicacies like century old egg (not for us!), deep fried squid, fried egg pancakes, and of course, their famous bubble tea.

As well as food, there are plenty of stalls selling clothes, gifts and even a games and entertainment area.

The one thing I would say – be prepared for crowds.

Fast forward 20 years, and last year’s pride – the 20^th anniversary celebration – drew in crowds of over 176,000 people! As such, it is also known as Taipei Pride. This is quite a jump from the 120,000 the previous year.

Taiwan Pride is usually an entire weekend full of festivities, generally running Thursday through to Sunday – drag shows, events, circuit parties, and of course all culminating with the main event, the Pride Parade through the streets of central Taipei.

One of the first things that struck us about Taiwan Pride was the atmosphere.

Audrey Tang, currently the 1^st Minister of Digital Affairs, transitioned to female in late 2005, changing both her English and Chinese names.

Audrey has been in office in some capacity since October 2016, the first transgender person to serve in the top executive cabinet.

Since 2019, Audrey has identified as “post-gender”, and “non-binary” – and in their own words is happy to accept whatever pronoun people want to use to describe me”.

Where is the gay area of Taiwan?

During my trip to Taiwan, I visited a number of different cities around the island, and as an openly gay man I felt very safe and welcomed everywhere that we visited.

However, the capital city of Taipei – dubbed as ‘San Francisco of the East’ is undoubtedly the hub of Taiwan’s LGBTQ+ culture and scene.

Taipei is celebrated for its thriving and vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife offerings, and its drag community.

Cash is widely used in Taiwan, and preferred to credit cards – and of course you will need cash when visiting the local markets.

International flights to Taiwan will likely arrive into Taoyuan International Airport, in Taipei. In fact, Taiwan has a thriving LGBTQ+ community of locals, that feel comfortable and safe to live out and proud – especially within the larger cities, and in particular in the capital of Taipei.

And whilst for the most part, public displays of affection are kept for behind closed doors (in line with the majority of Asian cultures), the younger generations are starting to be more open.

The hall, surrounded by lush gardens, is a serene spot to reflect on Taiwan’s history.

Longshan Temple: Dating back to the 18th century, Longshan Temple is a stunning example of traditional Taiwanese architecture. The area offers a range of public and private hot spring facilities, as well as the beautiful Beitou Thermal Valley, where you can take a leisurely stroll.

Stay in LGBTQ+-Friendly Accommodations

W Taipei: This luxury hotel in the upscale Xinyi district is known for its stylish design and exceptional service.