Taipei: Priority Pass Taipei 101 Observatory Deck Ticket

Taipei 101 is more than a photo from street level. The real thrill is the 37-second elevator ride to the 89th floor, followed by wide views across Taipei, the mountains, and the busy city below. This priority ticket lets you use the express queues in both directions.

I like two things here: you save time when the regular elevator lines swell, and you get to see the 660-tonne tuned mass damper, one of the building’s most fascinating bits of engineering. The main drawback is price. At $38 per person, it is not always good value when you visit right at opening and find short queues, or when clouds block the view.

Key points to know before you go

• The elevator reaches the 89th floor in 37 seconds, making the ride itself part of the attraction.
• Priority access works both ways, including the often-slow descent from the 88th floor.
• Taipei 101 rises 509 meters, with indoor observation areas on the 87th, 88th, and 89th floors, plus a rooftop.
• The tuned mass damper weighs 660 tonnes and helps steady the tower during strong winds and movement.
• Sunset is popular but weather-dependent, and low clouds or rain can erase the views.
• The ticket is most useful on busy days, holiday periods, or when you have limited time in Taipei.

Why Taipei 101 is worth seeing from above

Taipei 101 once held the title of the world’s tallest building. At 509 meters, it still dominates the Taipei skyline and gives you a clear sense of how large the city really is.

From the observatory, apartment blocks and office towers spread in every direction. On a clear day, you can look far beyond central Taipei toward the surrounding mountains. At night, the city lights replace the daytime detail with a broad field of glowing streets and buildings.

I find the attraction valuable because it combines a famous view with something more substantial than a glass platform. The tower’s bamboo-inspired design and earthquake-conscious engineering are part of the story, and the huge damper gives you a memorable object to study rather than just another photo stop.

The experience is also easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. You can visit in the morning, return for sunset, or go after shopping and food around Taipei 101. The ticket is valid for one day, with entry times available according to the attraction’s schedule.

Finding the Priority Pass counter on the fifth floor

Start at Taipei 101, also called Taipei Financial Center. The simplest public transport approach is Taipei MRT’s Taipei 101 World Trade Center Station. Use Exit 4, then make your way into the building and up to the fifth floor.

On the fifth floor, look for the Taipei 101 Fast Pass Counter. It is on the right-hand side of the desk. This detail matters because the normal ticket and queue area can be busy, and the priority route is not always obvious at first glance.

Show your QR code voucher and passport or ID card. Staff exchange the voucher for a physical ticket and direct you to the express elevator queue. Keep the physical ticket with you. You need to show it again on the 88th floor to receive priority access for the ride down.

That last point is easy to miss. The descent line can become surprisingly long, and the pass is especially useful when you are ready to leave. Do not tuck the ticket into a shopping bag or discard it after reaching the top.

One practical warning: allow a few extra minutes to find the counter. The process is straightforward once you reach the right desk, but signage and queues around the ticket area can cause confusion. The staff lead you from the counter to the elevator, which helps.

The 37-second ride to the 89th floor

The elevator is one of Taipei 101’s signature features. In about 37 seconds, it carries you to the 89th floor, far above the streets. The motion is notably smooth, so the ride feels quick and controlled rather than like a rough blast upward.

Priority access does not change the length of the ride. It changes how long you wait before it begins. On a quiet morning, the regular line may already be short. During weekends, holidays, sunset hours, and busy travel periods, the time saved can be substantial.

If you are visiting Taipei on a short layover, this can be the difference between a relaxed stop and a rushed one. One person with an eight-hour layover found the express route useful for moving through the attraction quickly, especially because the return queue was also busy.

The elevator ride is not a guided presentation, and there is no named guide leading the activity. Staff handle the ticket exchange and direct you to the correct line. An audio guide is not included, so the displays and signs inside the observatory provide the main explanation of the tower.

Exploring the 87th, 88th, and 89th floors

The 89th floor is the main indoor observation level. Here, you get the broad city view, telescopes, information about the building, and photo opportunities. The height gives you a bird’s-eye look at Taipei, though the quality of the view depends heavily on cloud cover and rain.

The 88th floor focuses attention on the tuned mass damper. This enormous golden sphere weighs 660 tonnes and hangs between the 87th and 91st floors. Its purpose is to help stabilize Taipei 101 against movement caused by high winds and earthquakes.

For me, the damper is one of the best reasons to visit. It turns an abstract engineering explanation into something you can see with your own eyes. The tower may look delicate from outside, with its stacked bamboo-like sections, but this huge internal weight shows how much technology is working behind the scenes.

The rooftop and outdoor areas provide another perspective when conditions allow. An open-air view makes the height feel more immediate, but outdoor sections can close in rain or poor weather. A cloudy day may leave you with only a partial view, and heavy low cloud can block the city almost completely.

The indoor floors remain useful in bad weather because you can still see the damper, study the displays, and experience the building. Still, I would not book this purely for a panorama without checking the forecast first.

Choosing between morning, sunset, and night

Taipei 101 opens daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with last entry at 8:15 PM. Opening hours can change during extended holidays, so check the date you plan to visit.

Morning often gives you a calmer start. If the weather is clear, you may get crisp views and shorter lines. The tradeoff is that the priority ticket may save little time when the attraction has just opened.

Late afternoon is the most appealing choice if you want changing light. You can watch Taipei brighten, see the sun set if the weather cooperates, and remain for the city’s evening lights. This is also when demand can rise, so the express route has more value.

Sunset is never guaranteed. Rain and clouds have spoiled planned sunset visits, while cloudy conditions have sometimes cleared later in the evening. If you have flexibility, look at the weather before committing to a particular day, and remember that the ticket does not permit a date change after a poor-weather visit.

Night visits work well if daytime visibility is poor but the city lights remain visible. They also fit neatly after dinner or shopping in the Taipei 101 complex. The attraction’s final entrance is 8:15 PM, so do not leave the visit until the last moment.

What the $38 price really buys you

The standard observatory admission is not included in the information provided as a separate price, and some visitors have found ordinary admission much cheaper on quiet days. That makes the $38 priority ticket a poor bargain if your only goal is to enter and there is no queue.

You are paying mainly for time and convenience. The ticket includes skip-the-line admission, express elevator access going up, express access coming down from the 88th floor, and WiFi throughout the attraction. It also removes some uncertainty on a busy day.

The return benefit matters more than many people expect. After enjoying the view, you may be ready to leave while the regular descent line is still long. Keeping the physical ticket lets you join the priority route and get onto an earlier elevator.

I would consider it good value in these situations:

• You are visiting during a holiday or peak evening period.
• You have a short layover or tightly planned day.
• You dislike standing in queues.
• You want sunset but do not want to lose the rest of the evening.
• You are visiting with children, older relatives, or anyone who finds long waits difficult.

I would think twice if you arrive at 11:00 AM, see no meaningful queue, and have plenty of time. In that case, ordinary admission may be the more sensible purchase. The priority pass is insurance against crowds, not a guarantee of a better view.

Some ticket holders also receive discount vouchers for coffee, sweets, and other purchases at the top. These can be useful, but read them carefully. The vouchers are not always simple, and food and drinks can cost more than comparable items in the building’s B1 food hall. Do not assume a discount makes a top-floor snack cheap.

Weather, crowds, and photography

Weather controls the quality of this visit. Fog or low cloud can limit visibility for the first hour, then lift enough to reveal the city. Rain can close the outdoor viewing areas entirely.

If the forecast looks poor, decide how important the panorama is to you. The tower, elevator, displays, and damper still offer reasons to go, but the experience changes when you cannot see beyond the glass.

Crowds affect the mood as well. Taipei 101 is a major city attraction, so the observation floors can feel full, especially around sunset. The priority pass moves you through the elevator bottlenecks, but it does not give you a private observatory or an empty photo area.

Photography can also be harder than expected. Interior lighting and reflections may interfere with pictures near the windows, particularly when bright light from inside meets the darker view outside. Take a moment to find a less reflective angle, and do not spend the entire visit looking at the city through your phone.

The telescopes help you inspect Taipei from above, while the information displays explain the bamboo form and the building’s technology. These features give you something to do when the view is hazy or when the observation floor is crowded.

Practical rules and access

Bring your passport or ID card. Pets, food, drinks, slippers, and smoking are not allowed. Children under 115 centimeters enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.

The attraction is wheelchair accessible. WiFi is available throughout the attraction, which is handy if you are meeting someone afterward or need to check transport and dinner plans.

You do not need to spend an entire day inside Taipei 101. The ticket is valid for one day, but the visit can fit into a shorter schedule. If you want sunset, plan more time so you are not forced to leave just as the light changes.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve while paying later. Those terms are useful when the forecast is uncertain, though you should still confirm the current opening hours and available entry times before booking.

Who will get the most from this ticket

I would recommend the priority pass to first-time visitors who want Taipei 101 without wasting part of the day in lines. It is also well suited to families, short-stay visitors, and anyone planning a sunset visit.

It makes particular sense if the descent queue would annoy you. Many people focus on getting up and forget that everyone eventually wants to come down. Priority access in both directions is the strongest practical feature.

I would not insist on it for a relaxed early visit in good weather with no schedule pressure. If you are happy to wait and want to keep costs down, standard admission may be enough.

The pass also works best when the sky is clear. The priority line cannot improve a cloudy view, so timing and weather matter as much as the ticket type.

Should you book Taipei 101 Priority Pass?

Book it if saving time matters more than saving money. At $38, the ticket carries a premium, but the express route up and down can protect a valuable afternoon, especially during holidays, sunset hours, or a short Taipei stop.

Skip it if you are visiting at opening, have a flexible schedule, and can accept a regular queue. Either way, Taipei 101 is worth seeing from above when the weather cooperates, and the tuned mass damper gives the visit real substance beyond the usual skyline photo.

FAQ

Where do I redeem the Taipei 101 Priority Pass?

Go to the Taipei 101 Fast Pass Counter on the fifth floor of Taipei 101 Financial Center. It is on the right-hand side of the desk.

Which MRT exit is closest to the meeting point?

Use Exit 4 at Taipei 101 World Trade Center MRT Station. The station is in Taipei and provides access to the building.

What do I need to bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, along with the QR code voucher used to redeem the physical ticket.

Does the ticket include priority access in both directions?

Yes. It includes an express queue for the elevator going up and another express queue for the elevator going down from the 88th floor.

Do I need to keep the physical ticket after going up?

Yes. Show it to staff on the 88th floor when you are ready to use the fast-track elevator line down.

How fast is the Taipei 101 elevator?

The elevator reaches the 89th floor in about 37 seconds.

What floors can I visit?

The experience includes observation areas on the 87th, 88th, and 89th floors, as well as the rooftop when conditions permit.

What are Taipei 101’s opening hours?

The attraction is open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Last entry is at 8:15 PM. Hours may change during extended holidays.

Are children admitted free?

Children under 115 centimeters enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Is the observatory wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the attraction is wheelchair accessible. WiFi is also available throughout the attraction.