[TAIWAN] TAIPEI - National Taiwan Museum & Land Bank Exhibition Hall

08:09 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

If you’re wandering through the heart of Taipei near 228 Peace Memorial Park, you’ll likely spot two grand, stone buildings that look like they belong in a European capital. These are the National Taiwan Museum (NTM) and its across-the-street neighbor, the Land Bank Exhibition Hall.

We started the day with a view of the Presidential Office Building before heading towards the National Taiwan Museum (國立臺灣博物館). 

I started my visit with the Land Bank Exhibition Hall first. Formerly the Taipei branch of the Nippon Kangyo Bank, this building is a fascinating mix of financial history and paleontology. For the price of a single ticket (only NT$30), you get access to both. Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture lover, or traveling with kids who are obsessed with dinosaurs, this is easily one of the best value-for-money stops in the city. It is also a good attraction to save for rainy days.

Surprise, surprise! You can actually walk into the original bank vault. The heavy steel doors are still there, and the interior is lined with old deposit boxes and displays of historical banknotes and gold bars. It feels like a movie set.

The main hall is occupied by massive dinosaur skeletons, including a towering Brachiosaurus and a Tarbosaurus. It’s a surreal sight to see these prehistoric giants standing in what used to be a high-ceilinged banking lobby.

If you need a break, head to the 2nd-floor cafe in the Land Bank building. You can grab a coffee and look down at the dinosaur skeletons from the balcony.

Souvenir shop of the museum.

Directly opposite the Land Bank Exhibition Hall lies the main building of the museum.

Established in 1908, this is the oldest museum in Taiwan. The building itself is a masterpiece of Neoclassical architecture, featuring a massive Roman-style dome and elegant Doric columns.

The exhibits focus on Taiwan’s natural history and indigenous cultures. You’ll find beautifully preserved specimens of local flora and fauna, as well as deep dives into the island’s anthropological roots.

Taipei is a city of "hidden in plain sight" wonders, and these two museums are perfect examples. You can spend a whole morning traveling from the Age of Dinosaurs to the era of Japanese colonial banking, all for less than the price of a boba tea.

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays).

Admission: NT$30 (Regular) / NT$15 (Discount). One ticket covers both buildings!

Getting there: Near MRT NTU Hospital Station (Exit 4) or a 10-minute walk from Taipei Main Station.