Here’s a list of the best running tracks in Taipei City and New Taipei City and directions to get there. They are free, easy to get to, open at reasonable hours, and most importantly, popular amongst local runners to give you a real feel of the Taipei running culture.
Also included at the bottom are some local etiquettes you should watch for. Don’t be that annoying foreigner who disrupts the good vibes at the track.
Important note: not all tracks in the Taipei area are standardized 400 m tracks. But you can’t go wrong if you stick to our recommendations. After all, many of you go to the track to work hard, get fast, and be precise with your pacing.
Taipei Municipal Stadium is arguably the best track in the country in terms of surface quality and facilities (clean bathrooms, showers, lockers, etc.) It also serves as the finish line of the Taipei City Marathon (our biggest marathon) and hosts many sporting events.
This is the stadium’s website. Unfortunately, only in Chinese, but it’s nothing AI translation can’t fix.
Directions: Google Maps
The best way to get there is via the Taipei Metro System. Take the Songshan-Xindian Line (Green) to the Taipei Arena Station. The stadium is a 3-5 min walk from Station Exit 3.
Local tips:
The track is available to the public most days unless it’s hosting a sporting event or training sessions for elite athletes. So call ahead or do a Google search to ensure it’s open on the days you visit.
It can get crowded in the evenings, with multiple large running groups sharing the lanes.
Conveniently located on the campus of NTU, this track is open 24/7 to the public for free. The university is one of Taiwan’s best and oldest learning institutions and is worth a visit for those interested in soaking in a bit of history.
Directions: Google Maps
Taipei Metro: Take the Songshan-Xindian Line (Green) to the Gongguan Station. NTU’s main entrance is near the station’s Exit 3. You can walk through the campus to the track or along Xinsheng South Road.
Buses: You can also take buses 671, 673, 949, Brown 12, or Brown 22 to the Xinmin Elementary School bus stop, then walk to the track.
Home to one of Taiwan’s premier track and field teams, this track is reasonably well-maintained for a small city school. You’ll likely be sharing the track with the team, but everyone is friendly, so no worries. A highlight of the facility is the many beautiful banyan trees along the track.
Directions: Google Maps
Taipei Metro:
Click for more transportation options.
Here’s another on-campus track. The university hasn’t resurfaced the track in decades, so it doesn’t have a lot of pop. The track is occasionally crowded in the evenings but rarely during the day. It’s a good morning option if you’re the type of runners who prefer to get your sessions done peacefully.
Directions: Google Maps
Take the Taipei Metro to the Guting Station, which is on both the Songshan-Xindian (Green) and Zhonghe-Xinlu (Orange) Lines. Take Exit 5 and walk for 7 minutes along Heping East Road to the university’s main entrance. More transportation information here.
Local tips:
The restroom next to the track is usually closed when classes are out. There are other restrooms below the track in the underground parking lot and inside the swimming center located next to the track.
We recommend this track if you consider yourself more of a solo runner. When you go on the right evening, you might get the track all to yourself after school.
Direction: Google Maps
Taipei Metro
Take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red) to the Shilin Station. The walk to the school is 10-15 minutes. More transportation alternatives here.
Local tips: The world-famous Shilin Night Market is just around the corner. Nothing is better than working hard on the track and concluding the evening with delicious food and drinks!
The following two options are in New Taipei City, an area surrounding Taipei City. The two cities are highly connected. If your accommodation is outside Taipei City, these two tracks are also popular with Taipei runners.
Located just Southwest of Taipei City, many runners prefer this high-quality facility. An older 400 m track, Banqiao Second Stadium (open 24/7), is just next door if the First Stadium gets too crowded.
Directions: Google Maps
Taipei Metro
Take the Bannan Line (Blue) or Circular Line (Yellow) to the Banqiao Station. Exit via Exit 3A and walk towards New Taipei City Government. It’s a 10-minute walk.
Buses
265、245、604、Blue 17
Open 24/7, this track is situated in the Xinzhuang District, west of Taipei City. It’s a popular exercise spot for the area’s residents, so expect to see people of all ages walking, jogging, or running at a variety of paces.
Directions: Google Maps
Taipei Metro
Take the Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange) to Xinzhuang Station. Exit via Exit 1 and walk along Zhonghua Road for about 10 minutes.
Bus
Blue 18、299、99、616、805
Just like everywhere in the world, you run counterclockwise. You can jog on the outer lanes clockwise if the track isn’t crowded. Running a workout clockwise is not recommended. Some track security guards are sticklers for rules and won’t even let you run clockwise when the track is empty.
Many senior citizens use the tracks for exercise, and some would even walk on lane one. If you’re doing a session, watch out for them and try not to get too frustrated. Just imagine you’re in the 1500 m World Championship and must run on lane two to pass a competitor.
It’s generally safe to leave your personal items unattended on the side of the track when you’re running. However, I wouldn’t bring anything valuable, like a large amount of cash or your passport. Keep your bags and packs within your line of sight. I’ve been running in Taiwan for over two decades and have never had anything stolen.
Several of the tracks listed above are school tracks. During school hours, students and faculty members may walk across the track to get to other parts of the campus. Once again, watch out for them. Safety comes first, and try not to get too frustrated if you’re running a workout.
For more information and tips on running in Taipei City and New Taipei City, check out these articles:
The 3 Best Mountain Road Marathons in Taipei
Taipei Running Weather Explained