CityInn Hotel I — the great-value favourite right by Taipei Main Station
CityInn Hotel - Taipei Station Branch I is a 3-star hotel ranked #1 in Zhongzheng District by more than 1,500 traveller reviews on Tripadvisor. Its appeal isn't luxury — it's a location 5 minutes' walk from Taipei Main Station, free perks that exceed the price, and staff so warm that guests mention them again and again on every platform.
CityInn Hotel opened its first property (Branch I) back in 2008 and underwent a major renovation in 2018-2019, leaving its 51 rooms looking newer, cleaner and more modern than the price suggests. The hotel sits on Huaining Street in Zhongzheng District, on the front side of Taipei Main Station — the single point where TRA trains, the High Speed Rail (THSR), two MRT lines and the Airport MRT all converge.
What sets CityInn I apart from same-price hotels is its generous 24-hour free offerings — the pantry corner has free coffee, tea, drinks and snacks to help yourself to. A particular guest favourite is the free instant noodles served late at night (roughly 22:00-06:00), perfect for anyone returning after a night-market dinner, plus a free laundry room that saves both money and suitcase space on longer trips.
Guests say: "The counter staff are so friendly, the room is spotless every day, and there's even free instant noodles late at night — coming back tired from sightseeing and getting something warm before bed. They'd happily return."
The one thing guests on every platform agree on is the quality of the service. Many reviews describe staff recommending restaurants, calling taxis, and storing luggage for free both before check-in and after check-out — some guests were even surprised with birthday room decorations. Several team members speak good English and other languages, which puts international travellers at ease — and it's the main reason CityInn I has held the #1 spot in Zhongzheng District for so long.
On the rooms, be honest with yourself: they are compact, as is standard for central Taipei. The Standard Without Window room (around 13 sqm) has no window and suits budget travellers who don't mind the lack of a view, while the Superior Double (19 sqm) and Twin Room (18 sqm) feel airier and do have windows. Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a safe, a hair dryer and blackout curtains — all clean and well kept. If you're travelling as a group with large suitcases, book a bigger room type from the start.
Worth knowing: the hotel has no breakfast and no on-site restaurant. In practice this is barely a drawback — the area is packed with Taiwanese breakfast shops and convenience stores (there's a FamilyMart right next to the hotel), and the Taipei Main Station underground mall is a 5-minute walk away. Breakfast options here are more varied — and cheaper — than a hotel buffet would be.
In short, CityInn Hotel I is best for travellers who value location, cleanliness and genuine service over luxury. If your trip involves frequent train transfers to other cities, or you simply want the easiest-to-reach base in Taipei without paying a premium, this is one of the most worthwhile choices around Taipei Main Station.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ 5 min walk to Taipei Main Station — the easiest transit base
- ✓ Friendly, genuinely helpful staff
- ✓ Free instant noodles, drinks, snacks and laundry
- ✓ Very clean rooms, attentively serviced daily
- ! Rooms are small — hard to open two large suitcases at once
- ! No breakfast and no on-site restaurant
- ! Standard rooms have no window
- ✓ Easy-transit location, 5 min walk to the main station
- ✓ Warm, polite, multilingual team
- ✓ Lots of free perks; the late-night noodles are a hit
- ✓ Clean rooms, well-equipped after the renovation
- ! Small rooms; the bathroom faces the bed
- ! Sleep-quality score slightly below other categories
- ! Budget rooms have no window and can feel enclosed
- 💡If you want an airy room with a window — the budget Standard rooms have no window → choose a Superior Double or Twin Room with a window when you book
- 💡If you're a group with large suitcases — rooms are compact and hard to unpack in at once → pick a larger room type, or leave some bags at the front desk (free)
- 💡If you want breakfast at the hotel — there's no restaurant and no breakfast served → Taiwanese breakfast shops and the station underground mall are nearby and easy to find