The Discovery Center of Taipei occupies the first and second floors of Taipei City Hall and is the city's own museum of itself — a free, well-produced run through Taipei's history from Qing-dynasty walled town through Japanese colonial city to modern metropolis. The highlight is the City Theatre, a 360-degree projection over a large scale model of the entire basin, and a viewing gallery looking out toward Taipei 101.
It is unfussy and rarely crowded, and a useful orientation stop early in a visit. Closed Mondays; free.