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Asia , Itineraries , Taiwan · November 17, 2020

A Local’s Taipei Itinerary: How to Spend 1-5 Days in Taipei

Taipei is a multifaceted city with tons of history, culture, architecture, and delicious food to discover. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of amazing things to do in the city, don’t worry—I totally get it! That’s why I’ve put together this super flexible Taipei itinerary for 1-5 days. It’s filled with the absolute must-dos, places to visit, and some great tips to make the most of your 5-day trip.

Ready to discover all Taiwan’s colorful capital city has to offer? Grab a boba tea, and dive right into the best things to do in Taipei in 5 days!

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Table of Contents

Taipei Itinerary Essentials

Want to maximize your time in Taipei? Here are a few essentials you’ll need for a stress-free 5 days Taipei itinerary. 

• Taipei has oodles of hotels and hostels. For the best prices,  search accommodation  at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Alternatively, see my insider’s guide on the best hotels & areas to stay in Taipei .
• Taipei has two airports, Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) and Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). While Songshan is closer to Taipei, Taoyuan is the main international gateway. Read my quick guide on how to get to Taipei from Taoyuan Airport . Alternatively, book a private transfer ( Klook / KKday ) straight to your accommodation for an stress-free trip.
• Grab a  Taipei Fun Pass  to see all the Taipei must-see sights at a discount and enjoy unlimited rides on public transport. You can buy a 1 or 2 day pass here, or grab this 3-day pass .
• While there are over 4400 Wifi hotspots in Taiwan, it’s worth getting a local  4G Sim , pocket wifi , or E-sim . By doing so, you can plan all your stops and access maps, schedules, and translations on the go. 
• Make sure to pack a  travel umbrella  as frequent downpours aren’t uncommon in Taipei. This guide on what to pack for Taiwan will also come in handy.
• Grab a  Lonely Planet guidebook  for more tips and things to do. It’s packed with awesome recommendations and insights into the culture, history, and more.
• Need travel insurance for your trip?  SafetyWing is my go-to travel insurance provider.

How Many Days to Spend in Taipei & Itinerary Overview

While one could easily spend weeks in Taipei, not everyone has the luxury of unlimited time in this megacity. With 1 or 2 days in Taipei, you’ll be able to see the city’s most iconic sights. However, to really uncover the city’s best bits, I recommend staying at least 3-5 days in Taipei. 

Since I love hanging out in Taipei, I’ve mapped out this itinerary to cover 5 days. It covers all the top sights in town as well as a few cool day trip options if you want to explore the city’s outskirts. Here’s a quick look at what’s covered in my perfect 5-day Taipei itinerary:

Day 1:  Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall >> Longshan Temple >> Taipei 101 >> Elephant Mountain >> Raohe Night Market

Day 2:  Dihua Street >> North Gate >> Ximending >> Huashan 1914 Creative Park >> Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall >> Stroll the streets of Daan

Day 3:  National Palace Museum >> Beitou Hot Springs >> Tamsui >> Shilin Night Market

Day 4:  Yehliu Geopark >> Shifen >> Jiufen 

Day 5:  Taipei Zoo >> Maokong Mountain >> Taipei Fine Arts Museum >> Addiction Aquatic Development

Want to see the city’s best attractions without planning a thing? Check out this  city tour ,  night tour ,  walking tour , or this  popular sights private charter .

How to Get Around

Taipei is an amazing city that’s great for walking around. However, it’s huge ! Luckily, the city has a really efficient transport network to help you get around. To make the most of your 5 days in Taipei, I recommend using a mix of transportation to see the best sights. Here’s how to get around during your stay.  

• MRT:  Taipei has an extensive subway system called the MRT. Tickets are cheap, and you can buy them at any MRT station. However, I highly recommend getting an Easy Card , to save time. The card lets you tap and go on the MRT, buses, and regional trains. 
• HOP ON HOP OFF BUS:  The Taipei sightseeing bus is a great way to get a well-rounded glimpse of what the city has to offer. The bus stops at all the major tourist attractions in this guide, and has two routes. Compare passes here on Klook or KKday .
• BIKE:  YouBike is Taiwan’s official bike-sharing system. It allows you to rent a bike for as little as TWD 10 per 30 minutes. Stations are available all over the city, usually near MRT stations and tourist spots. To register on the system, you need an Easy Card  ( Klook | KKday )and a local number. If you don’t have those, you can also use a credit card. But note that you’ll need to pay a  TWD 2000  deposit. 
• TAXI:  Yellow taxis can be spotted and flagged down all over the city. They are reasonably priced, starting at around TWD 120 for the first 1.25km and then increase with TWD 5 for every 200m. Between 11 pm to 6 am, rates start at TWD 140. 
• UBER:  Uber is a great and cheap alternative to get around Taipei quickly. Don’t forget to download the app before you come. Also see my guide on other useful apps in Taiwan .

Where to Stay

Luxury: W Taipei  is the best luxury hotel in Taipei. The 5-star property features beautiful, spacious rooms accompanied by terrific views. But even on top of that, you’ll be steps from the trendy bars, shops, and restaurants of Xinyi.  Check rates/ availability here . 

Mid-Range: Via Hotel  is a 3-star hotel that combines comfort and design. It’s the perfect choice for mid-range travelers who want to be right in the city center. What’s more, it offers easy access to Taipei Main Station, as well as oodles of shops and eateries.  Check rates/ availability here .  

Budget:   Star Hostel  is a chic hostel offering both private and dorm rooms at great prices. Located mere steps from the Taipei Main Station, it’s the perfect base if you want to be close to the main transport hub.  Check rates/ availability here .  

Taipei Itinerary: What to do in Taipei in 1-5 Days

Whether you have one day in Taipei or many, there’s so much to see and do in this amazing city. I’ve included all the must-see attractions, iconic landmarks, and even a few hidden gems for those who’d like to experience the city’s quirky side in this 5 day Taipei itinerary! Plus, tons of handy tips to help you make the most of your time in the city. With that said, though, this itinerary can easily be tailored to your wants and needs. So, feel free to mix things up as you see fit!

1 Day Taipei Itinerary

With only 1 day in Taipei, trying to figure out where to go and what to do in a megacity like Taipei can be challenging. While one day is not nearly enough to see all the city has to offer, it will allow ample time to get a taste of Taipei’s top attractions. Here are the best things to do in Taipei in 1 day. 

Oh, and travel tip – make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes . You have a lot of ground to cover on your first day! 

Visit Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Kickstart your 1 day Taipei itinerary with a visit to the city’s most iconic square – Liberty Square ( 中正紀念堂廣場) .

Featuring neatly kept gardens, this sprawling area is home to the National Theater , the National Concert Hall , and of course, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂).

Besides strolling the beautiful grounds and taking Instagrammable photos, it’s also a great spot to learn a little more about Taiwan’s complex history. 

Within the main hall, browse the exhibitions and learn more about the country’s liberation struggles. Afterward, climb the 89 steps leading to the massive statue memorializing Chiang, Taiwan’s first president. It’s also worth watching the changing of the guards’ ceremony, which happens every hour on the hour. Entrance to Liberty Square, as well as Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, is free. 

Insider’s Tips:  If time permits, take a stroll over to the  Presidential Palace  (中華民國總統府). It was built during the Japanese Colonial era and has a gorgeous red brick exterior and large balconies. Today, it serves as the workplace of Taiwan’s president. Join the free guided tour (weekdays only) to get a glimpse of the inside. Afterward, take a stroll through the serene  2/28 Peace Memorial Park  (二二八和平公園). The park commemorates the victims of the anti-government uprising movement in 1947. Don’t miss the huge memorial monument at the center of the park! The nearby memorial museum also offers more insights into Taiwan’s turbulent past. 

Experience the Culture at Longshan Temple

Next up on your Taipei itinerary, head to Taipei’s most famous religious complex, Longshan Temple (龍山寺). Dating back to 1737, Longshan Temple is a great place to get acquainted with Chinese folk religion. To this day, locals journey from near and far to make prayers and wish for good fortune in these incense-filled halls. 

Right near the entrance, you can relish in the local custom of throwing moon blocks . Make sure to throw these tiny blocks in unison. The way they fall will reveal whether the gods favor you or not. 

There is no entrance fee for Longshan Temple. But please remember to dress appropriately as this is still a place of worship. 

Insider’s Tips:  A short stroll from here, head to the  Bopiliao Historical Block  (剝皮寮歷史街區). Here, you’ll find stacks of 18th-century houses. To learn more about the area’s history, you can also join this free  walking tour . Afterward, browse the  Huaxi Street Market  (華西街觀光夜市) filled with weird and interesting traditional snacks. Or better yet, join this  fun food tour . Just a word of caution; this is Taipei’s red-light district and it can be a bit seedy at night. Although Taipei is a very safe city, I wouldn’t recommend visiting here late at night if you are a solo female traveler.  

Take in the Views Atop Taipei 101  

You’ll find Taipei’s most prominent landmark, Taipei 101 (台北101), in Xinyi District. The bamboo-inspired skyscraper is 509m tall and has a stunning exterior, but the inside is equally impressive. It’s a great place for shopping with a fantastic selection of popular and high-end luxury stores. However, the real highlight (and why you should visit this iconic landmark ) is the incredible views over the entire city!

The Observation Deck is accessible by the world’s third fastest elevator, taking just 37 seconds to reach the 89th floor! Once there, you can enjoy the city from all angles, grab a coffee, or check out the massive 660-metric-ton damper. It stabilizes the tower during typhoons and is quite cool to see. Just a head’s-up—this is a popular spot, so be prepared to wait in long lines. If you want to skip the queue, consider grabbing a fast-track ticket ( Klook /  KKday ). 

Insider’s Tips:  While here, don’t miss Taiwan’s very own Michelin Star restaurant  Din Tai Fung  (鼎泰豐). It serves the juiciest xiao long bao ever! They’re always packed, so book a table ( Klook | KKday ) in advance. If time permits, take a stroll through the lively  Att 4 Fun  (信義店) pedestrian area. Here you’ll find loads of trendy hangouts, hip bars, Taipei’s coolest clubs, and great shopping hotspots. A few blocks further, explore the  Breeze Songgao Store  (微風松高) filled with shops, hip food trucks, and restaurants. There’s a great vibe here, so don’t skip it! 

Watch the Sunset at Elephant Mountain

Just one stop down the MRT Red Line is one of Taipei’s most Instagrammable places – Elephant Mountain (象山) 

Elephant Mountain offers the best views over the entire city bowl and some really awesome backdrops for your pictures, especially at sunset. There are several lookout points along the hike, but the best views can be found where the boulders are. The trek is quite steep, but it’s definitely worth the effort! Depending on your fitness level, getting to the top takes about 20-30 minutes.

Feast at Raohe Night Market

After a day out exploring all Taipei’s iconic sights, it’s time to sample some of the city’s best street food. And the best place to do just that is at Raohe Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市).

Raohe is one of Taiwan’s most famous night markets , and no Taipei itinerary would be complete without visiting it. The best part? There are loads of street food snacks to try. These include bubble milk tea, grilled squid, fried chicken steak, pepper pork buns, and stinky tofu. Prefer to visit with a guide? Here’s a great Raohe night market tour .

Besides filling up with all the delicious food, it’s also a great place to bargain hunt. You’ll find everything from clothes, cellphone accessories, bags, earrings, and more here! If you’re looking to squeeze in a bit of shopping, the nearby maze-like alleyways of Wufenpu  (五分埔) is for you. Here you’ll find tons of cheap clothing stores selling the latest Korean and Japanese fashion trends. It’s also a great place to practice your haggling during your itinerary in Taipei. 

2 Days Taipei Itinerary

With 2 days in Taipei, you can get a closer look at the city’s quirky pop culture, visit a few more historical sites, and of course, relish its bustling food scene. Follow my sample itinerary above, and then on day 2 check out these cool places in Taipei. 

Browse historic Dihua Street 

Start your morning bright and early with a visit to one of the city’s best-preserved streets, Dihua (迪化街).

Right in the heart of Datong, you’ll find a bunch of restored buildings dating back to the 1800s. It’s a great place to stroll, people watch and of course, get acquainted with authentic Taipei. Don’t miss the bustling market that sells a mix of weird and wonderful food, teas, spices, as well as traditional Chinese medicinal products.

After taking in the sights and sounds of Dihua Street, make a quick photo stop at the impressive 19th century  North Gate  (臺北府城 北門), which was built as part of the city’s fortifications. 

Enjoy the Vibe at Ximending Walking District

Next up, head over to the massive pedestrian walking street of Ximending (西門町).

Ximending is a bustling shopping district on the western side of Taipei City, nicknamed the Shibuya of Taipei . With hip clothing stores, brightly-lit billboards, themed cafes like Modern Toilet (便所主題餐廳 西門店), and alleyways dotted with the city’s best street art, it’s not hard to see why its such a firm favorite among tourists and locals alike. All in all, Ximending is a great place to stroll around, shop, eat, hunt for street art, and people watch.

Another noteworthy attraction to check out while here is the  Red House Theatre  (西門紅樓), which showcases cheap live performances.  Ningxia Night Market  (寧夏夜市) is also just around the corner and is another great Taipei night market. Join this cool Michelin night tour at Ningxia  to sample the best street food on offer here! 

Check out the Quirky Displays at Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Built in 1914, Huashan Creative Park (華山1914文化創意產業園區) has quite a unique history. It was once a Japanese sake brewery, and then later a camphor refinery. Today, the park is the city’s most prominent art center and a popular go-to spot among art lovers and those looking to escape Taipei’s concrete jungle. 

There are several buildings to browse filled with cute artisan shops, designer stores, bookshops, as well as several gourmet eateries and hipster hangouts. Don’t miss the cool outdoor art displays dotted around sprawling gardens. 

Stroll through Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

After getting a taste of Taipei’s artsy side, head over to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國立國父紀念館). It is one of Taipei’s most important historical buildings and another interesting place to learn a little about Taiwan’s history. 

The memorial hall was built in 1972 to honor Taiwan’s founding father, Sun Yat-sen. The main structure features intricate architecture and is surrounded by lovely gardens, housing a massive fountain. Within its walls, you’ll find varied exhibitions offering insight into Sun’s life and his revolution efforts.

Insider’s tips:  Nearby, take a gentle stroll through the city’s largest park  Daan Forest Park  (大安森林公園). Alternatively, head over to  JenGuo Flower Market  or  Jianguo Jade Market  (建國玉市). Both are excellent places to shop for souvenirs and quirky trinkets. The buzzing alleyways jolting off from  Lane 137, Yanji Street  are just a stone’s throw from here and are chock-full with hipster hangouts, themed cafes, hidden izakayas, and posh international eateries. If you’re not hungry, it’s still an excellent place for a walkabout or to grab a cuppa. If you’re seeking a boozy cocktail, head out to the Instagrammable  Drunk Cafe  (爛醉咖啡). Alternatively, grab an ice-cold beer at the city’s best craft beer bar,  On Tap . 

3 Days Taipei Itinerary

If you have 3 days in Taipei, you’ll have more than enough time to explore the far-flung corners of the city and get a closer look at a few more must-see attractions. Follow the steps above and on day 3 of your Taipei itinerary, head out to these places below. 

Browse the National Palace Museum 

Start your day early with a visit to one of the city’s most iconic museums, the National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院).

Housing more than 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts, artworks, and relics, spanning over 8000 years of history, the museum holds the world’s most complete Chinese artifacts collection. The National Palace museum is a treasure trove for history buffs and art enthusiasts, rightly deserving a spot on any Taipei itinerary! 

Entry to the museum costs NT$350. However, since it can get a little busy here, I recommend booking an e-ticket ( Klook  /  KKday ) in advance.

Visit Beitou Hot Springs

Most visitors to Taipei don’t know that actual volcanoes are right within the city’s limits. So next up on your itinerary in Taipei, immerse yourself in nature with a visit to the steamy thermal pools of Beitou Hot Springs (北投溫泉).

Beitou  is one of Taipei’s most popular side trips, and it’s not hard to understand why. Surrounded by lush greenery and the allure of abundant hot springs is what really makes this Japanese-inspired retreat such a popular go-to spot among locals and those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban Taipei. This picture-perfect setting is perfect spot to unwind!

If you’re not checking in at one of the luxurious hot spring hotels, like  Grand View Resort , head out to one of the outdoor public baths to experience the geothermal activity like a local. 

Other things to do in Beitou include visiting the  Beitou Thermal Valley  or “Hell Valley” (地熱谷), the  Beitou Hot Spring Museum  (北投溫泉博物館), the  Beitou Museum  (北投文物館) and the  Xinbeitou Historic Station  (新北投車站).

For a unique experience, enjoy a traditional Japanese ceremony at the  Taiwan Folk Arts Museum  (北投文物館), visit the  Ketagalan Culture Center  (凱達格蘭文物館), or stop by one of the incense-filled temples like  Puji Temple  (北投普濟寺). 

Looking to get off the beaten path? Head out to one of Taipei’s best-hidden gems –  Wulai  (烏來). Wulai is an aboriginal village neatly tucked away in the mountains. It boasts hot springs, waterfalls, traditional Atayal food, and a super cute mini train! Read my guide on  what to do in Wulai . 

Wander the Streets of Tamsui

After enjoying a slice of nature, head out to Tamsui (淡水) – a scenic little town located on the Tamsui River banks right at the edge of Taipei City. 

Tamsui, also often spelled Danshui, has a lot going for it. From a bustling Old Street chock-full with artisan stores, souvenir shops, and vendors serving up the freshest seafood imaginable to several historical sites and a booming craft beer scene. But even on top of that, the star attraction here is the incredible sunset. 

While you can catch an epic sunset from anywhere along the boardwalk, the best spot is at Lover’s Bridge . It’s a popular spot among love birds and photographers, so expect it to fill up quickly!

Oh, and don’t miss stopping by the incredible Wuji Tianyuan Temple if you happen to visit Taipei during cherry blossom season.

Eat your way through Shilin Night Market

The last stop on your 3 days in Taipei itinerary is Shilin Night Market (士林夜市). 

Shilin is a bustling place jam-packed with food vendors and stalls selling all kinds of bits and bobs. What’s more, it is probably the best and most popular street food market in Taipei! It’s the perfect spot to sample local street snacks and authentic Taiwanese cuisine. 

Since the area really only comes alive at night, make sure to time your visit here. Whatever you do, though, come hungry, because there are lots to try! 

4 Days Taipei Itinerary

With so much to do in Taipei, it’s hard to get bored. But beyond the buzzing urban hub, there are a handful of must-see places worth a visit. So, on day 4 of your Taipei itinerary, it’s time to explore the city’s outskirts! Think quaint little towns, lush jungles dotted with waterfalls, epic ocean views, and great hiking opportunities! 

Visit the rock formations at Yehliu

Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園)   is a unique place along Taiwan’s north   coast that’s well worth a visit. Fringed by the Pacific Ocean, this massive geopark is home to cool fossils and the weirdest rock formations imaginable. Some of the most notable rock forms to look out for are the Queen’s Head, Fairy’s Shoe, Bean Curd, and Dragon Head. 

Yehliu is a great place to stroll around, take in the incredible ocean views and scenery, and of course, hunt for bizarre rock formations. Don’t forget your  camera , because you’ll want to take lots of photos of this alien-like wonderland! 

Insider tip:  There is a small entrance fee (NT$120) to enter the park, but you can also grab an entry ticket online in advance. While it’s relatively straightforward to visit Yehliu independently, joining a day tour will save you the hassle of planning a thing. Another good option is this  tour which includes a pastry making sesh. If you have your own set of wheels, and want to check out two of Taiwan’s best-kept secrets , don’t miss the Twin Candlesticks and Shen’ao Elephant Rock nearby.

See Taiwan’s widest waterfall 

Just 32 kilometers northwest of Taipei City, lies Taiwan’s very own mini version of Niagara Falls measuring 40m in width – Shifen Falls (十分瀑布).

The waterfall is tucked away amid a lush jungle setting, and there are tons of lookout points covering all angles of the waterfall. It’s an incredibly scenic place to visit and the perfect choice for those wanting to spend a day immersed in nature.

I’ve written an extensive  guide on Shifen , covering everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful area, so be sure to read that. However, if you prefer to join a guided tour,  this one  is a great half-day option. 

Wander the lantern-filled alleys of Jiufen

A visit to Taipei (or Taiwan as a matter of fact) would simply not be complete without a trip to Jiufen (九份). Located not too far from Shifen, this gorgeous little town is perched on a hillside and offers epic views over the ocean and mountains.

While the views are incredible and stand testament to Taiwan’s mind-blowing natural scenery, there is yet another reason to add Jiufen to your Taipei itinerary. Often touted as the inspiration to Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, Jiufen’s true charm lies in its rustic alleyways strewn with dangling red lanterns, charming traditional teahouses, hot spring hotels, and phenomenal food scene. 

While most people visit here on a half-day trip from Taipei, I highly recommend staying overnight if you can. The night view is absolutely breathtaking! And if you love photography, you could easily spend hours wandering through the little alleyways. Also read my guide on how to get from Taipei to Jiufen for the easiest routes there.

If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, hike up  Keelung Mountain  (雞籠山登山步道) or join this  Jiufen Village tour  to see other highlights like the  Golden Waterfall and the Ying Yan Sea  (陰陽海). 

5 Days Taipei Itinerary

On the final day of your 5 day Taipei itinerary, enjoy a different side of the city surrounded by greenery right in the heart of town. Pop by the zoo, take a thrilling gondola ride, and see some of the world’s finest artworks on display. Then, end your day with a massive feast at the city’s top seafood market. 

Meet furry friends at Taipei Zoo

If you’re visiting Taipei with kids, it’s worth stopping by the Taipei Zoo (臺北市立動物園). The zoo is the largest zoological garden in Taiwan, and is home to more than 2000 animals from various species, including pandas and koalas! 

While it is one of the city’s top attractions, the grounds are massive, making it quite easy to get away from the crowds and enjoy the varied animal life at your leisure. If you plan on spending several hours year, pack a picnic basket to enjoy on the grass. Grab an entry ticket here ( Klook | KKday ) to skip the lines. And if you plan to visit Maokong afterward, this zoo & gondola combo ticket may also come in handy.

Enjoy a tea ceremony at Maokong

After visiting the zoo’s furry friends, head over to the Maokong Gondola to  take a fun ride in a glass-bottom car  over the mountain tops. Besides enjoying the views below your feet, the views of the city’s skyscraper-studded skyline in the distance are just as magnificent. 

Once at the top, pop into cute coffee shops or tea houses offering  authentic tea ceremonies  and traditional Taiwanese fare with sprawling tea plantations at their doorstep.  

Browse Taipei Fine Arts Museum

If you still want to squeeze in another activity before dinner time, hop back on the MRT to Yuanshan Station and head over to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (臺北市立美術館). 

Here you’ll find some of the best local and international artwork displayed in an impressive geometrical building. The museum showcases more than 5000 pieces of traditional and contemporary art, but I highly recommend checking out the photography section. The entrance fee is NT$30, and the museum is open until 20:30 on Saturdays. 

Insider’s Tips: If you’re looking for non-touristy things to do in Taipei, a stroll through the dreamy Floral Tunnel (花之隧道) or a visit to the Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum (林安泰古厝) should not be overlooked.

Enjoy the vibes at AAD

On the last night of your 5 days Taipei itinerary, head over to the city’s best indoor seafood market – Addiction Aquatic Development (上引水產). 

This massive complex is home to several eateries, dishing up everything from hot pot and barbecued skewers to melt-in-the-mouth sashimi, huge crabs and more. 

There’s also an incredible deli where you can buy all kinds of imported goods, tasty snacks, fresh seafood and Kobe beef. 

AAD gets quite lively at night, so don’t come too late. If the restaurants are packed, grab a few snacks at the deli instead. There are many seating areas scattered around the market where you can sit back and enjoy your food. Also, don’t miss the sangria! It’s the best you’ll find in the city! 

5 Days Itinerary in Taipei Conclusion

Taipei is truly a remarkable city with plenty to keep you busy. I hope this Taipei travel itinerary has helped you figure out what to do and where to go in Taipei!

That wraps up this Taipei itinerary for 5 days or less. Do you have any tips for fellow travelers planning an itinerary in Taipei? Feel free to share your top tips and epic things to do in Taipei below! 

Need more help planning your Taipei trip?

• Travel Tips for Taipei
• Where to Stay in Taipei
• Getting from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei
• Taipei Nightlife guide
• Solo Traveler’s Guide to Taipei
• Best Taipei Side Trips

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October 9, 2023 at

Hello I am still confused of what to see in Taiwan…ours is pure cultural no adventure no beach. Can u help…with an itinerary For 7 nites..with 1/2 free days to walk around. Thanks Wynoma de Faria

October 11, 2023 at

Hey Wynoma,

Even if you’re looking for a more culturally oriented itinerary, there’s loads to do in Taiwan. With seven nights, you’ll have more than enough time to venture outside of Taipei and see a bit more of the island. Here’s some inspo:

– Spend 2-3 days in Taipei and visit the museums and temples. Check out the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and Taipei 101. Also, be sure to visit some of the night markets like Shilin or Raohe. – Take a day trip from Taipei to Jiufen. – Spend a day in Tainan (Taiwan’s ancient capital city). Visit Chihkan Tower, Koxinga Shrine, Anping Old Street, and the Anping Tree House. – Travel to Kaohsiung for 1-2 days and visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center, the temples and pavilions at Lotus Pond, and the Pier 2 Art Center.

Of course, there are loads more to see and do, but if you’re not really into nature/ adventure, the spots above should tick your boxes. Hope this helps!

December 19, 2023 at

Hello, I’m planning to visit Yehliu Geopark, Shifen and Jiufen for a whole day. I plan to go in that order and travel by public transport/taxi if needed, can you recommend me some bus/mrt I should take to go those places.

January 19, 2024 at

Hey Wendy, it might be tough to squeeze all three places in on one day, but if you start super early and make use of taxis/Uber it might be doable.

You can catch Kuo-Kuan Bus 1815 from TPE Bus Station. The journey takes about 1h30. From there, I’d suggest getting a taxi/Uber to the Ruifang Train Station so that you can catch the train Shifen. You can check with the driver if he’s willing to take you all the way to Shifen but it’s quite rural and it will be pricy. From Shifen, you’ll need to catch the train back to Ruifang from where you’ll need to get a bus to Jiufen. There aren’t many taxis in Shifen, but just walk around and ask the locals. We got a taxi there once and it saved us the hassle of dealing with public transport. It was rather expensive though for such a short distance.

Google Maps works extremely well in TW and once you have an idea of your timings it will give you the best options on which buses/ trains to take. Just make sure you check the timings of the last bus/train. Here’s a link to the TRA website if you want to get a better idea of the train schedules in the meantime.

January 17, 2024 at

I am traveling alone to Taiwan for 7D, possible to purchase a local day trip to Jiufengand Sifen Falls, another day trip to Tainan, and the third day to Sun Moon Lake? Please give me your suggestion.

Hey Sue, Jiufen and Shifen are popular day trips from TPE and there are loads of guided tours that will get you there (check on Klook).

Tainan is accessible from Taipei and the HSR (bullet train) can get you there is less than 2hrs. Here’s my guide on how to get to Tainan from Taipei . For SML, the best way to get there is to first take the HSR to Taichung where you can catch the bus to SML. I’ve written a guide on that too, see here . Just a side note, Tainan and SML are both really great places to visit with lots to do, so I recommend spending at least 2D1N in each to make the most of your time there.

February 15, 2024 at

Hello, I’m planning to visit Yehliu Geopark, Shifen and Jiufen for a whole day with my wife and would like to take a private tour (so that we can be flexible with the timing etc). Can you recommend any reliable companies that offer private tours? Thank you very much.

Hey TH, thanks for stopping by.

My go-to provider for tours in Taiwan is Klook . They have a wide selection of tours, so it’s easy to find the right option that suits your schedule and budget. (Here’s my affiliate link to all the tours they have to Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen )

Alternatively, you can also check out this tour on GetYourGuide which has an option for a private tour.

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A Travel Guide to Taipei, Taiwan’s Tantalizing Capital

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for at no extra cost to you.

Taipei City (臺北市) has everything you could possibly hope for in an awesome capital city.

The list of reasons to visit goes on: unbeatable street food and night markets, temples and culture galore, ultra-convenient public transportation and public share bikes, excellent museums, extremely safe streets, welcoming people, and beaches, volcanoes, hot springs and hiking opportunities right on Taipei’s doorstep.

Like any big city, planning a trip to Taipei can be a little intimidating. In this guide, I’ve condensed all the essential info for planning a trip to Taipei, based on many years of living in Taipei, writing about it, and helping travelers in my Taiwan Travel Planning group .

Table of Contents

Taipei City Introduction

The Taipei area was originally home to the Ketagalan aboriginal tribe – you can learn more about them at the free Ketagalan Culture Center at Beitou Hot Spring, Taipei’s premier hot spring village.

Taipei literally means “Taiwan North” (臺 / 台 or tai for Taiwan + 北 or bei for north). It only became the capital of Taiwan in 1894. The original capital of Taiwan was Tainan (臺南 or “Taiwan South”). There’s also a Tai-middle ( Taichung ), Tai-east ( Taitung ), and Tai-west (a tiny village called Taixi).

Taipei was originally a walled city, today’s Wanhua/Bangka District (萬華區). It was accessed by five traditional gates, four of which are still standing today, but only one in its original form (North Gate or Beimen/北門). This is considered the Old City of Taipei , where many travelers stay. Popular Ximending neighborhood and Longshan Temple are there, while Taipei Main Station is a short walk away.

Taipei’s Eastern District (東區) is, by contrast, a ritzy and glamorous neighborhood of upscale malls, luxury boutiques, and high end restaurants. There you’ll find Taipei 101, the city and country’s most recognizable landmark . Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) flanks Eastern District, providing the city’s most famous view.

Today, Taipei city is known for its world-class MRT , which makes getting around the city a breeze, high concentration of convenience stores, legendary night markets, vast array of restaurants, and cultural and historical attractions.     

The area surrounding Taipei used to be called Taipei County , but in 2010 it became a city of its own: New Taipei City . Most day trips from Taipei are to places in New Taipei City, like Jiufen, Shifen , Yehliu, and Yehliu (see them on this tour ). I cover these, and other popular day trips from Taipei, in my guide to New Taipei City.

New Taipei City (population 4 million) is technically Taiwan’s largest city by population. But in practice, Taipei City (population 2.4 million), New Taipei City, and Keelung form one mega city.

Called Greater Taipei or the Taipei-New Taipei-Keelung Metropolitan Area, it is the largest city in Taiwan , with 7 million people, or 30% of the country’s population.

Quick Tips for Visiting Taipei

• Try to avoid Lunar New Year (if you have to, see my guide to visiting Taipei during Chinese New Year ), Plum Rain Season (May to early June), and summer (too hot and typhoon season). Long weekends and NYE (December 31 weekend) are also very busy.
• Get an EasyCard for the convenience of swiping onto all public transportation in the city (see more details about EasyCard below). Also see the best apps to download here .
• The Taoyuan Airport MRT is the best way to get to the city, while the Taipei MRT is the best way to get around the city. Here’s a list of budget flights to Taoyuan Airport and you can find the best flight deals here . Also see my guide to Taoyuan Airport .
• Some restaurants and attractions in Taipei are closed on Mondays , so double check opening hours before going.
• You’ll need cash for most street food and smaller shops in Taipei. Exchange money at the airport or withdraw from ATMs.
• Book your regular (TRA) train tickets out of the city early, especially to Hualien . They often sell out. You can buy High Speed Rail tickets even last minute, but booking early gives you a discount. More info on all that below!
• Tipping in Taipei is almost always not required, and could even be offensive.
• Dress however you want , even for visiting temples, but going barefoot or without a shirt is not OK. Read more FAQs about Taiwan here .

Getting to Taipei

Taipei is extremely well connected to other cities in Taiwan, Asia, and around the world.

Taipei City has two airports. The larger, main airport is Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), located in Taoyuan City , about 30 kilometers west of Taipei. The smaller Songshan Airport (TSA) is in the Taipei city center. It handles mostly domestic flights and a limited number of international ones.

Budget airlines like Air Asia , Tigerair Taiwan , Peach , Jetstar , Scoot , Cebu Pacific , Thai Lion Air , T’Way , Jeju Air , and JinAir opeate low-cost flights between Taipei and other cities in Asia. I recommend using Kiwi.com to search all these budget airlines at once.

Air Canada , United Airlines , Cathay Pacific , and Japan Airlines are a few major airlines flying into Taipei, while Taiwan’s own Eva Airlines (the Hello Kitty one!) and China Airlines are well-rated. Try comparing their prices on Kiwi with booking direct – direct is usually best, but Kiwi is sometimes cheaper.

The smaller Uni Air and Mandarin Airlines operate domestic flights in Taiwan, including to some of the small offshore islands – search for their flights here on KKDay for discounted fares or if you find the airline websites hard to use.

High Speed Rail

Taiwan’s HSR (High Speed Rail) whizzes down the west coast only, from Taipei City in the north to Zuoying ( Kaohsiung ) in the south. There are two stations in Taipei City – the first is Nangang in eastern Taipei, and the second and most popular is Taipei Main Station – where you’ll also find the Airport MRT station, TRA station, and Taipei Main MRT station.

The HSR is the fastest but priciest way to travel from Taipei to/from other major cities on the west coast of Taiwan. However, Taipei is the only city where the HSR station is in the city center. In all other cities, the station is outside of the city center.

The HSR doesn’t go to Taoyuan International Airport. To connect to it, you’ll need to ride the Airport MRT to Taoyuan HSR station (going in the opposite direction from Taipei), a 20-minute ride.

You can book HSR tickets from Taipei at any station or convenience store, on the official site, here on Klook , or on the T Express app (the only option for e-tickets). On the official site, you can get an early bird discount (book up to 28 days in advance), while Klook offers a flat discount of 20% off.

You can also buy HSR tickets at the station before boarding, at full price. Just select “non-reserved ticket” on the machine, then sit anywhere in the non-reserved section (cars 10-12).

Find screenshots for all the steps to book HSR tickets 5 different ways here .

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) operates regular trains, which do a full loop around Taiwan.

There are four TRA stations in Taipei from east to west: Nangang, Songshan, Taipei Main Station, and Wanhua.

These are a slower but cheaper alternative to the HSR, and the only way to reach destinations on the east coast of Taiwan. On the plus side, TRA stations across Taiwan are almost always in the city center.

There are a variety of TRA train types, including Local (free seating), Tze-Chiang and Chu-Kuang (reserved seats or standing allowed), and Taroko Express / Puyuma Express / Tze Chiang Limited Express 3000 (reservation only, fastest).

TRA tickets can be booked up to 28 days in advance at any station or convenience store, on the official site , or on the 臺鐵e訂通 app for e-tickets. Find more details and screenshots of each method in post covering how to book train tickets in Taipei .

Booking TRA tickets in advance is recommended, especially for express trains from Taipei to Hualien (an extremely popular route), or for trains on weekends or holidays. There are no discounts.  

A number of bus companies operate relatively inexpensive buses from Taipei to cities across Taiwan (except for Hualien and Taitung on the east coast – take the train for those). These buses are generally very comfortable, with large seats, and some even have WiFi.

Most depart from Taipei Bus Station just north across the street from Taipei Main Station, while Kuo Kuang Bus Company’s main bus station is on the Taipei Main Station side of the street.

Getting around Taipei

One of the best things about Taipei is how easy it is to get around. Visitor’s are often surprised at just how excellent Taipei’s public transporation is.

For the sake convenience, you’ll want to get an EasyCard for swiping on to the MRT and local buses in Taipei and all other major cities in Taiwan.

The card costs TWD 100 (non-refundable deposit) plus however much money you want to load onto it. Buy it on Klook for pickup when you arrive at Taoyuan Airport (note the available times), at any MRT station, or at convenience stores (super cute ones available).

You can also use EasyCards to pay for some taxis, some street food stalls, convenience stores, ferries (Tamsui, Cijin Island), TRA trains (standing tickets only), a few long distance buses in Taiwan (for example the bus from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan, but most long distance buses require a ticket), and a few attractions (like Taipei Zoo).

You can only reload EasyCards with cash, in any station or convenience store. Buying an EasyCard on Klook allows you to have a pre-loaded card when you first arrive in Taiwan.

The Taipei MRT system is the pride of Taipei. Most visitors to Taipei rely on it heavily for getting around. Download the Go! Taipei Metro app for a high-definition map, route planning, and more.

Kids under six ride free, while 6-12 can get a Concessionaire Card from the ticket window in any station – it only offers some very small discounts. You can also buy single-ride tokens from the machines in every station – cash only. All stations have restrooms, trash bins, and are wheelchair friendly.

There are some rules on the Taipei MRT: no eating, no chewing gum, dark blue seats are for the needy, line up in the designated spots, keep talking to a whisper, and the right side of escalators is for standing.

Note that the Airport MRT is operated by Taoyuan City, not Taipei. You can swipe EasyCard for the Airport MRT, but arriving at Taipei Main Station, you’ll have to swipe out of the Airport MRT station, walk 5-10 minutes, then swipe in to the Taipei MRT station for transferring to other areas in Taipei.

Local Buses

Sometimes it is more convenient, faster and/or cheaper to hop on a local bus in Taipei. You’ll need to swipe your EasyCard when you get on and again when you get off. For most buses, you can get on / off at the front or back door.

Buses are the only way to get to National Palace Museum or Yangmingshan National Park by public transportation .

GoogleMaps or the Bus+ app are good for finding bus times and bus stop locations.

Yellow Taxis are extremely common in Taipei. You can stand on just about any main road at any time of day or night and one will come by within a few minutes. A little red lights shines in the front window if it is available. Use the FindTaxi – Taiwan Taxi Finder to order one in English.

Taxis are relatively cheap, with a starting rate of TWD 85. They are safe and always use the meter. However, some taxis are old, messy, or smelly, and some drivers are a little wild. Most drivers speak little or no English, so it’s best to show your destination address in Mandarin.

Uber, on the other hand, almost always has new cars, safe drivers, plus the benefit of entering your destination first. They can be cheaper, similar price, or more expensive than taxis depending on the time of day.

Where to Stay in Taipei

With so many cool neighborhoods and hotels to choose from, choosing the right one for you can be tough. Ideally, you’ll want to be close to an MRT station for exploring the city.

Taipei Main Station Area

Staying close to Taipei Main Station is the most convenient for access to Taipei Main Station, which has the Airport MRT, HSR Station, TRA Station, Bus Station, and MRT.

Taipei Main Station is huge, with a maze-like network of underground walkways and malls. It’s easy to get lost. Sometimesit’s best to just go up to street level then find your way from there.

APause (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a good budget choice near Taipei Main Station. CityInn Taipei Station Branch III (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a popular mid-range choice with family rooms.

For rooms with an amazing view of the city, stay at Roaders Plus (see on Booking / Agoda ). It also has a children’s playroom and free snacks in the lobby.

Ximending (or Ximen) is the most popular neighborhood in Taipei for travelers. It’s only 10-20 minutes on foot, or one MRT stop on the blue line, from Taipei Main Station.

The core of the neighborhood is a walking and shopping district full of cool shops and restaurants. For budget travelers, I liked Ximen Garden Inn (see on Booking / Agoda ), which has self check-in. For mid-range travelers, Amba (see on Booking / Agoda ) is excellent and has 24-hour reception for late check-ins or the option to check in at 9 AM for half a day’s price.

GreenWorld Zhonghua (see on Booking / Agoda ) is great for families and has some connecting rooms.

For a unique experience, Ximen Airline Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda ) is an airline-themed hotel. Westgate (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a nicer option.

Best Hostels

The best hostels in Taipei are:

• Star Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) and Old Door Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) around Taipei Main Station
• Dan Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) in Ximending
• Star Hostel Taipei East (see on Booking / Agoda ) in Eastern District
• Dongmen 3 Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) in Da’an District.

To find out why I think these are the best, see my guide to the best hostels in Taipei .

Best Luxury Hotels

Taipei has some of the top luxury hotels in Taiwan . To summarize the top pics:

• Regent Taipei (see on Booking / Agoda ) for families
• Mandarin Oriental (see on Booking / Agoda ) for the most luxurious experience
• W Taipei (see on Booking / Agoda ) for the hippest choice
• Kimpton Taipei (see on Booking / Agoda ) for the most elegant choice
• Grand Hyatt (see on Booking / Agoda ) for the best Taipei 101 views
• Palais de Chine (see on Booking / Agoda ) for access to Taipei Main Station and for having Taipei’s only Michelin 3-star restaurant .

Top Things to Do in Taipei

I’ll only graze the surface here. For many more details and ideas, see my guide to the best things to do in Taipei and even more things to do in Taipei at night .

The top Taipei attractions which almost every traveler visit are Taipei 101 Observatory (including the new Skyline 460 experience), Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall , Ximending walking district , Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola , Longshan Temple , and National Palace Museum .

Night markets are a huge attraction in Taipei, with the biggest and most famous ones being Shilin , Raohe , Ningxia , and Tonghua . Some more off-the-beaten-track ones include Huaxi , Nanjichang , Shida, Gongguan , and Jingmei night markets.

Read more about Taiwan’s best night markets here!

For temples, besides the most famous one, Longshan Temple, some others worth visiting are:

• Xingtian Temple (picturesque and incense-free)
• Taipei Tianhou Temple (small Matsu temple in Ximending)
• Songshan Ciyou Temple (large Matsu temple right next to Raohe Night Market )
• Bao’an Temple (overall impressive)
• Taipei Confucius Temple (most simple in design than typical Taiwanese temples)

Read more about Taipei’s best temples here .

If you’re into hiking, Elephant Mountain has the most famous city view but is very crowded, especially at sunset.

Other good ones are Jinmianshan , Jiantanshan , Four Beasts (which includes Elephant Mountain), Silver Stream Cave & Waterfall (at Maokong ), and Fuzhou Mountain . Here are some of the best hikes places to view Taipei 101 around the city.  

Yangmingshan National Park is a volcanic massif in Taipei and New Taipei City. There are several hikes and flower viewing locations – most visitors either plan a single hike there or visit multiple stops on a half-day trip by car . Find all the info in my Yangmingshan visitors’ guide .

Beitou Hot Spring in the north of the city is Taipei’s only hot spring village. It has some lovely Japanese-era buildings, steaming Thermal Valley, traditional bathhouses, and hot spring hotels. Avoid Monday, when several things are closed. See my guide to Beitou Hot Spring .

A few other attractions in Taipei include Huashan 1914 Creative Park , 44 South Village (Sisinancun), Jianguo Weekend Jade and Flowers Market , Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall , and Treasure Hill Artists Village .

Best Taipei Tours

Taipei is quite easy to explore on your own by MRT. You can hire a private driver here , but parking is difficult at many major attractions. Many people find taking the MRT and occasional Uber or taxi is sufficient.

For exploring Yangmingshan National Park , I recommend this private driver deal or this Beitou and Yangmingshan tour .

Here I introduce four free walking tours in Taipei . These are perfect if you’ve just arrived.

Many travelers take advantage of some high value day trip tours from Taipei . This one hits all the most popular stops, but there are variations like this one and this one .

How to Plan Your Taipei Itinerary

One day is too rushed to truly experience Taipei. If that’s really all you’ve got, visit Longshan Temple in the morning (Buddhist chanting takes place from 6-6:45 AM and 8-8:45 AM).

Next, head to Chian Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Ximending for lunch. Spend the afternoon at Dihua Street or Huashan 1914 Creative Park. See the sunset from Taipei 101 or Elephant Mountain then have dinner at a night market.

With two days in Taipei city, you can add Taipei Zoo and Maokong Gondola in the south or Beitou Hot Spring, Yangmingshan, and/or Tamsui in the north. Another option is to use your second day for a day trip from Taipei.

With three days in Taipei (my most recommended), spend two full days in the city and use the third day for a day trip.

You could easily spend four, five, or more days in Taipei and never run out of things to do, especially with all the day trip possibilities. I’ve lived there for over 10 years, and there are STILL places on my need-to-visit list.  

Where to Eat in Taipei

Beef noodles is perhaps the most iconic dish in Taipei. Find the best local beef noodle shops in Taipei here . Several of them are Michelin-rated.

Din Tai Fung is Taipei’s (and Taiwan’s) most famous restaurant chain. It specializes in xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). There are several branches, and all are very busy. You can’t reserve a table, but ordering your meal online will get you in a little faster.

Taipei is famous for its street food . Many visitors to Taipei eat every dinner at one of the city’s night markets . There are enough night markets that you could visit a different one every day for weeks and still have more to choose from.

Shilin Night Market is the largest and most famous. Raohe Night Market and Ningxia Night Market are tried-and-tested favorites, each with Michelin-recommended food stalls. Click the links to find out what to eat at each night market!

Tonghua (Linjiang Street) Night Market is close to Taipei 101, while Huaxi Street Night Market is rough around the edges and Nanjichang Night Market is the most local major night market.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, see my recommended vegetarian food stalls in each night market, my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Taipei , and my vegetarian & vegan food guide .

Several districts of Taipei are also known for their food. Ximending has lots of cool restaurants and some street food.

Yongkang Street is known for its excellent local restaurants, shaved ice, and traditional teahouses . Zhongxiao East Road area in Eastern Taipei has lots of BBQ, hot pot, and upscale restaurants.

For seafood lovers, the holy grail is Addiction Aquatic Development , a seafood market and upscale grocery store, with amazing take-away sushi, seafood and sushi bar, seafood hot pot, and outdoor grilled seafood restaurant.

There are some amazing food courts in Taipei – try Taipei Main Station (2F) or B1 of most department stores, including Taipei 101 Mall . Maji Square is an outdoor (but covered) food court at Yuanshan MRT station.

The b est traditional Taiwanese breakfast shops in the country can be found in Taipei. Read my guide to the best Taipei breakfast shops , my review of the most famous one, Fu Hang , and how to order breakfast foods in Taiwan .

Taipei has pretty much anything else you can think of – amazing sushi , fancy Michelin-star restaurants , noodle shops , Chinese restaurants , Taiwanese , hot pot , DIY BBQ , craft beer breweries , cocktail bars , and international food .

If you’re up late at night, check out these 24-hour restaurants , including breakfast shops, dim sum, and noodles.

Where to Go Shopping in Taipei

Wondering what to buy in Taipei? Start with my guide to the best souvenirs in Taiwan .

For shopping in Taipei, try Wufenpu Shopping District for discount clothing, Ximending for souvenirs and teenager clothing, Shida Night Market or the small lanes north and south of Zhongxiao East Road (try this street first ) for fashionable clothing and accessories,

For upscale shopping, try the boutiques along Zhongxiao East Road between Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT and Sun Yatsen MRT, Taipei 101 area, and departments stores like Taipei 101 Mall , Sogo , Shin Kong Mitsukoshi , Q Square , and Miramar .

For Taiwanese tea and traditional Chinese ingredients of medicines, Dihua Street in Dadaocheng is best. Read my guide to the best places to buy tea in the area . For electronics, go to Guang Hua Digital Plaza , or for camera gear, go to Camera Street .

For Taiwanese snack souvenirs, Taoyuan Airport and High Speed Rail stations have an excellent supply. For regular souvenirs, again the airport, Ximending, or the gift shops at Taipei 101 Observatory or National Palace Museum.

Also don’t miss the chain Don Don Donki for quirky Japanese items.

Taipei Events

The biggest traditional holidays of the year in Taipei are Lunar New Year (not the best time to visit), Lantern Festival (just after Lunar New Year), Dragon Boat Festival (June), and Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival (September/October). The dates are determined by the lunar calendar.

There are Christmas lights in locations throughout the city from late November to early January, but the biggest Christmas event is in New Taipei City (Christmasland in Banqiao).

New Year’s Eve (December 31) has an extremely popular fireworks display from Taipei 101, making it the busiest weekend of the year in Taipei. Here are the best places to watch the fireworks .

Late January to mid-March is cherry blossom season in Taipei and surrounding areas. You can also see tulips in February, roses and azaleas (the official Taipei city flower) in March, calla lilies and hydrangeas at Yangmingshan (March to April and May to June), and chrysanthemums in November to December.

For traditional (and usually very noisy) Taiwanese folk religion events, there’s the Baosheng Emperor’s Birthday (early spring), Xiahai City God’s Birthday (late spring), Ghost Festival (late summer), and Qingshan King’s Birthday (November).

Other Taipei events to watch for include Summer Festival (with fireworks) in Dadaocheng, Urban Nomad Film Festival , Taipei Fringe Festival , Nuit Blanche Taipei , Taipei Jazz Festival , Hakka Yi Min Festival , Pride Parade (Saturday closest to Halloween), and Taipei Marathon .

A Travel Guide to Chiayi, Gateway to Ali Mountain

Off-the-beaten track in taipei: 30+ unique sights & activities, 8 thoughts on “a travel guide to taipei, taiwan’s tantalizing capital”.

Hello there, I would like your advice my family of 3 thinking to visit Taiwan for a week in December would you please help me with a plans and where to stay. we thinking to flying Taipei on the Saturday from Ho chi Minh and leaving the following sat/sunday. I can drive but is it necessary to rent a car and drive? I am a Us citizen and also have US driver license as well. Again thankyou monique

Your US drivers license won’t help. You need an International Driver’s Permit to rent and drive a car in Taiwan. But renting a car here is really unnecessarily, and often slower or more burdensome than taking public transportation. In Taipei, the MRT is far more convenient for getting around. With only a week, you may only visit 1 or 2 other places outside of Taipei, such as Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and/or Alishan. Trains and buses are very convenient for reaching these places. Only rent a car if you’re planning to do more of a road trip, visiting more smaller spots along the way rather than quickly getting to the final destinations. Also note that December is the busiest month of the year for tourism in Taiwan, so hotel prices are higher, and many are already selling out, while long distance train tickets are also crucial to book.

Me and the rest of my family of 4 are visiting Taipei at end of the month for a 3 day trip. We have tours booked on the first 2 days but the last day is free. What is the best way to get around the city if we are just visiting a few niche locations and none of us speak the local language? Like would getting an Easy card be worth it for a single day or would it be better to just Uber directly to where we can to go (can we even use Uber since we are tourists and our country doesn’t have Uber)? Also how much cash should be on hand for a three day trip for meals and souvenirs?

Thank you, Ana

Each EasyCard costs TWD 100, which is a non-refundable deposit, plus any money you load onto it. So if you’re only using it for one day, that would be NTW 400 lost, which isn’t really worth it. (keep in mind kids under 6 ride free). You can also just pay for MRT rides individually with cash at the station. Taxis are available everywhere in Taipei, too, and take cash. As for Uber, it doesn’t matter what country you are in, you just download the app, connect it to your credit card, and it will work wherever you go. The good thing about Uber is that you don’t need to speak. You just pin where you want to go, and there will never be a misunderstanding. With taxi drivers, it is better to show them a name or address in Mandarin rather than try to say it, as you will most likely not pronounce it wrong and they will have no idea what you are saying. As for how much $$ to bring, I normally tell people to prepare TWD 1000 to 2000 per person per day for sightseeing, food, and transportation. TWD would be a cheaper day with more street food and free or cheaper attractions (you could spend as low as 500 if you only did free things and ate cheap food). 2000 would be a bigger day with a more expensive attraction (like Taipei 101 Observatory is 600), nicer restaurant meals and/or a longer train ride to another city and/or some souvenir shopping.

Hi, just checking, is it possible to go Sun Moon Lake from Ximending and Return within the day at night? Is hiring a driver recommended in this case?

Sure, it’s doable. Walk or take the MRT one stop to Taipei Main Station, ride the HSR to Taichung (1 hr), catch the bus from taichung HSR to SML (90 minutes). Same way to come back. The bus schedule is here: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/tour-sml.html

Hi, Me and my wife are going on our honeymoon to Taipei next week. I’ve been on a youth exchange to Taiwan for a year, but that was 15 years ago, so not quite sure anymore how to get to all my favorite places and if they are still worth visiting. One is Jiufen, do you have any advice how to get there using local buses, trains, etc.?

Jiufen is EXTREMELY popular nowadays. It is one of the most touristy places in Taiwan and it is absolutely packed every day of the week. I suggest you try to go around 10 AM when the shops are just opening and leave before noon, or visit around 6 PM when the shops are just closing and the lanterns come on. You can find all the transportation info in my Jiufen guide, which is here on my other website: https://www.nickkembel.com/jiufen-old-street-taiwan/?swcfpc=1

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Discover Taipei in 2024: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

The capital city of Taiwan, Taipei is a city that’s often overlooked by travellers touring the Asian region, but it’s one that definitely deserves a visit.

A haven for food, with many Night Markets packed with delicious food stalls, it also has unmissable attractions such as the iconic Taipei 101 , the staggering Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall , and the National Palace Museum , which contains the largest collection of ancient Chinese artefacts in the world.

The city of Taipei, where the main bulk of the attractions are, is just a few kilometres across, so you don’t need to travel far to experience most things. The fast and reliable MRT system also extends further to New Taipei City, so you can easily escape the confounds of the city centre to experience more rural parts.

The Taiwanese government have just introduced an incentive scheme to attract more tourists. They’re giving handouts of NT$5,000 ($165) to 500,000 tourists from May 2023. Click here to read my guide on the Lucky Land Giveaway

What are Taiwanese People Like?

Is english spoken in taiwan, how crowded is taipei, weather & air pollution, plugs in taiwan, visa requirements & quarantine, sim cards and network coverage, cash and credit cards.

• How Long to Stay in Taipei

Outside Taipei

• Where to Stay in Taipei

Attractions

Where to eat & drink in taipei, 1 day itineraries, shopping & tax rebate, general tips for taipei.

Taipei is the safest capital city I have ever visited. In the four years I’ve lived here, I’ve never encountered any trouble. The people here are generally warm, friendly and helpful.

Even though Taiwan’s population are mainly of Chinese ethnicity, they actually bear a closer resemblance to their neighbour Japan. Much like the Japanese, many Taiwanese people are reserved and courteous, and will go out of their way to help you.

Chinese is the most widely spoken language in Taiwan, although the further south you go, they’ll tend to speak more Taiwanese.

English is taught in most schools, and there are many cram schools dedicated to teaching English. The younger population have a better grasp of English than the older generation.

Local restaurants and shops will often not speak much English but larger shops and restaurant chains will usually be able to understand English.

Almost all signs are translated to English however, and their underground system (MRT) is all translated, as are the announcements on the MRT and buses.

If you do not speak Mandarin Chinese, it may be helpful to bring a phrasebook or download a translation app to help you communicate during your visit to Taiwan. You could also try some guided tours to some of Taipei’s top attractions and night markets.

Taipei has a population of around 2.7 million people.

It’s a busy city, especially during commuting times and on weekends but it doesn’t get nearly as crowded as places such as Hong Kong.

Taipei Main Station gets especially busy during peak times, so expect to queue for trains here, and expect to be crammed into carriages.

There are many parks and other more peaceful areas you can use to escape from the busy streets.

December to March

The coldest time of year, this period is also the driest. When the sun is out, the temperature is actually very pleasant (mid 20s Celsius) but when it rains the temperature can drop to single figures. This is the best time to visit if you want to avoid rain but don’t mind being chilly some days.

April to May / October to November

Spring and Autumn periods can vary from very hot to quite chilly. One day you’ll find it quite humid, while other days you’ll need a jumper or coat. If you can’t bear the intense heat of the summer, these months are probably your best bet as they can be very nice. You can also expect extended periods of rain.

June to September

Being in a subtropical climate , Taipei can get very hot and humid in the summer, with temperatures in the low 40s not out of the question. There can also be spells of rain lasting days.

There’s also a risk of typhoons , with generally 5 or 6 each year. The eye of the storm will pass in a few hours, but during this time you’ll be stranded in your hotel, and most places will close down for a day or sometimes two days.

If it is raining, I have a post on places you can visit .

Air Pollution

For a capital city, the pollution in Taipei isn’t too bad.

My girlfriend is generally very sensitive to high levels of pollution, and suffers in Hong Kong. In Taipei however, she is fine, and the air never looks or smells bad.

Taiwan uses the same plug sockets as the US and Canada: 110V, 60Hz AC.

If you are travelling from Europe, Australia or Southeast Asia, you’ll need to bring or buy an adaptor.

The following plugs are used:

You’ll only need an adaptor for Type A, as these will also fit into Type B (but not the other way round).

As of October 2022, Taiwan ended mandatory quarantines, although you will be required to self-monitor for 7 days. You also do not need to be vaccinated to enter the country.

These rules may be different for people travelling from Mainland China however.

The following countries will get 90 days stay in Taiwan visa free.

The following countries will get 30 days stay in Taiwan visa free.

Holders of normal passports issued by the following countries do not need a visa to visit Taiwan for less than 14 days . They must hold proof of funds and hotel reservation or contact information in Taiwan.

For other countries, visit the Wikipedia Visa page for Taiwan .

You’ll need to complete an arrival form before you go through the security check. You should be given one during your incoming flight but forms are available at the airport.

If you leave and re-enter Taiwan, your visa will start again from scratch, so you’ll get 90/30/14 more days if coming from the above countries.

Just like with most countries, your passport must have at least 6 months before it expires, and you will need proof of an outbound flight from Taiwan.

Taipei has very good network coverage and has very fast connection speeds .

Your best option is to purchase a pre-paid SIM card directly from either airport. There are deals in the city but they’re generally not as good and harder to find.

Taiwan has four network operators, with Chungwha Telecom having the best coverage in more rural areas, although all networks are fine for Taipei.

See my Pre-paid SIM Card page for a full comparison of all SIM Cards in Taipei.

You’ll need to purchase some local currency, the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$100 is approximately USD$3.23).

If you’re unable to obtain some prior to your trip, you can get some at either airport, although like most airports, you’ll end up paying slightly more. Alternatively, you can exchange money from one of the many Bank of Taiwan branches (note that banks in Taipei generally close at 15:30 ) for a more favourable rate.

Credit cards are accepted at malls and larger restaurants, but local places (and night markets) will require cash.

There are many cash machines around the city and in most convenience stores.

The cost of living in Taipei isn’t too expensive for a capital city (much cheaper than Hong Kong and Singapore), and you’ll be expected to spend between NT$3,000 – NT$5,000 per person, including mid-range accommodation, per day.

Of course this is largely dependent on how much you are prepared to splash out.

Eating at night markets, local restaurants or within the food courts found in shopping malls will generally be much cheaper than eating out in mid-range restaurants. You can easily feed 2 people at local places for under NT$250 (US$9), whereas a decent restaurant meal will likely set you back at least 3 or 4 times more.

Public transportation is very cheap, with the MRT and buses costing around NT$20 – NT$30 per trip.

If you are frugal or have a small budget for your trip, I have a post with many cheap or free things to do .

How Long to Stay

If you just intend a quick visit to see the main attractions, then 3 or 4 days would be ample.

If you can afford more time, and maybe incorporate a day trip or two , then 1 week would be enough but there’s plenty to see here for a much longer stay.

Transport Options

I would strongly recommend getting an EasyCard before you travel anywhere in Taipei. It can be used on all types of public transportation, including the Airport Express, and offers a 20% discount on all MRT travel.

Click here to read more about the EasyCard

An excellent alternative to the EasyCard is the Taipei Fun Pass . This comes in four variations, some of which will give you free use of all public transportation in Taipei, along with free entry to many top attractions!

Click here to read more about the Taipei Fun Pass

Two airports serve Taipei:

• Taoyuan Airport
• Songshan Airport

The main airport, Taoyuan , is located a few miles west of the city centre, but both terminals are connected via the Airport Express to Taipei Main Station.

The Airport Express is the quickest way to travel between Taoyuan Airport and Taipei Main Station, with trains running   every 15 minutes, taking approximately 36 minutes to travel in either direction.

The second smaller airport, Songshan is much closer to the city centre. It is connected to the underground MRT system and takes only 10 minutes to reach the city (20 minutes to Taipei Main Station).

Please visit my Public Transportation section for a comprehensive guide.

Taipei has a few options for getting around, including:

• MRT (underground system)
• Sightseeing Buses

The best way to get around Taipei is to use the MRT system , which is efficient and convenient, with trains running frequently and serving a wide area, although this can get busy during peaks periods.

City Buses are a good second choice, and you may need to use these to visit attractions such as the National Palace Museum which is not located near an MRT station.

There are many Taxis found in Taipei, and Uber can now also be used. Taxi fares are NT$70 for the first 1.25km, with every additional 200m charged at NT$5. The fares will rise during late nights/early mornings.

There are hundreds of YouBike stations located around the city if you’re feeling more energetic. This is a bike rental scheme set up by the government to help reduce traffic congestion and encourage people to get fit. They’re easy to use, although you’ll require a Taiwanese phone number and an EasyCard to rent one.

There are also many Sightseeing Buses that will take you to many of Taipei’s top attractions are bustling areas. This has two routes, one which circles around central Taipei, with the other route traveling to the Shilin where the National Palace Museum is situated, along with the largest night market in Taiwan .

If you desire to travel outside of Taipei, maybe to see another city or to see the beautiful scenic areas in Taiwan, you have a few options.

Firstly, the MRT system does extend to Xinbeitou and Danshui . Both of these beautiful districts are a few miles north of Taipei and are worth visiting -Xinbeitou for it’s hot springs and Danshui for it’s beautiful riverside walk and sunset.

If you want to travel to another city down the west coast, the quickest and most convenient way to do so is by the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR).

The THSR travels to every major city on the west side of Taiwan all the way down to Kaohsiung in under 100 minutes. There are also some great offers for tourists holding non-Taiwanese passports. Please visit my full guide for further details .

Taipei also has a number of Tourist Shuttle Buses which travel from various locations in Taipei. These visit beautiful areas such as Yangmingshan National Park, Juifen and other scenic townships and areas of natural beauty including waterfalls and hot springs.

See my Taipei Fun Pass post for more details.

Where to Stay

There are several areas in Taipei that are popular with tourists and expats, each with its own distinct character and amenities.

Some of the best areas to stay in Taipei include:

• Xinyi District : This is the modern business and financial hub of Taipei, home to the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. The area is known for its shopping, dining, and nightlife, as well as its convenient location near many of the city’s major landmarks. Many of the best hotels in Taipei are found within this district.
• Zhongzheng District : This is the historical and cultural centre of Taipei, home to many of the city’s temples and museums. The area is more laid back and residential than Xinyi, but still has plenty of restaurants and shops, while there is some nice cheap accommodation here, including many hostels found close to Taipei Main Station. It’s the best place to stay for connectivity to other areas.
• Daan District : This is a trendy and upscale area known for its fashionable boutiques and cafes. It is also home to several universities, so the area has a youthful and energetic vibe. There are some excellent boutique hotels in this district, and great connection to other areas in Taipei.
• Songshan District : This is a more traditional and residential area, known for its relaxed atmosphere and local markets. It is home to the Raohe Street Night Market , one of the oldest and most popular night markets in Taipei. Transportations options are more limited in this district however.
• Wanhua District : Home to the Ximending shopping are a, which is known for its street food, shopping, and nightlife. Wanhua District is a lively and vibrant part of Taipei with a rich history and culture. Ximending is also a very popular destination for the younger generation and the LGBT community.
• Beitou District : If you would prefer to stay in a more rural setting, I would recommend staying in Beitou for a night, as the region has many hotels with natural hot springs to relax in.

For a deep-dive into the best areas and hotels to stay in during your trip, I have a post to help you out .

Ultimately, the best area to stay in Taipei will depend on your personal preferences and the purpose of your trip. If you want to be in the heart of the action, Xinyi, Wanhua or Daan might be the best choice. If you prefer a more laid-back atmosphere, Songshan or Beitou might be better options.

Which Places to Visit in Taipei

Taipei is a city with many attractions, both cultural and modern. Here are a few places you might want to visit during your trip:

• National Palace Museum : This museum is home to a vast collection of Chinese art and artefacts, including ceramics, jade, and bronze. It is one of the most visited museums in Taiwan and a must-see for anyone interested in Chinese history and culture.
• Taipei 101 : This beautiful skyscraper was once the tallest building in the world and remains an iconic symbol of the city. You can go to the observation deck for panoramic views of Taipei, or visit the mall at the base of the building for shopping and dining.
• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall : This is a national monument and popular tourist destination in Taipei, dedicated to the former President of the Republic of China. The hall features a large bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek, as well as an exhibition on the history of the Republic of China.
• Shilin Night Market : This is the largest and most popular night market in Taipei, known for its food stalls and shopping. You can find all kinds of street food and snacks here, as well as clothes, electronics, and other goods.
• Temples: Taipei has dozens of temples located all over the city. Longshan Temple is one of the oldest and most beautiful, while Hsing Tian Kong Temple is one of the most sacred temples in Taiwan.
• Creative Parks: There are 2 really cool creative parks in Taipei, with gift shops, cafes, independent cinemas and usually a few exhibitions showcasing art or design. Both Huashan 1914 Creative Park and the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park are worthy of a visit.
• Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola: Taipei Zoo is one of the best zoos in Asia, while the Maokong Gondola is a fantastic cable car ride into the mountains. One of the stations for the gondola is inside the zoo.
• Hiking: Taipei is surrounded by mountains to north and east, including Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain, both of which offer fantastic views of the city including Taipei 101

You will find many attractions are closed on Mondays , including some Museums and Art Galleries , some enclosures at Taipei Zoo , and the Maokong Gondola is closed for maintenance, while many restaurants will also be closed during Monday.

Please read my Essentials Guide , for a list of all the must-see attractions. If your stay is longer, you can also see my Top Picks to go alongside the essential attractions.

If you intend on visiting many of Taipei’s attractions, I would recommend purchasing a Taipei Fun Pass . This will get you free entry to many top attractions including Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum, plus many more museums, art galleries and other attractions such as Taipei Zoo.

Click here to read my comprehensive guide on the Taipei Fun Pass

I would recommend visiting these areas, found within central Taipei and to the north:

• Ximending Youth Shopping District : One of the most vibrant areas in Taipei, this largely pedestrianised area is packed with food stalls, restaurants, bars, street art and performers.
• Xinyi Shopping District : With 14 shopping malls, this pedestrianised, modern urban area is awash with fine restaurants and has some great nightclubs. Taipei 101 is also found here.
• Yongkang Street : Recently voted the 4th coolest street in the world, this is a great place to try some bubble tea or shaved ice dishes, and perfect for gift shopping. The original Din Tai Fung is also located here.
• Taipei East District: Has an abundance is cool shops, bars, cafes and restaurants found nowhere else in Taipei
• Beitou Hot Springs : Taipei is home to several hot springs, and Beitou is the most famous and easily accessible by the MRT. You can visit one of the public baths or enjoy a relaxing soak at a private bathhouse.
• Danshui Riverside : Another area in the northern part of New Taipei City, Danshui has a nice riverside walk with many cafes, restaurants and attractions including Fort San Domingo . You can also witness a stunning sunset here.

For a in-depth look at every district and the best places to visit in each, I have created a guide to help you out .

Alternatively, try one of my routes , taking you around places of interest in and around the Taipei area.

If you want to travel outside of the city for a few hours, there are some great day trips I would recommend,

Night Markets are your best bet to experience some traditional food and snacks.

While Shilin Night Market is the largest and has the most variety of food stalls, Raohe Night Market is arguably the best for food. If you prefer to visit a less touristic night market, then Linjiang Street Night Market has a lot to offer in terms of food.

If you want to experience some Michelin recognised food at night markets, I have a post which will help you find the locations of all of these at every night market .

To experience slightly more refined Taiwanese food, then the very popular Din Tai Fung should definitely be on your list. This world-renowned chain of restaurants originated in Taipei and is best known for its xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). You can find branches all over the city, although finding a table is sometimes difficult since Din Tai Fung do not have a table reservation service.

Read my post to find out the best way to skip the queues here

For a traditional Taiwanese breakfast, I would recommend Fu Hang Soy Milk . This local breakfast spot is known for its fresh soy milk and savoury fried dough sticks. The restaurant is always busy, but it’s worth the wait for a taste of these Taiwanese favourites. If you can’t face queuing an hour for breakfast, then Yong He Soy Milk King is a great alternative.

If you prefer a slightly fancier brunch, there are some nice brunch spots found around the city, including the very delicious (but very popular) Antipodean Specialty Coffee . For lunchtime, I have created a post with a few options including food courts found in malls, which are a nice option if you’re on a budget.

I would also recommend trying some beef noodle and braised pork rice dishes, both of which are very popular in Taiwan. Yong Kong Beef Noodles and Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice are the most famous and best in the city.

If you’re a lover of seafood, then you should check out Addiction Aquatic Development . Taipei’s largest fish market also doubles as a fantastic dining experience, with many seafood restaurants and a large grill area where you can pick your own seafood, meat and vegetables.

Vegetarians are well catered for in Taipei. Aside from the night markets, there are some excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants .

I sometimes find that I need some respite from all the fried foods on offer, but luckily there are some nice healthier options .

Please visit the Eat pages for a full list of my favourite places to eat in Taipei.

There are hundreds of tea shops selling a large variety or hot and chilled teas, including bubble tea, the city’s most famous drink, which is made with sweetened tea, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls.

Taipei is home to a thriving cafe culture , offering a wide range of options for coffee lovers and casual drinkers alike. From traditional tea houses to modern, hipster-style cafes, there’s something for everyone in Taipei’s cafe scene.

Visitors can enjoy a traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony in a cosy tea house, complete with beautiful teapots, intricate tea sets, and an array of teas to choose from. For coffee aficionados, Taipei has plenty of options, from independent cafes to international chains, all serving up high-quality coffee and espresso drinks. If you’re on a tight budget, there are some nice cheap cafes selling espresso-based coffees for under NT$50.

If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, Taipei’s night markets offer an array of traditional Taiwanese liquor, such as rice wine and herbal liqueurs, made from ingredients like ginseng and goji berries.

There are also some great bars in Taipei, including expat bars with some nice happy hour deals , or you could try some of Taipei’s homegrown craft ales , or cocktails bars such as the popular Woo Taipei and the speakeasy Hanko 60 .

Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of the day:

Click here to read more about these itineraries

• SHOPPERS: Walk around the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, see some exhibitions at the Songshan Creative Park, walk through the huge Xinyi Shopping District and end with Taipei 101
• FAMILY: Spend the day at Taipei Zoo and take the Maokong Gondola to Maokong
• KNOWLEDGE: Go on a city guided tour, visiting historical areas, cultural landmarks or try some local cuisine
• WEEKENDS: Visit the Flower & Jade Markets, walk through Daan Park, visit the cool Yongkang Street, see the magnificent Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall
• HASSLE-FREE: Take the Sightseeing Bus around central Taipei and on the following day visit the National Palace Museum and Shilin Night Market
• HOT SPRINGS and SUNSET: Visit the beautiful districts of Xinbeitou and Danshui, taking in the hot springs and sunset
• ADVENTURE: Take a day trip to one of the many beautiful scenic areas and townships within 90 minutes of Taipei
• KIDS: Visit the Astronomical Museum, Science Education Center, Amusement Park and Shilin Night Market, all located in the same vicinity

Taipei has more shopping malls than any other city I’ve ever been to. There are dozens scattered throughout the city, especially in the Xinyi district, where you’ll find no less than 14 malls . I’ve compiled a list of all the best shopping malls in Taipei to help you decide.

Aside from malls, there are some other great areas for shopping, whether it’s clothes, bargains, tech or gifts you’re after, these are all the places I recommend visiting .

If you spend over NT$2,000 on shopping from designated places including most shopping malls, you are eligible for a 5% VAT tax rebate.

Click here for my full guide on VAT tax refunds

There are three items you should probably never be without.

• Mosquito Spray

Even when it isn’t raining, the Sun’s rays can often be too much to bear and you can easily be caught out by a sudden rain shower out of nowhere.

Taipei isn’t short on Mosquitoes, even during the winter months, so Mosquito Spray is essential!

An Easycard is incredibly useful to get around, and can even be used to purchase goods from many shops.

If you are going to spend the day shopping, I would also recommend you take your passport with you, as you’ll need this if you want to take advantage of the VAT refund scheme.

During the summer months, you’ll also need sunscreen (and sunglasses)!

If you have found the information on this page helpful, please take a minute to share this post. Your support would be greatly appreciated :)

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, taipei itinerary: complete travel guide and things to do in taipei.

I’ve been lucky to have visited Taipei multiple times in the past decade. In total, I’ve visited Taipei three times: Once when I was a newbie traveler in 2011, then once more in 2018 when I got to go on a delicious self-imposed food marathon , and then most recently after COVID restrictions were lifted in 2023.

From the fact that I kept coming back, you could tell that I really enjoyed my time in Taipei. After all.. what’s not to like? The city is easy to travel in, you can find affordable and delicious food anywhere , and the people are friendly and polite.

Taiwan is definitely one of my favorite countries to visit, so I’m here to impart my knowledge to make your trip to Taipei easier! Here are a few topics we will cover in this post:

Taipei Travel Tips for First-time Visitors

How many days should i spend in taipei, when is the best time to visit taipei, how to get to taipei city from the airport, how to get around taipei, where to stay in taipei, what to eat in taipei.

• Taipei Itinerary Example

What to do in Taipei

• Recommended trips from Taipei

One of the reasons why I kept coming back is because Taipei is a very safe and tourist-friendly city. I saw it as a combination of Japan, Shanghai, and Singapore. When you don’t have to worry about safety, things are cool and dandy. I was not concerned to go around by myself, even as a solo female traveler.

Here are some tips that would make your trip even easier:

1. Buy a prepaid SIM Card – I cannot stress how important it is to have an internet connection during your visit to Taiwan, especially if you don’t speak the language. With an internet connection, you can easily find directions, research on the go, and translate what you need to say into the local language.

Pick up SIM card at the airport: You can get your prepaid SIM card here and pick it up when you are at the airport in Taiwan. The pickup counter is located right where you exit the immigration section.

PS: I find that the validity of the SIM card excludes the day of activation. For example, I bought a 5-day SIM card – I landed on April 19 in the afternoon and activated the SIM card right away, and the SIM card worked until April 24 at 23:59.

2. Buy an EasyCard – EasyCard is the transport card used across Taiwan. It works on the local trains as well as buses. You’ll definitely want to get the card so that you can use public transport easily while you’re in Taiwan.

Pick up EasyCard at the airport: You can get your EasyCard here and pick it up when you are at the airport in Taiwan.

I recommend preloading it with around NT$ 400, depending on how long you’re going to be in Taiwan. A train/bus ride usually costs NT$ 15-18 per way and the airport MRT costs NT$ 160 one way. Don’t worry about putting in too much money – you can refund the balance of the EasyCard later at the end of the trip, minus NT$ 100 for the cost of the card.

3. Buy Taipei attractions tickets via Klook – During my time in Taiwan, I bought almost all ticket attractions from Klook. It was super easy as Klook provides direct entry for many attractions, meaning you don’t need to redeem another ticket – simply show the QR code from your phone!

What is Klook? Klook is the leading travel and experiences booking website in Asia. And yes, they are legit! I personally always book my activities through them whenever I am traveling. See my review of Klook here .

4. Download Google Maps – This is my tip for pretty much every destination. Pre-download Google Maps so that you can use it when you don’t have the internet on your phone. Not only that, it will help you keep your data usage down! Here is how to download maps offline .

5. Download the traditional Chinese language pack from Google Translate – Taiwan uses traditional Chinese, so download the traditional Chinese language pack from Google Translate! You can then use this to take a picture of any text you need to be translated and Google will provide a translation for it. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it’s better than nothing.

6. Download Uber App – Uber owns this city. From food delivery to ride-sharing, you can get it easily via Uber. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain what Uber is to you, just make sure you have the app downloaded on your phone. I find that the Uber rate in this city is very reasonable, and might be cheaper than taxis.

7. Luggage storage at the train station – If you need to check out of your accommodation and your flight is not til night time, there are plenty of lockers at the station, especially major stations like Taipei Main Station. Also, don’t be deceived by the size of the locker from the outside – each locker can fit a lot! We managed to fit 2 of our carry-on luggage and 3 backpacks inside. Just make sure you remember which lockers you’ve put your stuff into because the main station is huge and you don’t want to lose your luggage later on.

8. Monitor the weather – If you happen to visit during rainy or colder months, you can monitor the weather forecast here or see the rain weather radar here . That said, on my recent visit it was forecasted to rain a lot, but in the end, it only rained on the first day. I also find that the rain is not too bad – usually just a drizzle.

9. Go on a free walking tour in Taipei – This is a great way to get yourself familiarized with Taipei, while learning the history and culture of Taipei. The tour is free, but tips are encouraged!

If this is your first time visiting Taipei and you want to see most of the must-do things, I recommend spending at least 2 days in Taipei, maybe 3 days if you want to take things slow or if you want to take day trips outside of Taipei.

I would recommend visiting Taipei from March to April when the weather is still somewhat cooler and there is not much rain. Starting from mid-May , it might get hot and a little bit rainy in Taiwan. There is also a possibility of typhoons in the region around September or October . November to December might also be a good time to visit when it’s not yet too cold.

I have personally visited Taiwan in April, May, and November. Out of those times, I feel April was the best for me. In April, the weather in Taipei is still cool, but not too cold. There could be some rain but in my experience, it was only minimal rain – barely a drizzle!

Getting to Taipei City, where you’d likely be staying, is easy from the Taoyuan Airport. Here are some ways you can get there:

1. Take the Airport MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) from Taoyuan Airport

Taking the MRT to Taipei City is easy from Taoyuan International Airport. From Terminal 1 or 2, once you’ve exited the immigration area, just look for the sign that says “MRT”. The train will take you to Taipei Main Station, and from there you can resume your journey via the Taipei Metro train to the closest station to your destination.

The MRT journey from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station will cost NT$ 160 , while the metro will cost NT$ 15-18 per ride.

Use Easy Card : All of the train journeys, including the airport MRT, can be paid for by just tapping the EasyCard at the gantry, which is why I recommend buying the EasyCard and pick up at the airport !

When taking the MRT from Taoyuan Airport, make sure you take the express train and not the commuter train! It will save you about 15 minutes because there are fewer stops on the express train. You can check the train schedule on Google Maps.

2. Private Car from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City

If you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, you might want to book your own private car to take you from the airport .

A quick search seems to say this is cheaper or comparable to taking Uber or Taxi. It costed us NT$ 1,200 to take Uber to our hotel in the Zhongxiao Fuxing / Da’an area, but only NT$ 1,080 using the link above to the same destination.

3. Take an Uber or Yellow Taxi

If all else fails, Taxi and Uber are plenty in Taipei. For a quick price reference, it cost us NT$ 1,200 to take Uber to our hotel in the Zhongxiao Fuxing / Da’an area from the Taoyuan International Airport.

As I said before, Taipei is a tourist-friendly city. And part of the reason why that’s so is because it’s easy to get around in Taipei! Here are your options:

By Train (Taipei Metro) – This is my favorite option to explore Taipei. Taking the train is the most convenient method: it’s safe, clean, and most of the instructions will be in English. The train comes every 5 minutes and there are plenty of stations close to most tourist attractions. A ride on the train costs NT$ 15-18 per ride.

By Bus – The bus in Taipei is not a terrible way to travel. Most bus stops in Taipei will even have a display sign that tells you when the next bus will arrive. However, the frequency of the bus is way less than the train. Some buses might even only come once every 30 minutes. A ride on the bus costs NT$ 15-18 per ride.

Ride-sharing via Uber – I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain what Uber is to you. I find that the Uber rate in this city is very reasonable. I took Uber many times when I was in Taipei when I didn’t feel like walking or dealing with public transport.

Yellow Taxi – The yellow taxi can be easily hailed in the city and other touristy spots. They are a good alternative if you don’t want to use Uber.

Any location close to a metro station would be good, but I would recommend staying near the following stations specifically:

• Taipei Main Station – This will be convenient if you plan to travel to other parts of Taiwan that might require inter-city travel by train. Most of the journey will begin at Taipei Main Station. It’s also close to other locations like Ximending and Zhongshan station.
• Ximen Station / Ximending – This area is great for shopping with tons of food nearby. It’s fairly close to Taipei Main Station.
• Zhongxiao Fuxing station – on the blue and brown line, easy to reach from Taipei Main Station and takes you from central to west or east (Sun Yat Sen memorial hall) easily. Zhongxiao Fuxing is a convenient area with lots of shops and restaurants.
• Da’an station – on the red and brown line, easy to reach from Taipei Main Station and takes you from central to west or east (Taipei 101) easily. The Da’an area is very nice and quiet but still has a lot of eateries around.

Here are some of my recommended hotels:

• Kimpton Da An Hotel – Located within a few minutes walk to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. One of the most convenient locations in the city!
• Star Hostel Taipei Main Station – If you’re looking for a budget dorm near the main station, this is it! The hostel is clean and modern. Their amenities are very nice and the staff speaks English. They also give you a good breakfast for free with each stay. Towels can be rented for NT$ 30. The location is only a 5-minute walk from Taipei Main Station (Y13 exit). A stay at one of the 6-bed female dorms cost me only NT$ 936.

• Hotel Howard Plaza Taipei – This is an older hotel located strategically between Zhongxiao Fuxing and Da’an station. Even though the hotel is a bit dated, their rooms are very spacious. There are tons of buses that stop directly outside of the hotel, and you have the option to walk 7-8 minutes to either Zhongxiao Fuxing or Da’an station.

If you like good food, you’ll be very pleased with your time in Taipei. There is so much delicious food to be had in Taipei, that I’ve dedicated a separate post for food in Taipei.

What to eat in Taipei: For more ideas on what to eat in Taipei, check out my must-eats in Taipei !

3-Day Taipei Itinerary Example

To make your trip more efficient, here are my recommended way to group the spots to see in Taipei so that you don’t have to travel back and forth. You don’t need to do them in the exact same order as below, just take note of the grouping!

Day 1: West Taipei

• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
• Walk around Zhongshan District
• Ximending in the afternoon or nighttime
• Ningxia Night Market for dinner

Day 2: East Taipei

Songshan cultural and creative park.

• National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
• Taipei 101 Observatory
• Elephant Mountain trek
• Raohe Night Market

Day 3: Central Taipei and everything else

• National Palace Museum

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

• Shida Night Market or Shilin Night Market

Day 4: Trips outside of Taipei

There are plenty of quick day trips or short 1-2 day trips you can do from Taipei. I’ll elaborate more in the “ Recommended trips from Taipei ” section below. If this is your first time in Taiwan, I recommend visiting Jiufen for a quick half-day trip!

Taipei is a large metropolitan city, and there are lots to do here! In no particular order, here are some things you can do when you’re in the city.

1. Taipei 101 Observatory

As the name suggests, this building stands at 101 floors. It is currently the tallest building in Taiwan. At the time of its completion in 2004, Taipei 101 was even the tallest building in the world, standing at 508m, until Burj Khalifa in Dubai took the throne five years later.

Entry to Taipei 101 is timed, so I definitely recommend pre-booking Taipei 101 tickets online via Klook to guarantee entry at the time you want. Plus, it could be cheaper via Klook sometimes!

The regular ticket gets you access to the observatory on the 88th and 89th floors. There are some photo props up there you’d want to take photos with, but the most exciting part for me is that you’ll get to see the tuned mass damper . This is the technology that is responsible for the stability of Taipei 101 during the event of a strong wind or earthquake.

The mass damper is stationary most of the time (and really, you would want it to be stationary while you’re up there) but you will be able to see a video of it in action during the 2015 earthquake, as well as scientific explanations on how and why it works. Super cool!

You can buy an extra ticket that lets you go up to the 101st floor, but as someone who has been there before… I think just visiting the 88th and 89th floors will be enough. The 101st floor is definitely more quiet, so it could be a good option if you’re after some exclusivity, but it is a lot smaller than the observatory and the view is more or less the same as the 88th and 89th floor.

➡️ Pre-book your Taipei 101 ticket here to ensure you can go at the time slot you want!

2. Stroll around Ximending

Ximending is a popular shopping and eating district in the eastern part of Taipei. The concept is similar to a night market, but the shops are located in indoor shophouses inside a building. The area is for pedestrians only, and closed to all cars, making it really easy to walk around in. If you’ve been to Seoul – it’s kind of like the Myeongdong area.

Ximending is a lot more alive on weekends and at night. So if you’re looking for that hustle-bustle atmosphere, consider visiting it on a Saturday or Sunday night. Even if you’re not into shopping, it’s fun to visit so that you can people-watch or see the street performers.

To get to Ximending, take the blue or green metro line to Ximen station , and take Exit 1 or 6. This will drop you to the crossing where you can start your journey into Ximending.

Don’t miss the rainbow street at the entrance for a really cool photo op! This street is right off Exit 6 of Ximen station.

3. Eat your heart out at the night markets

Taiwan Night markets are, to put it in one word, AMAZING! They are the ultimate definition of what a night market should be: bustling atmosphere, great shopping, and most importantly:  a large variety of street food with an affordable price tag!

The most popular night in Taipei food markets are:

• Shilin Night Market  – Shilin needs no introduction. This is Taiwan’s biggest and most popular night market. For most tourists, this is the ultimate night market since it has both: food and shopping!
• Shida Night Market  – I would say Shida is more about fashion than food. I was told this is where Taiwanese students go to find cheap yet fashionable and good-quality clothes. Most of the styles I found were inspired by Korean fashion, which is all the rage across Asia these days. I found some cute earrings for a reasonable price here. That said, you can still find solid food options at Shida too, such as Shi Yun fried chicken and Hsu Ji Shen Jiang Bao.
• Raohe Night Market  – Raohe spans across a narrow street called Raohe Street. While the two rows of temporary stalls in the middle of the street consist mostly of snacky street food and drinks, you can find some night market goodies in the shophouses that line up the street. This night market is very popular so expect it to be very crowded over weekends and peak tourist seasons . My favorite food here is the Fuzhou pepper bun.

If you prefer smaller markets that aren’t as crowded, you can try these markets:

• Ningxia Night Market  – In comparison to the other night markets, Ningxia is very small. However, I think they’re great to visit, especially if you are trying to avoid crowds. They still have at least one stall for each famous night market meal. My favorite here is the peanut ice cream stall.
• Nanjichang Night Market  – I have not been to Nanjichang, but I expect it to be similar to Ningxia Market, where it’s slightly smaller and more subdued compared to other markets.

Except for Nanjichang, I have been to all of the above markets. Shida and Ningxia are probably my favorites, simply because I get overwhelmed easily and those markets were on the quieter side. Shilin and Raohe were too big and too crowded for me with way too many options. However, Ningxia and Shida might be too quiet if you’re looking for a bustling night market vibe.

4. Visit Taipei’s Creative Parks

A “creative park” is a concept that exists all over Taiwan. It’s a place designated for modern arts and culture. At these creative parks, you can usually find shops with products made by local designers, art exhibitions, trendy coffeehouses or restaurants, and a space where people can hang out or for live performances. Furthermore, the creative parks in Taiwan are usually located in abandoned old buildings from the Japanese colonial era that have been renovated and repurposed to their current state.

Creative parks are great to visit on Saturday or Sunday, especially if you’re visiting during Spring time in April or May. There might even be some live music, open-air markets, and other activities.

Here are the creative parks you can visit in Taipei:

A former sake factory during Japanese colonial time, located in the center of Taipei. My favorite brand here is Wooderful Life , where they sell kids’ toys and everyday goods all made from wood.

A former tobacco factory in the 1930s. There are plenty of locally-made accessories, clothes, and everyday goods. On the other wing, you can find the Taiwan Design Museum and library space.

16 Creative Boutique

Located at The Red House in Ximending, a former public market, bookstore, cinema, and most recently a theatre. This boutique is much smaller than the creative parks, but it houses similar brands as the two creative parks mentioned above.

5. National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is located in the northern part of Taipei, in Shilin. It’s a bit out of the way from everything else, but it’s worth a visit. The museum houses thousands of Chinese artifacts from the mainland.

You can buy tickets to the museum here via Klook . The museum is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.

One of the most notable items on exhibit at the National Palace Museum is the Jadeite cabbage , a piece of green and white jade that has been carved into the shape of a very realistic miniature of a cabbage. If you go to the museum to see this item, you might find a line of people waiting for their turn to view the jadeite cabbage up close.

However, my personal favorite is actually the item behind it, the meat-shaped stone , which is a piece of jasper stone that has been carved into the shape of a very realistic braised pork belly. Yes, you’ve got to see it to believe it.

6. Hike up Elephant Peak

The hike to Elephant Peak is very close to the city and can be done easily. It involves a 1.5 km set of stairs and takes only about 20 minutes to complete. I recommend doing this in the late afternoon, almost at sunset time when the weather is good and visibility is fair.

Because the Elephant Peak trail is a very popular and easily accessible trail, don’t expect to be the only one here! In fact, when I was there it was very crowded at the peak.

To get here, take the train to Xiangshan station and take Exit 3. From there, the start of the trail is easy to find by just following the Google Maps instructions.

7. Sip on world-famous coffee at Simple Kaffa

If you’re a fan of coffee, you must stop by Simple Kaffa. They first rose to prominence when the owner of the cafe, Berg Wu, won the 2016 World Barista Championship.

Simple Kaffa has a few branches around Taipei:

• Simple Kaffa Flagship near Huashan 1914 Creative Park
• Simple Kaffa Sola on the 88th floor of Taipei 101 (Requires reservations and has a minimum spend)
• Simple Kaffa Super Kiosk on Jinshan Rd
• Simple Kaffa The Coffee One on Jinshan Rd
• Simple Kaffa at Taoyuan T2 Terminal Public Area

The one I would recommend visiting is the Simple Kaffa Flagship store, because of its convenient location. Getting a takeaway coffee is pretty easy – but if you’re thinking of getting a table here, be prepared to wait! The good thing is, you can put your name down and then walk around Huashan 1914 Creative Park nearby!

You can also purchase some beans here to take home for about NT$ 450-500. They’ll provide an instruction card on how to enjoy the beans (best enjoyed 10 days after the date printed on the bag, to let the coffee beans age), as well as give you a sticker to cover the slits on the bean bags if you are planning to take it on a flight.

8. Go on a food marathon!

A visit to Taipei is not complete unless you eat until you’re full. There is so much good food in Taipei, that I’ve dedicated a separate post for food in Taipei.

What to eat in Taipei : For ideas on what to eat in Taipei, check out my must-eats in Taipei !

Recommended short trips from Taipei

With Taipei being the capital city of Taiwan, it’s really easy to travel in and out to the rest of Taiwan. Below are some ideas for trips that you can do easily from Taipei:

1. Jiufen (Day trip)

Jiufen is famous due to its similarity to the village in Spirited Away, arguably Hayao Miyazaki’s most popular movie. You can easily visit Jiufen from Taipei as a day trip (only 1.5 hours by bus from Taipei), or you can extend your trip and include other activities such as hiking up the Teapot mountain.

Jiufen Travel Guide: I’ve written all about visiting Jiufen from Taipei in this post , including all the transportation modes you can take to get to Jiufen!

2. Beitou (Day trip)

If you’re a fan of the Japanese onsen (hot spring) experience, you’ve got to come to Beitou. You can relax at the spa – have a massage, body scrub, and dip yourself in the hot spring.

3. Maokong (Day Trip)

Maokong is located in the Wenshang district, not too far away from Taipei. It’s only 20 minutes away by car ride from Taipei. In Maokong, you can enjoy some tea, take the gondola up to enjoy a nice view of Taipei, and visit the Taipei Zoo.

4. Tainan (1-2 Days)

Tainan is located in the south of Taiwan and is the oldest city in Taiwan. It takes just a little under two hours from Taipei via train. I recommend setting aside at least 2 days to visit Tainan.

Tainan Travel Guide: I’ve written a separate post about Tainan – be sure to check it out here .

5. Taichung and Sun Moon Lake (2 days)

Taichung is the second most populous city in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan and one of the most popular places to visit in the country. Sun Moon Lake can be visited on a day trip from Taichung.

6. Alishan (1 day)

Alishan is a mountainous region in Taiwan. It’s great for hiking trails, sacred trees, and beautiful sunrises.

7. Yilan (Day Trip)

Yilan is located on the east coast of Taiwan, just a one-hour car ride away from Taipei. The area is especially great for families – you can expect to visit art museums, creative parks, and hiking in nature.

8. Yangminshan National Park (Day Trip)

Located 30 minutes north of Taipei by car, Yangminshan National Park is famous for volcano hiking and cherry blossom viewing.

And that’s all I know about visiting Taipei! Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments about this post. See you in the next post 👋🏻

• April 28, 2024

Hi Melissa Loving your blog posts about Taiwan – so much great info. Is solo female (66 years) travel safe there, with all the usual precautions? Thanks so much.

• April 29, 2024

Hey Felicity, I have traveled solo to Taiwan once. I think you’ll be fine! The only thing you might want to know is that they recently had a string of earthquakes that hit the eastern part of the country. But in terms of safety, I felt okay waalking around by myself even at night

• May 16, 2024

Thanks for that Melissa. Any suggestions re airlines from Taipei to Okinawa then on to Kagoshima? Thanks again

• April 18, 2024

Thanks for providing such a valuable information 👍.

• January 30, 2024

What’s the weather for in between and end of April? Is it raining often? What to wear also?

Hey there, when I went in April the weather was pretty good. There were some rain but only a drizzle and passed by quick. There was one day when a hurricane passed but it was ok after. It was not very cold too. I only need a light hoodie in Taipei.

• January 3, 2024

Your blog is so helpful! We are planning to go to Taipei in March, and it’s my first time to travel outside the Philippines so I’m really anxious about how to plan the trip. I appreciate the complete details. Thank you so much. All the best! ✨

• February 7, 2024

Hi Sang Hyoon! I don’t know if you’re reading this and I’m planning to go to Taipei too in March! It’s my first time too and I’m very anxious. I hope I don’t mess up and most importantly don’t get too lonely during the trip. I’m visiting from 4-11 March. Maybe we can meet somehow? Good luck with your trip!! ✨

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Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

The Perfect 3-Day Taipei Itinerary (2024 Updated Travel Guide)

October 14, 2023 by Bino 2 Comments

Taipei has long been an attractive travel destination for travelers from neighboring countries. While it has never really established itself in the backpackers’ trail, the city attracts plenty of midrange and high-end tourists looking to sample the local street food, shop in the night markets, soak in the hot springs and interact with the highly hospitable locals. Personally, Taipei is a feel-good place. I don’t go there expecting to see some mind-boggling sights. Like Tokyo , I go there time and time again for the wonderful ambiance.

If you are heading down south, also check out this Kaohsiung and Tainan itinerary .

Here is a well-balanced itinerary for Taipei that you can do in 3-days. It offers a fine mix between sights, eating and shopping and also has a few off-the-beaten path attractions thrown in.

Tip: If you are heading down to the other cities, check out this current promotion with Klook where Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets are available on a 20% off basis. Valid for Non-Taiwan residents only. Book your Taiwan HSR tickets here

chiang kai shek memorial hall

Day 1 – Quintessential Taipei

Tip: If you are landing in Taoyuan International Airport and wish to buy a local sim card for data needs, the airport does sell these but the queue tends to be quite long (not to mention it can get quite long at immigration as well). A way to circumvent this is by buying your sim card beforehand and just collect at the airport. I usually pre-order the sim card here to avoid the queues and the package also comes with a ticket for the airport train to Taipei.

national palace museum taipei by gary todd

The National Palace Museum (tickets available for the museum here ) is the farthest among Taipei’s attractions so might as well start here in order to devote the rest of your time in the city. When the Kuomintang fled from Mainland China and transferred their seat of power in Taipei, they brought with them plenty of treasured artifacts. These are now stored in the National Palace Museum. This is one of the – if not the – best places to see Chinese art. Good thing about this museum is that it opens at 8:30AM so you can have a relatively early start here. Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily except Monday

artwork inside moca taipei by harry li

I am not really a museum type of person but I do recommend heading over to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Taipei to see plenty of quirky art pieces. Honestly, this is one of the museums that I genuinely enjoyed and won’t hesitate to return to. Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00 daily except Monday / Nearest MRT: Taipei Main Station

Tip: Buses run aplenty in Taipei and is the best mode of public transport for those who want to minimize walking to their destination. It’s also the cheapest with fares at TWD 15 per ride. Do note that drivers don’t provide change and for some reason, some buses require payment upon boarding while others require payment upon alighting. You can easily tell these buses apart through the sign board on top of the driver seat. 上 means you pay upon boarding while 下 means you pay when you get off.

Stop over at Jinfeng Braised Pork Rice (#10, Section 1, Roosevelt Road) for lunch. There’s often a long queue here for the rice topped with braised pork. I personally do not enjoy it due to all the fat but many people rave about it. Opening hours: 11:00 to 1:00 daily / Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station

jinfeng braised pork rice

the gate to the chiang kai shek memorial hall

Make your way to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall which is just a short walk from Jinfeng. The place is best visited in the afternoon since the façade faces the west. Before the Taipei 101 was built, this structure served as the city’s most iconic structure. While there, make sure to check out the changing of the guard ceremony which happens every hour on the hour. Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00 / Admission: Free / Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station

longshan temple

From here, it’s a short bus ride to Longshan Temple , one of the most popular temples in Taipei and a great example of classical Taiwanese architecture. It also offers a good peek at local religious life. Two blocks away from the temple is the historic Bopiliao Walking Street where you can relive the olden days with Taisho (colonial Japanese) era architecture and try your hand at age-old crafts. Opening hours for Longshan Temple: 6:00 to 22:00 / Admission: Free / Nearest MRT: Long Shan Temple Station

red house ximending

Depending on your pace, it’d be late afternoon by this time – just right to witness the lights turning on at the buzzing Ximending shopping area. This is equivalent to Taipei’s high street and you can find all sorts of brands here as well as several shops selling traditional delicacies and tea. The Red House is a symbol of the area and inside you can find plenty of independent stalls run by enterprising locals. If this is your first time in Taipei, you need to check out Ximending. Alternatively, you can also check out this handy guide on Taipei for first timers . Nearest MRT: Ximen Station

While you will find plenty of restaurants in Ximending, I recommend skipping these and heading straight to Ningxia Night Market instead. You can either take a short cab ride or walk the 2km stretch. Taipei is famous for its night markets with each having its own specialty. Ningxia Night Market is well-known for food and people from all over the world come here to eat oyster omelette and mochi. While there are a couple of stores selling these items here, the place you should try for oyster omelette is: 圓環邊蚵仔煎 (Roundabout Oyster Omelette) and for mochi, it’s: 林記燒麻糬 Nearest MRT: Shuanglian Station or Zhongshan Station

Day 2 – Excursion to Yehliu and Jiufen

yehliu geopark by bill so

Start early in the morning and take bus 1815 to Yehliu GeoPark . The journey takes about 1.5 hours and depending on the weather and the crowd, you’ll find plenty of rocks jutting from the ground like mushrooms. It’s a pretty sight except when it gets too crowded. Avoid the weekends if you can. Alternatively, take the train to Pingxi and launch a sky lantern .

Take another bus to Jiufen , an old seaside mining town that has developed into a tourist attraction filled with teahouses, cafes and souvenir shops. It’s a charming place to simply wander around or to spend an hour or two holed up in one of the teahouses. For history buffs, there are also museums showcasing the town’s mining heritage. Alternatively, you can also take a 3-in-1 day tour   from Taipei Main Station which brings you to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen and back within a day. This option saves you the commuting time and the need to find directions. You can find out more information for the combined tour here .

taipei 101 as seen from shangri-la far eastern plaza hotel taipei

Try to leave Jiufen by around 3 to 3:30pm and head back to Taipei via Bus #1062. Make your way to the Elephant Mountain Trail , a viewpoint that you climb in order to see sweeping views of Taipei 101 during sunset. Alternatively, you can also head up to the observatory of Taipei 101 itself (discounted tickets for Taipei 101 here ). In my opinion, this iconic building is better appreciated from afar.

For a truly special dinner experience, head to RAW (301 Lequn 3rd Road), the restaurant of one-Michelin starred chef, Andre Chiang. The cuisine is a fusion of Taiwanese and French cuisines. It gets booked out easily and online reservations are required.

raohe night market

End your day at the Raohe Night Market located at the other side of the river. This night market packs in a plethora of eats as well as ready-to-wear apparel. Nearest MRT: Songshan Station

Day 3 – Modern and Hipster Taipei

After two whirlwinds days exploring the city’s main attractions and also doing a day trip to Yehliu and Jiufen , your third day can be spent just chilling and exploring the more hipster side of the city. Taipei offers plenty for shopaholics out there and some up-and-coming neighborhoods offer a great counterpoint to characterless shopping malls.

fujin street in taipei

Start your day with some coffee from Fujin Tree 353 Cafe in Fujin Street – probably the most hipster area in Taipei. You’ll find plenty of quirky restaurants and boutiques with equally quirky people patronizing them. Even if you are not looking to buy anything, Fujin Street is also a great place for a stroll, being one of the rare tree-lined streets in the city. Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00, daily

huashan 1914 creative park by travel oriented

Continuing on with quirky things, head over to Huashan 1914 Creative Park . What used to be a winery has been converted into a creative space attracting writers, moviemakers and even painters. There is always an exhibition going on in here which is worth checking out. You’ll also find a lot of local crafts and independent stores within the vicinity. Do note that the park is actually quite spread out and you’ll find the stores and exhibition areas in different buildings within the complex. It may not be an ideal place to visit whenever it’s raining. For tech geeks, you can continue on to Guanghua Digital Plaza for all your IT needs. Taiwan is a major manufacturer of computers and hardware. Opening hours: 11:00 to 21:00, daily / Nearest MRT: Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station

daan forest park mrt station

Pause for lunch at the famous Lin Dong Fang (#274, Section 2, Bade Road) for some delicious beef noodles before continuing on to Daan Forest Park for some r&r. The namesake metro station – Daan Forest Park – is an attraction in itself with curved glass curtain walls and plenty of art installations. Two metro stops away is the Kishu An Forest of Literature where you’ll be transported to another world with its Japanese style bungalow. Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday (until 21:00 on Friday and Saturday)

matcha canele at heiankyo in taipei

While you are in the general vicinity, check out Heiankyo (165 Shida Road, open 12:30PM to 8:00PM except Tuesdays) for some traditional and modern matcha-based desserts. My personal favorites are the matcha canele (the first time I’ve seen one) and the rich and flavorful match ice cream. The venue is highly authentic, replete with a mini Japanese rock garden outside and interiors mimicking a traditional tea house.

koo chen fu national library at national taiwan university

Even those who have no interest in reading will probably be awed by the interiors of the Koo Chen Fu National Library (inside the National Taiwan University). Designed by Japanese architect, Toyo Ito, the reading room is made up of over 88 white columns that creates something like a forest out of minimalism. Admission is free but do note the library closes slightly earlier, at 5PM, during Saturdays and it’s closed on Sundays.

old buildings in dihua street by adam jones

Spend the late afternoon at Dihua Street , a colonial era part of town that has been rejuvenated with plenty of traditional shops. You’ll find Chinese medicine stores interspersing with cafes, antique shops as well as the odd art studio. Opening hours: 10:00 to 22:30, daily / Nearest MRT: Shuanglian Station

End the day at Shilin Night Market , undoubtedly Taipei’s biggest and most well-known night market. The place is known for local delights such as stinky tofu as well as oyster mee sua so make sure to come with an empty stomach. Opening hours: 15:00 to 1:00, daily / Nearest MRT: Jiantan Station

Getting to Taipei from Taoyuan International Airport

• Available 24 hours. Taxis cost roughly TWD 1,000  to 1200 from the airport to the city center. Alternatively, you can book pre-arranged rides here at around 15 to 20% cheaper than taxis. If there are 3 to 4 persons in your group, this option is recommended over public transport or the MRT.
• The relatively new Taoyuan Airport MRT gets you from the airport to Taipei Main Station in roughly 37 minutes. The price is TWD 230 per person. You can buy tickets online at a hefty discount.
• You can also take one of several airport buses that stop in Taipei’s main station. In case you’re arriving in Taipei past midnight and don’t wish to spend on taxis, take the #1819 Kuo Kuang bus. It costs TWD 125.

Travel Tips for Taipei

• Best time to visit Taipei: It is between October to March when the days are relatively cool. Even during the “depth of winter” in January, temperatures rarely fall below 10 degrees celsius. Summer is between June to September and it can get really hot and humid in the city. That being said, summer is the best time to visit the city if you wish to see the city with sunshine. This is especially helpful if you wish to climb Elephant Mountain for instance and witness a nice sunset blanketing the city. Taipei is notoriously known for its prolonged cloud cover. It’s one of the least sunniest capitals in the world!
• Travel Insurance: In these uncertain times, it may be wise to get travel insurance before traveling to Taiwan. If you reside in Singapore, check out Starr Travelead , one of the cheapest travel insurance. They have a promotion that comes with S$10 cash rebate that helps to cover the insurance cost. 
• Changing Money in Taipei: If you come from Singapore and are armed with Singapore Dollars, you might find the rates in DBS (the local Taipei branch) quite competitive. For folks from elsewhere who are bringing in USD, you can change money in the airport. The spread is slightly less than 1%. In the city, it is advisable to change money at large banks such as Bank of Taiwan.
• Transport Passes: If you foresee yourself taking buses and the subway in Taipei, it is advisable to purchase their local transport pass – the Easycard . You get 20% discount for public transport rides in Taipei. It also works in Kaohsiung’s public transport system as well as for supermarket, convenience store and other places. At the end of your trip, you can refund any unused amount with a mere TWD 20 service charge. 

Where to stay in Taipei

citizenm taipei hotel

Taipei has a plethora of accommodation options but the city is most well-known for its boutique hotels – some of which have “branches” throughout the capital. I personally enjoyed staying at citizenM Taipei Northgate with its high-tech rooms and beds situated just next to the window with panoramic views of the city. The property is also 5 minutes walk to the airport MRT station and 15 minutes walk to Ximending. Alternatively, the amba Taipei Zhongshan will attract those who are into a clean, all-white and minimalist theme. You can also check out more Taipei hotels HERE  to compare for the best prices.

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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February 23, 2018 at 12:45 am

Great post Bino. I agree that Taipei is a feel-good place. I visited for the first time last month on an independent trip with a friend. I went to Huashan 1914 Creative Park on a cold and rainy day expecting it to be indoors. Ha ha! Ended up spending most of my time watching a movie in the SPOT cinema. It was interesting reading about your suggested itinerary. I wrote my own version of a 2-day itinerary on my blog!

September 3, 2019 at 3:01 pm

SIR BINO, YOUR TAIPEI TOUR WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. GOT LOTS OF IDEAS. AM SURE YOUR WRITE UPS ON TAIPEI WILL HELP OUR SEPT. 2019 TRIP TO TAIPEI MEMORABLE MORE POWER TO YOU. GOD LOVES US ALL. THANK YOU.

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27 Unmissable Things to Do in Taipei | Ultimate Taipei Travel Guide

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

I spent 9 days in Taipei. Did I do everything? Not even close.

A fortune-telling street, a snake and toilet restaurant, night markets… as an international foodie capital, Taipei is a dynamic city you’ll want to put on your travel bucket list. Here’s a summarized Taipei Travel Guide of the top things to do in Taipei and how to get around the city.

A Historical Summary of Taiwan

Table of Contents: 27 Unmissable Things to Do in Taipei | Ultimate Taipei Travel Guide

• 0.1 A Historical Summary of Taiwan
• 0.2 27 Unmissable Things to Do in Taipei
• 1.0.1 1. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
• 1.0.2 2. Changing of the guards ( Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall )
• 1.0.3 3. Sun Yat Sen Memorial
• 1.0.4 4. National Palace Museum
• 1.0.5 5. Lonshan Temple
• 1.0.6 6. Taipei 101 building
• 2.0.1 7. Elephant Mountain
• 3.0.1 8. Fortune Telling Street
• 3.0.2 8. Cats & Cafe 1988
• 3.0.3 9. Modern Toilet
• 3.0.4 10. Tengfeng Fish Ball Museum
• 4.0.1 11. Shilin Night Market
• 4.0.2 12. Raohe Night Market
• 4.0.3 13. Huaxi Night Market | Snake Alley
• 4.0.4 14. Ningxia Night Market
• 4.0.5 15. Ximending Night Market
• 5.0.1 16. Songshan Cultural & Creative Park
• 5.0.2 17. Bubble Tea
• 5.0.3 18. Ximending
• 5.0.4 19. Taipei Metro Station Shopping
• 5.0.5 20. Free walking tours of Taipei
• 5.0.6 21. Food Tour with Taipei Eats
• 6.0.1 22.  Taipei Zoo  & Maokong Gondola
• 6.0.2 23. Danshui
• 6.0.3 24. Beitou Hot Springs
• 6.0.4 25. Houtong Cat Village
• 6.0.5 26.  Juifen and Northern Taiwan
• 6.0.6 27.  The Tofu Town of Daxi, Taoyuen
• 6.1 Must Try Foods to Eat in Taipei
• 6.2 Recommended Accommodations in Taipei
• 6.3 Getting from the Airport to Taipei
• 6.4.1 Metro | MRT
• 6.4.4 Bikes
• 6.4.5 Buy a Taiwanese SIM
• 6.4.6 Watch my “How I travel Taiwan” YouTube playlist
• 6.4.7 Related Posts

As the world’s 25th largest economy and its 13th most important trading nation, Taiwan is seems like an independent country; however, it’s not.  Once colonized by the Dutch, ruled by Japan and then overseen by the Republic of China (but ruled under the Chinese Nationalist Party – aka the KMT founded by Sun Yat Sen —  political tensions with mainland China are still strained and under a complex balance.  Taiwan is not a democratic country but continues to make dynamic changes in political, economical and social arenas.  Taiwanese see themselves as Chinese but recognize their lifestyle, political system and sensibilities as somewhat, independent.

27 Unmissable Things to Do in Taipei

As always, my Taipei Travel Guide video gives an inside peek into the experience as I report from that location.  The information between written post and video is made to complement each other. Some things can’t be said in words or in one photo. That’s where video comes in.

Historical Landmarks in Taipei

1. chiang kai shek memorial.

Chiang Kai Shek was the president of the Republic of China and general of the Kuomintang (which ruled over Taiwan) between 1928-1975. Thus, the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial is the center focus of a large pavillion called the Liberty Square. It’s flanked by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.  Hours:  9am- 6pm

Getting There: Take metro to   Chiang Kai Shek Memorial station

2. Changing of the guards ( Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall )

At the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial you’ll find two guards standing at the base of the memorial statue. They stand like stone statues. The guards change every hour and everything is choreographed and in sync with one another. Although I did catch a guard slip in his step. Hours: Last change is at 6pm.  The guards will leave, but make sure to go down to the base of the steps by the flagpole, as the ritual of lowering the flag continues there.

3. Sun Yat Sen Memorial

The Sun Yat Sen Memorial is a memorial to a doctor whose only been to Taiwan four times, but as one of the founding fathers of the Kuomintang (or KMT, the authoritarian rule of the Chinese Nationalist Party), his philosophy lives on in Taiwan’s political sensibilities today.  The plaza is a nice people-watching spot. You might see company teams practicing dance cheers for their company party, Tai Chi practitioners and you can get a decent view of the Taipei 101 building.

Getting There :Take the Banqiao Line to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Station.

4. National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum houses artifacts from China’s emperors. It’s three floors of impressive artifacts from periods of Chinese rulership. You’ll find everything from jade collections to calligraphy art, Buddha sculptures and more. It’s the first museum I”ve seen of its kind with unique palace valuables.  If you love history, it’s worth a look. There are two wings, a children’s center and a garden. Recommended: Buy your e-tickets now and skip the line

Guided Tours: Chinese, English, and French guides are free. Audio headsets cost 200 NRT.   Note : You must store your bags and cameras in the lockers provided. You will need a 10NRT, but token will be returned to you upon bag retrieval.

Getting There: From Shilin MRT station, head out Exit 1 to Zhongzheng Rd to RT side of Main Street and catch R30 (red 30), minibus 18 or 19. It’s about 15 minutes to the museum.

5. Lonshan Temple

Longshan Temple is one of the most active temples in Taipei.  It’s next to the Huaxi Night market and the metro.  Worshippers go to pray but also to get their fortunes told, by throwing sticks. It’s a popular way of temple fortune telling for many Asian countries, where you’ll think of your question and throw the sticks. The sticks will have an interpretation and that’s your fortune.  Nearby the temple is the famous Fortune Telling Street (more information below).

Travel Tip: Book a Longshan Temple and a Bopiliao Historical Walking tour . Toss fortune sticks at the temple, drink a Taiwanese cup of tea and explore the Bopiliao Block area.

Getting There :  Next to the Huaxi Night Market and right outside Longshan MRT, you’ll find the Longshan Temple.  

6. Taipei 101 building

The Taipei 101 building is the most well-known landmark of Taipei as it used to be the highest tower in the world.  With time, that’s certainly changed, but it does at least still hold a record for having one of the fastest elevators of the world with rates up to 17 m/sec.  During New Year’s Eve, the city holds a light and fireworks show from it, inviting a different artist each year to design the light display. Get your advance e-tickets for the Observation Deck .

Admission: $15 USD   Getting There:  Take the Banquiao Line to Taipei City Hall Station. Exit 2 there is a free shuttle bus, but the line is often long and it is an easy walk. To walk: take Exit 3 and follow the sidewalk past the park.

Where to Hike in Taipei

7. elephant mountain.

If you want the best view of the city and Taipei 101 building , head out to Elephant Mountain . It’s a small mountain with at least four different trails (names of animals) to hike, with Elephant being the first view point.  This trail is easy to get to and takes around 20 minutes to hike.  The paved step trail is steep and you will break a sweat, so pace yourself.   Don’t settle for the first viewpoint you see, but keep going higher and you’ll find a few more options.  There will be maps along the way to show you what other trails you can take.It’s a perfect getaway from the city.

Travel Tip: If you’re an instagrammer, take a Instagram hiking tour of Elephant Mountain .

Getting There:  From Xiangshan MRT head to Exit 2 and follow the signs from there. Signs will direct you past a basketball court and condo area to the base of the mountain.

Quirky & Unusual Places in Taipei

If you didn’t know it, Taipei has several quirky museums, factory tours and modern theme cafes (i.e. Barbie cafe, Ninja & Hospital cafe, airplane restaurant, etc…).  I tried to seek many out. Unfortunately, half of these great ideas had closed, but a few continue to linger on… Here’s a few unusual places in Taipei that I experienced .

8. Fortune Telling Street

Fortune Telling Street is a line of fortune telling shops in an underpass at Longshan Temple. Each shop has got their own gimmick.  Getting There:   Longshan Temple MRT (Underpass) (龍山寺捷運站地下街)

8. Cats & Cafe 1988

As the original cat cafe of Taipei, Cats & Cafe 1988 claims to have the most cats of cat cafes. It’s also got two resident dogs and a bird. In order to experience the cafe, you need to order something on the menu. Most options cost.  Honestly, the cafe is not known for its food and is standard at most. More here .

Getting There: MRT Zhishan, immediately turn right.  The cafe front isn’t easy to notice and  the sign isn’t obvious but there’s an awning out front. .  The vertical sign is a sliver on the side of the building.  Address:  (129 Fuhua Rd, Shilin, MRT Zhishan, 02 2835 3335 

9. Modern Toilet

Modern Toilet is a restaurant with a theme around toilets. Located in the hip and popular Ximending district of Taipei, you’ll find the decor ranges from plumbing pipes, to toilet bowl seats, urinals, squat toilets and poo.  It’s a fun restaurant and the food is good.   Hours:  11a -10p    Location:  2F., No.7, Lane 50, Sining S. Rd., Wanhua District, Taipei City    Phone:  02-2311-8822

Directions  and more information, here .

10. Tengfeng Fish Ball Museum

Being that Taipei is a foodie’s country and fish balls are popular dish in Asia and Southeast Asia, I originally planned to visit the Teng Feng Fish Ball Museum. Call for hours as it is a working factory and may be closed on holidays and weekends.

Location: No. 117, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Ph:02 2629 3312.

Best Night Markets in Taipei

There are a handful of best night markets in Taipei:    Shilin, Raohe, Hua Xi,  Ningxia, Tonghua, Shia, Liaoning Street,  Guang Zhou Street, Wu Zhou Street… a lot .  You’ll find anything from food to clothes and home products.  The three I’ve listed are my favorite and happen to be the most popular.

11. Shilin Night Market

Shillin Market is one of the top night markets in Taipei. The biggest and most fashionable night market, food hawkers line the street entrance and you’ll find everything from stinky tofu, jelly drinks, deep fried squid, mochi balls and more.  Walking down the maze of streets, you can shop fashion boutiques, mobile accessory stores and bag shops.  In the heart of the area, there’s a covered area which sports carnival games for children.

Getting There: Opposite the Jian Tan MRT stop. Walk out the exit towards the large intersection.  That signals the entrance of the market.

12. Raohe Night Market

Raohe Night Market ( map here )  is Taipei’s oldest night market and was my other favorite. It’s clearly a foodie’s market and the dishes you’ll find there are what’s in vogue! Each hawkers does something a little different to make their dish unique in seasoning and sauce flavor. Tables and seats line the center of the street, as hawkers grill, fry  and boil foods around them. On crowded nights it can be hard to move.

Getting There: From MRT to Song Shan Station, take Exit #5 and take a right towards the temple.

13. Huaxi Night Market | Snake Alley

14. ningxia night market.

Highly Recommended: Take a Ningxia Night Market Food tour with a guide. Enrich your mind and palate by learning about the foods here and its history. 

15. Ximending Night Market

Ximending Night Market is in the huge trendy shopping district of Ximending and is right off the Ximen station in the area that is known as Taipei’s Times Square due to the fact it is has jumbotrons and the lights from the stores light it up like Manhattan’s Times Square . The last time I traveled Taipei, I visited Ximending strictly for to visit Modern Toilet (the themed toilet restaurant), but this time I explored the area a bit more. You’ll find a lot of trendy and fun foods shops here which sell Boba tea, various teas, deep fried chicken wings, etc… Definitely check out Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle for the best vermicelli noodles, thick and gooey and absolutely delish. For quick and cheap souvenirs check out Miniso and the various electronic shops which sell mobile accessories.

Taipei Arts & Culture

16. songshan cultural & creative park.

Songshan Cultural & Creative Park used to be a tobacco factory but now it’s transformed into a cultural park area with a building housing innovative creative labs, artist workshop studios and restaurants. The artist workshop studios are open for public use and holds anything from crafted items to studios where you can learn how to blow glass, make clay sculpture, etc..  Hours：9:00~18:00 . Website

Getting There :Take the Banqiao Line to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Station. Exit through Exit 5 and walk for 550m to Yanchang Road (the intersection of Civic Boulevard and Guangfu South Road).    OR  Take the Banqiao Line to Taipei City Hall Station, and take Exit 1 or Exit 2  and walk for about 400m to Lane 553, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road.

17. Bubble Tea

If Taiwan put one thing on the international foodie map, it’s Bubble Tea Drinks . This popular drink is part of the Taiwanese culture and lifestyle and you’ll find many bubble tea places around town.   The dark pearls inside are  chewy tapioca balls, making this a drink you can chew.   Popular bubble tea chain:   Coco but you can easily find a tea shop around town. If not, check out Ximending area.

18. Ximending

At Ximen station, you’ll find  Ximending , the trendiest and hippest area for those looking for food, fashion and people-watching.You can’t help but love it here. At night, it’s lit up like New York’s Times Square as the hub for strolling, shopping and eating. You’ll find the trendiest street foods and bubble teas, along with occasional street vendors or electronics shops spilling out to catch the eyes of pedestrian passerbys.  It is a milder form of Shilin Market and a tad more commercial with standard stores like H&M or UniQlo. The hottest area is near the station. Right outside the station, you’ll find Rainbow street, a popular new Instagram spot where the street is painting in a rainbow in celebration of the Gay Pride parade.

19. Taipei Metro Station Shopping

Taipei Metro Station isn’t only the main hub of the city (with access to Taipei Train Station, Taipei HSR Station , and Taipei Bus Station ). It  houses  underground shopping and eateries.  There’s one area dedicated to luggage and traveling, with older budget like vendors.  Other areas of the station offers a resting and gathering spot, where Taiwanese can hang out with friends. You can at boutique stores and grab  takeout bites from fast food shops.

The ground level offers a giant rest area with souvenir gift and snack shops. It’s great if you need to shop for last minute gifts for a weekend family visit.  If you take time to explore Taipei Metro Station, you’ll find it offers a lot of chill amusement and shopping.

Note: Buying bags in Taiwan can be cheap, but not necessarily made to last. I bought a backpack that didn’t last longer than a week.

20. Free walking tours of Taipei

Tour Me Away and Like it Formosa offer free walking tours of Taipei. It’s held by local volunteers and runs on donations. Both offer a couple of tour options for those who either want to get to know the city, meet people or enjoy a budget day tour.    I took a Chill Out Tour for a chance to learn about Taipei’s local lifestyle. It’s not a bad way to spend your afternoon and expect a casual tour.  Donations are encouraged by the volunteers as some of college students looking to make a few dollars for school.   Highly recommended if you have time!

In Taipei for a layover? Take a free airport layover tour

21. food tour with taipei eats.

Taiwan is a foodie’s country, with an endless and ongoing variety of street foods and small dishes. Taking a food tour with  Taipei Eats  was a highlight of my trip and one of the most informative food tours I’ve taken yet .

Easy Day Trips

22.  taipei zoo  & maokong gondola.

Taipei is said to have one of the largest zoos with the happiest animals. I never got a chance to see that in person, so if you get there, let me know. If you get the chance, take the  cable car from Taipei to Maokong  (aka Maokong gondola). It runs from Taipei Zoo Station (Brown Line 1) up the mountain to the top of  Maokong , a mountain-top tea destination.

 Admission: $60 NT for adults. Free admission to preschool children and handicapped. Hours: 9 am- 5pm.  A dditional directions here .

23. Danshui

Going out to Danshui can feel like a bit of a day trip. As a lakeside district of Taipei, it has it’s own feeling. It may take anywhere from 20-30 minutes by metro and offers a great neighborhood for shopping and food. Next to the lake, you can take a ferry ride out to the island of Bali (not to be confused with the Indonesian island ). It’s large lakeside park offers relaxation for those who want to hang out for a picnic.

Or you  can stroll down the boardwalk of souvenir shops, where you’ll see anything from street food hawkers and carnival gaming shops. Buy an ice cream cone or a plate of deep fried breaded squid.

At night, the walking street parallel to the boardwalk takes on the mood of a popular night market street where you can shop (there’s a Hello Kitty dessert shop & a type of Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum), eat and indulge a street bubbling with activity.

24. Beitou Hot Springs

Beitou   hot springs  has a handful of hot spring pools ranging from cheap public pools to more upscale types. Taking a taxi is recommended.  Ask the Tourist Information or your hotel for easy to get to destinations.  The nearest one (in front of Xinbeitou MRT) is  Millenium Hot Spring. Admission:   NT$40.

Getting There:  Take the Danshui MRT line to Xinbeitou Station.

25. Houtong Cat Village

About 45 minutes out from Taipei is Houtong Cat Village in Ruifang.  It is a lovely and small riverside town nestled in a picturesque valley (I went on a dreary and rainy day).  Originally a coal mining village, a local started caring for stray cats and taking them in and the towns people started to continue the tradition. Today, cats roam the area and are fed by locals and tourists.  You can still explore the coal mining area and its museum to understand its history. More here .

Getting There:  T ake a northbound train ( except  Keelung trains) to Ruifang Station.

26.  Juifen and Northern Taiwan

You can take easy day trip to  Juifen and Northern Taipei . Juifen is a small hillside town in Northeastern Taiwan. Its recognized in photos for its bright red lanterns, narrow street alleys and freshly made food. Snack shops and teahouses line its alleys selling all types of creative snacks, food souvenirs and street foods which will have you opening your purse and mouth more than once! There is a traditional theater in the town and nearby is the Gold Mine Museum in Jinguashi and the Golden Waterfalls. It’s worthwhile to hire a group tour to Juifen  or hire a car for the day to see the natural wonders in that area, such as Bitou Cape , the Yin and Yang seas and more!  Read my post on Northern Taiwan here .

27.  The Tofu Town of Daxi, Taoyuen

Just 40 minutes south of Taoyuan Airport and  Taipei , is one of the best kept secrets of Taoyuan~ the mountainous and beautifully historical town of  Daxi . Daxi is known for its unique historical architecture, its woodwork history, cultural preservation and for being a tofu town with a unique tofu specialty which makes tofu here, brown and firm.

Must Try Foods to Eat in Taipei

Pigs blood rice cake, Gua Bao, Stinky Tofu… If you’re a foodie and you want variety, then Taiwan is going to be your soulmate destination.

As an international foodie capital, Taipei is a dynamic city of modernity, street food and fusion foods. Virtually any type of diet will be  able a Taiwanese dish to tempt their tastebuds.

Read: 18 Must Try Foods of Taipei

Recommended Accommodations in Taipei

ColorMix Hostel & Hotel   What happens when you mix a hostel with a hotel? Apparently at ColorMix Hostel & Hotel you get a pod hotel! Small, compact and inexpensive, this was a budget friendly hotel was still on the luxurious side for me. I got an all inclusive hotel room the size of an officetel with bathroom ensuite. It literally had just enough room for me to do all the business I needed. Location convenient in Ximending, near three 7 Elevens, free wifi, highly recommended.

Backpackers Inn Taipei has convenient location, just 2-minute walk from the MRT. A 10-minute walk away from Taipei Main Station or Ximen Station.  I haven’t stayed here but this was one option I was considering based on friend recommendations. There are Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the Presidential Palace and other famous attractions nearby.

Hotel Resonance Taipei, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is an elegant, modern four star hotel with a unique Cubist architectural design is just a stone’s throw from Taipei Main Station.

Book more accommodations options in the Taipei area here .

Getting from the Airport to Taipei

  Taoyuan International Airport (or the Taipei International Airport)  is 40 minutes north of Taipei. The airport  houses  a bus terminal, nearby  High Speed Rail  station and a  MRT link to Taipei. Take the high speed rail directly into Taipei via Taipei Station. Note: The walk from high speed rail station to Taipei Station takes around 8-10 minutes. Taipei station is large, so finding your platform will take time.

Public buses from the airport are available from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Bus stations are labeled in English, and have LCD monitors where you can see the various destinations, schedules, and fares. A bus to Taipei Main Station is $NT 125.  It will drop you off at the Kuo-Kuang West Bus Terminal outside the Taipei Main Station. Travel Tip:  Pre-book a Taoyuan airport pickup .

Getting Around Taipei

Metro | mrt.

The heart vein of Taipei is the MRT system. The metro will get you to almost anywhere you need to go in a short amount of time. If you plan to use the metro a lot, you can buy an Easy Card. It will cost $100NT for the card and $400 for initial travel. You can reload it at any time in the future. The card will get you 20% off all Taipei MRT rides.  A single ride can cost from $15 -65 NT.

Taking the bus in Taipei is inexpensive; however, it’s not always easy.  Cost is approximately $15NT and it’s easy if you have an Easy Card (read above). Bus signs are mostly in Chinese. You may find occasional English translations at popular tourist stops. It’s a little tricky using the Easy Card. Swipe your Easy Card upwards if paying when you board the bus and swipe your card downward if you’re paying when you disembark the bus. I’ve only used the city bus once.

Taking a taxi in Taipei is inexpensive, compared to other cities.  It’s a yellow taxi cab and tipping is not normally expected but your choice.

You can rent UBikes to skirt around the city.  YouBike rental kiosks are walking distance from the MRT. Use a credit card with a chip or your Easy Card. The first 30 minutes of your rental are free and you can drop them off at any other kiosk location.

Buy a Taiwanese SIM

There is much public wifi available in metro areas. However, the drawback is you need to take your passport and sign up for a password at the Tourism Information kiosk, conveniently located in some metro stations. However, it still might not work. I recommend buying a Taiwan SIM in advance . I had a friend get me a Taiwanese SIM in her neighborhood and we struggled a lot to get a signal or a working login and the language barrier made me feel helpless.

Watch my “How I travel Taiwan” YouTube playlist

Related posts.

7-Eleven in Taiwan Taipei Travel Guide | Best Things to Do Taipei (Part 1) Quirky Things to Do in Taipei (Part 2)  Taipei Culture Shock: Things to Love or Hate Top Must Try foods in Taiwan

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25 Things To Do In Taipei: Complete Taipei City Guide

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: June 5, 2023

Categories Taiwan

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and a vibrant city with a unique blend of modern and traditional culture.

There are countless things to do in Taipei; you can admire the views from the famous Taipei 101 tower, eat delicious street food at one of the many night markets, admire beautiful temples, explore historic buildings, go shopping, and much more.

The food is amazing, the people are friendly and if you need to get away from the busy city, the mountains are easily reached by a short MRT ride!

While I'm not usually one to spend a long time in a big city, I absolutely loved our 12 days in Taipei and wished we could have stayed longer!

The best things to do in Taipei

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

What to do in Taipei

Plan your Taiwan trip like a pro with these tools: ? Pick up an EasyCard for cashless payments and to use public transport. ? Book discounted tickets for Taiwan's high-speed rail. ? Stay connected with a  Taiwan Wifi router . ? Plan your journey with the  T aiwan Lonely Planet . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Klook or Get Your Guide . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Places to visit in Taipei: where to find them

I marked all the Taipei highlights and major attractions mentioned above in this map so it's easy for you to find them.

I also added the Airbnbs we stayed at and transport information (Taoyuan airport, MRT and Youbike stations).

Click here for the interactive map

Things to know before traveling to Taipei

Spring and Autumn are great times to visit Taipei. We visited in May and while we did experience some rain, the weather was excellent on most days. As is true for the whole of Taiwan, Taipei is hot and humid during Summer (June until August). I personally prefer to stay away from cities when temperatures rise above 30 degrees and spend my time at a beautiful beach instead. If you don't mind lower temperatures, you can visit Taipei in winter as well. It doesn't get that cold (around 10 degrees Celsius) and there are great discounts to be had on accommodation as this is low season.

The official currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan dollar  ( NT $) .   Here  you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 34NT$ and $1 approximately 30NT$. Notes are available in denominations of NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1000, and NT$2000. Coins exist in units of NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20, and NT$50. 

The MRT network in Taipei is extensive, cheap, and easy to use. You can buy single tickets, however, the easiest way to travel by MRT in Taipei is with an EasyCard . These electronic cards can be topped up in most convenience stores and will save you a lot of time as you don't have to keep buying new tickets each time you travel on the subway. Click here for the official MRT map .

Yes, you can! It's actually a great way to travel around the city, though for bigger distances I'd recommend using the MRT. You can read more about the YouBike system here . Unfortunately, the official YouBike website is currently not available in English. Don't forget to download the app, it's in Chinese but you'll still be able to use the map with all the Youbike stations. Update June 2023: Phenomenal Globe reader Philip informed me that if you have an Easy Card, you no longer have to register to use the YouBikes, you can simply tap your EasyCard against the sensor to use the bike.

Where to stay in Taipei

During our trip to Taipei, we stayed in a lovely room via Airbnb. Unfortunately, this accommodation is no longer available since Covid-19.

I recommend booking the Comma Boutique Hotel Read instead. This lovely hotel has a great location and excellent reviews (8.8 out of 10) on Agoda and Booking .

Read more about our accommodation in Taiwan in this post .

25 awesome things to do in and around Taipei

1. marvel at the 509 meters tall taipei 101.

Taipei 101 is one of the most iconic structures in the world. It used to be the world's tallest building but has since been surpassed by other skyscrapers (like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai ).

However, it's still the world's tallest and largest green building certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Taipei 101 is also home to the world's fastest elevator, which will take you to the observation deck on the 89th floor in just 37 seconds. Here you can enjoy one of the best views of Taipei city ( buy your online ticket here ).

2. Hike the Elephant Mountain trail

One of the best Taipei activities is hiking to the top of Elephant Mountain.

Officially called the Xiangshan hiking trail, this relatively easy 15-20 minute hike to the top of this 183-meter high hill is a must-do activity in Taipei.

While the Xiangshan trail is only a short hike, you will get sweaty. There are lots of stairs and due to the humidity, sweating is unavoidable.

Nevertheless, the views over Taipei are amazing and worth the effort!

Xiangshan is the closest MRT stop, this is the last stop on the Red Line (also the stop for Taipei 101). Leave the MRT station via Exit 2 and check Google Maps or Maps.me for directions.

It's approximately 10 minutes to the start of the trail.

3. Admire the colorful Confucius Temple

I've seen a lot of temples, but I really liked our visit to the Confucius Temple because of the interesting (and fun) 4D movies about the history of Confucianism and the temple itself.

Don't forget to check the sign with golden letters at the main hall of the temple. This sign was written by the famous Chiang Kai-shek (read more below) and states: Educate without Discrimination.

4. Visit the Dalongdong Baoan Temple

The beautifully renovated Dalongdong Baoan temple is situated next to the Confucius Temple so it's easy to make a combined visit to both temples.

The construction of this beautiful temple started in 1804 and throughout the years, many extensions were added, which resulted in the extensive complex you can visit today.

Between April and June, there are many traditional performance arts taking place, so if you happen to visit during this period it's even more worthwhile to pay this temple a visit!

5. Stroll along Dihua Street

Along this 800-meter-long shopping street, you will find lots of Chinese shops with traditional Chinese herbs and medicines, colorful boutique hotels, and artsy places to explore!

Dihua Street is located in Dadaocheng, the oldest surviving neighborhood of Taipei. Many houses were built around the 1850s and the red brick buildings and symmetric arches are beautiful to look at.

Please note Dihua Street gets very busy around Chinese New Year.

6. Visit the National Taiwan Craft Research building

Unfortunately, we arrived too late to go to the beautiful rooftop terrace (with an organic buffet restaurant), but the outside of the National Taiwan Craft Research building is beautiful as well.

If you plan your visit better than we did (the center is open between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm every day of the week except on Mondays), you can admire not only the building itself but several exhibits as well.

There are beautifully designed Taiwanese gifts on display, such as chopsticks, jewelry, and ceramics. A nice place to spend an hour or two!

7. Feel tiny at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

During your travels across Taiwan, you will undoubtedly come across the name Chang Kai-Shek. Chang Kai-Shek was the leader of Taiwan for an impressive 25 years.

While Chang Kai-Shek is loved by some he's hated by most due to the awful period known as the ‘White Terror’. During this period more than 140.000 Taiwanese were taken prisoner.

Until this day, Chang Kai-Shek remains the longest-ruling leader of Taiwan.

For important people, they tend to build important buildings, which they certainly did in Taipei. The Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is immense, I felt so teeny tiny in comparison…

Don't miss the changing of the guards which takes places every hour on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm.

8. Admire the Liberty Square Arch

One of the best activities in Taipei is a visit to the Liberty Square Arch. The lights went on at 7 pm and made for a beautiful sight!

The National Concert Hall and the National Theater are also part of the Chang Kai-Shek complex and are equally impressive buildings.

We visited the Chang Kai-Shek Memorial complex on a busy night and I enjoyed just sitting there while watching the people go about their business.

9. Explore Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Another fun thing to do in Taipei is to pay a visit to Huashan 1914 Creative Park. Originally this place was a winery, which produced sake (Taiwan was under Japanese rule at the time) and ginseng wines.

After years of abandonment and decay, Huashan was saved from demolition and creative minds completely redeveloped the buildings.

There are now lots of cafes, fancy restaurants, and exhibitions. And some very green buildings as you can see in the picture above!

10. Go for a stroll in Da'an Forest Park

Da'an Forest Park is one of the best parks to visit in Taipei. We spent a Sunday morning strolling around this green spot in busy Taipei.

There is a pond, a greenhouse, many different birds, and a playground for children, making this a great place to visit as a family .

As we were walking around we came across many Taiwanese families picnicking in the park. Too bad we didn't bring brunch…

11. Watch the Dragon Boat Race

If you happen to be in Taipei in June, be sure to check if your visit coincides with the Dragon Boat Festival!

This annual festival held at Dajia Riverside Park is so much fun to visit! It's a public holiday and a fun day out for many Taiwanese families. Watching the races is very exciting and the boats are beautiful.

There are also several performances, food trucks, and a friendly festive atmosphere. Highly recommended if you are in Taipei during this unique event!

12. Visit the National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is one of the best places to visit in Taipei. Even though the museum is enormous, it's still not nearly big enough to display the entire collection of the museum!

The entrance fee is 350NT per person and the museum is closed on Mondays. You can join a guided tour or get an audio guide to learn more about the exhibits.

Here you can find more information about getting to the museum.

Click here to buy your ticket online .

13. Visit the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

The National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is another massive construction (29,464 square meters!), they don't do small buildings in Taiwan!

It was built to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of the Republic of China. You can see his statue in the Large Hall.

Be sure to check out the changing of the guards as well, which takes place every hour on the hour.

14. Go to the cinema and watch a movie on a rainy day

We were in Taipei at the start of typhoon season (June – October) and went to the movies on a rainy day.

I love going to the cinema and doing so in another country is even more fun because of the crazy commercials;-).

There are plenty of movie theatres in Taipei, many showing new international movies. It's a great way to spend a rainy (or just lazy) afternoon!

15. Take a day trip to Tamsui

A great day trip from Taipei is Tamsui (at the end of the red subway line). There are many things to see in this lovely suburb by the ocean, you can easily spend an entire day here!

16. Take a day trip to Beitou

One of my favorite countries in the world is Japan  and the suburb Beitou strongly reminded me of Japan. This area was developed during the Japanese rule in Taiwan, therefore the similarity isn't surprising.

The Japanese love their natural hot springs and Beitou happens to be an area with thermal activity.

There are lots of things to see and do in this little village (such as bathing in one of the Beitou hot springs) and we spent a full day here.

17. Take a day trip to Wulai

Several Taiwanese we spoke to recommend taking a day trip to Wulai. And had it not been pouring, we probably would have stayed the entire day as it really is a beautiful place to visit in Taiwan.

While we did not let the rain keep us from walking to the Wulai waterfall, a longer hike (there are several in the area) did not seem like the best idea.

Wulai is beautiful though, the water has an amazing blue color and the forest is super green. Probably from all the rain;-).

18. Take a day trip to Maokong

Maokong is a pretty little village on the outskirts of Taipei. The town is located on top of a mountain and is most easily accessed by gondola ( buy your ticket online ) or by bus.

From Maokong town you'll have a stunning view over Taipei city.

We forgot to check the schedule of the Maokong Gondola (a little heads up: it's closed on Mondays) so we took the bus (S10) to Maokong village instead. The bus leaves from Taipei Zoo MRT station and costs 15NT per person.

From Maokong village there are several hiking trails leading through the surrounding forests.

We hiked to the Silver Stream Waterfall, also called the Yinhe Cave. It was a lovely hike through the forest and we didn't see anyone else on the trail!

Maokong is known for the cultivation of high-quality tea and there are many teahouses in the village. If you want to get away from busy Taipei, Maokong is a great place to spend a day!

19. Drink cocktails at Shangri-La's Marco Polo bar

The Shangri-La is the tallest hotel in Taipei and their Marco Polo bar offers a grand view of the city and Taipei 101.

They have an amazing selection of cocktails made with typical Taiwanese fruits such as taro and wax apple. The perfect place to have a drink!

20. Eat Italian food at Shangri-La's Marco Polo restaurant

For me, food is one of the most important reasons to travel and the Italian dinner we had at the Marco Polo restaurant in the Shangri-La hotel was absolutely amazing. 

Each dish was beautifully presented and created with so much love and attention to detail

From the locally sourced mozzarella (made by the only Taiwanese artisan cheese shop, the owner learned how to make the perfect cheese in Italy) to the olive oil cake (the recipe was handed down to the chef by his Italian grandmother), everything was delicious!

21. Eat abura soba that tastes as it does in Japan

I'm absolutely obsessed with a Japanese dish called Abura Soba, you can wake me up any time for a bowl of this utter deliciousness!

Whenever we are in a big city with Japanese restaurants, the first thing I do is scour the internet to see if there is one selling abura soba.

In Taipei there was and it was delicious… You can find the location of this lovely little Japanese restaurant in my Taipei map .

22. Eat the best dumplings ever (nope, not at Din Tai Fung)

Oh, these dumplings… Best. Dumplings. Ever. This local shop is run by a very friendly family and is quite famous in the area, every morning people would queue up to get their daily dumpling dose.

We gladly joined the queue because these dumplings are simply divine. A basket of 8 dumplings costs 50NT (a lot less than at Din Tai Fung). Check out their Facebook page here .

Dumplings are a staple at any night market in Taipei , so you're guaranteed to come across these delicious and addictive little favor bombs during your Taipei itinerary.

23. Eat lots of beef noodle soup

During our stay in Taipei, we sampled a lot of beef noodles, both dry and with soup. I marked our 3 favorite spots on the map.

Yong Kang Beef Noodles is mentioned in the Taiwan Lonely Planet but the other 2 are local finds…

24. Relax at the E.R.C. Cafe

This cool spot was very close to our second Airbnb apartment and served the most delicious Oreo milkshakes. We spent several relaxing afternoons there…

25. Explore Taipei by bike

To burn off all that delicious food, we used the Youbike (Taipei's public bike rental system) a lot! A great place for cycling is the bicycle path along the river, you can go all the way to Tamsui!

Taipei travel budget

Are you wondering how much it costs to travel to Taipei? Here is a short breakdown of our average daily expenses in Taipei ( read the full breakdown of our Taiwan travel budget here ).

We spent 12 days in Taipei in total and as you can see above we did a lot of sightseeing in and around the capital city.

We also ate lots of delicious Taiwanese food, traveled by MRT and Youbike, and stayed at budget rooms via Airbnb (as mentioned these are no longer available, check out the Comma Hotel instead).

So how much did we spend in Taipei? Only €55 per day as a couple (€27,50 per person) !  In the table below you can see how we spent our money in Taipei.

I already wrote about the delicious street food we had in Taipei. As you can see in the budget breakdown we spent most of our money on food.

But I mean, you're in Taipei: the capital of great food;-).

Awesome activities in Taipei: in conclusion

As you have seen in this post there are lots of (free) Taipei tourist attractions!

The only paid activities we did were going to the movies and visiting the British Consulate Residence, Fort San Domingo, and Hobe Fort in Tamsui (80NT per person for a combination ticket offering entrance to these three sites).

The rest of the things we did were free! You can download the list of things to see in Taipei below.

I hope this Taipei travel guide has given you plenty of ideas about what to do in Taipei and will help you plan your trip.

Also check out my other posts about travel in Taiwan :

• Kenting National Park
• Taiwan itinerary

This post was updated in November 2022 .

Friday 2nd of June 2023

Great read! I would like to mention that with the easy card you don’t have to register to use the YouBikes :). You just tap the card against the sensor on the bike.

Monday 5th of June 2023

Hey Philip,

Thank you very much for the updated info! I've added it to the post:-) Did you have a nice time in Taipei?

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

This is a very good article about things to do in Taipei. A suggestion that I'd like to add, is a day trip by bus to Jiufen which takes approx 45min by bus from Taipei.

Monday 31st of May 2021

Happy to hear you like the things to do in Taipei post:-) And thank you for your suggestion! I actually have a separate article about the best day trips from Taipei (https://www.phenomenalglobe.com/day-trips-from-taipei/) and Jiufen is #10 on the list:-).

All the best, Lotte

Saturday 7th of December 2019

Definitely a great trip....

It is a wonderful city! Thanks:-)

Thursday 5th of December 2019

Lotte, I envy you for all the places you have seen. I love to travel myself and see things and cultures in different areas. You did an excellent job with the blog. Well organized and a lot of useful information. I read a bit, and book marked the page to come back. I planned a trip next year in May in Asia, and sure could use some info from here. I know you did a lot of work to put this together, and mostly if not all is for readers benefit. So, THANK YOU!

Friday 6th of December 2019

Thank you for your kind words, I'm very happy to hear you like the blog and feel it's well organised, that's my goal! Where in Asia are you planning to visit? In any case, thank you for reading and have a great trip!

Saturday 20th of January 2018

Awesome post! It definitely looks like a cool city to check out. I am looking at moving there for a bit next year so this was very informative. I'll be sure to check out some more of your blog!

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

Oh that's so cool! Taipei is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world:-) Have an amazing time living there and enjoy the delicious food, beautiful nature and friendly people of Taiwan.

8 of the best things to do in Taipei

Oct 12, 2023 • 6 min read

City views, culture and history: here are the best things to do in Taipei © Nate Hovee / Getty Images

There's plenty to do on a visit to Taipei  – you could be admiring spectacular views over the city, experiencing the very best foods in the legendary night markets or learning all about Taiwan's history and culture in its many temples and memorial halls. 

Put these activities at the top of your list to experience the very best of Taipei on your next visit.

1. Take a hike in the wilderness surrounding the city

Taipei is a city surrounded by forested mountains and reaching the lush tracts of wilderness from the city center is surprisingly easy. The route I like best is the spectacular Jinmianshan Trail. It starts just a short walk from Xihu Station and connects with a large number of other trails, which means you can opt to hike for as little or as long as you like. But the most popular hiking route has to be the Xiangshan Trail weaving up the side of Elephant Mountain, which nudges right up against the city center.

Planning tip: The Xiangshan Trail is a one-hour circular route and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views over the city and of the Taipei 101 tower.

2. Admire the rarities at the National Palace Museum

Love a good artifact? You’ll love the National Palace Museum , which has 700,000 ancient imperial artifacts from both China and Taiwan. You’ll find plenty of rarities from China – the museum has close connections with the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City, and many of the exhibits were originally displayed in the museum there. 

The museum is especially popular with art fans, who flock here to admire the enormous collections of decorative carvings, enamelware, ceramics, lacquerware and ceremonial bronzes. My favorite exhibit is the beautifully carved jade cabbage, complete with a locust hiding amongst its leaves. It’s believed the sculpture was given to a former emperor’s consort in the late 19th century.

3. Check out Taipei's beautiful temples 

Taipei lays claim to some of Asia’s most beautiful temples, many of which subscribe to the Southern Chinese style of Qing Dynasty architecture – a style you’ll probably recognize if you’ve been to Singapore. Most Taipei temples pay nods to Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, while a smaller number are dedicated entirely to Buddhism. 

To see the best ones, head to Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods  such as Wanhua, which was once a walled city (only one of the original city gates remain). This is where you’ll find the Bangka Longshan Temple , which dates back to 1738, and the Qingshan Temple , where you’ll find a statue of Zhang Gun – a Taoist deity whose eyes are said to follow visitors as they move around the temple.

Planning tip:  There’s no formal dress code, but remember to dress respectfully, remove shoes and step over each temple’s door sill, rather than on it. These sills are believed to ward off unwanted spirits and remind visitors they’re about to enter a sacred space.

4. Head up Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest buildings

Got a head for heights? Make a beeline for Taipei 101 , which claimed the title of world’s tallest building between 2004 and 2009 when it was eclipsed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. The 1,667-ft (508m) skyscraper has been designed to withstand strong earthquakes – handy considering it’s 600ft from a major fault line.

There are observation decks on levels 88, 89, and 91, although it’s worth noting that the one on level 88 has been designed mainly to provide visitors with a view of the (admittedly spectacular) mass damper – the largest and heaviest one in the world. This enormous steel sphere moves back and forth to counter any movement by the building itself. Head to level 91, which is open-air and has been the setting for several concerts, including performances by Japanese pop band AKT48.

5. Go shopping at a night market 

Taiwan’s night markets are legendary. You’ll find them throughout the city: sprawling clusters of stalls serving up traditional dishes such as braised pork rice, Taiwanese spring rolls and tempura. The most famous ones include Wanhua's Huaxi Night Market, where there’s a focus on traditional dishes (salty rice pudding washed down with snake wine, anyone?) although I'm also a huge fan of the market on Linjiang Street , known for its wallet-friendly cuisine. The offerings aren’t just limited to food either – market stalls sell everything from homeware to clothes.

Planning tip: Hardcore foodies should also squeeze in a visit to Ningxia Night Market, where specialties include oyster omelets, sesame-coated mochi and taro balls.

6. Eat at Din Tai Fung, Taipei's best dumpling restaurant

It’s said that you haven’t tried xiao long bao dumplings unless you’ve sampled the ones at Din Tai Fung , a chain of restaurants which dates back to the 1970s and was founded by Bing Yi-Yang, who moved to Taiwan as a youngster. In 2010, the Hong Kong branch earned a Michelin star – a first for a Taiwanese restaurant – and there are now restaurants in America, Europe and the Middle East. 

Planning tip:  The best place to try the dumplings is the branch at the base of Taipei 101 – a glass-walled kitchen allows visitors to watch chefs at work and waiting staff dash across the restaurant floor carrying wobbling towers of dumpling baskets. I recommend the original xiao long bao dumplings, although the braised beef soup is legendary, too.

7. Tour the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national landmark and memorial erected to honor the late Chiang Kai-shek, the former president of China who fled to Taiwan in 1949 after Communists established the People's Republic of China. Once in Taipei, he established a government in exile and to this day remains Taiwan’s longest-serving leader, albeit a divisive one – his party was responsible for the imprisonment of 140,000 Taiwanese and it’s believed Chiang Kai-shek hoped to regain control of China until the day he died.

Many Taiwanese feel their country’s countless memorials to Chiang Kai-shek should be removed, but whatever your viewpoint, a visit to this one, with its bronze statue of Chiang and the emblem of the Chinese Nationalist Party adorning the vaulted roof, is a great option for anyone keen to learn more about Taiwan’s turbulent past.

8. Visit the National Dr Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

For a different insight into Taiwan’s past, visit the National Dr Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall , a tribute to the man who many see as the father of the Republic of China. He was a physician, revolutionary and political leader who helped overthrow the Qing dynasty in the late 1800s. He became the first President of the Republic of China in 1912 and is revered in both China and Taiwan, where his portrait hangs in parliament. 

There are several exhibition halls filled with Chinese art and a library stuffed with thousands of Chinese manuscripts. For me, though, the biggest attraction is the Central Hall’s hourly changing of the guard, when soldiers in immaculate white uniforms perform a choreographed routine in front of an enormous statue of Dr Sun Yat-Sen.

This article was first published Jan 6, 2022 and updated Oct 12, 2023.

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Top 15 Things To Do In Taipei

Like a gentle and friendly lovechild of Hong Kong and Japan, Taipei combines some of the best elements of those destinations—a juxtaposition of skyscrapers and majestic greenery, amazing sushi, natural hot springs, efficient subway lines, bustling districts, and side streets packed with hidden gems, and plenty of neon lights and street food to start, plus its own distinct identity, cuisine, and culture.

It's also the most LGBTQ-friendly destination in Asia (and home to a major annual Pride celebration), so there's an openness and creativity that makes this an even more unique metropolis that is family-friendly to boot. Here we've rounded up 15 musts for your visit, be it first time or (eventually!) repeat!

Take in the Soaring Views from Taipei 101

Anchoring the buzzing Xinyi district, the 101-floor Taipei 101 skyscraper currently ranks as the 10th-tallest building globally (at 1,667 feet high, it was number one when it opened in 2004). Instantly iconic, with its stacked-containers-like shape, the 101 draws plenty of visitors for its lower levels' luxury shopping and excellent dining (there's a Din Tai Fung), but its observation deck is its must-see attraction. Occupying the 88-91st floors, which includes an outdoor observatory on the 91st, its views of the cityscape and surrounding nature are unbeatable but don't miss the interior's impressive "Super Big Wind Damper," a gold-hued, suspended 660-metric ton steel sphere that keeps the building safe and secure when swaying due to high winds and earthquakes!

Go Street Food Grazing at a Night Market

Street food rules at Taipei's many night markets, where locals flock to get their evening and late-night dining and shopping on (from electronics and clothing to craft beer!). It's good to check out several for a compare-and-contrast and widest selection of things to gorge on (you'll notice some items, like the self-explanatory stinky tofu and oyster omelets, seem to appear at every market). In its impressive guide to Taipei, launched in 2019, Eater sagely recommended Raohe , located behind Ciyou Temple, as one of the current best - it features a few Michelin guide recommended spots to boot —and Tonghua is also a worthy stop with Michelin-cited stalls for sesame and peanut dumplings , fried and tempura treats, and more . Meanwhile, two of the most famous, tourist-friendly night markets, Shilin and Huaxi, are certainly good for some photos.

Visit One of Taipei's "Creative Parks"

Repurposed industrial buildings and complexes serve as the hubs for Taipei's "creative parks," comprised of art galleries, shops, cafes, and temporary art and pop culture-themed attractions for all ages, plus plenty of space to stroll, sit, and mingle. Japanese art superstar Yayoi Kusama had a pop-up cafe and gift shop at one of the best-known, Huashan 1914 , while Songshan Cultural and Creative Park even boasts a boutique hotel from bookstore chain Eslite and arthouse cinema. 2018 saw a new addition to the scene, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB) , in the former Air Force Command Headquarters.

Explore Taipei's Contemporary Art Museums and Galleries

Housed in a former elementary school, the Datong district's Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Taipei is a fantastic two-level venue showcasing mostly Taiwanese work, including tech-forward multimedia. Don't miss the outdoor installations while at it. There's more modern work and exhibitions to be seen at the Taipei Fine Art Museum , while there are plenty of smaller yet notable galleries peppered around the city, including Aki Gallery , Liang Gallery , Galerie Grand Siecle , and Wild Flower Bookstore , the latter bursting with local artists' self-published (and sometimes provocative) books, magazines, and craft items.

Savor Seafood at Addiction Aquatic Development

Oliver Propst / Creative Commons

As Eataly is to Italian food, Taipei's Addiction Aquatic Development is to seafood. From live seafood to a series of restaurants, and especially sushi and sashimi—offered in varying pre-packaged to-go selections to a standing-room omakase—this is a heaven for fish and shellfish fans (the bulging containers of fresh uni at affordable prices alone will have some drooling).

Dive into History at the National Palace Museum

Initially slated to close for a massive, three-year renovation in 2020, plans have changed, and this sprawling, four-story museum will stay open during the process. A good thing, since this massive 700,000-plus item collection of Chinese artifacts and art is impressive and includes a couple of iconic yet deliciously oddball (to Westerners, at least) attractions: specifically, the "Meat Shaped Stone," which perfectly resembles a succulent hunk of stewed pork belly, and jadeite cabbage. You can buy souvenir reproductions, from fridge magnets to coasters, which you can peruse via the online shop as well.

Shop, Walk, and Eat in Xinyi

With the Taipei 101, chic W Hotel , and Grand Hyatt as anchors, the Xinyi district has become one of the most buzzing, trendy, and shiny retail and entertainment hubs (and transportation: its bus station serves cities across Taiwan and the airport). Its 24-hour, department store-style Eslite bookstore carries endless Taiwanese brands of lifestyle goods, while 2019 saw the opening of the sleek Breeze Nanshan , filled with hotly desired local and international brands (e.g., Blue Bottle Coffee) with a particular focus on Japanese food and goods, from a branch of Tokyo's Sarutahiko Coffee to a Wagyu steakhouse on the 47th floor.

Go Bubble Tea Crazy

One of Taiwan's most famous, accessible culinary exports—and still spreading around the globe to places like Krakow, Poland —bubble (or boba ) tea originated in the 1980s when chewy tapioca starch pearls were added to milk tea ("Q" and "QQ" signify perfection of bouncy, toothsome texture). Now, Taiwan's offerings run the gamut from beverage to types of boba (small? large? clear? brown sugar boiled?) to extras galore, and chains and boutiques are ubiquitous. The Zhongzheng district's Chen San Ding perfected "brown sugar boba," a warm scoop of brown sugar-stewed boba served just with milk and shaken, although as of 2020, it's seeking a new location. Chain 50 Lan conveniently has locations throughout Taipei, is consistently good (they deserve a "Q"), and offers both small and large bubbles. And for a unique full-on dessert take on bubble tea, Ice Monster serves a delectable milk tea Taiwanese shaved ice with a side of absolutely perfect warm boba.

See the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

One of Taipei's most iconic and historical attractions, this former site of a military base now entails a 62-acre park, National Concert Hall, National Theater, photogenic gates, and the namesake Hall, commemorating the late President of the Republic of China.

Experience Elevated Taiwanese Flavors at Taipei's Edgiest Restaurants

Courtesy of Logy

Taiwanese flavors and terroir have been elevated and highlighted thanks to creative and avant-garde chefs in recent years, with big thanks due to trailblazing fine dining restaurants RAW and MUME , which opened in 2014 and still churn out incredible and artful seasonal tasting menus and hold both Michelin star and Asia's Top 50 Restaurant status. Newer venues include Chef Kai Ho’s Tarroir , logy (deeply Taiwan-centric sister venue to Tokyo's Florilege), and fusion spot Gen Creative .

Do a Starbucks Crawl (Seriously!)

The Taiwanese love Starbucks, and some locations boast incredibly distinctive merchandise (especially changing seasonal and holiday-themed mugs), items, and absolutely stunning and historic surroundings. Essentially its own gated compound, the Shilin district's Tianyu Starbucks is a two-level brick stone and glass affair with a beautiful, minimalist aesthetic (think MUJI) and outdoor seating, while the Wanhua district's Bangka Xiyuan is a multi-level 1932 home that preserves most of its gorgeous architecture (and there's a dedicated mug for this location!).

Chill Out at One of Beitou's Hot Springs

Taipei's northernmost district is a lush, mountainous haven of natural sulfur hot springs (and a Hot Spring Museum !). Accessible via MRT and taxi, you can make a few hours or overnight trip and relax splurge at one of the many facilities. For the latter, Grand View Resort (they offer a free shuttle from the MRT) features stunning views, rooms, and an assortment of gender-segregated private and public white sulfur baths and pools, while the budget-friendly green sulfur Beitou Public Hot Spring is open to all (and requires a bathing suit since it's co-ed).

Get Lost in the Sidestreets of Da'an

Taipei is full of hidden gems—shops, cafes, galleries, and street food stalls—tucked down its endless lanes and sidestreets. In particular, the Da'an District, home to the Gongguan and Linjiang night markets, is worth getting lost in for a treasure hunt of sorts. A few worth marking the map with: cheeky contemporary hotpot restaurant Mr. Meat , world-class, futuristic molecular cocktail speakeasy ROOM by Le Kief , a taproom for Taiwan's creative craft beer brewery Taihu , and if you want to make Da'an your home base, the Kimpton Da'an and Hotel Proverbs .

Get Loose With a Legit Taiwanese Foot Massage

According to foot reflexology practitioners, the way to someone's heart—and every other organ—is through their feet, and getting a foot massage for health is routine maintenance for many Taiwanese. Venues range from inexpensive and bare-bones to atmospheric and luxurious, and some are open 24 hours. A more medicinal-style massage can be a little punishing for newcomers, loosening up a tightness you never realized existed, but some massage spots will go much more gentle on non-Chinese clients.

Experience Asia's Biggest LGBTQ Pride

Taiwan is widely regarded as Asia's most gay-friendly destination thanks to its massive annual Pride celebration in late October, legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019 , and an open-air nightlife complex known as the Red House /Red Mansion. If you can't make it for Pride, definitely swing by the two-level Red House in Ximending, which is host to dozens of LGBTQ bars and cafés for almost every crowd, clothing and accessory shops, and more. If the weather's good, grab a seat outdoors and savor the vibe!

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How I Spent 72 Hours in Taipei [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Ehsan Haque

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Michael Y. Park

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Table of Contents

Arriving in taipei, taiwan, where to stay in taipei, my favorite street food in taipei, final thoughts.

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Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a dream travel destination for many.

It’s a bustling metropolis best known for blending modern conveniences with traditional culture. The city features famous and dominating skyscrapers as well as historic temples. It is also known for its night markets (which have some of the best street food on the planet), the efficient metro system that makes getting around easy, and the wonderful and hospitable locals.

So, when I had the opportunity to travel to Taipei for an inexpensive cash fare from Seoul, South Korea (where I was at the time), I took full advantage of it.

Here’s a look at how I spent 72 hours in Taipei, one of my new favorite places to travel.

Most international travelers, especially those from the U.S., fly into Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) . Fortunately, several airlines fly between the U.S. and Taipei.

From the U.S.,  you can fly nonstop to Taipei on 5 different airlines . Here’s a table of the airlines and the nonstop routes you can fly:

If you are flying into Taipei from China, Japan, or South Korea, consider pricing flights into the smaller Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA).

Although I stayed with a friend in Taipei, there are endless hotel options to choose from. Taipei has many cost-effective local hotels, boutique properties, and hostels, but there are also major hotel chains, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG.

Although Taipei is rather large, it is well-connected by public transportation. However, many of its main attractions are spread out, so choosing which area to stay in can be tricky.

As for the accommodations, there are good options, no matter your budget or where you choose to stay. Here’s a look at some of the most popular and convenient Taipei neighborhoods.

Taipei Main Station

If you are looking for the most convenience, the area around Taipei Main Station is where you’ll want to be.

The area is filled with restaurants, cafés, and cheap hotels. There are also several underground malls and shopping streets. Of course, you can also find luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants in the area.

Taipei Main Station is the city’s main transportation hub. Here, you can find the Taiwan Railway Corporation trains, the High Speed Rail, the intersection of the red and blue Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT or Metro) lines, the Airport MRT , and the Taipei bus station.

Hotel Resonance Taipei, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is located near Taipei Main Station.

Ximending , or Ximen, is in Wanhua District, the old city of Taipei. The area has kept a historical feeling many other areas of Taipei have long lost.

Ximending is a pedestrian-only shopping district famous for its funky shops, hip cafés, bars and restaurants, LGBT-friendly scene, history, and some of Taipei’s best street food.

It is only 1 MRT stop (about a 15-minute walk) from Taipei Main Station, making it convenient, as well. This area has hotels across all budgets, but there are many cheaper options. Suz & Catorze Taipei, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is in the Ximending area.

Around Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is probably the most recognizable sight in Taiwan. It is in the Eastern District of Taipei, one of the city’s newest areas. This modern area boasts most of the city’s skyscrapers and also has world-class shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

As a result, the area tends to be quite high-end and higher priced than the rest of the city. It has many of Taipei’s most upscale hotels, like the Grand Hyatt Taipei and the Le Méridien Taipei . There are also more budget hotels.

After arriving at  Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at around 5 a.m. from Seoul, I was excited to be in Taipei for the first time and was eager to begin exploring. At a convenience store at the airport, I purchased an EasyCard , Taiwan’s most popular and common reloadable, contactless smart card.

The EasyCard is the go-to payment method for most locals and tourists. It can be used to pay for public transportation, purchases at convenience stores and supermarkets, and even for certain tourist attractions across Taiwan.

You can purchase an EasyCard at any MRT station in Taiwan (including Airport MRT stations) or any convenience store (such as 7-Eleven or FamilyMart).

An adult EasyCard costs NT$100 (about $3). You also have the option to pick from multiple EasyCard designs (which generally cost more).

You also need to load some money onto the card before using it. Public transportation in Taipei is relatively inexpensive. However, as I expected to take full advantage of the incredible public transportation that I had heard about, I loaded NT$400 ($12).

From the Airport MRT station, I took the express service train directly to Taipei Main Station. I then took a local bus to get to my friend’s apartment to catch up with him and drop off my bags. After a few hours, I was ready to head out and explore Taipei.

Grand Hotel Taipei

Since my friend’s apartment is in the Shilin area of Taipei, I thought it would be best to explore the area. My first stop was the Grand Hotel Taipei , a 15-minute walk from my friend’s place.

The Grand Hotel Taipei is an icon of Chinese culture and is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Taipei. It is T aiwan’s first 5-star hotel and has hosted many foreign dignitaries over the years.

The hotel was built in May 1952 but has undergone several expansions. At 285 feet, it is now one of the tallest Chinese classical buildings in the world.

The hotel features a palace-inspired exterior with golden roof tiling and red columns, which showcase Chinese architecture and culture. There are also dragon sculptures throughout the structures that make up the hotel.

The hotel’s interior was just as stunning when I went. The expansive lobby made a powerful first impression, blending luxury with cultural flair. The hotel featured impressive decor, including art pieces, sculptures, and other cultural artifacts.

Each of the 8 guest floors represented a different Chinese dynasty, as evidenced by the different decor and artwork on each floor. They also featured impressive details, such as elegant lighting fixtures.

Plane-Spotting at Yuan Shan

My friend told me that if I wanted a nice surprise, I should make my way to one of the several viewpoints in the Yuan Shan Scenic Area .

I followed one of several hiking trails from the Grand Hotel Taipei. The hike took about 45 minutes but could have been much shorter without a sudden rainstorm. I made it to one of the numerous viewpoints and was surprised to see a China Eastern plane about to land at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) within a few seconds of my arrival.

Taipei Songshan Airport is a regional airport and serves mainly domestic destinations in Taiwan. It also serves international destinations, including Seoul, Tokyo, and select cities in China. The bigger (and much farther) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport serves most of Taipei’s other international flights.

Some of the more notable airlines flying in and out of Songshan Airport include Air China, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines, China Eastern, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines.

After about 20 minutes, I could also spot an ANA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft coming from Tokyo.

This viewpoint was a rather nice surprise. As an aviation enthusiast, I could have spent hours here if it hadn’t been raining so much at the time. Still, I enjoyed the 30 or so minutes I spent there.

After walking down from the Yuan Shan Scenic Area, I went to the closest MRT station and rode the MRT toward Taipei 101 .

Taipei 101 is, without a doubt, the most important landmark of Taiwan. It serves as a symbol of Taiwan’s growth and recognition on the global stage. The building features a modern architectural style influenced by traditional Asian aesthetics, with a pagoda-inspired design.

Including its spire, Taipei 101 is 508 meters (1,667 feet) high. It held the title of the world’s tallest building from 2004 until 2010, when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed it.

The building features 2 observation decks (on the 88th and 89th floors), a luxury shopping mall (Taipei 101 Mall), and the famous large tuned mass damper, which helps stabilize the building against strong winds and earthquakes.

I decided not to go to the building’s observation decks. Instead, I went somewhere free nearby that required another hike.

Elephant Mountain or Xiangshan Trail

After walking and photographing the streets around Taipei 101, I headed toward Elephant Mountain . Elephant Mountain, also known as Xiangshan , is a prominent mountain near the heart of Taipei City with several hiking trails.

The main trail to the viewpoint offered stunning panoramic views of Taipei City and Taipei 101. The trail was a mix of stairs and dirt paths, took me about 20 to 30 minutes to climb, and is considered moderately challenging.

Along the trail, there were several viewpoints where I could stop to admire the scenery. However, the most popular viewpoint is the Elephant Mountain Trail Viewpoint , which offers unobstructed, panoramic views of the Taipei City skyline.

After a long first day that involved 2 separate hikes, I was ready to see more of Taipei’s main attractions. However, I was more interested in seeing the cultural parts of what Taipei had to offer.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

I started the day by visiting another symbol of Taipei: the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall . The monument was built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former president of the Republic of China.

The memorial hall was blue and white, representing the blue sky and 12 rays of a white sun. The ground level featured a library and a museum documenting Chiang’s life and career. Several exhibits detailed Taiwan’s turbulent history and modern development.

Inside, there was also a bronze statue of Chiang. On weekdays, there is a changing of the guard ceremony.

228 Peace Memorial Park

I then walked to 228 Peace Memorial Park , which is about a 10-minute walk from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This important historical site commemorates the February 28 Incident in 1947 .

The event began a period of political unrest and violence in Taiwan under the Kuomintang government. A conflict between government officials and civilians led to protests and a crackdown that resulted in widespread violence, casualties, and subsequent martial law.

Throughout the park, I found various memorials, shrines, and educational exhibits dedicated to the victims of the 228 Incident. There were also several green spaces and walking paths.

The park provided great insight and a reminder of Taiwan’s journey toward democracy and human rights. It honored the victims of past injustices and promoted a message of peace, reconciliation, and unity among its people, all of which I found to be quite interesting.

Airplane Alley

As mentioned before, Taipei Songshan Airport is Taipei’s smaller and much closer airport. As it’s so close to the city, there are many vantage points where you can see planes taking off and landing (perfect for AvGeeks). One of those points is Airplane Alley .

As its name suggests, Airplane Alley is a small viewing platform on Binjiang Street Lane 180. It is just at the edge of TSA’s runway, behind an airport security fence. No tall buildings obstruct the view. 

Because of the runway’s close proximity, there were tailwinds from the aircraft engines, and the planes taking off and landing could be quite loud. However, it was absolutely worth it.

A few minutes after arriving, I saw this ANA 787 Dreamliner preparing to take off.

Raohe Street Night Market

After about 30 minutes of watching several planes take off and land, it was almost dark, so I headed toward one of what makes Taiwan so special: its night markets. The night markets are world-renowned for their lively atmosphere and diverse food offerings, which are ingrained in Taiwanese culture.

I headed to Raohe Street Night Market , one of Taipei’s oldest and most famous night markets. These markets are well-known for stalls serving diverse street food.

Along with the street food, I found shops selling clothing, accessories, gadgets, and souvenirs. The night market also had the Songshan Ciyou Temple , a Taoist temple that dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

I spent about an hour exploring the market and trying out many of Taiwan’s most famous street dishes (more on that below).

Since I had only 1 more full day in Taipei, I wanted to see some of its famous temples. I began with 2.

Taipei Confucius Temple

The Taipei Confucius Temple is a Confucian temple in Datong District. It honors one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Confucius, and is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in the philosopher’s hometown of Qufu, Shandong.

The temple was built in 1879 during the Qing Dynasty. However, it was demolished during the Japanese occupation and was rebuilt in 1930. As it stands today, it displays all the characteristics of traditional Chinese temple architecture.

Every year on September 28, a grand ceremony with traditional music and stylized dancing is held at the temple in honor of Confucius.

Dalongdong Baoan Temple

Across the street from the Confucius temple is the Dalongdong Baoan Temple , also known simply as the Baoan Temple. The Baoan Temple was originally constructed in 1742 during the Qing Dynasty to honor the Taoist Emperor Baosheng, revered for healing and protective powers.

Like the Confucius Temple, this temple exemplified traditional Chinese temple architecture. It featured ornate roof decorations, intricate carvings, and vibrant painted motifs. The inside of the temple boasted carefully crafted sculptures, statues of gods and goddesses, and religious altars where worshippers offered prayers and incense.

In 2003, the temple was inducted into the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation, symbolizing its historical and spiritual importance.

Shilin Night Market

After having so much fun at the Raohe Street Night Market the night before, I decided to visit the Shilin Night Market , another famous night market in Taipei.

Like the Raohe Street Night Market, the Shilin Night Market offered a variety of food vendors and small restaurants on a larger scale. However, this market also had many non-food vendors. At Shilin Night Market, I also found video arcades, karaoke bars, furniture stores, photo shops, and pet shops.

The Shilin Night Market perfectly embodied Taiwan’s culinary diversity and showed the true scale of its dynamic urban life.

Taipei has an incredible food scene, from jaw-dropping street food to world-class restaurants. In my travels, I almost always go the street route. There may not be a better city in the world for delicious street food.

Taiwanese cuisine is diverse and reflects the island’s rich history and cultural influences. Its cuisine has been shaped by centuries of immigration and cultural exchange among indigenous Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and other cultures. This combination of flavors and cooking methods has created some of the best food on earth.

Here’s a look at some of the best street food that Taipei has to offer.

Of course, we start with bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea or boba tea. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has become famous worldwide.

Bubble tea starts with chewy tapioca pearls (boba) made from tapioca starch derived from cassava roots. Then, a tea base, usually black or green, is brewed and chilled. Lastly, the tea is mixed with milk or creamer (some variations use fruit flavors or juices). Bubble tea is typically served cold, often over ice, making it a refreshing beverage.

Stinky Tofu

Probably the most well-known and polarizing Taiwanese snack, stinky tofu, is not for everyone. It is renowned for its strong, pungent (in my opinion, disgusting) odor. It is often described as smelling like strong cheese or garbage.

Stinky tofu is made by fermenting fresh tofu in brine with vegetables, meat, and herbs. It is typically deep-fried until crispy on the outside and can also be served braised or steamed.

Despite the strong smell, stinky tofu can be surprisingly mild and savory. It is often accompanied by chili or spicy sauces to balance out the taste.

Beef Noodle Soup

One of Taiwan’s national dishes, beef noodle soup, is also worth trying. In fact, it is probably the most traditional street food available in Taiwan.

Taiwanese beef noodle soup is made with braised beef, green onions, pickled mustard vegetables, and a flavorful broth infused with herbs and spices. The result is a perfect bowl of spicy, savory, fresh, and salty flavors.

Fuzhou Pepper Bun

Another famous Taiwanese street food delicacy is the black pepper bun, which is known for its savory and aromatic flavors.

Black pepper buns typically consist of dough bread filled with ground pork or beef marinated in soy sauce, garlic, onions, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. They are traditionally baked in a tandoor-like clay oven, which makes the outer layer crispy (giving it a distinct golden-brown crust) while keeping the inside juicy and flavorful.

Taipei is a dream destination for many and is now undoubtedly one of my favorite Asian cities. I had wanted to visit here for so long and left the city excited about returning someday.

Taipei has so much to offer. The city has some of the best street food in the world and some of the friendliest people I’ve met in all my travels.

I am so excited to head back in the near future. Fortunately, getting to Taipei from the U.S. is quite easy, as several airlines offer nonstop routes between select U.S. cities and Taipei. Best of all, you can use points and miles to get there!

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