From the moment we first went to Taipei, this city stole our hearts. We’ve since returned many times.
If you’re planning your first visit and don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 favorite things to do in Taipei. Let’s dive in!
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👉 Bonus Tip: This is how to best get from the airport to Taipei!
Visit Taipei Night Markets
If you think of Taipei, the first thing that should come to mind is street food. For the best street food the place to be is absolutely one of Taipei’s many night markets.
We really enjoyed going to the Raohe night market, which is set up in a long street. To get to this night market you take the green metro line and exit at station Songshan. From there it’s about a 100 meters until you’re welcomed by the Ciyou Temple and the famous night market entrance gate.
As soon as you enter the smell of Taiwanese food fills the air. There are many things available that are worth it to try, such as: meat-filled buns made in a traditional oven, crispy bbq pork or even stinky tofu.
Hike Elephant Mountain
This suggestion is not for the faint hearted. It’s hiking to the viewpoint of: Elephant Mountain. The Elephant mountain also known as, Xiangshan, is a 540 meter long trail that leads you up to a beautiful panoramic viewpoint of Taipei with in the middle: the Taipei 101.
There are about 600 steps to take you up and depending on your level of fitness and how busy it is this takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Our tip is to go in your most comfortable outfit and to definitely bring some water with you, because Taipei can get hot (and humid)!
The best time to is in the morning when it’s cooler or during sunset for amazing views.. We do really love this trail and while there are many steps it’s really not that hard!
Panoramic Views at Taipei 101
Now that we’ve got to admire the tower from Elephant Mountain, this list would not be complete without visiting the Taipei 101! This is the most famous tower of Taipei and it held the record for the world’s tallest tower (508m) from 2004 until 2010.
To get to Taipei 101 you can easily take the red line to station ‘Taipei 101’ and take exit 4 or 5 to find yourself at the entrance of the building. Once you’re inside simply take the elevator to the fifth floor for the entrance and ticket office.
You can buy a regular ticket for floors 88 and 89, an upgraded ticket to the 101st floor, and you can even do a walk on the roof. Provided that the weather cooperates you’ll have a beautiful view from each floor. A fun bonus at the Taipei 101 is that you can also see the stabilizer ball that actually stabilizes the tower!
The Taipei 101 can get busy especially during holidays and weekends so make sure to book your tickets in advance.
Eat at Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is an iconic Taiwanese restaurant that cannot be missed. Famous for the Xiao Long Bao, this restaurants draws lots of people throughout the day.
In case you don’t know Xiao Long Bao are delicate dumplings filled with pork (although there are many other varieties too) and a delicious soup broth.
The name Xiao Long Bao means little dragon bun. As soon as you bite into one, you’ll understand why. Luckily the restaurant hands out instructions for first time xiao long bao tasters so make sure to follow them and enjoy!
Just a quick tip: Din Tai Fung is super popular so be prepared to wait. There are multiple locations all around so we advise to avoid their Taipei 101 location, unless you really love waiting, then this one is for you.
If you want to avoid the crowds altogether you can also book the Din Tai Fung Restaurant Experience and skip a large part of the line.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is one of the most popular landmarks and things to visit in Taipei.
To get here you take the red or green line to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall stop. Then take exit 5 and make your way to the liberty arches. When you move through the gate you can see the largest public square of Taiwan.
This whole complex was built in memory of the former leader of Taiwan Chiang Kai-Shek and here you can see a big statue of him.
When you want to go up to the memorial you’ll see two sets of stairs of exactly 89 steps, which was the age that Chiang Kai Shek passed away. And when you look up further you can see the octagonal roof that symbolizes the number 8 for abundance and good fortune.
Inside the memorial hall you’ll also find the famous changing of the guard ceremony and that happens every hour.
Explore the Ximending district
Ximending is a district that represents the energetic, fun and urban vibe of Taipei. To get here you can take either the blue or green metro line, stop at Ximen and go to Exit 6!
The Ximending District really comes to life in the evening and there will be lots of people, shops and lots of street food.
Taiwan is the birthplace of Bubble Tea and a MUST try is Xing Fu Tang at their flagship store in Ximending. The lines are long, but they move fast and their classic boba with brown sugar is delicious and popular for a reason.
Stay in the Ximending District
Since this area is so accessible and close to Taipei’s Main Train Station we recommend staying in this area if you’re a first time visitor. We recently stayed at the Citizen M hotel and this Hotel is only a 5 to min walk from Ximending. As an added bonus you’ll have the blue and green MRT line at your as well as the purple line with direct access to the airport on your doorstep.
The rooms are compact and smartly decorated. This means that while not big in space they’re very practical. The beds are comfy too and we absolutely loved the view we had of the city.
Visit the 228 Peace Memorial Park
Our favorite park is The 228 Peace Memorial Park and you can reach it by taking the red line and getting out at NTU Hospital, exit 1 or 4. You’ll then walk directly into the park.
This historic park is one of the oldest of Taipei and is dedicated to the 228 Peace monument. It’s a beautiful place to take a relaxing stroll and there are many things to see at the park such as the large amphitheater and a Chinese pavilion with the Cui Heng Chamber in the water.
Inside the park you can also find the National Taiwan Museum, which is a beautiful building with on the inside history and art.
Taipei’s Oldest Street
Moving on to Dihua Street, which is considered to be Taipei’s oldest street. This street was such a surprisingly nice visit for us as it perfectly combines the old Taipei with the new. You can find all kinds of shops, stalls and lots of food of course.
And don’t forget to visit the Yong Le Market, a covered market with food stalls and fresh produce and all kinds of delicious fish.
Pro tip: if you visit on the weekend the whole street will be car free!
Chifeng Street in Zhongshan
Another great street to visit is Chifeng Street and here you’ll find many thrift shops, cafés and homemade goods. The easiest way to get here is by taking the red line and exit Zhongshan 1 or 4.
Chifeng and the area surrounding it is a trendy place where old meets new. You’ll find alleyways packed with specialty coffee shops, delicious bakeries, thrift stores and just an overall fun place to walk around!
Visit the nearby Mountain Town of Jiufen
You can do many things in and around Taipei, but if you have time we definitely recommend on taking a daytrip to Jiufen. This old gold mining town is famously knowns as the “spirited away” mountain town and it has turned a super popular tourist destination.
So while it is not exactly a hidden gem, you’ll still feel like you’re stepping back in history with its old alleyways, traditional tea houses and beautiful views.
Now, the best time to come here is just before sunset so you can also catch the evening when all the lanterns are lit. It can be VERY busy, but we still think it’s absolutely worth it to go.
If you want to see more than one town you can also go on a daytrip that includes more nearby higlights such as Yehliu Geopark and the town of Shifen.
Our Top 10 Things to Do in Taipei
So that’s it 10 things that we love to do in Taipei! We also made a video of all the things we mentioned in this article which you can check-out below.
Thanks for reading & safe travels!
– Laurens & Laura
Laura is the co-founder of Yes and Explore and a travel professional with over 10 years of experience in the tourism industry. She loves sharing her insider knowledge and practical tips to help you make the most of every trip.
