Looking for things to do in Taipei? No visit to Taiwan is complete without a stop in its capital.
Steeped in history and culture, Taipei provides its visitors with world-class restaurants, picturesque monuments, exotic night markets, and intoxicating temples – all in a safe, cosmopolitan cityscape.
There’s a little something for everyone in Taipei, and it’s the ideal place to use as a stepping-stone for exploring the rest of Taiwan.
Things to do in Taipei
One could easily live in Taipei for years without seeing all that it has to offer.
However, if you’re only in Taipei for a few days, there are certainly a few major attractions to include on your bucket list.
Taiwan Temples
Taiwan is primarily a Buddhist nation; temples to various gods are present all over the country. In Taipei, be sure to check out the following temples:
The Longshan Temple is one of Taipei’s oldest, dating back to 1738. It is a multi-denominational temple worshiping Buddhist, Taoist and Matsu deities.
Longshan Temple
The Confucius Temple is devoted to the memory of Confucius, China’s greatest teacher, and offers free tours and classes to further its tradition of education.
This temple values simplicity, and lacks some of the adornment popular in other temples.
Confucius Temple
The Xingtian Temple is one of Taipei’s busiest, and is dedicated to Guangong, the god of war and martial arts.
Xingtian Temple
At many of the temples in the city you’ll find people praying with incense sticks and leaving food for the gods.
It is also common to see people throwing small oracle blocks to the ground. This is a method of fortune telling, in which ‘yes/no’ questions can be answered via the way the blocks land.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial
Sun Yat Sen
Sun Yat-sen is considered the founder of modern China; the Sun Yat-sen Memorial serves as a monument to the leader as well as a social and educational center.
There is a decent museum that provides information on Dr. Sun, although little of it is in English. The changing of the guard is an interesting watch.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
In addition to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial, be sure to stop by the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial.
The memorial grounds include the National Concert Hall and National Theatre, a beautiful area to wander with locals on a late afternoon. Tourists can also climb the stairs at the memorial to view the colossal statue of and tribute to the late Chiang Kai-Shek.
National Palace Museum
National Palace Museum
If you enjoy museums, then a visit to the National Palace Museum is a must.
Taiwanese have a running joke that this is the place to go should China ever decide to bomb as it is filled with the world’s largest collection of Chinese art.
Some of the pieces date back thousands of years into Chinese history, including Buddhist artifacts inherited from the Forbidden City.
Yangminshan Park
For nature lovers, we recommend a stop at Yangmingshan Park.
Just on the outskirts of the city, Yangmingshan has mountains to climb, rivers to trace, and gardens to wander. There are options for all fitness levels, and the mountains are truly stunning.
Best Neighborhoods To Explore in Taipei
Danshui
One of the amazing things about Taipei is that one moment you can be walking past towering skyscrapers and world-renowned stores like Gucci or Prada, and the next you can be meandering down small alleyways with traditional red lanterns adorning small, family owned restaurants.
Our advice would be to set out in any direction and get lost.
- Da’an is a great district to start your explorations. The contrast between old world charm and modernity is everywhere.
- Danshui is a quaint, riverfront neighborhood on the outskirts of Taipei. Check out its bustling Gongming St and waterfront walkway, where street vendors, performers and carnival games are plentiful.
- Beitou is the best neighborhood in Taipei to experience hot springs. Stay at a chic hotel with private hot springs, or simply take a dip in the public hot springs open daily. Remember to bring your swim cap though—they’re required!
Where To Eat In Taipei
The night markets!
If you want to truly understand Taiwanese culture, then experiencing a Taiwanese night market is a must! They’re chaotic and crowded, but night markets provide an intimate look at how many Taiwanese spend their weekends. And of course, the food is delicious!
Be brave and try the stinky tofu or chicken hearts on a skewer, or opt for the safer oyster omelets and fried chicken. Be sure to wash it all down with a signature pearl milk tea.
If you are looking for a sit-down dining experience, be sure to visit Din Tai Fung. The famous dumpling house has venues all around the world, but it originated in Taipei.
For an eccentric, one-of-a-kind restaurant, try one of Taipei’s theme restaurants. It’s not so much about the food as the ambiance; remember to bring your camera! Some of the more popular options are the Barbie Café, Hello Kitty Sweets, and the Modern Toilet (where, you guessed it—all the food comes served in toilets!)
While the food is just average, a stop at the Taiwan Beer Brewery is a great place to sample the local brew and enjoy live music.
You Can’t Visit Taipei Without Eating?
Beef noodles
Taiwan’s national dish, there is even an annual beef noodle competition where chefs compete to create the most scrumptious variation.
A pile of noodles, chunks of fatty beef, and a simple beef broth combine to create this sensational dish. Each restaurant has its own unique flavor; experiment until you find your favorite!
Where To Stay In Taipei
Unfortunately, accommodation costs much more in Taiwan than in many other Asian countries.
Don’t expect to find $7 a night guesthouses like you might in Vietnam! We haven’t had huge luck with hotels in Taipei and much prefer to use a website like Couchsurfing or Airbnb to find accommodation.
However, there are lots of options, especially if you don’t mind spending a bit of money on this aspect of your travels.
Budget
Happy Family Hostel – A basic but clean hostel with an excellent location across the street from the bus station. It’s simple, but at around $15.00 for a 4-person dorm, it’s also a great value.
Mid-Range
Most hotels in Taipei will fall into this category. There are literally hundreds of hotels going for around $60-$100 a night. Expect small rooms with mediocre ‘western’ style breakfasts.
Luxury
W Taipei - It commands an ideal location in the Xinyi district and boasts a large contemporary art collection from around the world. We haven’t personally stayed here, but we have heard good things.
Shopping and Markets in Taipei
Shopping at Wufengpu
If you’re looking for unique, budget purchases, then head to Taipei’s night markets.
Along with food and beverages, you’ll find clothes, trinkets, souvenirs, shoes, and home goods. You can find almost anything! Shilin is Taipei’s biggest night market and one of our favorites.
Taipei has a weekend Jade and Flower market. This is the best place to pick up handcrafted souvenirs and jewelry. The local disabled population makes most of the handicrafts, so it’s also a great way to give back to the community.
If you’re looking for clothes, nothing beats shopping at Wufenpu. Here you’ll find over 100 wholesale clothing shops. You can literally find anything here, including purses, belts, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, baby clothing, puppy clothing (seriously), jewelry and shoes.
Wufenpu is as inexpensive as it gets in Taiwan, and all of my proudest purchases have come from here.
Festivals and Events in Taipei
Taiwan’s numerous festivals are reason enough to visit the island!
If you’re in Taipei after Chinese New Year, be sure to check out Lantern Festival, which portrays hundreds of large themed lanterns, traditional Chinese lanterns, and modern electric lanterns.
Every spring, the small town of Jhuzihu outside of Taipei is overcome by white, delicate Calla lilies, as field after field bursts into nearly two million blooms during the Calla Lily Festival.
Finally, in June, attend (or even take part in!) the dragon boat races in honor of Dragon Boat Festival.
Best Place For A Night On The Town?
Remember that Taiwanese don’t party so much. If you want to drink with Taiwanese, your best bet is to head to a local restaurant with large, round tables.
Often Taiwanese will invite you to join them, and before you know it you’ll be taking shots of Taiwan beer all night long. Remember, the term ‘gambe’ means bottoms up!
There are many western style bars and clubs to keep you going until the wee hours of the morning. Revolver and The Brass Monkey are almost always packed with foreigners and good places to socialize.
Dance the night away at the club Luxy, where occasionally there are performances by popular artists like LMFAO.
Getting Around Taipei
Taipei is an extremely easy city to navigate.
The MRT (metro) can get you just about anywhere in the city at a very affordable cost.
There’s also numerous bus lines and of course taxis. Most locals drive scooters, though you will need a Taiwanese license to rent one and it can be extremely dangerous driving in the traffic if you’re not used to it!
Finding Wi-Fi in Taipei
Wi-Fi is available for free at most cafes and restaurants, and even some convenience stores.
You’ll also find visitor/tourist information centers at many metro stops, where there is always free Wi-Fi and computers available for use.
But it even gets easier than that – if you have a local phone number, visit a tourist center and pick up your free registration password for iTaiwan, a free Wi-Fi network throughout the island.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Taipei?
One of the biggest downsides to living in Taiwan is the constant rain. The winters are surprisingly cold, too. We prefer the months of October and May, when the weather is comfortable and the skies very blue!
Favorite Side-Trip from Taipei?
Long Dong Taiwan
Travel in Taiwan is very convenient with its intricate train, high-speed rail, and bus networks. Plus, Taiwan itself is quite small, making trips around the island easy!
There are tons of options for day trips from Taipei, but our favorite would definitely be Long Dong – stunning scenery, world-class rock climbing, and great hiking and scuba diving.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll love Long Dong. The east coast of Taiwan is arguably the most beautiful, and just a few hours away from Taipei by train.
Best Insider’s Tip for Taipei
Whatever it is you need, head to a 7-eleven first. These stores are so much more than the convenient stores we are accustomed to in the west.
You can mail packages, pay bills, buy full meals and coffee (and underwear), fax, buy concert tickets, pay speeding tickets… the list goes on and on!
I love Taipei because _____?
There are so many reasons why we love Taipei, but the first answer is always the people.
Taiwanese are incredibly hospitable and generous, going above and beyond to help foreigners. I have never felt so welcome anywhere in the world!
Milly Wang
WAHU1D1401
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