What To Do in Taipei Taiwan: An Insider Guide to the Best 8

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Woww, it’s crazy to think that out of all the countries in the world – Taiwan was the third country I ever traveled to. Now back then, I was just a lil baby traveler. I wasn’t thinking about what to do in Taipei, or the best hidden gems of the country, or whatever it is “locals do” when they want to have fun.

Coincidentally, I ended up experiencing a lot of those things anyway because I visited with my Taiwanese friend (and her family that we went to see). But the point was when I visited, I wasn’t a blogger and I wasn’t compiling pictures and taking note of details to add to a blog. Thankfully for all of you, writer and expat-Taiwanese resident Nick Kembel of Spiritual Travels said he would help me put together a list of what to do in Taipei, Taiwan for first time visitors!

Thank goodness, cuz I have the memory of a goldfish and could use some help hahah. So let’s start with the basics!

Why Taipei?

Out of all the major cities in Asia, what my attract travelers to Taipei? Not everyone is a “go for the heck of it” kind of traveler, because some people have limited time off/limited money/limited patience/etc etc, so they want to maximize their potential enjoyment when they travel.

Makes sense!

Honestly, you won’t truly know if you’ll like Taipei until you actually go and experience it, but here are some characteristics about the city to help give you a ballpark idea.

In general, Taipei is a bustling city – smaller than Tokyo, but still very much a CITY so it does have a little something for everyone who likes cities, from geothermal springs and terraced tea fields, to art villages and cat cafés.

Taipei is one of the safest cities in the world, which makes it a great location for newer solo travelers who want to experience something TOTALLY new but don’t want to take the training wheels off just yet. (If that’s you, definitely check out my safety tips for solo travelers btw!) Connected to that, Taipei has a phenomenal transportation system so it’s super easy and convenient to get around.

There is some shopping, of course, but I’d say the best shopping in Taipei is definitely at their night markets, which is a bit of a different vibe if you prefer high-end boutiques, but still fun to check out. Last but certainly not least, the Taiwanese capital boasts one of the best street food scenes in Asia. Honestly, best food scenes in Asia. HONESTLY, best food scenes in the world.

Yanno, in my humble opinion.

How to Get Around Taipei

And…yeah, that’s Taipei in a nutshell. If you’re still interested in visiting – WOOHOO, keep reading! With so many things to do in Taipei, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s where Nick and I come in! We’ll walk you through some of Taipei’s top attractions (aka tourist sights, fun neighborhoods, cultural experiences) as well as hotels to stay at and places to eat (spoiler: everywhere), but we’ll get to the other points in a bit.

Let’s get you inside the city first!

From Taoyuan International Airport, hop on the new Taipei Airport MRT line to get directly to Taipei Main Station (NT160, 35-38 minutes). A taxi from the airport to the city will cost NT800-1200 ($25USD-$37USD), depending on where you’re going.

Or you can book a private transfer from the airport. I recently took a private airport transfer and lemme tell ya…it’s worth the few extra dollars if you’ve got it.

The MRT is the lifeline of Taipei, it’ll take you pretty much everywhere in the city. Purchase an EasyCard (also called a Yoyo Card) before you board the airport MRT or from any MRT station. You can use it for the MRT, the city buses, short ferries, and even some taxis now have an EasyCard scanner. You can also use them at most convenience stores – how convenient! The NT100 deposit will be refunded when you return it at the end of your trip.

Where to Stay in Taipei

Since Taipei is pretty well connected, the neighborhood you stay in won’t limit you on what to do in Taipei, but we’ll still go over the different areas of Taipei you can stay in and help you choose your hotel! Since Taipei is relatively safe for a major city (remember, safety is subjective, but more than likely you won’t have any issues), choosing a homebase in Taipei will boil down to personal preferences.

For this, I’m gonna turn it over to Nick who has lived in Taiwan for over ten years now and can definitely give you an overview of where to stay in Taipei!

Wanhua District

Wanhua is the “Old City” of Taipei. Here’s you’ll find Longshan Temple, the most important temple in the city. Parts of Wanhua are the least updated and new in Taipei, but it’s still extremely safe, and street photographers will love exploring the area.

By contrast, Xinmending is the city’s funkiest neighborhood, sometimes even called the “Harajuku of Taiwan”. This pedestrian-only shopping district is where youths and tourists go to shop and dine in quirky cafés and restaurants, include poop-themed Modern Toilet restaurant. Here you’ll also find some of the best street art in Taipei.

For first time visitors who want a mix of traditional yet quirky, stay in Xinmending.

Hotel Recommendation: Cho Hotel (Ximending)

Dadaocheng Area

History lovers should head straight to Dihua Street in Dadaocheng area. The neighborhood lies just north of Wanhua in Datong District. The riverside wharf in Dadaocheng was once the city’s main port. Dihua Street, which runs for many blocks parallel to the river, thrived as a trading place of tea, Chinese herbs, and other dried goods.

The architecture along the street features everything from Qing Dynasty Chinese-style homes to baroque revival architecture favoured by the Japanese during the colonial era. Many original goods and tea shops remain, while beside them countless cute cafés and restaurants occupy 100+ year old edifices.

This area still has a lot going on (with close proximity to Ningxia Night Market), but with a bit less tourists and more of a residential feel.

Hotel Recommendation: Originn (Dihua street)

Eastern District

Dong Qu or “Eastern District” is Taipei’s newest and most fashionable area. Take the blue MRT line east from Taipei Main Station. The area between Zhongxiao Fuxing and Taipei City Hall MRT stations, all on Zhongxiao East Road, are the liveliest.

Stick to the main road for upscale shopping, while the myriad small lanes leading away from it are filled with more restaurants and bars than you could try in a lifetime. Taipei 101 is located in the southern part of Eastern District, among several department stores.

Dong Qu/Eastern District is great for travelers who like a lil upscale experience (even if it’s bougie on a budget) and enjoy more modern touches.

Hotel Recommendation: MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel Taipei (Zhongxiao)

Da An District

Home to several major national universities, including NTU (the top university in Taiwan), Da An is of course where students hang out. The neighborhood and small lanes around Guting, Taipower and Gongguan MRT stations are filled with youthful cafés, restaurants and bars.

Shida Night Market, once the most popular in Taipei, was semi-closed several years ago, but remains a low-key spot to shop and dine. Meanwhile, sprawling Da An Park is Taipei’s equivalent to Central Park in New York.

This is a great district to stay in for young travelers, social travelers, and solo travelers looking to mingle and meet new people.

Hotel Recommendation: K Hotels Dunnan (Da An)

Hostel Recommendation: Hanns Summer (Da An)

What to Do in Taipei

Once you book your hotel, you’re ready to set off! But what to do in Taipei?? Don’t worry, we gotchu! While this list is mostly geared towards what to do in Taipei as a first-time visitor, hopefully even if you’ve been before you’ll find some new things in the city to check out.

Taipei 101

Once the tallest building in the world (and the first place I ate at Ding Tai Fung #blessed), the 509-metre Taipei 101 is Taipei’s most iconic landmark. Since there’s no real “downtown” in Taipei, the skyscraper stands out like a lonely stalk of bamboo, though recently it has a new shorter sibling beside it.

The Observation Deck on the 89th to 91st floors is a must for first-time visitors to Taipei. Ride the world’s fastest elevator up to enjoy bird’s eye views in every direction (but note that the line can take up to an hour). If you want to bypass the lines, you can also book entrance tickets online (the building to exchange online vouchers is the 101 shopping centre on the 5th floor).

Whether you get your tickets online or in person, arrive early! At least an hour before you intend on going up the observation deck. Visiting Taipei 101 is the most popular thing to do in Taiwan and is always the top recommendation on what to do in Taipei. Thankfully, there’s lots of shops and restaurants to check out to pass the time!

Local tip: for a great view of Taipei that includes Taipei 101, climb 30 minutes up Elephant Mountain, one MRT station past Taipei 101.

Maokong Gondola

In the southeastern corner of the city near the Taipei Zoo, the Maokong Gondola whisks passengers into the foothills surrounding Taipei. The line indicating “Crystal Cabins” is for glass-bottom cable cars. I personally liked the glass-bottoms, but I get it isn’t for everyone!

Get off at the third stop to see an impressive temple with a view. Alighting at Maokong Station (the fourth and final stop), you can walk in any direction to find dozens of teahouses overlooking fields of oolong tea. The area’s specialty is baozhong oolong tea, a light oolong that has a mild honeydew scent.

If you’re visiting in summer, you may want to grab an oolong or green tea soft serve ice cream instead! This can best be experienced through a Maokong + tea tour so you get more background insight on the area and the tea industry in Taiwan. Since I visited with a friend that was Taiwanese, she was able to explain a lot of contextual things to us, but having a guide would make it that much more expansive.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

CKS Memorial Hall is the city’s most well-known historic landmark. It was constructed to honor the former leader/dictator (depending on a person’s viewpoint). Still, the visually striking blue-and-white-domed edifice occupies a magnificent square.

For the best view, head to Liberty Arch on the northwestern side. You’ll be able to see CKS Hall through the gate, with the imposing, classical Chinese-style National Theater and National Concert Hall on either side.

National Palace Museum

Another top attraction in Taipei that few visitors miss is the National Palace Museum in Shilin District. The museum is generally regarded as the most important repository of ancient Chinese artifacts in the world. Why is that? Well, over half a million artifacts were carried from their original location, the Palace Museum in Beijing, across China and then over to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War.

Only a tiny fraction of the total artifacts are on display at any given point. The museum is large but not unmanageable. I would personally recommend the Chinese scroll exhibits, and when I last visited, there was a temporary animated scroll exhibit. The ancient scrolls were brought to life on long digital screens, with all the little characters shuffling around.

Beitou Hot Spring

Last on the list but my personal favorite, Beitou Hot Spring is the only thermal spring village right in Taipei City. It sits at the base of Yangming Mountain, a dormant volcano on the northeast side of Taipei.

Beitou Hot Spring was first developed by the Japanese during the Japanese colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945). Therefore, you can see numerous Japanese-style buildings there, including the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (formerly the main Japanese bathhouse in Beitou).

Millenium Hot Spring is the main public hot spring in Beitou, and entrance is only NT40 (US$1.30). For a more private experience, you can use a private hot spring room in the area’s many hot spring hotels (NT400-3000). Also, don’t miss massive, steaming Hell Valley, a huge hot spring at the top of the village.

Night Market

And of course, while you’re in Taipei, you MUST check out one of the famous night markets. If you’re looking for what to do in Taipei – go to a night market. You can go to a different one every night and have a completely different experience.

The “iconic” night market in Taipei is the Shilin Night Market, nicknamed the King of Taipei Night Markets. It has almost 500 food and shop vendors and you can try lots of Taiwnese dishes like mee sua, shui jian bao, oyster omelets, and stinky tofu – and you can even find the Michelin starred booth Hai You Pork Ribs (海友十全排骨). Our first night, my friend had a ball showing us all of her favorite Taiwnese dishes!

The five big night markets are Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia, Tonghua and Huaxi. All of them are great and many locals frequent them, but if you want to visit a truly local night market, check out Nanjichang or Jingmei.

We ended each night in Taipei at a night market, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you want to narrow it down, or don’t have too much time to try out various ones, Nick has a blog post all about his favorite Taipei night markets!

Lesser-Known Spots in Taipei

Now that you’ve gone through the popular side of what to do in Taipei, now let’s cover the “local” attraction side of what to do in Taipei. I mean, you’ll still see tourists checking it out, but also a lot of residents either coming for themselves or showing their out-of-town guests.

Café Cats & Dog

If you’re more into cats than Chinese tea and political history, you might prefer Café Cats & Dog. Why no ‘s’ on the dog? Because they’ve literally only have one dog at the cafe. Personally, I love checking out a cute cat cafe. Or, well, any cafe really. But what puts this cafe on the map is its history!

Honestly, it could be considered pilgrimage of sorts, as the café is considered to be the world’s first cat café. THAT’S RIGHT – not Tokyo, not Seoul, but Taipei!!! Talk about what to do in Taipei that’s revolutionary! There’s a minimum charge of NT100, and be prepared to pet lots of fuzzy felines.

Treasure Hill Artists Village

Once a settlement for Chinese war veterans, this fascinating community is now a living arts village, although some of the original families still remain. Local and international artists are housed here and regularly host exhibits. You can wander through the narrow lanes and staircases, and many small galleries are open and unmanned.

Wistaria Tea House

If you’d like to enjoy a traditional Taiwanese tea experience in Taipei, Wistaria Tea House is the best place to do it. Here tea is served in the traditional kung-fu manner in a beautiful old home. Just a heads up that it takes some time, and it’s not cheap.

Wistaria Tea House also has historical significance. The teashop was once the meeting place of academics and political dissidents during the White Terror period of martial law in Taiwan.

Where to Eat in Taipei

Okay, speaking of cafes, I’m kinda making myself hungry here. While you can eat to your heart’s content at the night markets and historic cat cafe, there’s also a ton of fantastic restaurants in Taipei as well!

Seafood lovers must include Addiction Aquatic on their Taipei itinerary. This seafood institution boasts live seafood for sale (including huge spider crabs), an upscale grocery with great take-away sushi trays, standing sushi bars, a hot pot restaurant and an outdoor seafood BBQ.

For fashionable, upscale dining, don’t miss RAW, opened by Taiwanese chef André Chiang, whose eponymous restaurant in Singapore has been voted second best in all of Asia. Of course, you could also take a food tour in Taipei!

Where to Drink in Taipei

For craft beer lovers, there seem to be great new options popping up every week. Driftwood, a Taihu Beer taproom in Ximending, is Nick’s personal favourite.

Cocktail fans will also be happy to know that Taipei has no shortage of selection when it comes to creative, high-end cocktails. Alchemy (no food) and Once are two popular hidden speakeasy-style bars, while Hankou 60 is a newer movie theatre-themed bar tucked away on Movie Theater Street in Ximending.

Outdoor patios are hard to come by in Taipei, but if that’s what you’re after, head to the best collection of bar patios in the city, beside historic Red Theater in Ximending. The bars make up Taipei’s largest LGBT district, and of course everyone is welcome. If you’re traveling solo and would rather drink with friends (or at least, soon-to-be friends) there are plenty of pub crawl tours you can join!

Conclusion: What to do in Taipei

Hopefully this post has helped answer all of your questions for what to do in Taipei! It’s been almost…wow, eight years since I’ve visited, so thank you so much Nick for chiming in with your expertise! Since immigrating to Taiwan in 2008, Nick also published his first book, Taiwan from the Eyes of a Foreigner, so be sure to pick it up for even more suggestions on what to do in Taipei!

If you’ve been to Taiwan, what would you add for what to do in Taipei? Let me know in the comments below!

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