Taipei Travel Guide

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One of the questions I get most from family and friends is, “What places do you recommend I go to in Taipei?” or “Where should I go when I’m in Taipei?” So, I thought I’d write a blog post with my favorite places in Taipei.

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What to do in Taipei

1. Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain is a must! I cannot recommend this place enough. It’s a 20-minute walk to the top (all stairs) and you’ll reach a large rock. You can climb up the rock for an amazing view of the city. It’s free to visit and you get an excellent view of Taipei 101. I’ve done this hike countless times and I always bring visitors here.

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Unfortunately, with the growing popularity of elephant mountain, a line often forms for a picture on the rock. Last time I went, I waited 45 minutes to take a picture on the rock.

If waiting in line is not your thing, there are two viewing platforms that give great views as well. One of the platforms is a little further up after the big rock.

Insider Tip: Bring insect repellent. There are quite a few mosquitoes on the mountain. I’ve never gone and come back without at least one mosquito bite. Be warned in the summer months, this hike is very hot and humid and you will feel pretty gross afterwards. Go in the early morning when temperatures are cooler.

2. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Chiang Kai Shek (CKS) Memorial Hall is a beautiful landmark in Taipei. Spend an hour or two walking around. in front of the memorial are two buildings. One is the National Theater and the other is the National Concert Hall. Don’t forget to check out the front gates of the memorial hall.

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Inside the memorial hall is a museum downstairs. Arrive at the right time, and you might be able to catch the changing of the guards as well.

3. Ximending

Ximending is always hopping when I go. You can find cheap eats, entertainment, and shopping all in one place. I highly recommend walking around the red house. There are some local artists who sell their craft inside the building. I’ve bought a lot of cute Taiwan souvenirs there. Sing your heart out at KTV (karaoke) or catch a movie.

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4. Beitou Hot Springs

One of the great things about Taiwan is the hot springs. Relax in the Beitou Hot Springs. You’ll definitely be able to find one that fits your price range. There are public hot springs that are free. If you don’t mind being naked in a room of people of the same sex, then you can try the traditional Japanese hot spring for cheap. I personally like the private hot springs. Although they cost a little more, it feels less like a human hot pot. For two people, private hot springs are less than $30 USD per person.

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If you have time the hot spring museum and the Beitou Public Library are also worth a visit.

5. Ride a Youbike

This is probably my all-time favorite thing to do in Taipei. Rent one of the city’s public bikes and ride along the riverside from Yuanshan to Raohe. These yellow bikes are designed specifically for women so the bikes are super comfortable and easy to ride. If you don’t want to do such a long bike ride, you can also bike ride along the streets in the city. Xinyi Road and Nanjing road, two roads that run east to west, are particularly great for bike rides with their bike lanes. I don’t recommend biking on Zhongxiao Road because of the lack of bike lanes and tons of pedestrians.

Insider Tip: Download their app to find locations to park your bike or rent a bike.

6. Dihua Street

Dihua Street is one of the oldest and historic neighborhoods in Taipei. There are lots of shops selling tea, nuts, spices, and fabric. Come during Chinese New Year to the experience the crowds and energy.

7. Tamsui Old Street

This is another great neighborhood to explore. Walk along Tamsui Old Street taking in the different smells and wandering the little shops. The old streets in Taiwan have been there for hundreds of years, so they’ve stood the test of time. Tamsui Old Street is a great place to try Taiwan snacks and buy souvenirs. Walk all the way to the Fort San Domingo and on your way back walk or bike along the river. The harbor is full cute shops and toys for little ones. One of my favorite things to do there is buy sparklers and spin around. I know, I’m a child. This is also a great place to watch the sun set.

8. Visit a Temple

Did you really go to Taiwan, if you didn’t visit a temple? I think temples are a big part of the culture in Taiwan. Visit a temple and observe how they worship. I recommend going with a local so they can explain the process and tell what each God is for. I went with a local and she explained to me that each “God” has a different purpose. There’s one for health, there’s one for those trying to conceive, find love, looking for success in school and study, and more. Try out the divination blocks and have your fortune told to you.

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My favorite temples are Longshan Temple and Xingtian Temple. Both temples are English friendly. I was so surprised that the man at Longshan temple could translate my fortune to English. Longshan Temple also has the added bonus of a charm shop. Right before the exit, you can buy a charm/amulet for various things. For example, you can buy a safety charm and hang it on the rearview mirror in your car to keep you safe on the road. Some people buy charms for luck, blessings, and more.

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Xingtian Temple is another great temple to do the divination blocks. I’m not sure if the fortune can be told in English though. I haven’t tried it for myself.

Insider Tip: You can go to their counter and ask for a peace card at Xingtian Temple. The peace card is free. Keep it in your wallet and peace will be with you.

9. Taipei Botanical Garden

You might be surprised why I put this on the list. Taipei Botanical Garden does not quite rival with that of Singapore or Dubai’s botanical garden, but I enjoyed it when I went. It’s not too far from the other sights and it’s a nice walk around the gardens. It was definitely larger than I expected and it was amazing to have this nature sanctuary in the middle of the urban jungle.

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I also put this on the list, because there’s an excellent shop right next to it. It’s called the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute. It’s actually a handicraft museum and you can get really nice souvenirs there. If you’re interested in the aboriginal culture in Taiwan, I would recommend this shop/museum.

10. Explore a Creative Park

One of the things I loved about Taiwan when I got here were the creative parks. Have a picnic or explore one of their many exhibitions. I’ve gone to pop up exhibitions that are by Team Lab and Pocky. Both were so much fun and completely worth the admission price. They are only in that location for months at a time.

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Huashan 1914 Creative Park and Songshan Creative Park are my picks. Sometimes there’s a local arts fair at Huashan Creative Park. It’s my absolute favorite! I’ve seen the cutest and most stylish earrings. My friend bought a hand knit hat for her cat. The crafts are just endless.

Where to Eat

• Din Tai Fung: This is a must! The OG! Din Tai Fung is world famous for it’s soup dumplings or xiao long bao (XLB). Order their XLB, spicy vegetable wontons, and fried rice. Try going outside of meal times to avoid long wait times.

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• Ice Monster or Ice Papa: Another food to try is Taiwanese shaved ice. My favorite is the bubble milk tea snowflake shaved ice. They’re all good!

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• Traditional Taiwanese shaved ice: go to Eastern Ice. The ice is more like snow cone ice and the toppings are less western. My favorite toppings are taro balls, sweet potato balls, tapioca, and small red bean. I personally love the Taiwanese shaved ice.
• Bubble Milk Tea: Best bubble milk tea in Taipei? Is at Gongguan Night Market. The name of the drink stand is in Chinese, but I’ve linked it here for you. If you can’t make it out to Gongguan, any drink shop will do. The best part is how cheap it is. It’s $1.50 USD in Taiwan, but $5.00 in the US.

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• Taiwanese Hamburger (Gao Bao): Right across the street from the bubble milk tea shop in Gongguan is a small mom and pop shop that sells delicious Taiwanese hamburgers. It’s essentially pork, pickles, and peanut powder in an open faced bun. They even let you choose if you want less or more fat in your pork!
• Taiwanese Fried Pork: This is another typical Taiwanese dish. It’s fried pork chop set with rice, vegetable sides, and a small bowl of soup.
• Braised Pork Rice: You will soon find out the Taiwanese love their pork. Braised pork rice is one of my favorite Taiwanese foods.
• Hot Pot: There’s a reason why I eat hot pot at least once every week. It’s so good! You get meat and vegetables and throw it into the hot broth in front of you and let it cook. In my opinion, Taiwan has the best hot pot!

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• Night Market Food: A trip to Taipei is not complete without a visit to one of the night markets. My favorites are Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, and Gongguan Night Market. Try stinky tofu, pig’s blood cake, scallion pancakes, pork buns, Taiwanese sausages, beef noodles, and so much more.

What to Expect

Language: Mandarin Chinese is the official language of Taiwan. You might also hear Taiwanese which is a dialect of Chinese from a southern region in China. Taipei is very English friendly.

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NTD)

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Taipei is October to December and May to June. Taiwan is very close to the equator. Summer temperatures last longer. In October and November, the temperature cools down a bit. Winters can be very rainy. I enjoy May and June when there’s less rain and the temperature is not super high.

Getting around: The best way to get around the city is by their public metro system (MRT). The MRT is so efficient in Taipei and it’s super clean. Signs are all bilingual and color-coded and number coded. Every five years, they open a new part of the MRT system, so it keeps growing.