10 Best Things to do in Taipei: the Ultimate Guide to Taipei
Taipei is a vibrant capital city with so much to see and do. It’s the perfect city to explore for a few days and a great base to fit in a couple of day trips. But really Taipei is the ultimate foodie city and if anything is worth travelling for it is GREAT food! This guide has got you covered to make sure you see all of the best sights that Taipei has to offer (there’s even a surprise one thrown in which is food related), with all relevant information as of 2024.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO SEE TAIPEI?
People often ask is 3 days enough in Taipei? You can spend as little or as long as you want in Taipei but in my personal opinion 4-5 days is the optimal amount of time. You could easily spend a shorter amount of time like 3 days, but you would need to miss out on some of the day trips from Taipei, and alternatively you could spend longer and check out more that the city and its surrounding areas have to offer.
if you’re looking for an amazing hotel in Taipei check out my hotel review here!
WHAT IS TAIPEI BEST KNOWN FOR?
FOOD! But asides from this, it has some pretty awesome sights to visit as well. The most impressive sight in my opinion is Liberty Square (see below for more information).
IS TAIPEI CHEAP TO VISIT?
Yes, it is a cheap city but not as cheap as some of the cities in South-East Asia like Bangkok. A lot of the sights are free to visit and the food at the night markets are well priced with large portions. Even the metro is cheap and if you had to get a taxi you’re not going to be breaking the bank!
10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
1. Liberty Square
You won’t find Liberty Square listed on travel websites and blogs, instead you’ll find Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall listed as one of the best sights to visit. This is definitely true but what you don’t know is that Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall is located in Liberty Square and the square itself is even more impressive than just the memorial hall.
Each side of the square has an incredible monument located there, so on one side you’ll find the National Theatre and opposite from this is the National Concert Hall, on the third side is the Liberty Square Main Gate and on the fourth side is the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
As I’m sure you’ve realised, the main reason for going to the square is to go to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. This was built in memory of the former president of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek, and is a beautiful structure to see with breathtaking architecture. You can walk up the steps and go inside the memorial hall, and from the top you also get a lovely sweeping view of the square and the other monuments located there.
The square itself is often used as a place for mass gatherings and a hub for events to take place, and whilst we were there we saw lots of dance practices, procession practices and musicians. You can easily spend a few hours here getting absorbed by all the surroundings and entertainment!
2. Taipei 101 observatory
The Taipei 101 observatory is located in Taipei 101 tower, and is one of the most iconic sights that you can see from most corners of Taipei given the towering height! The observatory is, no surprise, located on floor 101 and offers beautiful views of Taipei and its surrounding areas. The general tickets grants you access to floors 88, 89 and 91 but if you get the Skyline 460 ticket you’ll be able to visit the outdoor area on floor 101. We had rain on the day so we opted for the general ticket, but even if we wanted to do Skyline 460 the tickets were completely sold out. Make sure to purchase them in advance to avoid disappointment!
Opening hours: 10am-9pm
3. Bangka Lungshan Temple
This is also known as Longshan Temple and is a Chinese folk religious temple in Wanhua District, Taipei. It was built in 1738 by settlers from Fujian during Qing rule in honor of Guanyin, and served as a place for worship and for the gathering of people.
The temple has been destroyed a number of times due to earthquakes and fires but it has always been restored and renovated.
Opening hours: 6am-9.45pm
4. Day trip to Beitou
Beitou is famous for its hot springs and is only 30 minutes away by train from Taipei city. It has one of the largest concentrations of hot springs and spas in the world so trust me it is well worth the visit! You can opt for one of the public hot springs or you can book in for a private hot spring experience – I have more info coming on this soon so keep your eyes peeled! If you do opt for the public hot spring note that it’s similar to the Onsen experience in Japan where it is separated by gender and you go fully naked.
5. Day trip to Jiufen and Shifen
Another popular day trip from Taipei is to Jiufen village and Shifen village. Again it is very easy to get here by either public transport, private taxi or by joining a tour group, although I don’t recommend the last option as you have little flexibility. Jiufen village is an old mining town and it will feel like you’re stepping back in time when you visit, with the traditional architecture remaining intact.
You can easily get lots in the many alleyways and stumble upon a traditional teahouse whilst here! Similarly Shifen also feels like you’re going back in time, where the railway tracks runs right through the old street. You will see people jumping to the sides when a train is near to approaching! I have more info coming on this day trip soon so keep your eyes peeled!
6. Eat at Din Tai Fung
I mentioned a surprise place being thrown in here related to food and that is Din Tai Fung! This is definitely an institutional place and you may have heard of it before as there are many branches around the world. However, the original branch is in Taipei and a trip to Taipei is not complete without visiting Din Tai Fung at least once (I went 3 times!).
The food is absolutely sensational, and the star of the show is the xianlongbaos. If you’re ever stuck for food in Taipei, visit one of the many Din Tai Fung branches and you’ll be sorted!
7. Watch sunset from Elephant Mountain
There is a popular and easy 30 minute hiking trail up elephant mountain that you can follow, and the view at the top is definitely worth it. You should plan this for sunset so you can watch the most gorgeous sunset over Taipei with a view of Taipei 101 tower as well! One point to note is to get to the rock viewpoint you’ll have to climb 500 steps (or 600 if you go to the top), so make sure to take some water with you.
8. Explore the Night Markets
Seeing Taipei during the day is pretty spectacular but there is another level of magic when exploring Taipei by night. The streets become alive and filled with delicious food stalls, the aromas wafting through the air enticing you to come take a taste! You absolutely MUST eat at one of the many night markets to truly enjoy Taiwanese food, and apart from Din Tai Fung this is where you’ll find the best food in Taipei! There are so many markets dotted around Taipei but my favourites were Raohe St night market and Shilin Night Market – full details coming soon in a separate post!
Opening hours: Generally 5pm-11pm but it varies depending on the market, and on some days they may be closed so check beforehand.
9. See the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Another beautiful memorial hall to check out if you have time (I would prioritise Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall over this one) is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. This was built in 1972 in memory of Doctor Sun Yat-sen who was considered “the Father of the Nation” as he was a politician, physician, and philosopher, as well as the first president of Taiwan. Despite the tension between Taiwan and China, they both have a common love for Doctor Sun Yat-sen as he was instrumental in the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty.
Opening hours: 9am-6pm
10. Ride the Maokong Gondola
This quiet mountainside tea village was off the beaten path for tourists and locals alike until the Maokong Gondola opened in 2007. You can catch the gondola from near to Taipei’s zoo and you will be offered beautiful views of Taipei on your ride over to Maokong village. In Maokong you can visit the tea museum or walk around, sampling local food and enjoying the views of the city.
Opening hours: 9am-9pm weekdays and 9am-10pm weekends. It’s closed on Monday for maintenance except for on national holidays and the first Monday of every month.
BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
A lot of the options I’ve listed above are actually free! You can visit Liberty Square, the Bangka Lungshan Temple, Elephant Mountain, the night markets (except for the food which you obviously have to pay for), and the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall all at not cost.
APART FROM VISITING TAIPEI WHAT SHOULD I DO IN TAIWAN?
If you’re looking for more to do in Taiwan then check out my 7-day Taiwan Itinerary for inspiration!
