Taipei

Taipei has a humid, rainy climate, so bring an umbrella or other rain gear when heading out.

Taipei offers historic neighborhoods, shopping districts and natural scenery, making it well suited to a flexible 3–5-day trip. The following 5-day, 4-night itinerary links the main sights in the city and nearby areas.

Suggested 5-Day, 4-Night Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival and Neighborhood Walks: Take the Airport MRT from Taoyuan Airport into central Taipei, a journey of about 35–50 minutes. After checking into your hotel, visit Bangka Longshan Temple to learn about local folk beliefs, then walk through Bopiliao Historic Block to photograph its old buildings. For dinner, head to Bangka Night Market or Ningxia Night Market for street food.

• Day 2 Cultural Treasures, Architecture and City Views at Night: Spend the morning at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, focusing on signature exhibits such as the Jadeite Cabbage. Keep its Monday closure in mind when planning your visit. In the afternoon, head to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to watch the hourly changing of the guard. Toward evening, climb the Elephant Mountain Trail, which is free to access, for panoramic photographs of the city and Taipei 101 as night falls.

• Day 3 Shopping Districts and Shopping: Walk around Ximending in the morning to see the rainbow pavement and The Red House. In the afternoon, head to the Xinyi Shopping District, where you can read and have coffee at Eslite Bookstore. After dark, visit the Taipei 101 observation deck for views over the city.
• Day 4 Hillside Towns and Hot Springs: Travel to New Taipei City by chartered car or public transport. One option is Jiufen Old Street, where the hillside town's nighttime scenery brings *Spirited Away* to mind. Another is Shifen Old Street, where you can release a sky lantern with wishes written on it. Plan to return to the city in the afternoon and relax in the Beitou Hot Springs.

• Day 5 Neighborhood Strolls and Departure: Spend the morning around Dihua Street and Dadaocheng Wharf, picking up souvenirs. Watching the sunset at the wharf is also included among this day's activities. In the afternoon, head to the airport according to your flight time to conclude your Taipei trip.

Key Sights in Taipei

• National Palace Museum in Taipei: The collection focuses on artifacts of Chinese culture, with the Jadeite Cabbage, Meat-shaped Stone and Mao Gong Ding bronze cauldron among the highlights. Allow 3–4 hours for a visit.

• Taipei 101: This city landmark has an observation deck on the 89th floor, offering views of Taipei at night. Consider visiting between 6 and 8 p.m.

• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: Known for its monumental Chinese-style architecture, the hall is free to enter and photograph. Changing-of-the-guard ceremonies are scheduled on the hour.

• Ximending: One of Taipei's busiest shopping districts, its pedestrian zone is filled with trendy clothing shops, claw machines and snack stalls. It is a popular place for young people to shop and meet friends.
• Jiufen Old Street: Red lanterns light up the streets along the hillside after dark, creating a distinctive mountain-town scene. A-Mei Tea House is a popular photography spot, and taro balls are worth trying during your visit.

• Tamsui Old Street: Directly accessible by MRT, this area is ideal for riverside walks, snacks and sunset views over the Tamsui River. Fisherman's Wharf is another place to photograph the sunset.

Food and Night Markets in Taipei

• Braised Pork Rice: A common street-food staple in Taipei, it combines fatty and lean braised pork with a rich, savory sauce. Places to try include Jin Xian Braised Pork Rice and San He Noodles.

• Beef Noodle Soup: Lao Shandong Beef Noodles serves hand-kneaded noodles with a chewy texture and a rich broth. For a vegetarian version, consider Ling Yun Vegetarian Beef Noodles.

• Oyster Omelet: A traditional night-market snack, fried until crisp and fragrant on the outside while remaining tender inside. A special sauce adds layers of flavor and balances the richness.

• Pepper Buns: Queues often form near the entrance to Raohe Street Night Market. The buns are baked on-site over charcoal and filled with scallions and meat, with plenty of juice when you bite into them.

• Hot-and-Cold Tangyuan: Yu Pin Yuan serves hot glutinous rice balls in a bowl of ice. The contrast in temperature is the defining feature, complemented by the strong aroma of the black sesame filling.

• Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken: Shi Yun Fried Chicken at Shida Night Market is known for its thin, crisp coating, with basil and garlic providing the main flavors.

Taipei has plenty of other night markets to choose from. Shilin Night Market is the largest; try Hot-Star fried chicken cutlets and herbal pork rib soup. Raohe Street Night Market has Michelin-recommended pepper buns and Chen Dong herbal pork rib soup. Nanjichang Night Market is popular with local residents, and Juan Juan Cun serves tiramisu peanut rolls.

Where to Stay and How to Get Around

• Choosing an Area to Stay:
  • Taipei Main Station / Zhongshan: Convenient transport connections make transfers for trips outside the city easy. There are plenty of business hotels, making this a good choice for travelers who prioritize getting around efficiently.
  • Ximending: Shopping and dining are concentrated here, with convenient MRT access. Accommodation mainly consists of reasonably priced business hotels and guesthouses, making it well suited to younger travelers.
  • Xinyi District (near Taipei 101): Upscale hotels are concentrated here, and some offer good nighttime city views. Expect a higher budget; this area suits travelers who place a high priority on accommodation quality.
  • Beitou District: Known for its hot spring hotels, this area suits trips focused on soaking and relaxing. Rooms can be scarce during holidays, so book ahead.
• Transport Options and Indicative Costs:
  • EasyCard: The suggested amount is NT$500, including a refundable NT$100 deposit. It can be used on the MRT and buses and for purchases at convenience stores, making everyday travel and payments easier.
  • Airport Transfers: The Airport MRT journey from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station takes about 35–50 minutes. Songshan Airport also has direct MRT access, offering a shorter trip into the city.
  • Getting Around the City: The MRT serves most attractions and works well as the main way to get around. For short trips, you can rent a UBike bicycle. Taxi starting fares are about NT$70–100.
  • Travel Beyond the City: For destinations such as Tamsui, Jiufen and Shifen, choose Taiwan Railways or intercity buses according to your destination. On some routes, hiring a car with a driver or joining a day tour can reduce the number of transfers.

Things to Check Before You Go

• Entry Documents: Mainland Chinese residents need a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents from the Mainland, the relevant endorsement, and an entry permit issued by the Taiwan authorities. Independent tourism is currently suspended; applications may be possible for purposes such as study trips, business invitations or family visits. Confirm the specific rules with the relevant authorities before applying.
• Currency Exchange and Cash Withdrawals: The local currency is the New Taiwan dollar, with an indicative exchange rate of RMB1 ≈ NT$4.5. You can exchange money at the airport or withdraw cash from convenience-store ATMs using a UnionPay card.
• Clothing and Rain Gear: Taipei has frequent rain and high humidity, so carrying an umbrella and a light jacket is practical. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip for neighborhood walks and trails.
• Opening Hours: Shops and night markets tend to open late. Shops generally open after 11 a.m., while night markets become lively after around 5–6 p.m., so there is no need to schedule shopping too early.