This is a brief overview of Taiwan (mostly Taipei) — some common places, some underrated places, and some of my absolute favorites.
Night Markets
Raohe Night Market
Michelin-star black pepper buns
Don’t miss the parking garage across the street at one end — there’s a lovely view of the city
My favorite night market
Shilin Night Market
Not bad but more expensive than other night markets. Very touristy
Ningxia Night Market
Shida Night Market
Lingjiang (Tonghua) Night Market
Temples & Historical Areas
Sometimes you’ll find a temple without looking, such as within the hustle and bustle of Ximending or near the entrance of Raohe Night Market.
Longshan Temple
One of the most famous temples
Conveniently near Ximending
Huiji Temple
Underrated. The way up is lined by lanterns
Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Bishan Temple
Hikes / Cityscape views
Elephant Mountain
Lots of stairs but rewarding views
Tiger Mountain
Check out Fengtian Temple before heading up Tiger Mountain
Fuzhoushan
Underrated view
Jiantan Mountain
Activities & Shopping
Ximending
The Shibuya of Taipei. Touristy area with lots of restaurants, shops, street performers, and more
Huashan 1914 Creative Park & Songshan Creative Park
Two artsy areas with cute small businesses, cafes, and various exhibitions
Maokong Gondola
Closed on Mondays. Gondola with nice nature & city views, a beautiful temple, and many shops for tea and ice cream. Also nearby Taipei Zoo
Zhongshan
Zhongshan Metro Mall. Outside the station, you'll find a cute shopping district
Wu Fen Pu
Lots of clothes. Very close to Raohe Night Market and Citylink Songshan Station Store
Taipei Main Station underground malls
Syntrend
Miscellaneous
Note: There are more spots after this section!
Grand Hotel
A hotel that looks like a palace. The lobby is available to explore
Themed 7-11’s
Sanrio 7-11, Bugcat 7-11, Lay’s 7-11, and more
Taipei 101
Various restaurants, luxurious shops, and an observation deck
Beitou Hot Springs
Also check out Beitou Thermal Valley and Puji Temple
Dahu Park
Go for a quiet stroll and check out the Moon Bridge
A phenomenon during weekday mornings where scooters come off the highway and into the city, creating a “waterfall” of scooters
Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf
Places near Taipei
Jiufen
A touristy but beautiful place with old streets and a teahouse that looks straight out of Spirited Away, though Miyazaki denies the inspiration.
Shifen
The sky lanterns are lovely, but probably not great for the environment
Houtong Cat Village
Cute area with some cats, but not really a must-see
Keelung
Miaokou Night Market
Hsinchu
Places further from Taipei
I’d recommend using the High-Speed Rail (HSR) to access these.
Kaohsiung
Pier2 Art Center
Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard Station
Lotus Pond
Sanfeng Temple
Ruifeng Night Market
Cijin Island
Fo Guang Shan (don’t go on a Tuesday, as some areas are closed)
Tainan
Shennong Street
Confucius Temple
Snail Alley
Chihkan Tower
Grand Mazu Temple
Anping Old Street, Fort, and Treehouse
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t know Chinese?
Taipei has quite a bit of English signs. You can use Google Translate/Lens to translate menus, or try to eat in a more touristy area like Ximending where there are usually English menus and/or pictures. Most locals also try to help if you ask for it, even if there is a language barrier.
How do you get around in Taiwan?
You’ll primarily be using the metro, and occasionally buses. I recommend getting an Easycard, available at the airport and all 7-11’s. You load money onto a card (like the Clipper Card in San Francisco) and use it to get to/from metro stations and on/off the bus. It works as a nice souvenir for yourself, too. The other alternative would be using coins.
Taiwan also has taxis and Uber, but the metro is often more convenient and cheap.
I’ve heard the TPASS Transportation card is really useful, though I haven’t tried it yet.
Is Taiwan safe?
Taiwan is generally very safe, although no matter where you are in the world, you should still be aware of your surroundings. However, in Taiwan I feel comfortable walking around at night alone as a woman.
Where should I stay?
Convenient places to stay near: Taipei Main Station, Ximending, Zhongshan, and Songshan.
Resources
Josh has a very in-depth and unmonetized blog that details many areas in Taiwan. Aside from photos and how to get there, he often includes a lot of historical information on the locations.
Free Apps (not sponsored)
Explore Taipei — metro map
Bus Tracker Taipei — bus times
Google Translate
Taiwan’s waiting for you.
I can’t pinpoint the specifics, but I’m generally in a state of missing Taiwan, even four solo trips later. Maybe it’s the lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, or the soft lights dancing in front of the music hall. Maybe it’s the warmth from steam at the night market, or the clear umbrellas swirling in the rain. Or maybe it’s the memories of it all as I sit dejectedly at home. I hope you get the chance to experience all this for yourself!