Welcome to Taipei, a vibrant and dynamic city that beautifully blends tradition and modernity. Nestled in the heart of Taiwan, this bustling metropolis is a captivating destination, offering travelers a rich tapestry of experiences. From its towering skyscrapers to its ancient temples, Taipei is a city of striking contrasts and harmonious diversity. In this travel blog, we’ll be your guide as we explore the treasures of Taipei. From savoring the delectable flavors of night market street food to immersing ourselves in the serenity of centuries-old temples, we’ll unveil the city’s secrets and showcase its unique charm. Taipei is a city that cherishes its traditions while embracing innovation with open arms. This juxtaposition is evident as you wander through historic neighborhoods like Wanhua, where the ancient Longshan Temple stands tall amidst a sea of neon signs. And it’s equally prominent in the towering Taipei 101, an architectural marvel that once held the title of the world’s tallest building.
So pack your bags, and let’s embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Taiwan’s capital, Taipei!
When I am researching activities and things to see in a new city, I wish I found more itineraries that ranked the list of activities they recommend. Everyone’s time is different in a new city and it’s important to be able to prioritize activities that are a MUST versus activities that are nice, but could possibly be skipped. I like to schedule my days and build an itinerary with one MUST item, one TRY TO DO item, and one SKIP item a day in case something happens or we are too tired, we can always hit the MUST item and SKIP the item that’s not as important.
★★★ MUST SEE
★★ TRY TO DO
★ SKIP (BUT WORTH IF YOU HAVE TIME)
★★★ Jiufen Village
★★★ Taipei 101
★★★ Raohe Street Night Market
★★ Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
★★ A-Mei Tea House
★★ Shifen Waterfall
★ Starbucks Reserve
★ Houtong Cat Village
Use these jumps to navigate to a specific day or just keep scrolling to read the full itinerary!
When: August 2023
Who: My husband and I for our honeymoon (2 adults)
Where we stayed: Outskirts of Taipei in Andrew’s family’s house
We chose to go to Taipei as my husband has family living here. He has been a ton of times, but it was my first time. We flew Eva Airways, which was amazing, and landed in TPE around 4:05PM. Andrew’s uncle picked us up in his car and we were off to their house. They live on the outskirts of Taipei and it was ~45 minute drive here from the airport. We settled into the house then went to dinner. We had a huge traditional Taiwanese dinner to celebrate my first time visiting and it was so much fun.
Day 2 Information ~
Taipei 101 ~ reserve online ahead of time or when you arrive
★★★Taipei 101 Observatory: First thing we did was wait in line at the Observatory at Taipei 101. It didn’t open until 11AM, but we got there at 10:30AM to start waiting in line. Once we got our tickets, we waited in a short line to go up the elevator. It was so fun to see a 360 view of the whole city and learn so much about the Taipei 101 building itself. We stayed up there for maybe an hour and one adult ticket cost ~$30 to see both observatory decks (89th floor and 101nd floor).
Lunch: After Taipei 101 we took the subway over to lunch. Andrew wanted one of his favorite classic Taiwanese soups: Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. We went to a Michelin star restaurant called Yong Kang Beef Noodles in the Daan District. This place was amazing! I was worried about how spicy the soup would be, but it was perfect. This is a must try!
★★Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: After lunch we went to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall which is a monument and tourist attraction erected in the memorial of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of Taiwan. We managed to make it for the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony is performed every hour on the hour until 6:30PM every day. It was awesome to watch! Underneath the memorial is a museum which we explored after the Changing of the Guard. It was free to enter both and we spent about an hour there.
★Starbucks Reserve: They had a Starbucks Reserve at Taipei 101 so we stopped there on the way back to our car. I got a hojicha latte (I had never tried before) and now am obsessed with hojicha! It’s kind of like matcha, but earthier. After the reserve we stopped by the UNIQLO nearby so my husband could get a new shirt.
Home/Rest: After we went home to shower and rest up before dinner.
Dinner: We walked to a yakiniku restaurant for dinner. Yakiniku restaurants offer affordable and delicious grilled meat dishes. You receive your raw meats and you cook them yourself over a grill in the middle of your table; it was delicious and interactive! The restaurant we went to is called Yakiniku Punch.
Day 2 Information ~
A-Mei Tea House ~ can make reservations ahead of time or upon arrival
★★Shifen Waterfall: We started our morning driving 40 minutes east to Shifen Waterfall. This scenic waterfall’s total height is 20 meters and 40 meters in width, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan. We parked nearby and walked about 20 minutes up and down the path to get to the waterfall. There were lots of souvenirs stands and food/drink stands on the way; we stopped to get a coconut to drink its water. We arrived around 10:30AM and left around 11:30AM; it is free to visit. If you have some extra time in Taipei, I recommend checking it out!
★★★Jiufen: After the waterfall we ventured over the small mountain town about 15 minutes from the waterfall called Jiufen. This is a huge tourist attraction and the small town was packed. It’s known for the narrow alleyways of its old town, packed with teahouses, street-food shacks and souvenir shops. We stopped to get some snacks, desserts, and souvenirs. We got car wheel cakes for dessert (circular shaped cakes that are crispy on the outside and filled with traditional sweetened red bean paste filling on the inside). We explored this area and ate lunch in the span of about 2 hours.
★★A-Mei Tea House: After walking around the streets, we decided to stop here for lunch and tea. They demonstrated for us the Taiwanese traditional way of making tea and it was so fun, informative, and delicious tea. We got some chicken curry dishes and they were surprisingly yummy. The view from the tea house was exquisite since it sat on the side of a cliff, you got the most beautiful view of the ocean and land. I definitely recommend stopping at a tea house in Taiwan.
★Houtong Cat Village: Because my husband is obsessed with cats, we spent some time in Houtong Cat Village. It was about a 20 minute drive from Jiufen and it’s free to explore. There are said to be over 200 cats roaming around the town; it is on the side of a cliff so you will be going up and down a lot of stairs, but it’s worth it. This area is also home to Houtong Shrine Relics, scenic viewpoints, and a museum. There are also lots of cafes and souvenirs shops that sell everything feline.
Dinner: After resting and relaxing at home, we walked to a restaurant called Chu Wei Teppanyaki. Teppanyaki food is a Japanese dish typically prepared using a large, flat iron griddle that typically is heated by propane gas. It was fun to watch the chef cook in front of us; we have been to some restaurants like this in America (like Benihana). It was amazing to have unlimited tea and rice!
★★★Raohe Street Night Market: I have always heard about night markets from my husband so I was very excited to experience one myself. This one at Raohe street is very popular and busy. I kind of wish we hadn’t just eaten dinner, because the amount of delicious looking food was insane. We still got some snacks though, like Taiwanese popcorn chicken and milk tea. A night market is a street market which operates at night and are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets. We arrived around 8:30PM and left around 10PM.
Our flight was leaving TPE at 2:05PM so we spent the morning getting breakfast and saying goodbye to my husband’s family. They were such gracious hosts and I can’t wait to be back! We did go to a lounge once we arrived at the airport and went through security. We were accepted into the Premium Plaza Lounge in the international terminal with our Priority Pass Access. We were able to relax, eat the free buffet, and charge our electronics while we waited for our flight. Again, I can’t stress enough getting the Priority Pass! Click HERE for the link to the blog all about it and the credit card you need to get Priority Pass for free.
We were actually not headed home; we headed to Bangkok, Thailand.
Taipei, capital of Taiwan, experiences a subtropical climate with distinct seasons of the year.
Spring: Highs will be around 82℉
Spring: Lows will be around 62℉
Summer: Highs will be around 86℉
Summer: Lows will be around 80℉
Autumn: Highs will be around 86℉
Autumn: Lows will be around 72℉
Winter: Highs will be around 68℉
Winter: Lows will be around 59℉
Taipei offers a wide range of accommodations to suit various preferences and budgets. Here are some popular areas:
Taipei boasts one of the most efficient and convenient public transportation systems in the world. Navigating the city is a breeze thanks to a well-developed network of transportation options. Here’s an overview:
