Taipei Itinerary • The Finest Sights in 3 Days, 2 Nights

Let’s get one factor clear: Three days will not be sufficient to totally get pleasure from what Taipei has to supply. It’s an unbelievable vacation spot filled with sights that would go away you wanting extra.

However hey, we perceive that not all vacationers have the luxurious of time. Maybe you’re a full-time worker who solely has a protracted weekend to spare for trip otherwise you’re touring to Taipei to attend a convention and need to lengthen their keep for a bit longer.

Don’t fear, it’s potential to expertise the perfect of the Taiwanese capital in simply three days. So yeah, 3 days will really feel like getting a tiny sip of the perfect boba milk tea when there’s an entire tank of it in entrance of you. However with its extremely developed amenities and dependable public transport system, it’s straightforward to see and discover the highlights of town even in such a brief interval.

Be aware: Because you solely have three days, this information stays strictly inside Taipei Metropolis and we’re not venturing out. However Taipei Metropolis alone is so filled with sights, sounds, and flavors that it will probably fill a protracted weekend effortlessly.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL & XIMENDING

When you’re coming from the Taiwan Taoyuan Worldwide Airport, you’ve gotten two primary public transportation choices: the MRT and the bus.

BY MRT

Each Terminals 1 and a couple of have their very own MRT Station:

• Terminal 1: A12 Station
  Terminal 2: A13 Station
• Working hours: round 6am to 10:55 pm
  Journey time: 37 minutes (if Categorical)
  Fare: NT$150

You’ll find extra information right here.

BY BUS

When you’re arriving exterior the MRT working interval otherwise you merely desire the bus, head over to the bus counters near the Arrival Corridor of the airport. These buses are operated by varied corporations, and journey time and fare fluctuate relying in your route and vacation spot. However listed below are some tough estimates:

• Journey time: 60-90 minutes
• Fare: NT$ 125-160

Extra particular information right here.

When you’re arriving previous 2 or 3PM, then test in to your resort room. In any other case, simply drop your luggage for now and let’s begin exploring straight away!

Our first and solely cease for as we speak is Ximending. Fear not, there’s rather a lot to see and do right here!

Typically known as Taipei’s Shibuya, Ximending is a kaleidoscope of lights, road performers, and retailers bursting with knick-knacks you by no means knew you wanted. This neighborhood is the place Taipei’s youth come to flex, snack, and store until they drop. It has an nearly electrical power to it. So get your recreation face on, and let’s head out to discover one among Taipei’s most vibrant districts.

Rainbow Highway

When you’re popping out of Ximen Station, the very first thing that may greet you is the Rainbow Highway, because of its row of colours and the gang that type subsequent to it, attempting to take their IG photographs.

It isn’t only a street-—it’s a press release! These colours splashed throughout the pavement turned an odd crosswalk right into a full-on celebration. Taiwan has been a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia, and the Rainbow Highway is Taipei’s daring high-five to the neighborhood, exhibiting off its delight with each brilliant stripe.

Whether or not you’re right here to have a good time, present assist, or simply jazz up your Instagram feed, this highway virtually waves at you for a pic. Individuals flock right here, cameras in hand, able to immortalize their second in all that colourful glory. Photobombs are inevitable, however that’s a part of the problem!

More often than not, road performers additionally use the nook subsequent to it as their stage. There are the same old singers, bands, and dancers, however now and again you’ll additionally see mind-blowing stunts that may make you cease and keep a bit longer.

The Crimson Home

Cross the adjoining highway and also you’ll be greeted by the Crimson House, a historic gem that’s managed to remain related via a long time of reinvention. Inbuilt 1908, this octagonal red-brick constructing has worn many hats: a theater, a market, and now a museum-slash-shop. Step inside, and also you’ll discover indie craft stalls, LGBTQ+ pleasant areas, and native paintings that put a contemporary twist on this outdated magnificence. You would possibly end up questioning why your hometown can’t protect historical past with this a lot swag.

Our final go to coincided with Satisfaction Month celebrations, so the environment was far more fab and festive and there have been a variety of freebies round.

Pop Mart Flagship Retailer

Welcome to Pop Mart, the Disneyland of designer toys, the place cabinets groan underneath the load of collectibles that’ll drain your pockets however heal your inside youngster.

Identified for its lovable collectible figurines and trinkets, this place is floor zero for these trying to snag a unusual memento particularly of Labubu, the now insanely in style and arguably addictive character from The Monsters. These serrated tooth and mischievous look don’t cease individuals from falling in love with it or, at the least, leaping on the bandwagon. It’s such a crowd favourite, there’s all the time a crowd constructing in entrance of this pop mart retailer. Each one is hoping to get their fingers on an merchandise as a result of it’s less expensive right here than the value resellers are charging again dwelling. And sure, Labubu objects, particularly the plush key chains, had been offered out once we visited.

Some don’t perceive why it’s so in style and a few say it’s only a fad, however we wished to grasp so we joined the enjoyable and bought three thriller containers at one other Pop Mart store. And sure, they’re so cute and we could or could not get extra subsequent time we had the prospect.

Dinner

It’s time for supper, and Ximending is a feast for each finances and style. We’ll be mentioning three meals spots right here, however we really tried extra.

• Finances Possibility: Head to Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle for a repair of gooey, umami-packed rice noodles. That is road meals at its most interesting—no seats, simply seize a bowl, stand on the sidewalk, and savor the flavour. It’s solely NT$ 60 per small serving, nevertheless it’s actually, actually tasty. No marvel there’s all the time a loooong queue right here. Each silky serving is topped with a little bit of offal, which surprisingly didn’t have any hint of gutsy odor or aftertaste. Even Vins, who doesn’t usually like consuming innards, discovered it scrumptious and wished to have one other bowl. It’s much more flavorful whenever you add chili, crushed garlic, and a little bit of vinegar, which is obtainable for self-service on a station on the aspect.



• Mid-Vary Possibility: Discover the Wan Nian Constructing and go right down to the basement the place you’ll discover a meals courtroom. However look particularly for Lao Shan Dong Do-it-yourself Noodles, a Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee. This humble institution has been serving bowls of piping scorching beef noodles since 1949; it’s a Ximending establishment. The place was packed once we visited. Vins ordered the meat brisket noodle soup whereas I had the so-called “three treasures” noodle soup, which had brisket, tendon, and tripe. We may simply inform that the noodles had been handmade as a result of they weren’t uniformly reduce. It was agency, simply the best way I appreciated it, and swimming in a broth that was deep and completely balanced. Each chunk of the brisket was succulent. They’re identified for his or her dumplings, too!



• Splurge Possibility: When you’re with a bunch (household or pals) otherwise you’re simply feeling royally hungry and need to go huge, discover the Taipei Wenting Emperor Palace Scorching Pot, a scorching pot spot that will make any emperor proud. Whereas ready in your desk, you’ll be able to attempt on elaborate costumes to essentially embrace the royal theme of the place. You possibly can attempt on conventional Chinese language-style outfits that resemble robes or robes from historical dynasties and channel your inside emperor or empress. It’s not daily you get to really feel like a ruler whereas ready in your broth to boil, so we grabbed the prospect. The employees was glad to snap photographs, so it’s a terrific alternative for some memorable, Insta-worthy moments. The entire expertise provides a playful, immersive twist to your meal.

  Ah sure, let’s speak concerning the meals. They provide a wide array of recent elements — prime cuts of meat, seafood, and veggies — all ready to be dunked in both a homey clear broth or the additional savory and spicy mala soup. After you’ve feasted on all of the proteins, you’ll be able to dive right into a freezer filled with Häagen-Dazs flavors to high all of it off. They’ve 16 flavors, and it’s all yours to get pleasure from. I had caramel biscuit and mango raspberry! We’ll be breaking down this eating expertise in one other article.

After your meal, discover this tiny stall promoting freshly fried Crispy Milk Donut (NT$ 40). You might need to attend in line for a bit too, however that’s normally the case for something scrumptious today.

Boba Milk Tea

Wash your dinner down with a cup of milk tea. However as you already know, Taiwan is the land of boba, so it is perhaps laborious to decide on which one to attempt even right here in Ximending.

• Each single Taipei native we’ve met recommends 50 Lan’s boba milk tea (NT$ 60), recognizable by its yellow and blue branding. It’s a sequence, and also you’ll discover a few branches in Ximending. 50 Lan’s model is basic – no frills, no gimmicks, only a completely balanced mix, with simply the fitting sweetness, smoothness, tea perfume, and chewy pearls. And we agree. That is additionally the perfect milk tea for us.
• However most vacationers appear to be magnetized by the loud and flashy Xing Fu Tang flagship retailer. You received’t miss it as a result of there’s a lengthy queue any time of the day. It’s laborious to not be drawn to it as a result of they prepare dinner the pearls within the open. We’ve tried their basic boba milk tea earlier than, however on our most up-to-date journey, we had its best-selling signature brown sugar boba milk (NT$ 120), one thing I used to be ready to hate due to its extreme value, however was really very satisfying. The roasted brown sugar on high add a little bit of playfulness to the sleek milky drink.
• When you’d relatively have it as an icy dessert, head over to Kenting Dan Dan Duai Nai, the place they serve milk tea within the type of a shave ice deal with.

Taipei Cinema Park & Graffiti Spots

Finish your evening with a stroll via Taipei Cinema Park, the place graffiti partitions make for excellent Instagram backdrops. It’s road artwork galore, with painted masterpieces that vary from artsy to hilarious. Pose, snap, and take in this cool, colourful vibe on this usually uncrowded part of Ximending.

You’ll additionally discover Wow Land, a claw machine heaven! There are numerous claw machines in Taipei; you’ll see them in all places. However what makes these explicit machines exceptional is that you could possibly really win one thing when you have the talent. It’s not rigged, or at the least not as rigged because the others! Once we enter this place, we by no means depart empty-handed!

And that’s it for Day 1. I instructed you, it’s a bit packed, however buckle up as a result of we’ve solely simply began.

DAY 2: BEITOU & SHILIN

Right this moment, we’ll be exploring two of Taipei’s most fascinating districts: Shilin and Beitou.

Beitou Thermal Valley

Begin Day 2 with a go to to Beitou Thermal Valley for the mist that rises eerily from inexperienced sulfuric waters.

While you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a small fountain, the place you’ll be able to really feel the water and provides your fingers a shower. However as you stroll deeper, you’ll finally see the steamy scorching springs that appear to be nature’s large cauldron. Whilst you can’t take a dip right here, it’s mesmerizing to observe. Stroll round it, catch that sulfur-scented air, and soak within the barely mystical environment.

Earlier than going, attempt some tea eggs, offered by retailers in entrance of the doorway, for very gentle however on-theme breakfast. Then stroll to your proper for 10 minutes to our subsequent cease.

Beitou Scorching Springs Museum

Step again in time on the Beitou Scorching Springs Museum, a former Japanese-era bathhouse. Inbuilt 1913, this well-preserved architectural attraction showcases the golden age of scorching springs in Beitou, together with an enormous bathtub the place visitors as soon as loved therapeutic dips. It’s a stupendous, nostalgic slice of outdated Taiwan and makes you recognize the cultural layers in Beitou’s steamy previous.

Once we visited, there have been bus-fuls of Japanese faculty youngsters on an academic tour, so it was extra crowded than regular. However in any other case, it’s normally very chill and stress-free. As in any onsen, you’ll need to take away your footwear and deposit them in lockers. Placed on the supplied slippers and comply with the marked path across the museum.

After this, it’s time for lunch. Determine whether or not you desire a bowl of beef noodle soup at a correct sit down eatery or eat your manner via a meals market!

• When you go for beef noodles, proceed to Su Jia. enter this in your Google Maps app: 粟家牛肉麵. You’ll discover two outcomes. Select the one alongside Yongxing Avenue. You must attain it in lower than quarter-hour on foot.
• When you’d relatively stroll and munch on the similar time, head over to the Beitou Market. It’s nearer, roughly 10 minutes on foot.

Lunch Possibility A: Su Jia Beef Noodles

It’s beef noodle time (once more!) —Taiwan’s soul meals in a bowl.

Su Jia makes use of noodles which might be agency and chewy, drowned in a wealthy broth. Their signature bowl (NT$ 280) has the identical three treasures toppings: brisket, tripe, and tendon. However if you happen to’re not that adventurous like Vins, go for its beef brisket noodles (NT$ 200).

We cherished how tender the meat was. And the tripe was thick, with loads of meat nonetheless connected to it. If I evaluate it to Lao Shandong, this one wins the meat recreation simply, however Lao Shandong had extra flavorful broth. Nevertheless it was nonetheless a really satisfying bowl general. Don’t be stunned if you end up slurping away, eyes closed, misplaced in noodle nirvana.

When you’re not within the temper for one more serving to of beef noodles or if you happen to’ve obtained room for dessert (and let’s be actual, there’s all the time room), then cross the road to Beitou Market!

Lunch Possibility B: Beitou Market

Beitou Market is a type of locations the place you are feeling like a neighborhood, purchasing shoulder-to-shoulder with Beitou residents.

One of many largest attracts of Beitou Market is the number of road meals stalls providing all the things from handmade dumplings to savory buns and native Taiwanese specialties. When you’ve labored up an urge for food from exploring Beitou’s scorching springs, it’s a incredible place to seize a fast, budget-friendly lunch, snack, or, sure—-lest I forget-—dessert! Right here, you’ll be able to pattern quirky native treats, like mushy pastries stuffed with purple bean or egg custard, or chewy mochi balls.

From the Beitou Market, take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line to Shilin Station (Fare: NT$25; Journey time: 11 minutes) and catch Bus R30 to succeed in our subsequent cease, the Nationwide Palace Museum (Fare: NT$15; Journey time: 11 minutes).

Nationwide Palace Museum

Time for some tradition! The Nationwide Palace Museum itself feels grand. With over 700,000 items, it’s like stepping right into a time capsule of the imperial dynasties, stuffed with intricately crafted jade carvings, gorgeous calligraphy, and fantastically preserved ceramics that inform the story of over 8,000 years of Chinese language tradition.

However right here’s the factor. It’s a giant museum – enormous! And it’s straightforward to get misplaced in its galleries. And if you wish to see each single piece on show, you’ll in all probability want greater than a day. So plan your go to correctly. Analysis which items you need to see and discover them.

In our case, we let this Google Arts and Tradition article paved the way.

It listed out six of the must-see items inside and we made them our northern stars:

• Tsu-I tsun, a bronze ritual wine cup
• Zong-zhou Zhong, a ceremonial bell manufactured from bronze, from 1046-771 BCE
• Bi and Cong, utilized in rituals by the traditional Liangzhu civilization, which lived from 3300-2300 BCE
• Ceramic polo gamers, collectible figurines of feminine polo gamers within the Tang dynasty
• Jadeite cabbage, a jadeite stone meticulously carved to resemble a pak choi. It’s so jaw-droppingly practical.
• Meat-shaped stone, produced from jasper that appears precisely like a slice of braised pork stomach

In fact, we additionally checked out the opposite rooms alongside the best way. However to make our go to extra attention-grabbing, we used the record above as our targets.

• If you wish to spend the remainder of the day contained in the museum – a tempting possibility when it’s raining otherwise you’re simply drained – achieve this. As talked about, the museum is huge and wealthy. Simply look forward to time for supper and head on to Shilin Evening Market after. Take Bus R30 or S19 to Shilin Market (Fare: NT$ 15, Journey time: 15-25 minutes).
• However if you happen to really feel such as you nonetheless have the time and power, squeeze in a go to to the following cease. Take Bus BR13 to the Air Drive Headquarters (Fare: NT$ 15; Journey time: 12 minutes) after which stroll for 14 minutes to the Martyr’s Shrine.

Martyr’s Shrine

The Nationwide Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine is sort of a mini-palace devoted to fallen heroes. Inbuilt conventional Chinese language architectural type, it’s a grand tribute to the troopers who fought for Taiwan. The shrine itself is gorgeous and peaceable, a pleasant breather after all of the sightseeing.

Catch the altering of the guards, which occurs on high of each hour from 9AM-5PM. It’s a formidable ceremony the place guards in crisp uniforms carry out their routine with army precision. An identical routine occurs on the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, however this one is prolonged since you get to observe them stroll the whole size of the positioning – from the doorway to the shrine and again.

To get to Shilin Evening Market from right here, take Bus 902 or R3 to Mingchuan College (Fare: NT$15; Journey time: 5-7 minutes) and stroll for 7 minutes to our remaining cease of the day.

Shilin Evening Market

No day in Taipei is full with no evening market, and Shilin Evening Market is the granddaddy of all of them. Whereas the basement meals courtroom is underneath renovation, there’s nonetheless loads to eat. Right here, essentially the most well-known is Scorching-Star Giant Fried Rooster, which we tried a few years in the past. However our native companion really helpful one thing else, one thing that she claimed even locals line up for: Hometown BBQ Rooster (NT$100).

Like Scorching-Star, there’s additionally a queue that kinds towards it, and it’s additionally an enormous piece of breaded rooster cutlet. However this one is admittedly juicy and filled with complicated flavors, caused by its difficult cooking course of. It’s brined, seasoned and breaded earlier than getting deep fried. After which – get this – it’s grilled after, giving it a slight smokiness, nevertheless it all makes the distinction. It’s actually good! The very best fried rooster we’ve had in Taipei. Granted, we haven’t tried that many, however nonetheless.

When you’ve had your ji pai repair, stroll a bit to Good Buddy Chilly Noodles to have your dose of carbs, within the type of chilly noodles (Small: NT$ 55; Huge: NT$70). Good Buddy serves bowls which might be oddly refreshing, one thing we desperately wanted after hours of simply strolling round Taipei.

It’s deceptively easy: skinny, bouncy noodles, doused with a wealthy, creamy sesame sauce for that nutty base, then garnished with shredded cucumbers for additional crunch, and a touch of citrus (lemon?) for freshness. It’s easy, sure, however low cost, filling, and scrumptious. Sure, it has a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, too.

With this, time to name it a day! Head again to your resort, sleep tight, and put together in your final day in Taipei!

DAY 3: TAIPEI ICONS

Begin your day early, pack up, and take a look at of your resort. You possibly can stash your luggage on the resort reception or discover a metro station locker and decide it up after your sightseeing. This morning, you’ll be paying a go to to a few of Taipei’s most beloved landmarks.

You are able to do it in two methods: by MRT or by double-decker sightseeing bus.

• By MRT. Put together NT$ 20-25 per manner. Simply obtain the Google Maps app and let it information you with the transfers. It’s going to let you know the instructions together with which MRT line to take and which station to alight at.
• By Sightseeing Bus. A 4-hour move usually prices NT$330 if you happen to purchase on the bus itself. When you ebook with Klook or KKDay, it’s solely NT$300. If you buy tickets on the bus itself and you employ Mastercard, you’ll get 25% OFF. So that you’ll solely be paying NT$ 247.5.

✅ BOOK SIGHTSEEING BUS WITH KKDAY or KLOOK!

You possibly can catch the very first sightseeing bus at Taipei Essential Station, simply exterior EXIT M4. There’s a marked bus cease there. From right here, hop on the bus and get off at your first cease of the day.

Lungshan Temple

Begin with town’s most well-known, Lungshan Temple, a masterpiece of conventional design and non secular power. Inbuilt 1738, it has survived fires, earthquakes, and even World Battle II bombings. Admire the dragon columns, ornate wood carvings, and the extreme devotion of locals who come to hope right here day by day.

One factor I observed is that there are not any incense sticks right here. Apparently, it was banned by the administration to enhance the air high quality within the space. As an alternative, worshippers could place different choices on the desk.

Entrance Charge: FREE
Hours open: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Corridor

This grand memorial honors Chiang Kai-shek, that is Taipei’s assertion piece with huge white partitions, hanging blue-tiled roof, an infinite bronze statue of Taiwan’s former chief. Inside, study his life and legacy whereas marveling on the structure. You should definitely catch the altering of the guard right here, too.

Entrance Charge: FREE
Hours Open: 9:00 AM to six:00 PM

Taipei 101

The world-famous Taipei 101 awaits, towering over town like an enormous bamboo shoot or a stack of Chinese language takeout containers. Whether or not you go up or simply admire it from the surface, Taipei 101 is a sight to behold.

At 508 meters tall, this was as soon as the tallest constructing on the earth. It now not holds the document, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a monumental achievement in structure and engineering. This skyscraper is capped with an observatory that permits sweeping panoramic views of town. Right here’s a recreation: when you’re atop Taipei 101, attempt to discover the opposite landmarks and sights that you’ve got visited on this journey. Begin with the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, it’s the simplest to identify!

One other attention-grabbing to catch a glimpse of right here is its tuned mass damper, which stabilizes and retains the constructing standing and a reminder of Taipei 101’s resilience. It additionally homes workplaces and retail retailers.

Talking of retailers, simply near Taipei 101 is a fancy of purchasing malls together with ATT4FUN and Breeze Nan Shan. When you nonetheless have time, you’ll be able to spend the remainder of the day purchasing. When you don’t, then decide up your baggage and head to the airport!

Departure

And similar to that, you’ve conquered Taipei. Three days is extra like a whirlwind romance, brief and candy. Taipei has much more in retailer. However that ought to offer you a purpose to ebook one other flight and provides Taipei one other go!

The place to Keep in Taipei

Right here’s an inventory of the motels and hostels we tried in Taipei:

Seek for extra Taipei Inns!