Introduction
Taipei is one of Asia’s most livable cities — clean, safe, excellent public transport, extraordinary food, and a unique blend of Japanese and Chinese cultural influences shaped by Taiwan’s distinctive political history. Often overlooked in favor of Tokyo or Seoul, it rewards visitors who make the effort.
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Top Things to Do
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
The classic Taipei 101 viewpoint. A 30-minute hike up a hillside trail to rocky outcrops with panoramic city views. Taipei 101 is directly in the frame. Free.
Best time: Sunset or nighttime for city lights. Popular at all hours.
Shilin Night Market
The largest and most famous of Taipei’s night markets. Hundreds of stalls in an indoor market and surrounding streets.
Must eat: Oyster vermicelli (oyster with sticky sauce and noodles), scallion pancake, stinky tofu (pungent but delicious), bubble tea, small sausage in large sausage (grilled sticky rice sausage inside pork sausage).
Practical: Open from 4pm, busiest 7–10pm. Take MRT to Jiantan station.
National Palace Museum
The world’s finest collection of Chinese imperial art — 700,000 items spanning 8,000 years, moved from the mainland in 1948. The jade cabbage, jade meat, and bronze collection are the highlights. Allow half a day minimum.
Entry: NT$350. Take MRT to Shilin station then bus.
Longshan Temple
The most atmospheric active temple in central Taipei. Multiple deities, fortune telling sticks, incense smoke and genuine devotional activity 24 hours a day. Free.
Jiufen Day Trip
45 minutes from Taipei by bus. Hillside mining town with narrow alleys, tea houses and ocean views. Best on weekday afternoons when day trippers have left.
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Getting Around Taipei
MRT: Clean, efficient, covers most attractions. NT$20–65 per journey. Buy an iPass or EasyCard (rechargeable, also works on buses).
YouBike: Taipei’s excellent bike-sharing system. NT$10 for first 30 minutes. Stations everywhere.
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Taipei Food
Beef noodle soup (niurou mian): Taiwan’s national dish. Rich braised beef and thick noodles in savory broth. Everywhere, always good.
Scallion pancake (cong you bing): Flaky fried dough with scallion. Morning staple.
Bubble tea (boba): Invented in Taipei. Tiger Sugar for brown sugar milk tea, 50 Lan for originals.
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Taipei night market food tours, Jiufen and Yehliu day trips are bookable on Klook.
Book Taipei night market tours on Klook →
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