3 Days in Taipei – Attractions, Food, Day Trips, and Nature Escapes
Taipei, Taiwan 🇹🇼 is officially recognized as a part of the Republic of China. A few countries, including the US, recognize Taiwan as its own country, but many others, including the UN do not see it as its own independent country. Either way, I think Taiwan has its own identity, history, and culture, therefore in my opinion it is it’s own unique country. With a population of nearly 2.5 million people, 7 million including the metro, Taipei is a huge city offering visitors an endless amount of things to do and see. If you are into history, there is plenty to see here, if you are a foodie like me, then you better come hungry, or if you simply like exploring a city with no plan in mind, Taipei is the perfect city.
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Taiwan is an island country in East Asia, situated to the east of the People’s Republic of China, south of Japan, and north of the Philippines. Taiwan is not a small island, it is nearly 250 miles in length and 90 miles at its widest point. Most of eastern Taiwan is dominated by mountain ranges while western Taiwan is very urbanized.
Taipei is located in the northern portion of Taiwan. Taipei is fairly close to the ocean, not far from the mountains, and close to the airport, making it an ideal destination for travelers wanting to explore both the city and its natural surroundings.
Taipei is a large city with 2.5 million in the city and 7 million people in the metro. There are twelve districts that make Taipei. These districts are Wanhua, Datong, Zhongzheng, Zhongshan, Daan, Xinyi, Songshan, Beitou, Shilin, Neihu, Nangang, and Wenshan.
The international airport that serves Taipei, is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. There is a rail line that goes directly from the airport to downtown Taipei.
Transportation and the EasyCard
Taiwan, especially Taipei has great public transportation. Taipei has an efficient metro that branches out all around the city.
Our last visit to Taipei (February 2023) we noticed many people riding YouBikes. YouBikes are rental bikes that can be used throughout the city. There are stations strategically located around Taipei where you can pick up and drop off the bikes.
If visiting Taipei for an extended period of time or if planning to go back, it’s highly recommended to get an EasyCard. The EasyCard is a rechargeable card that can be used on the metro, trains, buses, and the YouBikes.
For us, the EasyCard was a life saver and made traveling around Taipei a breeze! We picked up our cards at a service help desk at the airport prior to the boarding the metro. We then went to one of the ticketing machines at the airport and loaded money on the card. We put about 1,000 New Taiwan Dollars on the card which is about $30 USD. This lasted us the whole trip and we still have money on the card. We took a train from Taipei to Houtong Cat Village and back, a bus from Taipei to Yehliu Geopark, hopped on the metro to and from the airport, and took numerous metro lines around Taipei. Needless to say, taking public transit in Taiwan is very affordable.
3 Days in Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei is a vibrant city rich in culture and traditions combined with modern skyscrapers and districts. If you are planning a trip to Taipei and want to maximize your time in the city, our 3 Days in Taipei itinerary will cover the basics for what you need to do and see in Taipei.
From immersing yourself in the culture and walking the bustling streets to enjoying mouthwatering food at the local night markets. I’ve even included day trips from Taipei in case you want to explore outside of Taipei and see more of this beautiful country!
Day 1
When visiting a new city, I always recommend just walking around the area you are staying at. Get to know the area, discover new restaurants, and see what attractions are nearby.
When we first stayed in Taipei, Jill and I were in the Wanhua District of Taipei. Our second time in Taipei, we stayed in the Zhongzheng District, third time was in the Shilin District. Great thing about Taipei, is that the public transportation is phenomenal, so no matter where you stay, you can still follow my 3-day Taipei itinerary.
Day 1 in Taipei should be easy going, I recommend checking out the Wanhua District and Zhongzheng District as there is a lot to see and it’s walkable for the most part. I’ve broken this itinerary down further by morning, afternoon, and night. Obviously, you don’t have to follow the same order as we did, but I hope this helps when it comes to you managing and organizing your trip to Taipei.
Morning
Why not start the morning off in Taipei with some architecture, culture, history, and nature. I recommend heading to 228 Peace Memorial Park. Here you will find the National Taiwan Museum, Peace Bell, and the famous Pagoda in the pond (pictured above).
The National Taiwan Museum is home to many interesting exhibits on anthropology, science, botany, and research. For more information, including entrance times and fees, feel free to visit the National Taiwan Museum website.
After a visit to the museum, and taking phots of the pagoda, stroll through the park to check out some of the architecture, sculptures, and monuments.
After exploring the 228 Peace Memorial Park you can easily walk to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall which is one of my most recommended things to do and see in Taipei. About a 15-25 minute walk, visitors will find themselves at the Liberty Square Arch This massive Gate is the main entrance to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Included within the walls is Liberty Square, the National Theater, National Concert Hall, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
There is not a whole lot to do here but walk around and take photos. The Liberty Square is massive. I always enjoy taking photos of the Concert Hall and National Theater.
Walk up the stairs to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial and if lucky, you can witness the changing of the guards.
With all these attractions to include Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and Taipei 101, I do recommend visiting them both during the day and at night as these major attractions are brilliantly lit up at night.
Afternoon
After a visit to Kai-shek Memorial Hall, you can stop at the Donmen Market or Nanmen Market for an afternoon snack. These places are open early at 7 am but close in the late afternoon. The later you go the more limited options there are. But you can find great street food here, enough to satisfy your cravings until later on.
After a quick meal, head over to Daan Forest Park for a little nature escape. At Daan Forest Park you can walk the many trails here or take a breather and find a nice place to sit around the pond.
If it is the weekend, I recommend heading over to the Jianguo Flower and Jade Market. This market is located underneath the Jianguo Elevated Road and it stretches for several blocks. There are vendors here selling all things jade from jewelry to artistic sculptures. The Flower Market has everything you can think of like cherry trees, bonsai trees, and any flower imaginable. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it’s still a joy to wander around and see what the vendors have for sale.
At this point, between the walking and checking out some of the sites and markets, it’s been almost an entire day. I’d recommend adding a few more stops on the itinerary for the day which would include Longshan Temple and dinner at either one of the night markets or Hot Pot.
From the Jianguo Market area, you can head to the Daan Park Metro Station and take it to Taipei Main Station. From Taipei Main Station, head to either Ximen or Longshan Temple Station.
Evening/Night
To wrap up day 1 in Taipei, I would head to Longshan Temple to see it at night. Again, this temple is stunning and worth a visit both during the day and night. Once you get familiar with Taipei and the metro, feel free to tack on a quick trip here on one of the other days.
Longshan Temple is in the Wanhua District and is Taipei’s most famous temple. It’s free to visit and open to visitors. This temple was built in the 1700’s for both Buddhist and Taoist deities.
The Wanhua District is pretty interesting and well worth exploring. Other then Longshan Temple, you can find the Bopiliao Historic Street, The Red House, Ximending Pedestrian Zone, and several Famous Night Markets in Taipei.
For dinner, there are several options. On Day 1, I would recommend either exploring the Night Markets or trying Hot Pot, both are unique food experiences in Taipei.
For Night Markets, you have Snake Alley, Guangzhou, and Ximending.
When exploring Taipei’s night markets, I first recommend walking the entire market and see what you are craving, then go back and order food from the vendors. Don’t be afraid to try the “Stinky Tofu.” It smells horrendous but tastes pretty good!
For Hot-Pot in Taipei, they are scattered throughout the city and pretty easy to find. We had one outside our hotel room in the Wanhua District. Hot-Pot in Taipei was probably one of my favorite food dining experiences. The varieties of food available was astonishing!
Hot-Pot is a Chinese method of cooking, where you have a large pot of broth in the center of the table, you can then cook the meats and vegetables in the boiling broth. It is similar to the Japanese Shabu-Shabu. Hot-Pot is generally buffet-style. I was shocked and impressed by the quality and variety of food. They had everything from chicken testicles to shark. They had unlimited beer and an ice cream bar. I highly recommend trying out Hot-Pot at least once while in Taipei.
One more thing to wrap up the end to the perfect night in Taipei. I recommend getting a foot massage. It’s tradition now for both Jill and myself to get a foot massage in Taipei at the end of every night.
The foot massage parlors are everywhere in Taipei and they are dirt cheap. I’m talking like $10 for 45 minutes to an hour. You get to relax in a comfortable chair, with warm water at your feet while getting a relaxing foot massage. Perfect way to end the night!
Day 2
Morning
After breakfast whether it be from the hotel, convenience store, or a local bakery I recommend making your way toward Taipei’s most famous skyscraper, Taipei 101.
Prior to visiting Taipei 101, I recommend getting on the metro and take the Blue-Line to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall or another nearby station.
After exiting the station, there is a large park named Zhongshan Park. Zhongshan Park has a few walking trails, ponds, and is home to the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial. This memorial was dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is considered the Father of the Republic of China. The memorial building is massive and beautifully designed. Visitors can access the inside of the memorial and see the statue and guards.
From Zhongshan Park, you can get great views of Taipei 101. Even on cloudy days, when the tip of the skyscraper is within the clouds, it’s still a sight to see.
Afternoon
No Taipei itinerary is complete without a visit to Taipei 101.
After visiting Zhongshan Park and the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial, Taipei 101 is a short walk away! Don’t know which way to go? Easy, just look up and head toward the only skyscraper in the area.
Taipei 101 is a magnificent building from the outside but taking the elevator to the upper floors is a must!
The base of Taipei 101 is a gigantic shopping mall full of high end shops. Within the Taipei 101 Shopping Center, you can access the Taipei 101 Observatory. There are signs within the shopping center pointing you in the correct direction to the ticket counter.
To visit the Taipei 101 Observatory, the price is $20.
Taipei 101 has 101 floors hence the name. This skyscraper is considered to be the 10th tallest building in the world and has the second fastest elevator.
Visitors can freely walk around several floors and one of the most impressive features of Taipei 101 is the Damper.
The damper here is the world’s largest. A damper is used to limit vibrations of the building during high winds or earthquakes.
There is a restaurant and bar up here. I can now say I’ve enjoyed a pint of beer on top of one of the world’s tallest buildings!
Although it is recommended to visit Taipei 101 during the day to access the observatory, it is well worth seeing at night as it lights up the sky.
Evening/Night
It is worth sticking around Taipei 101 to walk around at night for photos. The skyscraper is lit up and dominates the night sky. Granted, you can see Taipei 101 from most vantage points around the city, it’s still worth seeing it up close.
After seeing Taipei 101 at night, I recommend grabbing dinner again at one of Taipei’s night markets. This time, I recommend visiting the Raohe Night Market.
Besides taking a taxi from Taipei 101 to Raohe Night Market, you can get back on the subway Red-Line back to Taipei Main Station, get on the Green-Line to Songshan Station.
Raohe Night Market is a lively market offering everything imaginable from German Schwein Haxe to peanut butter filled pastries.
For more information on Night Markets in Taipei I have a dedicated post on all things Night Markets from where to go to food we recommend trying:
Our Guide to Night Markets in Taipei
After eating anything and everything at the market, I recommend visiting the Ciyou Temple and then walking the Rainbow Bridge across the Keelung River for views of Taipei and to digest the food that was just devoured.
Day 3
Morning
If spending 3 days in Taipei, I recommend spending the last day in the Shilin District. The Shilin District is located in northern Taipei and easily accessible by the red line from Taipei Main Station.
Shilin District is home to the National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market, and many parks and gardens.
When leaving Shilin Station, I recommend walking around the station and sampling food and bubble tea. One of my favorite places here to grab a bite to eat was the steamed bun shop right outside the gate. This shop had a variety of steamed buns at a really cheap cost.
Afternoon
I recommend spending the afternoon at the National Palace Museum and Zhishan Garden.
Taipei’s National Palace Museum is said to have the best collection of Chinese arts in the world to include the famous “Jade Cabbage” and “Pork Belly Jade” both of which were traveling elsewhere when we were here.
The museum was multi leveled with each floor showcasing different arts and artifacts. I found the weapons from the bronze age to be the most impressive.
You can spend hours at the National Palace Museum in Taipei if not the entire day, so give yourself time. I learned so much here.
After the museum, it is recommend to walk Zhishan Garden. This free Chinese garden is beautiful, with a large pond and traditional buildings.
Evening
Like every night, I recommend visiting a night market and finishing the day with a nice relaxing foot massage.
Shilin Night Market is one of Taipei’s largest and oldest night markets. I found a lot of new food items here that I did not find at other markets. Some of my favorite items found at the market were the filled pancakes, takoyaki balls filled with shrimp, and fresh pork buns.
Afterwards, treat yourself to a relaxing foot massage. In Taipei, foot massage parlors are found all throughout the city, you don’t have to walk to far before finding one.
Escape the City: Top Day Trips from Taipei
3 days in Taipei can seem like a lot of time to spend in a single city. Although there is plenty to see in Taipei, you might want to escape the city for a day and see the surrounding area. Thankfully with a phenomenal transportation system, it’s easy to hop on a train or bus and seek out something new. Why not take the train to Houtong known as Taiwan’s Cat Village or walk down the famous market street in Jiufen. If nature is your thing, go for a hike in Yangmingshan National Park or take a bus to Yehliu Geopark.
Below are my top recommended day trips from Taipei.
Yangmingshan National Park
Located just north of Taipei and an easy metro ride away is Yangmingshan National Park and The Qingtiangang Grasslands. These natural gems offer visitors a great escape from the bustling capital city.
When we visited Yangmingshan National Park, we went to Ximen Station in Wanhua District and took the Brown Line to Dahu Park Station. From Dahu Park Station, we walked to one of the park entrances and walked for several kilometers through diverse ecosystems from lush rainforest to high mountain peaks.
Before getting to The Qingtiangang Grasslands we stopped for lunch at a small road side stop. We ordered today’s special which included a hearty amount of meat and stir fry with bamboo rice.
Once arriving at The Qingtiangang Grasslands, we noticed signs everywhere warning us hikers about potential water buffalo. There were signs of buffalo all over the trail from tracks to fresh dung. Sure enough, not to much further, we spotted a small herd of them doing what water buffalo do best, relaxing in a pool of mud!
Whether you are looking for serene hiking trails or just looking to practice your photography, Yangmingshan National Park is one of the easiest and most exciting day trips from Taipei.
Yehliu Geopark
A Day trip to Yehliu Geopark from Taipei is one of the easiest and most enjoyable trips outside the city.
If you don’t have a rental car, Yehliu Geopark is easily accessible by public bus.
Feel free to read my post on Visiting Yehliu Geopark from Taipei by Bus for more information on getting to the park from Taipei Main Station.
Once you arrive at Yehliu Geopark by bus, the park is just a couple of minutes away by foot. Yehliu Geopark is famous for its natural beauty and unique rock formations.
Make sure to check out Queen’s Head, Fairy Shoe, and the Candle Rocks. You can also go for a nice hike here to one of the observation decks to get amazing views of the sea.
Houtong Cat Village
One of the best day trips from Taipei, especially if you are a cat enthusiasts like we are is a quick visit to Houtong Cat Village. This picturesque village full of cute cats is an easy train ride from Taipei Station.
Houtong hasn’t always been a cat lovers paradise. Houtong started off as a mining town producing up to 220,000 tons of coal a year. The mining community thrived for decades but began to decline in 1990. The stray cat population began to increase and residents began feeding them. The cats decided that Houtong wasn’t a bad place to stay, so they’ve been here ever since and are a huge hit for both the locals and tourists.
If you are looking for the Puurfect day trip from Taipei, I highly recommend paying a visit to Houtong Cat Village. You can explore the alleyways and take photos of the kitties, sit down and pet them, and visit one of the many cat themed hops and restaurants.
Jiufen
One of the more popular day trips from Taipei is a Day Trip to Jiufen. Jiufen is popular not only because of it’s beauty and famous street market but also because it is considered to be the inspiration behind the animated film, Spirited Away.
Getting to Jiufen is easy. You can take a train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station, from here take a quick bus or cab to Jiufen.
If you are curious how we spent our day in Jiufen, we started off walking through and sampling food from vendors at Jiufen Old Street. From here, we found a nice tea house and enjoyed unique teas with a one of a kind view. We finished the day off at the famous Amei Teahouse and stood with a crowd of people to take a photo. Before leaving, we walked down Shgi Road and enjoyed the lanterns before making hailing a cab back to Ruifang Station to catch a train back to Taipei.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼
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Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁
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