Most visitors will travel to Hualien from Taipei to do a Taroko Gorge Day Tour. It is highly recommended to see Taroko National Park, but Hualien is far from just a quick place to stay while visiting the gorge. Hualien offers a range of things to do from spotting beautiful beaches full of colored marble stones to trying delicious snacks at the Dongdamen Night Market. If you are wondering what there is to do in Hualien? I spent three days here exploring the area. Here are my recommendations and top things to do in Hualien.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting from Taipei to Hualien Taipei to Hualien is an easy and very inexpensive journey.  There are several different ways to travel from Taipei to Hualien. Renting and driving a car is an option. You can book a tour or private driver, or take a train which in my opinion is the easiest and cheapest mode of transportation to reach Hualien from Taipei. We took a train from Taipei Main Station directly to Hualien Station. Depending on the train, the trip to Hualien can take anywhere from 2 to 4 or more hours.  We ended up taking the Express Trains, the T. C. Ltd Express to Hualien and the Taroko Express back to Taipei for a whopping NTD 440 or about $14 a person one way. The express trains take about 2 – 2.5 hours and make very few stops along the route.  Recommended Hotels in Hualien Unless you are just doing a day trip to Hualien from Taipei to visit Taroko National Park, you will most likely stay at a hotel in Hualien for at least one night.  Agoda has many excellent hotels in Hualien that are suited for anyone’s price range.  We stayed at the Full Kind Hotel and loved our two nights stay here. The Full Kind Hotel was centrally located, close to great restaurants and shops, ad spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and a great breakfast spread every morning. The hotel was within walking distance to Dongdamen Night Market and there was a 7-Eleven next door.  If searching for hotels in Hualien, I recommend booking through Agoda and we were very satisfied with our hotel stay at Full Kind Hotel. Top Things to do in Hualien Cities in Taiwan like Hualien are a nice change of pace from cities like Taipei or even Jiufen. Hualien felt less touristy and a bit more authentic.  Although there are no grand attractions in Hualien, besides Taroko National Park, there is still plenty to do and see in Hualien.  After spending two days in Hualien, here is a list of our recommendations of top things to do and experience in Hualien.  1. Taroko National Park Perhaps one of Taiwan’s most beautiful natural parks, Taroko National Park, is a canyon famous for its near vertical cliffs, turquoise blue rivers, and stunning hiking trails.  Taroko National Park is near Hualien and is free to visit.  Must do things at Taroko National Park include hiking the Shakadang Trail, visiting the Eternal Spring Shrine, walking across the Buluowan Suspension Bridge, going to the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and finishing the day at Swallow Grotto. Interested in reading more about Taroko Gorge? I have a post dedicated to Taroko National Park Day Tours. 2. Dongdamen Night Market Like the night markets in Taipei, Hualien does have a night market called Dongdamen Night Market.  Each night we stayed in Hualien, we had dinner at the Dongdamen Night Market. There are just to many delicious things to try here.  Dongdamen Night Market occupies a huge space in central Hualien. There are many permanent and covered vendors here selling a wide range of foods. We tried everything from Tofu Fries and slices of bacon to Taiwanese Burgers and Green Onion Pancakes with an Egg. Honestly, everything we had was delicious.  3. Local Markets Like night markets in Taiwan, there are also great markets that pop up in the mornings. Expect to find more fruits and vegetables for sale, seafood, and other goods for daily use bought by locals.  I love strolling through morning markets and trying unique foods. The markets in Hualien seemed to be in different locations around the city. There were some near the Dongdamen Night Market and others close to our hotel.  4. Taipingyang Park and the Coast Line Looking to take a relaxing stroll along the coast in Hualien? Or have kids and want to drain their energy quickly? I’d recommend visiting Taipingyang Park and the nearby beach.  Picture a beach with white sand, crystal clear and calm waters, with palm trees and a guy selling coconuts. Well, this is not that kind of beach!  Instead, the water here is pretty intense, the beach is full of huge marble boulders, and swimming is not advised. Doesn’t sound like your ideal beach, but I found it fascinating to walk on and look at all the beautiful rocks. The Hualien area is known for marble so a lot of pretty colored marble rocks rest on the beaches here.  Taipingyang Park is more of a park for children. The playground equipment looked well maintained and a dream come true for kids.  5. Qixingtan Beach When we took our Taroko National Park Day Tour, the first stop was at Qixingtan Beach.  Qixingtan Beach is just north of the city on the northern tip of Hualien Airport.  Qixingtan Beach is a long beach with incredible views of the mountains in the background and beautiful shades of blue and green water. Although swimming is not advised here due to rough currents, it is a nice beach to walk on and enjoy the views!  6. Riverside Park Hualien had a lot of green space. Along the river that flows through town, there is a nice river walk and network of trails and parks.  We took one of the trails from Jinghua Bridge to the Martyrs Shrine and it was a pleasant walk. There were fisherman in the river, kids on bikes, and people out on their daily dog walks.  7. Pine Garden One attraction in Hualien that intrigued me was the Pine Garden.  According to signs posted at the site, the Pine Garden is a historic site in Hualien and was a former Japanese Command Center. The building was constructed in 1942 to recruit and manage military servicemen.  After WWII, the Japanese left Taiwan and the KMT government took over. In 2003, the Pine Garden and building was officially open to the public. Today, visitors can walk the grounds, go inside the main building, walk through a bomb shelter, browse the shops, or sit and have a beer or treat at the cafe.  8. Shop If shopping is your thing, then Hualien has plenty of shops and fun stores that are worth browsing.  Gongyuan and Zhonghua Rd were full of shops, I personally enjoyed the shops selling treats so I could bring stuff back to friends and family. But there is a wide range of shops here from souvenir stores to high end stores like Rolex.  9. Bubble Tea You can’t go to Taiwan and not have Bubble Tea. It’s like going to Japan and not trying Sushi, it just doesn’t make sense.  For how big Hualien was, there were a ton of Bubble Tea shops. Just keep in mind most Bubble Tea places didn’t open until 10 – 11 am.  Most Bubble Tea shops had similar drinks. What surprises us, is how cheap Bubble Tea is in Taiwan. Two large drinks can cost anywhere from $2 – $3.50. 10. Foot Massage If visiting Taiwan, you cannot leave without having a foot massage. Even a city like Hualien had great foot massage places all over town.  We tend to walk a lot, so our feet are always tired. Every time we visit Taiwan, we end our night with a foot massage. I mean they are so affordable compared to other massage parlors around the world. Do yourself a favor and get a foot massage when visiting Hualien.  Conclusion Hualien kind of flies under the radar as a destination when visiting Taiwan. If it weren’t for Taroko Gorge, Hualien would get close to no tourism and visitors. But Hualien offers visitors much more and it’s an easy train ride from Taipei. In Hualien, you can find a lot of the classic Taiwan must try experiences, like night markets and foot massages. Hualien also has incredible landscapes, beautiful beaches, and an interesting history. So maybe next time you visit Taiwan, add Hualien to your itinerary.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan is a historic yet modern city that blends old traditions with new modernity. From towering skyscrapers like Taipei 101 to the ancient temple of Bangka Lungshan and the natural beauty of Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei has something for everyone. Whether you are into museums, love trying new food, interested in hiking, or simply want to relax and get a massage, Taipei has it all! This post will guide you through some of the top things to do in Taipei.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Top Things to do in Taipei Are you looking for some of the top things to do in Taipei? Or perhaps things to do in Taipei at night? Or just looking for tourist attractions in Taipei that are worthwhile? I’ve been to Taipei 7 times now and have come up with a list of my most recommended things to do in Taipei.  1. Visit the National Palace Museum Taiwan’s National Palace Museum is one of Taiwan’s most prominent and visited attractions. This museum is said to have the best collection of Chinese arts in the world. Two famous artifacts here include the “Jade Cabbage” and “Pork Belly Jade.” After visiting the museum, make sure to stroll through Zhishan Garden. This free Chinese garden is the perfect place to visit after the museum. For more information on the National Palace Museum, feel free to visit the website. Admission: NT $350Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, Closed on Mondays 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   2. Hike Yangmingshan National Park If interested in hiking in and around Taipei, I found that Yangmingshan National Park was one of the best hikes and National Parks to escape the city and find yourself peacefully surrounded by some of Taiwan’s most beautiful nature.  Visitors can get to Yangmingshan National Park entirely by using public transportation. When I visited this national park, I went to Ximen Station in Wanhua District and then took the Brown Line to Dahu Park Station. From Dahu Park Station, I walked directly into the national park.  For me, the highlight besides the beautiful surrounding mountains, was a chance to see wild water buffalo.  3. Try Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is a beloved national dish that is a must try when visiting Taipei. Beef Noodle Soup consists of tender beef, hearty noodles, and a rich broth.  I’d recommend trying Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup for lunch one day, that way you can visit a night market in Taipei at night.  One place that serves Beef Noodle Soup that I really like is Liang Pin Beef Noodles near the intersection of Kaifeng Street and Huaining Street.  4. Take a Day Trip From Taipei I usually recommend at least 2-3 days in Taipei. But if you are staying longer or itching to see more of Taiwan, there are day trips from Taipei that are easy to get to and drastically different from the main city.  Venturing from Taipei offers a treasure trove of amazing landscapes, small mountain towns, cultural landmarks, amazing geological phenomena, and so much more.  An easy train or bus ride from Taipei, visitors can see places like Houtong Cat Village, Yehliu Geopark, and Jiufen.  5. Take the Elevator Up Taipei 101 Visiting Taipei 101 is a must when visiting Taipei. Taipei 101 stands tall and proud and dominates the cityscape. Standing at 508m (1,667 ft), with 101 floors, this skyscraper is one of the world’s tallest buildings.  Taipei 101 has observation decks for visitors on the 89th floor. With 360-degree views, it is truly the best view of Taipei.  One of the most fascinating things to see at Taipei 101 is the Damper. The damper here is the largest in the world and is completely visible to visitors. For those that don’t know, a damper is basically a pendulum that offsets movement of the building due to strong winds or earthquakes.  6. Sample Food at the Night Markets When going to Taiwan, one of my favorite things to do is going to the Night Markets in Taipei. Night markets are scattered throughout the city and have some of Taipei’s best, cheapest, and most unique foods to try. So if you are a foodie like me, it’s paradise. Night Markets in Taipei generally pop up around 17:00 and can stay open past 24:00 depending on the market.  Some of my favorite markets, which I go into detail in my night markets in Taipei post, include Guangzhou Street Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, Linjiang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, Raohe Street Night Market, Shilin Night Market and Ximen Night Market.  When visiting Taipei’s night markets, I always recommend walking through the market first to see what food stands out, then go back and start hitting the stalls. Generally, there will be a small line, you order your food and can stand near the stall to eat or walk around. I like standing nearby, so I can throw my trash away with the vendor.  📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   7. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of Taipei’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you are staying for 1 day or 3 days in Taipei, a visit to the memorial is a must!   The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is a memorial to one of Taiwan’s most influential figures, Chiang Kai-shek.  The Liberty Square area is massive here. Once you pass under the Liberty Square Arch, the massive National Concert Hall and National Theatre Hall can be seen on on the right and left side of Liberty Square. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a white structure with an blue octagon shaped roof.  Visitors can go inside the Memorial Hall, if lucky you can see the changing of the guards.  8. Check out Lungshan Temple During the Day and Night Located in Taipei’s Wanhua District and honestly an easy walk from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is the Taipei’s most famous temple, the Lungshan Temple.  If you decide not to walk to Lungshan Temple, there is a Lungshan Temple Subway Station along the Blue Line.  Lungshan Temple is free to visit and worth seeing both during the day and night. I love how intricate and detailed the architecture of this temple is. The detail of everything is spectacular from the roof to the dragons.  9. Shop at Jianguo’s Flower and Jade Market Looking to escape the rain in Taipei? Or do you enjoying specialized markets and shopping for unique things? I recommend checking out the Jianguo Flower and Jade Markets.  These market areas are found under the Jianguo Elevate Road and are quite expansive. You can spend hours here if desired as there are hundreds of vendors.  The flower market consists of hundreds of vendors as well selling everything from Bonsai Trees to full on Sakura Trees. The Jade Market is everything jade, from jewelry and antiques to pictures and decorations.  10. Stroll and Visit the Museum at 228 Peace Memorial Park I love starting my morning off at 228 Peace Memorial Park. This park is always active, well maintained, and just plain beautiful. It’s within walking distance to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and other attractions in Taipei.  This park is set as a reminder of those that lost their lives during the February 28 (228) incident that occurred in 1947.  There are memorials set up throughout the park, lush green spaces, beautiful ponds, and the National Taiwan Museum.  11. Foot Massage: Perfect way to Relax at the End of the Day My younger self would never even think about getting a massage. On our first trip to Taipei, Jill kind of forced me in to it. Now, every time we visit Taipei, we get a foot massage at the end of every night and I can’t think of a better way to end the day, especially when walking and exploring the city all day.  Foot massages in Taipei are very affordable. I’m talking like $10 – $20 for a 45 minute to 1 hour massage.  Foot massage parlors are found all over the city, you don’t have to look very hard before spotting one. Typically, you’ll sit in a large comfy chair and start with a warm foot soak. Then one of the people at the parlor comes by and massages your feet and calves. It’s truly a wonderful and relaxing experience.  12. Bubble Tea: Refreshing Taiwanese Drink As iconic as anything else in Taipei is Bubble Tea. Bubble tea or boba tea is a very popular Taiwanese drink that combines yummy tea flavors with fun little tapioca pearls. You get a unique blend of refreshing flavors and fun textures with every gulp. Bubble tea shops are found throughout Taipei and the drink itself is very cheap here, just a couple bucks for a large drink. 50 Lan is one of our favorite bubble tea shops. 13. Lunar New Year: Lantern Festival If visiting Taipei in February or March, make sure to attend or grab a schedule of events and attractions for the celebrations. We’ve been to three Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei now and it’s always a spectacular show.  Each year, the lantern festival in Taiwan is in a different city. So far I’ve attended the lantern festival in Taipei and Taoyuan.  14. Spend the Day at Taipei Zoo The Taipei Zoo is a nice zoo that is well worth a visit. The Taipei Zoo was much bigger then I expected, you could spend the whole day here.  The Taipei Zoo is easily accessible by public transportation. It is at the Taipei Zoo subway station at the end of the Brown Line.  General Admission for the Taipei Zoo was only NT$100 which comes out to like $3 USD.  I really enjoyed the Formosan Animal Area and of course seeing the Giant Pandas. That’s right! There are Giant Panda’s at the Taipei Zoo.  15. Try a Pepper Cake from Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake It has become a tradition of mine. Now, every time I visit Taipei, I stop at Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake near Taipei Main Station for a freshly made Pepper Cake.  These pepper cakes are one of my favorite snacks in Taipei. Wondering what even is a pepper cake?  It’s a flaky baked bun, usually baked in a cylindrical clay oven. The bun is filled with a marinated spiced meat, mixed with scallions, white pepper powder, and other ingredients.  I’ve tried pepper cakes around Taiwan and find that Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake makes the best. They open at 11:00 am and there is usually a line already. It’s totally worth it.  There is another Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake location at the Raohe Street Night Market.  Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake Location: Address: No. 13, Section 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei CityCoordinates: 25.0469831, 121.5128111 16. Hike Elephant Mountain: Best Views of Taipei 101 If you are looking for the best views of Taipei 101 in Taipei, or that iconic shot of Taipei 101 with the city in the background, then prepare for a short hike up Elephant Mountain. Hiking Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) is a great hike in Taipei that takes anywhere from 15 minutes to well over an hour depending on the route you take and what you want to see.  But one of the best views of Taipei 101 are from the Xiangshan Viewpoint, which is a short hike up Elephant Mountain.  I did the SihShouShan Circular Hiking Trail which had many more viewpoints of Taipei 101.  This hiking trail is popular at sunset and night because you can see the Taipei skyline.  To get to the trailhead of Elephant Mountain, it’s easily accessible by MRT

If planning on staying in Taipei for a few days, then I’d recommend an easy day trip to Jiufen. Jiufen is one of Taiwan’s most popular destinations and for good reason. Jiufen’s Old Street is a narrow pedestrian food path winding through the city lined with fun shops, teahouses, amazing food vendors, and so much more! For those that love anime, I hear Jiufen was the inspiration behind the animated fantasy film, Spirited Away. So whether you are into anime or just want to experience and see a cute and traditional Taiwanese village, then I highly recommend a day trip to Jiufen. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Jiufen? Jiufen is a village in New Taipei City located in Ruifang District. Jiufen is not far from the coast and is in a pretty mountainous area.  Some nearby towns in the vicinity of Jiufen include Ruifang, Houtong Village, and Keelung City.  Getting to Jiufen from Taipei Getting to Jiufen is relatively stress free and easy, especially if just doing a day trip from Taipei. If visitors are not renting a car, it is recommended to take a train to Ruifang Station then either a bus or taxi to Jiufen.  From Taipei Main Station take the northbound local train to Ruifang Station. It’s a pretty common route, so trains run to Ruifang regularly. The train ride to Ruifang Station from Taipei Main Station is roughly an hour. There is an Express Train that takes about 40-50 minutes, we got lucky and hopped on this one. The express train was a tad more pricey but the comfort and quickness of the train was well worth it.  Once at Ruifang Station, there are buses that go directly to Jiufen. The journey from Ruifang to Jiufen is roughly 15 minutes.  We got lost for some reason in Ruifang and could not fid the bus station. I believe we exited Ruifang Station on the wrong side, so we decided to take a taxi. The Taxi ride was cheap, just a couple bucks! Be warned, the taxi drivers are crazy. I nearly had a heart attack sitting in the back seat as the driver cut off other drivers, sped around tight curves, and honked at other drivers.  Day Trips to Jiufen from Taipei I love day trips and have nothing but great experiences with day trips booking through Viator or Get Your Guide.  Although I did Jiufen on my own this time, I highly recommend booking a day trip to Jiufen from Taipei. Especially if you don’t want to figure out the bus schedules or transferring from one mode of transportation to the next.  Here are a few of the recommended Day Trips to Jiufen.  Small-Group Tour: Jiufen, Yehliu Geopark, and Shifen from Taipei From Taipei: Jiufen Village and Northeast Coast Tour Taipei: Jiufen Night View and Shifen Day Tour Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup How we Spent a Day in Jiufen We spent 3 days in Taipei and took a day trip to Jiufen from Taipei. We chose to visit Jiufen based on interests, proximity to Taipei, and we simply just wanted to see more of Taiwan outside of the big city. We combined a visit to Jiufen with a trip to Houtong Cat Village which was only about 10 minutes away by train.  I saw pictures of the famous Amei Tea House in Jiufen at night and knew I wanted to arrive to Jiufen in the afternoon and hang around until it got dark. We got to Jiufen around lunch time and spent a solid half day here walking the Old Street, sampling food, drinking tea at the famous tea houses, and just explored the narrow alley ways. We really loved our day trip to Jiufen and want to share our experience. If you are wondering what to do in Jiufen? Or looking for things to do in Jiufen, outlined below are what we did and our recommendations on how to spend a day in Jiufen.  Discovered the Cave to Taro Potato Teahouse When going up or down Shugi Road, right next to Amei Tea House, there was a cave like passageway. Curious, Jill and I both walked through the tunnel and ended up at the Taro Potato Teahouse. The tunnel was longer then expected and fun to take photos of. On the other side of the tunnel was the teahouse.  We didn’t actually go inside or eat anything at the teahouse. For the most part we just wanted to walk through the tunnel leading to the teahouse. Walking the tunnel is certainly not a must do when visiting Jiufen, still it was a fun experience.  Drank Tea at a Tea House Overlooking the Ocean I am not a huge tea drinker but Jill is. So while on our day trip to Jiufen, we couldn’t leave without at least sitting down and drinking tea at one of the teahouses.  We knew the famous Amei Teahouse would be impossible to enter without reservations. Without any particular teahouse in mind, we strolled around Jiufen Old Street looking for a teahouse and stumbled upon one. Although I can’t recall the name it was right by Ocean See Hotel. This tea house was multiple storied and we got lucky enough to be seated outside on the balcony. The view were amazing, again looking out toward the coast. Jill and I both ordered different teas. They came out in their own glass kettle. Each one was filled with loose leaf tea. Both teas were from Taiwan and delicious, although I preferred the one I ordered.   Explored the Narrow Alley Ways of Jiufen Old Street When visiting Jiufen, the Old Street also known as the historic district is a must. Jiufen Old Street is a series of small alleys with restaurants, shops, teahouses, bars, and hotels, lined on both sides of the alley ways.  We spent the majority of our time in Jiufen here walking the Old Street and eating food sold by local vendors.  I’ll be honest, this area was jam packed with tourists, I mean shoulder to shoulder. Even though it was crowded, I didn’t feel overwhelmed and still got to eat what I wanted and sit down at bars and tea houses.  It’s one long alley way with several smaller alley ways that branch off the main one. I recommend starting at one end and walking through Jiufen Old Street. Gain a sense of what you want to eat or what shops you want to visit, then go back through and eat and shop. Afterwards, explore some of the side alley ways, you never know what you will come across!  Photographed Temples Although Jiufen is a pretty small village there are several stunning temples in and around Jiufen.  Our taxi driver dropped us off behind Shinghuang Temple. This had to be one of the most photogenic temples I’ve seen in Taiwan. I took a photo of one of the statues on the roof of the temple. The statue is of a man on a Lion/Dragon overlooking the ocean and the land reaching into the sea. This is the main photo above for this post. This has to be one of my favorite views in all of Taiwan. Another impressive temple that is not to be missed while visiting Jiufen is the Shen Ming Gong Temple. This temple is located just a few steep steps above Jiufen Old Street. It’s a massive complex and the vibrant colors and complex architecture are truly impressive.  While sitting in the back of the taxi to Jiufen from Ruifang, I noticed a massive temple off in the distance. According to Google Maps, I believe this is the Jinshan Temple. Unfortunately, I was only able to enjoy this temple from a distance. I’ll have to travel back to Jiufen to pay this temple a visit.  Sampled Food Around Jiufen’s Old Street The highlight of our day trip to Jiufen was walking the Old Street in Jiufen and sampling all the delicious food offered from the various vendors and small dining restaurants.  Food options on Jiufen’s Old Street are endless. You can find everything here from fine dining to snacks on the go.  We tried several small dishes throughout Jiufen’s Old Street. Two things that stood out to us was the Vegetarian Red Vinasse Taiwanese Meatballs (pictured above) and the ice cream burritos with cilantro and peanut butter. The ice cream burritos consisted of dan bing as the wrap rolled with ice cream and cilantro. Either the ice cream was peanut butter or there were peanut shavings on the ice cream. Either way, I would have never guessed, but a concoction of ice cream, peanut butter, and cilantro makes for a great refreshing treat!  Sat Down and Tried Local Taiwanese Beers Surprisingly, Taiwan has a great craft brew scene. While walking the Old Street in Jiufen, we decided to take a breather and try some local brews at Golden Bar.  Golden Bar had an extensive craft beer menu. If I recall, the craft beer was all Taiwanese. While here, I tried the Oolong Tea Pilsner by Jim & Dad’s Brewing Company and a Winter Melon Ale from Taiwan Head Brewers. The Winter Melon Ale was very good. As always, it was so nice to sit down, rest, and enjoy craft beer!  Stood in a Crowd and Took a Photo of Amei Teahouse By far the most popular and photographed site in Jiufen is the Amei Teahouse. According to the Amei Teahouse website, his teahouse has been in Jiufen for over a hundred years and started off as a black smith shop before being converted into a beautiful teahouse.  Honestly, I never went inside the teahouse. Like many others, I just saw the Amei Teahouse from across the alleyway and snapped a few photos. It was painful as there were hundreds of people doing the same thing, taking a quick picture then moving on.  It’s rumored that the Amei Teahouse is the inspiration behind the animated movie Spirited Away. Walked down Shugi Road at Night to View the Lanterns Toward late evening, Shugi Road in Jiufen is lit with lanterns lining both sides of the road from the top to the bottom and is a spectacular site to see. Shugi Road basically connects Ruijin Road wit Jiufen Old Street. It is a series of steps leading from one road to the other.  For many, Shugi Road could be your starting point to exploring Jiufen, or this road could be your exit out of Jiufen. Either way, it is recommended to walk Shugi Road especially at night to view the lanterns.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂 🚊  For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site. 

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.   **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Taipei on a Map 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!