13 Things to do in Taipei: Must-Do Attractions and Experiences
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.
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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 four 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 $350
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, Closed on Mondays
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.
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 two Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei now and it’s always a spectacular show.
Last year (2023) was the Year of the Rabbit, so there were rabbit lanterns and decorations scattered around the city.
At Zhongshan Park near Taipei 101, there was a large event space with live entertainment.
Conclusion
Taipei offers an incredible amount of things to do with an abundance of must visit attractions and experiences. For food lovers, Taipei is one of the best cities to explore. For those that love to hike, Taipei and the surrounding area is full of beautiful trails and nature areas. Visitors that are looking to just explore Taipei on foot, there are so may attractions such like Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall or Lungshan Temple that are within walking distance from a nearby subway station. After a long day of exploring Taipei, why not finish it off with a relaxing foot massage. There is a reason I keep coming back to Taipei, I absolutely love this city and still have so much more to explore.
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