Top 10 Things To Do In Taipei

Taipei is a melting pot of some of the most flamboyant cultures in the world – a great dose of China and small chunks of Japan, America, and South-East Asia. Even though Taipei is seeing a huge growth of visiting Asian tourists, Westerners may not be as familiar with what to try out in Taipei. Here is our pick of the top 10 things to do in Taipei.

1. Get a killer view from Taipei 101

Once crowned as the tallest building on earth, Taipei 101 also once held the record for the fastest elevator in the world (newer towers in China have since overtaken it). It still whisks you up to the 89th-floor observatory in well under a minute, at around 37 mph, for a bird’s eye view of Taipei City, with all the major landscapes mapped out on the panoramic guide. Just like Eiffel Tower is for Paris and Empire State Building is for New York, Taipei 101 is(of course) for Taipei.

Read more about night Taipei:
A Sip of Night Taipei

2. Graze your way through a night market

Night markets are synonymous with Taiwan. Here you can find the most unique (if not bizarre) local flavors. While Taiwanese love to devour the infamous stinky tofu, you can also try out bubble milk teas, fried chicken steak, shaved ice, tempura and beef cubes. The fun is not limited to food, as night markets also serve as one-stop shop for tourists—souvenirs, clothes, massage parlors and all. Night markets are almost everywhere, if you don’t know which to choose from, try the iconic Shilin Night Market.

3. Don’t miss out the morning market either

Less popular within travelers, morning markets showcase another lively facet of locals’ daily lives. They are quite different from the supermarkets westerners are used to. Every day residents flock to purchase bargain vegetables, meats, and fruits, while vendors yell at their best to sell their products. Also, do not miss out on the delicious traditional breakfasts. It’d be a pity if you didn’t try these indigenous, tasty, and super affordable dishes.

4. Go “Bai Bai” at a local temple

Temples play a large role in shaping cultural behavior. The revered LungShan Temple, built in 1738 during the Qing dynasty, is still part of the fast-moving 21st century Taipei.

Make sure to enjoy the intricate carvings and architecture, and relive Old Taipei history. Taiwanese have their own intriguing routine when it comes to speaking to their gods. “Bai bai” in Chinese means the entire act of visiting temples, presenting treats, holding incenses, throwing divine blocks, burn paper money for gods, etc. All in all, be sure to visit these tranquil, incense-filled centers of religion.

5. Breathe in some milky sulphuric air at a volcano – YangMingShan National Park & Beitou Hot Spring

One of the things so special about Taipei is that nature is weaved into the very fabric of the city. Feel like escaping the urban maze? Just hop on a bus and you can easily arrive at YangMingShan National Park. Hike or bike along the numerous trails of the mountain, rest your eyes on the steaming hot spring areas that lie within. You might want to end your trip at XiaoYouKeng, a fumarole emitting gas intermittently, and where you can get a nice view of the volcanic cones.

6. Venture into Chinese imperial treasury – National Palace Museum

You can do so at the National Palace Museum. The museum houses around 700,000 ancient artifacts and artworks, many of them once owned by the Chinese emperor. The superstar of the museum is the Jadeite Cabbage, a tiny artwork carved from a single jadeite naturally fading from green to white. Also check out the Meat Shaped Stone and the Mao Gong Ding cauldron. No matter which aspect of the imperial history you’re fond of, you are sure to find a piece here.

7. Release a sky lantern at Pingxi

This is arguably one of the most romantic activities you can put on your itinerary. Scribble your wishes on sky lanterns, and hold hands with your family, friends or lover as you watch the lantern lazily ascend to the sky. Stroll around this old mining town, and walk along the railway that used to carry loads and loads of coal. Sky lantern shops are everywhere in this small town, and the shop keepers take care of everything in the process, from helping you pose for photos to lighting up the lanterns. Before you leave, grab a tiny sky lantern charm as a souvenir.

8. Devour some juicy XiaoLongBao

XiaoLongBao, small bite-sized steam dumplings, helped put Taiwanese food on the Michelin map: Din Tai Fung, the Taipei-born chain famous for them, earned a Michelin star at its first Hong Kong branch in the 2010 guide. They feature paper-thin wrappings and tender pork meatballs, and squirts out hot broth upon biting. While some restaurants like Din Tai Fung are famous for their insistence on 18 folds on each dumpling, others provide a DIY experience so travelers can try crafting the gourmet themselves.

9. Feel spirited away at Jiufen mining town

Jiufen is a decommissioned gold mining town, once prosperous during Japanese colonization. The nostalgic alleyways and lantern-lit teahouses are often said to resemble the world of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Spirited Away, although Miyazaki has said the film was not based on Jiufen. Stroll through the maze of lanes that today are embellished with tea houses, eateries, and indigenous boutiques. Visit the old-school Shengping Theatre, one of the oldest surviving theatres in Taiwan. Feel all of your worries and stress drift away.

10. Finally, pose at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to show you’ve been to Taipei

Strike a pose at the massive Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a symbol of Taipei. It is basically a huge park built in memory of the leader Chiang Kai-shek and incorporates Chinese palace-style architecture.

Make sure to have someone show you the symbolism of numbers and shapes, and explain to you who this Chiang Kai-shek is. Walk around to see some local grandma doing Taichi and parents letting children blow their steam out. The honor guards no longer stand inside the main hall: since July 2024 they patrol and give a short drill display outdoors on the plaza (Democracy Boulevard), roughly every hour from 9 am to 5 pm and not in rainy weather. Check the hall’s official site for the current schedule before you go.

If you are interested in these top attractions but short on time, explore Taiwan tours with local guides, or find a private guide for your group!

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