Shilin Night Market is a tourist night market in Taipei that has more than 500 stalls. Foods you should try here include cold noodles and giant sausages. Keep reading to learn whether it’s worth visiting.
I’ve visited the Shilin Tourist Night Market several times and want to share recommendations. And information to help you learn more about the market.
Table of Contents
Important Information
| Is It Worth Going to? | Yes; if you’re in the area |
| Hours (As of 2024) | 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM daily |
| Number of Stalls | 539 |
| Cost to Enter | Free |
| Opening Date | 2011 (current location) |
| 1899 (original location) | |
| City Located | Taipei City |
| Address | No. 101, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111 |
| Chinese Name | 士林夜市 (Shì lín yèshì) |
| Wheelchair-Accessible? | Yes (wheelchair-accessible entrance) |
| Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan or Taipei Free |
Traveler Tips & Considerations
- Communicate any allergies to vendors. Translation cards listing your allergies can be a useful tool.
- The ideal time to visit varies based on the opening hours of the specific food stalls you wish to patronize.
- Be aware that food stall hours may not align with the overall night market hours.
- While most stalls only accept cash, some may also accept LINE Pay.
Important information regarding food allergies.
In Taiwan, it’s crucial to create allergy cards using Traditional Chinese characters as most locals cannot read Simplified Chinese. For accurate translation, consider hiring a native speaker.
Resources like FARE may offer allergy card templates, but these might not be suitable for Taiwan due to the language difference. Regardless, always carry an EpiPen or similar device for emergencies.
If you need an EpiPen in Taiwan, ask for an “艾筆腎上腺素注射筆” at a pharmacy, but be ready to get a prescription from a doctor. The cost is typically around NT$4,200 – 4,500.
Raohe Night Market vs. Shilin
Honestly, whatever night market you choose depends on food preference.
If you only have enough time to go to either of the night markets, choose Raohe Night Market over Shilin. The food tastes better, doesn’t feel as cramped, and is perfect to add to an itinerary if you’re on your way back from Houtong or Jiufen Old Street.
Plus, it feels like Raohe has more variety with the foods offered.
I also prefer Raohe because it’s adjacent to the Keelung River waterfront, which is a great place to walk off calories and view the rainbow bridge.
However, Shilin is a more efficient choice “time-wise”, if you’re visiting or staying at these spots:
- National Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine
- Staying at the Grand Hotel Taipei
- Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence
- Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
- National Palace Museum
Shilin does open earlier than Raohe — 4:00 PM versus 5:00 PM — but whether that matters depends on how hungry you’ll be at the time. I’d prefer going to the night market later to avoid the sun.
Many people say that Shilin is a tourist trap, and it does seem like (from my experience) that vendors sell more for meals. However, I don’t have any data to prove whether that’s true.
You’ll Love at Least One of These Foods
You can find many local flavors in Shilin Night Market like:
| Food | Restaurant/Stand | Restaurant Chinese Name | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Sausage | Nowhere specific | NA | NA |
| Oyster Omelet | Zhong Cheng Hao | 忠誠號蚵仔煎 | 111, Taipei City, Shilin District, Dadong Rd, 15-32號號 |
| Vermicelli Noodles | A Hui Vermicelli | 阿輝麵線 | No. 52號, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Cold Noodles | Good Friend | 好朋友涼麵 | No. 31號, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Pork Ribs | Hai Yu | 海友十全排骨 | No. 49, Dadong Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Fried Chicken | Hometown BBQ Chicken | 家鄉碳烤香雞排 | No. 1, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Shanghai Fried Bun | Chung Chia | 鍾家原上海生煎包 | No. 38號, Xiaodong St, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Bubble Tea | Nowhere specific | NA | |
| Oyster Mushrooms | Grilled King Oyster Mushroom | 燒烤杏鮑菇 | No. 98, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Information for Shilin Tourist Night Market.
What are all the foods I listed?
It would take me too long to explain. I dedicated a separate guide to Taiwanese food. Check it out to understand what you’re buying.
No matter what part of Taiwan you’re in, try bubble tea from any restaurant. It’s much more affordable (and tastes better) than outside Taiwan.
Good Friend is a Michelin Star restaurant [1]. Many judges ranked this restaurant as the best in its food category. What are cold noodles, though? They’re noodles served in sesame sauce and have a hint of lemon.
While browsing the night market, play some carnival-style games. Some of what you’ll find include pinball machines and balloon shooting (with BB guns). Or shop for cheap clothing.
Basement Level Food Court (Under Renovation)
Shilin Night Market had an underground food court with way more food stalls accessible in the games area. At the time of writing, this area is under renovation.
Keep an eye out for the sign in the picture below. Just in case it’s open.
Meanwhile, you’ll have plenty of other things to do like…
Carnival-style Games Area
Toward one of the entrances of the night market, you’ll find a long strip of carnival-style games. These include:
- Mahjong
- Balloon darts
- Balloon shoot (with airsoft guns)
- Balloon archery
- Bottle toss
Prices for these games will vary. I usually pay around NT$100 per play. And if you want someone to tell you whether you’ll win one of these prizes, consult the fortune-telling bird.
The building had a sign that said, “No photography.” So I couldn’t get a picture of the bird or the stand. But it apparently tells you whether you’ll have a successful future.
What if you feel like “winning” by buying stuff with the backpacks of cash you’re carrying?
Shopping
You’ll find many fast-fashion shops and souvenir stores spread throughout the market. I recommend the former if you’re after cheap clothing that won’t last long. I’ve also avoided the latter since items at these places tend to cost more than at other shops.
You will find hidden gems once in a while. I saw someone selling a Mimikyu Pokémon card that I couldn’t find elsewhere and had to buy. Thankfully, it was real.
Anyway.
Stick to buying food and playing games.
For instance, Ximending has many souvenir shops with more affordable goodies. And if you’re after recommendations on souvenirs in Taipei, check out a guide written on where to find them.
I forgot to explain how to get to the night market. Let’s fix that.
How To Get there
Reach Shilin Tourist Night Market through one of the following ways:
1. Take the Taipei Sightseeing Bus (Blue Route) and depart at MRT Jiantan Station
Here’s a map to the Red and Blue routes for the Taipei Sightseeing Bus.
Book a Ticket online2. MRT / Subway: Take the Taipei Metro Red line to Jiantan Station. Upon departing, exit the station through Exit 1 or 2. And you’ll be around the night market area.
The Red line is convenient if you’re coming from outside of Taipei because it’s connected to Taipei Main Station, which is a hub for the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR), Taiwan Railway Association (TRA), and the Taoyuan MRT that leads to the airport.
You could take the airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, then the Taipei MRT to Jiantan and head to Shilin.
3. YouBike: There’s a YouBike station minutes away (walking distance) from the night market.
4. Uber / taxi: The price for taking a taxi will vary by where you order it from.
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
Anything Else to Do Nearby?
Here’s what to do around Shilin Night Market:
| Attraction | To Do | Avg. Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Shilin Cixian Temple | Admire the temple’s architecture | 20 min |
| Chiang Kai-shek’s Residence | Admire the flowers & learn about Taiwan’s history | 2 – 3 hrs |
| Jiantian Mountain Trail | A hike that leads to a beautiful view of Taipei City | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Grand Hotel Taipei | It’s a hotel | NA |
| Riverside Park | Walk along the Keelung River | 1+ hrs |
| National Palace Museum | Ancient Chinese artifacts | 1.5 – 2 hrs |
Here’s how I’d plan a day trip around Shilin Night Market if I was a tourist:
- Chiang Kai-Shek’s Residence if there’s an event. Otherwise, the National Palace Museum
- Walk around Jiantan Park then Yuanshan Water Shrine
- I’d walk around the nearby Carrefour or find a department store if it’s raining
- Shilin Night Market
- Riverside Park or Jiantian Mountain Trail to burn off the calories
- Go back to my hotel
The above doesn’t sound like much, but it doesn’t account for the time you’ll spend getting breakfast, taking breaks, taking pictures, waiting in lines, eating lunch, and riding transportation.
I’m also not accounting for whether you spend the day in Beitou or at the Taipei Children’s Amusement Park. If you’re going either route, remove points “1” and “2” from the list.
Jiantian Mountain is my favorite hiking trail in Taipei. Go at night, and you’ll get a mesmerizing view of Taipei City and Songshan Airport. Ensure you go on a day when the sky’s clear. Otherwise, you’ll see smog or clouds.
If you’re interested in temples, this area is home to one of Taipei’s oldest, Chicheng Temple.
Otherwise, to catch a glimpse of Taiwan’s history, visit Chiang Kai Shek’s residence. He was a military leader, a member of the Kuomintang (KMT), and the first official president of Taiwan.
While he has a controversial past, you’ll learn a lot about this figure by visiting his former home. Depending on the time of year you visit Taiwan, you can catch beautiful flowers that adorn the property. You’ll find this property north of the night market.
To learn more about the Chinese Civil War, explore the nearby National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine. It’s a place dedicated to those who died during the war.
Then there’s the Taipei Grand Hotel. Whether you want to view it or stay in it, either option will give you a look at a place that hosted various famous figures like former US presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.
The National Palace Museum will have been closed by the time you’re done at the night market. I included it in this list as something you could do before visiting Shilin.
Hotels Near Shilin Night Market
Shilin’s History & Why It’s Famous
Shilin Street Tourist Night Market was built in 1899 [2]. Making it Taiwan’s oldest tourist night market; hence, why it’s the most famous one. From there, local food businesses began to accumulate customers.
For more than a century, Shilin survived the following:
- The Japanese Empire
- The KMT’s harsh era of martial law
- Taiwan blossoming into a democratic nation
As the country transitioned into the 2000s, in 2002, the Taipei City Government shut down and demolished the market due to fire hazards and safety and sanitation concerns.
To keep their income flowing, vendors moved into nearby temporary structures.
In 2006, Shilin Night Market began to transform. 5 years later, the renovations finished, and the market returned to its former glory.
