This itinerary is for first-time and new travelers visiting Taipei and New Taipei cities. Read on to find recommendations on where to see from someone who’s lived here for over 5 years.
When first visiting Taipei, finding an in-depth itinerary from an expat would have been great. This is my itinerary of places I’ve found worthwhile visiting for new and returning visitors to Taipei City.
I’m writing 2 itineraries in this guide. One will be strictly inside Taipei City. The other will blend Taipei and New Taipei City since they’re adjacent and easy to navigate between.
Table of Contents
Notes to Consider Before Reading On
Almost all recommendations I’ll provide for the first 2 itineraries are excellent for budget and mid-range travelers.
If you’re primarily looking for free things to do, you should stick to historical attractions, temples, and parks.
Writing this guide is a balancing act, though.
I’ll do what I can to recommend destinations for everyone. But I’m not an expert in every group of people.
That said, I’m unfamiliar with various religions or groups of people and their travel/dietary considerations.
Use my blog post as a starting point to help you find suitable destinations and food. From there, find bloggers (e.g., vegan bloggers in Taiwan) for further research.
1. Classic Taipei Itinerary
I’ll begin with the “Classic” itinerary, which’ll include popular tourist hotspots in Taiwan.
The classic itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors seeking a comprehensive overview of Taipei’s top attractions and cultural experiences. This route also increases the likelihood of encountering English speakers.
I recommend avoiding off-the-beaten-path locations during your first visit unless you have a translator or are fluent in Mandarin.
Most North American and Singapore flights arrive in Taipei/Taoyuan around 5 to 6 AM, so I’ll build this guide around that information.
If you arrive in the middle of the night or the night before, you’ll want to find a hotel or a spot to sleep in the airport. Then build around the itinerary below.
Here’s a summary of the places I’ll recommend for each day:
Day 1:
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
- Dependent on weather:
- Good weather: Ronjin Park, Daan Forest Park, and Yongkang Shopping District
- Bad weather: Taipei Main Station
Day 2:
- Taipei 101
- Xinyi Shopping District
- Songshan Cultural & Creative Park
- Elephant Mountain
- Tonghua Night Market
Day 3:
If you’re younger
- Ximending and;
- 228 Peace Park and the Presidential Palace or;
- Dihua Old Street and Dadaocheng Pier
For families
- Taipei Zoo
- Miramar Entertainment Park
Indoors:
- National Palace Museum
- Museum of Formosan Aborigines
If you have the money to stay at any hotel in the Beitou Hot Spring village, I highly recommend it. These hotels typically have a hot spring tub in the room, and they are an extremely relaxing experience.
If you visit Taiwan in winter, it’s refreshing to walk around the village early in the morning.
Beitou is in an inconvenient location to reach all the destinations I recommend.
However:
It’s worth the inconvenience. You will need to wake up a bit earlier to account for transit times.
Day 1
Before you head to Taiwan, know that you’ll need to fill out an arrival card.
Doing this online will save you a few minutes when going through immigration. Filling this out online will save it in their systems, which the immigration agents will reference when you hand them your passport.
Once you pass immigration, here’s what I’d do:
- Pick up a SIM card and maybe pocket Wi-Fi.
- Exchange currency.
- Buy an EasyCard or pick one up at the airport.
- Pick up anything else that I preordered online.
- Grab a snack at 7-Eleven or from the food court.
Bank of Taiwan (BOT) usually has the best exchange rates.
If you have a bank that reimburses ATM fees, head to a BOT ATM and withdraw money from there. I (an American) use Charles Schwab. They’ll reimburse all ATM fees and have stellar customer service.
If you’re meeting with a Taiwanese friend who wants your country’s currency, see if they want to exchange currency at the current rate.
Check Taiwan’s peer-to-peer currency exchange laws before doing this, though. At the time of writing, there are no such laws against it.
Don’t linger in the airport for too long. You have a country to explore.
Here’s how you’ll get to Taipei:
- Airport MRT: Easiest to deal with
- Taxi or Uber: Most expensive, but convenient
- Bus: Cheapest
- Private transfer: Expensive.
Taiwan doesn’t have Lyft, DiDi, or other rideshare programs. They have Uber.
I provide a list of taxi/rideshare apps available in a separate piece.
If you have a flexible budget, I recommend taking the transportation to get you the closest to your hotel the quickest.
Because you’ll need to consider transfers and wait times when heading from Taoyuan to Taipei.
Once you get to the city, head to a 7-Eleven or Family Mart. There’s a single Seven-Eleven per 1,582 people.
I’m sure you’ll see one on the way to your hotel.
Taiwan’s convenience stores sell hot food, cold drinks, snacks, souvenirs, and almost whatever else you could need. Use this as an opportunity to stock up, buy food, try Taiwanese snacks, and ease your culture shock.
If you have a little room in your budget for pricier (and better) coffee, wait a bit. Trust me.
If you can handle a lot of caffeine, try 7-Eleven’s fresh coffee. They have amazing-tasting beans.
Sit in the convenience store and eat — or head to your hotel and eat there. It depends on whether there are seats.
Once you get to your hotel, drop off your luggage.
From there, you could change into something more comfortable, take a nap, and take a shower to get all the “plane germs” off you.
The goal of your first day is to ease into Taiwan. You might have jet lag, so you don’t want to jump into things.
1. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (CKS)
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | 100, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District |
| Average Time Spent Here | 2 – 3 hours |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
You likely have jet lag, so you’ll want to get some sun.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is an area dedicated to, you guessed it, Chiang Kai-Shek. A historical yet controversial figure who moved the Republic of China (ROC) government to Taiwan when they retreated from China during the Chinese Civil War.
Here’s why this is the best place to visit:
- The fresh air and sun will help jump-start your alertness when jet lagged.
- Indoor areas in case it rains, or it’s too hot
- Plenty of nature
- A hub that allows you transfer to other hotspots
If you’re in CKS around the first half of February, this is also the most accessible place to see cherry blossoms. You’ll find Taiwanese and Japanese Cherry Blossoms in multiple places throughout the park.
Most of what you’ll do around Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall is walk, look at the pretty plants and koi fish, see exhibitions, and take pictures.
There’s also a flag-raising and lowering ceremony. But that’s at 6 AM and 5 – 6 PM.
If this matters a lot to you, save CKS for a different day. Otherwise, you could find thousands of YouTube videos showcasing the ceremony.
It’s nothing too exciting.
I have a more in-depth guide on CKS that you should take a look at.
Tips:
- There aren’t convenience stores here; get cheaper food before or after visiting
- Don’t arrive at midday to avoid crowds and the sun
Let’s continue the trend of outdoor activities — so long as the weather’s not terrible.
2. If The Weather’s Fine: Rongjin Park (AKA Rongjin Gorgeous Time)
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | No. 167號, Jinhua St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 1 – 2 hours |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Rongjin Park was originally the site of a prison during the Japanese colonial era. It’s been transformed into a charming park with Japanese-style buildings housing various shops, restaurants, and cafes.
It’s a great place to relax, explore, and experience a unique blend of old and new.
I’d consider it a somewhat hidden gem that doesn’t require you to know Mandarin to get around.
It’s a fantastic place to get coffee. They have a Taiwanese third-wave coffee chain known as Simple Kaffa. Berg Wu, the International Barista Champion of 2016, opened this chain. This park is home to one of their stores.
I don’t have any specific drink recommendations since the menu can change anytime. I usually get the most unique-looking menu item and pray it doesn’t taste bad.
I have a separate piece that provides a more in-depth guide (and photos).
Here’s a sneak peak:
Otherwise, look around. Buy things. Take pictures.
2a. (Bad Weather) Taipei Main Station
Take the Taipei Metro (Red line) toward Taipei Main Station and explore the station.
You’ll find plenty of restaurants here — I don’t have particular recommendations.
If you like Japanese-style cheesecake, Uncle Tetsu’s Cheese Cake has some great-tasting cakes.
If you want to find higher-end stores, head to Q-Square. You’ll also find more restaurants.
From there, walk through the underground mall. You’ll find a lot of souvenir places with cheap souvenirs, video game stores, massage places, Southeast Asian food, and more.
You’ll probably find a lot of capsule toy (AKA Gashapon) stores and claw machines while walking around. If that’s something you’re into, play with that.
Taipei Main Station is connected to all of these places and doesn’t require you to go outside. A couple weeks back at the time of writing this post my wife and I went to Taipei Main Station and spent most of the day there while there were insane rains outside.
3. If the Weather’s Still Good: Daan Forest Park
Daan Forest Park is a 15-minute walk from Ronjin and doesn’t have much to do.
But it’s a fantastic place to walk around, see any events at the amphitheater, and watch birds.
It’s still along the Taipei MRT Red Line since it’s adjacent to Daan Park Station. Giving you the flexibility to head to other attractions if you’re bored.
Meanwhile, it’s within walking distance from the Yongkang Shopping District and Dongmen Market.
It’s a park…
I don’t know what else to say.
I recommend going in and exploring without preparation. If that’s not your style, I have a guide that shows what to do there.
If you’re traveling as a family, this is a perfect place to let your kids burn off some energy. Otherwise, it’s a great (free) way to kill a couple hours as you acclimate to the country.
4. At Night: Yongkang Shopping District
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | Yongkang St., Da’an Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Average Time Spent Here | 1 – 2 hours |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
The Yongkang Shopping District has many restaurants, souvenir shops, drink stores, cafes, and other miscellaneous stores. Visit it to try Taiwanese bubble tea and buy souvenirs.
I wrote a guide that provides more information on the shops you’ll find. This guide isn’t big enough to fit the information I want to put.
Do I recommend any particular drink or souvenir shops?
Yes.
P.Seven. It’s a perfume and cologne store that sells tea-scented, award-winning products. It’s a bit pricey (often NT$2,000+). Thus, it’s more of a higher-end souvenir.
There used to be a tea shop that I liked here, but it’s gone.
If it’s hot, I recommend trying the mango shaved ice at Smoothie House. This is one of the most famous shops in this area.
Tian Jin Onion Pancake has scallion pancakes (who would have thought?). I highly recommend trying this.
However, these tend to be oily and may not be the best for jet lag.
Sometimes, Yongkang Park has street foods and other local vendors selling stuff. Check to see if there’s anything there.
It’s probably dinner time. Or close to it.
Din Tai Fung is from Taiwan, and the first branch is in this area. It’s takeout only, though. That’s probably the best case scenario since Din Tai Fung wait times are usually absurd (90+ minutes).
I’d pre-order takeout from a website like KLOOK, pick up my food, show the staff at the door my ticket, and take the food back to my hotel.
From there, relax, eat food, and find Taiwanese channels on TV.
5. Nightlife: Use This Point for Every Night
If you’re still pumped and have wanderlust, caps off to you.
What you’ll do next depends on whether you’re a clubber or bar-goer.
Note that Taipei doesn’t have a red-light district, strip clubs, or similar businesses.
If your hotel is along the Taipei MRT Red Line, head toward the Taipei 101/World Trade Center subway station and then to the Xinyi Shopping Center.
Explore the high-end stores there, take pictures, and whatever until the clubs and bars open.
I don’t recommend particular bars or clubs, but I know this is one of the main nightlife areas.
Or head to the Yuanshan MRT station, Maji Square, and the bars and clubs there.
It’s further away from Xinyi, but you might want to choose Xinyi for night 2 since the next day will focus on that area.
If you prefer live music, go to Revolver, which is by Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. This is my favorite place to get drinks. It’s also one of the not-so-many places in Taipei to find Hispanic food, primarily burritos.
If you’re a drinker and want to try local drinks, get the Millet Wine (indigenous people’s drink) and Kinmen Kaoliang (Sorghum liquor).
From my experience, when I did drink, I mostly saw foreigners at bars. I went into a bar and thought I was back in the US.
Many Taiwanese people I’ve spoken to prefer buying much cheaper alcohol from convenience stores and drinking it elsewhere.
Note that drinking in public IS legal in Taiwan.
But the police may enforce public intoxication — being drunk in public.
Day 2
Good morning. 早安 (zǎo ān).
You’ll be spending day 2 around Xinyi.
If you want to jump right into your day, I’d skip looking for a Taiwanese breakfast store. Instead, I recommend heading to Taipei 101 to get into one of the highest Starbucks in the world — or Simple Kaffa.
Starbucks requires you to call the night before to set up a reservation. I have a separate guide that’ll help you with this. And it opens at 7 AM on weekdays. Thus, you could jumpstart your day.
Starbucks will also have breakfast(ish) foods — sandwiches, etc — meaning you could eat a pricy breakfast there. If not, wait a bit later for Starbucks.
If you prefer Simple Kaffa (I would), you must wait until 10 AM for them to open.
IfIf you’re an early bird and want to go to Simple Kaffa, you should get breakfast at or around your hotel.
There are likely 20 restaurants around where you’re staying. Taiwanese love their breakfast foods.
If there’s a Fu Hong Soy Milk King around your area, most people will usually recommend it as “the” traditional Taiwanese breakfast store to visit.
Book a VisitI didn’t care for the food’s taste, though. I’ve had much better meals from hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
If you have high blood pressure or other issues that going super high up will affect, I’d avoid Starbucks, Simple Kaffa, and other high-up spots (e.g., the Taipei 101 Observatory) that I’ll recommend.
As the high altitudes could cause issues.
I will provide alternatives.
Most of these spots can be done indoors. Meaning they’re fine to do on a rainy or super hot day.
1. Taipei 101
| Admission Fee | Mall: Free |
| Observatory: NT$300 | |
| 101st floor: NT$3,000 | |
| Address | No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 2 – 3 hrs |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
When you’re done at Starbucks or Simple Kaffa, the Taipei 101 mall should have opened.
Burn off some calories from breakfast by walking around the mall and booking a ticket to the 89th or 101st floor.
The 89th-floor Observatory is pretty cool because of all the displays and the mass damper. It’s also fine to visit on days without the best weather, though it’ll be harder to see out the windows.
The 101st floor was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had in Taiwan. Albeit a bit expensive. This is something you’ll want to do on a nice day, though.
Otherwise, you’ll waste time.
In a separate guide, I explain how to get to both attractions and discuss potential souvenirs to buy while you’re there.
If you have health conditions that don’t allow you to go to the high floors of Taipei 101, go to Sisinan Village. It’s an old Military Dependents’ Village across the street from Taipei 101.
It’s an excellent place to get a glimpse of Taiwan’s history.
It’s probably lunchtime by now.
Head to the basement in Taipei 101, the Xinyi Breeze Shopping District, or any other nearby restaurant.
The basement and Xinyi have Din Tai Fung restaurants, but you must book in advance. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting for up to 90 minutes or possibly longer. Depending on the time you go.
I don’t recommend any particular restaurants. And I don’t know your preferences and dietary restrictions. This is an area where I’ll need to let you free to do research.
2. Xinyi Shopping District
We need to get something out of the way before proceeding.
First off, is it Saturday or Sunday? And, do you want to visit the Pokémon Center?
If you choose “yes” for both questions, you’ll need to go to a booth outside the Pokémon Center, get a ticket, and come back and wait in line when the ticket says so.
This was annoying when I did it on the weekend.
On the weekdays, you can just walk in.
Note that Taiwan is the only other country other than Singapore to have a Pokémon Center store location outside of Japan [1].
Moving forward.
You can kill a few hours and escape the heat with all the air conditioned buildings in Xinyi.
And there’s a movie theater. You could see if they have any themed popcorn buckets for sale that aren’t available in your home country.
Are you bored here after a few hours? Yeah? I would be too.
3. Songshan Cultural & Creative Park
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | No. 133號, Guangfu S Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 11072 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 1 – 2 hours |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
I’d usually recommend pairing this destination with Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, but at the time of writing, it is closed until 2025 for renovations.
If the weather allows, you could head to the Songshan Cultural & Creative Park.
This place is free to enter and has beautiful architecture. There are also plenty of locals selling stuff. It’s an excellent way to kill a few hours.
If Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is open by the time you read this guide, and I forget to update it, go there as well. It’s just like Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. But with fewer plants.
4. Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain)
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | 110024, 4F, No.1, City Hall Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan |
| Hike Duration | 20 – 40 min |
| Difficulty (New Hikers) | 4/10 |
| Permit Needed | None |
It’s likely almost time for the sun to set.
I recommend hiking up Elephant Mountain for 20 minutes to catch the sunset.
It’s stunning.
This is a very touristy hiking path. Thus, you’ll likely be sharing the stairs with a lot of other tourists and maybe locals.
Here’s a glimpse on what to expect on the path:
Be sure to bring bug spray. I’ve come out of that trail with a lot of bug bites.
5. Nightlife
You’re probably tired from that hike.
You deserve a massage.
My wife and I went to Dancing Finger Massage, and it was the best massage I’ve gotten. The masseuse gave me a deep tissue massage without going too deep.
Though it was painful (in a good way).
Book a massageAnd once you’re relaxed, it’s time to get some street food.
If you feel comfortable trying street food, now is the time. Head to Tonghua Night Market. Otherwise, see if you can find restaurants near your hotel.
The stinky tofu here is fantastic. Yeah, it’ll smell awful at first. But it tastes great.
Lo Chi Hsiao Chao (駱記小炒) has some great-tasting stir-fried dishes. Otherwise, I recommend trying oyster omelets from any stand. Though, there aren’t many stands to
Afterward, head to Yu Pin Yuan Iced & Hot Tangyuan (御品元冰火湯圓) and get some tangyuan. This Michelin restaurant offers a light (yet tasty) dessert.
Once you’re done at the night market, walk around. Burn those calories.
From there, decide whether you want to return to your hotel and relax. Or to party. If the latter, refer to the above nightlife recommendations.
If you are in Taipei City on December 31st, head to Taipei 101 and watch the fireworks.
I’d rather head to Maokong Mountain, reserve a spot at a tea house or restaurant, and watch the fireworks from afar.
No crowds.
Day 3
I’m writing this guide assuming that you’ll:
- Leave Taiwan in the middle of the night of day 3 or;
- The morning of the 4th day
Work your schedule around this itinerary accordingly.
I will divide this section into branches depending on what type of traveler you are.
If you’re a coffee drinker, I HIGHLY recommend trying the fresh coffee from 7-Eleven. Their lattes are pretty affordable and taste great.
If you have some extra money, upgrade it to an oat milk latte. These feel better when drinking on a hot day.
For me, the lactose in regular milk makes me feel sluggish.
As for breakfast, eat wherever. You might want to try a tea egg at 7-Eleven. They’re cheap and taste pretty good.
From there, walk off your breakfast. Before you leave Taiwan, spend a half hour exploring the area around your hotel. You might find something cool.
Now we’ll break off into different categories.
1. Ximending: If You’re Younger
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Address | No. 66, Zhonghua Rd, Sanchong District, New Taipei City, 241 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 3 hours |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Ximending is a youth shopping district where you can, you guessed it, shop.
There are plenty of Korean photo boots to use, hundreds of souvenir shops, plenty of claw machines, and a lot of food.
If it starts to rain, run into any of the buildings and walk around.
If you’re more into history, there’s the Bopiliao Historic Block and Nishi Hongan-Ji Temple — an old Japanese temple with a tea house.
It would take me forever to explain what to do here. Thus, you’ll need to check out my dedicated guide to Ximending.
However:
If you’re here during dinner, head to Fuhong Beef Noodles. They’re famous for their beef noodles. Afterward, head to Snow King for dessert. They have ice cream with unique flavors like wasabi and Taiwan Beer.
Book onlineIf you get bored at Ximending, you could go to one of these destinations:
- 228 Peace Park and the Presidential Palace: These places mostly involve looking at buildings and structures.
- Dihua Old Street and Dadaocheng Pier: Explore the old street and the wharf.
There’s only so much you can do with 3 days in Taiwan. Thus, these are the best options to get the most out of your trip.
2. Taipei Zoo: If You’re Traveling as a Family
| Admission Fee | NT$20 – 65 per person |
| Address | No. 30號, Section 2, Xinguang Rd, Wenshan District, Taipei City, 116 |
| Average Time Spent Here | Day trip |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
I recommend getting here as early as possible if you’re an early bird. Because you’ll need the entire day to explore the zoo.
I went there with a family member who had a kid, and it took us the entire day to explore 90% of the zoo because we needed to stop for breaks and such.
Then, when the zoo was about to close, I had to sprint to the capybara exhibit.
Tickets are cheap. However. It’ll take you more than 20 minutes to get there if you’re not staying in a hotel along the Taipei MRT Brown line.
And note that the following exhibits are closed on certain days:
| Exhibit | Closed On |
|---|---|
| Insectarium | 4th Monday of every month |
| Reptile & Amphibian House | 3rd Monday of every month |
| Pangolin Dome & Penguin House | 2nd Monday of every month |
| Giant Panda House | 1st Monday of every month |
| “Cool” Eco House, Education Center, Animal Art Workshop | Every Monday |
Want to know what else is at the zoo? Check out a separate piece I wrote.
Ride the Miramar Ferris Wheel.
| Admission Fee | Weekdays: NT$150 |
| Weekends: NT$200 | |
| Children under 110 cm (3’ 6”) enter for free | |
| Address | 10491, Taipei City, Zhongshan District, Jingye 3rd Rd, 20號5樓 |
| How Long the Ride Lasts | 16 minutes |
Once you’re done at the zoo, head north on the brown line to Jiannan Rd. Station and head to the Miramar Entertainment Park.
If the weather’s good, your family could take the ferris wheel. Afterward, explore the shopping center. There’s plenty of food and things to do for kids.
This is a great place to spend the rest of the day and evening until you check out of your hotel. If you need to check out earlier, adjust your trip at the zoo accordingly.
Or just spend most of the day at Miramar.
If you stay at Miramar, you could head to the Meti Riverside Park and relax there for a bit.
3. National Palace Museum: Best Indoor Activity
| Admission Fee | Regular ticket: NT$350 |
| Group ticket: NT$320/ea. | |
| Discount ticket: NT$150 | |
| Address | Sec 2, Zhi Shan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 2 hrs |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
The National Palace Museum is further away than most of the tourist attractions listed and will require taking some buses.
I recommend turning this inconvenience into an opportunity by taking the double-decker tour bus. You’ll pass through most of Taipei’s famous landmarks and eventually end up at the museum.
So long as the weather’s nice.
If not, check out my guide on the National Palace Museum regarding information on getting there.
Once you get to the museum, look around. Duh.
And when you’re done looking around, I highly recommend checking out the souvenir shop. They have trinkets and items you won’t find anywhere else in Taiwan.
For instance, miniature jadeite cabbage and meat-shaped rocks are affordable and easily fit in any luggage.
There’s a park outside the museum where you can walk around and some restaurants nearby where you can have lunch.
If neither seems ideal to you, head back into the city.
If it’s not raining and if there’s still sunlight.
Head to the Chiang Kai-Shek Residence for a while and explore the gardens.
From there, you could end the day by hiking at Jiannan Mountain.
Then once it’s night, and if it’s not raining, you could go to Shilin Night Market — the most famous night market.
I don’t recommend this because people typically mark up the price of food there because it’s touristy. However, as someone who doesn’t make the most money, the prices still seem reasonable.
If it’s raining.
Visit the Museum of Formosan Aborigines and explore for a bit. Then, return to the city, find an indoor restaurant, and eat.
Finishing Up
Head back to your hotel, pack, triple check that you didn’t forget anything, then check out.
From there, you’ll head to the airport.
You should check into your flight 3.5 hours early before heading to destinations outside of Asia. And at least 2.5 hours prior to heading to countries in Asia.
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Taiwan!
2. New Taipei Itinerary
New Taipei City and Taipei City are different regions in Taiwan.
Though, a good number of websites will bundle them as the same. Thus, for clarity sake, I created a separate itinerary that bundles spots in both areas.
New Taipei City destinations aren’t ideal if the weather’s crappy. As most of them are outdoors.
Day 1
As someone who may have jetlag, you’ll want to follow the classic itinerary from day 1.
Most of the tourist hotspots in New Taipei require daytrips and aren’t ideal for getting used to the country.
Day 2
This is the day I’ll focus on a cluster of activities in New Taipei City. I’ll give you a couple of choices depending on what you like to do. And you can’t do both sets. They’re on opposite sides of New Taipei (and the island).
Wake up. Get some breakfast. Get caffeinated.
Afterward, head to one of these spots.
Option 1: Tamsui & Bali Old Street
If you’re taking the MRT, hop on the Taipei Metro Red Line toward Tamsui and get off at Tamsui Station. This journey will take you around an hour. Bring something to do while on the MRT.
Once you get there, be free.
That’s super vague. But there’s a lot to do.
And here’s what I’d do in Tamsui:
- Take a boat to the Lover’s Bridge: The waters were a bit rough when I last went.
- Walk along the wharf: Buy food, check out souvenir shops, etc.
- Go to Fort San Domingo: An old Spanish fort.
- Get Turkish ice cream: Get frustrated with the Turkish dude toying with me.
- Head to the Customs Wharf: See the scenery.
- Ride along the cycling trail: If you’re not too exhausted.
If it suddenly starts to rain, if you’re too hot, or just want to get inside somewhere, take the Taipei MRT south to Hongshulin Station.
From there, transfer to the Danhai Light Rail Transit (LRT).
Get off at the terminal station, Danhai New Town. From there, head to the newly built Miranew Square.
It’s a mall.
It’s not the most touristy attraction, but it’s an “off-the-beaten-path” thing to do. It also gives you a chance to explore Tamsui’s outskirts.
Or you could head to Bali Old Street.
And when you’re bored, buy a boat ticket to cross the river. It’s NT$40 per person for a 1-way trip.
If you’re renting a car, you’ll want to park by Bali Old Street and head there first. I recommend doing this because it’s much easier to find parking.
Whether you’re Bali first or second, you’ll want to do the following.
Once you find parking, walk around the old street, play in the sand, and eat.
You’ll probably spend an hour and a half (max) here.
Don’t buy souvenirs in Bali. There’s nothing noteworthy.
It’s not the “neatest” old street, but it’s an attraction I haven’t seen many foreigners at.
Meaning that it could be less touristy.
Once you’re done in Bali, head back to Tamui. If that’s where you came from.
If you went to Bali, first, head to Tamsui and do all the Tamsui stuff.
When you’re finished at both, head back toward your hotel.
If you booked a room near a night market, check out whatever night market you’re near. Taipei and New Taipei Cities have more than 40 night markets.
Not all of them are great. But it gives you an opportunity to find local cuisine.
Otherwise, you should check out whether you’re near any Michelin Star restaurants.
Based on my experience, those restaurants or food stands always have great food.
Option 2: Yehliu, Jiufen, & Back to Taipei
| Admission Fee | NT$120 |
| Address | 207, New Taipei City, Wanli District, 港東路167-1號 |
| Average Time Spent Here | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Yehliu Geopark is a bit of a pain to get to, which is why it deserves a separate day.
However.
It’s one of those locations that I recommend visiting before it disappears.
It’s a rock sculpture park. Meaning that the displays are fading from erosion. For instance, the Queen’s Head’s neck shrinks 1 – 2 cm yearly. This sculpture is the main attraction.
And I recommend getting there as early as possible.
Because you’ll need to wait in line to get a picture of the Queen’s Head at a good angle. The earlier you get there, the earlier you can get a picture. If that’s something you want.
By the way, there’s no fee to wait in this line.
You’ll need to spend an hour on bus 1815 from Taipei City to get here. Bring something to do.
There’s not much to do at the actual park. Thus, you’ll probably spend an hour or 2 here.
Once you’re done, you could head to the Ocean World marine park beside it. Though, I’d recommend going elsewhere.
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Jiufen Old Street Address | Jishan St., Ruifang Dist., New Taipei City Taiwan |
| Average Time Spent Here | 2+ hrs |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | No |
This is the most touristy spot you could go to. It’s usually super crowded (even on weekdays). I wouldn’t go there nowadays, but it is pretty cool.
Head there early enough, and you COULD avoid the crowds. That’s what happened when I last went there.
Once it gets crowded, head toward the Golden Waterfall or Jinguashi. There’s a fascinating Gold Museum and a Geopark.
You could also hike on one of the paths in Teapot Mountain.
You could head to Shifen Old Street from there, though there isn’t too much to do there. If you’re around Shifen in February, you could catch the Pingxi Lantern Festival.
It is a time when people release many paper lanterns into the air, which then fall into the mountains.
A tour group would honestly make all of this easier. So long as you don’t mind a structured day. KKday and KLOOK offer stellar deals on their tours.
These tours will also take you to Shifen Waterfall, which is also a nightmare to get to.
Regardless of whether you do a tour, you’ll want to head back to Taipei City at night. Depending on the route you use to get back to Taipei, you could stop by Raohe Night Market — my favorite.
They have several Michelin Star restaurants with fast-moving lines.
If you take a tour, they’ll likely drop you off at Taipei Main Station.
In this case, you’d take the Taipei MRT Red line to Shuanglian Station and head to Ningxia Night Market. This is another popular market.
Once you’re done there, you could head to Dadaocheng Pier Plaza, grab some drinks, and watch the river.
Watch the fireworks if you’re in Taiwan during the Taipei Summer Festival (typically in July – August). Though, it’ll be super crowded there.
If you don’t want street food or want to wait for street food on day 3, see what food you can find inside Taipei Main Station.
Day 3
Considering that this is your last day in Taiwan, and you may have to head to the airport at night, I wouldn’t recommend going too far away from Taipei, which most spots in New Taipei City require.
Thus, I’d recommend sticking to the Day 3 Classic Itinerary for Taipei City. As long as this isn’t your last time in Taiwan, you can always come back at a later date to see more.
Taipei Travel Tips to Consider
Here are general recommendations that’ll help you make the most out of your trip:
- Get a Taipei FunPASS if you visit multiple (eligible) tourist hotspots in a day.
- You’ll get free entry.
- Use an EasyCard instead of an iPASS or iCash 2.0.
- It’s the most commonly used card.
- Only get the other 2 cards if you want souvenirs.
- Get more credits/points on KKday and KLOOK by buying vouchers and using those at places like 7-Eleven.
- Carry at least NT$3,000 in cash.
- Cash is king in many places in Taiwan.
- If you take the Taipei/New Taipei metros a lot, consider a 72-Hour Pass.
- Use the Go! Taipei Metro mobile app to calculate fare between stations (it’s accurate).
- Download the Go! Taipei Metro app. It’s a godsend when it comes to navigating Taipei through the MRT.
- It’s available on iOS (iPhones) and Android devices.
- Download the Bus+ app if you intend on taking any buses or YouBikes.
- Keep receipts in case you’re around for the receipt lottery drawing.
- You could win money — even as a tourist.
Pre-Flight Checklist
Here’s what I recommend doing before you hop on your flight:
- Reserve a SIM card or portable Wi-Fi (KKday / KLOOK)
- Opt for portable Wi-Fi to connect multiple devices to cellular data;
- Otherwise, just get a SIM card.
- Book a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket.
- Want to chill in an airport lounge? Reserve that, too (KKday / KLOOK)
- Book HSR tickets for potential early bird discounts.
- Reserve an EasyCard to save a bit of time (KKday / KLOOK).
- Or decide whether you’ll need a TPASS.
- Need luggage delivery? Knock that out as well (KKday / KLOOK).
- Pack your bags.
- Fill out your online arrival card.
- I linked to this toward the beginning of the guide.
- Get an International Driving Permit if you want to rent a vehicle.
- Ensure your passport will be valid for at least 6 months after entering Taiwan.
- Make sure you don’t need a visa to visit.
- Download useful apps.
- Get a doctor’s prescription (or documentary proof) for medication.
- Know the dos and don’ts.
If you know for sure that you’re coming to Taipei (and when), I suggest reserving these items ASAP.
In case they sell out.
From there, you’ll need a hotel and flight.
Hotels in Taipei City
Flights to Taipei
FAQs
Is 3 Days in Taipei Enough?
3 days in Taipei is enough for you to visit major tourist attractions and try the food. It’s not enough for you to acclimate to the area, explore the culture, and see more out-of-the-way areas (like the mountains).
Sources
- Official Shops. The Pokémon Company.
