Things to do in Taipei

Ultimate 5 Day Taipei Itinerary with Easy Day Trips

In City Guides, Taiwan by SheenaLeave a Comment

Our 5 Day Taipei itinerary gives you a step-by-step guide on how to visit the best attractions and day trips – find out if you’ve got what it takes to do it all!

Contents

5 Day Taipei Itinerary

This itinerary is designed to maximise your time in Taipei. It’s action-packed, just like how I like to travel! Believe it or not, I did keep in mind that you need to eat (and sleep) but there’s not much time for going out of your way to dine at any specific restaurants.

Obviously, feel free to adapt this schedule to your own interests and travel style but I hope this itinerary gives you an idea of how much you can really do with 5 days in Taipei.

I’ve grouped attractions geographically where possible, to minimise time on public transport. There’s a fair bit of walking because that’s how I like to travel and sometimes it’s faster than taking the MRT.

Find more inspiration in one of the Taiwan guide books below!

In summary, my ultimate 5 Day Taipei Itinerary looks like this:

Day 1:

  • Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
  • Taipei 101
  • Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
  • Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
  • Raohe Night Market

Day 2:

  • National Palace Museum
  • Beitou Hot Springs
  • Shilin Night Market

Day 3:

  • Maokong Gondola
  • 2/28 Peace Park
  • National Taiwan Museum & Land Bank Exhibition Hall
  • Presidential Office Building
  • Longshan Temple

Day 4 (Day Trip): 

  • Jiufen
  • Houtong
  • Shilin 

Day 5 (Half-Day Trip):

  • Yehliu Geopark
  • Elephant Mountain

Festivals near Taipei

Taipei Food Tour

Where to Stay in Taipei

Getting Around Taipei

Planning Your Taipei Trip

We recommend using a portable WiFi rental while traveling in Taipei. It’s super cheap and really handy, especially for getting around. Just put in your destination in Google and it’ll tell you the best route and prices. SIM cards are also affordable if you think you may need to make some phone calls

Book your accommodation in advance for excellent deals. Compare prices between Booking and Hostelworld.

Although Taiwan is a very safe country to travel in, we recommend purchasing travel insurance before any trip. We’ve been using World Nomads through 80+ countries over the past 12 years and have been really happy with their coverage and services.

There are so many things to do in Taipei! Pick up a guidebook for more Taiwan travel inspiration and keep reading for our in-depth look at where to go and what to do for 5 days in Taipei…

Taipei Travel Guide
Taipei is waiting to welcome you!

Day 1 

Morning: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall & Taipei 101

Start your 5 day Taipei itinerary with the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It’s in the most Chinese of all places in Taipei – a massive square that feels like Tiannamen Square & the Forbidden City, though the memorial itself looks more like the Temple of Heaven.

There are 89 steps to the top, representing CSK’s age when he died as the 2nd president of China (after Dr Sun Yat-sen). Inside there’s a huge statue of the man, flanked by a guard of honour.

The National Theatre & National Concert Hall are also on the same grounds. The palace-like structures & gardens are beautiful. Directly opposite is the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness.

Together all 4 monuments form an imposing plaza that’s high on our list of Taipei attractions!

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
View from Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
CKS Memorial Hall Visitor Info

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Entrance Fee: Free

Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily (park is open from 5:00 am to midnight)

Changing of the Guard: Every hour, on the hour from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Raising of the Flag: 6:00 am in summer, 6:30 am in winter

Lowering of the Flag: 6:10 pm in summer, 5:10 pm in winter

Closest MRT Station: CKS Memorial Hall

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Pay your respects at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall on any 5 day Taipei itinerary

Your next destination is Taipei 101. Take the MRT on the red Tamsui-Xinyi line from Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall station to Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. 

It’s pretty much a given that most people will want to visit Taipei 101, the world’s 8th tallest building. In fact it even held the top spot for a few years when it opened in 2004.

The elevators still display a plaque from the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest in the world but it was overtaken by the Shanghai Tower in 2016. Still, going up from the 5th to 89th floor in 37 seconds at 1010 m/min is pretty impressive even though my ears didn’t pop!

Even though it’s one of the top places to visit in Taipei, overall I was actually not too impressed by Taipei 101. Don’t expect much more that an observatory & you won’t be disappointed.

How to get discount tickets to Taipei 101

When you reach the top of Taipei 101, you’ll be glad if you didn’t pay full price – it’s just an observation tower after all.

Taipei 101 costs NT600 / $20 to visit but download the Klook app for a NT610 / $17 e-ticket – most hostels will also have a promo code to bring it down to $510 / $13.70.

Arrive early to Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is also huge shopping complex – don’t make my mistake of getting lost, go straight up to the 5th floor for the observatory.

You should be there 1 hour before you want to be at the top as you have to line-up for tickets (or to exchange e-tix) & then lined-up for the elevators. I wasn’t expecting this & almost missed sunset from one of the best Taipei tourist spots.

How to get around Taipei 101

1st to 4th floors – Taipei 101 Mall

5th floor – Buy tickets to Taipei 101 Observatory

89th floor –Indoor Observatory, the elevator will stop here

91st floor – Outdoor Observatory where you can view the sprawling Taipei skyline without glass windows. There’s also a small indoor theatre showing the annual NYE fireworks display from Taipei 101.

88th floor – Check out the largest & heaviest mass damper in the world. This giant sphere stabilizes the tower against movement caused by high winds. Here there’s also a large art & jewellery gallery, specializing in red coral gemstones.

Taipei 101 Visitor Info

Taipei 101 Observatory Entrance Fee: NT$600 / $20

Hours: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm daily

Closest MRT Station: Taipei 101

Taipei 101
Taipei 101 Observatory & the Mass Damper

Afternoon: Zhongshan Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park & Raohe Night Market

Have lunch at the food court at Taipei 101. Din Tai Fung is also here but it’s common to wait up to 2 hours for a table. Say goodbye to the rest of your afternoon if you want to eat here but there are night tours which include dinner at Din Tai Fung.

There are many places to go in Taipei. aYour next destination is Zhongshan Park and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It’s 1.5km / a 20 minute walk from Taipei 101. You could take the MRT but you’ll have to change lines twice and it’ll take longer than just walking. If you’re not up for it or it’s too hot, take a taxi or Uber.

Before going in to the Memorial Hall, enjoy a stroll around the lake at Zhongshan Park, passing flower gardens and sculptures along the way.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Enjoy the pleasant surroundings of Zhongshan Park

Dr Sun Yat-sen was the 1st president of China but interestingly he’s also revered in Taiwan. This makes the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall one of the best attractions in Taipei. It is a huge complex with exhibitions on his life & revolutionary accomplishments.

The centerpiece is a massive seated statue of the “Father of the Nation” flanked by a guard of honour. These soldiers do not move. It happens every hour on the hour but you may want to get there 5-10 minutes before as it started early when I was there.

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is also the place for many social & cultural activities. There was some kind of red carpet event when I visited.

Changing of Guard Sun Yat-sen
Changing of the Guard at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Visitor Info

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Entrance Fee: Free

Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily

Changing of the Guard: Every hour, on the hour

Closest MRT Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Walk 500m / 7 minutes to your next stop – Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. This old tobacco factory has been converted into a creative arts hub. It’s a huge industrial space with artisan stalls, art galleries and cafes. Spend an hour or 2 here soaking up the artsy vibes and people watching.

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park Entrance Fee: Free

Night: Raohe Night Market

Your next destination is Raohe Night Market. Unfortunately there’s no direct subway connection here from Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. You can walk 1.6kms / 21 minutes or take a taxi or Uber.

There are several night markets in Taipei and Raohe Night Market is the locals’ favourite. I also preferred it to the more touristy Shilin Night Market, which is one of the most popular Taipei attractions. Check out what the locals are eating, long queues of people are a dead giveaway of the best street food around.

Night market tours are a great option if you’re worried about the language/cultural barrier in Taipei. A guide will take you around, trying all types of local specialties. You don’t need to worry about how much things cost but bring some extra cash for the drinks and snacks you can’t get enough of. 

Book a tour: Taipei Night Market Tour

Closest MRT Station: Songshan

Raohe Night Market Taipei
Our Taipei Travel Guide recommends the Raohe Night Market

Day 2

Morning: National Palace Museum

Not sure where to go in Taipei? Start Day 2 of your 5 day Taipei itinerary at the National Palace Museum which is on the northern outskirts of Taipei. You’ll still want to get an early start though to beat the crowds of Chinese tourists and school groups. The museum is one of the most popular things to do in Taipei. Save time by booking your tickets online.

The museum has one of the world’s best & largest collections of Chinese art & artifacts. In fact many works come from the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City. The most famous pieces are:

  • Jadeite Cabbage – jade carved into the shape of a cabbage head with a grasshopper body
  • Meat-shaped Stone – jasper carved into a likeness of a piece of pork cooked in soy sauce

You’ll have to google the images to see what you think!

I went to the National Palace but decided not to go to in – there were too many people & I wasn’t in a museum kind of mood. It was still worth the visit to get a sense of the place.

National Palace Museum Visitor Info

National Palace Entrance Fee: NT$250 / $8.30, students NT$150 / $5.00

Hours: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Sunday to Thursday; 8:30 am to 9:00 pm Friday & Saturday

Closest MRT Station: Shilin then bus R30; Dazhi then bus B13; Jiannan Rd then bus B20

National Palace Museum Taipei
View the best in Chinese art at the National Palace Museum

Afternoon: Beitou Hot Springs

Your next destination is the Beitou Hot Springs. From the National Palace Museum, you need to first take a bus to Shiiln MRT station. There are several buses you can catch such as 255 Shuttle, 645 and 957. From Shilin station, take the MRT north on the red Tamsui-Xinyi line to Beitou station.

Walk 1km / 15 minutes to the Ketagalan Culture Center. There’s no entrance fee so pop in for a quick look at the exhibits on indigenous Taiwanese tribes.

Cross the road to Beitou Park where there are nice walking trails around hot spring streams. You can join the locals in soaking your feet in the hot water.

Here you’ll also find the Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public library. The wooden eco-friendly building stands in harmony with its lush green surroundings. Take a look inside at the architecture and use the free Wi-Fi if you need to!

The park is also home to the Beitou Hot Springs Museum. The building is quite unique, constructed with red bricks on the 1st floor and wood on the 2nd. It was originally a bathhouse when it was first built in 1913 and you can still the original baths. There are also exhibits on the complete history of hot springs in the area and it’s free to visit.

Just pass the museum is the Millenium Hot Spring the cheapest and most popular public hot spring in Beitou – but there’s a catch. Foreigners aren’t allowed in with ordinary swimsuits. You have to buy their ‘special’ swimsuits for NT$250 (mens) and NT$450 (womens) before being allowed in. This is definitely fishy so keep this in mind and read the Tripadvisor reviews before deciding if you want to visit.

Alternatively you could book a very affordable spa package at Spring City Resort. They have public and private baths – read reviews and check prices here.

Next, head to the Thermal Valley, the most famous sight in Beitou. Be wowed by the huge jade green pool and see steam rising from its sulphuric waters. You’ll fast start to sweat and it smells a little eggy but it’s not too bad.

Pass through Puji Temple and the Plum Garden on your way back to the MRT station.

Beitou Hot Springs
Not sure what else to do in Taipei? Visit Beitou Hot Springs

Night: Shilin Night Market

From Beitou station take the MRT on the red Tamsui-Xinyi line to Shilin Night Market. It’s the largest & most popular in Taipei but there wasn’t as much food as I was expecting. Clothes & junk vendors make up a lot of it. I ate in the food court which was quite average though there was plenty of choice. Visit and see for yourself if it’s a tourist trap or worth the hype.

Closest MRT Station: Jiantan

Street food skewer stall in Taiwan night market
Eat street food at Shilin Night Market

Day 3

Morning: Maokong Gondola

Still wondering what to see in Taipei? Get another early start at the Maokong Gondola on the outskirts of the city, easily accessible by MRT. It’s a 4.3 km cable car line that takes you up to the top of a mountain village where there are some of the nicest views in Taipei.

The Crystal Cabins called “Eyes of Maokong Gondola” have glass bottoms – try to ride in one of these in at least 1 direction. There are several more regular gondolas to every crystal cabin. When I visited the queue for the crystal cabins was shorter going up than going down.

Besides the cable car journey, Maokong Gondola is popular for the tea houses at the top of the mountain. They seemed quite commercialized & overpriced to me. You can also see workers on tea plantations and besides grabbing a bite from one of the many food stalls and having lunch at Maokong Gondola, there’s not much to see or do. Extend your visit by checking out the Zhinan Temple, one gondola station away from the summit.

Maokong Gondola Ticket Options

There are 4 stations on the Maokong Gondola: Taipei Zoo (start), Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple Station, Maokong (finish).

Riding from start to finish costs NT$120 / $4.00 each way. Additional stops cost extra.

  • 1 Station: NT$70 / $2.30
  •  2 Stations: NT$100 / $3.30
  • 3 Stations: NT$120 / $4.00

Book a combo ticket online and you’ll get a free night tour of Taipei on a double decker sightseeing bus.

If you’re on a budget, don’t visit the temple. Take the Gondola one-way to the top then take the bus down for around NT20 / $0.65.

Maokong Gondola Ticket: NT$120 / $4.00 each way to the summit

Maokong Gondola Visitor Info

Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 am to 8:30 pm Saturday & Sunday, closed on Monday except for the 1st Monday of the month 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Closest MRT Station: Taipei Zoo

Maokong Gondola Taipei
Crystal Cabin, Maokong Gondola, Zhinan Temple & tea plantation

Afternoon: National Taiwan Museum, Land Bank Exhibition Hall, 2/28 Peace Park, Presidential Office Building & Lungshan Temple

From Maokong Gondola, take the brown Wenhu line from Taipei Zoo station to Daan station. Change to the red Tamsui-Xinyi line and head west to NTU Hospital station.

Established in 1908, the National Taiwan Museum is the oldest museum in Taiwan. It’s pretty compact with 8 rooms across 4 floors with an elevator. The exhibits on history and science are really interesting with signs in English and Chinese. The building itself is beautiful and worth a look. 

To save money, there’s free entry from 4:30pm. This gives you 30 minutes to have a quick look around before the museum closes.

However the admission fee also includes the Land Bank Exhibition Hall across the road so it’s worth the money. The Land Bank Exhibition Hall covers the history of banking in Taiwan with a replica of bank vaults and equipment on display. It’s more fun than it sounds! There are also exhibitions on evolution with several dinosaur skeletons hanging from the ceiling. Adults and kids alike will love it on any 5 day Taipei itinerary. 

National Taiwan Museum and Land Bank Exhibition Hall entrance fee: NT$30 combined ticket; free after 4:30pm

Opening Hours: Tues to Sun; 9:30am – 5:00pm

Closest MRT Station: NTU Hospital

Bird's eye view of 2/28 Peace Park Taipei
Bird’s eye view of 2/28 Peace Park

The museums are in the 2/28 Peace Park which commemorates the February 28 Incident in 1947. This was an anti-government uprising in Taiwan which was violently supressed by China, led by the Kuomintang. Thousands of people died and there’s a memorial to the victims in the center of the park. You can learn more about the uprising at the Taipei 229 Memorial Hall also in the park. There’s also the National 228 Memorial Museum near the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park.  

I didn’t know anything about this history when I visited the Peace Park. It’s a beautiful green oasis on its own merit with a pond, pagodas, sculptures and lots of trees. 

2/28 Peace Park Entrance Fee: Free

Taipei 229 Memorial Hall Entrance Fee: NT$20; free audio guide with passport

While you’re in the area, have a quick look at the Presidential Office Building, the White House of Taiwan. The red and white brick architecture with swaying palm trees in front makes a pretty photo. Free guided tours are offered in the mornings but they’re apparently quite boring.

Presidential Office Building
Take a photo of the Presidential Office Building on your 5 day Taipei itinerary

Walk a few streets over to Ximen station and take the MRT south on the blue Bannan line to Longshan Temple Station.

If you only visit 1 temple in Taipei, make it Longshan. It’s very historic, built in 1738 as a place of worship for Chinese settlers. The spectacularly decorated roofs and carved wooden pillars are pretty impressive, even if you’ve already been to dozens of temples in Asia.

Check out the very local food, fun and games at the nearby Guangzhou Night Market or head straight back to Ximen.

Longshan Temple Entrance Fee: Free

Night: Red House Theatre & Ximen

Take the MRT from Longshan Temple Station back to Ximen station. Walk over to the Red House, a historic 1908 theatre turned modern marketplace complex. After a long day of sightseeing, treat yourself to a well-deserved drink at one of the many bars. The Red House is the center of the LGBTQ scene in Taipei and there’s always something fun going on.

Have dinner at one of the restaurants or head across the road to the Ximending Night Market. It’s in the heart of the bustling and youthful district with lots of flashing lights and crowds all around. Indulge in some people watching, window shopping or retail therapy before calling it a day.

Ximending crossing at night Taipei
Check out the bright lights of Ximending

Day 4

Day Trip: Jiufen Houtong & Shifen

After a busy 3 days, it’s time to get out of Taipei and see what else there is to see & do in the area. One of the best Taipei day trips you can do is to Jiufen, Houtong and Shifen. They’re all small towns and I wouldn’t recommend them as individual destinations unless you’ve got an extended stay in Taipei. I’ll show you how can visit all 3 places by train in 1 day (in that order) but a shuttle bus will save you a lot of time stress and hassle.

Jiufen

There are several ways to travel by bus and train from Taipei to Jiufen. The most direct way is by bus 1062 from Songshan station. Tickets cost NT$112 and the ride takes 1.5 hours. There are departures every 10 minutes.

The old streets of Jiufen were the inspiration for the much loved animated movie ‘Spirited Away‘ but I didn’t feel anything special from being there. It’s just one long, narrow, commercial street of restaurants & shops crowded with tourists.

I did like it’s scenic mountain top setting – the views are lovely, best enjoyed while sipping tea from a tradtional tea house.

The Golden Waterfall was also very nice but it’s a small site away from the town centre. If you are coming from Taipei, ask the driver to drop you off at the closest stop to the falls. From there, it’s a 15 minute downhill walk. Then you can take a bus back to Jiufen Old Street.

Jiufen Taipei Travel Guide
Visit Jiufen Old Street & Golden Waterfall

Houtong Cat Village

After 1-3 hours in Jiufen, you can continue on to Houtong. Take bus 788 back to Rueifang Station and then jump on the Fuxing/Shuttle 4162 train to Houtong station. Depending on your connection times, it should only take you around 1 hour to travel between Jiufen and Houtong. The trip costs NT$30.

Houtong was once a rich coal mining town but it’s been overrun by cats since a local started taking in strays in 2008. She started posting photos online & it all went viral from there…

Houtong has since reinvented itself as a cat village which has been a boon for tourism as evident by all the cute cat signs & shops. Apparently there are more than 200 cats that live here but I only saw a few on a rainy day that was enough to keep me amused & satisfied!

Houtong Taipei Travel Guide
Meow! Houtong Cat Village is paw-some 🙂

Shifen

After 1-2 hours in Houtong, you can take the Fuxing/Shuttle 4710 train to Shifen station. The ride only takes 20 minutes and costs NT$15.

Shifen is worth the visit for the Shifen waterfall – you can walk or take a bus from the train station. At 20m high, it’s apparently Taiwan’s biggest waterfall. You can view it from the bottom & the top.

Shifen Old Street runs along the railway track, lined with food stalls & vendors hawking lanterns. It’s popular to buy a lantern, write your wishes on it & release it on the train tracks, even though trains regularly pass through!

Lanterns cost from NT$150 / $5.00 to NT$300 / $10.00 depending on the number of colours.

To get back to Taipei, take the Fuxing/Shuttle 4713 train to Ruifang. Change here to the Fuxing/Shuttle 4135 train to Songshan station, where you started in the morning. Depending on connections, the trip may take you around 1.5 hours and cost NT$60.

Shifen Waterfall Entrance Fee: Free

Shifen Taipei Travel Guide
Shifen Waterfall & Old Street

Day 5

Yehliu Geopark (Day Trip) & Elephant Mountain

It’s your last day in Taipei and I’ve saved the best for last! There are several ways to get to Yehliu Geopark. You can take the KuoKuang bus from Taipei West Bus Station (NT$98 / $3.25) or bus 1815 from Taipei City Hall Bus Station (NT$84). The journey takes around 1 hour.

Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark is not only one of my favourite places visit in Taipei but also the whole of Taiwan. It’s a large area of the cape in the North with unique rock formations along the coastline.

The honeycomb landscape has been shaped over thousands of years, formed by weathering & sea erosion as the mountains were pushed out to the sea. The Queen’s Head is the most famous of them all but there’s also Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe and Elephant Rock. Imagination required!

The landscape is very dramatic & the formations are remarkable. The park is very well-managed & maintained with boardwalks & viewpoints. I spent 1 hour there though you could extend your stay in Yehliu with a visit to the Yehliu Ocean World across the road & a meal at one of the many seafood restaurants.

Yehliu Geopark entrance fee: NT$80 / $2.65, students NT$40 / $1.32T

Book a tour:Yehliu Jiufen and Shifen Day Trip

Yehliu Geopark

Elephant Mountain

Take either bus back to Taipei. From Songshan station take a bus to Elephant Mountain or the MRT. Take the green Songshan-Xindian line to Zhongshan station. Change to the red Tamsui-Xinyi line to Xiangshan station. Unfortunately this trip will take around 1 hour. But you don’t have to be at Elephant Mountain until sunset! So you can break up your MRT journey with a meal, snack or shopping stop along the way. Or just take a taxi or Uber from Songshan station to the start of the Elephant Mountain trail!

We rate Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) as the top spot for the best views of Taipei. It’s a very sweaty climb in Taipei’s unrelenting heat via steep stairs all the way. Thankfully it only takes 15-20 minutes to reach the viewing platform.

Here the panorama of the skyline is very nice, with green trees in the foreground & mountains in the background. Taipei 101 looms over the landscape, which obviously you don’t see from the Observatory itself.

Another 5 minutes climb will take you to the very summit of Elephant Mountain. There are a couple of huge boulders here that are popular photo spots, if you can get yourself up there. By the way all photos in this post were taken on my Nikon D3300.

I visited during sunset which I would recommend, it was beautiful & you’re not climbing in the hottest part of the day. I regret not staying longer & waiting for the city lights to turn on, the night shots I’ve seen from Elephant Mountain are stunning. It’s definitely a highlight of any 5 day Taipei itinerary.

Elephant Mountain: Free

Closest MRT Station: Xiangshan

Taipei Itinerary
Climb Elephant Mountain for the best views of Taipei

Taipei Festivals

Chinese New Year

Next Date: Friday, February 12 2021 – Year of the Ox

Chinese New Year is the most important festival in Taipei – but rather than firework displays or big parades, celebrations revolve around the family. In fact Taipei turns into a bit of a ghost town as locals head out of the city to return to their hometowns.

Chinese New Year may not be the best time to visit Taipei either as some of the main attractions are closed. Trains are booked out and flight prices shoot up, making it stressful and expensive to travel around the country.

However if you do find yourself in Taipei during Chinese New Year, be sure to treat yourself to a banquet at a nice restaurant and try to catch a dragon or lion dance performance. The Grand Hyatt Hotel near Taipei 101 always puts on a spectacular show on the morning of the 1st day of Chinese New Year.

And in the weeks leading up to the festival you can soak up the vibrant atmosphere on historic Dihua Street, as locals shop like crazy in preparation for the New Year festivities.

Visit crowded Chinese Temple during 5 day Taipei itinerary
You can still find Chinese New Year celebrations in Taipei

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Next Date: Saturday, 8 February 2020

My time in Taipei happened to coincide with the Pingxi Sky Lantern festival, held every year during Chinese New Year & the Mid-Autumn Festival. This makes it one of the best in Taipei during the New Year.

The festival was held at a school, where there were live performances & mass sky lanterns released every 15-30 minutes from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. What I didn’t know at the time was that you could not only watch the lanterns but you could take part in the festival by releasing them. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Taipei.

But apparently you need to register ahead of time… ask a Chinese person for more information! If you plan to visit Taiwan around these holidays it’s definitely worth checking out the Pingxi Sky Lantern festival.

Check out our next post and find out where else you could go in Taiwan…

2 Week Taiwan Itinerary

Travel deeper with our ultimate 2 week Taiwan itinerary – find out how to visit the top 7 cities and the best attractions, accommodation & food in each place

Read more
Fun things to do in Taipei
Release a lantern at the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Dragon Boat Festival

Next Date: Thursday, 25 to Saturday 27 June 2020

The Dragon Boat Festival is a 3 day holiday that falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar every year.

Dragon boat races in Taipei are held at Dajia Riverside Park. Join the locals in cheering on your favourite team, while eating zongzi – it’s a tradition! These sticky triangular rice dumplings come wrapped in a green leaf and tied with string. They’re stuffed with various fillings including meat, egg yolks, mushrooms and nuts and they taste pretty delicious.

Dragon boat racing Taipei
Soak up the atmosphere at a dragon boat race

Mid Autumn Festival

Next Date: Thursday, 1 October 2020

The Mid Autumn Festival is a celebration of the harvest moon on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Families come together to eat moon cakes, worship the moon and enjoy outdoor barbecues .

Moon cakes are round like the moon and come in endless varieties. Some of the more traditional flavors are roast pork, red bean paste and five nuts – I love mooncakes that are filled with a whole salted egg yolk!

Moon gazing is a popular activity during the Mid Autumn Festival and a time where parents can tell their children stories about the moon. In Taipei the best spots are the Danshui Fishing, Port Daan Park and Yangmingshan National Park.

Many locals will have barbecues in front of their houses or at a riverside park, under the moonlight. It’s a fairly new tradition that was actually started by a barbecue soy sauce company. It struck a chord with audiences and since then it’s almost like it’s not Mid Autumn Festival without barbecues and barbecue soy sauce.

Plate of 6 mooncakes
Try different kinds of moon cake during the Mid Autumn Festival

Taiwan National Day

Next Date: Saturday, 10 October 2020

The National Day of Taiwan is always on the 10th October, thus it’s commonly referred to as “Double Tenth Day” or “Ten Ten.” It kicks off with an official flag raising ceremony and a speech by the President. The square in front of the Presidential Office Building is also illuminated.

In some years there’s also a big military parade with tanks and jets streaming overhead. Since the millennium this has only taken place in 2007, 2011 and 2016.

However every year there’s a spectacular fireworks display – but the big one doesn’t always take place in Taipei. For example, in 2019 it was held at the Riverside Park in Pingtung County. Wherever it is, you should definitely tune in to it on tv or attend a local fireworks display or concert.

Taipei Food Tour

Taipei Eats

On my 1st day in Taipei I hit the streets for a walking Taipei food tour with Taipei Eats. I met up with their guide Sophia & a few other foodies at an MRT station before venturing over to a nearby market. Here we tasted some tropical fruits & an amazing sesame seed scallion pancake.

Next we hit up a local restaurant for guao bao, which was a delicious bun filled with braised pork, pork belly, preserved mustard greens, peanut powder & coriander.

Then we walked over to a betel nut stall, which I didn’t realize was popular in Taiwan. I had tried it in Myanmar before & several years later, it’s still not my thing… I’ll take a coffee buzz or beer to relax any day over betel nut!

Stinky tofu on the other hand is right up my alley, I love it! We went to a specialized stinky tofu restaurant (didn’t know they existed) & tried a couple of varieties. The raw stinky tofu with a fermentation level of 13 was a bit too strong for all of us though we all loved the level 11 stinky tofu, stuffed with pickled cabbage!

What better way to wash down stinky tofu that with Taiwan’s iconic bubble tea! We ordered from one of the most popular stores in Taipei, it hit just the right sweet spot.

Taipei food tour
Guao bao & betel nut ladies, bubble tea stop & stinky tofu on the Taipei Eats food tour!

Moving along, we were then treated to yum cha at the locals’ version of Din Tai Fung on our Taipei food tour. This is the best place for xiaolongbao in Taipei & I can’t imagine finding any better. We also tried the fried version but I preferred the traditional steamed soup dumplings, dipped in ginger & soy sauce.

Dessert was up next with a German pudding from Taiwan’s most renowned bakery. I was seriously full at this point but I soldiered on, devouring a bowl of sticky rice with pork floss, pickled vegetables & peanuts. We finished the Taipei Eats tour on a sweet note with a variety of sorbets from a local favourite – the lychee flavor was a big hit with everyone!

In 4 hours we made about 10 foodie stops, doing a little sightseeing & learning about Taiwanese culture along the way. The scallion pancake, guao bao & xiao long bao were among the best things I ate on my travels around the whole of Taiwan. If it’s your 1st time in Asia or Taiwan, the Taipei Eats tour s a fantastic introduction to a new culture where food is the integral ingredient.

Taipe Eats Xinyi Tour Price: $70.00

* Thank you to Taipei Eats for hosting me & introducing me to so many delicious things to eat in Taiwan!

Taipei Eats
Xiao long bao at yum cha brunch & stick rice with Taipei Eats

Where to Stay in Taipei

Space Inn

Location – In Taipei, I stayed at Space Inn Hengyan. It has an excellent location, close to the Ximen MRT station and within walking distance of Taipei Main Station for all bus, train & MRT connections. Ximen is a lively area with a big shopping centre, night market & nightlife. Space Inn also has another branch in the Xinyi district.

Space Theme – Space Inn lives up to its name! The whole place is decked out in a modern intergalactic theme, including staff members in spacesuit uniforms! Check out some of these other space themed hotels around the world!

Security – The hostel is very secure with swipe card entry required to enter & access different sections of the hostel. I loved that the swipe card even works for your locker so you don’t require a TSA lock .

Cleanliness – The rooms, bathrooms & common spaces at Space Inn are kept spotlessly clean at all times.

High quality – All the facilities, amenities & furnishings are of modern design & high quality. The design is futuristic-minimalist, everything is like-new & it’s very cool.

Space Inn Taipei
Check-in to the futuristic Space Inn in Taipei on your 5 day Taipei itinerary

Facilities

Open social space – The electronic door & black glass entryway leads into a large open space. A huge white centerpiece dominates the space, which also features a living area of couches, chairs, tv & books. There’s also plenty of other common spaces to relax in at Space Inn.

Shared Bathrooms – The bathrooms are huge with separate toilet, shower & sink area. It’s really impressive. The showers are amazing, with excellent hot water & water pressure. Soap & shampoo is provided.

Kitchen – There’s a kitchen with free drinking water & coffee as well as a large fridge & freezer to keep things cool.

Coin-operated laundry & dryer

Computers & Business Centre

Space Inn Taipei
Space Inn has all the facilities you needok ok

Dorm Room

I stayed in an 8 bed dorm at Space Inn & it was a very good experience. The bed was really comfortable & the bedding was of excellent quality.

Each bunk bed has complete privacy with their own wrap around curtain, light, outlets & even a mini-shelf/storage box. The lockers are large enough for your backpack & as mentioned, you access it with your swipe card. They even have an automatic light switch when opened.

* Tip: Choose a single-sex dorm if you want to be close to the shared bathrooms.

Space Inn hostel dorm
Sleep well in the comfortable dorm beds at Space Inn

Final Verdict

I stayed in 8 different hostels during my 18 tour of Taiwan & Space Inn was easily the best one. All the other hostels had their quirks but there was nothing I could fault at Space Inn. It’s actually one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in anywhere in the world .Look no further than Space Inn for the best hostel in Taipei!

Dorms start from NT$400 / $13.25

Check Booking for the best rates & selection of rooms at Space Inn and throughout Taiwan.

* Thank you to Space Inn for hosting me & the wonderful hospitality during my stay

Space Inn hostel Taipei
Our Taipei Travel Guide recommends staying at Space Inn

Getting Around Taipei

To/From Taiwan Airport:

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has 2 terminals – free skytrain & shuttle bus services connect them both.

An MRT ticket from the airport to Taipei Main Station costs NT$160 / $5.30.

There are many airport buses to Taipei city centre. Choose a route that drops you off at the closest station or bus stop to your accommodation. My bus ticket from the airport to Taipei Main Station cost NT$130 / $4.30.

Private airport transfers by car from your hotel can be arranged at affordable prices.

Taipei airport transport
It’s easy to get to & from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport by public transport

MRT

The easiest form of Taipei transport is the MRT. Coming from New York City the cleanliness & efficiency puts the Big Apple’s subway system to shame!

There are 7 colour-coded lines across Taipei’s MRT system. All maps at the stations are written in Chinese & English (just like the street signs) making it simple to get around.

Fares range from NT$20 / $0.65 to NT$60 / $2.00 depending on the distance. Most attractions around Taipei are within NT$20-30 / $0.65-$1.00.

You can purchase tokens for single journeys or by EasyCard.

Taipei EasyCard

Taipei EasyCard is a swipe card you can use on all MRT’s & buses on the island. It costs NT$100 / $3.30 which can be refundable at the end of your trip along with any credit remaining (minus NT$20 handling charge). Then top it up with credit as you swipe & go on all public transport. Value can be added in multiples of NT$100 / $3.30.

The Taipei EasyCard gives you a 20% discount off single journey token fares & an extra 20% discount when transferring between bus & MRT. It can also be used on the Kaohsiung MRT and some buses & trains through Taiwan.

I wish I had known about this on my 20 day tour around the island! Instead, I bought single journey fares each time. And on buses I always had to make sure I had the right change.

You should get the Taipei EasyCard especially if you will be travelling around Taiwan or even if you plan to be in Taipei for a few days. It’s much more convenient & you’re likely to save money in no time. The Taipei Easycard makes Taipei transport a breeze!

Taipei transport Easycard
Sign up for the Taipei EasyCard if you’re around for more than a few days
There are so many things to do in Taipei that you'll need 5 days to cover it all - check out our Taipei itinerary for a guide to the best things to do in Taipei, Taipei day trips, Taipei night markets, Elephant Mountain hiking and much more Taipei travel tips! #taipei #taipeitravel #taiwan #taiwantravel #diytravel
There are many things to do in Taipei from Taipei 101 and Elephant Mountain to eating Taiwanese food and Taipei night markets. Check out our 5 day Taipei itinerary for the best Taipei travel tips and attractions to visit #taipei #taipeitravel #taiwantravel #taiwan #diytravel
From food tours to night markets there are so many things to do in Taipei, Taiwan. Check out our Taipei travel guide for an action-packed 5 day Taipei itinerary that will let you see it all #taipei #taiwan #asiatravel

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that we receive a small commission if you click on a link & purchase something that we have recommended, at no extra cost to you.

Visited in October 2017

Updated in February 2020

Leave a Comment

five − 5 =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.