- Mar 21

Exploring Taipei: Your Guide to Taiwan's Vibrant Capital

Updated: Apr 19

Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, is often overlooked by travelers and backpackers traveling in Asia. I originally planned on just staying 5 days in the city but ended up extending my stay for three weeks. This city offers something for everyone - from a rich culture to delicious food to stunning nature. Additionally, Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage making Taipei, and the country, a welcoming destination for everyone. For this reason, it has become one of my favorite cities to visit in Asia.

Last year, I visited this city twice and I plan on revisiting it this year. Its rich history, amazing food, and kind locals captivated my heart. This guide includes both touristy and non-touristy places to visit in Taipei. I hope this list is of help to you when planning your trip.

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Currency

The currency of Taiwan is called New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). Cash is used everywhere, except for some restaurants that accept cards. If you are looking for cards that don’t charge international transaction fees, make sure to check out Capital One and American Express.

Daily Budget

Depending on your travel style, Taipei can be an affordable destination. At night markets you can expect to pay anywhere between 100 - 300 NTD ($3 - $9 USD) and a meal at a restaurant starts at around 200 NTD ($6.50 USD). Prices for dorm rooms in the city center start at $13 USD.

Staying Connected

I recommend using an e-sim card when traveling through Taiwan. The good thing about an e-sim card is that you can purchase and download it before arriving to your destination making it super convenient. For my trip to Taiwan, I used Nomad’s e-sim card and I never had a problem with it.

If you purchase an e-sim card make sure to use my referral code: ADRI84XU

You can also use Airalo’s e-sim card options! I’ve purchased their e-sim cards and their coverage is really good.

Transportation

Moving around Taipei could not be any easier. The city offers an excellent public transportation system that is always punctual and clean. To use it, you will need to buy a metro card at the airport, Family Mart, or 7/11 store. You can view on Google Maps the routes and time schedules.

Where to Stay

Choosing where to stay in Taipei can be overwhelming as there are many options. I recommend staying in the Ximending district or near Taipei Main Station. There are two hotels that I would recommend, and I really liked both of them. First is the Meander Taipei Hostel. It is located just a short walk from Ximending and the metro station. If you are looking for a social hostel, this is it. The hostel offers a big lounge area where you can meet other travelers.

The second hostel that I recommend is Work INN at Taipei 101. It is located near the iconic Taipei 101 and Xinyi Wei Xiu Shopping District. If you want to stay at a hostel but want to have a private room at a reasonable price then look no further. The staff were also incredibly nice and helped me a lot with translating.

Top Places to Visit in Taipei:

1. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Located inside Memorial Hall Square, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall offers visitors a glimpse into Taiwan’s rich history, its democratic progress over the last several decades, and its current struggles. It’s a great place to walk around to take in the beauty of Taiwanese architecture, the stunning Liberty Square Arch, and the serene park. If you are not in a rush, I recommend watching the guard change that happens every hour.

P.S: Entrance is free!

Stunning view of Songshan Ciyou Temple at night

2. Songshan Ciyou Temple

Songshan Ciyou Temple is one of my favorite temples that I visited during my six-month backpacking trip. It is a three-story Chinese temple dedicated to the Goddess Matsu. Unlike other temples in Taipei, when I came to this one I was the only foreigner.

I recommend visiting the temple in the afternoon so you can see the lanterns turned on. Once you are done, you can head over to Rahoe Night Market right next to the temple.

3. Rahoe Night Market

If you are looking for a more low-key night market, Rahoe Night Market is the one for you. It is located right next to Songshan Ciyou Temple, which makes it a great place to get food after sightseeing in the temple. It has numerous food stalls and shops. There is also an authentic Taiwanese massage stall in this market, as recommended by our Taipei Guide.

Tip: Make sure to try Taiwanese Watermelon Milk. It’s the best drink ever and I liked it so much I still make it at home a year after visiting the country.

4. Xiangshian

Also famously known as Elephant Mountain, Xiangshian offers an incredible view of the iconic Taipei 101 and the city. Once you get to the top and rest to admire the view, I recommend walking around and exploring the other trails. There is one of them that leads you to a jaw-dropping temple.

Tip: Make sure to bring comfortable shoes as you will need to go up a lot of stairs.

5. Ximending

Ximending is one of Taipei’s most famous spots. It is where you will find the iconic rainbow-colored Taipei sign on the street. This is a great place to spend your night as it has to offer a little bit of everything. Here you will find a lot of LGBTQ+ bars, shops selling souvenirs and clothes, and a lot of really good food. This district is also famously known for ‘Tattoo Street’, a street filled with tattoo shops. I got a tattoo and a piercing here so I recommend checking it out!

6. Dalongdong Baoan Temple

Dalongdong Baoan Temple is a stunning Chinese folk religion temple that has an indoor garden and a small waterfall. I would recommend visiting the temple during the morning to avoid the crowds.

7. Taipei Rose Garden

If you are a plant lover, make sure to visit Taipei Rose Garden. It’s a big garden that offers a wide variety of different types of roses and flowers. I recommend coming here in the afternoon and walking around the garden.

8. Dadaocheng Pier Plaza

Dadaocheng Pier Plaza is a chill place to spend a night at. You will find several small shops selling food and alcoholic drinks. Usually young Taiwanese will come here at night, which makes it a great place to meet the locals and make friends.

Oh, and it offers a stunning view of the city’s skyline.

9. Guandu Temple

If you are looking to steer away from big crowds and tourists, make sure to visit Guandu Temple. Located on the outskirts of Taipei city, this Chinese temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mazu. I recommend staying for two to three hours as it’s a big complex and it even has a garden at the top that offers an incredible view of the city. Once you are done exploring the temple, you can walk alongside the mangroves and enjoy a nice stroll.

Savoring Taiwanese BBQ at Shilin Night Market

10. Shilin Night Market

Considered the biggest and most famous market in Taipei, Shilin Night Market is a must when planning your trip to the city. This market is unlike any other market I visited in Taiwan. It offers hundreds of stalls selling delicious foods and souvenirs and it also has a big section of fair games. I recommend playing one or three of these games as they are so much fun!