Taipei is a hidden gem amongst Asian cities, and worth a visit for its amazing food, cultural temples, and super friendly people. After living here for 1.5 years, I’ve come to love this city.

In this comprehensive 3-day itinerary, I’ll share my insights and recommendations to help you make the most of your visit. This is geared toward first-time visitors who have never seen the city, but they’re are all spots I visit again and again, and includes some very local recommendations.

3-Day Taipei Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Yongkang Street, Flower/Jade Market (weekends only), Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Elephant Mountain Hike, Taipei 101 (optional: Raohe Night Market)
Day 2: Longshan Temple, Bopilao, Ximending, Dihua Street, Ningxia Night Market (or Shilin Night Market)
Day 3:
- Option 1: National Palace Museum, Beitou, Tamshui, Shilin Night Market
- Option 2: Jiufen Day Trip, Conveyor Belt Sushi

3 days is not a lot of time to see all of Taipei. You could easily spend a full or half day at each of these locations, so I’ve included some of the most important highlights in each area.

Day 1

9am: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Start your trip at one of Taipei’s most iconic landmarks. The expansive Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall features beautifully landscaped gardens, a majestic blue-roofed hall, and a museum dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek’s life and Taiwan’s history. You can time your visit to catch the changing of the guard ceremony, held every hour from 9am until 5pm unless it’s raining (it’s not amazing, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth catching).

11am: Yongkang Street
A short walk from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Yongkang Street is the perfect spot for lunch. Famous for its selection of local eateries, this lively street offers everything from traditional beef noodle soup to trendy bubble tea shops. It also has lots of boutique shops for gift-shopping something that’s more artisanal and less kitschy. For a lot of Taiwanese, this is a favorite street.

Tian Jin Onion Pancake
- This is possibly the most famous spot amongst Taiwanese. Get an onion pancake (蔥抓餅 or Cong Zhua Bing) here. Our favorite is Thai basil with egg and sauce. It will change your life. The queue can be long but it moves quickly.
Yongkang Beef Noodles
- Taiwanese Beef Noodles are one of Taiwan’s most famous foods, and this one is a particularly famous spot to get one at. Every local has his or her favorite (the one at Din Tai Fung is actually really good, too), but this will hit the spot and is in a great location.
Smoothie House
- Taiwan is famous for its mangos (in the summer, they’re some of the best on earth), and the mango shaved ice here is worth stopping for.
Din Tai Fung Xinsheng Branch
- There is also a Din Tai Fung in this area, but there will almost certainly be a wait at this stop as well. Take a number, then come back closer to the time your number will be called.

1pm: Flower/Jade Market (open on weekends)
If you’re in the area on a weekend, after lunch, head to the nearby Flower and Jade Markets. The Flower Market offers vibrant blooms, unique succulents, and beautiful bonsais of every size, while the Jade Market is a treasure trove of jewelry, trinkets, and ancient ceramics. We love wandering through here, and it’s another great area for picking up souvenirs or just strolling through. The line of markets are under a highway that run parallel to Daan Park.

3pm: Huashan 1914 Creative Park
I had never heard of a “creative park” until coming to Taiwan, and Taipei has many. These are repurposed spaces, often former industrial complexes or historical sites, that have been transformed into a hub for arts, culture, and innovation. These parks typically host galleries, art installations, designer shops, and performance spaces, and are filled with cafés, boutique stores, and exhibition spaces showcasing the work of local and international artists.

One of the most famous here is Huashan 1914 Creative Park, which used to be a wine factory. Here, you can wander through galleries, discover local artists’ work, and enjoy cafes and quirky shops. This is a great place to get a feel for Taipei’s creative scene.

5pm: Elephant Mountain Hike
For a change of pace, head to Elephant Mountain in the late afternoon. The hike (really a walk up stairs) is considered a moderate hike (especially if you hike it in the summer), but it rewards you with panoramic views of Taipei’s skyline, including Taipei 101. It takes about 1.5 hrs to hike up, take photos, and hike back down. Sunset is the best time to be here as the city lights begin to glow, but you’ll be sharing the view with lots of other people. For sunset, plan to arrive at the top at least 30 minutes before the actual sunset time, assuming there is a visible sunset that day.

7pm: Taipei 101
If you’re not too tired from the hike, cap off your day by visiting Taipei 101. There are a couple different ways to ascend the building:

Observation Deck: For about $20, you can go up to the 89th floor of Taipei 101. For a little more, you can also visit the 101st floor, and even go outside on the wraparound balcony.
Simple Kaffa Sola: To get up to the 88th floor, you can walk in or make a reservation at Simple Kaffa Sola. There are minimums with the reservations, but this guarantees you a spot, and you can choose where you want to sit (by the window or in a booth). The minimums vary by table.
飨 A Joy Buffet: The all-you-can-eat buffet is $3280 NTD for lunch or $3880 NTD for dinner. The reservation website is very glitchy, so if you see availability, you can either call the restaurant and book on the phone or use Klook for available reservations. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, and the food, dessert, and cocktails are shockingly good.

If you don’t want to go up the skyscraper, you can wander the mall below. The basement food court is a great dinner option for something low-key, or get a ticket at Din Tai Fung, go shopping, then eat when your number is ready (there’s almost always a 45 min+ wait).

9pm: Optional Evening Activity: Raohe Night Market
If you still have energy left, take a quick trip to Raohe Night Market. Night markets are one of the things Taiwan is most famous for, so you have to visit at least one in your time here. This one is one of the largest and some argue the best. Beware, though, as it gets very crowded.

I could write an entire blog post or two on Raohe Night Market, but if you’re going, here are some highlights (they’re all Michelin-rated):

Fuzhou Pepper Buns at Fuzhou Pepper Buns
- Usually a long line but it moves decently quickly. Be sure to vent the bun before eating or you will burn your whole mouth.
Oyster Vermicelli Soup at Dong Fa Hao
Taiwanese herbal pork ribs soup at Chen Tung
- Get the Lou Ru Fan (minced pork rice) when you’re there too
Mochi at Mochi Baby
- These are mochi cakes covered with powdered sugar, crushed peanut, or black sesame.
Stinky Tofu at Shi Boss
- Famous for the boiled version of stinky tofu, their soup has duck blood in it. I personally prefer the fried version of stinky tofu, which you can also order at this stall.
Otherwise, try whatever calls to you or seems to have a long line! Make sure to have cash on hand, though. Most of these places still are cash only.

Day 2

9am: Taiwanese Breakfast

Begin Day 2 with a traditional Taiwanese breakfast, which consists mainly of carbs. Classic breakfast foods include:

Dan Bing (Egg Pancakes)
You Tiao (Fried Dough Sticks)
Cong Zhua Bing (Green Onion Pancakes)
Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)
Fan Tuan (Sticky Rice Balls)
Shao Bing (Clay Oven Rolls)

Classic drinks are definitely Dou Jiang (Soy Milk) and Xian Dou Jiang (Salty Soy Milk). For this itinerary, I recommend you go to this spot that’s near Longshan temple. Yong He Soy Milk, in Ximen is more famous, but less convenient in this itinerary.

9:45am: Longshan Temple
After that, head south to visit the historic Longshan Temple. This is one of Taipei’s oldest and most beautiful temples, where locals come to pray and make offerings, though no incense is lit. Take your time to appreciate the intricate carvings and traditional architecture.

10am: Bopilao Historic Block
Just a short walk away from Longshan Temple, Bopilao is a well-preserved historical block with buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Tucked in these narrow lanes are restored buildings that house exhibitions on Taipei’s history and culture. The street is also a nice reprieve from the noise of Taipei traffic.

11am: Ximending
Continue walking north from Bopilao, heading to Ximending, often referred to as Taipei’s “Harajuku.” You may have seen this earlier if you went to Yong He Soy Milk, but this vibrant neighborhood is packed with street performers, boutiques, and an array of food stalls. It’s also a great place to shop for souvenirs and people-watch as you wander the colorful streets.

While in Ximending, be sure to see:

The rainbow Taipei sign in front of the Ximen MRT
The Red House
The Red House Creatives and Art Market (西紅市創意市集)
- On the weekends, there are also stalls all around the MRT exit, usually starting in the (early) afternoon into the evenings.
Don Don Donki (Don Quijote in Japan)
- If you’ve never been inside one of these, I recommend a visit — it’s a supermarket that is also a cultural experience
The Pedestrian Area
The Graffiti

2pm: Bike Ride Along the River to Dihua Street
For a scenic route to your next destination, rent a YouBike (using Nick Kembel’s YouBike guide) and pedal along the riverside path from Ximending to Dihua Street. The bike path follows the Tamsui River and is absolutely beautiful, it’s just a little difficult to get from the city to the waterside.

If you want a longer bike ride, you can bike along the water south, then double back to bike it basically across all of Taipei’s waterfront. Alternatively, leave the waterfront at the Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market.

3pm: Dihua Street (in Dadaocheng)
Considered the oldest street in Taipei, Dihua Street is rich in history and filled with traditional tea shops, herbal stores, and fabric shops. This area has a charming old-world feel, perfect for slow exploration. They also have lots of great ceramics and souvenir shops.

Stops worth visiting:

A.S. Watson & Co. Building
Yong Le Market
Wang Tea (Youji Ming Cha 有記名茶)
Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market (大稻埕碼頭貨櫃市集)

6pm: Ningxia Night Market (or Shilin Night Market)
End your day at one of Taipei’s famed night markets. Ningxia Night Market is smaller but known for its incredible food stalls, offering local delicacies like oyster omelets and taro balls. If you prefer a larger and more tourist-oriented market, head to Shilin Night Market, Taipei’s biggest, where you’ll find a wide range of street food, games, and shops. You can also do this 2-hr guided tour at Shilin Night Market that will take you to the highlights.

6pm: Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market

This Wharf Container Market is a hip spot that locals eat at while watching the sunset. If you’re still in the area, this is a great, more local spot to try.

Day 3

Again, 3 days is barely enough to scratch the surface of Taipei, but here are some options for your last day. If you’re doing 4 days, I would make these days 3 and 4.

Option 1: Culture and Hot Springs

9am: National Palace Museum
Start with a visit to the National Palace Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese art and artifacts. From ancient jade carvings to imperial treasures, the museum’s exhibits are truly impressive. The museum itself is also stunningly beautiful.

12pm: Beitou Hot Springs
After the museum, head to Beitou, Taipei’s famous hot spring district. Here, you can relax in natural hot springs, visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, or take a stroll through the lush Beitou Thermal Valley, where steaming sulfur pits create a unique, otherworldly atmosphere.

4pm: Tamsui (Danshui)
From Beitou, take a short MRT ride to Tamsui, a charming coastal town with a lively waterfront. Walk along Tamsui Old Street, sample local snacks like iron eggs and fish crackers, and enjoy a sunset by the river.

7pm: Shilin Night Market
Finish your trip by heading back to the Shilin Night Market if you haven’t visited yet. This bustling market is the perfect way to wrap up your Taipei adventure, with more delicious food, games, and shopping opportunities.

Option 2: Jiufen Day Trip

For those wanting a scenic escape from Taipei:

8am: Jiufen
Take a day trip to Jiufen, a picturesque mountain village that (most likely) inspired scenes from the movie Spirited Away. This is one of my favorite places in Taiwan, though it can get very busy in the afternoons. Wander its narrow alleyways filled with tea houses, traditional shops, and stunning views of the sea.

Option 1:

You can get here by car or by taxi (it’s about an hour drive and $40 US one way), or you can do this Klook tour that takes you to Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall, starting and ending at Taipei Main Station. You can also choose to add Yehliu, a cape known for its unique rock formations. I think Jiufen Old Street can be seen in about 2-3 hours, so there’s no need to spend all day there.

Option 2:

Another way to do Jiufen is to spend time hiking in the area. The most popular hike is probably Teapot Mountain, a hike that takes 3 - 4 hours. To hike this, start at Jinguashi Gold Museum (a well-known museum that tells the story of how discovering gold affected the area). Behind the museum you will find some stairs that lead to the start of the trail. For more information, this blog is really helpful.

You can do this hike before or after Jiufen, but I would not miss seeing Jiufen Old Street while you’re here!

6:30pm: Conveyor Belt Sushi
For a fun (and comfortable) end to your night, head to a conveyor belt sushi spot. Sushi in Taiwan is much cheaper and higher quality than in the West, and conveyor sushi places are easy, affordable, and have lots of options.

The three largest conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Taiwan are Sushiro, Kura, and Sushi Express, and they all originated in Japan, so you know they’re good. Kura is the most fun, Sushiro is the highest quality, and Sushi Express is the cheapest. The plates at any of these places start at $1-$1.50 US, or $30-$40 NTD — the only downside is that there can be a long wait to get in.

Near Taipei Main there’s a Sushiro I recommend you make a reservation at (the Zhonghua branch is also not far away), if you know approximately when you’ll be back. The lines here can be quite long and if you wait till you arrive to get a number, you might have to wait 45-75 min. Alternatively, there’s also this Kura near Taipei Main or this Sushi Express in Ximen.

If you would prefer to do a guided tour of Taipei (the language barrier can be a bit daunting at first), this is a great, 4-hr private tour option. Or this chartered car option is great if you have people in your party that are a little less mobile. Taipei has a LOT of stairs, so this would make it easier for people with young kids or elderly.

Other Spots to Consider

If this itinerary isn’t enough for you and you want to do more, here are some spots that might be interesting:

Yangmingshan: great hikes, great views of Taipei 101 from afar
Yingge: ceramics capital of Taiwan, you can take a pottery class here
Maokong Gondola: a 20-30 min gondola ride that will take you from the Taipei Zoo to temples to teahouses
Bars: Taipei has some of the best bars in the world, and they do lots of Asian- and tea- inspired cocktails

3-Day Itinerary // Taipei, Taiwan