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Join me on an exciting journey through Taipei! Discover hidden gems and local insights in my travelogue.
Discover Taipei Like Never Before
Unveil the secrets of Taipei with me as your guide. Let's embark on a 5-day exploration filled with wonders!
Embracing Taiwanese Hospitality
Experience the warmth and friendliness of Taiwan's people. From cheerful greetings to genuine smiles, Taiwanese hospitality knows no bounds.
TRANSPORTATION:
Getting around Taipei is a breeze with the MRT and bus systems. Simply grab a 4G SIM (pre-order via Klook for the best deals) and download Google Maps. Don't forget to pick up an EasyCard at the airport for seamless travel on MRT and buses. Exploring Taipei wouldn't be complete without experiencing its efficient public transportation. Alternatively, taxis are available (7-seaters priced similarly to 4-seaters) at around 1.5 times the fare in Vietnam for those weary moments.
Pre-order your Taiwan 4G SIM on Klook
CUISINE:
Taipei offers an array of delectable dishes to try. We highly recommend the Mala hotpot (a must-try), Mango Ice Smoothie from Smoothie House (absolutely delicious), beef noodles from Yong Kang, 50 Lan bubble tea, night market sausages, 1973 fried chicken, Xiao Long Bao from Din Tai Fung, and Irvings Salted Egg popcorn at Taipei 101. Be daring and sample the famous stinky tofu, though it's an acquired taste. Keep in mind, popular eateries often have long queues, so be prepared to wait a bit for your culinary adventure.
My Favorite Dish in Taiwan: Mango Ice Smoothie from Smoothie House
ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation in Taiwan can be pricey. We made the mistake of booking late and had limited options. We ended up with a small room for $65 a night, no windows, and it felt like jumping onto the bed as soon as we entered. Book early, aim for central areas like Ximending, Daan... and close to the MRT (within 400m).
OUR ITINERARY
Blessed with pleasant weather throughout our 5-day trip, with mild sunshine and only one rainy morning (we traveled in mid-November). During our stay in Taipei, we visited several remarkable places:
Don't forget the THSR pass for easy travel around Taiwan!
+ Dahu Park, Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen Old Street, Ten Ren's Tea: We joined a Klook tour (around $20) highly recommended for hassle-free exploration. Independent travel can be exhausting with transfers and long waits, often unable to cover all spots in a day. However, joining a tour means adhering to their schedule, which is quite tight, leaving limited time for photos. It's advisable to have basic English proficiency as tour guides primarily speak English, sometimes challenging to understand. Missing information during the tour might result in being left behind. Prices in Taiwan are generally fair, even in tourist areas, so if it seems expensive, it probably is.
Pre-book your bus tickets to Dahu Park, Jiufen Old Street, Ten Ren's Tea on Klook
Dahu Park
Sky lantern release at Jiufen Old Street
+ Xin Beitou: Taiwan's seismic activity brings forth numerous hot springs, and Xin Beitou stands out for its beauty and accessibility. The lush greenery, azure skies, and mist-covered lakes create a magical atmosphere. We didn't plan ahead for swimming attire or resort bookings, but we'll definitely revisit this enchanting place in the future.
Capturing moments at Xin Beitou's Instagram-worthy spots
A touch of Japanese architecture at the National Library en route to Xin Beitou
Xin Beitou Hot Spring Area
+ Taipei 101: Once the world's tallest building for 5 years (its elevator once held the record for the fastest speed), from 2004-2009, before being surpassed by a series of other skyscrapers in both height and elevator speed. We skipped the 89th floor observation deck due to pricey tickets; the view probably isn't much different from Keangnam Tower. Surrounding Taipei 101 are other shopping malls like ATT4fun, featuring more affordable brands. Inside Taipei 101 is the famous Din Tai Fung restaurant, but it's always packed, so we opted for takeout. Don't forget to try their famous Xiao Long Bao!
Pre-book your Taipei 101 observation deck tickets on Klook
+ Ximending: Our neighborhood - the bustling shopping district of Taipei. Every night, we'd come back exhausted but still wander around because there are so many great places to explore. Oh, and there are tons of claw machines here, with a pretty high chance of winning!
+ Shilin Night Market: Taipei's largest night market, reminiscent of ancient street markets. It offers a wide variety of goods and mouth-watering food stalls. Some roadside stalls even have queues lasting 20-30 minutes.
Shilin Night Market
+ Forbidden City Palace Museum: houses over 600,000 artifacts from the Forbidden City. Ticket price is 350 NTD, but the collection of treasures and royal jewelry is absolutely stunning.
Treasures within the Forbidden City Palace Museum
+ Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: memorial hall dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek - located within an expansive square. The surrounding garden is home to many squirrels. You can bring some treats for them. When we fed them, even the mice came over. Squirrels look just like mice, except for their tails, almost got confused.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
+ Long Son Temple: One of Taipei's most famous temples, attracting many locals and tourists for worship.
+ HUASHAN 1914 CREATIVE PARK: An artistic and recreational hub for the youth. Pretty cool with lots of picturesque spots for photos.
The total expenses excluding shopping amounted to around 10 – 11 million per person. Taiwan has given me a memorable and exciting experience. It will be a long time before I return to Taiwan, but if possible, I'd like to explore Kaohsiung and Taichung. Thank you for following along.
Explore Taipei with Klook
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