There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Taipei, a thoroughly modern metropolis with a complex history and present. It helps that the port city is a breeze to navigate, with abundant green spaces, world-class public transportation, and other signs of thoughtful urban planning.
As with the rest of Taiwan, Taipei shows clear Japanese and Chinese influences, while at the same time sporting its own distinct cultural identity. You’ll find a cutting-edge contemporary and performing arts scene here, along with local designers who are making international waves.
Even in the shadow of the Taipei 101—once the tallest skyscraper in the world—you’re never more than a short train ride from lush natural beauty here. Yangmingshan National Park, Yehliu Geopark, and other green escapes are an easy afternoon trip out of the city. In town, you can seek serenity at the numerous temples and public parks. Of course, you may find yourself making a beeline for the city’s walking streets and food markets. Locals here know how to live well, which extends to eating very well indeed.
Explore Yehliu Geopark
Wandering into Yehliu Geopark, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’d stumbled upon an eccentric modernist sculpture garden. Yet the only artist at work here is Mother Nature. Millennia of water, wind, and other forces of erosion have resulted in astonishing rock formations. On this skinny peninsula in the East China Sea, you’ll find fanciful shapes like the “Fairy Shoe.”
The most iconic of these is known as the “Queen’s Head,” which bears an uncanny resemblance to the famous bust of Ancient Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti. If you squint, the rock appears to have a long, slender neck and a voluminous, swept-up hairstyle.
Note that Yehliu Geopark has become enormously popular in recent years, buoyed in part by photos of the rock formations spreading on the internet. Be sure to arrive as early as possible in order to beat the crowds. The park is located a half-hour drive or a one-hour local train ride from downtown Taipei, making it an easy choice for an afternoon trip.
Eat at the Original Din Tai Fung
Xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, may hail from Jiangsu province in mainland China, but their most famous global ambassador was born in Taipei. In 1958, an entrepreneur from Shanxi named Yang Bing-yi founded a cooking oil company named Din Tai Fung. When the oil business went south, he started selling dumplings to make ends meet. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, there are more than 180 Din Tai Fung restaurants scattered around all corners of the globe. One in Hong Kong even picked up a Michelin star in 2010. They’re all known for their extraordinary level of precision, quality control, and consistency.
Each individual dumpling contains 18 meticulously folded pleats. They are rolled by hand until whisper-thin and astonishingly delicate. The filling, a gelatin-rich aspic which liquifies into a “soup” after a stint in a bamboo steamer, is always perfectly seasoned.
While you could eat these xiao long bao in many places, there’s something to be said for a visit to the chain’s original, historic location. It’s practically unbeatable for a quick, affordable meal.
In addition to the soup dumplings, be sure to try a few of their sleeper hits. The cucumbers, which come sliced and stacked into a chile oil-bathed pyramid, provide the perfect counterbalance. And although their spicy wontons are less famous, some would argue they’re just as good.
Tour the Longshan Temple
First constructed in 1738, this temple has been rebuilt multiple times through tumultuous periods in history. Fires have repeatedly wreaked havoc over the centuries, as have earthquakes. Even more dramatically, the temple was partially decimated by American bombers in World War II.
Yet the local community has always rallied around this place of worship, which is still standing strong today. The place honors various Chinese folk deities, in addition to featuring strong Chinese Buddhist elements. As with any active place of worship, visitors are asked to dress and behave respectfully.
Check Out the National Palace Museum
Roughly 700,000 artworks and artifacts from 8,000 years of history are part of the collection of the National Palace Museum, which is sometimes referred to as the Taipei Palace Museum. Around 3,000 are visible at any given time and curators rotate exhibitions every three months to showcase more works. Since there’s almost always something new to see, the museum is almost as popular with locals as it is with international visitors.
The museum owes one of the most impressive parts of its collection to a particularly contentious point in history. During the 1940s, the conflict between the Nationalist and Communist armies in mainland China was fierce. In an effort to preserve some of the country’s national treasures, curators at the National Palace Museum in Beijing sent them to Taipei. More than 2,000 original artifacts from the Forbidden City in Beijing made it safely to this place.
Explore the City’s Street Markets
Taipei’s night markets are justifiably famous, but even if you’re only in town for a day, there’s no reason you have to miss out. The city also has several daytime markets, where locals typically pick up their fresh produce and ingredients. Because of their clientele, these markets tend to be less touristy than their nocturnal counterparts and offer a terrific selection of foods.
Zhongshan Market, in one of the city’s buzziest districts, is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. A neighborhood fixture since the Imperial Japanese era, this clean, well-organized market has excellent fruits, vegetables, and more.
Also in Zhongshan District is the Shuanglian Morning Market, located right near the Temple of Wenchang. Pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers or a snack at this local spot, which feels like a throwback to an older era of the city’s history.
Go to the Top of the Taipei 101
When it first opened on New Year’s Eve, 2004, this 101-story skyscraper was the tallest in the world. It’s since been surpassed in height, but its stature remains colossal nonetheless.
In many ways, its height—a whopping 1,667 vertical feet—is only one of its impressive features. The entire structure is LEED Platinum certified, the highest possible green certification. It’s also built to survive earthquakes and typhoons, should they come
For visitors, the journey to the top may be almost as exciting as the view once up there. The elevators whisk passengers up 84 stories in just 37 seconds. At one point, they were the fastest in the world. Once you arrive at the Indoor Observatory, keep an eye out for rotating art exhibitions held high in the sky.
Have Fan Tuan for Breakfast
If you’re looking for a quick breakfast or snack on the go while sightseeing, look no further than a fan tuan. Think of this as the Taiwanese answer to a breakfast burrito. This popular street snack consists of a cylinder of sticky rice rolled around all sorts of fillings.
Pork floss is the classic option, but these days you may well find anything from char siu, which is roast pork and pickled mustard greens to eggs and bacon. The pro move is to order a youtiao, a fried cruller that adds a pleasant crunch. White sticky rice is traditional, although in more recent years purple rice has gained traction for both health and aesthetic reasons.
Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Easily one of the more recognizable public monuments, this memorial hall was erected after the passing of President Chiang Kai-shek in 1975. Inside the white building with a blue roof, visitors will find a statue of the late Taiwanese leader, as well as exhibitions on his life and legacy.
The memorial is notable in part because the square surrounding it is one of the most important spaces for social and political gatherings in Taipei. In recent years, it’s hosted pro-democracy demonstrations, as well as exhibitions and warning of the dangers of authoritarian rule.
Stroll Down Jiufen Old Street
Wandering along the historic street of this mountain village, you might find yourself thinking you’d stepped onto a film set. In fact, the area has had starring cameos in a number of photoshoots and one 1980s cinematic classic. It allegedly also served as one of the main visual inspirations for a certain Oscar-winning anime film by Hayao Miyazaki.
Picture brightly hued lanterns and multitiered buildings that looked plucked from another era. While arguably some of the Jiufen Old Street’s most iconic photographs were taken at night, it is equally evocative at all hours of the day. If you’re looking to beat the crowds, the best time to visit is around 10 a.m., when the street opens, until early afternoon.
The street is only a one-hour train ride or 45-minute car ride from downtown Taipei, but it feels like slipping back in time by a century or so. Part of that has to do with the fact that this town’s heyday harkens back to Taiwan’s own gold rush days.
Around the late 19th century, right around the time of Alaska’s Klondike Gold Rush, substantial quantities of gold were discovered in the mountains of Taiwan. Jiufen quickly became a boomtown, buoyed by the sudden prosperity of its prospectors.
Although the glory days of Jiufen’s history as a mining town may be behind it, there’s still much to see and do here. Jiufen Old Street also happens to be a fabulous place to eat. The entire alley is essentially a street food buffet, with an almost overwhelming array of eats. Follow your heart and nose to taro balls, fried seafood, and more.
Slurp Beef Noodle Soup
The dish arguably most synonymous with Taiwanese cuisine abroad is actually a relatively recent addition to the local culinary canon. In the mid-20th century, Taiwan’s population demographics changed significantly thanks to several waves of immigration.
Sichuanese immigrants brought over doubanjiang, a type of spicy fermented bean paste. Chinese Muslim arrivals brought with them a taste for beef to an island that had previously preferred pork. Both ingredients are essential here. Finally, the Northern Chinese-style noodles made sense with the supplies available at the time. Thanks to U.S. shipments, wheat suddenly became an abundant commodity.
It’s easy to see why Taiwanese beef noodle soup quickly skyrocketed in popularity. Each bowl features a deeply flavorful broth, bouncy noodles, and tender braised beef. Beef shank, brisket, or other fattier cuts are a commonly used cut here. Pickled mustard greens are often used to cut through the richness.
Hunt for Bargains at Nanmen Market
If you’re looking to shop, your first stop should be this sprawling market, which started more than a century ago under Japanese rule. This multistory marketplace has it all, from clothing and accessories to snacks and Chinese traditional medicine ingredients.
The food market alone is worth the visit. Even if you’re not shopping for fresh produce, you may find yourself picking up sponge cakes, Taiwanese-style jerky, and sesame sweets for snacking.
Note that while the Silk Market and certain other markets in mainland China may reward assertive negotiators, haggling is seen as rude here. Respectful bargaining is sometimes acceptable if an item does not have a price tag visible. If a vendor does not wish to negotiate, accept their decision and price with grace or walk away.
Hike Up Elephant Mountain
Part of Taipei’s appeal is that even when you’re surrounded by a dense thicket of glass-and-steel skyscrapers, nature is never really far away. Xiangshan, or “Elephant Mountain,” is situated at the edge of Xinyi District. Locals often go for a leisurely stroll through Zhongqiang Park and up the hiking trails on this sandstone peak.
It’s easy to forget that you’re still within the city limits up here. Immense boulders, dense foliage, and plenty of bird species make for a verdant oasis. The trail up the side is suitable for hikers of most levels, including teens and older children. Once you make it to the top of the “elephant’s” back, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the beautiful skyline.
Take Home a Box of Pineapple Cakes
Not only Taiwan is one of the primary producers of pineapples on the planet, but also its fruits are considered some of the very finest. While pineapple producers in many countries have focused on a profitable monoculture, Taiwanese farmers have taken a different tactic. More than 90 varieties of pineapple grow on this Asian island—more than anywhere else in the world.
It’s no wonder, then, that this sweet fruit should star in one of Taiwan’s best-loved sweets. Pineapple cakes are closer to shortbread cookies in texture, with a crumbly, buttery crust encasing a filling of caramelized pineapple jam. Lovers of rich, not-too-sweet desserts will be instant fans.
These bite-sized treats keep well and are often given as gifts or on special occasions. Part of this has to do with the fact that the word for “pineapple” sounds a lot like “prosperity” in Taiwanese Hokkien. They make for a lovely present for friends back home, if you can manage to avoid eating them for that long.
See the Pandas in the Taipei Zoo
For families with children, the Taipei Zoo is not to be missed. There’s a disproportionately high number of cuddly creatures here, including giant pandas in the Xinguang Special Exhibit House. These charismatic herbivores have an especially large play area with climbing structures, a waterfall pond, and plenty of bamboo on which to munch.
There’s also a koala area, featuring marsupials from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as the Penguin House, featuring both King and African Penguins. Kids will also love the Insectarium, where they can wander through a greenhouse filled with butterflies.
Finally, the Taipei Zoo pays special attention to the indigenous fauna of Taiwan. Some of the local stars include the pangolin and the Asiatic black bear.
Ride the Maokong Gondola
If your kids are flagging a little during all the sightseeing, fear not. One of the best things to do in Taipei as a family is to ride the Maokong Gondola, which runs for over two miles through the city, with four stops along the way. It doesn’t hurt that the colorful gondola cars are adorable.
You can hop off at Taipei Zoo Station or Zhinan Temple Station, or simply ride all the way to the end. If you opt to ride the gondola all the way to its final destination, the trip takes about 20 to 30 minutes in one direction. That time up in the air includes some picturesque views of the Jingmei River and the city itself.
If you choose to ride to Maokong, the final stop, you’ll find yourself in the midst of some rather lovely tea plantations. Shops are available to visitors with opportunities to sip and purchase tea.
Try Stinky Tofu
It’s never hard to find a chou doufu vendor—you can quite literally smell them from down the block. Stinky tofu very literally lives up to its name and is pretty pungent stuff. It’s also delicious, with a far milder flavor than its powerful aroma might lead you to believe. Think of an excellent Roquefort or other blue cheese and you get the idea.
Chou doufu’s distinctive scent is the result of a slow fermentation process. After being cut into blocks, the tofu is left to cure in a brine with amaranth leaves, herbs, and sometimes dried fish.
In Taiwan, the stinkier the tofu, the better the quality. That’s because factory-produced versions often brine their tofu for just a couple of days. Artisanal producers and home cooks, on the other hand, may let it mature for months.
The resulting tofu fries to a glorious, golden crisp. It’s a staple of night markets in Taipei, where it often comes paired with a garlicky sauce and pickled vegetables.
Check Out the Latest Fashions at Ximending
It’s hard to miss this perpetually bustling shopping center located right near Taipei Main Station. If you’re looking to tap into Taipei’s hottest new trends, this is the spot to go. Ximending has occasionally been compared to Harajuku in Tokyo. Here you’ll find teenagers and twentysomethings showing off their newest sneakers and looks.
Japanese, Korean, American, and homegrown fashion brands are all well-represented here. Expect to hear blasting K-pop or J-pop here. You may also spot skateboarders showing off their best tricks and cosplayers flaunting impressive DIY costumes.
In addition to selling just about everything, Ximending sports some very photogenic street art. Head down “American Street,” as Lane 96 of Kunming Street is colloquially known, which is lined with colorful graffiti.
Sip on a Boba Tea
Nowadays, boba tea can be found on all corners of the Earth, but it was invented right here in Taiwan. As with so many famous foods and drinks, there’s still some debate as to who came up with this ingenious beverage, which is also known as bubble tea. A tea room in Taichung claims the honor, as does another in Tainan.
Regardless, historians agree that it first cropped up in Taiwan in the 1980s. It soon spread to Japan, through Southeast Asia, and to the United States via the Taiwanese diaspora. Boba tea is such a point of pride in Taiwan that at one point it was almost added to the local passport.
Sometimes referred to as bubble tea or simply as boba, this sweet tea gets its name from the chewy tapioca pearls—or “boba”—bobbing inside. From that basic variation come countless variations. The chilled tea—usually black, green, or oolong—is often served with milk, which may be powdered, evaporated, or an alt milk such as oat, coconut, almond, or soy.
The tapioca pearls, or boba, can be simmered with different types of sugars or flavorings to give them different colors, textures, and tastes. Sweetened azuki beans, fresh fruit, grass jelly, aloe, cheese foam, and dozens of other toppings can be added for textural variety.
Catch a Pop-Up Event at Huashan 1914 Creative Park
One of Taipei’s most important creative hubs, Huashan 1914 Creative Park features numerous art galleries, performance spaces, cafés, boutique shops, and restaurants. The site on which it stands has a rather long history behind it. In 1914, under Japanese rule, the area was used as a sake brewery. In 1987, it was converted into a winery.
Today, many of the original buildings still stand, but they serve a decidedly different purpose. Visitors will find a constantly rotating array of pop-ups and workshops catering to the local creative set. It’s a great place to shop for sharp, design-oriented souvenirs made and conceptualized in Taiwan. There’s also a terrific independent movie theater called SPOT located in the park, if you’re looking to catch a film.
Cool Off with Sweet Treats
Particularly during the summer months, Taipei’s heat and humidity levels can be enough to send you running for indoor, air-conditioned cover. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to beat the heat and satisfy a sugar craving here.
The most visually spectacular is Taiwan’s version of shaved ice. Known as baobing, tsuah bing, or chhoah-peng, this close cousin of kakigori arrived on the island as a result of Japanese imperial rule. It’s very much a more-is-more sort of dessert, with all sorts of textures, colors, and flavors piled into a glorious mountain.
Anything from chopped fresh fruit to sweetened adzuki beans to jellied cubes tapioca pearls may be added. Sweetened condensed milk and flavored syrups can be used to flavor these ethereal flurries.
Equally over-the-top—and also fantastically delicious—is the concoction sometimes nicknamed an “ice cream burrito.” This unlikely combination of flavors starts off with a thin flour crepe, like the one usually used to make savory run bing with pork. In this version, street hawkers add several scoops of ice cream, plus peanut brittle and cilantro. They then roll the whole thing up into what has to be one of the world’s greatest ice cream sandwiches.
Chow Down on a “Taiwanese Hamburger”
Vietnam has its bánh mì. Mexico has its torta. France has its jambon-beurre. Taiwan’s most iconic combination of bread and meat is unquestionably the guo bao. The dish is frequently referred to as a “Taiwanese hamburger,” although it bears only passing resemblance. In lieu of a baked brioche bun, the base here is a fluffy steamed mantou.
This light, bouncy “bun” gets split in half and filled with lusciously rich pork belly braised with soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, and various aromatics until caramelized. It then gets loaded into the bao with plenty of pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
Guo bao has Fujianese roots, although it’s spread in various forms throughout many parts of the global Chinese diaspora. Thanks to celebrity chefs like David Chang and Eddie Huang, variations of the dish are also popular in the West. If you’re looking for a fast, satisfying meal in Taipei, it’s hard to do better than this.
Catch a View of the City from the Top of a Ferris Wheel
Miramar Entertainment Park, a mammoth shopping and entertainment complex, can be a little overwhelming. You could easily spend the entire day in this colossal mall, but even if you’d rather not, it’s worth stopping by one of the best views in town.
The Miramar Ferris wheel is more than 300 feet tall, which means passengers can enjoy a truly breathtaking panorama from the top. Much like Britain’s London Eye, the ferris wheel has become a landmark in the Taipei skyline since it opened in 2004. It’s a big hit with kids of all ages, as well couples looking to get above it all for a little bit.
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Visit Da’an Forest Park
Get away from the city without ever actually leaving at this emerald urban park. Da’an Forest Park is the green lung of Taipei, equivalent to New York’s Central Park. It’s also a stellar example of how well Taiwan’s government looks after its citizens. From extensive pathways to playground facilities for children and recreational equipment, this park is public space done right.
A trip to the park is one of the best things to do in Taipei to get a taste of local life. Regardless of what time of day you visit, expect to see locals practicing tai chi or jogging through this vast sanctuary. As you wander from the bamboo forest to the large Buddha statue, it’s hard not to feel serene. Keep an eye out for regular performances at the open-air theater stage here as well.
Check Out the Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Another cultural gem located in the perpetually hip Zhongshan District, the Taipei Arts Museum is the city’s premier showcase for contemporary art. Opened in 1983, the museum has served as a center of art in Taiwan, as well as international cultural exchange.
The museum hosts the Taipei Biennale, which draws artists and art-lovers from all over the world. It has featured the works of plenty of blue-chip artists, in addition to helping to launch the careers of a number of up-and-coming Taiwanese artists. Regularly rotating exhibitions mean there is always something new to see here.
Sample an Internet Sensation
It’s easy to see why social media fell in love with tanghulu almost immediately. This visually stunning sweet treat is not unique to Taiwan, but it is beloved here. Imagine skewers of fresh fruit encased in a glassy sugar coating.
The fruit retains its natural color and texture, yet appears almost as if it froze outdoors on a frigid winter day. As you bite down, the candied coating shatters into brittle, satisfying shards that melt on your tongue.
All sorts of different fruits can be used, although hawthorn berries are traditional. Strawberries are especially popular in Taipei. Although it might seem hard to imagine on an island known for its pineapples and other tropical fruits growing in abundance, Taiwan has excellent local strawberries in season.
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