Basics

  • Getting around:
    • Subway/buses – both very reliable, affordable, and best accessed using a reloadable EasyGo card
      • Subway connects directly to Taoyuan airport now
      • Tap in and out of subway stations with your card
      • Buses are either tap on or tap off, read signs or ask driver (people are super helpful)
    • Taxis – found everywhere, very safe, and generally quite affordable compared to North American cities
      • Generally pay cash, sometimes you can pay using your EasyGo card, but do not expect credit to be accepted
  • Language:
    • People speak English or at least they will try to! They are super friendly and happy to help tourists
    • Signs are pretty clear in English for the most part
  • Maps:
    • Google Maps works quite well here (unlike some other Asian cities)
  • Currency:
    • 30 NTD basically = 1 USD
    • Cash is king, credit cards accepted at established places like department stores or fancy restaurants
  • Phone plans:
    • Somewhat hard to come by once you leave the airport so getting a SIM at the airport is advisable

Food

  • YongHe Soy Milk King
    • Long lines so be prepared for that – but definitely try the breakfast pastries with shao bing you tiao (燒餅油條) and soy milk
  • Breakfast stalls
    • They most often sell soy milk, shao bing you tiao, dan bing (蛋餅, egg pancakes) and fan tuan (飯糰, rice wraps)
  • Din Tai Fung
    • Most famous for their xiao long bao (小籠包)
    • The Yong Kang Street location (original) is often very busy and the Taipei 101 location can be a good alternate
  • Beef noodle soup
    • Multiple locations, I recommend looking online and going around the Yong Kang (永康) area (see below)
  • Matcha cafe
    • Lots of beverages and desserts available here
  • Bubble tea
    • Allegedly invented by the store Chun Shui Tang (春水堂), which has a few locations
    • Really good taro (made from fresh taro!) and milk tea options at Cha For Tea, a sub-brand of the very popular Ten Ren
  • Shaved ice
    • My favourite is at night markets when they let you pick your own toppings (buffet style) and then they shave ice and pour some sugar water on top (you can ask for half sweet/etc.)
    • There are many stores around the city known for shaved ice (especially mango shaved ice) and a quick search will reveal lots of hits (I’ve been to one mango place near Yong Kang Street and it’s fine…hyped, but you get what you expect, which is better than I can say for some places)
  • Stinky tofu
    • Very subjective but if you’re interested, night market stalls are the way to go (and definitely fried, not boiled)

Night Markets

  • Shih Lin
    • Very touristy, a bit of a far trek by subway, but lots of food options (most are actually indoors now, and this can get stuffy in the warm weather but probably a plus in colder weather)
  • Yong An
    • Smaller but filled with food stalls and a few stores here and there, by far my favourite because it’s near where my mom grew up and feels very local (short cab or subway ride from downtown Taipei)
  • Most of them are about the same, so I’d say go for convenience of location rather than any other factors

Culture

  • Jiufen, the inspiration for Spirited Away
    • Perfect for a day trip, book a tour with a driver and guide or join a larger group – also check out the oceanside, Yin Yang Ocean and the old mining towns by the coast
  • Dan Shui, oceanside historic area
    • Accessible by subway, features small food vendors and oceanside walks, as well as old military forts that you can tour
  • Hua Shan 1914 Creative Park
    • Right in the city, anchored by a huge Eslite store (one of the major bookstore chains) with lots of cute cafes, restaurants (more western style) and an outdoor park with art
  • National Palace Museum
    • Contains many of the jewels that China didn’t manage to hold onto
  • EP Books
    • A library-style cafe where you pay about USD$3 to go in, and can then enjoy unlimited coffee/tea/water and peruse all of their books (which are not for sale) for as long as you want! Sometimes they have live musicians here too. Overall has an amazing atmosphere and is great value for your money

Nature

  • Nantou Hot Springs
    • Accessible by subway, popular day trip (I’ve never been personally)
  • Yang Min Shan Hot Springs
    • Day trip distance from Taipei but can be nice to stay a night here, lots of hotels with hot springs baths and in-room bath options too
  • Elephant Mountain
    • Accessible by subway, hikeable in a few hours (I’ve never been personally)
  • Mao Kong Gondola + Taipei Zoo
    • Gondolas are not too pricey and you can get a day pass for the subway that includes gondola access (or you can just tap into the gondola with your subway card); some gondolas have glass floors (if you’re interested in taking this one, make sure you wait in the glass floor gondola line)
    • Taipei Zoo is right next to it – I’ve never been before but animals live there (I think)

Shopping

  • Miramar (ferris wheel)
    • Department store with ferris wheel on top of it, near the National Palace Museum
    • Great place to enjoy the basin that Taipei sits in (as in, from this vantage point it’s very clear that Taipei sits in a basin surrounded by lush green mountains)
  • Eslite near Taipei 101
    • Massive bookstore with housewares and electronics, featuring a few cafes
    • Can definitely spend hours in here on end
  • Taipei 101
    • Observation deck at a high floor, don’t go if the day is smoggy
    • There is allegedly a Starbucks near the observation deck that you can get to for free but it requires making a phone reservation in advance
    • There is a very upscale and nice mall downstairs in the building, including a Din Tai Fung
  • Yong Kang area
    • Lots of shopping, restaurants, and other stall food around here, frequented by students, locals, and tourists – good mix!
  • Wu Fen Pu
    • Discount shopping in stalls (very run-down, no trying on clothes, haggling is definitely permitted, etc.)