Planning a quick trip to Taipei as part of a Taiwan tour? We’d always recommend spending as much time as possible in Taipei but you can see a LOT of the city and surrounding areas with our 3 day Taipei itinerary.
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Featuring several Taipei night markets, sublime hot springs and possibly some shopping, we also provide a few different day trip options out of Taipei, to see numerous natural wonders like waterfalls and the famous lantern release on the railway line in Shifen.
From Taipei temples to the tastiest street in Taiwan plus tips on transport, here is our 3 day Taipei itinerary with photos.
This article was originally published on 7 August 2024.
You might like – First time visitors guide to Taipei and Taiwan >
Taipei Accommodation
Ximen Wow Hostel
Excellent hostel located in the middle of the popular Ximending district. Check rates and availability on agoda.com
Mid-Range ($$)
citizenM Taipei North Gate
Highly rated modern hotel located close to both Taipei Main Station and the Ximending neighbourhood. Check rates and availability on booking.com or agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Grand Hyatt Taipei
5 star elegant hotel located in the heart of the Xinyi district. Facilities include an outdoor pool, spa, a sauna and fitness centre. Check rates and availability on booking.com or agoda.com
Check out the best hotels in Taipei via booking.com, agoda.com or our Ximending hotel guide.
If you’re on a very short Taipei layover or have an early flight the next day, you may want to stay close to the airport. Here is our guide to the best hotels near Taoyuan Airport >
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Group!
Need help with your Taiwan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to the most fun and fastest growing Taiwan Facebook group with 95k+ members and ask the experts!
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Arriving in Taiwan – Taipei Airport MRT to Taipei
First things first – you’ll likely be arriving into Taipei at Taoyuan International Airport.
Before you arrive, check out these Taiwan travel apps plus make sure you’ve completed your Taiwan online arrival card. Alternatively, fill it out on your phone when you arrive at the airport before you go to Immigration. Here is our step-by-step guide to the online arrival card >
And if you are visiting Taipei before 30 June 2025, make sure you register to take part in the free Lucky Land draw, whereby you can win up to NT$5,000 in prizes and accommodation vouchers.
Amazingly, Taiwan airport has one of the cheapest airport trains in the world – the Taoyuan Airport MRT, costing just NT$160 (around £3.75 or $4.80 USD) to go from the airport to Taipei City (arriving at Taipei Main Station).
Trains from Taipei airport to the city take around 35 minutes to 50 minutes – be sure to buy an EasyCard (the Taiwan cashless transport and spending card) at the airport or in advance via Klook. You can now also use your international debit card at the Taoyuan airport MRT gates.
Check out our guide to using and topping up EasyCards in Taiwan >
Trains to Taipei city depart regularly. The first train from Taipei Airport leaves Terminal 2 at 5.57am and Terminal 1 at 5.59am.
The last train from Taipei Airport terminal 2 to Taipei City leaves at 11.33pm, and from Taipei airport terminal 1 at 11.36pm.
From fares to train times plus how to purchase an airport EasyCard, here is our full guide to getting Taoyuan Taipei Airport to Taipei city with photos >
Taiwanderers Tip
Be sure to use Google Maps or the official Go! Taipei Metro app to see which is the quickest and best route for you when traveling in Taipei.
You might like – 40 cool and cute EasyCard designs in Taiwan >
3 day itinerary in Taipei
Where to start? This Taipei 3 day itinerary can be tackled in any order, depending on when you arrive.
So if you get into the city mid-afternoon, you can start at the middle of the list and then do the earlier parts the next morning.
Planning on staying for just a day? Check out out 1 day Taipei highlights itinerary. Staying longer? Check out our 15+ best day trips from Taipei guide.
If you have less than 24 hours or just a few spare hours in transit, check out guide to the Taoyuan Taipei Airport free half day tours.
Day 1 (3 Day Taipei Itinerary)
10am – Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taipei, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is free to visit with a museum on the lower levels.
Please note that as of July 2024, the famous changing of the guard ceremony inside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial has now stopped and is performed twice a day outside at Democracy Boulevard.
The building is a national Taiwan monument and built in the memory of former President Chiang Kai-shek – the grounds are extensive and also one of the best places to spot cherry blossoms in Taipei in the spring months.
Next up, take a 12 minute walk from Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to Rongjin Gorgeous Time.
11:30am – Rongjin Gorgeous Time
Taipei’s historic hipster hangout, Rongjin Gorgeous Time is not only a cute name but a sublime street mall in Taipei that is full of cool cafes, decadent dessert shops plus a handful of gift stores.
Opened in late 2022 and located on the site of a former prison built in the early 1900s during the Japanese colonial period, Taipei’s Rongjin Gorgeous Time’s Japanese style buildings have quickly become one of Taipei’s best hipster hangouts and characterful creative districts.
Popular with shoppers and coffee connoisseurs, the architecture and Japanese influences here make this a popular Instagram posing place.
From craft beer bars to beetle ice-cream cones, wonderful waffles to the best bakeries, here is our ultimate guide to Rongjin Gorgeous Time in Taipei, Taiwan (with photos) >
Maybe just grab a snack or coffee at Rongjin Gorgeous Time as you’ll likely want to save some stomach space for the next part of our Taipei 1 day itinerary…
12:30pm – Yongkang Street
Take a short 7 minute stroll from Rongjin Gorgeous Time to Yongkang Street, Taipei’s tastiest district.
Yongkang Street is one of the yummiest things to do in Taiwan, packed full of cool cafes, decadent desserts and oodles of noodle shops and delicious dumplings.
It is also a good way to eat lots of local foods if you only have 3 days in Taipei.
From the terrific Tian Jin Scallion Flaky Pancakes (a personal favorite) to xiao long bao soup dumplings and beef noodle soup, there is something to suit all tastes (and budgets) along Yongkang Street – and don’t forget tofu pudding for dessert!
One of Taipei’s top food destinations, here is our ultimate guide to the things to do along Yongkang Street, Taipei >
2pm – Daan Park
Hopefully by now you ate some delicious food along Yongkang Street – so time to explore Daan Park, a 7 minute walk from Yongkang Street and one of Taipei’s biggest urban parks.
A green oasis in a very busy city, Daan Forest Park in Taipei is a sprawling open space popular with families and walkers. Given its inner city location, you’d be surprised by the sheer number of wildlife and birds that live here.
Sprawling over 60 acres, it has an outdoor auditorium, numerous fitness facilities and running tracks plus lots of flora and fauna including an eco-pond. Daan Park is also one of the best free things to do in Taipei and great for families.
Check out our full Daan Park guide here >
Bonus Activity – Jianguo Jade Market (weekends only)
If you happen to be doing your 1 day itinerary in Taipei on a weekend, Daan Park is right next to the Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market, open from 9am to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday.
A ‘gem’ of a Taipei weekend market, Jianguo Jade Market takes place below a bustling underpass and the flower market is full of color, featuring beautiful flowers to gorgeous jewelry like green jade necklaces (plus lots of locals with cute dogs in prams)!
Read our Taiwanderers guide to the market here >
3pm – Taipei 101 / Simple Kaffa Sola
Next up, time to head over to Taipei’s Xinyi District to visit Taipei’s most famous landmark, the Taipei 101 tower. Depending on the time of year, your mid afternoon trip might even coincide with sunset.
Xinyi is also Taipei’s central business and financial district with so many Taipei shopping malls, if you are in need of any gifts or Taiwan souvenirs.
To get here, use your EasyCard and take the MRT 3 stops from Daan Park station to Taipei 101 World Trade Center MRT.
Taipei 101 is 508 metres high and has…you guessed it… 101 floors! Looking out across Taipei, the observation deck runs between floors 88 and 91, whilst there are two floors of high-up restaurants on floors 85 and 86.
Admission to Taipei 101 is around NT$600 which you can book online, but you can save money by enjoying a NT$240 coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola, Taiwan’s highest coffee shop located on the 88th floor of Taipei 101.
There is no ‘admission charge’ as such but there is a minimum spend. You have to buy food if you want to sit down in the comfy seated part of the cafe, but there is a standing area too / limited basic seating for just drinking coffee.
From the top of Taipei 101, you can see lots of city landmarks below including Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall plus the shiny new Taipei Dome where they play baseball between April and October – check out our Taiwan baseball ticket guide >
Check out our guide to visiting Simple Kaffa Sola in Taipei 101 >
You might like our 25+ things to do in Xinyi, Taipei guide >
Bonus day 1 itinerary tip
If you are feeling tired already and just want some beers and food with sunset views, check out the rooftop terrace at Hooters Xinyi, a short walk from Taipei 101.
It also has a (very) Happy Hour where drinks / beers are buy 1 get 1 every day until 6pm.
Another option if you fancy a mini hike – we’d highly recommend going to the Elephant Mountain trailhead to see Taipei 101 and the city lit up at night.
The views are amazing and the hike isn’t too bad if you have a general good level of fitness – enterprising locals also sell cool drinks and beers on the hiking trails half way up / down. Cheers!
Read more in our Elephant Mountain guide >
5.30pm – Raohe Night Market and Songshan Temple
From Xinyi district, take the MRT to Songshan MRT Station (or take a bus or taxi). Raohe Night Market is open daily from 5pm to 11pm and is one of the best (and tastiest) night markets in Taipei.
From the famous pork pepper buns and musical mushroom stall (truly a ‘fun-guy’!) to the fairground games, Raohe Night Market is one of the best things to do in Taipei at night.
There are hundreds of stalls to eat at but please do try the Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake / Fuzhou Pepper Buns at the front of the market as you arrive from Songshan MRT station.
Afterwards, check out Songshan Ciyou Temple, lit up at night and one of the most beautiful temples in all of Taipei. There are often evening ceremonies and chanting. It is an incredible place to walk around and there are several stalls selling religious blessings and random fortunes.
Check out our in-depth guide to Raohe Night Market and Songshan Ciyou Temple >
Another night market tip is Ningxia Night Market, located close to the one of Taiwan’s oldest neighborhoods, Dihua Street and Dadoacheng.
8pm onwards – Ximending Entertainment District
If you have any energy left after your first day in Taipei, finish your evening with a trip to Ximending. Head back to Songshan MRT Station and take the green line 7 stops to Ximen station.
Taipei’s best known night-time neighborhood and popular with tourists, Ximending is a must-visit when in Taipei at night.
From street performers to a small night market, late night shopping to tattoo street, Ximending is always fun to visit with plenty of bars hidden amongst the side alleys.
Watch the dancers, singers and performers in the heart of Ximending every night (free to watch but donations are appreciated) or just grab a seat in one of the upstairs restaurants and people-watch.
Some call it a tourist trap but it is never boring plus a great place for late night bites and neon nights – there are also many LGBTQ+ bars located behind The Red House.
Still thirsty for more? Check out our guide to the best Taipei craft beer bars including Taihu Brewing Driftwood Bar in Ximending.
If you want to stay out in Ximending in the evening we have some suggestions in our Ximending at night guide from Korean photo booths to karaoke.
And if you need some last minute Taiwan souvenirs or snacks, there are a few 24 hour stores in Ximending like Carrefour Guilin, a popular Taiwan supermarket, and in Don Don Donki Ximen (a Japanese discount store).
Day 2 (3 Day Taipei Itinerary)
9am – Morning in Beitou
For the second leg of this 3 day itinerary in Taipei, the morning begins with a trip to Beitou, famous for its natural hot springs and Thermal Valley.
To get to Beitou from Taipei, take the Taipei Metro (MRT) to the Beitou MRT Station on the red Tamsui-Xinyi Line.
Once at Beitou Station, change platforms and jump on the Xinbeitou Line one stop to Xinbeitou MRT Station.
Beitou is a nice way to escape the city with a beautiful backdrop of mountains, forest and natural hot springs and streams. Remember to bring your swimming costume / trunks and a towel if you are planning to join the locals in one of the pools.
Start your day exploring Beitou’s Thermal Valley, a free to visit natural wonder that bubbles with steam and smells very sulphuric – there are boardwalks all around and it is amazing to see the bubbling water in what locals refer to as Hell Valley.
Note that Beitou Thermal Valley is closed on Mondays.
Afterwards, go for a walk along the river and around Beitou Park – in the park, you’ll find one of Taipei’s most scenic libraries plus a Hot Spring Museum, which delves into the rich history of the area.
We’d also normally recommend going for a soak in the Beitou Public Hot Springs but please note it is closed in 2025 for major renovations so try these private hot springs instead.
We bathed at Beitou Public Hot Springs before it temporarily closed and it is quite fun to mix with the locals in natural hot-tubs. Admission is only NT$60 – bathing is mixed but you must bring your own swimming gear. Swimming caps are also required and lockers are available.
Alternatively, try the Spring City Resort in Beitou >
After a soak and / or bite to eat at Beitou Market, it is time to get on the train back to Taipei for your next destination, Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
Try this – Beitou and Yangmingshan day tour from Taipei or these Beitou tours
Afternoon – Huashan 1914 Creative Park
The closest MRT station to Huashan Creative 1914 Park is Zhongxiao Xinsheng (exit 1) – take the Blue or Orange MRT line. It is a 3 minute walk from the station. Alternatively, alight at Shandaoshi Station on the Blue MRT Line.
Taiwan’s best creative park (and most bustling), Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei is packed full of permanent and pop-up shops and exhibitions, street performers plus craft beer bars and restaurants.
A former wine factory, Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei’s Zhongzheng district is home to cute cafes, music theaters plus incredible crafts and unique souvenirs.
The historic site is also rather distinctive, with red brick buildings and warehouses all transformed into thriving business, a reminder of the previous industrial use.
The banyan trees and their long roots encased in the walls and old plum brewery buildings also make for very picturesque backdrops.
As well as shopping, you’ll find temporary exhibitions and in the past we’ve seen everything from Hello Kitty to Snoopy pop-ups – there is also a really cool Wooderful Life store where all the toys and souvenirs are made from wood.
Grab a coffee at the cool roastery ‘CHLIV Taipei Huashan’ or head next door to Vinyl Decision.
A coffee bar combined with a second hand vinyl LP / record store, Vinyl Decision is one of Taipei’s most unique coffee shops. You can easily spend a few hours here browsing second hand LPs, listening to tunes and supping coffee (or something stronger).
Read our full guide to Huashan 1914 Creative Park here >
P.S. If you like themed 7-Elevens, there is a Snoopy 7-Eleven complete with a Peanuts themed seating area 8 minutes walk away from Huashan 1914 Creative – check out our guide here >
4pm onwards – Dihua Street
Dihua Street is a 10 minute bus ride away from Huashan Creative Park. Alternatively take the MRT from nearby Shandao Temple station to Beimen station (blue Bannan line changing at Ximen station to the green Songshan-Xindian line). Dihua Street is a 13 minute walk from Beimen station.
The historic district of Dihua Street and Dadaocheng in Taipei is perhaps most famous for its amazing architecture, traditional Chinese medicine shops and Taipei Lunar New Year celebrations – however, in recent years, the area has welcomed an influx of coffee shops and craft beer bars.
A marvellous mix of new and traditional Taipei, the main Dihua Street and its opulent mansion houses were once Taipei’s most prosperous area, built up in the 1850s. It has real charm and character and is one of the most interesting Taipei neighborhoods to visit.
If you are arriving at Dihua Street at dusk, check out nearby Dadaocheng Wharf which has several riverside bars and pop-up restaurants in shipping containers.
Featuring historic markets and tranquil temples plus creative coffee shops, there are many things to do in Dihua Street and Dadaocheng which we’ve written about more here >
Incidentally, if you fancy a nice craft beer near Dihua Street, check out Mikkeller Taipei bar, which has over 20 craft beers on tap from all over the world and a nice upstairs seating area.
Prices are a bit expensive but it is a nice way to unwind or take a rest before heading over to Ningxia Night Market, your final destination today.
You might like our guide to the best brewery bars in Taipei >
Try this – Taipei pub crawl or Taipei nightlife tour
6pm or later – Ningxia Night Market
Once you’ve finished exploring Dihua Street, if you still have energy and enthusiasm for exploring, make the 1km / 10 minute walk over to Ningxia Night Market.
Ningxia Night Market is one of Taipei’s top night markets – open 7 nights a week with dozens of Taiwan street food stalls, carnival style games and long-established restaurants on either side, you are in for a fun, foodie night at Ningxia.
One of the best things to do in Taipei at night, Ningxia Night Market is a little more under the tourist radar than Shilin Night Market and Raohe Night Market. It is full of families, couples and friends (especially on the weekends) who like to feast and play fairground games.
Featuring delicious Taiwanese food and street food snacks like stinky tofu, fried ice-cream, oyster omelets, gua bao and grilled squid, be sure to arrive at Ningxia Night Market hungry.
Check out our guide to Ningxia Night Market (with more photos) >
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook. You can also purchase eSIMs from Airalo.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars.
Day 3 (3 Day Taipei Itinerary)
The final day of our 3 day Taipei itinerary – for your last day, we’d recommend taking a day trip out of Taipei and see some of Taiwan’s natural wonders.
The Taipei Metro system is really efficient and effective and all of these are quick trips away from Taipei by train or bus.
Shifen, Jiufen and Keelung
You can combine three of Taipei’s top day trips into one with a bit of careful planning.
Start your third day in Taipei by taking the train from either Taipei Main station or Songshan station to Ruifang station – then change to the Pingxi Line and alight at Shifen station.
Shifen is an old mining town that is now most famous for its lantern releases from its railway tracks.
Every day, thousands of people design their own lanterns, cover them in wishes and aspirations and then release them on the tracks. Every so often, everyone has to jump out of the way to let the trains go past – it is quite a spectacle.
There are lots of food stalls here including several Taiwan peanut ice-cream roll vendors. Shifen Waterfall is also truly spectacular (although having a food court right next to it is a bit odd).
Shifen Waterfall is free to visit and around a 20 minute walk from Shifen Old Street. Read more in our guide to Shifen Waterfall >
On the way to or from Shifen, we’d also recommend visiting Houtong Cat Village, where hundreds of moggies have taken up residence, kindly looked after by the residents.
It has gorgeous views plus lots of cat themed stores and cafes (the best is Hide and Seek cafe) – even Houtong Train Station has its own station cats plus a railway bridge in the shape of a feline.
From Shifen (or Houtong), take the train back to Ruifang – next up, Jiufen!
To get to Jiufen from Ruifang Station, exit the station, turn left and walk around 200 meters to the bus stop (located next to the police station named Local Residents Plaza 區民廣場).
Here you can take bus number 827 or 788 which both head towards Jiufen Old Street. The bus journey from Ruifang to Jiufen should take around 20 minutes and costs around 15 TWD each way – or get a taxi.
Exploring the mountain town of Jiufen in Taiwan (east of Taipei) feels a little like being in a fantasy movie.
With its historic narrow streets, packed full of beautiful tea-houses and street-food stalls, set amidst a backdrop of stunning coastal views, Jiufen almost feels unreal.
In fact, legend has it that Jiufen was the inspiration behind the setting for the classic animated Studio Ghibli movie, Spirited Away.
The best places to visit in Jiufen are Jiufen Old Street (lots of stalls and food vendors) and A Mei Tea House, a stunning 100 year old teahouse, adorned with lanterns – it is so pretty!
Keelung
Once you’ve finished in Jiufen, jump on the 788 bus from Jiufen Old Street to Keelung Bus Station (it takes around 50 minutes).
Keelung Night Market
There are lots of things to do in Keelung but depending on what time of day you arrive (likely early evening), you might just want to go to Keelung Night Market.
If you do arrive into Keelung for sunset, head straight to the brand new Keelung Tower for incredible views of the port and ocean. It is free admission and you can also walk to Zhongzheng Park from the top, home to the towering Keelung Guanyin / Goddess statue.
Keelung Night Market is the biggest in Northern Taiwan and has hundreds of stalls, open from 5pm to midnight daily.
As visited by such famous food shows such as Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix and the late, great Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover, Keelung Night Market is a fine foodie foray so make sure you arrive on an empty stomach!
It is one of the most iconic night markets (and most photographed in Taiwan), always busy and located close to Dianji Temple. Note the famous yellow lanterns associated with Keelung Night Market only light up Friday through Sunday.
For all the best foods to try at Keelung Night Market, check out our foodie guide >
Once you’ve eaten well, head back to Taipei by taking a train from nearby Keelung Train Station. And that is your full 3 day Taipei itinerary, unless you are looking for more ideas…
Try this – From Taipei: Yehliu, Jiufen, and Pingxi day tour >
Bonus 3 Day Itinerary Option – Wulai or Maokong
Wulai
For another easy day trip from Taipei (or if you’ve already been to Jiufen and Shifen), we’d recommend a visit to Wulai, a 45 minute bus ride from Taipei Xindian bus station.
Famous for its hot-springs, waterfall and beautiful countryside setting, Wulai District and Wulai Old Street is simply stunning, with green forests and turquoise rivers.
Explore the trails, grab the Wulai Scenic Train and cable car before enjoying some local Atayal aboriginal style food on Wulai Old Street – there are also a couple of museums along the way.
Wulai is perhaps best known for its thermal hot springs and there are several free outdoor hot springs or some more luxurious hotel spas to choose from.
Check out our full guide to Wulai here >
Maokong
Take the Gondola to Taipei’s Tea Fields! In fact, half the fun of getting to Maokong in the hills is getting there – soar up into the sky on the Maokong Gondola and look back towards Taipei.
Famous for its tea plantations, hillside temples and trails, Maokong is a fun place to explore for all ages – and when combined with Taipei Zoo (located next to the start of Maokong Gondola), it is one of the best things to do in Taipei with kids.
From the new 2025 Maokong gondola prices to where to enjoy Taiwanese tea for free, check out our guide to Maokong >
Huaxi Street Night Market (and other nearby markets)
After Wulai or Maokong, visit Longshan Temple back in Taipei to hear one of its incredible chanting ceremonies then grab some food at nearby Huaxi Night Market which is open daily from 4pm to midnight.
When we first heard this was also known as ‘Snake Alley’, we were a little bit worried but this is merely a titular throwback to the more sultry side of the area years ago (a former red light zone) before it was gentrified and began to welcome tourists.
The Huaxi Street Night Market now has lots of local family run restaurants under a covered canopy.
We’ve also been on a food tour of the Huaxi Street Night Market / Monga Night Market area with TourMeAway – check out our video below and check out the tour on Klook >
Make a bee-line to Wang’s Broth on Huaxi Street for some Taiwanese chopped braised pork belly over rice, with cabbage and bamboo shoots. This was another featured restaurant on the Netflix Somebody Feed Phil episode.
We were also blown away by the aging arcades where groups of old men were competitively playing Tetris on the street.
If you are visiting Huaxi Night Market, then also check out some of the other nearby street markets including Guangzhou Street night market, Monga night market and Xichang street night market.
3 day Taipei itinerary – other day trips from Taipei
You are spoilt for choice in terms of day trips from Taipei – some of the best day trips include:
- Taipei: Jiufen night view and Shifen day tour >
- From Taipei: Nantou and Sun Moon Lake view and tribe tour >
- Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin Tea Plantation from Taipei >
- Taichung day trip from Taipei >
- Shiding Tea Township half-day tour from Taipei >
- From Taipei: Taroko Gorge day tour by train >
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