5 Day Taipei Itinerary – Free Guide 2026

Tempted to take a Taipei vacation or start here as part of a Taiwan tour? We’d always recommend spending as much time as possible in and around Taipei, especially given there are lots of Taipei day trips too.

To maximise your time, we’ve used our Taiwanderers experience to put together a perfect 5 day Taipei itinerary.

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 free 5 day Taipei itinerary with photos.

Taiwan checklist

We love using agoda.com (use the code TAIWANDERERS for a discount), expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels.

For booking tours, transfers and buying SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Klook, Get Your Guide, Viator or KK Day.

For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >

Find safe storage spaces across Taiwan with Bounce (and get 5% discount).

For more recommendations, check out our Taiwan travel booking resources page >

All set for Taiwan? Do one final check with our Taipei first timers guide and our packing list guide. Travelling with kids? Check out our Taipei For Kids eBook >

Where to stay in Taipei

Which neighborhood or area should you stay in when visiting Taipei? Taiwan’s biggest city Taipei is popular with tourists and is often the arrival point for most first-timers in Taiwan.

With late night entertainment centers like Ximending, historic districts like Dadaocheng and Dihua Street, there are many Taipei neighborhoods to choose from.

Check out our Taipei neighborhoods guide >

We also have several Taipei hotel guides including the best Ximending hotels, Taipei Main Station hotels plus our guide to the best Taipei luxury hotels we’ve personally stayed in.

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 phone 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 >

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.

Here is our full guide to getting Taoyuan Taipei Airport to Taipei city with photos >

Check out our guide to using and topping up EasyCards in Taiwan >

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.

5 day itinerary in Taipei vs shorter trip

Where to start? This Taipei 5 day itinerary can be tackled in any order, depending on when you arrive or the weather.

We think 5 days is a good amount of time to explore Taipei – and hopefully you have more free days to explore other areas like Alishan, Tainan, Sun Moon Lake and Kaohsiung – check out all our Taiwan destination guides here.

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 our 1 day Taipei highlights itinerary.

Alternatively, we have a 3 day best of Taipei itinerary >

Staying longer? Check out our 20 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.

Since 2024, the famous changing of the guard ceremony inside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial has now stopped and is now performed hourly outside the memorial hall from 9am to 5pm.

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.

Once you’ve explored the grounds, there are several cafes and restaurants inside to grab some food (including the vegetarian restaurant Agarwood).

Next up, take a 12 minute walk from Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to Rongjin Gorgeous Time, – or if you want to try some traditional Taiwanese xiao long bao, try a quick trip to Hang Zhou Xiao Long Bao 杭州小籠湯包, 5 minutes walk away (map) and bypass Rongjin.

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.

As our next stop is a Taipei foodie paradise, maybe just grab a snack or coffee at Rongjin Gorgeous Time – one of Taipei’s hottest new coffee shops, Alchemist Da’an (map) has also just opened up in a historic home. opened in March 2026, it is the third Alchemist Taiwan branch.

If you don’t fancy visiting Rongjin Gorgeous Time, then head straight to Yongkang Street and beat the massive lunchtime queues for a Din Tai Fung brunch.

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.

From the terrific Tian Jin Scallion Flaky Pancakes (map) 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 or try other tasty Taiwanese foods.

If you want to try the famous Taiwan beef noodles, make time for Yongkang Beef Noodles (map) with melt in the mouth beef and often visited by famous food writers like the late great Anthony Bourdain (RIP). Or grab some takeaway dumplings from Din Tai Fung (map) and eat them in Yongkang Park.

One of Taipei’s top food destinations, here is our ultimate guide to the things to do along Yongkang Street, Taipei >

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 >

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 >

Elephant Mountain (also known as “Xiangshan” in Mandarin) is one of the best free things to do in Taipei, with several incredible viewpoints within walking distance of Xiangshan MRT Metro station.

Although steep, these several short Elephant Mountain (map) viewpoints all offer stunning views of Taipei and its cityscape, including Taipei 101 and the Xinyi District.

We’d class ourselves as average fitness and it took us exactly 15 minutes from the start of the Xiangshan Hiking Trail to the first proper viewpoint without any stops.

If you can, try to combine your Elephant Mountain hike with sunset – see our sunset and night-time photos and our Xiagshan hiking guide here >

As it is your first night, you could treat yourself to A Joy (map), a premium buffet located on the 86th floor of the Taipei 101 skyscraper. We ate there on our latest 2026 Taiwan trip and it was so good! The evening dinner session starts at 6pm and lasts 3.5 hours so there is plenty of time to eat and drink, even if you arrive a little late.

A Joy opened in July 2023 and has quickly become one of the most sought after luxury dining experiences in Taiwan. Their huge buffet includes premium dishes including lobster, king crab, oysters and A5 Wagyu beef, plus cocktails.

A Joy usually books up weeks in advance so make your reservations early on Klook here >

Other Xinyi dinner options that we enjoy and would recommend include:

• Din Tai Fung, famous for their xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) – there are two DTFs in Xinyi.
• YEN Chinese restaurant and Bar at the W Taipei hotel (map), one of our best ever Taipei dining experiences especially the duck. The YEN cocktail bar also has tables directly looking out over Taipei 101. Read our W Taipei review here >
• Hooters Xinyi (map)- yes, we know what you are thinking but the outdoor terrace is one of the best places for drinks with Taipei 101 views. Read our Hooters in Xinyi guide >
• The Taipei Grand Hyatt Cafe Buffet (map) – we include it in our best Taipei buffets guide.
• Grab some budget bites at one of the mall food courts including the 美食Food Court beneath Taipei 101

Finish the night at a Xinyi craft beer like Flow Brewing Beer Taproom 心流釀造 (map), BeerGeek (map) or Zhangmen Brewing (map). Alternatively, head to Xinyi’s famous bar street at ATT 4 FUN 戶外廣場 / JOIN HI PLAZA (map).

*You could also do the TourMeAway breakfast tour which goes around various local eateries. Check out our photos in our Taiwan Travel Tips Facebook group, and book on Klook (discount code CKTRAVELS) or book directly with TourMeAway (use our discount code TAIWANDERERS to get up to 15% off).

The area is perhaps most famous for its amazing architecture, traditional Chinese medicine shops and Lunar New Year celebrations – however, in recent years, the area has welcomed an influx of coffee shops and hipster hangouts

A marvelous 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.

Featuring historic markets and temple food courts, there are many things to do in Dihua Street, plus it is one of the best places to buy gifts in Taipei with a wide range of Taiwan souvenirs.

Read our Dihua Street and Dadaocheng guide >

One of Taipei’s best known neighbourhoods and popular with tourists, Ximending is a must-visit, especially for shopping.

You absolutely must visit the Wannian Building (map) for cool collectibles, Taipei geek gifts plus traditional Taiwanese dining in the basement including Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles 老山東牛肉麵 (map) or King Pork Wan Nian Store 金園排骨萬年店 (map).

From street performers to street food stalls (like crispy milk donuts), retail therapy to tattoo street, Ximending is always fun to visit with plenty of bars and cafes hidden amongst the side alleys.

Check out our things to do in Ximending guide or our where to eat in Ximending guide.

Ximending’s Red House now hosts cultural performances, a theatre, plus a fantastic two storey independent retail emporium, chock full of unique and one-off designs by local artists.

The stalls at the Red House change every few months to keep it fresh, plus during Lunar New Year in Taipei, it is home to lion dances and many celebrations.

Whilst shopping heaven in the daytime, Red House reinvents itself at night with an array of LBGTQ+ bars opening in the courtyard. Check out our Taipei LGBTQ+ guide >

From crafts to clothing, bars to brownies, here is our ultimate guide to Red House Taipei >

From Ximen station, take the Taipei MRT Blue Line (Bannan Line) one stop to Longshan Temple MRT station – or you can walk it quite easily too.

Whilst not always serene (it attracts huge crowds of tourists and worshippers), it is certainly one of the most beautiful temples in the city.

With the original Longshan temple site dating back to the Qing Dynasty in the late 1730s, the shrine has been rebuilt several times over the years, most recently after the aftermath of WWII bombing in 1945.

If you plan to visit Longshan Temple be sure to try and coincide your visit with one of the three chanting ceremonies held daily (the afternoon session is usually between 3.45pm and 5pm) – it is one of the most memorable and inspiring things to do in Taipei.

Find out more about Longshan Temple >

Learn more about the rich history of Wenhua at the Bopiliao Historical Block (map) or eat well at several famous Taipei night markets like Huaxi (map) and Monga (map)- we really enjoyed the braised pork rice at Wang’s Broth too (map).

Explore and eat your way around the area’s night markets which we talk about in more detail in our Wanhua area guide >

Alternatively, there is a TourMeAway night market tour at 7.30pm where you eat at several local night market stalls and restaurants (including Wang’s Broth and some very stinky tofu).

You can book the tour on Klook (use our code CKTRAVELS for a discount when spending over $50 USD), or you can book directly on the TourMeAway website (use our code TAIWANDERERS to get up to 15% off). Watch our video of the food tour below.

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You can also walk back to Ximending after for more night-time entertainment or shopping – check out our Ximending at night guide >

Note some Beitou attractions like the Hot Spring Museum (map) and Thermal Valley (map) are closed on Mondays so maybe change the days around if you need to.

To get to Beitou from Taipei, take the Taipei Metro (MRT) to 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.

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 recommend going for a soak in the Beitou Public Hot Springs (temporarily closed) or try private hot springs instead like The Gaia Beitou (map), which we stayed at in Spring 2026. Read our review here >

A short bus ride away from Beitou, you can escape the crowds and visit Sulfur Valley.

You might like our things to do in Beitou guide >

Yangminshan is easily one of the top 5 day-trips from Taipei although to see some of the further points, you may want to invest in a private driver for the afternoon.

We last visited Yangmingshan National Park in spring 2026 and our highlights have to be the Xiaoyoukeng geothermal area (map), Qingtiangang Grasslands (map), Sulfur Valley (map) and Bamboo Lake (map) – the Flower Clock is a bit meh.

A great place to explore the great outdoors with hikes for all abilities, Yangmingshan is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Taipei city…but then be back there in time for dinner!

Tamsui is a historic port and riverside city- its scenic setting, numerous food stalls and restaurants plus easy access to and from Taipei make it a popular day-trip for local families and couples (along with neighboring Bali).

Tamsui has seen much change over the centuries with many European and Japanese influences. There are several grand old buildings to explore from Fort San Domingo (map) to the Tamsui Customs Officers’ Residence (map). You can also take the boat to Fisherman’s Wharf (map), Lover’s Bridge (map) or Bali (map)and see some epic sunsets.

There are many things to do (and eat) in Tamsui so stay here for the evening or head back into the city and enjoy Shilin Night Market.

More things to do in Tamsui >

If you would prefer to end with a relaxing afternoon in Beitou’s hot springs instead of visiting in the morning, you could go to Beitou in the afternoon, and visit Tamsui or Yangmingshan National Park beforehand.

One of the busiest and biggest Taipei night markets, Shilin Night Market (map) sometimes gets a bad rep but we think it is still worthy of your time with so many Taiwanese food choices and local restaurants.

Yes, it is popular with tourists but hey, so are other night markets and as well as some fine food stalls, it has lots of fun carnival style games and a beautiful temple lit up at night. It is also home to numerous garment, gadget and gachapon stalls.

Recently, the Shilin Market underground food court reopened and we revisited in early 2026 to check it out. It has tasty food, air-conditioned and ice cold Taiwan beer – nice!

Check out our Shilin Night Market guide >

Or try one of these top Taipei night markets >

You can access the upper floors for the best views in the city, whether it be the observation deck and outer walkway – or save some money by visiting the cheaper Simple Kaffa Sola cafe (map) on the 88th floor.

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. Taiwan’s fastest elevator soars up incredibly quick at a speed of up to 1,010m per minute (and yep, your ears might pop).

Admission to Taipei 101 is quite steep (like the tower really), but very much worth it. We found it took a LONG time to exit on our last visit so bear that in mind if you have any plans afterwards.

Skip the line and book your Taipei 101 observation deck ticket >

It was recently named as one of the top 5 tourist attractions in Taipei with over 10 million visitors in 2024.

Songshan Cultural Park has lots of exquisite craft and jewelry stores so if you are looking for a Taipei shopping experience with lots of unique souvenirs, this is it!

Songshan Cultural park also houses the Taiwan Design Museum (complete with a gorgeous gift shop) and also has a small lake and seating area which is pleasant in the summer months.

Many of the old tobacco old buildings have been transformed into industrial chic cafes like the Cama Coffee Roastery so you can reward yourself after all that shopping.

Read more in our guide to Songshan Cultural Park >

Please note the Maokong Gondola is closed on Mondays for general maintenance except for national holidays and the first Monday of every month.

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.

Here is our guide to Maokong and the Maokong Gondola >

Day 4 Evening

There are several recommended sunset restaurants in Maokong like Shiao Mu Wu (map), Longmen (map), LAX (map) or Long Tea Pot (map) – or you can take the gondola back down and head to a night market or restaurant in the city.

Some evening dinner suggestions in Taipei

• Best Taipei buffets >
• Best vegetarian restaurants >
• Best Taipei night markets >
• Taiwan chain restaurants guide >

Day 5 Taipei Itinerary

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.

Just a short train ride or bus trip away from Taipei, Jiufen is one of the best day trips from Taipei and can easily be combined with a trip along the world famous Pingxi Line including Houtong Cat Village and Shifen Waterfall.

Check out our things to do in Jiufen guide for more details of how to get there and what to do there >

Alternatively, there are lots of inexpensive day trip packages on Klook that combine Jiufen, Shifen and sometimes Yehliu Geopark – check them out here >

Head to Houtong Cat Village (map), the ‘purrfect’ Pingxi Line place to visit with many cats, plus feline themed cafes and gift shops – or just release a lantern in Shifen (map) and see nearby Shifen Waterfall (map), Taiwan’s most famous falls that cascade down a 20 meter drop, surrounded by forests and easy trails.

Your trip along the Pingxi rail line will likely start (and end) in a town called Ruifang (map), which is easy to reach from nearby Jiufen.

To get to Ruifang train station from Jiufen you can take a taxi or local bus (both around 10 minutes).

For more things to do along the Pingxi Line and a step by step to trains and pass costs, check out our Pingxi Line guide here >

If you are getting the train back from the Pingxi Line, you can head to Songshan TRA station (map) from either Ruifang station or Houtong station (both along the Pingxi line). The journey takes 30 minutes for express trains or 50 minutes for local trains. You can then walk the short distance to Raohe Night Market.

In the shadow of Songshan Ciyou Temple (which also lights up in the evenings), Raohe Night Market is full of fine foodie finds and tasty Taiwanese tidbits.

Famous for its famous Fuzhou pork pepper buns (and justifiably so – they are amazing), Raohe Night Market gets very busy, very fast so head there before 6pm if you want to avoid big crowds.

There is so much to eat and drink at Raohe Night Market and highlights include the stall where the guy plays Celine Dion songs very loudly as he chops up grilled king oyster mushrooms.

Raohe Night Market in Taipei is open every evening from 5pm until around 11pm. Read our Raohe Night Market guide or try this Raohe Night tour with Din Tai Fung dinner.

We hope you have a fantastic time in Taipei. Check out all our other Taiwan itinerary suggestions here including itineraries for Kaohsiung, Sun Moon Lake and Alishan.

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