We love Taipei! From themed 7-Elevens to Taipei 101 and its cafes with altitude, there are so many things to do in Taipei.
You can shop ‘til you drop in dozens of malls and Taipei shopping districts or visit beautiful temples like Longshan – the Taipei night market scene is also truly tasty, best rounded off with an evening in Ximending.
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From fabulous food recommendations to several short day trips from Taipei, we’ve got you covered with tons of Taipei activities (including some rather weird and wonderful Taipei attractions) like toilet themed restaurants or even get ‘buzzed’ at Airplane Alley.
We also have lots of Taipei family recommendations from the Sanrio themed train to Taipei Zoo and a capybara cafe.
This is our guide to the 65 best things to do in Taipei for 2025 + photos.
You might like – Our first timers guide to Taipei including the best Taiwan travel apps
Getting around Taipei
Taipei has one of the best transport infrastructures in the world – even the Taipei Airport MRT to Taipei city is so easy to use and very cheap at NT$160 one way.
Both the bus network and subway / metro network in Taipei is efficient and inexpensive. If possible, we’d recommend getting a Taipei hotel within walking distance of a metro / MRT station so you have easy access to other parts of the city.
A travel essential for anyone visiting Taiwan for the first-time, EasyCards are so simple to buy and top up. They can be used on public transport, in convenience stores like 7-Eleven, in taxis and more.
You might like – Our 1 day Taipei itinerary or 3 day Taipei itinerary guides
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.
Things to do in Taipei
1. Themed 7-Elevens in Taipei
The world is never short of 7-Eleven convenience stores but did you know there are over 100 themed 7-Elevens all over Taiwan, most of which are in Taipei?
Kids and cartoon fans will love the cute themed 7-Eleven stores including the Hello Kitty 7-Elevens, the Sumikko Gurashi 7-Eleven or Taiwan’s most famous blue cat; Bugcat Capoo.
If you are more of a dog person, go (Pea)-nuts about the Snoopy 7-Eleven stores (one even has a super cool Snoopy themed seating area complete with a school bus and huge plushies).
Check out our guide to over 20 themed Taiwan 7-Elevens in Taipei here >
2. Taipei 101
Yes, this is a predictable inclusion so early on in our ‘best things to do in Taipei’ list but it is Taiwan’s most iconic building. Once the world’s tallest, Taipei 101 is 508 metres high and has…you guessed it… 101 floors.
For the best views in the city, you must visit on your Taipei trip whether it be the more expensive observation deck and outer walkway or the much (much) cheaper Simple Kaffa Sola on the 88th floor – more on this later.
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 >
3. Taipei manhole spotting
The streets of Taipei are adorned with colorful Taiwanese manhole covers – from cherry blossom manholes in Shilin to classic Taipei 101 manhole cover designs, there are 24 different Taipei Taiwan manhole cover designs spread across a dozen Taipei city districts.
For the last five years, Taipei’s Hydraulic Engineering Office (HEO) has been installing creative and colorful manhole covers around the city, working with local artists to create beautiful painted manhole covers.
So how to locate these Taipei manhole covers? There is this handy manhole map which you can use to find them all >
We used the Taipei manhole map to spot lots of cute manhole cover designs around the city including the cherry blossom manholes, the beautiful bird manholes in and around Shilin plus some fantastic fish manhole cover designs near Da’an Park and Yongkang Street.
Read about more colourful Taipei manholes we spotted here >
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 80k+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
4. Ximending Entertainment District
Taipei’s best known night-time neighbourhood 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.
Read more about Ximending at night in our guide >
5. Huashan 1914 Creative Park – the best place for pop-up shops in Taipei
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 food and drink places.
If you are looking for cute and Kawaii pop-up shops in Taipei, in recent months Huashan 1914 Creative Park has hosted everything from Hello Kitty shops to Snoopy pop-up stores, Chiikawa to Line Friends.
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 like Wooderful Life wooden toys – read our full Huashan 1914 guide here >
6. Dihua Street
The historic district of Dihua Street and Dadaocheng in Taipei 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 craft beer bars.
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.
7. Taiwan Sanrio Train / Formosa Express
The Sanrio Train has arrived in Taiwan! Launched in January 2025 and replacing the previous Taiwan Disney train, the first Sanrio themed train loops Taiwan four days a week between Taipei, Hualien, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Chiayi plus many other stops.
With eight Sanrio character themed carriages (including a karaoke car!) plus drinks, activities and food included (plus beer for the adults, this is one of the best value ways to get around Taiwan with lots of Sanrio-themed fun along the way.
From a Kuromi carriage to My Melody, Pompompurin to Cinnamoroll and Hangyodon, many of your children’s favourite characters feature on the Taiwan Sanrio train. We’d rate this as one of the best children’s activities in Taiwan and a fun (but slower) alternative to the HSR.
Read our Taiwan Sanrio train guide and book the Sanrio train with Klook >
8. 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 1 day 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 >
9. Taipei Airplane Alley
‘Take off’ with the family to Taipei’s Airport Alley to get VERY close to airplanes landing at Songshan Airport.
Free to visit and one of more unique attractions in Taipei, Airport Alley attracts plane spotters, curious families and locals to witness the spectacle of planes landing just metres away – and wow, is it loud! You can also feel the thrusts of air as large aircraft take off.
From how to track when planes are landing to how to get to Songshan Airport in Taipei (plus a viewing deck at Songshan Airport itself), read our guide to visiting Airplane Alley in Taipei >
10. 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 mushroom stall where the guy plays Celine Dion songs very loudly as he chops up the 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 >
11. Buy a striped Taiwan market / shopping bag (“Ga Ji Dai”)
You will see these red, green, white and blue striped shopping ‘Gaji’ bags all over Taiwan, used to carry goods by locals and tourists.
Sometimes referred to as a “Grandma Bag”, the iconic striped Taiwan tote bag 茄芷袋 has become something of fashion item these days and a top Taiwan souvenir – very light to carry back home too!
Locals also often jokingly call them the ‘Taiwan LV’ bag (like Louis Vuitton but much MUCH cheaper).
Amazingly, they are so iconic, we’ve also seen Taiwan striped shopping bags in EasyCard form, plus jewellery, socks and other market bag merchandise.
Read more in our guide to Taiwan’s striped shopping bag >
12. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
This former tobacco factory has been transformed into a huge complex full of cool craft shops, gorgeous gift shops plus regular pop-up exhibitions. 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 >
13. Fly high to Maokong
An easy day trip from Taipei city on the MRT, 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, here is our guide to Maokong and the Maokong Gondola >
14. Try Taipei’s best beef noodles
One of Taiwan’s most famous dishes, there are many fine beef noodle soup shops in Taipei – but which are the best beef noodles?
Hidden away in a back alley of Zhongzheng District near Taipei Main Station, Liu Shandong Beef Noodles 劉山東牛肉麵 is surely a contender. It has been around since the 1950s and for our money and taste, is the best beef noodle soup in Taipei (possibly Taiwan).
These days, locals and tourists come from miles around to eat at Liu Shandong Beef Noodles and a large queue often forms outside the shop for most of the day.
Closer to Ximending, we also love Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles in the basement of the Wannian Building, plus the nearby Fuhong Beef Noodle Restaurant.
Read our Liu Shandong Beef Noodles guide (we guarantee it will make you hungry) >
15. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall / Changing of the Guard
Easily one of the most popular things to do in Taipei, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is free to visit with a museum on the lower levels.
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.
Please note that in 2025, 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, read our Taipei changing of the guards guide >
Once you’ve explored the grounds, there are several cafes and restaurants inside to grab some food (including the vegetarian restaurant Agarwood).
16. Visit the world’s oldest cat cafe in Shilin
Taiwan’s first cat cafe (Kitten Coffee Garden) is one of the most ‘purr-fect’ things to do in Taipei – ‘fur’ real. It also holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest / first cat cafe that is still open today.
Opened in 1998 and currently located in Shilin, Taipei’s Kitten Coffee Garden (also known as ‘Cafe Cats and Dogs’) is a cute coffee shop home to 13 cute cats and two adorable dogs.
It feels very homely inside and it was nice to see the cafe’s cats and dogs sleeping, eating and playing together – try to time your visit with the cat feeding time too!
From admission / drink prices to how to get to the cafe, here is our guide to the world’s oldest cat cafe >
P.S. A branch of the famous Japanese cat cafe chain, Cafe Mocha Taipei branch has recently opened in the basement of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi Place A8.
17. Capybara Knight 水豚騎士, Taipei’s Capybara Cafe
Taipei’s first capybara cafe, Capybara Knight (水豚騎士) is a cute Taiwan animal cafe that takes its cuteness to another level. Located a little way out of downtown Taipei, Capybara Knight is one of the more unusual pet cafes in Taipei.
Hidden away in the back-streets of Tucheng District, Capybara Knight is home to Ba La the female capybara and Ga Bi (plus several rabbits, ducks and a cat – it is quite the menagerie!).
Compared to a lot of animal cafes in Taipei, Capybara Knight is actually quite inexpensive; a visit starts from NT$150 per person which includes 20 minutes feeding the capybaras, a drink and capybara pancake / taiyaki. It is highly recommended to book in advance.
Read our guide to visiting Capybara Knight cafe in Taipei here with more photos >
18. Thrift shopping or boutique stores in Zhongshan
Taipei’s trendiest district and hipster hangout, Zhongshan is the Taipei neighborhood for boutique shops and second-hand stores.
Every side-street in Zhongshan is packed with a treasure trove of thrift stores and fine fashion shops. At the weekends, thousands of trendsetters and ‘cool kids’ visit the flea markets or pop-up festivals along Zhongshan Linear Park.
For the best boutique shopping in Taipei, head to Zhongshan 6 Lane 20, section 2. Literally every other shop is a clothing store or skincare shop, with fantastic fashion shops like Tonya, Motherhouse, Air Space Lady, Lab22 and Hama Boutique.
Some of the best Taipei vintage shops in this neighborhood include Damn It! Vintage (hard to spot because of all the camouflage gear and houseplants out the front), Travis Vintage and Mana.
Check out out full Zhongshan District guide >
19. Go to a Taipei Baseball Game
Taipei baseball is a ‘big-hitter’ and one of the country’s most popular sports.
A fun night out in Taipei, make a home-run to a Taiwan baseball game – the Taiwan baseball season usually starts in late March until October, across two seasons.
Taiwan baseball is suitable for all ages and it is easy to buy baseball tickets online or in person at the baseball stadiums or using the Taiwan convenience store ticket machines in 7-Eleven and FamilyMart – many games are played at the new Taipei Dome in Xinyi.
The Taiwan baseball / CPBL games can usually be seen 6 days a week during baseball season – it is only Monday when there are no baseball games played (and the odd other day).
Enjoy the evening action on and off the field as the stands often erupt into cheers with entertainment and dancing also quite common.
Check out our guide to getting Taipei baseball tickets here >
20. Pokémon Center Taipei
If you are a collector, gamer or have kids, pop along to the new Pokémen Center in Xinyi, located in Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi Place A11, one of Taipei’s best shopping malls.
Taiwan’s biggest Pokémon Center in Taipei ( 寶可夢中心台北) is packed full of all your favorite Pokémon characters including exclusive Taiwan merchandise, trading card games, Pokémon Ga Ole machines plus Pokédex, Pokémon App Gallery and more.
From all the cute merchandise to the awesome arcade machines, here is our guide to visiting the Pokémon Center Taipei in Xinyi >
21. Hike Elephant Mountain
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 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 >
22. Din Tai Fung
Trying Din Tai Fung’s delicious soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) is a tasty Taiwan traveller rite of passage – with new Din Tai Fung restaurants popping up all over the world, there is no better place than to try them at the ‘source’ in Taiwan.
Din Tai Fung in Taiwan is a mid-range Taiwan chain restaurant that is famous for its excellent xiao long bao and noodle dishes. Given its popularity, don’t be surprised if you have to queue although they have a simple-to-use ticket waiting system and app; they’ve thought of everything!
If you visit Taipei, head to the original Din Tai Fung where it all began in 1958 on Yongkang Street, or discover over a dozen different outlets across the city, including several in Xinyi.
From how to eat xiao long bao soup dumplings to their menu highlights, here is our ultimate guide to dining in Din Tai Fung in Taipei >
23. Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple (also known as Bangka Lungshan) is Taipei’s most famous temple, renowned for its (en)chanting ceremonies.
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 in Taipei, be sure to try and coincide your visit with one of the three chanting ceremonies held daily – it is one of the most memorable and inspiring things to do in Taipei.
Find out more about Longshan Temple >
24. Modern Toilet Restaurant
This is certainly one of the most fun but also weird and wonderful things to do in Taipei.
The Modern Toilet themed restaurants in Taipei (in Ximending and Shilin) are so popular, they are ‘flushed’ with success and children (plus big kids like us) love the crazy menu and sitting down on a toilet at the table.
A meal at Modern Toilet is like no other, with food and drinks served in toilets. The poo shaped ice-cream (chocolate of course) presented in a squat toilet shaped plastic bowl is loved by kids and particularly memorable.
The restaurant interior is kitted out like an interior of a bathroom, with wall tiles decorated with poo shaped cartoon characters. The soup starter dish was served in toilet shaped mugs too!,
Read our guide to Taiwan’s Modern Toilet restaurant or other themed restaurants in Taiwan.
25. Simple Kaffa Sola Taipei 101
A ‘simple’ (Kaffa) way to get Taipei 101 views without paying the full admission price, Simple Kaffa Sola is the new Taipei 101 cafe and coffee shop located on the 88th floor of the Taipei 101 tower.
Opened in January 2023, Simple Kaffa Sola is also the highest / tallest cafe in Taipei (even more so now that the former Starbucks within Taipei 101 tower has now closed).
Whilst admission to Taipei 101 starts from NT$600 (located one floor above the cafe on level 89), you can save money (and enjoy a drink) by buying a NT$240 Simple Kaffa coffee, which gains you admission to their 88th floor cafe.
For the ultimate Taipei brews with views, here is our guide to visiting Simple Kaffa Taipei 101 including how to get reservation tickets >
26. 44 South Military Village
A historic village juxtaposed against the modem metropolis that is Taipei’s Xinyi District, the 44 South Military Village (四四南村) is like taking a step back in time – almost a world away from the nearby gleaming skyscrapers and CBD cityscape.
Akin to a central city cultural hub, 44 South Military Village is home to a theatre, gift shops and numerous cafes and coffee shops plus also hosts the occasional weekend market.
It is one of the best places to view Taipei 101 from afar, with the tall tower easily viewed from the historic courtyards and alleyways here – and better yet, it is free to visit with pleasant parks and gardens all around.
From cafe culture to history, illuminations to markets, here is our guide to ultimate 44 South Military Village in Taipei >
27. Ningxia Night Market
A short 10 minute walk from Dihua Street, Ningxia night market is one of Taipei’s best night markets with hundreds of food stalls lined along one road.
Even though it is smaller than say Shilin Night Market or Raohe Night Market, it gets so busy (especially on weekends and Friday night) when it can take a LONG time to walk down the central aisle, as dozens of hungry customers wait for their food.
Many of the larger stalls have outdoor seating areas plus there are permanent restaurants dotted along either side of Ningxia Night Market.
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.
As well as food, you’ll find lots of gaming / fun-fair style stalls for kids plus it seems to have the largest concentration of marble pinball machines and ring toss stalls of anywhere we’ve seen.
Read more in our guide to Ningxia Night Market >
28. Taipei Souvenir Stamps
Pretty much every attraction in Taipei (and across Taiwan) has their own stamp and ink set, often as part of a trail (although these stamps are popular with all ages and a common conversation in our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group).
Grab a leaflet (or take your own book) and ink up the stamp, before pressing it down in your book – some attractions also offer free gifts if you find the full set of stamps.
The other great thing about collecting Taiwan ink stamps is that they are very light to carry so make a cool souvenir to take home that doesn’t take up too much luggage space – you can even get your own personalised stamp made!
Read more about collecting ink stamps in Taiwan in our guide plus Taipei stamp locations >
29. 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 Instagrammable location in Taipei.
You can even rent Japanese kimonos at Rongjin Gorgeous Time using the traditional setting and wooden exteriors as a beautiful backdrop reminiscent of Kyoto.
From craft beer bars to beetle ice-cream cones, wonderful waffles to the best bakeries, here is our ultimate guide to Rongjin Gorgeous Time >
30. Da’an Park
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 also hosts the Taipei Azalea Festival every March.
Check out our full Daan Park guide here >
31. The Red House
One of the best things to do in Ximending (both in the daytime and at night), the Red House is a beautiful red brick building that has served many purposes over the years since it opened in 1908.
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.
From crafts to clothing, bars to brownies, here is our ultimate guide to Red House Taipei >
32. National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall – temporarily closed in 2025
2025 update – National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall closed its doors in February and will reopen in 2026.
The restoration will cost NT$1.6 billion and will renovate all the inner halls as well as create a brand new reflective pool outdoors.
Opened in 1972, The National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is dedicated to the former president of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, whose large statue can be found in the main hall.
Other facilities include a large library plus permanent galleries and exhibitions.
33. See Taipei’s Famous Wonky Postboxes
Special delivery – meet the most famous wonky post boxes in Taiwan, ‘Little Red’ & ‘Little Green’! In 2015, typhoon Soudelour devastated Taiwan, including bending these postboxes in downtown Taipei.
After the storms, these two tough mailboxes featured on the local news and locals began to take pictures and selfies with them.
The imperfect postboxes became a symbol of resilience so the Taiwanese mail service left them as is, wonky stands and all – you can still post letters in them today and everything posted in these two boxes gets a special postal stamp.
34. Taipei Food Tours
The best time to eat your way, the tastiest time to eat your way around the city is Taipei at night, as night markets open and street food stalls line the roads.
Obviously you can do the likes of Raohe, Ningxia, Shilin and Gongguan Night Markets yourself, but for a more fun way to try local bites with an experienced guide, try a Taipei food tour at night.
We recently visited Huaxi Night Market with Tour Me Away on a good group tour that saw us try several local dishes including the Bib Michelin Gourmand restaurant, Wang’s Broth (it has also been on the Somebody Feed Phil Netflix Taipei episode).
You can book this tour on Get Your Guide and on Klook.
See what we tried on the food tour in our video below, including stinky tofu and chicken butt!
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35. 2/28 Peace Memorial Park
One of the nicest urban parks in downtown Taipei, 2/28 Peace Memorial Park is a green oasis with pavilions, ponds and a memorial museum.
Dedicated to the victims of the uprising in 1947, this is a solemn spot with many memorial plaques and sculptures dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives.
It is a quiet spot to walk around, sit on a bench with some takeaway food or just watch the world go by. If you are feeling flexible / brave (delete as appropriate), there is also a cobbled Reiki path you can walk on in your bare feet (we lasted all of 20 seconds – ouch!)
You might like – Our monthly Taiwan event and festival guides >
36. Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple Food Street
We think this might be our favourite thing to do in Dadaocheng – the Cisheng Food Street must be one of the most serene street food settings in the world, with a huge outdoor seating area, surrounded by banyan trees and next to the temple.
There are around 20 or so stalls selling traditional Taiwanese tidbits, from pig trotters to congee, fried oysters to Sishen soup.
Cisheng Temple Market Food Court featured on the recent Taipei episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. Phil explores the Dadaocheng neighborhood and meets up with Instagrammer Charlene Yang to eat at the Usu-Tasi Pork Noodles stall.
When we visited, it was a warm sunny afternoon and most of the tables were busy, with local groups of elderly gentlemen, many of whom seemed to be enjoying big bowls with big beers – ganbei!
37. Day trip to Jiufen
Exploring the mountain town of Jiufen feels a little like being in a fantasy movie and is an easy day trip from Taipei.
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 (although many dispute this so who knows?!).
From traditional temples to ancient alley-ways lit up by red lanterns at night (Jiufen Old Street), there are lots of things to do in Jiufen and the neighbouring town of Jinguashi.
A visit to Jiufen and Jinguashi should be high on your list when planning your Taiwan trip and Taipei itinerary – here is our guide to all things to do in Jiufen and Jinguashi >
38. Eslite Bookstores
Eslite is epic! If you are gift shopping in Taipei or looking for unique Taiwanese souvenirs, one of your best bets is the Eslite Taiwan chain of bookshops, stationery stores and department stores.
Some of the most beautiful bookshops you’ll find in Taiwan (and across Asia), Eslite (誠品) is one your one stop shop for unique gifts, cute collectibles and travel reading.
There are several types of Eslite malls from the larger Eslite Spectrums to the new EXPO stores plus many Eslite stores are even until late for bookshop browsing (like Eslite Spectrum Songyan).
Read our Eslite bookshop guide >
39. Rainbow Six Crossing
At the main Ximending intersection near to the Red House, one of Taipei’s most popular photo spots is the Rainbow Six Crossing (named as it is next to exit No.6 of Ximen MRT Station).
Close to the LGBQT+ bars and main gay area of Taipei, the Ximending rainbow crossing was unveiled in late 2019 to celebrate that Taiwan had became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage earlier that year.
The whole area around Ximending’s Rainbow Six Crossing has huge billboards and neon displays, similar to Shinjuku in Japan or Piccadilly Circus in London.
You might like – 20+ most Instagrammable and colourful places in Taiwan >
40. Grab a Taiwanese breakfast
Taipei has a reputation for good food and plenty of it. If you’re staying for several days or have just arrived early off a flight, be sure to grab some breakfast in one of the bustling breakfast restaurants.
Perhaps the most famous Taipei breakfast place is Fuhang Soy Milk but the queue is usually LONG – however, you can skip the line and get it delivered.
We are big fans of a classic Taiwan breakfast scallion crispy egg pancake – we rate Wei Mei Breakfast Restaurant (map), a family run restaurant that is popular with locals and nearby workers which opens daily at 5am (until 2pm).
We also like Yong He Soy Milk (map) in Ximending – this Taipei breakfast spot is often bustling. We spent NT$185 on a few pancakes, plus a hot sesame soy milk and iced coffee.
These are the pancakes we ordered (and rated in order of our favourites) – a ‘Grab cake egg cheese’ (NT$65), biscuits egg ham (NT$53) and bacon omelet pancake (NT$45).
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s best night markets >
41. Dadaocheng Wharf
Overlooking the Tamsui River with lots of container / pop-up bars and food kiosks, Dadaocheng Wharf is an easy walk from Tamsui Street and enjoys lots of riverside paths and walkways.
A container park with nice views, this is a good place to grab some Taiwan craft beer, international street food or traditional Taiwanese eats.
Note Dadaocheng Wharf is great for a riverside walk any time of day but other than a couple of container cafes, this only really gets going in the evening – you can also get a boat to Tamsui from here.
42. National Palace Museum and other Shilin attractions
Many Taipei travellers think Shilin is just about the night market but there is more to discover.
First up, take a trip to the National Palace Museum which is home to one of largest collections of Chinese art in the world with almost 800,000 artifacts.
For kids, Shilin also has the Taipei Children’s Amusement Park – one of Taiwan’s top theme parks aimed at younger children. Rides can be purchased using an EasyCard and you might spot some colourful manhole covers on the way from the station.
43. Taipei buffets
There are lots of great dinner buffets in Taipei but some of the best are A Joy buffet in Taipei 101, the Taipei Grand Hyatt evening buffet next door and at the Regent hotel’s ‘Brasserie’ restaurant.
We dined at the Grand Hyatt and Regent Hotel buffets in early 2025 and they had a fantastic selection of food. We loved the seafood and the tasty meats such as roast beef and lamb chops.
One of the most recommended Taipei buffets in our Taiwan Travel Tips Facebook group is A Joy Buffet on the 86th floor of Taipei 101.
Whilst not cheap, the views are amazing and the seafood here is something else. So if you love lobster or evening dinner with a view, be sure to book A Joy buffet >
44. Day trip to Wulai
Famous for its hot springs and beautiful countryside setting, Wulai District and Wulai Old Town are wonderful places to visit from Taipei city. From hillside temples to wonderful Wulai Falls, there is lots of natural beauty and things to do in Wulai.
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.
You might like our things to do in Wulai guide >
45. Ximending street art in America Street
Explore Ximending’s America Street (Lane 96) and you’ll discover a whole world of street art and magnificent murals.
Although Taipei’s laws around graffiti are not too strict, many of the murals are sanctioned by the Taipei Youth Art Centre, whereby local business owners are contacted to see if they’ll allow an artist to complete a piece on their blank walls.
Given the lax laws, Taipei is awash with street art but the alleyways around Ximending are some of the best areas to see a highly concentrated area of superb street art.
You might like – Our guide to the Taiwan receipt lottery, which travellers can play for ‘free’ >
46. Miramar Mall Taipei and Entertainment Park
Time to get shopping and have some fun at Miramar Mall, with 12 floors of stores including a massive ferris wheel and a kids theme park on the top floor.
The Miramar Mall’s focus is on providing a fun family shopping and entertainment experience, where you can buy clothes or goods, eat some food then head to the amusement park on the roof.
Here you’ll find big brands like Taipei UNIQLO and MUJI, plus a huge IMAX Cinema. The Miramar Ferris wheel can be seen from all over Taipei (including from Taipei 101) and is $NT200 a spin as of spring 2025. Click here to book the ferris wheel on Klook >
47. Taipei Zoo
A good Taipei kids activity to combine with the Maokong Gondola, Taipei Zoo is located just a short walk from the base gondola station plus it is so cheap to visit with the family at around NTD$100 (approx £2.40 or $3 USD) – it is even home to pandas big and small!
There are lots of animals to see, from polar bears to elephants, tigers to monkeys but obviously the star of the zoo is the pandas, who are kept in an enclosure (plus have a huge outdoor area).
Book your Taipei Zoo tickets in advance with Klook or book a Taipei Zoo and Maokong Gondola combined tour.
48. Taipei Cooking Class
If you are a fan of Taiwan’s tasty xiao long bao soup dumplings, beef noodle soup or gua bao and want to recreate the dishes at home, then check out the cooking classes with CookInn.
They run a variety of cooking classes where you can learn to make Taiwanese cuisine from scratch with locations in Ximending and Zhongshan.
Prices for the main cooking classes start from NTD$2,200 for adults (half price for children), and the lessons are conducted in English, Japanese and Mandarin languages. Check out these classes here >
They also run other cheaper and shorter baking classes where you can make pineapple cakes, pork pepper buns, scallion pancakes and nougat crackers. Check out these classes >
49. PopMart Ximen
This is Taiwan’s flagship Pop Mart store, famous for their cute and quirky collectibles and blind-boxes.
It is an incredible building themed like a cinema, with Pop Mart figures and collectibles over four floors including a dedicated Mega Space Molly showroom. Seriously, the design of this building and the way all the toys are displayed is nothing short of superb.
The first floor is dedicated to exclusive Pop Marts and mystery / blind boxes, floor two is PopBean and various merchandise plus there is even a broadcast studio and VIP lounge on the third level. Read our full guide to Pop Mart Ximen here >
50. Gongguan Night Market
We’ve talked about several of Taipei’s best night markets but Gongguan Night Market is possibly the most authentic – what it lacks in size is more than made up for by the amount of amazing food.
Located in a popular student area famous for its NTNU-Gongguan Campus, Gongguan Night Market is Taipei’s largest night market in the South District, within a minute’s walk of the nearest MRT stop and takes place over two parallel side streets.
These lanes of Taiwanese street-food and international fare are an incredible foodie foray. Several stalls had long queues and we tried food at them all, including Gongguan Night Market’s Michelin Bib Gourmand flaky scallion pancake stall.
Read more in our guide to Gongguan Night Market >
51. Crispy Milk Donuts 脆鮮奶脆皮甜甜圈總店
Currently Taipei’s on trend donut, Ximending Crispy Milk Donut is easy to spot – just look for the HUGE huge queue of young school kids and tourists lining up near Shinjuku Plaza.
The hot donuts are served straight from the fryer and made in small batches (hence the long queues).
Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, these sweet treats are then covered in sugar and milk powder. Damn, they are addictive and only $NT40 a go!
You might like – How to complete the Taiwan Online Arrival Card (for most travellers) >
52. Beitou
Beitou is Taipei’s hot spring capital! One of the easiest day trips from Taipei, you can be in Beitou in less than half an hour on the MRT.
Known for its lush greenery, thermal springs and public baths, the hot spring spas in this area dates back to the Japanese era, which is why the district is so full of character and incredible architecture – even the modern Beitou library is one of the most idyllic spots in Taipei.
Be sure to visit Beitou’s Thermal Valley – a free to visit natural wonder that bubbles with steam in what locals refer to as Hell Valley.
Read our guide to Beitou here >
53. Syntrend Creative Park Mall
Syntrend Creative Park in Taipei has to be Taiwan’s trendiest shopping center.
Specializing in technology, gaming, photography and electronics, Syntrend is a digital paradise and even has several e-sports and VR centers located across its 13 floors of shopping and services.
Better yet, Syntrend is Taipei’s leading anime and Manga center, with two whole floors (6F – Game and 7F – Collect) dedicated to anime toys and collectibles including a Taiwan branch of Lashinbang, Japan’s top second hand collectible store.
Pop Mart, Gundam, Asia Goal and other top toy shops have branches here and it is one of the best ‘blind box’ locations in Taipei.
Read our full guide to Syntrend here >
54. Wooderful Life Taiwan toy shops
A quick mention of one of the most beautiful toy shops in Taipei and across Taiwan, Wooderful Life – they have several branches across Taipei including a store at the famous Red House in Ximending.
The biggest Wooderful Life in Taipei for kids can be found at Huashan 1914 Creative Park. As well as a free to visit shop, there is also a playhouse and Wooderful Life activity park where kids can jump around and tinker with trinkets of all types, across themed zones.
55. Sunset at Taipei Hooters Xinyi Bar
The Taipei Hooters Xinyi Bar in Taiwan might be the best Hooters bar in the world.
With an incredible rooftop bar terrace offering incredible views of Taipei 101 (plus a very ‘Happy Hour’), Hooters is one of the best bars in Xinyi for a fun night and cheap drinks (although we wouldn’t class it as a Taipei craft beer bar).
Serving up American style diner food accompanied with American, European and Taiwanese beers, Hooters (near Taipei 101) is blessed with skyline views and located on the 14th floor of the Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 Store.
From tipples to the rooftop terrace, the food menu to Hooters merchandise, here is our guide to visiting Xinyi Hooters >
56. TaipeiEYE Traditional Chinese Dance Performance
If you are looking for a spectacular theater performance and dance show in Taipei at night, take a look at TaipeiEYE.
A traditional Chinese dance show that boasts spectacular costumes, you’ll witness dance, acrobatics and martial arts accompanied by live traditional music.
You can also interact and take photos with the performers plus subtitles are displayed on screens at the side of the stage.
Performances take place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Book your Taipei eye tickets with Klook or KK Day.
57. Craft Beer Bars
‘Ganbei’ to the Taipei craft beer scene and Taiwan brewery bars.
From beautiful beer taprooms like Taihu Brewing to shopping mall brewery bars like Hit Cat Brewing, you’ll find plenty of great beer to drink at night.
Taipei has loads to offer craft beer connoisseurs and drinkers in Taiwan, from booze and gyoza at Rongjin Gorgeous Time to Floating Taipei bar near Dihua Street, which shows Mr Bean cartoons as you sip beer. Nice!
Featuring international taprooms like Mikkeller Taipei to local Taiwan breweries like Zhangmen Brewing, here is our guide to the best Taipei craft beer bars >
58. Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market (weekends)
A ‘gem’ of a Taipei weekend market, Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market (建國玉市) takes place every Saturday and Sunday in Taipei’s Da’an District.
Located beneath an overpass below one of Taipei’s busiest roads, Jianguo Jade Market and flower market is full of colour, from beautiful flowers to gorgeous jewelry like green jade necklaces.
Even if you aren’t in the market for buying jewelry, it is a top Taipei weekend market to visit as it is an all weather affair (it is covered) and always bustling with locals, many of whom are accompanied by their beloved dogs in prams!
From opening hours to different stall types, here is our guide to Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market in Taipei >
59. Spend some time in Dalongdong District
One of the lesser explored Taipei neighbourhoods, Dalongdong was once the center of the Qing Dynasty and many of the old buildings remain to this day.
Start your visit with a trip to Taipei Confucius temple – built in 1875 and located along Dalong Street, this large temple is where students pray for good luck in their exams.
Afterwards, walk to Dalongdong Baoan Temple, dedicated to the Emperor Baosheng with preserved murals and dragon pillars. It also looks beautiful lit up at night.
Finally, visit Lin An Tai Historical House & Museum, a traditional Hokkien style home with intricate carvings, pretty pavilions and peaceful gardens with ponds – or just head straight to Taipei Expo Park and Maji Square where dozens of bars and restaurants await (and a huge weekend market).
60. Snow King Ice Cream
Definitely one of the n-’ice’-st things to do in Taipei, Snow King is a family run ice-cream parlour that has been creating the most extraordinary flavours since 1947.
A tasty Taiwan treat, Snow King has produced hundreds of different ice-cream types over the decades. A newspaper article on the wall here dating back to 1993 said they’d created 300 flavours by the 1990s so who knows how many there have been since.
On our visit to Snow King, you could try unusual ice cream flavours such as pork floss, kidney bean, peanut and taro. We opted for basil ice cream and passion fruit ice cream (190 NTD / Taiwan Dollars per scoop) – we intend to try the Taiwan beer ice cream flavour next time!
Some of the more unusual / interesting ice cream flavours previously available at Snow King include sesame oil chicken, wasabi, chilli pepper and kinmen kaoliang.
61. Taipei Tian Jin Scallion Pancakes
Hungry and looking for a hidden gem of a hawker stall in Taipei? Then try Tian Jin Scallion Flaky Pancakes on Taipei’s famous Yongkang Street, one of Taiwan’s top food destinations.
However, having eaten dozens of Taiwan scallion pancakes in our time, we still rate Yongkang Street’s Tian Jin Scallion Pancakes as the best in Taipei, if not Taiwan. Tasty and flipping flaky AF, we return to Tian Jin every time we are back in Taipei.
Better still, it is one of the cheapest street-foods in Taipei, starting from just $NT30 a flaky spring onion pancake (£0.75p or $0.90 USD) – find out more here >
62. Tamsui
Tamsui near Taipei is a historic port and riverside city located at the end of the Xinyi – Tamsui Metro line. Its scenic setting, numerous food stalls and restaurants plus easy access from Taipei make it a popular day-trip for local families and couples.
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 to the Tamsui Customs Officers’ Residence.
Eat at Tamsui Old Street – a hotchpotch of shops, restaurants and gift shops, this is the main shopping and eating area of Tamsui or take the boat to Bali. Read our Tamsui guide >
63. Treasure Hill Artist Village
A short walk from Gongguan MRT Station, Treasure Hill Artist Village is an interesting place to visit (free to walk around too).
It is an old settlement with many abandoned houses and areas that have been turned into artists studios (and many residents still live there).
From robot workshops to neon light installations, Treasure Hill Artist Village is a ‘treasure trove’ of street art, fun installations and a few outdoor sculptures. Even the squash courts near the river are adorned with vibrant murals.
The whole area feels a little run down and abandoned and is all a bit curious (albeit quirkily creative).
64. Taipei Station Underground Mall
This huge Taipei shopping mall is the largest underground street in Taiwan with nearly 200 stores, and runs all the way from Taipei Main Station to Beimen MRT Station.
The mall is divided into three separate sections – cheap clothing, electronics and food.
The electronics part of the mall is known as the ‘Akihabara of Taipei’ and is an otaku lovers paradise with many gaming, gashapon, arcades, manga, anime and kawaii stores!
You can also find knife massage and fortune telling stores in the mall, plus the occasional live performance.
Our final thing to do in Taipei
65. Taipei Festivals
There are so many Taipei festivals at different times of the year – so there is always something going on and we publish monthly guides to all the best Taipei events and Taiwan festivals.
Some of Taipei’s biggest festivals include:
- Taipei Lunar New Year (January and February)
- Taiwan Lantern Festival (February)
- Lohas Park Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring
- Taipei Azalea Festival in Da’an Park in March
- Taipei Dragon Boat Festival in May.
- Taipei’s Christmas markets and Christmas lights in November and December
- Taipei 101 New Year’s Fireworks – check out our guide to the best viewing spots
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