This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
We are excited to share this guest post from Nick Kembel, author of “Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner.” Nick has been living in Taiwan for over nine years and is full of knowledge on the best eats and the best places to go in Taipei. He’s shared five of his top insider recommendations for things to do in Taipei, Taiwan.
Wondering what things to do in Taipei? Keep reading!
Pin this article for later!
5 Awesome Things to do in Taipei, Taiwan
The standard two-day Taipei sightseeing itinerary invariably includes Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, and one of the big night markets such as Shilin.
I’m not saying that these places aren’t worth visiting. But museums bore me, and I’ve still never been up to the pricey observation deck at 101. If you want to find some interesting places to go in Taipei and if you want to skip the big sights and dig a little deeper, this guide is for you.
1. For great Taipei Sightseeing, Be an MRT Explorer
Don’t know where to go in Taipei? Then leave your guidebook behind, and hop onto Taipei’s MRT, regularly voted one of the best metro systems in the world. Get off at ANY station and see what you can find! The NTD150 (6$) day pass is a great deal, giving you unlimited rides.
Every exit has a map that shows nearby sites of interest. Just be warned that north is not always at the top, which can be disorienting. Even without using the map, you can expect to stumble upon anything from riverside parks and mountain trails to atmospheric old neighborhoods and bustling markets. Veer into smaller residential lanes to get a better feel for local life.
2. Dine with Locals at a Quick Fry
Exploring Taipei will definitely cause you to build up an appetite. One of Taiwan’s best dining experiences is a kind of restaurant called a quick fry. These noisy, hole-in-the-wall establishments usually include tables out on the street and can seat hundreds. The food includes all manner of stir-fried and seafood dishes, with lots of fresh basil, garlic, green onion, and chilies, all washed down with Taiwan beer.
Most quick fries don’t have English menus. But I guarantee that if you ask any table of locals for help, they will be more than happy to recommend the best dishes. Don’t be surprised if they invite you to sit down and ganbei (bottom’s up) multiple glasses of beer with them!
A few more tips: It’s better to go to a quick fry with a big group so you can try more dishes. Help yourself to beers from the fridge and rice from the cooker. Expect to pay around NTD300 (10$) per person, including beer.
Popular choices:
Pin Xian (品鱻) No.68 Leli Rd. (MRT Liuzhangli)
Marine Seafood (馬林漁生猛海鮮) No. 135, Chengdu Rd (MRT Ximen)
(No English name)一代佳人海鮮碳烤 No. 28, Section 2, Xinsheng S Rd (MRT Da An Park)
3. Get Lost on the Four Beasts
A free alternative to the Taipei 101 observatory is nearby Elephant Mountain. The 30-minute hike from Elephant Mountain MRT station is understandably popular among locals and visitors alike for the amazing Taipei sightseeing opportunities.
As expected, this is one of the most popular places to go in Taipei. To avoid crowds, don’t go on weekends or just before sunset. To have it all to yourself, go at night. The trails are lit, and it’s totally safe! In the daytime, you can also venture off some of the main trails down dirt paths to find secret viewpoints.
Continue past the first few viewpoints, and there is a vast network of trails, usually devoid of people, connecting Elephant Mountain with the three other “beasts”: Tiger, Leopard, and Lion Mountains. It’s easy and fun to get lost, and you’ll never be too far from the city. Hiking the Four Beasts is one of the best things to do in Taipei!
Here is a map of the various trails and exit points.
4. Explore Hundreds of Markets
Visiting one of Taipei’s famous night markets such as Shilin, Raohe, or Tonghua is a must-do experience and are some of the coolest places to go in Taipei. Even at Shilin, you probably won’t see many other Western tourists, simply because the crowds of locals are so thick.
If you want to try a less famous one, there are dozens to choose from. Here is a list of night markets in Taipei and New Taipei City. Remember that many of the ones in New Taipei City (the megacity that surrounds Taipei City) are accessible by MRT but less explored by tourists.
You can also check out one of Taipei’s countless day markets, where the focus in on fresh produce and ingredients. Most of them also have snacks and meals available, and photography opportunities abound. To find day markets, just wander into any residential neighborhood in the morning, and it won’t take long before you stumble upon one.
5. Burmese Food, Hiking, and a Giant Earth God
For one of the secret places to go in Tapei that you won’t find in guidebooks, head to Nanshijiao MRT station, the last stop on the yellow line. Take exit 4 then turn right and follow Xingnan Road to Huaxin Street, also known as “Little Burma.”
Thousands of residents in the area are ethnic Chinese who fled to Taiwan from Burma. All the signs are in Burmese, everybody’s drinking Burmese milk tea (similar to Indian chai), and restaurants serve delicious Burmese fare.
Recommended dishes include spicy sour cold noodles, fish noodle soup, and sweet Burmese flatbreads. You can even find Burmese betel nut, a mild stimulant that is chewed, and it is prepared with more ingredients than the Taiwanese variety.
By this point, you will have probably already noticed the massive bearded statue on the mountain in the distance. That is Tudi Gong, the Daoist Earth god. To reach the statue via an excellent 2-hour hike that few people know about, continue to the end of Huaxin street and follow lane 109 to access a hiking trail that follows a mountain ridge offering panoramic views all the way to the statue.
About the Author
Canadian Nick Kembel has been living in Taiwan for eight years. He is the author of “Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner” and writes for various travel magazines. He currently lives in New Taipei City with his wife and two kids. His website www.nickkembel.com focuses on Taiwan and spiritual aspects of travel. You can follow Nick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later!
I am planning to visit Taipei for the 3rd time this May so I am looking for off the beaten track kind of activities. And this is a perfect article! Thanks for sharing, I feel so excited! Taiwan is one of my fave countries so I’m okay to keep coming back! 🙂
That’s awesome! So glad to hear you love Taipei. We haven’t been yet, and can’t wait to do all of the things Nick suggested!
It’s always great to get the perspective of someone who has lived there for awhile! I would love to go to one of the quick fries for some great inexpensive food. And hiking up the paths to see those views of the city sounds like a lot of fun too! Thanks for the suggestions!
How about the measure of the statue ?
I haven’t been to Taiwan yet, but your post and pictures make my travel heart beat faster. I love the Tudi Gong Daoist temple. It loooks so beautiful nestled in the lush mountain side.
I have never been. I would have to get on the path and then off lol. Looks so nice though. Great list I hope to get there.
Taipei is always bustling and vibrant with fantastic food. I haven’t yet but I know I should do some hiking there, maybe to see the huge Earth God!
This sounds like a great post for things to do in Taipei. Elephant Mountain would be my top choice, though I’ve long wanted to see the Palace Museum and some of Taiwan’s hot springs.
Love the detailed MRT info! Perfect for folks who really want to explore like a local.
The markets look amazing – and I REALLY Want to go to a Quick Fry!
Taipei is on our itinerary for October or November, and I’m So excited for this trip!!
Love the tips to go around and explore beyond the tourist attractions, that is what I like to do when visiting a different country, with such an interesting culture and food!
Looking forward to try the quick fries and the Burmese delights!
Cheers,
Nat
I’m so desperate to visit Taipei, I only hear and read good things about this city. I even have family members living there. I know how good all the food and the people are in this wonderful city. The quick fry places and the various day and night markets look like so much fun and adventure. Thanks for this great guest post. Makes me want to visit even more urgently.
Great list of fun things to do in Taiwan! I think being an MRT Explorer would make for quite an interesting day–it’s always fun to hop off a train and see what you can find! The path up to the observation point sounds really cool too–I’d love to check it out sometime!