Taipei packs a lot into a small city: world-famous dumplings, lively night markets, mountain towns within an hour and hot springs you can reach by metro. Three days is enough for a satisfying first visit.
Day 1: Soup dumplings and Taipei 101
Start with xiaolongbao, the soup dumplings Taipei is famous for. Set one on your spoon, nip the skin and sip the broth before eating the rest. In the afternoon, take in the city from the observatory at Taipei 101, then head to a night market as the sun goes down.
Eating through the night markets
Night markets are the heart of Taipei after dark. Shilin is the biggest; Raohe is a single long street that is easy to walk. Graze your way through pepper buns, giant fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea, which was invented in Taiwan.
Day 2: A day trip to Jiufen
Jiufen, a former gold-mining town on a hillside above the sea, is an easy day trip by bus or train. Its narrow lanes of red lanterns and teahouses get very crowded at sunset, so arrive early and watch the light change from a teahouse window.
Day 3: Soaking in Beitou
Beitou, reachable on the metro, has been a hot spring area for over a century. There are public open-air pools as well as hotels with private hot spring rooms, a relaxing way to end the trip.
Before you go
- Money: the currency is the New Taiwan dollar. Night market stalls are almost all cash only.
- Transit card: an EasyCard works on the metro, buses and in convenience stores.
- Entry rules: check current entry requirements for your passport before you travel.