Travel Guide For Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan Travel guide 2022
I actually have OCD. I obsess and obsess and obsess over sure matters until I think they’re (close to) ideal. Which is why this Taipei travel guide, or as a minimum the first version of it, has been eating me up for almost four years now.
When we first visited Taipei in 2014, it changed into a spur of the moment experience that lasted just three days. I wasn’t watching for an awful lot from that experience, but to my surprise, I wound up falling in love with Taipei and Taiwan. The hassle turned into, three days didn’t deliver us sufficient time to do all the matters we desired to do. It didn’t provide us enough time to see all the locations we desired to peer, it didn’t supply us enough time to consume all the food we desired to consume, that is why I’ve been dying to come again to Taipei ever on account that. Those 3 days gave me sufficient cloth to give you a decent tour manual, but to me, it was painfully incomplete. I had to do it again, and this time, I needed to do it proper.
I eventually were given my hazard this March while we took a two-week journey to Taiwan, 5 days of which were dedicated to this town and completing what we started out four years in the past. This journey guide is by no means best (yet), but it paints a much higher image of what this charismatic and quite progressive city has to offer.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Because of the contemporary international state of affairs, travel guidelines exchange very often. Our friends at SafetyWing created a internet site that lists special statistics on journey regulations around the globe.
Before doing any critical planning, make sure to test the Flatten the Curve internet site for records on journey regulations to Taiwan.
TAIPEI AT A GLANCE
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. Located inside the northern part of the u . S . A ., it’s produced from twelve districts with a complete populace of round 2.7 million. It’s the cultural, financial, and political center of the island so any first-time visit to Taiwan ought to start right here.
To be honest, I didn’t recognise what to make of Taipei while we first visited in 2014. At first, I wasn’t as excited to head because I hadn’t heard a whole lot about it and its popular sights didn’t appear all that interesting to me. But as defined above, that brief three-day go to changed into all it took to make me keen on the metropolis and of Taiwan. Ren and I actually have fallen in love with this u . S . So much that we’re sincerely toying with the idea of moving here.
There are many things to like approximately Taipei like its night time markets and many museums. But past its sights, what makes Taipei so attractive for me, is the city itself. With conveniences like a cheap however fairly green metro machine, and its plethora of properly-maintained public parks, it’s a metropolis that truly places its humans first.
BEST TIME TO VISIT TAIPEI
Generally talking, Taiwan enjoys moderate climate 12 months-round with an average temperature of approximately 23°C (seventy three°F). The rainiest months are from May to September, with June to August being the peak of hurricane season. Avoid the ones months in any respect charges. I had an aunt who visited Taipei for the duration of that point and she couldn’t go to a single night time marketplace as it changed into raining tough each night time. Night markets are a massive part of the Taiwan revel in so you don’t need that to occur to you. Ideally, shoot for late October to March if you may. The climate is cool and dry and air pollutants is at a minimal.
OCT-MAR: The climate in Taipei is maximum nice from across the end of October to March. This is the driest time of the year and temperatures are enormously slight. Spring is the time to go in case you’d like to trap the cherry blossoms. They’re notoriously tough to expect but shoot for round February till mid-March. Some forecasts say April but that can be too overdue. We traveled for the duration of Taiwan from 12-24 March and we handiest noticed cherry blossoms once, at Sun Moon Lake.
APR-SEPT: As counseled, it’s rainier, hotter, and more humid in the course of those months so it’s excellent to keep away from them if you can. Temperatures frequently exceed 30°C (86°F) for the duration of the summer time and it receives uncomfortably humid as nicely. June till August is the height of hurricane season at the same time as September is the rainiest month. Avoid that stretch in any respect expenses as it sucks having to stay indoors and not be able to visit a night time marketplace. That came about to us at some stage in our one and simplest night time in Tainan and it virtually did suck.
Climate: Annual Monthly Weather in Taipei
To assist you higher understand the climate in Taipei, I’ve blanketed average temperature and annual rainfall graphs beneath. Suggested months to visit are indicated in orange.
Average Temperature
Annual Rainfall in Taipei, Taiwan
Annual Rainfall
Annual Rainfall in Taipei, Taiwan
TRAVELING TO TAIPEI
Most travelers to Taiwan could be arriving with the aid of plane. Taipei has worldwide airports — Taoyuan and Songshan — however the substantial majority of global flights are served via Taoyuan. You can get to the metropolis from Taoyuan Airport by way of MRT, bus, taxi, or non-public transfer.
BY MRT: The airport MRT is the fastest manner to get into the metropolis from Taoyuan Airport. It takes approximately 35 mins to get to Taipei Main Station from either terminal 1 or 2. The fare is NTD 160 with trains strolling from 6:12AM till 10:42PM. You should buy it earlier through Klook as well. From Taipei Main Station, you may then retain at the MRT to the station nearest your motel.
BY BUS: The Kuo-Kuang Bus (Taiwan Bus Corp.) is a good alternative to the MRT, mainly in case you’re arriving overdue in the evening. After going through immigration and gathering your bags, proceed to the metropolis bus ticketing counters. Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819 operates 24 hrs and will take you to Taipei Main Station for NTD one hundred forty. Follow the hyperlink for extra facts on Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819. From Taipei Main Station, you could then take a taxi or the MRT in your hotel. If you propose on going returned to Taoyuan Airport by using Kuo-Kuang Bus at the stop of your experience, then you should buy roundtrip tickets earlier through KKday.
BY PRIVATE TRANSFER: Though more highly-priced, the maximum comfortable option could be to go through airport transfer which you may e book via KKday.
BY TAXI: Taoyuan is around 45 mins away from the metropolis middle so a taxi will be high priced, round NTD 1,000-1,200 depending on site visitors. This need to be your final resort.
WHERE TO EXCHANGE CURRENCY
Taiwan’s unit of forex is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). I find that changing foreign money is less annoying in Taiwan because forex services are strictly regulated by means of the government. Here, you exchange your forex at banks. You received’t locate any independent money changers in Taiwan like you will in different Asian countries, which is a relief.
It’s excellent to alternate your currency at large nearby banks like Bank of Taiwan, China Trust Bank, or South China Commercial Bank. We walked in to a smaller bank as soon as and they counseled usa provider fee, so I made sure to look for a Bank of Taiwan whenever. I did a search on Google Maps and determined many Bank of Taiwan branches in Taipei.
If you don’t like brining massive sums of coins with you, then a higher option might be to withdraw NTD from an ATM. The quotes are competitive however just make sure to advocate your financial institution you’ll be using your card foreign places so you don’t run into any troubles. In my enjoy, my ATM card works in a few machines but not in others.
WHERE TO STAY IN TAIPEI
We’ve only been to Taipei twice to date so I’m now not as familiar with its neighborhoods but. But in my enjoy, I found the Ximending location in Wanhua District to be one of the pleasant and maximum convenient areas to stay. It’s a fun and active industrial region with lots of shops, restaurants, and cafes.
To be sincere though, I think deliberating on which vicinity to live subjects much less in Taipei due to the fact the public transportation machine is wonderful. The MRT is so handy that it nearly doesn’t count in which you stay. We stayed in Datong District on our first ride, and although it isn’t as exciting as Ximending or as near traveller points of interest as Zhonzheng or Xinyi, we never found its place to be an inconvenience. It changed into near an MRT station which I assume is the case for maximum resorts in Taipei.
In any case, right here are the two places we’ve stayed at in Taipei, as well as a brief description of different amazing areas to take into account.
XIMENDING (WANHUA): Homestay
As described, Ximending in Wanhua District is a a laugh neighborhood with plenty to see and do. It’s an lively neon-lit environment that’s regularly referred to as the “Harajuku of Taipei”. For vacationers like us who enjoy being close to masses of meals options, I suppose Ximending is one of the high-quality regions to live in Taipei. Conveniently, walk a touch south and also you’ll locate your self in a starkly much less business and extra ancient part of metropolis. A mere 15-minute stroll from trendy Ximending are some of Taipei’s maximum popular cultural attractions, like Longshan Temple and Bopiliao Historical Block.
We booked the large studio condo underneath on AirBnB for simply USD 40 a night. It turned into comfy and effortlessly positioned and had the entirety we wished. It could get a bit noisy around the equal time every night, in all likelihood from a rubbish truck jogging its course, but it wasn’t an excessive amount of of a bother.
If you don’t sense this is the proper place for you, then you may follow those links for trade Agoda.
Homestay in Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan
Approximate Room Rate: USD 40 according to night (as of May 2018)
DATONG: Dong Wu Hotel
Dong Wu Hotel looks as if it’s stuck within the 80s so it doesn’t get lots of style factors. Where it does excel though, is in consolation and size. The rooms here are big and very cushty. There’s a Family Mart at the nook and Daqiaotou MRT Station is simply minutes away. Notable attractions in Datong District encompass the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Ningxia Night Market, and Dihua Street with its Japanese colonial and Qing dynasty architecture and Chinese herbal stores.
You can e-book a room at Dong Wu Hotel through Booking.Com or Agoda. Be sure to test both websites to discover the higher deal. The room rate as of May 2018 is round USD sixty five per night.
Dong Wu Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan
Approximate Room Rate: USD sixty five in line with night (as of May 2018)
Other Districts to Consider
If you don’t suppose either of these areas is right for you, then you could observe those hyperlinks to discover trade Agoda.
Aside from the 2 stated above, the final critical districts in Taipei are Zhongzheng, Xinyi, Zhongshan, Da’an, and Songshan. There are five suburban districts as nicely but those can be too a ways away to be handy, especially if it’s your first time in Taipei. Here’s a quick description for every of the closing crucial districts:
ZHONGZHENG: Central; close to Taipei Main Station, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Huashan 1914 Creative Park
XINYI: Modern financial district; upscale shopping with plenty of eating places; near Taipei a hundred and one
ZHONGSHAN: Older luxurious inns; many riverside parks; close to Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Xingtian Temple
DA’AN: Modern “green” district; quieter neighborhoods; near Da’an Forest Park, Shida Night Market
SONGSHAN: More residential region; near Raohe Night Market
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
1. Get to Know the City on a Hop On Hop Off Tour
I’m a huge fan of these Hop On Hop Off tours. For me, there’s no better manner to get familiar with a brand new metropolis. Kkday gives four- or 24-hour passes to the Taipei City Sightseeing Bus, where you may get on and stale as often as you want in the course of your pass. They ply set routes through Taipei’s pinnacle points of interest like Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Ximending, and greater.
Not most effective is it the very best way to see Taipei’s pinnacle attractions, but you may additionally use it as a way of getting around the town. Follow the hyperlink for greater records and to buy tickets to Taipei’s Double Decker Bus Tour on KKday.
City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Bus, Taipei, Taiwan
Length of Tour: 4 hrs or 24 hrs / Cost: Starts at NTD 270
2. Get a Killer View of Taipei from the Taipei 101 Observatory
Once protecting the distinction of being the sector’s tallest constructing, there’s no higher place to get a fowl’s eye view of Taipei than from the Taipei a hundred and one Observatory.
Located on the 89th floor, the arena’s quickest elevators will shoot you up to the observatory in a thoughts-numbing 37 seconds. It certain makes up for that forty five-minute wait! Tickets typically fee NTD six hundred however you can get them for just NTD 510 in case you purchase tickets thru Kkday. Follow the link to purchase Taipei a hundred and one Observatory tickets thru KKday.
Taipei a hundred and one Observatory, Taiwan
Suggested Length of Visit: 1-2 hrs / Admission: NTD 510 for adults
3. Eat Your Way Through Shilin and Raohe Night Markets
Taiwan is all approximately night markets. You can’t visit Taiwan without consuming your way thru at least one. There are numerous you may visit in Taipei, however Shilin and Raohe night markets are the town’s biggest and maximum popular. There you’ll discover a dizzying array of scrumptious and cheap avenue meals dishes like flame-torched red meat, massive chicken chops, sausages, pepper buns, and an entire lot extra.
Aside from all of the food you’ll be tempted by way of, many night markets have purchasing and sport stalls as properly, so there are lots of other things you can do apart from consuming. Don’t be amazed if you land up spending your whole evening at a Taiwanese night time marketplace.
These night markets are easy enough to go to to your personal but if you’d want to have a nearby display you the pleasant dishes, then you definately might be interested in this night market on foot tour. Just be aware that rather than Shilin or Raohe, it’ll take you to Jingmei Night Market.
Raohe Night Market, Taipei City, Taiwan
Suggested Length of Visit: 2-three hrs consistent with night time market / Admission: FREE
4. Get Artsy at a Museum or Creative Park
There are masses of museums you can visit in Taipei. I’ve been to two to date – the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the National Taiwan Museum, each of which had been first-rate. But in case you had time to go to simply one museum in Taipei, the it ought to possibly be the National Palace Museum. It’s a massive museum with a permanent collection of nearly seven-hundred,000 portions of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts and works of art. Just the sound of it's miles making my legs wobbly! We’ll go to that and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum on our next journey to Taipei.
If you’re into the humanities but need some thing a little less conventional than a museum, then you can take a look at out considered one of Taipei’s creative parks. Popular all through Taiwan, innovative parks are typically deserted industrial areas like factories and warehouses that have been repurposed into full-time arts and cultural venues. Apart from conserving artwork reveals and live cultural shows, they host fashion suggests, product layout expos, artwork seminars, and way of life bazaars all inside an historical, industrial setting.
Two of the maximum popular in Taipei encompass Huashan 1914 Creative Park and Songshan Cultural & Creative Park.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Taipei, Taiwan
Suggested Length of Visit: 2-3 hrs every at each museum or innovative park / Admission: Varies
5. Go on a Free Walking Tour
Aside from the Hop On Hop Off Tour, any other incredible manner to get to recognize Taipei is to sign up for a free walking excursion. Like It Formosa offers three sorts of unfastened walking tours – Historic, Modern, and Golden Age.
The Historic Tour covers historic sights like Longshan Temple, Bopiliao Historical Block, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. The Modern Tour takes you to extra modern-day locations like Taipei 101 at the same time as the Golden Age Tour brings you back to the 20s which changed into a period of an awful lot cultural and industrial boom in Taipei.
All of those free tours are tip-based so deliver anything amount you sense cushty with. Check out Like It Formosa’s website for excursion schedules.
Like It Formosa Walking Tours, Taipei, Taiwan
Length of Tour: 2-3 hrs consistent with excursion / Cost: Tip-based totally
6. Feel Tiny at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
This is one of the maximum iconic structures in Taipei. If you have got a chum or relative who’s been to Taipei, then possibilities are they’ve posted a selfie on social media with those huge blue and white gates inside the history.
As you may probable guess, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national monument and landmark constructed in honor of former ROC president and KMT wellknown, Chiang Kai-shek. The sheer length of this area is terrific. If you time your go to and are available on the hour among 10AM until 4PM (until 6PM on Wed), then you definately’ll get to look the converting of the guard.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Suggested Length of Visit: 1 hr / Admission: FREE
7. Get a Killer View of Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain
Now that you’ve gotten a killer view of the city from Taipei 101, how about getting a killer view of Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain? We didn’t try this however in case you’re within the mood for an clean hike, then you could need to climb up Elephant Mountain that's quite simply located at the edge of the city.
Just take the MRT to Xiangshan Station (Red Line, Exit 2) and stroll 10 minutes south to the start of the hiking trail. Don’t fear about your health level both. There are plenty of steps however it’s a exceptionally smooth 15-30 minute hike to the top.
Elephant Mountain, Taipei, Taiwan
8. Shop Till You Drop in Ximending
Filled with ultra-modern shops, boutiques, eating places, and cafes, the Ximending region is in which young Taiwan is going to shop and kill time. If you’re travelling to Taipei to buy groceries, you then’ll likely be spending a number of time here. As described, we stayed in Ximending on our closing ride and the vicinity become constantly humming with hobby regardless of what time of day it become, sort of like Myeongdong in Seoul. It’s in particular a laugh at nights on weekends while younger Taiwan flocks to the area to birthday celebration. The environment is electrical.
Ximending
nine. Take a Cooking Class
Taking a cooking class on a experience is amusing. We’ve done it in Bali, Hoi An, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, and we’ve enjoyed every unmarried certainly one of them. It’s just a fun, hands on manner of learning the local cuisine.
If you’d want to take a cooking elegance in Taipei, then I propose looking for one on Cookly. They’re an online booking platform that makes a speciality of cooking classes so for my part, there’s no better region to look for a one-day cooking class than on Cookly. Follow the link to check out their to be had cooking training in Taipei.
Pork stomach dish
10. Catch and Grill Your Own Shrimp
This is one of the quirkier matters you could do in Taipei but it’s additionally one of the maximum fun. Urban shrimping is a popular Taiwanese hobby where locals solid strains into indoor concrete swimming pools full of stay shrimp. You pay to shrimp by means of the hour and something you catch within that point limit, you can fish fry and consume at the premises.
Urban Shrimping, Taipei, Taiwan
Estimated Time to Spend: At least 1 hr / Cost: Starts at NTD 350 in keeping with hr
DAY TRIPS FROM TAIPEI
1. Explore Yehliu Geopark, Shifen, and Jiufen on a Day Tour
This is one of the maximum famous day tours you can do from Taipei. It’s popular because it takes you to four tremendously unique sights in sooner or later. Your first forestall is Yehliu Geological Park, a blanketed location that’s home to those unusual, alien-like rock formations called hoodoo stones. You’ll then continue to Shifen to launch sky lanterns at a former railroad town earlier than travelling the “Little Niagara of Taiwan”. The excursion leads to Jiufen, a decommissioned mining town that’s domestic to captivating homes and a number of the nice avenue food in Taiwan. For just NTD 1,000 according to man or woman, this excursion is without a doubt well worth it. Follow this hyperlink to e-book the excursion with KKday. You can take a look at out my publish at the Yehliu Geopark, Shifen, and Jiufen tour as nicely for more photos and facts.
A journey to Jiufen and Shifen is one of the maximum commonplace aspect trips human beings make from Taipei. If you’d instead now not pass on a guided excursion, then you may without difficulty go to both or both locations in your own. You may even stay the night time in Jiufen that is what we did. Check out our Jiufen and Shifen tour manual for greater records.
Yehliu Geopark, Shifen, Jiufen Day Tour from Taipei, Taiwan
Estimated Time to Spend: Whole day
2. Soak in a Hot Spring at Beitou
Beitou is the northernmost district of Taipei. It’s a adorable mountainous location that’s well-known for its thermal springs. Developed into a warm spring traveler destination in the course of the Japanese profession, what I loved most about Beitou is that it seems and feels like you’re in an onsen town in Japan.
If you discover your self in Taipei all through the winter months, then I strongly advocate you go to Beitou to soak in one in all its many warm spring lodges. If you’ve never experienced a thermal tub earlier than, you then’ll be amazed via how top it could make you sense. It warms you to the middle so you feel almost impervious to the cold. Check out my submit on taking a day ride to Beitou for more images and facts.
Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Estimated Time to Spend: At least half of an afternoon
three. Explore Tamsui Old Street and Fisherman’s Wharf
If you make a decision to visit Beitou, then you may want to check out Tamsui as nicely. Both are reachable via the Taipei MRT’s Red Line, with Tamsui being the final stop on the road. It takes approximately 40 mins or so that you could get there from downtown Taipei.
Tamsui is a seaside district in New Taipei City, located at the northern tip of Taiwan. It’s a fishing town that was as soon as a Spanish settlement and the biggest trade port in Taiwan. Today, it’s a famous visitor destination known for a few points of interest like Lover’s Bridge (pictured underneath), Fort San Domingo, and Tamsui Old Street in which you can locate avenue food dishes precise to the area like ah-gei and iron eggs. Check out my put up on taking a day experience to Tamsui for greater snap shots and records.
Tamsui Lover's Bridge, Taipei, Taiwan
Estimated Time to Spend: At least half of a day
four. Spend the Day in Taichung and Visit Fengjia Night Market
Located about an hour south of Taipei through HSR train, Taichung is Taiwan’s 2nd biggest town by way of populace (after New Taipei City). If you revel in the arts and journey for meals like we do, then there are masses of factors to love about Taichung. It’s home to Calligraphy Greenway and its wallet of quirky boutiques. It’s the birthplace of boba or bubble tea, and it’s wherein you could locate the largest night time marketplace in Taiwan – Fengjia Night Market. That by myself makes it worth of an afternoon journey!
I went on a backed ride to Taichung not too long ago in relation to the Gourmet Taiwan Festival. The factor of the experience become to expose humans exactly what you may do in Taichung on an afternoon experience from Taipei. I enjoyed the city so much that Ren and I currently spent three nights there. Check out our Taichung tour manual that will help you plan your ride.
Taichung, Taiwan
Estimated Time to Spend: Whole day
TAIWANESE FOOD GUIDE
As described, Taiwan is all approximately night markets and road food. There are lots of delicious matters to consume in this country, mainly in the capital metropolis of Taipei. If you’re questioning what you may devour in Taipei, then test out our listing of have to-strive dishes in Taiwan.
Bowl of noodles
TAIWANESE DESSERTS
Taiwan is domestic to super night markets and scrumptious avenue food, however it’s additionally got a few pretty candy desserts. If you’ve got a sweet teeth, then take a look at out our listing of ought to-try desserts in Taiwan.
Pineapple desserts
WHERE TO EAT IN TAIPEI
1. Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles
Google “in which to devour in taipei” and this mee sua specialty store will be on almost each listing. Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles offers simply one item on their menu, and that’s Taiwanese-fashion vermicelli or mee sua with braised pork intestine.
It’s actually delicious and one of the first-rate matters I’ve eaten in three journeys to Taiwan. It’s smokey and flavorful and contains the most tender earrings of braised red meat gut. They were so gentle I ought to swear I became consuming infant squid. So rattling correct.
Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles, Taipei, Taiwan
Expect to Pay: NTD 70 (large), NTD forty (small)
2. Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan
Lu rou fan or braised red meat rice is one of the maximum liked consolation dishes in Taiwan, second perhaps most effective to red meat noodle soup. The dish includes minced red meat belly that’s been stir-fried and gradual cooked in soy sauce till smooth, then served over a bowl of steamed rice, commonly with a tough-boiled egg at the aspect.
Many human beings trust that Jin Feng serves some of the very fine braised red meat rice in Taipei. It turned into delicious and comforting and one of the matters I miss most from our journey.
Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan, Taipei, Taiwan
Expect to Pay: NTD 30 (small) / NTD 40 (medium) / NTD 50 (massive)
3. Orange Shabu Shabu House
Hot pot or shabu shabu is every other have to-consume Taiwanese dish. It consists of a simmering pot of soup stock containing lots of substances like thinly sliced meat, seafood, leaf veggies, tofu, noodles, and numerous fish and meat balls.
I requested my Taipei-based Taiwanese friend to advise a great warm pot restaurant in the town, and he pointed us to Orange Shabu Shabu House. According to him, they serve the best hot pot in Taipei arms down. He changed into proper. I’m no professional, but this became certainly the first-class hot pot I’ve ever had in my lifestyles.
Taiwanese hotpot
What We Spent: NTD 1,474 for 2
four. Shao Shao Ke
Not most effective become this one of the maximum scrumptious meals we’ve had in Taipei, however it turned into additionally one of the maximum fascinating. Shao Shao Ke serves Shanxi delicacies that's the cooking style of Shanxi Province in China.
Noodles and lamb figure prominently in the delicacies, as does this precise form of vinegar referred to as Shanxi mature vinegar which is produced solely in the place. If you like the flavors of lamb and cumin, then you have to devour here. Be positive to get the deep-fried soy cheese puff pastries for dessert as properly. They’re divine.
Shao Shao Ke, Taipei, Taiwan
What We Spent: NTD 704 for 2 with drinks
five. Addiction Aquatic Development
Addiction Aquatic Development is one of our favourite places in Taipei. It’s a completely unique idea that’s basically an upscale stay seafood market, connoisseur food grocery store, seafood bar, sushi bar, oyster bar, seafood fish fry eating place, and warm pot eating place all rolled into an uber stylish area.
Like creative parks, it’s one of these places that defies description. You ought to see it for your self to fully hold close the idea. But the bottom line is, if you like seafood, you then clearly cannot leave out Addiction Aquatic Development.
Addiction Aquatic Development, Taipei, Taiwan
Expect to Pay: Around NTD 750 per person with beverages
6. RAW
If you’ve been saving up for that one surely unique meal in Taipei, then that is wherein you want to head. Helmed through Chef André Chiang of Restaurant André fame in Singapore, RAW is a one Michelin celebrity restaurant ranked number 15 on the modern-day listing of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. They provide beautiful degustation reports proposing the high-quality of Taiwan’s neighborhood seasonal ingredients.
Be warned however, that it it notoriously tough to get a reservation at this eating place. Check out my post on RAW for more pictures and information.
RAW, Taipei, Taiwan
Expect to Pay: NTD 1,850 / 2,680++ in keeping with man or woman
If these six aren’t enough to whet your urge for food, then take a look at out our publish on thirteen Must-Eat Restaurants in Taipei. It includes extra photos and facts approximately the locations listed above, in addition to commands on the way to get to each eating place the usage of public transportation.
Beef noodle soup
POINTS OF INTEREST IN TAIPEI
To help you get your bearings, I’ve created this map so you get a higher experience of in which everything is. Nearly all of the locations referred to on this guide, in addition to some others, are pinned in this map.
HOW TO GET AROUND TAIPEI
Taipei has a extremely good public transportation gadget so it’s a breeze to get around. We located their metro device to be one of the easiest to apprehend. You can get to most of the locations advocated in this manual the usage of the Taipei MRT, however if for some reason you may’t, you then take the bus or use Uber.
We didn’t ought to take the bus in Taipei however in case you want to, then I advocate the usage of the Google Maps app (iOS commonly intimidated by way of a overseas metropolis’s bus gadget but Google Maps makes it a lot less complicated. It’ll let you know precisely which bus you need to take so that you don’t land up somewhere in Mongolia. We used it in Kaohsiung and it absolutely helped us get around by using bus.
I suggest getting a transportation card in Taipei as well. There are a few to select from but the EasyCard worked certainly nicely for us so I haven’t tried anything else. If you plan on taking public transportation loads in Taipei, then an EasyCard will be very useful to you. It’ll come up with a discount on rides on both the MRT and bus systems. Go to the travel tips section of this guide for extra records at the EasyCard.
HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY / SAMPLE ITINERARY
To my marvel, Taipei is simplest the 0.33 biggest town in Taiwan with the aid of population. Nonetheless, there’s lots to peer and do in Taipei so that you should spend extra time right here than in any other city in Taiwan. I’d say four full days is absolutely the minimal for a first-time go to to Taipei. It will provide you with just sufficient time to see the principal sights in the city in addition to make one or day journeys. If it’s your first time travelling to Taipei, then right here’s a pattern 4D/3N itinerary that will help you plan your journey.
DAY ONE
• Hop On Hop Off Bus
• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
• Taipei a hundred and one
• Taipei Fine Arts Museum
• National Palace Museum
• Shilin Night Market
DAY TWO
• Longhsan Temple
• Bopiliao Historical Block
• Ximending
• Huashan 1914 Creative Park
• Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
• Raohe Night Market
DAY THREE
• Shifen Old Street
• Shifen Waterfall
• Jiufen
• Ximending at night time
DAY FOUR
• Tamsui Old Street
• Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf / Lover’s Bridge
• Fort San Domingo
• Thermal Valley
• Beitou Hot Springs
BUDGET / SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
Assuming you’ll be travelling with yet another man or woman and staying four complete days in Taipei, then a budget of round NTD 1,800 in step with day ought to be enough. This takes under consideration reasonably priced lodges, cheaper meals, enchantment prices, transportation, and pocket wifi apartment. Taipei is usually greater costly than different towns in Taiwan so count on to spend more right here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
This varies from character to man or woman. We booked a homestay for our remaining journey for approximately NTD 1,2 hundred a night time. Expect to pay a good deal less if you’re staying in a dorm room.
MEALS
Again, that is exceptional for absolutely everyone, however based on our enjoy, I’d say around NTD three hundred-400 for the day per character with drinks. Budget greater in case you plan on dining at fancier restaurants like RAW or Orange Shabu Shabu House.
POCKET WIFI RENTAL
If you’re sharing the cost with yet another character, then you definately’ll each be paying NTD forty in line with day.
TRANSPORTATION
As advised, it’s a terrific idea to put money into an EasyCard while in Taipei. The base value of the EasyCard is NTD 100 plus anything amount you’ll be desiring during your live. If you plan on journeying completely via MRT, then a transportation price range of round NTD one hundred fifty according to day have to be sufficient.
ATTRACTION COSTS
Again, this is relatively variable as it all depends on what you want to do. But assuming you’re basing it off my pattern itinerary, then a mean price range of around NTD 560 per day for points of interest should be enough.
TOTAL
This comes out to about NTD 1,775 consistent with day for each person. This doesn’t don't forget any buying, so make certain to elevate this quantity (extensively) if you plan on spending maximum of your days boutique hunting in Ximending. Ren and I are center of the road tourists who enjoy exact foods and drinks, so this is a budget that works for us. Feel free to alter based to your very own journey behavior.
TRAVEL TIPS
1. Plan your Trip with Sygic Travel
I’ve used this unfastened app to create itineraries for all our journeys since 2014. It’s a first-rate smooth manner to visualise points of hobby on a map so you can create the most green itinerary viable. Check out my post on the Sygic Travel app for greater information.
DOWNLOAD: iOS / Android
Sygic Travel is what I used to create the place map above. You can view it as a every day itinerary as nicely. Follow this link to check out our five-day Taipei itinerary on Sygic Travel. You can also down load our entire 2-week Taiwan itinerary in editable Word layout from our EAT-ineraries page.
2. Rent a Pocket Wifi Device
Having a consistent connection to the internet is so crucial these days, specially when you’re seeking to make your manner thru a overseas country. The unfamiliarity is difficult sufficient and the language barrier makes it even tougher. Thankfully, we will lease a pocket wifi device to assist us navigate, convert currencies, and learn how to say “take me in your best xiao long bao” in Taiwanese.
Personally, we opt for renting pocket wifi gadgets because we find them easier, but shopping for sim cards is nice too. It’s even less expensive. We rented a 4G pocket wifi device thru KKday which you can pick out up and drop off at many airports throughout the u . S . A ..
3. Store Your Luggage with lalalocker
When visiting, we once in a while need to keep our bags somewhere. If you’re booked at a hotel, then it’s much less of a hassle because they can generally shop your luggage for you. But in case you’re booked at a homestay, then it’s harder because many hosts aren’t as to be had. Thankfully, Taiwan has lalalocker.
Lalalocker is a provider that facilitates you discover places wherein you can briefly store your bags. They connect vacationers with institutions like accommodations, shops, and cafes wherein you may appropriately go away your bags for a charge. They serve a couple of areas in lots of towns at some point of the u . S ., including Taipei.
4. Travel with an EasyCard
Getting round using the public transportation machine is so easy in Taipei. If you plan on riding it loads, then an EasyCard is one of the quality investments you can make. Apart from disposing of the problem of having to buy single adventure tokens, you’ll get a 20% bargain with each journey at the Taipei MRT and 15% off at the Kaohsiung MRT with an EasyCard. It works on public buses as well. Aside from providing you with discounts and unfastened rides in some towns, you received’t ought to scrounge up loose trade each time.
You can purchase and top up an EasyCard from any MRT station. It works at some stage in the usa so the playing cards we bought in Kaohsiung labored in Taipei as properly. At the cease of your ride, any unused quantity can be refunded minus a service fee of NTD 20. It’s outstanding convenient.
We by no means used it for anything however transportation but you can use it for other things as well like taxis, ferries, TRA trains, supermarkets, convenience stores, even a few restaurants and cafes. Follow this link to peer the overall scope of use of an EasyCard.
EasyCard, Taiwan
5. Check for Discount Passes
For me, there’s no better region to search for journey offers in Taiwan than on KKday. They’re a Taiwan-based e-trade tour platform in order that they have a extensive choices of tours and sports at exquisite expenses. If you’re searching out deals on tours, shows, transfers, pocket wifi condominium, and many others, then you may need to test out KKday’s listing of Taipei attractions. You’ll frequently locate exciting activities that you could no longer consider your self so it’s without a doubt really worth a glance.
6. Get Travel Insurance
We purchase travel insurance on a case to case basis. If all we’ll be doing is stuffing our faces with street meals for a few days, then we may not get it. But if we plan on doing any bodily activities like we did in Taiwan, then we’ll in reality choose up a coverage earlier than our ride. Check out my article on why we purchase tour coverage for extra records.
We get coverage from World Nomads or SafetyWing. They’re leading travel medical insurance providers utilized by many virtual nomads. Read my article on why we purchase tour coverage for an outline of the two. You can comply with the hyperlinks to get a unfastened quote from World Nomads or SafetyWing.
7. Bring the Right Power Adapter
Taiwan has Type A and Type B electric retailers so make certain to deliver the proper power adapters to your gadgets. Electrical voltage is 110V and the same old frequency is 60Hz.
For Filipinos
VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO TAIWAN
In 2017, TECO made the declaration that they’d be supplying visa-loose entry to Philippine passport holders for a tribulation length of 365 days. That’s when you consider that been prolonged to 31 July 2020. Until then, Filipinos can input Taiwan visa-free for stays of up to 14 (14) days. Check out my put up on visa-unfastened access to Taiwan for greater facts.