Taipei Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Days

Taipei mixes temples, hot springs, and some of Asia's best street food, all served with famous local friendliness. Three days covers the city center and a mountain escape.

Day 1: Old Town and Temples

Begin in the historic Wanhua district at Longshan Temple, watching worshippers light incense among the carved dragons. Walk the nearby Bopiliao Historic Block, a preserved street of red-brick shophouses. For lunch, try lu rou fan (braised pork rice) or beef noodle soup at a small eatery. In the afternoon, visit Dihua Street's old apothecaries and tea shops, then sample pineapple cake with oolong tea. Many menus are written only in Chinese, so photographing one to translate makes ordering far less stressful.

Day 2: Ximending and Night Markets

Spend the morning at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, timing your visit for the changing of the guard. Take the MRT to Ximending, Taipei's youthful shopping and street-art quarter, for lunch and people-watching. In the late afternoon, rest up before the main event: a night market. Head to Shilin or Raohe and graze your way through xiao long bao (soup dumplings), oyster omelet, stinky tofu, and bubble tea. The MRT is spotless, cheap, and easy with an EasyCard.

Day 3: Jiufen Day Trip

Take a bus or train and bus combination up to Jiufen, a former gold-mining town clinging to a misty hillside. Wander its narrow Old Street lined with teahouses, lantern-lit steps, and stalls selling taro balls and grilled mochi. Settle into a balcony teahouse for a pot of mountain tea overlooking the coast. If time allows, stop at nearby Shifen to release a sky lantern along the old railway. Return to Taipei by evening for a final bowl of noodles.

A few tips: carry an EasyCard for transit and convenience stores, and keep some cash for markets. With temples, mountains, and endless snacks, Taipei rewards travelers who simply follow their appetite.