We recently did a one week road trip in Taiwan and spent 3 days in Taipei as part of our trip.
I can safely say that I have never been so amazed by a destination, Taiwan blew all of my expectations out of the water and Taipei was no different. From the people, to the culture, to the vibrant city and epic natural scenery, Taipei was far beyond anything I had envisioned for a city in Asia - particularly when we are so often given a very different view of a destination by the media.
In this guide I want to share my 3 day Taipei itinerary with you, including the best things to see, places to eat, attractions to visit, the best area to stay, my hotel recommendations and also some day trip ideas if you would like to extend your trip further.
After visiting Taiwan for one week, I already felt that it wasn’t enough and would love to go back and see more of Taiwan one day.
But whether you’re visiting Taipei for a short trip, or just stopping by on a layover, seeing Taipei in 3 days is plenty of time to see the best that the city has to offer.
Taipei 101 and the city skyline
Useful information for planning your 3 days in Taipei itinerary
Currency
Taiwan uses the Taiwanese Dollar (TWD) which has a rough exchange rate of 31 TWD = $1 USD.
You can exchange currency to TWD before your trip, or do it once you arrive. You can use your bank cards as normal to withdraw from ATMs, just check whether your bank will charge a fee.
Cards are fairly widely accepted throughout Taipei, particularly in major stores, hotels and chain restaurants or shops. However some smaller independent places may accept cash only and cash is more widely used throughout the rest of Taiwan too.
During our trip further south, we used cash almost exclusively and finding ATMs was easy to withdraw any extra.
Location
Taipei is located on the north-west corner of the island of Taiwan. And Taiwan itself is only a 3 hour flight from South Korea, or a 3-4 hour flight from Japan.
Languages spoken in Taiwan
Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in Taiwan.
We found many people in hotels and tourist areas spoke good English but less so in quieter areas, independent stores or more rural areas once we left Taipei City. But Google Translate worked well for us!
Best airport to fly into Taipei
Taipei has two airports, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport.
You will most likely fly into Taoyuan Airport which is about 1 hour outside of Taipei.
Taipei Songshan airport is mostly domestic and short haul international flights to China, Korea or Japan.
How to get around Taipei
Taipei has an extensive and easy-to-navigate subway system called the MRT.
I recommend getting the 72-hour Taipei MRT pass to cover your 3 days in Taipei. These can be bought from the counter of most stations in the city centre and costs $380 TWD (12 USD)
You can also get a 24-hour pass for $180 or 48-hour pass for $280.
You will need to buy a separate token for the airport express train or airport commuter train to Taipei City. This costs $160 TWD one way.
The MRT system is incredibly well signposted in English and Google Maps also worked really well for us there to navigate how to travel between places using public transport.
Need a data plan for your phone while abroad? Check out Airalo and use referral code 'HELENA2613' to get $3 off your first purchase.
Is Taipei worth visiting?
Taipei city Ximending district
I have never had my expectations blown out of the water quite as much as I did on our trip to Taiwan.
It’s not that I had bad or low expectations, I just didn’t know what to expect. And it exceeds anything I could possibly have imagined.
The people were so welcoming and friendly, so willing to help even when there was a language barrier. Taipei is a bustling city and yet it’s organised, clean and well-signposted. The public transport and MRT subway system is incredibly easy to navigate and Google Maps works well so we never got lost or felt stuck.
Taipei and Taiwan in general are also surprisingly affordable. I think I had been expecting prices similar to Japan but we were able to find hotels for around £50-70 per night and we could eat a meal for around £10-15 for two of us for something like a beef noodle soup. The street food was even cheaper, £1-3 for Taiwanese hotdogs or Ximending pancakes.
Ximending hot dog
How many days in Taipei is best?
I think 2-3 days in Taipei is ideal for a Taipei City itinerary. It gives you enough time to see all the main sights and the MRT subway makes getting around the city quick and easy, regardless of where you’re staying.
This Taipei 3 days itinerary is assuming you’re planning a Taipei 3 days 2 nights itinerary or 3 days and 3 nights depending on your departing flight.
However as part of our 1 week road trip, we visited Jiufen which is a great day trip from Taipei and I heard of several other great day trip options from locals during our stay, so there are loads of options for extending your Taipei itinerary to 4 or even 5 days.
Where to stay in Taipei
We stayed at Amba Hotels Ximending location for our first two nights and then moved to another one of their hotels, Amba Hotel Songshan for our last night in Taipei.
Amba offered us these stays on a complimentary basis and you can read my full review, tips and recommendations for each location below:
Although these stays were on a complimentary basis, all views are my own and you will want to pick the best hotel for your Taiwan Taipei itinerary.
I highly recommend staying in Ximending if it’s your first time visiting Taipei. Our hotel was centrally located in the best area of the city for walking streets, night markets, shopping, food, attractions and just 5 minutes from the MRT Ximen station to easily explore the rest of the city too.
The second hotel we moved to because of its incredible hotel view of Taipei 101 and the rest of the city. Amba Hotel Songshan is to the east of the city and the hotel is connected to the MRT Songshan station so it was super easy to reach and just 15 minutes train ride from the city centre.
The views from the hotel were spectacular, cityscape and Taipei 101 in one direction, mountains, greenery and the Keelung River in the other. If you’re looking for a hotel with the best view in Taipei that’s also well connected to the rest of the city, Amba Songshan is a great option.
Amba Songshan
Amba Ximending
Your perfect Taipei 3 day itinerary: see, eat and explore what to do in Taipei for 3 days
Taipei suggested itinerary: Day 1
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Gardens
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial
One of the most iconic sights in Taipei is the grand Chiang-Sek Memorial Hall and surrounding complex.
Easily get there on the Tamsui-Xinyi red MRT line or Songshan-Xindian green MRT line which both stop at Ciang-Sek Memorial Hall Station.
The memorial hall is free to visit and its huge imposing size is impossible to explain without seeing it for yourself. The huge white hall is a commemoration to former Taiwan president Chiang-Sek and you can see the changing of the guard each hour here.
In the complex, there’s also a beautiful concert hall, the National Theatre, the Liberty Arch and a tranquil garden area.
This is a beautiful area to wander around and although you don’t need to spend too long here, the architecture is absolutely stunning.
National Palace Museum and Zhishan Garden
From Chiang-Sek, take the red MRT line to Shilin station and then transfer to the R30 bus just outside the station which will take you directly to the National Palace Museum.
The Palace Museum is home to huge collections of Chinese artefacts and collections of the cultural heritage of Taiwan.
Outside the Palace Museum is Zhishan Gardens which are traditional Chinese landscaped gardens with pods, artwork and landscaping that reflects the history, traditions and culture of Taiwan.
Ximending Shopping and Walking Street
Ximending shopping street
Ximending Rainbow Road
Head back into the city for an evening in the lively Ximending district which is famous for its vibrant evenings. The pedestrianised street areas come alive at night with night markets, street food, street performers, lights, colours, countless restaurants and an array of shopping options too.
Ximending Night Market
No visit to Taipei is complete with visiting a Taipei night market and there are plenty to choose from.
The vibrant Ximending area is famous for its street stalls selling everything from food to clothing to gadgets and more.
Make sure to try the famous Ximending pancakes and Taiwan hot dogs! Both cost us £1-4 - super affordable and so tasty!
Taipei suggested itinerary: Day 2
Elephant Mountain
View of Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain
This is the part of Taipei I had had on my bucket list for years and it did not disappoint!
I recommend doing this hike first thing in the morning, before 11am if possible or for sunset because although it’s a short hike, it’s steep with a lot of steps and the heat and humidity can make it very difficult!
To get here, take the Tamsui-Xinyi red MRT line to Xiangshan (the end of the line) around 10 minutes from Taipei Main Station. From here take exit 2 and walk through Xiangshan Park, following signs for the hiking trail. It’s also marked as “Xiangshan trail” on Google Maps.
It takes around 10 minutes to reach the first viewpoint and another 10 minutes to the Peak where you will be 184m above sea level. In total there are around 500 steps.
It took us around 30 minutes to get up to the top with stops for pictures and about 10 minutes to get back down.
Taipei 101
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is the most iconic and most famous landmark in Taipei as well as the tallest building in Taiwan. So seeing this Taipei landmark is a must!
You can walk there from Elephant Mountain in about 15 minutes or take the red MRT line from the Xiangshan station back 1 stop and get off at Taipei 101/World Trade Center.
Here you can see the Taipei 101 building up close and even go to the Taipei 101 Observatory for views of the city. Tickets cost $420 TWD which is around £11. We personally chose not to go up to the observatory as we preferred the views from Elephant Mountain with Taipei 101 in them. However if you’re not able to do Elephant Mountain, this is a great alternative.
Wufenpu Market
While this stop might not be for everyone, if you’re a fashion lover and love to shop while you’re travelling, then the Wufenpu Shopping district is a must see for you!
Wufenpu Shopping District is in Songshan to the east of the city and is a huge area of shopping streets with every possible style and type of clothing sold at wholesale prices! Come here if you want to shop and find some great deals.
Songshan Ciyou Temple
Songshan Ciyou Temple
Just a couple of minutes walk from Wufenpu Shopping District is Songshan Ciyou Temple. This colourful, ornate temple is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist place of worship that’s free to visit.
Here we saw the traditional practices of using jiaobei, or moon blocks, and fortune sticks used as divination or fortune tools by temple goers.
Jiaobei uses two red, half moon shaped blocks (like orange segments) and users as a basic yes or no question then throw the blocks on the floor. The position they land in determines if the answer is yes, no or unsure. Users can then get a more clear answer by using the fortune sticks.
Raohe Night Market
Raohe Night Market
Right outside the Ciyou Temple is the Raohe Night Market which I personally loved as it felt a lot more local and authentic compared to other night markets in the city.
You can walk the full length of the night market street which is about 1km and there are food stalls and small goods stalls.
The Raohe Night Market opens around 5pm.
Brewery in Taipei
If you’re a craft beer fan (like I am), you might know that I try to find a brewery in every new place I visit.
During ou stay in Taipei, we found several great breweries and taprooms which are worth checking out:
Taihu Da’an
Hit Cat Brewing
Zhangmen Craft Brewery (two locations)
Beer Cat (cute taproom with two cats!)
Beer Cat
Taipei suggested itinerary: Day 3
Bopiliao Historic Block
Bopiliao Historic Block
We stumbled on this location by chance on our way to Lungshan Temple and it really is an interesting area of the city, built from red brick and completely different from the towering metropolis that surrounds it.
You can walk through the historical street area for free although there are a couple of historic buildings that are museums that have a small fee if you want to visit.
Longshan Temple
Waterfall in Lungshan Temple
I highly recommend visiting this temple right before sunset. We arrived around 4.30pm and there was a service ongoing with beautiful singing, chanting and drums. Plenty of people making offerings and the whole atmosphere felt so serene and beautiful.
There is an amazing waterfall inside the front courtyard of the temple and it’s free to walk into the temple and explore the inner courtyard. Of course be respectful if there is active worship and prayer ongoing.
Red House Theatre
Located in Ximending, the Red House Theatre is a unique historic brick building which in itself is interesting to see surrounded by the modern buildings and colourful lights of Ximending!
But if you fancied something more unique to do in Taipei, you can see the latest shows and performances happening at the Red House Theatre.
Try hot pot
A trip to Taiwan wouldn’t be complete without trying some traditional foods and hot pot was one of our favourites.
If you’re in the Ximending area, check out this hot pot restaurant - I don’t know the name in Chinese but this is the Google Maps location!
Ximen Bar
We were so pleasantly surprised by the craft beer in Taipei and if you’re a fellow craft beer lover, check out these taprooms and breweries in Taipei:
Ximen Bar - taproom in Taipei
BeerCat
Zhangmen Craft Brewery - two locations
Taihu Da’an
Hit Cat Brewing
Want to know what to do in Taipei for 4 days?
Jiufen
Jiufen Old Street
If you have an extra day in Taipei or would rather use one of your 3 days in Taipei to see somewhere outside of the city, I highly recommend a day trip to Jiufen - the old street area is most beautiful at dusk and in the evening when the lanterns are lit. But during the day the views of the coast are incredible too.
Distance from Taipei: 1.5 hours by train or 1 hour driving
How to get there: tour or drive. Or take the local train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Train Station, from here you can take a taxi or short bus ride to Jiufen
Yangmingshan National Park
Alternatively, Yangmingshan National Park is a free national park to visit, just north of Taipei. The volcanic landscape and amazing scenery is great for those who want to do some hiking close to the city.
Distance from Taipei: 40 minutes by car
How to get there: taxi, car rental or tour
Beitou Hot Springs
If you would like to experience traditional hot springs, Beitou Hot Springs are easily reached by taking the red Tamsui-Xinyi line from Taipei Main Station to Beitou then transfer and ride one stop to Xinbeitou.
The White Sulphur hot springs are around 39-42C and are said to relieve chronic pains, illness, stress and strengthen heart, lungs and skin.
Beitou has both indoor and outdoor facilities and a pass for two costs just £50 / $2000 TWD. There are various packages and promotions available too. Find the latest deals here.
Distance from Taipei: 42 minutes by MRT
How to get there: Red line Tamsui-Xinyi MRT line from Taipei Main Station
Summary: How to spend 3 days in Taipei
I hope this Taipei trip itinerary has given you everything you need to plan your 3 day Taipei itinerary and get the most out of your trip to discover what this underrated destination has to offer!
I’m already planning the places I want to visit in Taipei and Taiwan on a second trip because I truly didn’t realise how much there was to see and I didn’t anticipate how much I would enjoy Taipei.
I highly recommend a short stop in Taiwan if you’re travelling in Asia, perhaps as a stopover on your way to or from another destination to plan your 3 days itinerary in Taiwan - before it becomes too popular!
Pin for later to plan your trip!
