30 Must-Visit Attractions in Taipei
Taipei 101 and night markets are attractions that come to mind when you mention Taiwan’s capital city. But there’s so much more to this vibrant city than the former tallest building in the world. From arty hubs to steaming craters, here’s our guide on where to go in Taipei.
1. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Memorial, Building, Park
2. Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Memorial, Park
3. Elephant Mountain
Hiking Trail
5. Grand Hotel
Hotel
6. Martyrs' Shrine
Shrine
7. Shilin Night Market
Market, Bubble Tea Shop, Street Food
8. National Palace Museum
Museum
9. Danshui Old Street
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
A wonderful street in the old fishing village of Danshui (which is now more of a town), Danshui Old Street ticks all the boxes for quaintness, food and souvenirs. One end of the street opens on to a wharf which is one of the nicest Taipei tourist spots to take in the sunset.
10. Fort San Domingo
Building
11. Hobe Fort
Building
12. Lover's Bridge
Bridge
13. Longshan Temple
Buddhist Temple, Shrine
14. National Taiwan Museum and 228 Memorial Park
Building, Memorial, Museum, Park
15. The Presidential Palace
Building
16. Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Bookstore, Park, Winery
17. Miramar Ferris Wheel
Park, Building
18. Yangmingshan National Park
Park
19. Taipei 101
Building
20. Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence
Memorial, Building
21. The hot springs at Wulai
Swimming Pool
22. Maokong Gondola
Architectural Landmark
Maokong is a tea-growing district on the outskirts of the city not far from Taipei Zoo. Ride the MRT to the zoo and then take a cable car up over the mountain into Maokong. Here, visitors can sit and enjoy locally grown tea while taking in the views of the city in the local tearooms and restaurants . Try to visit in the late afternoon so you can enjoy the sunset in the early evening and get some great night shots of the city.
23. Eat street food anywhere
Market, Taiwanese
Taiwan is well known for its incredible cuisine, and while there are many amazing restaurants to visit in the city, some of the tastiest treats can be found on the side of the street. Street food in Taipei is nothing short of world class, and the choices available beggar belief. Head to any local night market or simply walk down any street, and you’ll soon find vendors selling everything from the infamous stinky tofu to fried chicken on a stick. Enjoying a pancake stuffed with beef from a paper bag doesn’t sound too enticing a prospect, but it really is an experience worth trying. Join a street food tour to find the best places to eat.
Unusual Things to Do in Taipei
Eat from a toilet bowl
Eating food that looks like the chef has produced it in the most unhygienic way is actually a thing in Taipei. In fact, the restaurant that started it all, Modern Toilet, has three branches. All the menu’s delicacies (not quite the right word) arrive at the table in miniature toilet bowls, cisterns, and even urinals. And to say the chocolate ice cream is a sight to behold is something of an understatement.
Stroke a cat at a cat cafe
Taipei is a city full of rented apartments, many of which have landlords that enforce strict no-pet rules. So the animal-loving city dwellers have no option but to turn to cat cafes for a few stress-relieving hours in the company of felines. At these cafes, cats enjoy a life of privilege with customers eager to shower each with attention and treats from the menus.
Enjoy 5-star karaoke
The karaoke bars in Taipei have lobbies that would put a five-star hotel to shame. These luxury 24–hour establishments offer rooms with large screen TVs, private bathrooms, and an endless songbook of cheesy sing-a-long tunes. They even provide food and alcohol around the clock, and many see them as the perfect place to finish off a night of clubbing.
Let a bird tell your fortune
Taipei’s Longshan Temple is one of the first stops on many a tour of the city, but it is not the only attraction in this neighbourhood. This is where many locals come to have their fortunes told – and quite often it’s a feathered friend that’s doing the telling. Birds hop along tables choosing slivers of bamboo or picture cards that indicate the paying customer’s future luck or lack thereof. A strange custom and one that has to be seen to be believed.
Escape down a slide
There were always rumours that Taipei’s most iconic hotel, The Grand Hotel, had a secret escape route designed for the former president, Chiang Kai-shek. A fire and subsequent safety check at the hotel in 1995 not only revealed its existence, but also the fact that one tunnel had an escape slide. The hotel sometimes offers tours to the public, but these are few and far between, making this a once-in-a- lifetime experience.
Buy a book at 1am
Reading is a popular pastime in Taiwan as is evident by the many small comic libraries and stores dotted around Taipei. But perhaps the most telling sign of their affinity with books is the fact that one of their largest bookstores, the Dunhua branch of Eslite, is open 24-hours a day. 1am book cravings are now a thing of the past.
Go shrimp fishing
Fishing is an activity usually associated with flowing rivers or large bodies of water. Not so in Taipei where there’s a range of 24-hour shrimp fishing establishments. Yes, that’s right, customers sit around a large man-made pool and fish for their dinner which they then throw on the barbecue by their side. Fun? Perhaps. Odd? Definitely.
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