The Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide

Taipei, Taiwan, is a veritable urban jungle—ferns and giant elephant ear plants grow freely in the cracks of rooftops and sidewalks. Hiking trails abound in this glittering metropolis and tech hub.
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This glittering metropolis and tech hub is home to numerous hiking trails. In this article, we will explore the beauty of Taiwan together.

Recommendations for Shopping

  • Chifeng Street is a fashion-forward shopping street with many vintage and cute coffee shops.
  • Dadaocheng is the oldest neighborhood in Taipei. It is quaint and a good place to buy textile fabrics, dry goods from the north and south, and bamboo wares.
  • Yangmingshan National Park has green grass, natural hot springs, and volcanoes.

Restaurants and Bars

  • Nku is a fine-dining restaurant serving Nordic cuisine using local ingredients.
  • Sanjingjiuhuang is a remote and peaceful place where beginners can master the meditative way of drinking tea and enjoy Taiwan’s wide variety of oolong teas.
  • Chao Chao Chao Vegetarian Hot Chao is a vegetarian hot stir-fry restaurant that pairs well with cold beer.
  • Fridge Bar is tucked away behind a sandwich shop, where bartenders cleverly create cocktails using local fruits and flowers.
  • Placebo is a quirky bar with a decor reminiscent of an old Chinese medicine shop.
  • Lao Abo Fat Squid is famous for its various traditional seafood soups.

Shopping and Markets

  • Shennong Life is a store selling a variety of groceries and handmade foods.
  • Travis Vintage and Old Clothing is a paradise for vintage fashion lovers. One standout find: a 1960s Taiwanese bomber jacket.
  • Ningxia Tourist Night Market has many open-air food stalls with fireworks.
  • Lam Fung Yee Trading Company is a century-old shop specializing in traditional bamboo and wooden utensils.
  • Yinle uses Taiwanese elements as a source of inspiration to create textiles full of modernity.

Attractions and Outdoor Activities

  • Qixing Mountain is a dormant and active volcano and the highest mountain in Taipei.
  • Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was originally a tobacco factory. The creative center now hosts a variety of art exhibitions focusing on local design.
  • Taipei’s Haichenghuang Temple has more than 600 statues of various gods, attracting many young singles to propose marriage.
  • The National Center for Photography and Culture showcases the talents of contemporary photographers in an old building from the Japanese colonial era.

Transportation

Taipei has an excellent MRT and bus system, is impeccably clean, and can be easily navigated using Google Maps. Every MRT station is equipped with bilingual ticket machines. Taxis and Ubers are readily available and very affordable. Taipei is also very walkable and safe at all times.

Accommodation

  • Nestled in the northernmost suburbs of Taipei, San Er Hotel is a luxurious resort with therapeutic geothermal baths and lush greenery. It takes 30 minutes to drive from the city center. Five suites have hot springs piped into the rooms. Prices start at about NT$19,400 (US$633) for a double room.
  • Kimpton Daan Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel located on a quiet residential street in the city center, close to the subway station. It has one of the best Western breakfasts in the city and is within walking distance of many major attractions. Double rooms start at about NT$8,500.
  • If you want to go to a more eccentric place, you can consider Originn Space in Dadaocheng. This is a very small inn located in a century-old pseudo-Baroque mansion with retro furniture. There are only four rooms, starting from NT$1,440.
  • Star Hostel Taipei Main Station is a comfortable central hostel suitable for families and solo travelers. There is a fully equipped shared kitchen and ample seating space. Shared rooms start from NT$680 per person, and private rooms start from NT$2,150 per person.