Ah, Taipei. One of the best places I have ever lived. Warm weather, slow pace of life, beaches nearby, and low cost of living. It’s hard to beat. I spent over a year in Taipei studying Chinese and working part-time, and it was one of the most epic years of my life. Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and the most developed city on the island. The CBD has everything a large, modern metropolis needs; sprawling public parks, massive shopping centers, numerous nightclubs, and many upscale restaurants. The skyline is dominated by the 509m-tall, bamboo-shaped Taipei 101, which is pictured above. Taipei is also known for its unique street-food culture with many night markets in and around the city.

While living in Taipei, I had many friends visit me from around the world. When I took them around the city, and the consensus was 3-4 days in Taipei was a good enough time to see most of the sights. If you only have a weekend in Taipei, I will outline the three places you must visit in Asia’s smallest big city!

1. Shilin Night Market

Shilin Night market is the best experience you can have in Taipei. Enjoy bubble tea? Look no further. Are you clamoring for some stinky tofu? Best in the city. Want to buy some knock-off apparel? No way you’re leaving without at least three bags full. It is almost as if you could encapsulate everything good about Taiwanese culture and place it in one venue, this would be it. The energy of this night market is unmatched throughout the island.

During my first two months on the island, I passed by the night market daily to get home. There is a metro station right outside the market, so it is extremely easy to get to. Most of the shops open around 4 pm and close at midnight. Peak times are from 7 pm to 10 pm, so if you desire to see street performers while munching on an oyster omelet surrounded by locals, this is the time to go. Most of the people that came to Taiwan to visit me enjoy this experience more than any other. If you do anything in Taipei, I recommend spending two hours wandering around Taiwan’s most expansive night market.

2. Taipei 101

“That building is stupid large!” is the expression my friend exclaimed on Facebook the first time I posted a picture of Yi Ling Yi (101). Taipei 101 is the most recognizable landmark in Taiwan but to be honest, when I lived there, I did not go inside the building once! I walked past it, sat in front of it, met people across the street from it, and even partied in the lower level basement.

This is the premier landmark in Taipei and many people use it as a point of reference when giving directions in the city. I finally went into 101 when I went back to visit Taiwan in 2018 and was thoroughly impressed. There is a massive mall inside the building with all the in vogue luxury brands along with a humongous food court where you can eat one of Taiwan’s most famous dishes, beef noodles.

The clear highlight of this building is the observatory deck. Taking the elevator was an experience. The elevator is capable of traveling 60.6 km/h (37.7 mph) and can go from the 5th to 89th floor in 37 seconds. After reaching the top, you can look down on the largest city in Taiwan in all of its splendor. I missed the sunset and was at the observatory at night. I would recommend going on a day with clear skies right before sundown. I spent 45 minutes on the deck, and it was more than enough time. Due to its proximity to other activities and its incredible view, I think Taipei 101 is the second-best place to visit in Taipei.

3. Beitou Hot Springs

Are you looking for a day outside of the hustle and bustle of Taipei? How about a day trip to a unique hot spring about an hour from the city center. Beitou Hot springs is a great day trip option if you want to get a glimpse of the gorgeous Taiwanese landscape and get into nature. Unfortunately, I only visited the hot springs once during my time in Taiwan, but it was a fantastic experience.

Getting to the hot springs is pretty straight forward. First, you take the Red Metro Line to Beitou Station and then transfer to the pink line for just one station to Xinbeitou. From Xinbeitou station, all of the attractions and hot springs are approximately a 5-minute walk away. When you get off the MRT, you will feel as if you were transported into a mountainous island paradise.

Thermal Valley is the most famous attraction at Beitou hot springs and is as known as Hell Valley. This a jade-colored hot spring stays extremely hot at a temperature around 80 – 100 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the water makes it too hot to swim in, but you can buy a beer and take in the picturesque views of hot spring and all of its surrounding areas. I spent around two hours at the hot spring and then ate some delicious Taiwanese food. If you aren’t in a rush, there is also a hot spring museum and plum garden nearby if that piques your interest.

There you have it. The three best places to visit if you have a few days in Taipei? Have you been to Taipei before? Do you agree with the list? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

Nightlife

Taipei nightlife is, to some extent, distinct in each district. Xinyi is the heart of the club scene, for example, while Ximending is home to a choice of more traditional experiences, including top markets and theatres. Daan has the best of the speakeasy-style bars, while Zhongshan is known to have the largest pub scene.

TOP 3 Hip-Hop Clubs in Taipei

1. Chess Taipei

2. KOR Taipei

3. 1001 Nights (一千零一夜水煙館)