Amongst the large cities of the world, Taipei is easily one of my favorites. Why not when it’s full of delicious food, friendly locals, and fun activities? Now that I have lived in Taiwan for awhile and been to Taipei numerous times, I have a better handle on the must-do things Taipei has to offer. You can check out our Must See in Taipei post for more detailed itinerary suggestions if you will be there for awhile. But if you only have one day to explore, here is what we would consider the ultimate one day Taipei itinerary. We hope it makes you fall in love with Taipei too! (Check out How We Learned to Love Expat Life in Asia: Part I – Try, Try Again)
Getting Around
A note on getting around Taipei for the Taiwan newbie:
Public transportation in Taipei is truly awesome. It’s convenient, clean, and inexpensive. Oftentimes it is actually faster than trying to get somewhere by car. We highly recommend making this your main mode of transit. Don’t worry, the names of the stations (and a lot of instructions and directions) are also in English (or Romanized Chinese).
Whether you are using the train, the MRT (subway), or the bus – you will have no problem getting where you need to go in comfort and safety. You simply need an Easy Card to swipe! Check out this post from Taipei Travel Geek that will answer all your Easy Card questions.
That having been said, depending on where you are staying, many Taipei attractions can also be walked to or reached by a Youbike (public bike rental). And if you want to be really comfortable, or it’s just more convenient, don’t hesitate to hail a taxi or call an Uber. Ride services in Taipei are very affordable compared to the US or Europe. If you don’t speak Chinese, simply look up the address to your destination and show your driver (in Chinese!). Taiwanese cabbies have an amazing grasp of where things are, are fearless in traffic, and are unlikely to scam you. You don’t even need to tip!
Morning Itinerary
I prefer to sleep in when I’m in Taipei. Although there is lots of activity in the morning, it tends to be from businesses, commuters and students headed to work and school. That being said, there are definitely things open fairly early in the morning if you don’t want to sleep in. If you are visiting on a weekend, check out the Jianguo Jade & Flower Markets. Take a walk around the Huashan 1914 Creative Park. Or simply stroll around the streets near you and get a feel for Taipei’s vibe. Temples are mixed in with businesses, scooters zoom through morning traffic and convenience stores like 7-11, Family Mart, and Hi-Life will be bustling. It’s a whole different world from the West.
The most important thing though is our first Taipei Must-Do:
1. Visit a Taiwanese Breakfast Shop
Whenever anyone asks me my favorite Taiwanese food, I inevitably end up listing breakfast foods first. Taiwan breakfast is one of a kind, and, unlike some other popular Taiwanese foods, is hard to find outside Taiwan.
Breakfast shops are on every corner and the tiny shops are often very delicious. But there are also some famous breakfast shops you can try. Yong He Soy Milk King (永和豆漿大王) and Fuhang Soy Milk (阜杭豆漿) are two of the more famous. Check out this guide from ms travel solo on Taiwanese breakfasts, best breakfast shops, what to eat and how to order. You may need to go earlier or stand in line for these well-known breakfast shops.
I highly recommend trying Taiwanese soy milk or dòujiāng (豆漿). It is nothing like the American boxed variety and has a pleasing nutty flavor. You can get it sweet or salty, cold or warm. Another favorite breakfast food for me is dànbǐng (蛋餅), an egg “pancake” or crepe that you can add bacon, cheese or other goodies too. I also love luóbogāo (蘿蔔糕), a “turnip cake” actually made from daikon radish combined with other ingredients and fried. Don’t forget to add some sauce! A little hot chili oil and soy “ointment” (a thicker version of soy sauce that will most likely come in a little packet with your breakfast) will enhance the flavors!
Once you have munched on your Taiwan breakfast and laughed at how cheap it was, you can head for the next Taipei in one day must do:
2. Taipei 101 Observatory
The iconic Taipei 101 building is a must-do if you have never been to Taipei before. The beautiful “wedding cake” structure houses a number of high end stores in the lower floors. But what’s really special is the view from the top. From the fifth floor take a ride in the “ultra-high-speed” elevator to enjoy views of the city from the 89th and 101st floors. One of the truly cool things that sets Taipei 101 apart is that you can actually see the the giant damper inside the building and learn about the amazing engineering that went into making it safe from earthquakes. And since we are also in the land of kě’ài (可愛) or cuteness, you can also meet the damper baby and take a picture with it!
You won’t even have to leave the building for your next stop, since there is a branch right inside Taipei 101:
Din Tai Fung, (Taipei, Taiwan)
3. Din Tai Fung
World famous for their xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung’s other offerings are also deliciously on point. It’s no wonder they earned a Michelin star! If you are a truffle lover, be sure to order the truffle xiaolongbao. Don’t skip the side dishes – many can’t really be found anywhere else outside of Taiwan! There are also vegetarian and vegan offerings for those abstaining from meat. Expect prices to be high for Taiwan, but quite reasonable coming from the US.
This chain is incredibly popular and does not accept reservations, but they have queuing down to a science. Take a number and wait to be called. Don’t worry, there is a menu in English and the wait staff are also happy to help. They even will demonstrate and provide instructions on how to eat your xiao long bao!
After you’ve eaten your fill of delicious soup dumplings head for one of my favorite spots in Taipei:
4. MaoKong Gondola
The MaoKong Gondola is an awesome way to take a relaxed ride up MaoKong mountain and enjoy great views of the city along the way. You can find information about how to get there and a map of the route it takes here. The trip will only cost about $2-4 USD each way and you can use your Easy Card! We like to wait for the glass bottom gondolas, to get extra good views of our ascent.
Watch for the tea growing on the sides of the mountain as you ascend. At the top you can enjoy tasting different teas at one of the many tea houses you will find. We really like MaoKong Tea House (貓空茶屋), which can be found a short walk from the gondola station. Their delicious Tieguanyin (鐵觀音) Oolong tea ice cream is my favorite! Relax in the tea shop or take a stroll around the top of the mountain and enjoy the cool fresh air and great views.
Enjoy your tea and ice cream but be sure to save room for the plethora of amazing food at your final stop of the day!:
5. Raohe Night Market
Taiwan is famous for it’s amazing night markets, and they all have something special! But Raohe holds a special place in my heart. In my opinion it’s the ideal first time night market experience for a few reasons.
To start with, it feels a little more organized than some of the nightmarkets, because it’s simply one long street with traffic flow in opposite directions on each side. So, it’s easy to make your way up one side and down the other without missing anything.
It’s also open rather than enclosed, which allows for some airflow – something we really appreciate on a warm, humid night! But it still offers the typical night market shopping experiences from cheap phone cases and knock off bags to live fish and hair accessories.
Most importantly, Raohe Night Market has some seriously amazing food. For starters there are five Michelin recommended stalls! Of their recommendations, we especially like the FuZhou Black Pepper Buns and the Ma Shu Bao Bao mochi stand (it’s vegan!). Watch for the Michelin sign on the stand (and the line!) as there are lots of knock-offs nearby.
If you are an adventurous eater and want to try a Taiwan classic, the stinky tofu at Hsia Kang Ming Peng Stinky Tofu is a must eat. You will smell the tofu as soon as you hit the night market. We recommend having it well fried. Don’t be alarmed – the taste is much milder than the smell. It’s definitely a Taiwan bucket list experience!
Other things Taiwan, and Raohe Night Market especially, do well are fresh fruit and fruit juices and fried sweet potato balls and mushrooms. All of these classics are delicious for both omnivores and vegetarian/vegan palates! We aren’t vegan ourselves, but it’s nice to have delicious options when vegan friends visit. If you are a seafood eater, be sure to get some fried squid – a personal favorite for me!
If you haven’t tried the now world-famous boba milk tea that was invented in Taiwan, Raohe is a great place for your first experience. Usually called bubble tea or pearl milk tea here (zhēnzhū nǎichá 珍珠奶茶) you will find the authentic version has a definite edge in quality and quantity on what you will find in the States. And it’s so much cheaper! There are lots of places to buy it and some have alternative-milk options available as well, so it can be lactose intolerant and vegan friendly – just ask!
While you’re walking, browse the shopping areas. Don’t be afraid to bargain with shopkeepers – the prices are pretty flexible, especially if you buy more than one item. Take a load off and get a beauty treatment or a massage. Taiwan foot massages are incredibly therapeutic – your tired feet will thank you!
Our favorite way to end the day at Raohe Night Market is with a freshly baked bōluó bāo (菠萝包, pineapple bun) ice cream sandwich or a bàobīng (刨冰, shaved ice) with fresh fruit.
There are so many options to choose from, don’t be afraid to be adventurous!
We hope you had a wonderful day in Taipei! Come again and visit some of Taipei’s other awesome sights!
Check out our post Must See in Taipei: from Tea Houses to Night Markets for more suggestions.
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