Taipei, Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China. It’s a place where you’ll find both ancient temples and villages while also having skyscrapers and modern amenities. It’s known for its foodie scene with an abundance of food stalls and night markets. My husband and I added Taipei on our itinerary after our two week trip to China as both a stopover and pure curiosity for this island nation. I loved my time here and I break down my favorite things to do in this ultimate 3 day itinerary for Taipei, Taiwan.
Is 3 days in Taipei, Taiwan enough?
Yes and no. I personally feel like I got a great glimpse of Taipei in this time, but there is SO much more to do in the city and in Taiwan as a country. I know we will be back as there is so much more we want to see and do.
What language do they speak?
They speak Mandarin. There are definitely some language barriers, but maybe since we just came from China (where most people didn’t speak English) it was fairly easy to get around and talk to people.
What currency do they use? Do you need cash?
They use the New Taiwan dollar as their currency. Yes, having cash is necessary to pay for everything. Although if you have WeChat they also use that everywhere. There are ATMs in the 7/11’s where you can get cash as needed.
How to get around?
Metro, bus, or Uber. Once you get there you’ll be able to find and navigate the public transit pretty easily.
What should I wear?
Since this is an island country, dress for a tropical humid climate. We went in June and wow, the humidity hit us like a ton of bricks. Wear clothes that you are comfortable walking and sweating in. Think t-shirt, shorts, tank tops, rompers, dresses.
Some Taiwanese foods to try:
- Beef noodle soup
- Scallion pancakes
- Fresh soy milk
- Boba milk tea
- Papaya milk
- Taiwanese fried chicken
- Taiwanese ice cream burrito with cilantro
- Gao Bao (their version of a hamburger)
- Chicken wing stuffed with sticky rice
Taipei day 1
- Book a tour through Klook of Yehliu GeoPark, Jiufen and Shifen for tomorrow
- Explore the area around where you’re staying or go towards New Taipei to explore
- Go to Yong Kang for beef noodle soup. This is supposedly some of the best beef noodle soup and I can confirm it was delicious. You might want to go early cause a line forms quickly.
- Go to the National Palace Museum – this is the largest collection of Chinese art. It has around 700,000 pieces of art and artifacts that were originally from Mainland China.
- Roam around Raohe Street Night Market. Get the gao bao, papaya milk, and taiwanese fried chicken
Taipei day 2
- Yehliu GeoPark is an area known for its unique geological formations from honeycomb and mushroom shaped rocks that have been eroded by the sea. The GeoPark is also right on the coast so you get some great views of the ocean.
- Shifen is where you can see some more of Taiwan. This waterfall is a beautiful glimpse of the nature Taiwan holds. You will also go to Shifen Old Street where you can see what the city used to look like. Here you will be able to get the Taiwanese ice cream burrito with cilantro as well as the chicken wing stuffed with sticky rice.
- Jiufen is the famous town that Spirited Away is thought to be based off of. Walk through Old Street and you will find tea houses, food stalls, and more in this enchanted cliff side area.
- If you’re not full from eating around Shifen and Jiufen, check out Ningxia Night Market and see what you can find
Taipei day 3
- Go to Beitou District for the natural hot springs. You can get here easily though the metro, just look at the metro map or ask an employee (avoid Monday as many places are closed)
- Check out the Beitou Hot Springs Museum and then choose between the a public or private hot spring experience
- Public: Beitou Public Hot Spring (Millennium Hot Spring), located in the center of town, is where most of the locals go and feels like an authentic experience. Mixed gendered and must wear swim suits. Women must wear a swim cap. This is where we went and we really enjoyed it. There is also Longnice Hot Spring
- Private: You can choose between the multiple resorts in town from Grand View Resort, Radium Kagaya Taipei (Japanese inspired), Beitou Hot Springs Resort and so many more. You can book beforehand or can walk in and see what’s available
- Back in Tai Pai explore Shuangcheng Street Night Market for some unique eats or go to a Din Tai Fung around you
