Taipei 7-day itinerary

Begin at Longshan Temple (free) — Taipei's spiritual heart since 1738. The ornate carvings, incense spirals, and devout worshippers create an atmosphere no museum can replicate. Explore the surrounding Wanhua district with traditional herbal medicine shops and narrow lanes. Breakfast at a local shop — dan bing (egg crepe, NT$30) and warm soy milk (NT$20).

Metro to Taipei 101. The observation deck (NT$600) offers panoramic views plus the world's largest tuned mass damper. For free views, hike Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan, 20 minutes from Xiangshan MRT) — the skyline panorama with 101 in frame is iconic. Continue to the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (free) in a converted tobacco factory for design exhibitions and indie markets.

Shilin Night Market — oyster omelette (NT$70), pepper bun (NT$50), large fried chicken cutlet (NT$75), stinky tofu (NT$50), and bubble tea (NT$40–60). The underground food court has tables and AC. Budget NT$300–500 for a full night of grazing. The games and claw machines are surprisingly addictive. Shilin is a full evening experience, not just a quick dinner stop.

The National Palace Museum (NT$350) houses 700,000+ pieces spanning 8,000 years of Chinese art. The Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone are the star attractions. Allow 2–3 hours minimum. Free English audio guide is worth getting. The collection rivals the Louvre and British Museum for sheer historical breadth — this is the legacy of Chinese civilization.

Maokong Gondola from Taipei Zoo station (NT$120) rides over tea plantations to the mountain village of Maokong. Choose a tea house with valley views and order a pot of tieguanyin oolong (NT$200–400). The slow ritual of gongfu cha (Taiwanese tea service) is meditative. Try the tea-infused noodles or tea-smoked chicken at one of the hillside restaurants.

Raohe Street Night Market is smaller and more atmospheric than Shilin. The famous pepper bun at the entrance always has a queue (NT$50). Try medicinal stewed ribs (NT$80), mochi with peanut and ice cream (NT$40), and grilled corn. Walk to Rainbow Bridge over the Keelung River for illuminated reflections. Raohe is the locals' favorite night market.

Bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT (NT$101, 90 minutes) to Jiufen — a hillside mining town that inspired Spirited Away. Narrow lanes wind past lantern-hung tea houses and ocean views. Visit A-Mei Tea House for tea and mountain panoramas. Sample taro balls in sweet soup (NT$45) and fish ball soup (NT$35). The atmosphere is enchanting, especially in mist.

Taxi to Shifen (NT$200, 30 minutes). Release a sky lantern (NT$150–200) from the railway tracks — write wishes, light it, watch it float. Walk 20 minutes to Shifen Waterfall — Taiwan's widest, often called a "little Niagara." The cascade surrounded by lush forest is genuinely impressive. The old mining railway runs through the village center.

Train from Shifen via Ruifang (NT$76 to Taipei). Ningxia Night Market for dinner — smaller and more food-focused than Shilin, beloved by locals. Fang Jia shredded chicken over rice (NT$40), oyster vermicelli (NT$50), and taro balls. End with bubble tea from 50 Lan or Tiger Sugar brown sugar boba (NT$65). A perfect, understated final Taipei evening.

MRT to Xinbeitou — Taipei's hot spring district, built during the Japanese colonial era. Visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (free) in a beautiful 1913 Japanese bathhouse building. Then soak at the public outdoor hot springs in Millennium Hot Spring (NT$40) or splurge on a private room at one of the ryokan-style bathhouses (NT$500–1,500). The thermal valley nearby steams with sulfurous water.

Bus from Beitou to Yangmingshan National Park — volcanic mountains within city limits. Hike to Qingtiangang grasslands (easy, 30 minutes) for panoramic views and wild water buffalo grazing on green hills. The Xiaoyoukeng trail passes steaming volcanic fumaroles. In spring (Feb–Mar), the cherry blossoms and calla lilies cover entire hillsides. The park is a stunning escape from the city.

Return to the city and explore Shida Night Market near Shida University — smaller and more local than the famous markets, with a younger student crowd. Cheap eats, vintage clothing, and a relaxed vibe. Try lu rou fan (braised pork rice, NT$30–50 — Taiwan's national comfort dish), scallion pancakes (NT$25), and fresh papaya milk (NT$45). The surrounding Yongkang Street area has excellent restaurants.

Walk through Dadaocheng, Taipei's oldest commercial district along Dihua Street. Baroque-style shophouses from the 1920s sell dried goods, traditional Chinese medicine, and fabric. The architecture is stunning — ornate facades hiding ancient temples and century-old tea shops. Visit ASW Tea House for a rooftop tea tasting overlooking the old city. Saturday mornings have a farmers' market.

Walk to Huashan 1914 Creative Park — a converted sake brewery now housing galleries, indie shops, and cafes. Current exhibitions rotate between art, design, and pop culture. Continue through the Zhongshan district's tree-lined lanes for boutique shops, independent bookstores (VVG Something is beautiful), and third-wave coffee. Lunch at a beef noodle soup restaurant — Taiwan's iconic dish (NT$150–200).

Ximending is Taipei's Harajuku — pedestrianized streets packed with street performers, bubble tea shops, tattoo parlors, and cinema. The Red House is a heritage building turned creative market and LGBTQ+ nightlife hub. Watch the sunset from the rooftop bar, then explore the neon-lit streets. For dinner, try Modern Toilet Restaurant (themed restaurant, quirky but fun) or stick to the excellent street food.

Train to Keelung (NT$76, 40 minutes) — a gritty port city with incredible seafood and one of Taiwan's most colorful temples. Dianji Temple near the harbor is a visual riot of carved dragons, painted deities, and incense smoke. The Zhengbin Fishing Port area has photogenic painted houses. Walk the harbor for a taste of working-class Taiwan rarely seen by tourists.

Keelung's Miaokou Night Market operates from late morning — a rare daytime night market. The seafood here is the freshest in northern Taiwan. Ding Bian Cuo (a sticky noodle soup, NT$55) is the signature dish. Try crab soup, tempura (Taiwanese style), and peanut ice cream rolls. The market surrounds the temple and is a fraction of the size of Taipei's markets but arguably better for food.

Train back to Taipei and visit Tonghua (Linjiang) Night Market near Xinyi — a local market in an upscale area with excellent quality. The glutinous rice balls, grilled squid, and stir-fried noodles are highlights. This market is walking distance from Taipei 101, so combine it with a final nighttime view of the illuminated tower. Bubble tea from any of the dozens of vendors as a farewell drink.

Visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (free) — the massive white marble monument and its surrounding Liberty Square are iconic Taipei. The hourly changing of the guard ceremony is precision military choreography. The National Theater and Concert Hall flanking the square are architecturally stunning. Walk through the surrounding gardens and visit the nearby Nanmen Market for traditional snacks.

Yongkang Street is Taipei's foodie paradise — the original Din Tai Fung, Smoothie House for mango shaved ice (seasonal, NT$120), and dozens of cafes. For souvenirs, buy pineapple cakes from Chia Te Bakery (NT$360 for 12 — the gold standard), oolong tea from a Dihua Street tea shop, and local snacks from any supermarket. Eslite Bookstore in Xinyi is open late and has a great gift section.

For your final meal, splurge on a hotpot dinner — Wulao or Mala Yuanyang offer bubbling split pots of broth with platters of thinly sliced meat, seafood, and vegetables (NT$500–800 per person). Or keep it simple with one last lu rou fan and a walk along the Tamsui River. Taipei is a city that wins you over quietly, bite by bite, and your last evening should taste like gratitude.