Your first 24-hours in Taipei
Oh, Taiwan. Such an underrated island and place to visit. I have had the privilege to visit Taiwan over a dozen times in my lifetime and I’m so excited to share what I know so far about Taiwan and how you can ultimately maximize your time when you visit. If I were to only have 24 hours in Taipei, this is how I would spend it.
Starting off strong with breakfast
I would start off with an authentic (carb-heavy) Tawainese breakfast. There are a couple of very well-known (but also very crowded) options. But you can easily find these stalls in any neighborhood as well. I would highly advise getting there EARLY as I know some friends who have waited over an hour (just to eat breakfast, yes the dedication is really real).
Key dishes you need to try: Turnip cake (luo bo gao 蘿蔔糕), Soymilk (dou jiang 豆漿- usually would order this cold and add sugar!), Chinese donut (you tiao油条 - gotta eat it while it’s hot & crispy), egg omelet (dan bing蛋餅).
Yonghe Soy Milk King (No. 102號, Section 2, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District)
Fuhang Soy Milk (100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Section 1, Zhongxiao E Rd, 108號2樓)
VeganResort (Their scallion pancake burrito pictured above is SO good - No. 133號, Guling St, Zhongzheng District)
Boba? Yes.
After you’ve got something to eat, I would recommend getting a much-need boba run. I mean boba was invented in Taiwan so it’s kind of a must out here. And when boba is $1 in Taiwan… you definitely need to try more than one.
WooTea
Ten Ren’s tea
NUTTEA
TP Tea
Presotea
Combuy
Chacha go
Chun Tsui Tang (Fun fact: the owner, Liu Han-Chieh, first came up with the idea of boba tea back in the 80’s)
Some other chains you may have seen in the US but are Taiwan chains: 50 Lan (Wushiland), Xin Fu Tang, Yifang, 85°, SOMA, CoCo, Tiger Sugar)
Ready for the views!
If weather permits along with your physical ability to do some ‘light’ hiking, I would make my way over to the infamous Elephant Mountain (象山). The easiest way to get to Elephant Mountain is to take the red line to Xiangshan MTR Station (~15 minutes from Taipei Main Station). I’ve done this hike on almost every trip I’ve made back to Taipei.
Fair warning now… there are many stairs to reach the top. You can go up there during the night or day (as I don’t believe it ever closes) - don’t forget to savor the view!
You can also make your way into Xinyi district to check out the Taipei 101 Observatory (110, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, 7號89樓) as an option as well. Especially, if you’re looking to avoid heat, get a bite, or do some shopping - this is definitely a less exercise-inducing option for just-as-stellar views.
Recharge time
Next, for some shopping, coffee, or general re-charging, I would recommend checking out the shopping area around the ZhongShan MRT station. Some cafe options for you:
Fika Fika Cafe (No. 33, Yitong St)
Libo Cafe (No. 12, Lane 42, Section 2, Zhongshan N Rd)
Acting Cafe (No. 25號, Lane 116, Section 2, Zhongshan N Rd)
Coffee Dumbo (No. 25號, Lane 49, Chifeng St)
I came for boba, stayed for the night markets
I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite again. Just like in many places in Asia, street food is a must-try. If you’ve got the stomach for it (and c’mon you’re in Taiwan, I hope you knew you were going to eat 10 meals a day here), I would recommend heading over to a night market! There will be plenty of opportunities for shopping (fake Supreme or perhaps some clothes for your furry friends), playing carnival games with your friends, and lots of authentic Taiwanese dishes to try.
Finishing off with a night-cap:
Now for the grand finale. If you are looking for unique cocktail experiences, here are some of my favorite bars around Taipei.
Aha Saloon (No. 138, Section 2, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District)
Bar Mood (No. 53號, Lane 160, Section 1, Dunhua S Rd, Da’an District)
Bar Aged (No. 3號, Alley 3, Lane 45, Minsheng W Rd, Zhongshan District)
Washu (106, Taipei City, Da’an District, Lane 101, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, 39號A2 - Pictured below)
Last but not least, I’ll leave you with some general tips for navigating your way around Taipei:
7/11’s are your best friends - 24/7 access to affordable drinks and snacks. I highly recommend stopping by one (or three) during your time here! You can also get cash, packages, print, and much more. Asia really takes convenience stores to another level.
Definitely get cash! Many places in Taiwan are cash only. International ATMs are easy to find.
You can purchase a Yoyo card at an MRT station or 7/11 to utilize public transportation (bus and MRT).
Locals are generally quite friendly so don’t be afraid to ask for photos/directions, especially if you’re traveling solo!
Don’t eat or drink on the metro (this is why the Metros are so clean).
Learn a few Mandarin short phrases to get around (Taipei is pretty English- friendly but it never hurts to learn a bit of the mother language, you can get started here).
Please message me if you ever have any questions. Safe travels!
