Taipei Exploration
This is one of the largest and most popular night markets in Taiwan to tourists. With its maze of alleyways, you can find a variety of local, traditional, and international merchandise — local cuisines included, of course! So make sure that you stop by the underground foodie paradise on the western side of the market. Some of the things to try are oyster vermicelli, fried pork buns, bubble tea, stinky tofu, and oyster omelet.
ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 6:00AM to 10:00PM (best times to visit would be at 6AM, 8AM or 5PM when crowds would gather and engage in hypnotic chanting)
NEAREST MRT: Blue Line to Longshan Temple ◘◘ ★ Mengjia Longshan Temple
If you want great discounted/packaged meals in Taipei during your Taiwan itinerary, check out these online deals. They have choices from hot pots, lobster sets, beef noodles, and more! Otherwise, you can also revisit the night markets for a meal.
This is a short walking distance from Taipei 101 and it’s the best night market to visit if you want something more local and less touristy. Other than clothing and other merchandise, there are food stalls here that sell sushi, steaks, and dumplings among many other things.
ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 4:00PM to midnight
NEAREST MRT: Blue Line to Longshan Temple Station
- 5F Taipei 101 Mall: The floor where you can purchase tickets and take the Guinness World Record high-speed elevator to the observatory on the 89th floor (it travels at 1,010 meters/min or 60.6kph, taking only 37 seconds total). However, it’s best to purchase online to get a discounted price — I will discuss this in the detail in the ‘admission‘ section below.
- 89F Indoor Observatory: Offers unobstructed views of Taipei. It also has a museum where you can learn about the construction of Taipei 101.
- 88F Beauty of Taiwan Multimedia Corridor, Super Big Wind Damper, Treasure Sky: The highlight of this floor is at 5.5m (in diameter) and there’s a 660-ton wind damper that’s built in the core of the tower. Apparently, this amazing technology helps keep the building from swaying and helps keep it stand upright. Meanwhile, Treasure Sky is a place where you can find jewel crafts.
- 91F Outdoor Observatory: This is accessible via the stairs from the 89th floor, but since the winds can get quite strong, this floor is only open on days when the weather is favorable. Anyhow, inside, you will find a small theatre that features films about the annual New Years’ fireworks display set off from Taipei 101.
Other than eating, you can also shop for clothes if you stroll through the nearby Clothing Shopping Outlet in Wufenpu, or you could also visit the Ciyou Temple which is at the eastern end of the night market.
ADMISSION: NT 0 (for students with ID, only NT 0)
HOURS: 8:30AM to 6:30PM from Sunday to Thursday (to 9:00PM from Friday to Saturday)
PROMO: Book online to purchase your admission ticket since it is cheaper
NEAREST MRT: Red Line Shilin Sation (士林)
TRIVIA: The 8 sides of the octagon-shaped building represent the number 8 which is often traditionally associated with fortune and wealth as per Chinese symbolism. Meanwhile, the 2 sets of 89 steps represent Chiang Kai-shek’s age of death (and you will find a bronze statue of him in the main hall). One of the great spectacles of this hall too is the hourly changing of the guards on either side of the statue.
If you ride the famous Alishan Mountain Railway, you can also visit several key locations in the national park via the Sacred Tree Line, Zhushan Line (for sunrise views over the Jade Mountain), and Mianyuei Line. For hiking-lovers, there are several great trails that you can go through in this location such as the path that leads to the Giant Tree of Mt. Shuishan (the oldest tree in the park at 2,700 years old).
ADMISSION: General ticket is NT0 (students are charged NT0 and children under 115cm are charged free). However, if you book online, you will only pay around NT0! With this, you not only get a discount but you also don’t have to wait in a long line.
HOURS: 9:00AM to 10:00PM
NEAREST MRT: Red Line (Xiangshan train) to Taipei 101 station or Blue Line to Taipei City Hall Station
Also called “Snake Alley”, Huahsi is conveniently found next to Longshan Temple, as well as 2 other markets namely Guangzhou and Wuzhou. There is a wide range of food items that you can find here but the most famous ones would be the dishes made from snakes and turtles. If you’re up for something this exotic for your Taiwan itinerary, do try the snake soup! For something more ‘normal’, try the famous Tainan dan-dan noodles.
Taipei’s night markets can easily fill you up for dinner; so go and take your pick from any of the previous night markets that I’ve mentioned, and you’re sure to enjoy the night away!
With such a number, it helps to note though that the exhibits continuously rotate because only a small number can be displayed at a time in order to properly preserve them. Still, it’s quite an impressive collection that’s worth visiting if you’re into Chinese culture and history!
Built in memory of the former President of the Republic of China, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, this monument is a prominent historical landmark in Taiwan that was opened in 1980 as part of the national park. The square is actually officially called Liberty Square but the name was changed due to political motivations, and due to people still commonly referring to it as the CKS Memorial Hall.
Upon admission, you could also access the beautiful garden nearby called Zhishan Garden. Not too far away would also be the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines which could be accessed for free once you pay the entrance for the National Palace Museum. (TIP: The National Palace Museum holds free English tours at 10AM and 3PM; book online beforehand to reserve your spot. Whereas the Shung Ye features free tours at 2PM every weekend; no booking is required).
Either way, nowadays, it holds the highest award as the tallest and largest green building in the world according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of this building before; after all, it serves as an icon of modern Taiwan (though it was initially built as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition); as such, it is a must to include this on your Taiwan itinerary.
BOOKING: Online
DURATION: About 8 hours
MEETING POINT: In this tour, it is possible to pick you up from any of the hotels found in Kaohsiung, Chiayi and Tainan City. Otherwise, if you’re coming from Taipei, they can pick you up from High Speed Railway stations found in Chiayi or Tainan. To get to these train station locations from Taipei, you need to book an HSR train. Book a ticket, or you can also book an unlimited pass especially if you’re staying longer in Taiwan and plan to visit other places outside of Taipei).
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: If you want to explore Alishan by yourself for your Taiwan itinerary, once you reach Chiayi station, take the direct bus to Alishan for about NT0 (one way) which runs between 10:00AM to 11:30AM. There are also non-direct buses that cost NT1 each way. Take note that the last bus to Alishan is at 2PM and the last bus back to Chiayi leaves at 5:10PM (found near Alishan’s 7-11 store).
After you had your fill of some of Taipei’s key attractions, it’s time to venture out of the city to discover northern Taiwan’s wonders!
On the way to Alishan with this day tour, you will also get the chance to stop over these additional locations…
◘◘ Huahsi (or Huaxi) Night Market
◘◘ Dalongdong Bao’an Temple
For most visitors, much like the CKS Memorial Hall, the Martyrs’ Shrine is known for its changing of the guards or soldiers at the front gate. This event happens every hour until 5PM and lasts for about 20 minutes so it’s worthy to consider for your Taiwan itinerary. Once you’re done watching the guards, just don’t forget to make the most of your stay and explore the surrounding architecture.
Taipei Meals
◘◘ National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
ADMISSION: Free
TOUR: For a hassle-free experience, you can join a Taipei city tour which will include a stop to this attraction
HOURS: 9:00AM to 11:30AM from Monday to Friday
NEAREST MRT: Red Line to NTU Hospital Station (pass through Exit 1)
◘◘ ★ Raohe Street Night Market
ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 4:00PM to midnight
NEAREST MRT: Red Line to Jiantan Station
Taipei Meals
Taipei Meals
ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 7:00 AM to 10:00PM daily
NEAREST MRT: Red Line to Yuanshan Station
BOOKING: Taipei restaurants
» READ: Taiwan Street Food in Raohe Street Night Market
◘◘ Presidential Building
◘◘ ★ Chiang Kai-Shek (CKS) Memorial Hall
ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 5:00PM to midnight
NEAREST MRT: Green Line to Songshan Station
ADMISSION: One-way NT0 for adults and NT for children (FREE if you purchase a Taipei Pass)
PROMO: Book online to purchase your admission ticket since it is a cheaper package inclusive of roundtrip tickets with FREE Taipei Double-decker Sightseeing Night Bus ticket for only NT0.
HOURS: Typically open from 9AM to 9PM on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9AM to 10PM on Fridays, 8:30AM to 10PM on Saturdays and 8:30AM to 9PM on Sundays (note that the gondola’s opening hours depend upon the weather situation)
NEAREST MRT: Brown Line to the terminus station, Taipei Zoo
◘◘ Other options for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
» Want some other day tour options for your Taiwan itinerary? See here to view a complete list.
This is another memorial hall, but this time around, it’s dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China: Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Once you enter the premises, you will find displays showing his accomplishments that spanned from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. But other than this, the hall is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You could even enjoy the surrounding park called Zhongshan Park which features gardens, decorative historical walls, and Lake Cui or Emerald Pond which has a nearby exhibition area.
Night Markets
This is another memorial hall, but this time around, it’s dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China: Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Once you enter the premises, you will find displays showing his accomplishments that spanned from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. But other than this, the hall is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You could even enjoy the surrounding park called Zhongshan Park which features gardens, decorative historical walls, and Lake Cui or Emerald Pond which has a nearby exhibition area.
This is another memorial hall, but this time around, it’s dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China: Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Once you enter the premises, you will find displays showing his accomplishments that spanned from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. But other than this, the hall is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You could even enjoy the surrounding park called Zhongshan Park which features gardens, decorative historical walls, and Lake Cui or Emerald Pond which has a nearby exhibition area.
This is another memorial hall, but this time around, it’s dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China: Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Once you enter the premises, you will find displays showing his accomplishments that spanned from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. But other than this, the hall is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You could even enjoy the surrounding park called Zhongshan Park which features gardens, decorative historical walls, and Lake Cui or Emerald Pond which has a nearby exhibition area.
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ADMISSION: Free
HOURS: 6:00PM to 1:00AM
NEAREST MRT: Red Line to Xinyi Anhe Station