3 days in Taipei

Day by day

1. Day 1: Taipei 101 Observatory and Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)

   Taipei 101 Observatory, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, then Longshan Temple in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taipei 101 Observatory

      The 508-metre tower was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010.

   2. Late morning

      Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)

      Climb about 45 minutes before sunset and stay until the city lights come on; bring water and a torch for the descent.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Beef noodle soup

      Specialist shops across the city, including several on Taoyuan Street near Ximending and around Yongkang Street.

   4. Afternoon

      Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

      A 1930s tobacco factory with long corridors, a courtyard garden and a lotus pond, now home to the Taiwan Design Museum, exhibitions and craft shops.

   5. Evening

      Longshan Temple

      Come in the early morning or around evening prayers to hear the chanting; visitors are welcome to watch quietly.

2. Day 2: National Palace Museum and Shilin Night Market

   National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, then Raohe Street Night Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Palace Museum

      Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid tour groups, and use the audio guide; check which highlights are on display before you go.

   2. Late morning

      Shilin Night Market

      Taipei's largest night market sprawls through the streets near Jiantan MRT station, with snack stalls, games, clothing and an underground food court.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Xiaolongbao

      Dumpling restaurants citywide, including the original Din Tai Fung on Xinyi Road near Yongkang Street and many smaller local shops.

   4. Afternoon

      Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

      Visit in the early evening when the buildings are lit and locals rehearse dance routines on the square.

   5. Evening

      Raohe Street Night Market

      Join the pepper bun queue first, then walk the market and finish at Ciyou Temple when it is lit up.

3. Day 3: Beitou hot springs and Yangmingshan National Park

   Beitou hot springs, Yangmingshan National Park and Maokong Gondola, then Xinyi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Beitou hot springs

      Beitou's hot-spring valley includes the free Beitou Hot Spring Museum in a 1913 Japanese-era bathhouse, the steaming green waters of Thermal Valley and a low-cost public open-air bath.

   2. Late morning

      Yangmingshan National Park

      Take a bus from Jiantan or Shilin MRT on a clear weekday, and bring layers; it is noticeably cooler and often misty at altitude.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Braised pork rice

      Small diners and night-market stalls everywhere; order a bowl with soup and greens.

   4. Afternoon

      Maokong Gondola

      A cable car rising about 4 km from the Taipei Zoo station over forested hills to Maokong, an area of tea plantations and tea houses with views back over the city.

   5. Evening

      Xinyi

      Clubs, rooftop bars and lounges around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Huashan 1914 Creative Park (Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)): Check what exhibitions are on before you go; the grounds are free to wander.
• Swap in National Taiwan Museum (Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)): Combine it with a walk through 228 Peace Memorial Park and the memorial to the 1947 incident.
• Swap in Taipei Fine Arts Museum (Zhongshan): Pair it with the temples near Yuanshan MRT or the Expo Park across the road.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ximending ($$) suits budget, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–25 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Taipei
• 2 days in Taipei
• 4 days in Taipei
• 5 days in Taipei
• 7 days in Taipei

Questions travellers ask