4 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 Shilin Night Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taipei 101 Observatory

      Allow 1.5 hours (mid-priced). Go on a clear afternoon and stay through sunset; check visibility before buying tickets, as low cloud often hides the view.

   2. Late morning

      Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)

      The trail continues along a ridge to other peaks of the Four Beasts Mountains.

   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

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Visit after Elephant Mountain or Taipei 101; the factory's baroque courtyard garden is easy to miss.

   5. Evening

      Shilin Night Market

      Arrive around 6–7pm before the biggest crowds, and explore the lanes beyond the main food court.

2. Day 2: National Palace Museum and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

   National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Huashan 1914 Creative Park, then Longshan Temple in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Palace Museum

      Only a small rotating selection is shown at a time; star pieces such as the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone are not always on display.

   2. Late morning

      Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

      Allow 1 hour (free). Visit in the early evening when the buildings are lit and locals rehearse dance routines on the square.

   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

      Huashan 1914 Creative Park

      A former wine and sake factory from the Japanese era, turned into a creative park of exhibitions, concerts, pop-up shops, design stores and cafés in brick warehouses and on lawns.

   5. Evening

      Longshan Temple

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

3. Day 3: National Taiwan Museum and Bopiliao Historic Block

   National Taiwan Museum, Bopiliao Historic Block and Raohe Street Night Market, then Xinyi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Taiwan Museum

      Allow 1.5 hours (low cost). Combine it with a walk through 228 Peace Memorial Park and the memorial to the 1947 incident.

   2. Late morning

      Bopiliao Historic Block

      Some buildings hold small exhibitions on Wanhua's history and local education.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Braised pork rice

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

   4. Afternoon

      Raohe Street Night Market

      Allow 1.5 hours (low cost). Join the pepper bun queue first, then walk the market and finish at Ciyou Temple when it is lit up.

   5. Evening

      Xinyi

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Jiufen

   About 1–1.5 hours by bus each way. Getting there: Direct bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT, or train to Ruifang and bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Jiufen

      About 1–1.5 hours by bus (Direct bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT, or train to Ruifang and bus); about 40 km.

   2. Day

      Jiufen

      A former gold-mining town clinging to a hillside above the north-east coast, with lantern-hung lanes, steep stairways and tea houses with sea views. The Gold Museum at nearby Jinguashi tells the mining story.

   3. Evening

      Back in Taipei

      Dinner: try Pepper bun.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 15–17 hours of visiting over 4 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
• 3 days in Taipei
• 5 days in Taipei
• 7 days in Taipei

Questions travellers ask