What are your current travel plans? Is Taipei on your travel list? Here are 5 fun things to do in Taipei, Taiwan.
1. Huaxi Night Market and Lungshan Temple
The stores generally begin opening at this night market around 4pm. Featuring a mix of both retail and food stalls, you can eat local delicacies including snake. Nearby is the intricate and bustling buddhist Lungshan Temple built in the 1700s. No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan
2. Ice Monster and Taipei 101
This cute shop sells traditional Taiwanese shaved ice with fresh fruit and huge portions. It is super refreshing in the Taiwanese heat and will prepare you for the trek up the nearby Elephant Mountain which offers great views of Taipei’s tallest building, Taipei 101. Prepare for stairs! 106, Taiwan, Taipei City, Da’an District, 忠孝東路四段297號1樓號
3. Shilin and Jiufen Half Day Trip
If you have enough time in Taipei, a super fun and educational adventure is to do a half day trip to the northern Taiwan towns of Shilin and Jiufen. Check websites like Klook for tour companies that run daily trips to these two towns for as little as $15. Jiufen is a coastal town built on a hill that was the inspiration for the city featured in Studio Ghibli’s movie Spirited Away. Shilin is up in the lush mountains and is built around train tracks. The town is packed with stalls that allow you to buy paper lanterns which you can write hopes and wishes on and then let them fly away!
4. Fujin Street
In northern Taipei you can find this tree-lined street packed with cute boutiques and cafes. Check out Restaurant Pinecone for Western fare in an airy and urban setting. 449號, Songshan, Fujin Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
5. National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial
This huge memorial complex is dedicated to the former President of the Republic of China. It features the National Concert Hall and the giant Liberty Square Arch. After exploring the grounds, head to the nearby Taipei Botanical Gardens for exotic plants and bird watching!