3-Day Taipei Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Going to Taipei for the first time? We've put together a simple 3-day plan that covers the must-see places, amazing food, and cool stuff to do. Perfect if you want to get a real taste of the city without rushing around.

Day 1: See the Famous Spots

Morning

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall This huge white building is basically Taipei's most famous landmark. Walk around the big courtyard and watch the guards change every hour - it's pretty cool. If you want to see more places without the hassle, you can avail a city tour that hits multiple spots.

Yongkang Street Food heaven! This is where you'll find the original Din Tai Fung (those xiao long bao everyone talks about). You can join a food walking tour to discover all the best local spots.

Afternoon

Huashan 1914 Creative Park Cool place with art galleries, little shops, and cafes. Great for photos and just chilling out for a bit.

Elephant Mountain You’ll have to hike for about 20-30 minutes, but the sunset view over Taipei is incredible. The path is well-marked and beginner-friendly. There are benches where you can rest.

Before or after the hike, drop by Takemura Izakaya, for a picture-perfect view of Taipei 101. It’s a popular photo op spot, especially at night when the tower lights up. The food is solid too. Grab a cold beer and a skewer or two if you have time.

If you’re doing the hike around sunset, stop by the nearby McDonald’s or the Arabica Coffee near the trail entrance. Grab some chicken, a burger, and a drink to bring with you, it’s a fun way to enjoy a mini picnic at the peak while watching the city light up below.

Evening

Taipei 101 Go up Taiwan's tallest building. The elevator is crazy fast and the view from the top is amazing. Lots of shopping and food downstairs too. You can get your tickets online so you don't wait in line.

Raohe Night Market Our favorite night market in Taipei. Must try: pepper buns right at the entrance, grilled squid, and bubble tea. You can join a night market food tour if you want to know what locals actually eat.

Day 2: Temples and Local Life

Morning

Longshan Temple Really old temple where locals still come to pray. Easy to get to by train. You can avail walking tours that show you this plus hidden spots you'd never find alone.

Bopiliao Historical Block Right next to the temple. Old street with red brick buildings and cool street art. Nice for photos.

Afternoon

Ximending This is where most of the young crowd hangs out. The area is packed with shops, street performances, and pop culture finds. It’s fun to just walk around and take it all in. We recommend having an early dinner at Jin Yuan Pork Chop, crispy, tender, and well-loved by locals.

Dihua Street Way different vibe - more traditional. Old tea shops, historic buildings, local snacks. You can book a tea tasting walk here if you're into that.

Evening

Ningxia Night Market Smaller than others but the food is really good. Try oyster omelet, taro balls, and sesame chicken rice. You can do a food crawl to hit all the best stalls.

Day 3: Day Trip to the Mountains

Full Day

Jiufen This mountain town looks like something from a movie. Narrow alleys, red lanterns everywhere, and you can see the ocean. The taro balls here are famous. Sit in a tea house if you can. We recommend booking a day trip with hotel pickup to make it easy.

Extra Stops

Shifen Waterfall They call it Taiwan's Niagara Falls. Pretty big waterfall, worth seeing.

Sky Lanterns at Pingxi Write your wishes on a paper lantern and let it fly into the sky. Really cool experience by the old train tracks. You can look for combo tours that do Jiufen, the waterfall, and lanterns all in one day.

Evening

Head back to Taipei. Maybe check out a smaller night market like Tonghua or just have dinner somewhere quiet.

Stuff You Should Know

EasyCard Get this card at the airport or any train station. Works for trains, buses, even 7-Eleven. Makes everything easier.

Phone Service Grab a local SIM or eSIM so you can use maps and translate stuff. You can order a SIM card online and pick it up when you land.

Where to Stay We suggest sticking to Zhongzheng, Xinyi, or Da'an areas. They're in the middle of everything and close to train stations.

Language Lots of young people speak English. Most signs have English too, so you'll be fine.

Money Bring cash for night markets and small shops. Big places take credit cards or we recommend getting a Wise travel card before your trip.