29 Unique Things to Do in Taipei & 3 to Skip

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After writing about all the unique foods you can try in Taipei, the night markets and the spots to eat, I felt like writing about all the unique things to do in Taipei because there are quite a lot.

Although we spent 20 days in Taipei, I am sure we only scratched the surface, and we’re already dreaming of going back to explore more and reunite with the friends we made there.

In this Taipei travel guide, I’ll walk you through all the things to do in Taipei so you can pick what fits your travel style and schedule.

The Best Things to Do in Taipei

Taipei Food & Drink

1. Night Markets

No Taipei travel guide is complete without starting with the night markets. It is hands down one of the top things to do in Taipei for an unforgettable culinary adventure.

→ Check out our detailed night market guide, as well as all the foods to try.

2. Food Tour

Food tours are our favorite way to understand a new culture and country. While our extended stay let us explore independently, a guided tour is a massive time-saver if you’re visiting Taipei for just 2 to 3 days.

We really hadn’t realised how many different foods there would be to try and we were positively surprised. I even dedicate a post on all the unique foods you need to try in Taipei. There are street foods vendors in every corner, cosy and local restaurants serving delicious food all day long and so many night markets to choose from.

3. Bubble Milk Tea

I know you can get bubble tea everywhere now, but trying it at its birthplace is a whole different experience. It was invented in Taiwan in the ’80s (in Taichung), and you’ll find a shop on literally every corner in Taipei.

Fun Fact: April 30 is the National Bubble Tea Day. It was founded in 2018 by Kung Fu Tea, a leading bubble tea chain.

Just don’t look too closely at the sugar content per glass and enjoy every sip – it was love at first sip for me!

4. Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast

Breakfast in Taipei has a whole vibe and is one of the must things to do in Taipei. To really immerse yourself in the local routine, skip the hotel food and try classics like savory soy milk (hot or cold) with crispy fried dough sticks (youtiao), egg crepes (danbing), or sandwiches.

Modern spots also serve wild twists like kimchi rolls, smooth taro paste, or viral boba cheese egg crepes! Some great spots to check out:

4+ Break Breakfast 小倆口早餐, Good Helper for Breakfast, Yong He Soy Milk

5. Stinky Tofu (If You Dare!)

I feel like stinky tofu deserves its own shoutout because it’s so uniquely Taiwanese. Everyone says it tastes way better than it smells, but we always chickened out and ordered something else. Let me know if you’re braver than we were!

6. Taiwanese Shaved Ice

I had no idea this dessert existed before coming here. Since I have a serious sweet tooth (if it’s not swimming in chocolate, I usually pass!), I was blown away by how light, refreshing, and flavorful it is. We ended up hunting it down all over the country.

7. Hot Pot Experience

Another popular thing to do in Taipei is the hot pot but with a restaurant on every corner, choosing where to go can feel completely overwhelming. Luckily, our friend Amy rescued us and took us to a fantastic, super affordable spot called Haoshiduo Shabu Shabu Shuangcheng.

You get your own boiling pot with your choice of broth, and then load it up with whatever ingredients you like such as thinly sliced meats, seafood, fresh mushrooms and veggies). It’s such a fun, interactive way to eat to spend your evening with friends.

8. Convenience Store Tea Eggs

You can’t leave Taipei without trying convenience store tea eggs. You’ll spot them right by the register at 7-Eleven or FamilyMart at all hours, making them the ultimate cheap, easy snack.

They’re basically hard-boiled eggs simmered for hours in a fragrant spiced broth infused with soy sauce, star anise, and tea leaves.

Culture, History & Iconic Landmarks

9. Dihua Old Street

Walking around the shops of Dihua district reminded me of stores I saw in mainland China so for me this is a very fascinating location.

Dihua District is a fascinating maze of historical shops selling traditional medicine, herbs, teas, and nuts. Our apartment is nearby and so we visited it often – I even popped into a local pharmacy to buy local remedies myself.

10. Dadaocheng Wharf & Container Market

Just a short walk from Dihua District, this riverside spot has many container-style food and drink stalls (open from 4:00 PM on weekdays and noon on weekends). It was our go-to spot for grabbing a beer, watching the sunset and the locals exercise daily.

11. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

It is one of Taipei’s most striking historical landmarks, built to honor Taiwan’s former leader, Chiang Kai-shek. It won’t take you a lot of time to explore it.

Tip: At the top of the hour between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, you can catch the changing of the guard ceremony on Democracy Boulevard (outdoors in front of the main hall step). It’s really cool to watch, but it can be cancelled in case of heavy rain.

12. Lungshan Temple

No Taipei travel guide would be complete without mentioning Lungshan temple. It is one of the most popular and atmospheric temples in Taipei, it is surrounded by tall modern buildings, and it has survived earthquakes and fires over the decades.

If you want to dive deeper into the unique rituals (like casting divination blocks and interpreting fortune sticks), you can book an affordable guided tour via Klook. It was a very interesting and unique experience for us.

13. National Taiwan Museum

Tucked inside the lush 228 Peace Memorial Park, this is Taiwan’s oldest museum, housed in a gorgeous classical Greek Revival-style building (being Greek myself, I found this very cool). It’s a quick stop if you want a deeper dive into Taiwan’s natural history and indigenous cultures.

14. Nung Chan Monastery

Nung Chan Monastery is a complete breath of fresh air and one of the most peaceful spots in the city. This is the first Buddhist temple I’ve seen without the traditional pagoda style, but rather a modern minimalistic architecture.

It will instantly give you a serene feeling, and if you’re feeling for a place to meditate or just reflect on, this might be the place to do it!

15. National Day Celebrations

We happened to be in Taipei for all of October, which meant we caught the massive celebration for Taiwan’s National Day (aka Double Ten Day on October 10), marking the 1911 Wuchang Uprising (the birth of the Republic of China).

All the roads around Taipei 101 were closed off to cars, turning into a massive pedestrian celebration with incredible fireworks, a drone show, and the best festive energy. We even met people while waiting and made friends who we hung out with for the rest of our time in Taipei!

16. National Palace Museum

This museum holds one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts and artworks in the world, including crowd-favorites like the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone.

Beyond those famous pieces, the galleries are packed with centuries of dynastic history like porcelain, rare calligraphy, and ancient bronze vessels.

City Views, Neighborhoods & Local Tours

17. Elephant Mountain Trail

This was one of the favourite things to do in Taipei because we loved being in nature especially when it offers such beautiful views. This is a great alternative if you don’t want to go up Taipei 101.

→ Check out our Elephant Mountain Trail guide for more information.

If you enjoy spotting planes there is a lesser-known hike easily accessible from the city center and close to Shilin night market.

18. Ximending District

Ximending is the absolute heart of the city’s youth culture and nightlife. The pedestrian streets are packed with trendy boutiques, themed cafes, endless street food vendors, and street performers. It was our favorite go-to spot to meet up with friends for an evening out.

Don’t leave without checking out the iconic rainbow crosswalk right outside the historic Ximending Red House.

19. Half-Day City Tour

If you’re short on time and want to hit the highlights without stressing over navigation, booking a half-day guided tour is a total game-changer. We love doing this whenever we land in a new city to soak up the history and stories straight from someone who lives there.

20. MAJI Square Nightlife

Going out and meeting locals and other travelers was one of our favorite things to do in Taipei. We used the Meetup app (Google Play / Apple) to find gatherings, which led to some incredible nights of socializing and dancing. We spent a lot of time at MAJI Square, packed with cool bars and music.

Even though massive club scenes aren’t normally our style, we had the best time here and made friendships we’ll cherish forever. Honestly, the warmth and openness of Taiwanese people is unmatched ( I must have said it a dozen times already!)

21. Maokong Gondola & Mountain Tea Houses

For a gorgeous escape from the concrete jungle, hop on the glass-bottom cable car near MRT Taipei Zoo Station and ride it up into the lush hills of Muzha. You’ll have panoramic views of the city skyline before dropping you off in Maokong, where you can wander through tea plantations, relax in traditional tea houses, and sip locally grown tea.

Best Day Trips from Taipei

22. Tamsui District

Easily reachable at the end of the MRT Red Line, Tamsui is a historic port district that offers a seaside escape from Taipei’s downtown. Spend a few hours strolling the scenic boardwalk, checking out the colonial history at Fort San Domingo, snacking on local “iron eggs,” and watching one of the best river sunsets in Taiwan.

You can also book a tour to learn more about the Colonial architecture of Tamsui with an expert guide.

23. Jiufen

Jiufen is one of the most popular and best day trips from Taipei for a good reason. Yes, it gets touristy and crowded, but wandering its narrow, lantern-lit alleyways and taking in the valley views is totally worth a few hours.

Tip: Walk a bit further away from the main tourist drag to find quieter local eateries and less commercialized bites. Also, it gets busier in the evenings when tourists buses arrive.

24. Shifen

Usually combined with Jiufen, Shifen offers a completely different vibe. It has beautiful waterfalls and launching sky lanterns right off the old train tracks.

While it’s touristy, lighting our own lantern turned out to be surprisingly special. You pick a combination of four colors representing things like wealth, health, career and happiness, and write your wishes on it.

This made us reflect on what we truly want, what is important in life, and how many things we are grateful for. At that time, we had already been traveling for 6 months (after leaving our jobs in the Netherlands) and writing our wishes was a grounding moment for us.

25. Wulai

Wulai is at the top of our list of things to do in Taipei next time! It’s a gorgeous mountain district known for stunning waterfalls, lush gorge scenery, and Atayal heritage with rich weaving traditions.

Getting there on your own is simple: take the MRT Green Line to Xindian Station and catch the direct 849 bus to the Wulai terminal.

26. Jiaoxi Hot Springs

Widely considered one of the best day trips from Taipei, Jiaoxi town in Yilan County is famous for its natural hot springs. While we chose to spend a night there to fully unwind in the mineral-rich waters and explore the local forest baths and food, many travelers do it as a day trip.

If you decide to spend a night there like us, you should know that there are hotels and apartments that have access to the same mineral-rich waters and they all have bathtubs that you can fill up and enjoy an even more private hot spring experience.

27. Beitou Hot Springs

If you want a relaxing soak without traveling far from the city, Beitou is just an easy ride away on the MRT Red Line. It’s a historic little district where you can actually see sulfuric steam rising right up from Thermal Valley, surrounded by old Japanese-era bathhouses and plenty of great public and private soaking spots.

Tip: It seems to be closed for construction these days but hopefully it will open again soon.

28. Taroko Gorge

A day trip to Taroko Gorge is hard to beat. This 19-kilometer marble canyon was carved over millions of years by the Liwu River. Following the April 2024 Hualien earthquake, visiting requires extra planning as parts are still closed for recovery.

Navigating winding mountain roads and checkpoints can be tricky, so joining an organized tour is the easiest way to experience accessible highlights safely. When we visited, it was completely closed 🙁

29. Yangmingshan National Park

It is the only national park with volcanic geography in mainland Taiwan, and it’s famous for steaming sulfur fumaroles, green meadows with water buffaloes, and stunning seasonal blooms like spring cherry blossoms or autumn silvergrass. Because it’s so close to Taipei, it’s an ideal day trip sometimes combined with a stop in Beitou.

Things to Skip in Taipei

1. Taipei 101 Observatory Deck

Hear me out: any Taipei travel guide calls this one of the best things to do in Taipei, but it didn’t win us over.

It’s pricey and commercialized. Ironically, standing inside Taipei 101 means you miss the best part of the skyline: the tower itself! Plus, sudden fog can turn your pricey 89th-floor ticket into a wall of grey (it happens often in Taipei!).

Skip the queue and hike Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) instead for a stunning, free sunset view featuring the skyscraper.

2. Shilin Night Market

Shilin market was my least favourite of all night markets in Taipei due to its size, crowds and mixture of identity. Unlike markets that are food-focused, it’s packed with clothing and shoe and souvenir shops, and we just didn’t feel the vibe.

If you’re short in time, visit Raohe or Ningxia (my personal favourite) night markets instead.

3. Yehliu Geopark

Located on the northern coast, Yehliu Geopark is famous for its surreal, wind-sculpted rock formations like the “Queen’s Head.” Unless you’re a rock enthusiast, it doesn’t justify the effort.

It’s usually swamped with tour groups, meaning it is likely to find long queues for a photo. Easily one of the things to skip in Taipei.

Final Thoughts

Although the list of things to do in Taipei is long (trust me, it could have been much longer), the city’s magic is in its everyday life and culture, the food, and the quiet street moments.

We instantly fell in love with the city, we made friendships we’ll cherish forever and no matter how many items fill this Taipei travel guide, nothing matches the warmth and hospitality of the Taiwanese people.