The cultural wanderer’s guide to Taipei, Taiwan

Knowing your way around a foreign country can be quite daunting—terrifying, even. But it’s a good thing that Taipei has a reliable and convenient public transportation system to make things easier for travellers! You can take the bus; just make sure to search for the stops on Google Maps. Once you get to the bus stop, you’ll see the schedule there. You can also take an Uber or taxi, which offers door-to-door service for added convenience. The transportation option we would recommend is the train (apart from the bus). Simply purchase an EasyCard, top it up and you’re good to go! You can also use your EasyCard at select stores and shops in Taipei, such as convenience stores and Watsons.

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1. Ximending

This vibrant neighbourhood and shopping district is a must-visit when in Taipei. You’ll find the famous rainbow crossing where you can take photos, the Red House with art-filled souvenirs and streets lined with retail stores and food stalls in Ximending. Some popular food stalls and stores here include Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle Soup, deep-fried sweet potato balls and the well-known Xing Fu Tang milk tea.

Additionally, for those who love gashapon (vending machines with mystery toys) and claw machines, you’ll find them on every corner as you walk around Ximending. 

Tatler tip: We highly recommend bringing a reusable bag to easily store your purchases in one place. It’s better than holding multiple plastic or paper bags. 

2. Taipei Fine Arts Museum

A trip is not complete without a visit to at least one museum. The Taipei Fine Arts Museum will definitely satisfy your eyes and mind with its massive collection of art pieces in various mediums. They also have several interactive displays and exhibits that will keep you entertained during your visit.

3. Taipei 101

You can’t leave Taipei without visiting Taipei 101, of course! Whether you go up to the observatory or marvel at the building’s beauty from outside, Taipei 101 is an attraction you can’t miss. It is the tallest building in Taiwan, and inside, you’ll find luxury stores like Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. You’ll also find a branch of Din Tai Fung here if you want to try their authentic and famous xiao long bao (soup dumplings).

Tatler tip: To get the best view of Taipei 101, head to one of these places: Elephant Mountain, the intersection of Xinyi Road and Keelung Road or Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.

4. Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park is an art centre that offers local art pieces and items like clothes, music boxes and bags, just to name a few. It’s a large outdoor area with seasonal food stalls and exhibits. You can find both local and international brands here, perfect as souvenirs or gifts for friends and loved ones back home.

5. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Another iconic attraction in Taipei is the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This historical monument boasts beautiful and intricate exteriors, making it a perfect backdrop for your photos. One thing to watch out for here is the changing of guards, which happens hourly, every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

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Now that you know where to go, it’s time to create your foodie bucket list!

1. Youtiao (dough fritter) and soy milk

The combination of youtiao and soy milk is the ultimate go-to breakfast of the locals. It’s light, simple and tasty—especially if you dip your youtiao in the soy milk! You can get your soy milk hot or cold, depending on your preference. One highly recommended place to get your fix of this delectable breakfast is Fuhang Soy Milk.

2. Beef noodle soup

Finding a bowl of beef noodle soup in Taiwan is easy, as it holds a special place in the country’s culture and food scene. The savoury broth, tender beef and thick-cut noodles are nothing short of hearty and homey. You can find several restaurants and stores that offer beef noodle soup, but two recommendations are Lin Dong Fang and the Michelin-starred Lao Shandong Homemade Noodles.

3. Coffee and tea (including bubble tea)

Taiwan is known for bubble tea. You’ll find several shops and stalls selling bubble tea here, and the struggle really is picking which one to try. Some must-try milk tea brands include 50嵐, Xing Fu Tang, Chun Shui Tang and COMEBUY.

They are also famous for traditional tea. One place we would recommend for getting tea is Wangtea Lab, which offers several local tea options, such as high mountain oolong tea, golden pouchong tea, tieguanyin and osmanthus oolong tea.

While Taiwan is not known for coffee, they have good coffee nonetheless. Some coffee shops offer local blends, which are definitely must-tries! If you have time to café hop, we recommend these places: Simple Kaffa, Chis Coffee (時拾咖啡) and Bleu&Book.

4. Authentic Taiwanese snacks from night markets

Most people might know this already, but Taiwan is also famous for its night markets! Some must-visit ones include Raohe, Ningxia, Shilin and Linjiang Street night markets. While the food options at night markets can be overwhelming, we recommend some snacks to give you a head start: Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice, scallion pancake, peanut ice cream roll and chicken chops.

5. Hotpot

Another comforting meal that Taiwan is known for is hotpot. This soup-based dish has everything—beef or pork, vegetables, noodles, meat and seafood balls, and even dumplings if you want! There are also many hotpot places in Taipei, but we recommend Delectable Hot Pot Lab, a laboratory-themed hotpot place that offers set meals for one or for the entire group!

Tatler tip: While most stores and restaurants in Taipei accept QR code and card payments, it’s still advisable to bring cash with you, especially if you plan to buy from stalls or smaller shops.

1. You can keep your EasyCard after your trip. It can be topped up and used when you visit Taiwan again.

2. Try to learn basic Mandarin, such as greeting with “hello” (你好 or Ni hao), asking how much (多少 or Duo shao) and saying thank you (谢谢 or Xiexie).

3. Do not leave a tip after your meal. Like in Japan, giving a tip is not advisable, as it may even come off as insulting.

4. Be quiet on public transportation. Keep your phone on silent and conversations minimal when on the bus or train to show respect to other passengers. Additionally, food and drinks are prohibited to maintain the cleanliness of public transport.

5. One essential item to purchase before your trip is a SIM card or eSIM. This will allow you to stay connected, as well as provide a local contact number should you need it for restaurant reservations.

6. Bring a small notebook or notepad with you. This is for those who plan to collect stamps from train stations, shops and even convenience stores as you explore Taipei.

7. Pack a power bank. A power bank is essential, especially if you plan to maximise your days in Taipei. More often than not, you won’t have time to go back to your hotel just to charge. However, if you suddenly run out of battery and don’t have a power bank, there are several Tourist Service Centers where you can charge your phone.

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