Experience in Taipei, Taiwan by Ikeng

What is it like to live in Taipei? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The people are generally nice and are always willing to help. It’s also a super convenient city, easy to move around with cheap price via MRT and buses, Uber is also available here in Taipei, it’s quite popular among young people actually. Being the capital of Taiwan, Taipei City is quite busy and fast paced, but it only take you no more than an hour getting to the suburb or countryside if you want to relax, and yeah, I would totally recommend the city.

What is the student lifestyle like in Taipei?

Everything is great I guess, there aren’t any downsides I can think of. There’s library to study everywhere and a wide variety of fun stuff to do, too. Study and leisure are perfectly balanced, as all thing should be. r/unexpectedthanos

How much does it cost to live in Taipei?

Tho being the most expensive city in Taiwan, the cost here is rather low comparing to Europe or the States. 700 Euros a month(rent included) would probably be more than enough to live a good life in Taipei(suppose that you don’t party and drink every single night)

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Taipei? Is there any advice you can give?

It’s not hard at all, though some buildings might be a bit old and you should always check if the fire alarm system is functioning, also make sure that there’s emergency exit. There are Facebook groups for looking for accommodations around each university that you can join, for example 政大租客 is the one for my school, Cheng Chi University.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Rice, lots of rice. Noodles are also one of the main thing we eat, dumplings, too. Nightmarkets offers a whole lot more if you want to check out weird things to eat.

What places would you recommend visiting in Taipei?

Elephant mountain is a must visit spot, it’s a quick climb(no more than 40minutes) and on top of it you can see the whole Taipei city with the famous Taipei 101 right next to you, go there both during the day and night, it’s a totally different feeling. The location is super close to the city, too. Just hop off the MRT and with a 5minute walk you are at the starting point of the trail.

Is it good to eat out in Taipei? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are a ton of choices to choose from, but all you can eat restaurants in Taipei are stupidly many, which is nice tbh. And they are not expensive at all, for cheaper ones they’re about 10-15 euros, with 20-25 euros you can already get yourself some pretty decent things. Try a place called 馬辣 if you’re interested.

Is the nightlife good in Taipei? Where is good to go?

There are some pub crawlings going on, though the bars are pretty wide spread(at least near my university it is)
But for night clubs, try Xinyi district, there’s a shit ton of clubs there.

What advice would you give future students heading to Taipei?

Taiwan is super safe, a girl walking along during the night is totally fine. Get a easy card(I think that’s what it’s called, could be wrong tho) the card is super convenient, you can take MRT and buses with it, borrow books from public library, pay for your lunch, pay your bills... etc