The 101 to Taipei

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is not the first city in Asia that comes to mind as a travelling destination. And that's probably correct - there are more exciting, prettier, and more accessible places to visit. But that doesn't mean Taipei shouldn't at least appear somewhere on your travelling bucket list.

How to get in

While there technically are some ferry connections from mainland China, you're most likely going to fly into Taiwan, and most likely into Taipei's Taoyuan airport. The airport is located somewhat out of the city of Taipei, but connections are good: there's an MRT train that will take you straight to Taipei main station (express version takes 40 minutes, non-express version 55 mins) and costs less than 5 euros (both versions costs the same). As with many cities the MRT networking in Taipei shuts down before midnight, so if you arrive very late or leave very early you may have to resort to the airport bus which runs 24/7. It costs around the same as the train and only takes a little longer, but capacity is limited and if you're arriving on a large flight, chances are there will be quite a queue for it. Never the less it is still much cheaper than taking a taxi, but if you can somehow arrange to arrive during MRT operating hours, that would definitely help

Where to stay

Taiwan has some of the best hostels in the world, at least in my opinon. There is really no right or wrong area to stay, but a lot of good hostels are situated in walking distance to Taipei main station which makes getting around very easy. Hotels, both budget and upscale, are of course also available. You can find everything through the usual internet channels. Most hostels have very generous cancellation policies, so simply book something you like, you can always change it. Stays in a hostel will generally cost around ~10 euros per night.

What to see

Taipei 101

This is a no-brainer. Apart from being THE attraction in Taipe, it's enormous size means you'll struggle not to see it on a visit to the city. It's located in the south east corner of the city and there are plenty of other attractions surrounding it. You can visit the 89th floor for a stunning view of the city and for a ride in the fastest passenger elevator in the world. Compared to some towers around the world entrance prices are reasonable, around 15 euros per person. You can book online via Klook and save a bit of money (you can book up to 15 minutes in advance, so wait for a day with nice weather and then book, it's enough).

One less known attraction of Taipei 101 is the world's highest Starbucks, located on the 35th floor. It's also the only Starbucks in the world where you will have to make a reservation at least one day in advance (a phone number can be found online). There's limited capacity, so try to book early. Amazingly the prices are just as cheap as at the Starbucks on the ground floor, but the view is amazing. There is a 200 NTD minimum spend per party, so if you come with someone else it's no problem (even alone it's no big deal). You get to stay for 90 minutes before you'll be asked to vacate for the next group. Of course the view is not as great as on the top and it's not a 360 degree view, but it makes for a great Instagram photo and it's something not everyone that visits Taipei witnesses.

National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

The National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is located only a few minutes walk from Taipei 101. It houses an enormous statue as well as a (free to visit) exhibition about the life and accomplishements of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. There's a guard changing ceremony at the top of every hour. It's not the most exciting ceremony in the world, after all there are only 2 guards that need to be changed, but if you're in the area at the right time it's definitely worthwhile to see - it's all free.

Liberty Square & National Chiang Kai-Shek memorial hall

These two attractions are located right next to each other and hence should be visited together. The two squares, each housing impressive structures, link and can be walked between. The memorial hall is currently undergoing some renovation, hence changing of the guards doesn't take place here for the next few months.

Longshan Temple

This is the most popular temple in Taipei with tourists. It is also surrounded by several streets that have been restored to their ancient glamour. Interestingly there are no restrictions on wearing shorts or flip flops that you would find in many other places.

Elephant Mountain

Elephant Moutain is the best place to visit for an amazing (and free) view of the city, including Taipei 101 (you don't see it when you're on top of it). Although the climb up the mountain is only around 20 minutes, it's a pretty steep and tiring 20 minutes. Bring water, none is for sale. There are two levels from which pictures can be taken of the skyline, but the lower level has a more comfortable viewing platform. At the higher level the main attraction is climbing on some boulders to get the best view, but you'll be waiting in the queue of tourists, so will only get a few seconds on top of one of the rocks.

Day Trips

While there is plenty to see in Taipei, there are also some great places to visit just outside the city

Jiufen and Shifen Old Streets

Certainly the most popular day trip from Taipei is Jiufen Old Street with a possible extension to Shifen Old Street. A scene in the movie Spirited Away is based on the tea houses lining the streets of Jiufen Old Street, hence attracting large tourist crowds.

Many blogs online discuss how the easiest way to visit is with an organized tour from Taipei. While this may be true, it is pricey and the trip can be made perfectly well using public transport. A train will take you from Taipei main station to Ruifang from where there is a local bus to the main attraction. Google maps has reliable directions and it only costs a few euros. Once you arrive you will be walking through a seemingly endless array of shops selling souvenirs, teas, and snacks. You can then choose to eat in one of the tea houses, but expect higher prices.

Shifen Old Street is famous for the lanterns that anyone can purchase and set free into the sky from the railway tracks.

Getting to Shifen from Jiafen is a bit tricky, but still doable. You first take the bus back to Ruifang and then a small local train for around half an hour to reach Shifen Old Street. The train only runs once an hour, so make sure you catch the appropriate bus back, otherwise it's a long wait. From Ruifang there are many trains leaving back to Taipei. All in all it makes for a fun day trip with plenty to see and do. If you want to explore both location leave Taipei as early as possible, the travel time does take a fair chunk out of the day.

Tamsui

A local favorite is to spend a day in Tamsui. It's at the end of a MRT line so very easy to get to. On the way you can also plan a stop in Beitou to visit the hot springs. While the thermal park is free entrance, bathing in a hot spring isn't. While the entrance tickets aren't expensive, they are very particular about what bathing attire is allowed - chances are yours is not the right material in which case they will try to pursade you to purchase theirs at a not so great price.

In Tamsui you can explore the markets, have some street food, and rent a bike to take you all the way to Fishermen's wharf. There's also a ferry crossing over to the other side of the river/bay where Bali (the Taiwanese version) is located. Tamsui is a very popular place to watch the sunset which in Taipei is usually blocked by buildings, clouds, or smog.

Night Markets

Taipei is famous for it's Night markets. There are many spread throughout the city. Here are a few to consider:

Shilin Night Market

Definitely the most famous one. Also the largest. Hundreds of stalls line the streets offering some great food at very good prices. Locals will tell you that prices are more expensive than other night markets due to the tourist effect, but the difference really isn't all that large. There are also a large number of shops, both cheap and upscale, in the area, as well as many proper restaurants and cafes.

Raohoe Night Market

Located in the very east of the city (sort of close to Taipei T101). It's a smaller market but still has plenty of food options at good prices.

Xiamending Night Market

Xiamending is a very popular shopping area. It is not really a night market per se, but there are plenty of food stalls and restaurants available, and all the shops stay open until late.

Other food to try

In addition to trying as many different things at the night markets as possible, these are some other Taipei favorites:

Beef Noodle Soup

A Taiwan favorite. It can be had anywhere, but many blogs claiming to have found the best one exist. Flavors and prices range hugely.

Bubble Tea

It really doesn't need much of an explanation. Although some of the brands that exist in Taipei can be found world wide these days, many smaller places offer unique twists on their bubble tea, including chocolate tea, various sizes of bubbles, and jelly and pudding options.

Other things to note

ATMs can be found everywhere and they all seem to accept international credit cards. Money changers do of course exist, but rates and fees charges at the ATMs are very good.

SIM cards can be obtained as long as you have two forms of offical ID, but although Taipei seems to be a very efficient place, the telecom shops are horrible. You will often see long lines of people waiting outside the shops to have their queries answered. For myself it was also the case that one shop claimed to be out of sim cards and another blatantly tried to rip me off by claiming all of the offers on their website and flyers were no longer available. It is possible to get a well priced SIM card, but it's a hassle. If you can, get a roaming card before you arrive or at the airport where the process is easier or just rely on the Wifi connections that exist everwhere.

Almost everyone speaks english. You will not have a problem getting around with 0 mandarin knowledge.

Conclusion

Taipei is a great city to visit. Of course there are many other, very beatiful, places in Taiwan, but Taipei is a great and easy place to start. Whether you come on a few days layover or a dedicated trip, you'll be sure to enjoy it!