Visit Taipei / Taiwan 🇹🇼
Taipei is a second home for me, where I've lived and visited off and on for ~15 years. If you decide you want to come see it for yourself, here are some tips.
General Advice
- If you don't speak Chinese, many restaurants in the cities do have English menus. Point and smile.
- If you use a translator app, keep the message simple for the best chance that something understandable will come out the other end.
- I'm told Google Maps is what a lot of locals use lately for finding new restaurants and reviewing them.
Advice for getting around
- Google Maps is also preferred over Apple Maps for finding your way around and routing on public transit.
- Some locations below include an address in Chinese characters; copy and paste into Uber, or show it to a cab driver.
- 高鐵 HSR High Speed Rail or 捷運 MRT Underground Metro systems are great. Everything is in English and easy to understand.
- Buses and regular trains (台鐵 TRA) are very inexpensive, but English assistance is not always guaranteed.
- When in doubt, take a 小黃 taxi or Uber. Both are also very inexpensive and readily available, and the drivers are trustworthy. Uber will of course handle payment and relay destinations to the drivers, who sometimes only speak Chinese...
If you need help
- The American Institute — The US Embassy in all but name.
- Any hospital will accept and treat you, but I understand there is a “VIP” department up a few floors at 台北長庚紀念醫院 Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital that takes cash (very inexpensive), speaks English well and sees patients very quickly.
Taipei Sights
- 中正紀念堂 CKS Memorial Hall — A massive memorial hall including an hourly changing of the guards ceremony, surrounded by beautiful park land, a great museum, the National Theater and National Concert Hall. It's named for Generalissimo 蔣中正 Chiang Kai-shek, who is controversial to say the least, and as a result this memorial may change significantly in the future. Take MRT red line to 中正紀念堂 Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall stop.
- 國立故宮博物院 National Palace Museum — This institute owns probably the world's most comprehensive collection of Chinese art and artifacts, which were evacuated from China to Taiwan by the KMT during the Chinese civil war. Only a tiny fraction of the collection is on display at any one time so every visit is different. Take a cab from anywhere in Taipei, just a few minutes north of town.
- 大安森林公園 Da’an (Forest) Park — A very large inner city park that spans multiple blocks in both directions. Locals love to jog around the perimeter and do group exercises within its lush green setting. Take MRT red line to 大安森林公園 Da’an Park stop.
- 建國假日花市/玉市 Jianguo Weekend Flower and Jade Markets — Just across the street from Da’an Park, now including the newly opened "Art District" at the southern end. These massive markets are full of individual vendors selling tons of greenery, curios, jewelry, furniture, and Chinese-style paintings. Open on Saturday and Sunday only, morning until early evening.
- 象山 Xiangshan ("Elephant Mountain") — An inner-city hike and view offering the most famous views of the city. If you like walking huge staircases up mountains, this place has your ticket. Bonus: at the top look for the little outdoor gym areas where older local congregate to socialize and live their best life. Take MRT red line to 象山 Xiangshan stop, and follow the signs through the park to the walking path.
- 西門町 Ximending pedestrian district — Best at night, very Shinjuku-esque, tons of shopping and food and sights. MRT blue line to 西門 Ximen, exit 6.
- Night Markets — There is a lot of information in English about all of them online. My favorites for food/vibes so far are 寧夏夜市 Ningxia and 饒河夜市 Raohe.
- 松山文創園區 Songshan Cultural & Creative Park — An old tobacco factory turned into a beautiful inner-city park, design museum and local artisan shops. See also Eslite Spectrum below, and check out the nearby Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall park while you're at it. MRT blue line to 國父紀念館 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
- 龍山 Longshan — Accessible from the MRT stop below the famous inner-city template are a unique local mall and cultural center on levels B1 and B2. Quite local feeling, a view into the recent past of Taipei... MRT blue line to 龍山寺 Longshan Temple stop.
Restaurants & Coffee
Great food is everywhere you look wandering around a neighborhood or on Google Maps, so a list really isn't necessary. That said, here are a few highlights.
- 有喜居酒屋 (Yoshi Isakaya) — Our good friend Aji's Japanese izakaya recently reopened in 木柵 Muzha! A great hang with the local crowd and delicious food. Open 6p to 1a or so, take cab or Uber from the city— 台北市文山區木新路二段48號
- 永和豆漿 (Yonghe Doujiang) — Unbelievable local breakfast shop. You are going to need Chinese or a lot of pointing, but well worth it.
- 鼎泰豐 Din Tai Feng — World-renouned 小籠包 xiao long bao soup dumpling restaurant; if you've only had it in the US should definitely try it here. Several branches throughout the city.
- 享咖啡 Enjoy Café Da’an — My local coffee spot; small batch roasting, great pour overs.
- Lavazza Espresso Point — Another great spot; open late, check Google Maps for hours.
- 台北W飯店 W Hotel — One of the highest-end venues in the city; two bars on reception level and 31F offer amazing views, ambiance, and excellent food and drink. The breakfast buffet is open to the public and very good!
- 玖五牛肉麵 Jiuwu Beef Noodles — A Taiwanese classic.
- 初魚料亭 Chu Yu — 2020 Recent discovery— In the top 3 omakase sushi experiences I’ve ever had anywhere, and at stunningly low prices. Must make reservation in advance. Highly recommended.
- 微風南山店 UMAMI by 金色三麥 Le Blé D'or — My wife particularly enjoys this eatery nearby the 101, with good views and an interesting cross between eastern and western flavors. 微風南山 Breeze Nan Shan, 7F.
- 星巴克典藏 Starbucks Reserve DREAM PLAZA Taipei — Although not quite a full-fledged Reserve Roastery of the types in Chicago or Milan, it still takes up almost a whole floor of the mall. Includes multiple drink and food counters, exclusive gift shop, cocktail bar and reservation-only "Siren's Lounge" fine dining experience. Dream Plaza, 6F.
Shopping & Food Courts
Unlike in the US, the food in mall food courts is great— enjoy!
- Xinyi Shopping District / Taipei 101 — a cluster of 14 connected malls said to be the highest concentration in the world... huge.
- 誠品生活松菸 Eslite Spectrum Songyan — A multi-level shopping center including a fantastic 24h bookstore (stocking titles in both Chinese & English), a paper and gift store on 2F which is one of the best I've ever been to, shopping on all levels and a good food court on B1. On the northern side of 松山文創園區 Songshan Cultural & Creative Park, take MRT blue line to 國父紀念館 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
- 忠孝復興 Zhongxiao Fuxing intersection — the famous "Green SOGO" department store anchors this cool area good for walking and taking in the sights, my historical home base in Taipei. Take MRT blue or brown line to 忠孝復興站 Zhongxiao Fuxing station.
- 京站時尚廣場 QSquare — Lots of great food and shopping clustered together in a single building right off the main train station. Take MRT red or blue line to 台北車站 Taipei Main Station.
- If you want to buy cool/entertaining souvenirs or gifts, there are a couple cute gift shops in 西門町 Ximending just a few doors west of 漢口街二段中華路一段路口 (the intersection of Hankou Street Sec 2 and Zhonghua Road Sec 1). Take MRT blue line to 西門 Ximen.
Services
- 泰晶殿皇家養身會館 Royal Thai Massage — Solid. A couple hours relaxation in the city.
Hotels
(All in good locations; Google in English to book these on a variety of sites such as Kayak or Expedia)
- 誠品行旅 Eslite Hotel (信義 Xinyi) — Now our regular home base in Taipei.
- W Taipei (信義 Xinyi) – Not super “local”, but super nice, exceeding any US-based W I've stayed in before. Spendy though.
- Park Taipei Hotel (大安 Da’an)
- Swiio Hotel (西門町 Ximending and 大安 Da’an)
- Inhouse Hotel Heritage (西門町 Ximending)
Getting out of town
- 淡水 Danshui (also written “Tamsui”) — An old port town on the water about 45 minutes north of Taipei on the metro, with tons of shops on the street and beautiful scenery. A popular local hangout. Check out 無極天元 Wuji Tianyuan temple on the mountain, a cab ride away. MRT red line to the last stop on the north end. Nearby honorable mention: 北投 Beitou Hot Springs
- 九份 Jiufen — A beautiful old town way up high on a mountain, with incredible views. Known best for 九份老街 Jiufen Old Street, a maze of walkways between the buildings with tons of shops, food and culture— must experience. On your way, make a stop at 瑞芳車站 Ruifang station, grab a meal at the 瑞芳美食廣場 Ruifang food court right outside and then check out the river walk just beyond for a local experience. Trains and buses run frequently from 南港站 Nangang MRT station in Taipei to Ruifang and Jiufen, about 45 minutes.
- 宜蘭 Yilan — An east coast seaside destination that is very popular with the locals, famous for its beautiful scenery and hot springs. I've enjoyed a couple of towns on the southside 蘇澳 Su’ao and 南方澳 Nanfangao, both of which have incredible charm. Recommended to stay at Lakeshore Hotel Su’ao which features hot springs tubs in the rooms. Rent bikes at the shop just out on the main road from the hotel and ride south into Nanfangao; check out the 南方澳漁港 Nanfangao Fishing Harbor and have a coffee by a beautiful oceanside bay at 情人灣涼亭 park.
- 日月潭 Sun Moon Lake — Nestled into the mountains in the middle of the island, this is maybe the most beautiful place I have ever been. You will have a beautiful but different experience depending on if it is sunny or rainy, not unsimilar to California Highway 1— keep your eye on the weather and try to see both. There are inexpensive and expensive hotels available; the latter might be worth the additional expense for total relaxation.
- 墾丁 Kenting (國際公園 National Park) — At the south end of the island, this area kind of feels like the end of the world to me. Really good vibes. A common vacation spot for Taiwanese. Nearby National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium is huge and very cool.
Future Exploration
- Taipei 101 Observatory — On a clear sunny day, I'm told the view is predictably incredible.
- 台南 Tainan — I'm told that this southern city has great local food and is worth a couple days' visit. Accessible via 高鐵 High Speed Rail.
- Kavalan Distillery — Maker of fantastic Taiwanese whiskey, out in Yilan.
- Jazz in Taipei — The big long-time names are Blue Note and Sappho, the latter of which I played over a decade ago... See also this list. I'm also interested in exploring local venues in general.
- 228 Peace Memorial Park
- Huashan 1914 creative park
- Art Galleries — Just a thought. There were what I believe some local artist's paintings at Jianguo Weekend Market mentioned above.
- "Knife Massage"
- Custom Suits
- TaipeiEye opera
- DiHua street
- Dadengchao Black Pepper Cake, Temple Market
- Lin’s Wagashi
- Longtail restaurant
- Taipei Zoo
- MOCA
- 金門