1. Explore the neon-lit streets of Ximending Walking District

Spend your time wandering through the bustling entertainment and commercial district in Taipei. Enter through the dragon accented archway to check out the many boutiques, theatres, and restaurants of Taipei’s equivalent to New York’s Time Square. Stop at a noodle house to try some savoury beef noodle soup or a steaming hot pot with fresh vegetables and meats to be boiled in the steaming soup broth. Finish browsing through shops for unique souvenirs before returning to your accommodations for the evening.

Ximending Walking District

Address: No. 9, Lane 50, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Ximending Walking District

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

2. Head to Yong He Soy Milk for a traditional Taiwanese breakfast

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Make certain to head over to Yong He Soy MIlk before 9 am if you hope to beat the crowds of tourists and locals. The small cafe serving traditional Taiwanese breakfast items can get quite busy and the queues can get very long. Pick up a menu on arrival and be prepared with your order prior to reaching the counter. Enjoy Taiwanese pastries, dumplings, and a cup of warm soy milk before spending a day at the Taipei Zoo for its popular panda house attraction amongst its numerous other animal exhibits.

Yong He Soy Milk

Address: No. 30號, Section 2, Hankou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Opening hours: 5:30am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 0 - 5 USD

3. Wander through the red brick alleyways of Bopiliao Historical Block

Step back in time as you walk through the newly revived Bopilao neighbourhood located in the WanHua district. Stroll down the streets taking in the historic red-brown brick-walled buildings that have stood in place for over 100 years. Stop by the educational centre to learn about the culture of the community which was first formed in the early Qing Dynasty. The 18th-century architecture has survived Japanese colonization and World War II to the present day, with the assistance of the Taipei City government.

Bopiliao Historical Block

Address: Lane 173, Kangding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Bopiliao Historical Block

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 6pm (indoors); Tue - Sun: 9am - 9pm (outdoors) (closed on Mon)

Price: Free

4. Visit the stunning Lungshan Temple

Step through the ornately decorated archway with columns accented with dragon carvings and gold under the pagoda roof of Lungshan Temple to attend morning worship with the locals. Make certain to be careful when taking your place among the throngs since the sculptures are delicate. Visitors will appreciate the use of wood, bronze, and other precious materials to enhance their visit to this historical site. Take time to appreciate the Chinese poems, verses and lyrics on signs, and the statue of Buddha near the well where they can burn incense.

Lungshan Temple

Address: No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853

Website: Lungshan Temple

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

5. Relive history at Ximen Red House

Constructed in 1908, Ximen Red House, with its red brick exterior, played an important part in being a recreational centre and market for the common people of the time. Today, it stands as one of the most important tourist attractions where locals and visitors alike can scan through the yellowed black and white photos of the founding of the Ximending district and attend weekend art markets. Make certain to stop by the museum to relive the history of the area. Afterwards, stroll to Fong Da Coffee for an authentic Shanghai pastry while you plan your next move through Taipei.

The Ximen Red House

Address: No. 10, Chengdu Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: The Ximen Red House

Opening hours: Sun, Tue - Fri: 11am - 9;30pm; Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Free

6. Admire the artistic creativity at The Walls

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Admire the creativity of the movie-inspired murals and graffiti walls found at The Walls graffiti park. The park is among a select number of areas that the city has established for the youth culture to be able to freely express their creativity legally throughout Taipei. Admire the Godzilla statue created from tin cans as you meander through the park while gazing at the talent displayed by its graphic artists.

The Walls (Movie-themed graffiti park)

Address: No. 19, Kangding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: The Walls

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

7. Make time for retail therapy at Shinjuku Plaza

During your visit to Taipei, make certain to leave a day free for some retail therapy at the remodelled multilevel shopping centre. Browse through designer goods imported from Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong or domestically designed ones. After spending some time looking through the latest fashions and perhaps scoring some one-of-a-kind shoes, stop by one of the many restaurants for some beef noodle soup. Finish the evening off by catching a new release at the cinema or with a visit to Shilin Night Market.

Shinjuku Plaza

Address: No. 72之1, Xining Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Shinjuku Plaza

Opening hours: 12am - 10:30pm (daily)

Price: Free

8. Pay tribute to the sea goddess at Tianhou Temple

Light a candle while joining locals and fellow tourists in paying tribute to Mazu, the sea goddess, at the temple which was dedicated in 1746. Admire the decorative detail throughout the temple along with its silk lanterns dangling from the ceiling. Behold the amazing craftsmanship of the ornate details inside the temple courtyard while glancing in awe at the brightly coloured exterior with its protective dragons guarding worshippers below its entrance. This historical temple is one of three major temples in Taiwan that is left from the Qing period.

Taipei's Tianhou Temple

Address: No. 51, Chengdu Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10844

Website: Tianhou Temple

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

Price: Free

9. Taste Taiwanese street food at Ximending Night Market

Take time to navigate your way through Ximending Night Market’s numerous stalls to try some unique street food delicacies before checking out the fashionable retailers located in the marketplace. Go with the flow as you wander through the bustling streets filled with locals and foreigners while being enthralled by all the neon and products from clothing to electronics. If you have more time to spend dining, sit down at a restaurant and watch as your meal options pass by on a conveyer belt in plastic mould form prior to ordering. After enjoying a slice of pineapple cake with tea, take time to check out the shops for souvenirs while listening to the street performers work up the throngs in the background.

Ximending Night Market

Address: No. 127號, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)

Price: Free

10. Release your inner bookworm at Eslite Spectrum Ximen Store

Spend time browsing through the astounding selection of fiction to non-fiction choices at Eslite Spectrum Ximen Store. Sit at a window-side table and feel the warmth of the sun seeping through while you sit back and flip through the pages of your favourite literary piece. Besides a large array of books for adults, there is also a private area designated for children. After spending time slowly reading your favourite book, check out the new releases section before departing Taipei’s equivalent of Chapters.

Eslite Spectrum Ximen Store

Address: No. 52號, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Eslite Spectrum Ximen Store

Opening hours: 11:30am - 10:30am (daily)

11. Savour a delicious meal at Mala Hot Pot

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Get prepared for a tradition that originated from Mongolian armies where they would boil meats and whatever other ingredients were available to them in their helmets while they were traversing the land conquering communities. The conquered Chinese took this idea and it spread throughout their provinces with savoury, spicy, and basic broths to cook a variety of meats including beef, chicken, seafood, and pork along with local vegetables and spices familiar to each region. Make certain to pick up your chopsticks and prepare yourself for a feast at Taipei’s Mala Hot Pot while you dunk each ingredient into the boiling broth. Order a bowl of rice, some dumplings, and egg rolls to accompany your hot pot to complete the experience.

Mala Hot Pot

Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Xining Road, 157號

Website: Mala Hot Pot

Opening hours: 11:30am - 2am (daily)

Price: 5 - 25 USD

12. Listen to live music at Riverside Red House Theatre Performance Hall

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Take an evening to relax by venturing over to enjoy listening to live music in an intimate setting. Arrive ready to be entertained by local artists while enjoying a dinner show style arrangement during the evenings when the venue isn’t packed with music enthusiasts. This popular local venue has hosted over 10,000 shows since it opened in 2008, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone on their itinerary while checking out Taipei.

Riverside Red House Theatre Performance Hall

Address: No. 177, Xining Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Riverside Red House Theatre Perofrmance Hall

13. Indulge in Taiwan's famous beef noodle soup at Fuhong Beef Noodles

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Prepare to stand in line at a local favourite, Fuhong Beef Noodles, for Taiwan’s national dish, beef noodle soup. The savoury beef broth with tender morsels of beef and noodles is perfect for those travelling on a budget. It can be found throughout the city along within the airport in case you missed your chance before departing. It is an ideal choice to be enjoyed during the cooler months and it’s perfect if you have a cold since the steaming broth will comfortably warm you up and clear out your sinuses. Make certain to order a bowl before departing Taipei.

Fuhong Beef Noodles

Address: No. 67-69, Luoyang Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Fuhong Beef Noodles

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 5 USD

14. Sing your heart out at Partyworld Karaoke

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Book the Presidential suite for up to 25 guests or a smaller box to celebrate any special occasion or for an enjoyable evening out. Pick up the mic and choose your favourite song prior to performing before your group. After letting loose and singing your heart out, make certain to sit back and enjoy some drinks and appetizers with your party people, on the leather couch in the suite.

Partyworld

Address: No. 199號, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104

Website: Partyworld

Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 0 - 65 USD

15. Enjoy ramen at Taipei's Rakumenya Ximen Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Line up at one of Taipei’s favourite ramen houses for a delicious bowl of savoury broth filled with noodles and your choice of fresh local ingredients and meats. Enjoy each spoonful as you savour each tender piece of chicken, beef, or pork belly as you twirl the noodles with your chopsticks. Order some gyoza, tempura, rice, pork cutlet, or ribs to accompany your bowl of ramen before departing to check out the sweeping views of Taipei from the observation deck of the Taipei 101 tower.

Rakumenya Ximen Restaurant

Address: No. 25號, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Rakumenya Ximen Restaurant

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

Price: 5 USD

16. Have some craft beer at Driftwood Ximending

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Visitors looking for a unique craft beer experience while in Taipei will be pleasantly surprised when they walk through the doors of Driftwood Ximending. Either sit at the bar and enjoy a basket of chicken wings or fries with special sauce or sit at a high table with a grill and prepare to dine on a hot pot or barbecue dinner. For those looking to relax, there is a large library to choose beside the comfortable leather loungers to provide a really relaxing atmosphere for a laid-back afternoon or evening.

Driftwood Ximending

Address: No. 46, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Drifwood Ximending

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 5pm - 11:30pm; Fri: 5pm - 1:30 am: Sat: 3pm - 1:30am: Sun: 3pm - 11:30pm

Price: 0 - 10 USD

17. Get a tattoo at Ximending Tattoo Street

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Those looking for a permanent reminder of their time in Taipei may want to stop at Ximending Tattoo Street where they can get inked prior to their departure. Choose from a variety of graphic designs to Chinese poems with the assistance of the artists who will be able to provide insight on word choice. Be aware, if you’re on the shy side, that the parlour is open to the street which helps in promoting the artist’s work to passersby.

Ximending Tatoo Street

Address: Lane 50, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Ximending Tatoo Street

Opening hours: 12pm - 10pm (daily)

18. Wander through Taipei Cinema Park's graffiti-walled streets

Taipei Cinema Park provides a creative space for youth to express themselves through graffiti art and original music. Sit down at a local coffee shop to people watch in this commercial and culturally popular area. This culturally popular landmark is where dance, photoshoots, skateboarding, and other leisure activities can be enjoyed by all ages of the public. Make certain to stop by for an evening of outdoor cinema or spend a weekend browsing the stalls at the vintage flea markets for unique items to take home.

Taipei Cinema Park

Address: No. 19, Kangding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Taipei Cinema Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

19. Explore the fascinating Nishi Honganji Temple

Take a walk through the museum to learn about the origins of the temple which was built by Japanese and Taiwanese Buddhists from 1904 - 1912. Wander through the mausoleum, monks’ living quarters, and the main hall before heading over to the bell tower for a photo op. This historical building of Japanese design with modern wooden features and brickwork is located in the busy shopping district of Ximending. The park situated behind the temple provides visitors with a calm and peaceful area to unwind from the bustling, sometimes chaotic surrounding Ximending district.

Nishi Honganji Relics

Address: No. 174號, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Nishi Honganji Relics

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

20. Treat yourself to a bowl of shaved ice cream snow

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

After spending a morning wandering through Taipei’s busy downtown on a hot summer day, stop in at popular shaved ice parlour for a heaping bowl of deliciously refreshing shaved ice and ice cream. Choose from banana and chocolate to tropical strawberry mango or red bean and mango amongst many other yummy flavours. This busy dessert shop is popular among locals and tourists and it is a perfect stop to enjoy a cool treat in Taiwan’s humid, tropical climate.

Xing Chun San Xiong Mei Tofu Pudding

Address: No. 23, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei 10842 Taiwan

Website: Xing Chun San XiongMei Tofu Pudding

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 0 - 10 USD

21. Spend an evening at the movies in Ximending Cinema Street

Spend an evening checking out one of four popular theatres located along Ximending Cinema Street. Arrive early to look over the matinee for domestic or foreign-produced films and to get a seat with prime viewing due to popular assigned seating in Taiwan theatres. Although the prices for concession snacks are fairly inexpensive, theatres encourage patrons to bring in their traditional favourites to enjoy during the show. Street vendors in the surrounding area are competitive compared to the theatre prices, selling candy, deep-fried meat on sticks, pineapple cakes, and other popular delicacies.

Ximending Cinema Street

Address: Sec. 2, Wuchang Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Website: Ximending Cinema Street

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 0 - 10 USD

22. Delight in a bowl of spaghetti at Modern Toilet Restaurant

Before heading out to enjoy an evening watching the amazing dancing and acrobatics at the Taipei Eye, drop-in for a delicious meal at Taipei’s truly unique restaurant. Sit on colourful commodes alongside other diners as you wait for a bowl of spicy Sichuan hot pot or a Thai curry favourite served in a western or Asian style toilet. For western tastes, there is seafood spaghetti with cream sauce or chicken spaghetti with tomato sauce. For those looking for a quick bite to eat, the menu offerings include fries, Thai spicy chicken wings. crispy codfish popcorn, and many more choices.

Modern Toilet Restaurant

Address: No. 7號, Lane 50, Xining South Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Website: Modern Toilet Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 9pm; Fri: 11:30am - 9:30pm; Sat: 11am - 9:30pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm

23. Enjoy a cup of noodles at Ah Zong mee sua (Ay-Chung Mian Xian 阿宗麵線)

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Line up at this local favourite, serving Taipei since 1975, for a cup of spicy broth with noodles and fish flakes or a tomato base with noodles and vegetables amongst other choices. Watch in amazement, the speed and efficiency of the assembly line of staff serving steaming cups of noodle soup to large lines of patrons. Savour your inexpensive yet filling bowl of noodles streetside or inside the small establishment before hopping the train to explore the National Palace Museum.

Ah Zong mee sua ( Ay-Chung Mian Xian 阿宗麵線)

Address: No. 8-1號, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Opening hours: 8:30am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 2 USD

24. Sip on a refreshing bubble tea at Xing Fu Tang

After spending a day at the Taipei Zoo with your family, take time to relax at one of the popular bubble tea houses in Ximending such as Xing Fu Tang, Coco, or 50 Lan. Indulge in refreshingly cool options to combat the Taiwan heat such as flagship favourite brown sugar pearl milk with its dark brown and caramel coloured swirls throughout its milk base. Enjoy sipping on a cool strawberry pearl or green tea infused matcha pearl delight after spending time at Taipei’s Fine Arts Museum or Liberty Square. These delicious drinks will help keep you cool during your sightseeing adventures with numerous locations throughout Taipei selling the tapioca infused tea treat.

Xing Fu Tang

Address: No. 185, Section 3, Tingzhou Road, Zhongzheng DistrictTaipei City Taiwan 100

Website: Bubble Tea

Opening hours: 10am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 2 USD

Up to 10% Off | Xing Fu Tang, Taipei- Klook Philippines Philippines

1 review

from USD

2.39

View Deal

Adventures in tropical Taipei

After spending time in the bustling Ximending district with its never-ending maze of streets filled with shops and entertainment venue, take a much needed sensory break by taking a tour out to peaceful Taroko Gorge with its waterfalls and its canyons with stunning limestone walls. While visiting Taipei’s concrete jungle, visitors can still find peaceful areas such as its many temples, the National Palace, and the astonishing Taipei Zoo which provides hours of fun for visitors. Before departing the bustling capital surrounded by lush green jungle, indulge in a savoury hot pot or delicious shave ice dessert at Xing Chun San Xiong Mei Tofu Pudding. Those departing Taiwan by means of Taoyuan Airport will be impressed by the shops, restaurants, and the themed gates such as the one dedicated to Hello Kitty, which is perfect for families since it comes with a play area for little ones.