Hi everyone. This year my family and friends are going to Taipei, Taiwan! It will be our first time there. We are extremely excited! Taiwan is one of the biggest foodie paradise! All the night market and food stands. I can’t wait!

Taipei, Taiwan is our first stop before we head to Japan.  To plan for the trip I’m going to list all the important food, places, and point of interest here. Hopefully this will help anyone who is planning a trip to Taipei, Taiwan. Comment below if you have any other suggestions.

Before you go:

• Notify your banks/credit card companies that you will be traveling.
• Money:
  • Check to see which credit card has a no foreign transaction fee and use that!
  • You can exchange currency at the airports. I usually bring USD and exchange at the airport.
  • You can use your debit/credit card at ATMs around the city or at banks.
  • You can also exchange currency at your local banks before you go with a few days notice.
  • This site has a lot of tips on money exchange. A must read.
• Check the weather. You might need an umbrella.
• Register & reserve mobile wifi
• Download Google translate & maps

Transportation:

• Taipei MRT EasyCard allows you to put money in the card. You get 20% off each trip using the card! They also sell 1-day, 2-day, 3-day. and 5-day passes at Taipei Metro Stations. You can use the card for the metro (MRT), buses,
• Uber
• Airports:
  1. Taoyuan International Airport (桃園國際機場 Táoyuán guójì jīchǎng TPE) is the primary airport
  2. Taipei Songshan Airport 松山機場 (TSA) is the secondary airport that is accessible by the MRT

Point of Interests

1. Taipei 101 (臺北一零一 Táiběi yī líng yī)
2. Taroko Gorge (太魯閣 Tài lǔ gé)
   • Qingshui Cliffs (清水斷崖 Qīngshuǐ duàn yá)
   • Taroko Swallow Grotto Trail (燕子口步道, Yanzikou)
   • Eternal Spring Shrine (長春祠 Zhǎngchūn cí)
   • Tunnel of Nine Turns (九曲洞 Jiǔ qū dòng)
3. Beitou Hot Springs (Běi tóu 北投)
   • Millennium Hot Springs (千禧湯 Qiān xǐ tāng) – about 40NT or less than 2 USD
   • Plum Garden (北投梅庭 Běi tóu méi tíng)- Opens Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm
   • Thermal Valley (地熱谷 Dìrè gǔ)
   • Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館 Běi tóu wēnquán bówùguǎn)
   • Taipei Public Library (台北市立圖書館北投分館 Táiběi shìlì túshū guǎn běi tóu fēnguǎn)
   • Ketagalan Culture Center (凱達格蘭文化館 Kǎi dá gé lán wénhuàguǎn)
   • Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園 Yángmíng shān guójiā gōngyuán)
   • Man Lai Hot Spring Ramen (滿來溫泉拉麵 Mǎn lái wēnquán lāmiàn)
4. Yeh Liu Geo Park (野柳地质公园 Yě liǔ dìzhí gōngyuán)
5. Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布 Shífēn dà pùbù)
6. Jiufen (九份 Jiǔ fèn) – town used as the model in the movie Spirited Away!
7. Pingxi (平溪) – town that hosts the sky lantern festival
8. Rainbow Bridge (彩虹橋 Cǎihóng qiáo)
9. Elephant Trail (象山 Xiàngshān)
10. Din Tai Fung Restaurant (鼎泰豐 Dǐng tài fēng)
11. Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車 Māo kōng lǎnchē)
12. Yao Yue Tea House (邀月茶坊 Yāo yuè chá fāng)
13. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂 Zhōngzhèng jìniàn táng)
14. Sun Yat Sen Memorial (國立國父紀念館 Guólì guófù jìniànguǎn)
15. National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院 Guólì gùgōng bówùyuàn) – less than 8 USD or ~250NT
16. Longshan Temple (龍山寺 Lóng shānsì)
17. Tamsui (淡水 Dànshuǐ)
18. Songshan Ciyou Temple (松山慈祐宮 Sōngshān cí yòu gōng)

Night Markets:

1. Shilin Night Market (士林夜市 Shìlín Yèshì) – the largest and most famous night markets. Usually starts around 5pm and vendors usually stay till 11pm or midnight and closes around 1am:
   • Address: Lane 101, Wenlin Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
   • Closest MRT: MRT JianTan Station (剑潭站 Jiàn tan zhàn)
   • Places to look out for:
     • Shilin Market Building
2. Shida Night Market (師大夜市 Shī dà yèshì) – located in one of the most trendy neighborhood. Large selection of cheap clothes and trendy boutiques. Opens noon till midnight.
3. Gongguan Night Market (公館夜市 Gōngguǎn yèshì)
4. Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市 Ráo hé yèshì)

Shopping Districts & Centers

1. Wu Fen Pu (五分埔 Wǔ fēn bù)
2. Taipei 101 Shopping Center (臺北一零一 Táiběi yī líng yī)
3. XinYi Shopping District (信義區 Xìnyì qū)
4. Ximending (西門町 Xīmén dīng)

Foods

• Oyster Omelette (蚵仔煎 Hézǐ jiān or in Taiwanese ô-á-chiān)
• Aiyu Jelly Drink (愛玉冰 àiyùbīng or 愛玉凍 àiyùdòng)
• Qing Wa Xia Dan Drink (青蛙下蛋 Qīngwā xiàdàn)
• Cheese Potato (起士马铃薯 Qǐ shì mǎlíngshǔ)
• The Really Big Chicken Cutlet (豪大大鸡排 Háo dàdà jī pái)
• Sweet Dumpling (汤圆 Tāngyuán)
• Scallion pancake (葱抓饼 Cong Zhua Bing)
• Oyster Vermicelli (大腸麵線 Da Chang Mian Xian)
• Minced Pork Rice (滷肉飯 Lu Rou Fan)
• Soup Dumplings (小籠包 Xiao Long Bao)
• Fried Milk Balls (炸牛奶 Zha Niu Nai)
• Small sausage in big sausage (大腸包小腸 Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang)
• Custard puffs 奶油餅 (Nai You Bing)
• Salted Chicken (鹽水雞 Yan Shui Ji)
• Roast Beef Noodle Soup (紅燒牛肉麵 Hong Shao Niu Rou Mian)
• Stinky tofu (臭豆腐 Chòu dòufu)
• Clam soup (蛤蜊汤 Ge Li Tang)
• Cactus Juice (仙人掌果汁 Xiānrénzhǎng guǒzhī)
• Fuzhou Pork Pepper Buns (胡椒餅 Hújiāo bǐng)
• Hakka Style Mochi (客家麻糬 Kèjiā máshǔ)
• Egg Crepe (蛋饼 Dàn bǐng)
• White Guava (芭樂 Bālè)
• Pork Intestine Noodle Soup (蚵仔麵線 Hézǐ miàn xiàn or in Taiwanese Ô-á mī-sòa)
• Cold Noodle (涼麵 Liáng miàn)
• Shaved Ice (刨冰 Bào bīng)
• Taiwanese sausage (香腸 Xiāng cháng)
• Bubble Milk Tea (波霸奶茶 Bōbà nǎichá)