Taipei 3-Day City Walk Guide

Lonely Planet calls Taipei "a friendly city whose allure lies in its blend of Chinese culture with a curious fusion of Japanese, Southeast Asian and American influences." From the 508m Taipei 101 to Elephant Mountain sunsets, from Din Tai Fung's legendary xiao long bao to Ningxia Night Market — three days in the "Heart of Asia."

📅 Itinerary Overview

Day	Theme	Key Attractions
Day 1	City Landmarks	CKS Memorial → Taipei 101 → Din Tai Fung → Elephant Mountain
Day 2	Culture & Temples	Longshan Temple → National Palace Museum → Shilin Night Market
Day 3	Nature & Tea	Maokong Gondola → Yangmingshan / Beitou → Ningxia Night Market

🏙️ Day 1: City Landmarks

Morning: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

LP: "a national landmark." Hourly guard-changing ceremony. Liberty Square arch — Taipei's most classic photo spot.

Midday: Yong Kang Street & Din Tai Fung

LP: "You haven't tried xiao long bao unless you've sampled the ones at Din Tai Fung":

Founded 1970s, Hong Kong branch earned a Michelin star in 2010
LP tip: "The 101 branch has a glass-walled kitchen to watch chefs at work"
Original xiao long bao + braised beef soup. NTD 400-600/person

Afternoon: Taipei 101

LP: "the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2009":

508m skyscraper, observation decks on levels 88/89/91 (NTD 600)
LP: "level 88 showcases the world's largest and heaviest mass damper"

Evening: Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)

LP: "the most popular hiking route, nudging right up against the city center":

1-2 hour circular trail from Xiangshan MRT
LP: "rewarded with breathtaking views over the city and Taipei 101"
Best: arrive 1 hour before sunset

🏛️ Day 2: Culture & Temples

Morning: Longshan Temple & Bopiliao

Longshan Temple (1738) — LP: "some of Asia's most beautiful temples":

Southern Chinese Qing Dynasty style (similar to Singapore)
Blends Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism

Afternoon: National Palace Museum

LP: "700,000 ancient imperial artifacts":

LP favorite: "the beautifully carved jade cabbage, complete with a locust hiding amongst its leaves"
NTD 350, allow 3 hours

Evening: Shilin Night Market

LP: "Taiwan's night markets are legendary":

Largest and most famous in Taipei
NTD 200-300/person

🍵 Day 3: Nature & Tea

Morning: Maokong Gondola

LP: "take the gondola up into the mountain mist for easy hiking trails or traditional tea-tasting with panoramas over the city":

Famous for Baozhong and Tieguanyin teas
Crystal cabin +NTD 50

Afternoon: Yangmingshan OR Beitou Hot Springs

LP: "reaching the lush tracts of wilderness from the city center is surprisingly easy"

Yangmingshan: Jinmianshan Trail (LP's favorite)
Beitou: Japanese-era hot spring district, Thermal Valley, public pools NTD 40

Evening: Ningxia Night Market

LP tip: "Hardcore foodies should squeeze in Ningxia — specialties include oyster omelets, sesame-coated mochi and taro balls."

🚇 Getting Around

MRT: LP calls it "one of the world's best for sustainability." NTD 20-65
EasyCard: MRT + bus + YouBike + convenience stores
YouBike: NTD 5 for first 30 min
From Taoyuan Airport: Airport MRT ~35min (NTD 160)

💡 Practical Tips

Get an EasyCard — works everywhere
Elephant Mountain at sunset — LP's best 101 viewpoint
Din Tai Fung at 101 — LP: watch chefs through glass kitchen
Visit at least 2 night markets — Shilin (big) + Ningxia (LP pick for foodies)
Best season — Oct-April, summer is muggy
Budget-friendly — cheaper than Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong

Prioritizing Lonely Planet's 8 Best Things to Do in Taipei and Taipei travel guide.