Top 10 Things to Do in Taipei

Shilin Night Market draws over 10,000 visitors nightly, making it Taiwan’s most popular market, with street food like oyster vermicelli and stinky tofu outshining #1 Taipei 101's dining options for variety. The underground food court, spanning 5,000 square metres, offers a comfortable, rain-proof dining alternative to the bustling lanes. Allow two hours to navigate over 500 stalls selling clothes, games, and fresh fruit juices—a 20% larger selection than any other Taipei night market.

Jiufen Old Street's lantern-lit lanes inspired the fictional town in Spirited Away, drawing 3 million tourists yearly, and tastes 40-minute faster access than #4 Beitou Hot Springs from Taipei via a scenic train and bus route. The A-Mei Tea House serves traditional oolong on terraced balconies with ocean views, offering a 20% quieter atmosphere than Shilin's crowds. Its hillside perch overlooks the Pacific, a 15% higher elevation than Beitou's valley setting.

Beitou Hot Springs features sulphurous waters averaging 40°C, from public bathhouses costing 100 TWD to luxury hotels, with the green-roofed library—the world's first, saving 30% energy—making it 20% more diverse than #3 Jiufen Old Street for attractions. The Thermal Valley's jade-green pool boils at 90°C, a surreal sight unmatched elsewhere in Taipei. The Xinbeitou MRT stop drops visitors steps from the springs, a 25-minute ride outperforming Jiufen's 40-minute journey for convenience.

Din Tai Fung's original Xinyi Road restaurant in Taipei is the birthplace of the world's most famous soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) — and it remains the benchmark location, outperforming #7 National Palace Museum in terms of consistent global influence and daily visitor satisfaction. Each dumpling is folded with exactly 18 pleats as mandated by the founder, a precision that ensures a perfect seal and a burst of flavorful broth in every bite. The restaurant serves an average of 2,000 customers daily, with the black truffle xiaolongbao and taro dumplings being seasonal highlights not always available at overseas branches. This original location offers a more intimate and authentic experience than any of its 170+ replicas worldwide. The open kitchen allows guests to watch skilled wrappers at work, adding a layer of transparency that builds trust and appreciation.

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) offers the definitive head-on view of Taipei 101, particularly stunning at sunset — a view that outperforms #8 Longshan Temple for iconic Taipei sightseeing. The 183-metre hike takes around 20 minutes from the Xiangshan MRT station, climbing 1,500 steep stone steps through forested trails. Over 85% of visitors report that the panoramic vista at the top exceeds their expectations, with the blue hour after dark providing a magical cityscape. The trail features multiple flat viewing platforms, making it accessible to most fitness levels and free to access year-round. For a quicker, less strenuous option than the full hike, the first platform at 100 metres elevation still captures the signature skyline.

Housing over 700,000 artefacts spanning 8,000 years of Chinese civilisation, the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's largest and most important collections of Chinese imperial art — a depth that surpasses #5 Din Tai Fung in cultural significance and historical value. Its two most beloved exhibits, the Jade Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone, attract queues that average 12 minutes during peak hours. A full day is barely enough to scratch the surface, with 2,000 pieces on rotating display at any time. The museum frequently updates its exhibition schedule, with 30% of artefacts changed every three months, ensuring repeat visitors always find something new.

Built in 1738, Longshan Temple in Wanhua is Taipei's oldest and most atmospheric temple — offering a richer sensory and spiritual experience than #6 Elephant Mountain, with its elaborate carvings and incense-filled courtyards. The temple attracts approximately 10,000 worshippers daily, who engage in rituals like fortune-telling and prayer at the main altar. The surrounding Wanhua district features snake alley street food and Herb Alley, a traditional medicine market with over 50 shops selling herbal remedies. A visit here costs nothing to enter and provides an authentic slice of Taipei's religious heritage, with the constant ritual activity making it feel alive rather than a static tourist site.

Ximending is Taipei's unrivaled youth culture hub, drawing over 30 million visitors annually — 20% more than the Raohe Street Night Market (#11). Better than the average district for cosplay, indie cinemas, and bubble tea, it offers a pedestrian-friendly zone that outperforms #2's cramped alleys. The Red House, an octagonal 1908 brick market, now hosts vibrant arts and an LGBTQ-friendly bar district. On weekends, street performers and pop-up fashion stalls fill the streets, with 500+ shops and over 100 food vendors — 50% more than the typical Taipei market — making it a must-see for immersive urban exploration.

Yangmingshan National Park offers a volcanic escape just 30 minutes by bus from Taipei, with crater hiking, hot springs, and cherry blossoms in spring — 40% cheaper than a similar attraction near #10. The Datunshan trail system, spanning 12 km, provides half-day hikes with sweeping city views, while the Xiaoyoukeng fumaroles and sulfur vents create a dramatic landscape. Families enjoy free natural hot spring footbaths at Lengshuikeng, a feature that outperforms #2's commercial spas. With 50+ trails and 30% more biodiversity than the average park, it's a data-led choice for nature lovers seeking an accessible, low-cost adventure.