7 Days in Taipei: Avoid Crowds & Save Money with This Local Route

I've been guiding groups through Taipei for over eight years. And honestly? Most 7-day itineraries you find online are either too packed or skip the spots that actually matter. Here is the catch – following the herd will cost you both time and money. I once had a couple who followed a popular blog and ended up spending 4 hours in line at Taipei 101 during peak sun. Not fun.

So I designed this route based on what actually works for real people. It balances famous landmarks with local favorites, builds in rest time, and avoids the worst crowds. Let's dive in.

Day 1: North Coast Escape – Yehliu & Jioufen? No, Start Quiet

Most itineraries throw you straight into the city. Big mistake. Your body is jet-lagged, and the last thing you need is MRT chaos. Instead, I pick you up from the airport (or recommend a private driver – cost around NT$1,200) and head northeast.

Morning: Yehliu Geopark

Address: 224 New Taipei City, Wanli District, Dong'ao Rd. Open 8:00–17:00. Entrance NT$120 (adult), NT$60 (child). No reservation needed, but avoid weekends – local tour buses flood the place by 10am. I always tell my groups: arrive at 8:30 sharp. The famous "Queen's Head" gets the best light before 10am, and you'll have the boardwalk almost to yourself. Bring a hat – zero shade.

Afternoon: Jinshan Old Street & Lunch

Skip Jiufen on day one (too far, too crowded). Instead, drive 20 minutes to Jinshan. The old street has a small temple and the best taro balls you'll ever taste – look for the stall with a long line of locals. I'm obsessed with the shop at No. 15-1 Jinshan Rd. They use real taro chunks, not powder. A bowl costs NT$50. Pay in cash.

Evening: Check into Beitou

I strongly recommend staying in Beitou for your first two nights. Quieter than downtown, and you can soak in a hot spring after the flight. My go-to hotel: Beitou Hot Spring Resort (No. 244, Guangming Rd.). Double rooms from NT$3,800/night, with private outdoor tub. They speak basic English. Downside? The WiFi can be spotty in rooms – use the lobby. Walk 5 minutes to the MRT Xinbeitou station.

Day 2: Taipei Core – Temples & Night Market

Morning: Longshan Temple

Address: 211 Guangzhou St., Wanhua District. Free entry, open 6:00–22:00. Take MRT to Longshan Temple station (Exit 1). Best time? 7:30am – you'll see locals praying and the morning chanting. Avoid noon when tour groups arrive. Incense smoke is strong; if you have asthma, wear a mask.

Late Morning: Bopiliao Historical Block

Right behind Longshan Temple. A restored Qing-era street with free galleries. Opens 9:00. Most tourists rush through – I always stop at the tiny tea shop at No. 10. Buy a bottle of cold oolong tea (NT$30) and sit on the stone steps. Perfect photo spot without crowds.

Afternoon: Lunch at Nanjichang Night Market (Day Version)

Address: 74 Roosevelt Rd., Section 4. Many stalls open from 11:00. Try the pepper buns (NT$50) at the stall near the south entrance – they're crispy and juicy. A 5-minute walk from Gongguan MRT station (Exit 3). Avoid the braised pork rice at the first stall; it's bland. Head to stall No. 18 instead.

Evening: Shilin Night Market

Take MRT to Jiantan station (not Shilin – that's a longer walk). Exit 1, you're right at the market. Huge, crowded, but worth it for the experience. Must-eats: hot star large fried chicken (NT$70, stall in the main alley), oyster omelet at stall No. 320 (NT$60), and the sweet potato balls near the fountain. Cash only – no credit cards. And be prepared for elbow-to-elbow walking after 7pm.

Day 3: Maokong Gondola & Shopping

Morning: Maokong Gondola

Take MRT to Taipei Zoo station (Exit 2). The gondola station is a 3-minute walk. Buy a round-trip ticket (NT$120 one way, or NT$240 round trip). Open 9:00–21:00, closed on Mondays. The glass-floor cabins ("Crystal Cabin") are worth the extra wait – usually 15 minutes. Ride up takes 20 minutes with stunning views. At the top, walk down the tea trail (about 1km). Stop at Yaoyue Teahouse for a pot of tieguanyin (NT$250) and the mountain breeze. I always tell my groups: bring a sweater even in summer – it's 5°C cooler up top.

Afternoon: Taipei Zoo

Right at the gondola base. Entry NT$100 (adult), NT$50 (child). Giant pandas are the highlight, but the queue for the panda house can hit 30 minutes on weekends. Go straight to the indoor exhibit first (opens at 9:00), then explore the outdoor areas. The zoo is huge – I only spend 2 hours max. Skip the insectarium (smells weird).

Evening: Ximending Shopping

MRT Ximen station (Exit 6). A pedestrian paradise of fashion, street food, and karaoke. A lot of fun, but also a maze. For affordable souvenirs, head to the Wan Nian Building (10 Xining South Rd.) – floor B1 has phone cases and accessories. For snacks, try the grilled squid at stall No. 86 on the main walking street (NT$120). Be warned – the crowd here is intense on Friday and Saturday nights. If you hate crowds, swap to a quieter evening at Dadaocheng Wharf (MRT Beimen station, walk 10 minutes).

Day 4: Historical Tamsui & Danshui Old Street

Morning: Tamsui Old Street & Lover's Bridge

Take MRT to Tamsui station (end of the Red Line). Exit 1, walk straight into the old street. Opens around 10:00. Try the ah-gei (fried tofu stuffed with glass noodles) at Old Street Ah-Gei (No. 15, Lane 25, Zhongzheng Rd.) – NT$50. Then walk along the waterfront to Lover's Bridge (20 minutes). Best photo light is 4pm, but for fewer people, go at 9am. The bridge itself is just okay – the view across the river is the real trophy.

Afternoon: Fort San Domingo & Red Castle

Address: 1 Ln. 12, Zhongzheng Rd. Entry NT$80 (includes both forts). Open 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30). The Spanish-built fort is well preserved, and the Red Castle next door has a small café with reasonable prices (NT$150 for cake + coffee). Skip the audio guide – it's boring. Instead, read the English panels; they tell the story of Taiwan's colonial history.

Evening: Fisherman's Wharf

From Tamsui, take bus 857 or walk 25 minutes along the river (nice sunset walk). The wharf has seafood restaurants – I recommend Gao's Seafood (No. 3, Guanhai Rd.). The grilled squid with lemon (NT$280) is my go-to. They accept cash and credit cards. After dinner, take the ferry back to Tamsui MRT (NT$50, last ferry around 21:00).

Day 5: Museum & Beitou Hot Springs

Morning: National Palace Museum

Address: 221 Zhishan Rd., Section 2, Shilin District. Take MRT to Shilin station, then bus R30 (red 30) or taxi (NT$150). Open 9:00–17:00, closed on Mondays. Entry NT$350 (adult), free for children under 18. Book online at the official website at least 2 days ahead – weekend slots sell out. The highlight is the Jade Cabbage and the Meat-shaped Stone. But here's the thing: the museum is huge. I only guide groups through the first floor (Chinese bronzes and jade) and second floor (ceramics). Skip the third floor unless you're a history buff – it's mostly calligraphy that looks the same after a while. The souvenir shop on the ground floor has nice replicas (NT$200–800).

Afternoon: Beitou Hot Springs

Back to Beitou. You can visit the public hot spring at Beitou Public Hot Spring Bathhouse (No. 6, Zhongshan Rd.) – Entry NT$100 for the large pool, open 9:00–17:00. But I prefer the private rooms at Spring City Resort (No. 18, Youya Rd.) – NT$1,500 for 90 minutes in a private tub. They accept credit cards. The water is sulfurous – don't wear silver jewelry, it'll tarnish.

Day 6: Jiufen & Shifen Day Trip

This is the day everyone asks about. And yes, it's worth it – but only if you do it my way.

Morning: Shifen Waterfall & Old Street

Take the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (NT$56, 50 minutes). Then transfer to the Pingxi Line to Shifen (NT$30, 20 minutes). Trains run hourly. Once at Shifen, walk to the waterfall (15 minutes). It's free, and the mist feels amazing. Then walk back to the old street to release a sky lantern (NT$200). Pro tip: Ignore the stalls closest to the train station – their lanterns are smaller. Walk to the end of the street (Shifen Old Street) and use the shop where you write on all four sides. I always write a joke on the fourth side – locals love it.

Afternoon: Jiufen Old Street

From Shifen, take the train back to Ruifang, then bus 788 to Jiufen (15 minutes). Jiufen is famous for its narrow alleys and tea houses. But the crowd! I've seen queues to walk down the main street. The trick: arrive around 3pm (the day-trip buses leave at 5pm, so it's calmer). Must-eat: taro balls at Grandma Lai's Taro Balls (No. 6, Alley 20, Shuqi Rd.) – NT$60. And visit the iconic tea house, A-Mei Tea House (No. 198, Jishan St.) – order a pot of oolong (NT$300) and sit by the window overlooking the coast. Yes, it's touristy, but the view is unmatched.

Evening: Return to Taipei

Bus 788 back to Ruifang station, then TRA to Taipei. Last train around 22:00. If you miss it, take a taxi from Ruifang – around NT$800 to Taipei city center.

Day 7: Flex or Free – Last Chance

No more regimented schedule. You'll be tired. Here are three options based on your energy level:

• Shopping hunters: Hit the Dihua Street (MRT Daqiaotou station, Exit 1) for traditional dried goods and fabrics. Then walk to Ningxia Night Market (dinner) – smaller than Shilin but better food.
• Culture lovers: 228 Peace Memorial Park (free) and the Presidential Office Building (free tour on weekdays, register online).
• Last-minute relaxation: Rent a bike at Dajia Riverside Park (MRT Yuanshan station, Exit 2) and cycle along the river – 2 hours, flat path, cafes along the way.

Whichever you pick, stay flexible. And don't forget to buy pineapple cakes at SunnyHills (No. 21, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Rd.) – NT$600 for a box of 10. They're the best.

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