Fang Wang
What You’ll Find Here
I’ve led more than 40 groups through Taipei over the past six years. And every single time, the same complaints pop up: “We followed a blog and ended up wasting half a day in line,” or “We never knew we needed to book the gondola in advance.” So I’m writing the itinerary I wish every traveler had. No fluff. Just the realistic timings, the specific shortcuts, and the honest “skip this if…” calls that save you time and frustration.
Here’s the short of it: Five days is the sweet spot. You can hit the heavy hitters (Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, night markets) without feeling rushed. But the order matters — a lot. Do it wrong and you’ll be stuck in a traffic jam that turns a 40‑minute ride into two hours. I’ll walk you through each day, with backup plans for rain and for energy levels.
Day 1: The Cultural Core (Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall & Yongkang Street)
Morning: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Address: No. 21, Zhongzheng South Road, Zhongzheng District
Opening hours: 9:00–18:00 daily (hall closes at 17:50 for changing of the guard).
Admission: Free.
How to get there: Take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red) to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station, Exit 3 or 4. Walk 5 minutes straight.
Also: the bathrooms inside the main hall are almost always empty. Use those before heading out.
Late Morning: Cross over to Yongkang Street (15 min walk)
Head east via Xinyi Road. Yongkang Street is famous for Din Tai Fung (original location at No. 1, Lane 4, Yongkang Street). But the wait can be brutal — 45 minutes at peak. My go‑to instead? Jin Ji Yuan Braised Pork Rice at No. 7, Lane 48, Yongkang Street. The braised pork over rice (NT$50) is phenomenal. No queue before 11:30am. Pay cash only.
Afternoon: Explore Da’an Forest Park (optional) or head to Bopiliao
If you’re not tired, take a 10‑minute walk to Bopiliao Historical Block (No. 101, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District). It’s a preserved Qing‑era alleyway — free, quiet, and photogenic. Most group tours skip it, so you’ll have the place almost to yourself.
Day 2: North Coast Escape (Yehliu Geopark & Jiufen Old Street)
Why you must leave early
Yehliu opens at 8:00am. By 10am, the busloads arrive and you’ll be shuffling behind selfie sticks. Aim to be at the ticket gate by 8:15am. From Taipei Main Station, take the Kuo-Kuang Bus 1815 from the East Gate bus terminal — the ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Single ticket: NT$115. You can pay with an EasyCard or cash.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Yehliu entrance fee | Adult NT$120, children (6‑12) NT$60. No online booking needed — just buy at the gate. |
| Best photo time | 8:00–9:30am (sun is behind you for the Queen’s Head). After 2pm, the rock formations are backlit. |
| Facilities note | Wheelchair accessible only on the main boardwalk; the famous Queen’s Head area has uneven steps. |
| Toilet warning | Public restrooms near the queue are cleaned every hour, but they run out of soap. Carry hand sanitizer. |
Lunch & Jiufen
From Yehliu, take bus 862 or 1815 back to Keelung Station (30 min), then transfer to bus 788 or 1062 to Jiufen (about 40 min). Or, a private taxi from Yehliu to Jiufen costs around NT$600–800 (20 min).
Jiufen Old Street gets packed after 2pm. My trick: walk all the way down the steps past A-Mei Tea House to the quieter back alleys. Grab a bowl of taro pearls soup at the stall just below the Shengping Theater (NT$60) — it’s the best in town. Avoid the main crowd near the entrance.
Return to Taipei: Bus 1062 goes directly to Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station (1 hour, NT$110). The last bus leaves around 10pm, but better catch one before 8pm to avoid the long weekend queue.
Day 3: Modern Taipei (Taipei 101, Xinyi District & Elephant Mountain)
Morning: Taipei 101 Observatory
Address: No. 45, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Taipei City.
Opening hours: 9:00–22:00 (last entry 21:15).
Ticket: Adult NT$600 online (Klook or official website). Buying at the counter costs NT$700 and often means a 20‑min wait. Book online at least one day in advance — the official site accepts foreign credit cards.
Best time: Arrive at 9:00am. The observation deck is nearly empty. By 10:30, school groups flood in.
Is it worth the price? Honestly, the view is spectacular, but if you’re on a budget, skip the observatory and head to Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) in the late afternoon. The hike takes 15–20 minutes from the trailhead near Xiangshan MRT station (Exit 2). You get a near‑identical view of Taipei 101 for free. Sunset (around 5:30pm in winter, 6:30pm in summer) is packed — arrive 40 minutes early to claim a rock seat.
Afternoon: Xinyi Shopping District
Walk around the basement of Taipei 101 — there’s a Din Tai Fung here too, with shorter lines than the Yongkang original. Try the truffle xiao long bao (NT$380 for 6). For a caffeine fix, Simple Kaffa (No. 5, Alley 4, Lane 219, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road) serves award‑winning coffee. Their filter is NT$200.
Day 4: Maokong Gondola & Beitou Hot Springs
Maokong Gondola
Station: Taipei Zoo MRT Station (Brown Line), then walk 2 minutes to the gondola entrance.
Hours: Tue–Sun, 9:00–21:00 (Mon closed). Last boarding from Taipei Zoo at 20:00.
Ticket: NT$120 one‑way (EasyCard accepted). The crystal‑bottom cars cost the same — just queue in the “Crystal” line. Wait times on weekends can exceed 40 minutes; go on a weekday morning to avoid that.
At the top, you’ll find teahouses with views. I always stop at Zheng Da Tea House (No. 28, Lane 40, Section 3, Zhinan Road) — they speak decent English and the tieguanyin tea (NT$250 per pot) comes with a free refill of hot water. Avoid the first row of shops near the station; they’re tourist‑priced.
Afternoon: Beitou Hot Springs
Take the gondola back down, then ride the MRT to Beitou Station (Red Line to Xinbeitou branch). It’s about 30 minutes door‑to‑door. For a public spring experience, go to Millennium Hot Spring (No. 2, Zhongshan Road, Beitou).
| Facility | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor pool (swimwear required) | NT$80 | Open 5:30–22:00. Towel rental NT$15. Clean, but gets busy after 4pm. |
| Private room (2 persons, 1.5 hours) | NT$1,200–1,500 | Book via their website or call ahead; walk‑in often sold out. |
Day 5: Flexible Buffer (Markets or Museums)
Option A: National Palace Museum (morning) + Shilin Night Market (evening)
Address: No. 221, Section 2, Zhi Shan Road, Shilin District.
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (extended to 18:00 on weekends). Closed on Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Ticket: NT$350 adults; free for visitors under 18. Audio guide NT$150 — worth it if you love history. No online reservation needed for standard entry, but special exhibitions may require.
Transport: Take MRT to Shilin Station (Red Line), then bus R30 (red 30) or 255 to the museum. Or a taxi from Shilin costs around NT$120. The museum is huge — pick one or two sections (jade and porcelain are the highlights). Plan 2.5 hours minimum.
Evening: Shilin Night Market. Avoid the main food alley near the entrance; it’s overpriced. My picks: Hot Star Large Fried Chicken (No. 3, Lane 9, Wenlin Road) — NT$75, crispy and juicy. And the oyster omelet at stall no. 58 (next to the bowling alley). Cash only for most stalls.
Option B: Huashan 1914 Creative Park + Dadaocheng (if it’s raining)
Indoor backup. Huashan (No. 1, Section 1, Bade Road) is a converted brewery with galleries, shops, and cafés. Free entry to the park; exhibitions cost NT$150–300. Plenty of seats, good Wi‑Fi. Then walk 20 minutes to Dadaocheng Wharf for photogenic old streets. YouTube the “Dadaocheng walking tour” for a self‑guided route.
This itinerary saved our Taipei trip! We’re not morning people but the 6am start at the Taipei Zoo was absolutely worth it — pandas active, zero crowds. Loved how they suggested skipping the main Shilin Night Market for the smaller ones like Raohe. Only minor issue: the map links for the cycling route along the Tamsui River were broken. Otherwise perfect.
Best travel guide I’ve used in years! The emphasis on timing — like arriving at Longshan Temple after 9pm and catching the morning light at Daan Forest Park — made all the difference. My girlfriend and I barely waited in any lines, and we discovered a tiny night market in Wufenpu that wasn’t even listed in most blogs. Highly recommend for anyone who hates elbow-to-elbow tourism.
I really wanted to love this, but honestly it felt rushed. Five days crammed with too many ‘off the beaten path’ spots that ended up being either closed or underwhelming. The Maokong gondola tip was good, but the café they recommended was overpriced and packed. If you’re aiming for ‘without the crowds’, maybe cut down to 3–4 key places and build in more buffer time.
Solid plan overall, but a few hiccups. Day 3’s recommendation to visit the National Palace Museum ‘right at opening’ still had a decent crowd — maybe consider a weekday afternoon instead? The directions to the quiet hiking trail near Beitou were a bit vague and we ended up circling for 20 mins. Still, it helped us avoid the worst of the tourist traps.
Finally an itinerary that actually works! Followed this guide last month and the early morning tips were spot on — got to the Elephant Mountain viewpoint at 6am and had it almost to ourselves. The hidden alley food stops in Dadaocheng were a game changer. Only wish there were more specific public transport instructions for the less touristy spots.