Are you looking for places to visit in Taipei? There are more than 7 amazing Taipei places to visit, yes. But, which ones should you prioritize if you had 48hrs in Taipei? Yes, you could go and eat and then walk around. But, you would have missed a lot. There are many unique things to do in Taipei, and all are made super convenient with the incredible underground system we have here – the MRT. That being said, there are most certainly some things that you absolutely must do in Taipei, and this article is going to share some of the must visit tourist attractions and things you should do if you’re the first-time visitor in the city.
Table of Contents
Quick guide before traveling to Taipei
- Taiwan’s Entry Regulations: please check here to make sure you follow the regulations.
- Things you might want to book in advance and pick up at the airport:
- 4G WiFi Router: Klook | KKday
- 4G SIM card: Klook | KKday
- Unlimited Data eSIM
- EasyCard for Transportation: Klook | KKday (+sim card)
- Travel from the airport to Taipei, book in advance:
- Airport Pickup: Klook | KKday
- Bus ticket to get into Taipei: Klook | KKday
- Taoyuan Airport MRT
- Deals for places to stay in Taipei: Booking.com | Klook | KKday | Agoda
- Useful Pass for you while you are in the city:
- Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass (Klook | KKday): The pass gives you the options of a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day pass. You can go to the listed attractions (more than 25 attractions) with unlimited rides on Taipei MRT, buses, and Taiwan Tourist Shuttles. If you only want unlimited transportation, consider the following pass instead.
- Taipei Transport Fun Pass: Choose between one to two days of unlimited transportation, and get unlimited rides on the Taipei MRT, city buses, 5 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes, and Maokong Gondola. Book this pass in advance and pick up at the airport!
- Klook Pass Taipei: You can access 2-5 classic attractions (including Taipei 101 Observatory, National Palace Museum, Maokong Gondola, Taipei Zoo, Taipei Double Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour, Jiufen Day Tour, and many more) with reasonable price.
- Taipei Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: Visit the must-see attractions including Taipei 101, Ximending, National Palace Museum, etc.
How to travel around the city?
Public transportation is really convenient in Taipei, you can travel easily from A to B via buses, MRT, YouBike by using EasyCard. EasyCard is the travel card that is widely used in Taiwan, you can top up your card at MRT stations and convenient stores in Taipei. You can book the card in advance and pick up at the airport to save some time. If you are only planning to stay in Taipei for a few days, Taipei Transport Fun Pass mentioned above is another good option.
The taxis in Taipei are all painted yellow, simply put your hand up to call for one on the side of the road. If you don’t want communication problems, Uber is also accepted in Taipei.
Useful Tips:
If you want to top up your easy card at convenience stores, go to the counter, hand in the money you want to top up, and say this in Chinese:
我想要加值悠遊卡 wǒ xiǎng yào jiā zhí yōu yóu kǎ，謝謝 xiè xiè
(I’d like to top up my EasyCard, thank you.)
If you’re not sure where to stay in Taipei, this post is for you:
A Traveller’s Guide to Taipei Hotels: 18 Luxury to Affordable Hotels in the City Centre
This map lists all of the mentioned places in the article for you to easily navigate around the city!
Top Taipei Places #1 - Taipei 101/ Elephant Mountain
Visit 101 Observatory or climb up the Elephant Mountain trail to admire 101, and don't forget to check out the XinYi area department stores for shopping. If you're hungry, the famous soup dumpling place-Din Tai Fung has a branch in Taipei 101, and also a branch in the department store in the XinYi area, make sure to go earlier/later than the normal lunch/dinner time to avoid the long queue.
The view from Elephant Mountain is a great one. Yes, I know that it is one of the really popular (and oftentimes overcrowded) areas to see 101 from, but that's for a reason - the views are awesome! It's definitely something you must do in Taipei!
Similarly, the Taipei 101 observatory is a must-do in Taipei. There's something magical about the whole experience. From the moment you step into the super-speed elevator to the moment you walk out to the 360° observatory platform on the 89th floor, 91st 'Horizon' floor, or the 101st 'Skyline' floor. Make sure to book in advance to avoid waiting and avoid queues.
Useful Tips:
- Book Taipei 101 observatory e-ticket (Klook | KKday) to save time lining up. (also included in Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass)
- Climb up the Elephant Mountain trail in the evening (it only takes around half an hour) to go to the observatory platform, you can appreciate the night view at the same time! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because the steps are high.
- Double-Decker Bus Restaurant: If you want to admire Taipei 101 and have great food at the same time, you can consider this bus tour, it takes you to the famous attractions in Taipei.
Top Taipei Places #2 - National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum is most definitely a must do in Taipei, even if you're only here for 48hrs. There are thousands of ancient artifacts within the museum walls, with the vast majority of artifacts part of the Chinese imperial collection dating back to the Song Dynasty.
Whether you're into calligraphy, paintings, pottery, sculptures, or simply interested in daily artifacts from thousands of years ago, the National Palace Museum has it all. Take the R30 bus from Shilin station, and 15 minutes later you'll be standing on the steps of this incredible building.
Useful Tips:
- Book National Palace museum e-ticket (Klook | KKday) to save time waiting in the long queue. (also included in Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass)
- If you also want to visit Taipei 101, you can consider buying Taipei 101 Observatory X National Palace Museum Tickets
- R30 bus is not very regular on weekdays (1 hour per bus on weekdays), if you want to check how long the next one will come, you can check out this website for the updated time of the bus.
Top Taipei Places #3 - Night Market
Wherever you are in the city, a night market is nearby! Check out my comprehensive list of what to eat at night market, as you cannot pass up on this incredible opportunity to eat truly authentic Taiwanese street food, it is a must do in Taipei!
Shilin is just one of many night markets dotted around Taipei. My favourite one, however, is Nanjichang night market, where you can eat some seriously unbeatable food in the city.
Click here to check out my Shilin night market post, and explore some good food in the night market!
Useful Tips:
If you want someone to show you around the night markets, you can book through Klook/KKday for the following night market tours:
- Shilin Night Market Food Walking Tour in Taipei
- Taipei at Night: Din Tai Fung Dinner & Raohe Street Night Market Guided Tour (Klook | KKday)
- Taipei Night Market Michelin Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market
- Klook PASS: NingXia Night Market Street Food
- Thousand-year Banquet at Ningxia Night Market
- Street Food Walking Tour in Taipei
If you are wondering what are the must eat food at night markets, you can read the following posts:
11 of the best essential night market eats in Taiwan
Taipei street food: 15 of the best food stands you should eat, and where to find them.
Top Taipei Places #4 - Foot Massage
Foot massage places are dotted all over the city. All of your stress and worries will be massaged away as a professional gives you some deep tissue massage on your lower legs and feet. There's an art to this, and it will allow you to feel like you are walking on a wonderfully fluffy cloud by the time you are finished. Check out something like this Body and Foot Massage Treatment by Six Star Foot Massage Center as a great option. Remember to book in advance to make sure you haven't made a wasted trip, or even send it as a gift to that special someone!
For an extra level of awesomeness, check out what some of the Foot massage spots provide for you - a foot massage 'menu', if you will. You may sit down, then be presented with something like this, then when a pressure point is pressed, they will tell you the number which refers to the specific area of pain.
Useful Tips:
- It is perfect to put the foot massage at the end of the day since the places are often closed after midnight. Book the reputable massage chain in advance, they often have better-trained staff. Best of all, you can get a better price and pop in at any time.
- If you're afraid of the staff would put too much pressure on the massage, you can say this: 請不要按太用力 qǐng bú yào àn tài yòng lì (Please don't put too much pressure)
Not a fan of massage? Hot spring in 北投
If you're afraid of the pain, you absolutely should go up to Beitou for the hot spring instead. There are so many resorts, private springs, communal springs, and great experiences to have. It is a must do in Taipei, for sure!
This is one of the private hot springs, which can be found in many resorts around Beitou and New Beitou. The communal ones are good if you just want a quick dip, but I prefer the private ones for the (increased level of) cleanliness and privacy that they allow for a more relaxed soak.
If you love mountains, Yangmingshan National Park is only 15 mins drive away from Beitou, you can go hiking first nd enjoy the hot spring afterwards.
Recommended public/private hot springs and tours:
Top Taipei Places #5 - Visit a temple
A temple is a deeply spiritual journey in Taipei. There are many temples around, with some perhaps boasting more impressive views than others. In my opinion, visiting LongShan temple is a must do in Taipei. The temple is vast, sprawling, clean, and beautiful. But, more than that, the area around the temple is really interesting, boasting some great eats like this pickled melon soup spot and the amazing Lung Tu shaved ice place.
Longshan temple is one of those must-see temples in Taipei. There aren't many of them, I would say, but Longshan is definitely a must do in Taipei. The fact that it is around one of the most interesting places in Taipei helps, too!
Cisheng Temple should not be missed, and make sure to eat whilst you're there, too! The temple itself is set in such an odd place, that it is intensely alluring. With the sun beating down, you'll find a whole bunch of plastic seats and foldable tables littered around outside the front of the temple, with your pick of vendors to suit what you're in the mood for. What is not to love about eating and soaking in the culture right outside the temple? The smell of incense mixed with the sweet undertones of some fried pork and fried rice.
It only takes you about 10 minutes to walk from Cisheng Temple to Dihua street, the street is famous for historical buildings, Chinese herbs, and Yongle Marekt. The area is known as Dadaocheng. I really enjoy walking around the area, it has the vibe of the Old Taipei feel.
Taipei City – CiSheng Temple 慈聖宮 and everything delicious for a Taiwanese breakfast!
Useful Tips:
If you want to experience the temple culture and pick up the incense, make sure to follow the order and directions from one to another (if you have no clue, you can ask the people at the information desk).
You can also read my Yongle Market post to learn more about the historical area.
Recommended Tours:
Top Taipei Places #6 - YouBike (riverside park)
The world is continuing to be built on convenience, yet we are (finally) prioritizing a more sustainable way of travel when we get away. Whether this is something such as the Citi bike rental in New York, Boris Bikes in London, or even the Metro Bike in LA, we are continuing to search for more available modes of healthy transport. With that in mind, using the Youbike is a must do in Taipei. With the vast array of cycle paths, beautiful riverside parks, and exceedingly reasonable rental costs, the Youbike is a no-brainer.
Useful Tips:
If you're coming into the country and don't know how to get an easy card, life has never been easier for you. You can even get them at the Airport on your way into the city!
You can also join the tour:
Top Taipei Places #7 - MaoKong Tea
Maokong continues to be one of my favourite escapes from the hustle and bustle of Taipei, a capital city. Less than 30mins outside of the city limits, Maokong boasts amazing views over the city, whilst benefiting from the clean air and laid-back atmosphere.
If you are also a fan of tea, you can check out my Taiwanese Tea post to learn more about Taiwanese tea. 包種茶 Pouchong tea is the tea planted in the area, make sure to try some and enjoy the refreshing taste!
Useful Tips:
- There are a whole host of incredible day trips and tea excursions you can take around Maokong, but this one is an absolute must-do in Taipei. And you absolutely must make sure to check out these incredible eats in Maokong, too!
- If you want to wander around Maokong and enjoy the view, you can take Maokong Gondola up to the mountain by using your easy card or Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass.
- Taipei zoo is located at the foot of the mountain, right next to the Gondola station. You can consider buying a Maokong Gondola & Zoo Combo Ticket for the day!
- Maokong Small Travel | Maokong cable car decryption + Maokong tea
If you want a private custom Taipei tour, you can check out Taipei: Private Custom Taipei City Tour on Klook.
The bottom line
48hrs is not a lot, so these 7 Taipei places are where you should be and are things you absolutely must do in Taipei. It's not an exhaustive list, but an important one. Eating - check! Exploring - check! Learning culture - check!
Think of this list of 7 things you must do in Taipei as a whistle-stop-tour of the best of the best that the city has to offer.
Looking for something to eat in Taipei? Check out the following articles for more inspiration:
Where Can You Find the Best Taiwanese Breakfast? here are my 2023 top picks!
The Ultimate Guide to 15 Amazing Xiao Long Bao Restaurants in Taipei
Taipei Gift – Where to Find the Best Pineapple Cake in Taipei
Want to take day trips from Taipei? You might consider to go to Keelung.
Keelung City – A fast 24hr foodie tour of surprising keelung, Part 1
Please take note that this article contains links to services and products from which I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.