How many days do you actually need in Taipei?

When planning your 4 day Taipei itinerary, your first question will probably be, is 4 days actually enough? The short answer, yes, I do think 4 days is enough time to spend in Taipei to get a good feel for the city. At a minimum I would suggest at least 2 days. On my first trip, we only spent 2 days in Taipei and it felt too rushed and there were some things I didn’t even get a chance to see. You’ll be surprised at how much there is to do and see in this city!

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Tips for Visiting Taipei/ FAQs About Taipei

Best time to visit Taipei

Which time of year is best to plan your 4 day Taipei itinerary will depend on what type of activities you’re going for and the weather you prefer. As such, I’ve broken it down by season with pros and cons of each to help you decide along with a weather chart at the bottom

Average Temperatures in Taipei

How to get to Taipei

Fly of course! There are a few major airports in Taiwan you can fly into but I’d say the most common one for international flights is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taipei.

I always use Google Flights to find the cheapest flights and if you love booking on points, I’d suggest installing the Points Path Google Chrome extension which shows you the price in points in your Google flights search.

I personally flew with China Airlines direct from London and would highly recommend. The service was great and the economy seats had lots of space. The food was pretty average. Here are some photos from my China Airlines economy flight so you can get a feel for what it’s like.

How to get around Taipei

When planning your 4 day Taipei itinerary, one of the most important things you’ll need to consider is how to get around. When I was in Taipei, we had a driver the whole time so we were getting around almost entirely by car. The roads were very well maintained and safe. The traffic isn’t insane like in some parts of Asia and everyone actually follows the rules. One of my friends who had been in Taipei the week before we arrived had rented a car to get around so this is definitely an option. Just make sure you have an international drivers license to do so.

If you’re not up for driving, there is also a great public transport system in Taipei. I got to experience the high speed rail from Taichung to Taipei and it was great! The train was very clean, comfortable, and on time. It seemed pretty easy to navigate and buy tickets as well.

Currency used in Taipei and is Cash or Card preferred

The currency used in Taipei and all throughout Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. I used card almost everywhere in Taipei although I’d suggest getting cash for the night markets and to play the arcade games which are EVERYWHERE.

Do people speak English in Taipei?

The main language spoken in Taiwan is Mandarin and you will find that English is not very widely spoken. As such, it’s super important to have the Google Translate app downloaded on your phone so you can translate spoken and written Mandarin.

Convenience Stores in Taipei

There is a massive culture of convenience stores in Taiwan. In fact Taiwan has 1 convenience store per 1,582 people, the most famous being 7/11 and Family Mart. You absolutely HAVE to schedule a stop in one of the convenience stores during your 4 day Taipei itinerary. You can find everything from food, to toiletries, coffee, and alcohol. Definitely check out the ready meals, iced coffees, and sushi. Also, a really popular flavour of beer I kept seeing was peach and that ended up being my drink of choice on the trip!

Is Taipei a good destination for solo travellers?

Yes! Taipei is a great place for solo travellers as there’s plenty to do, the people are friendly, and the city is safe. As a solo female traveller, I would definitely recommend Taipei for your next solo trip. Check out this article I’ve written on How to Make Friends While Traveling Solo if you want some tips!

Is Taipei Safe?

Yes Taipei is very safe. I felt completely comfortable walking around day and night everywhere in Taipei. What’s even better is that petty crime is very low in all of Taiwan so you will barely hear of anyone getting robbed or pickpocketed.

No matter how safe a destination is, you should ALWAYS have travel insurance. I highly recommend Safety Wing for travellers who will be traveling long term. Their essential plan not only covers medical emergencies but also travel emergencies such as lost luggage or trip cancellation.

How to get phone data when visiting Taipei

If your phone provider doesn’t have a great international roaming plan, then I’d recommend getting an eSIM. I normally use the Airalo app to get my eSIM to access data abroad. You can use my code WRIGHT3 to get $3 off your first eSIM with Airalo.

The Dogs of Taipei

One of the most pleasantly surprising things in Taipei for me were the dogs. The people of Taiwan LOVE their furry friends. So much so, they treat them like their very own children pushing them around the city in strollers with their very own fans 😂. I was stopping every 5 minutes to take pictures of people’s dogs, I was in heaven.

Where to stay in Taipei

Taiwan is pretty affordable for accommodation especially in Taipei where there’s lots of choice. It’s not as cheap as South East Asia, but you can still find a nice double room in a hotel for for £40 or less. One thing to note about hotels in Taipei though, the basic rooms will usually have no windows. You’ll notice this when you search so just pay attention to that when booking if you’re someone who needs a window and natural light.

Here are some recommendations for places to stay in Taipei on any budget:

Search Yourself

What to do in Taipei

For your 4 day Taipei itinerary I’ve tried to provide a good mix of hidden gems, popular spots, and guided adventures so you can really get a feel for the city. I personally did all of these activities myself and have only recommended those I’d actually do again.

Guided Tour

When people here guided tour they usually immediately think boring and stuffy, but I always suggest doing at least one guided tour when visiting somewhere new to get a lay of the land and some basic interesting facts and history. Here’s the thing though, tours don’t have to be boring! You can usually find a tour to suit any preference such as food tours, walking tours, bike tours, you name it. My go to place for finding these is either the tourist information centre, searching “free walking tour” on Google, or going to Get Your Guide. Here are some of the top guided tours I found on Get Your Guide for Taipei:

Lungshan Temple

This was one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan. I’d recommend seeing it during the day and during the evening or going just before sunset so you can see both. This is a great place to see the traditional religious practices in Taiwan. I would highly suggest getting a tour guide for the temples so you can learn what all the traditions are and what people are actually doing. It’s really cool to observe and learn and a great addition to your 4 day Taipei itinerary.

Elephant Mountain Hike

This was definitely one of the best outdoor activities I did in Taipei. Elephant Mountain is a famous viewpoint and hike right in the middle of the city. To get to the view point you have to climb a set of steps which isn’t that difficult but can be a bit steep. I saw people of all ages on the hike and at the top. The views at the top are worth it though and you will probably see the locals working out on the outdoor gym!

Explore Dihua Street

Dihua Street is a historical and vibrant street located in the Datong District in downtown Taipei. This was one of my favourites parts of Taipei as there was so much to see and do such as traditional shops, street food vendors, markets, temples, and restaurants. This is where I had the chance to try the famous ice cream spring roll which is ice cream and peanut candy shavings with optional coriander rolled up in rice paper. I also tried the famous Baozi from a local street vendor and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. I have all of these food places pinned in my Taiwan Google Map Guide and mentioned below in the places to eat section.

Dadaocheng Pier Plaza

We stumbled across this place after leaving Dihua street and so glad we did. The city has completely transformed this old shipping pier into a cultural hub. It’s the perfect spot to relax and take in the views of the Tamsu River and you can also catch a sightseeing yacht cruise from here if you fancy it. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during Chinese New Year, it’s a great place to catch the fireworks. It’s also the perfect spot to catch the Taipei Dragon Boat Festival or the Taipei Lantern Festival.

Arcade Games

The one thing you’ll quickly notice about Taipei and Taiwan in general is how much they LOVE their arcade games – especially the claw game. Apparently people even buy these as an investment to collect the change as income. You’ll find these arcade games everywhere around Taipei and especially at the night markets. Make sure you have local currency and change on you so you can get in on the fun as It’s all part of the culture!

Taipei 101 Observation Deck

Yes this is touristy but yes the views are great so just go for it. One thing I forgot to check is if you get multiple entries per ticket because it would be great to go up to see the view during the day and in the evening. If not, then I’d recommend going just before sunset to see both.

Liberty Square aka Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park

This place is a HUGE, 59 acres to be exact. It was built in 1980 originally as a dedication to Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). In 2007, the area was renamed Liberty Square to reflect Taiwan’s democratic values and move away from its authoritarian past. The outdoor space is actually a park with gardens, koi ponds, flowers, and trees. You can also see some beautiful architecture in the surrounding archway and temples.

Get a Massage or Manicure Pedicure at Huaxi Street Night Market

After walking around all day you may want to stop in one of the many spas of huaxi stree night market to treat yourself to a foot or back massage or maybe even a manicure and pedicure to top it off. These of course aren’t luxury spas but for what you get for the price, I’d definitely go back!

Where to eat in Taipei

Taipei is a foodie paradise. With influences from China, Korea, and Japan, it’s the perfect melting pot to try it all. A trip to at least one night market needs to be at the top of your list where you can try things like scallion pancake, fried chicken, sweet potato balls, pork with scallions, bubble tea, and more. I’ve listed a few below to help you plan. In addition, you can find all sorts of restaurants serving dumplings, baos, noodles, and hot pot. One thing you will never get bored of is the food and honestly I’d go back just for that! So let’s dive into some of my best places to eat in Taipei!

Huaxi Street Night Market

No itinerary for Taipei is complete without a visit to at least 1 night market and this was my favorite night market in all of Taiwan! It wasn’t as crowded as the others and we found some Michelin start bao buns! My favorite stalls were Yuan Fang Guabao and Wang’s Broth – both of which are pinned in my Taiwan Google Map Guide.

妙口四神湯.肉包專賣店 – Miaokou Sishen Soup and Meat Bun Specialty Store (Dihua Street)

I found this place completely by accident wandering down Dihua Street which then led to an impromptu food crawl! You can find one of the most famous foods in Taiwan here which is the baozi – a large round puffy steamed bun filled with meat and spices. It’s very local and if you weren’t looking for it might completely miss it!

主播楊中化爆漿大貢丸-迪化店 – Anchor Yang Zhonghua’s Dagong Pills (Dihua Street)

A little further down from the Boazi shop, a giant red sign with the “CNN” logo on it caught my eye. Turns out this famous pork ball soup place was featured in a CNN food article about Taiwan. The place is local, reviews are great, and prices are reasonable.

Din Tai Fung

This place is an institution and probably the most famous place in the world to get ziao long bao aka “soup dumplings”. The dumplings are filled with meat and broth and there’s loads of different types you can get. My favourites were the truffle, traditional pork, and Godiva chocolate for dessert.

Addiction Aquatic Development

This is a trendy fresh fish market in downtown Taipei and if you love sushi then you have to put this on your itinerary for Taiwan! There’s also a cute little wine bar inside. You can also grab the sushi to go and sit on the tables outside.

Raohe Street Night Market

This is another night market you should check out in Taipei however, I found this one really crowded which is why I preferred Huaxi. However, I did get my absolute favourite street food of the entire trip here which is Rou Jia Mo and pinned on my Taiwan Google Map Guide. This night market also has loads of fun arcade and game vendors so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Bubble Tea

Bubble tea is quite a huge thing in Taiwan (as is normal tea of course) and I tried my first one at 得正#台北龍山寺計劃. When you order the tea you will need to specify the type of tea you want, how sweet, how much ice, and which type of bubbles.

Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market

I mentioned this spot earlier in my “Things to Do” section but this is also a great place to grab a bight to eat. They’ve transformed old shipping containers into pop up food stalls selling local and western food. You can also find tea, beer, and cocktails.

Final Thoughts on the 4 Day Taipei Itinerary

As you can see there’s LOADS to see and do in Taipei and this 4 day Taipei itinerary will most definitely keep you busy. If you have more time in Taiwan, and want to check out another city, I’d highly recommend checking out Taichung which I’ve covered in my Taiwan Travel Guide. You could also add in some epic hikes as Taiwan has some of the best peaks in the world to climb. In summary, while 4 days is definitely enough time to explore Taipei, I’d highly recommend visiting for a week if you can swing it. I really hope you found this guide useful and enjoy Taipei as much as I did!