Taipei in 5 days

Night markets, mountain hot springs, and the friendliest megacity in Asia. Best time to visit: October-December and March-April. Average daily budget: $45 to $85 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Da'an, Leafy, central, café-dense. The best base for solo travellers.

Morning: Beitou hot springs. Soak in a public or private onsen-style bath after a day on your feet.

Afternoon: Explore Da'an, Leafy, central, café-dense. The best base for solo travellers.

Evening: Elephant Mountain sunset. A 20-minute climb for the classic Taipei 101 skyline shot. Go an hour before dusk.

Eat: Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung (the original is here)

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Ximending, Taipei's youth and street-fashion hub, neon and energy after dark.

Morning: Maokong gondola up to the tea houses for a pot of high-mountain oolong.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Ximending, Taipei's youth and street-fashion hub, neon and energy after dark.

Evening: Shilin or Raohe night market. Raohe is tighter and tastier. Pepper buns first, then wander.

Eat: Beef noodle soup on Yongkang Street

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Xinyi, Taipei 101, malls, and the trailhead for Elephant Mountain.

Morning: Fujin Street in Songshan for the city's calmest café strip.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Xinyi, Taipei 101, malls, and the trailhead for Elephant Mountain.

Evening: Longshan Temple at dusk. Incense, chanting, and the most atmospheric temple in the city.

Eat: Pepper buns at Raohe night market

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Datong, Old Taipei: Dihua Street, temples, and traditional shophouses.

Morning: Jiufen as a half-day trip when the coach crowds thin after 4pm.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Datong, Old Taipei: Dihua Street, temples, and traditional shophouses.

Evening: Yongkang Street for beef noodle soup and mango shaved ice.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Mango shaved ice (when in season, May-September)

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Beitou, Hot-spring suburb in the hills, 30 minutes by metro.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Beitou, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Beitou, Hot-spring suburb in the hills, 30 minutes by metro.

Evening: Dinner at Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung (the original is here), then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Beitou.

Eat: Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung (the original is here)

Hidden gems

Maokong gondola up to the tea houses for a pot of high-mountain oolong.
Fujin Street in Songshan for the city's calmest café strip.
Jiufen as a half-day trip when the coach crowds thin after 4pm.
Yongkang Street for beef noodle soup and mango shaved ice.

Getting around

The MRT metro is fast, cheap and English-signed; get an EasyCard at any station and tap on everything including buses and convenience stores. Taxis and Uber are cheap for late nights. The city centre is flat and walkable between metro stops.

Safety

Taipei is among the safest big cities in the world, including for solo female travellers at night. The main hazards are summer typhoons (June-September) and humidity. Tap water is best filtered or boiled; bottled is everywhere. Locals are exceptionally helpful if you look lost.

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