7 things to do in Taipei

Written by: Ying Xuan and Kelly

7 ways to say… I love you Taipei!

“Are we going to Taipei today?!"—a question we ask ourselves almost every morning when we wake up.

As exchange students in Taiwan for the past two months, we've explored cities all across the island, but no place captures our hearts quite like Taipei (and yes, the free school bus definitely helps).

The 1.5-hour bus ride from Hsinchu may be long, but the excitement of heading into the city never fades. With endless street food, scenic sights, cosy cafés, and a vibrant energy that never sleeps, Taipei always gives us something new to love.

Whether you're a foodie, nature lover, or just here for the vibes, this guide is our love letter to Taipei—and we hope you’ll feel the same as we do. So, hop onto this little tour bus of ours, and let's explore! 🚍✨

How to get around Taipei 🚆🛵

Getting around Taipei is straightforward. It's similar to Singapore's MRT system, and we recommend getting an EasyCard (悠遊卡) 🎫  if you travel using public transportation. Cards are available at any metro station or convenience stores like 7-11 and FamilyMart.

And if you’re as obsessed with cute things as we are, Taiwan has the perfect travel essential for you—adorable EasyCard designs! From Sanrio and Pokémon to uniquely Taiwanese designs like their iconic bread loafs, dish scrubs, mrt tap outs…these cards aren’t just practical for getting around—they make for the cutest and most useful souvenirs. Who wouldn’t want a daily dose of cuteness every time they tap in for a train ride? 🚉

However, navigating Taiwan’s bus system 🚌 can be somewhat frustrating (though to be fair, maybe we’re just spoiled by Singapore’s efficient transportation system). The bus stops here are a literal pole sometimes, making them easy to miss compared to the prominent sheltered stops back home.

To add on to the confusion, bus stop names are the same on both sides of the road, so you’ll need to know whether you’re heading North (向北) or South (向南)—which, let’s be honest, we’re usually clueless about…

Bus timings also aren't as frequent, so we had to plan our routes properly. We recommend downloading the "公路客运" app 📱, as we found it to be the most accurate one thus far. Google maps has let us down waaayy too many times.

That said, Taiwan also offers private hire services like Uber and 55688, which come in handy when the bus timings fail us. Plus, the fares are significantly cheaper than Grab in Singapore, a win for us!

With that, lets dive right into our 7 things to do in Taipei! ✨🏙️

1. Try authentic Taiwanese street food at Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市)

There’s something chaotic yet comforting about night markets that we can’t describe. The lively atmosphere from chatty patrons and carts upon carts of authentic street food is an experience we can never find back in Singapore.

Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市) is easily one of our favourites to visit when in Taipei, and personally, we find it less overwhelming and more straightforward to shop at as compared to Shilin Night Market.

Black pepper buns (胡椒饼) are one of the first must-tries when you’re at Raohe. The bun is stuffed with black pepper pork filling and cooked on-site in a charcoal tandoori oven to get an extra crispy exterior but soft and juicy filling. Fuzhou Pepper Buns is a store right at the night market entrance, and it’s hard to miss since there’s typically a long queue for their famous buns. The wait was reasonable, and it took us around 15 minutes to reach the front.

Mala duck blood (麻辣鸭血) is a Taiwanese delicacy that we tried and immediately fell in love with. It sounds intimidating, we know, but there isn’t much flavour to the blood, and the texture feels like tofu.

Raohe is one of our favourite places to get this dish, and this particular stall called Shi Boss Spicy Tofu (施老板麻辣臭豆腐) is where we get our cravings fixed.

It’s not a trip to Taiwan if you don’t snack on some sweet potato balls (地瓜球). You’ll find tons of stores selling this lovely snack, and you can get them from any store.

There’s none we’ve eaten that has disappointed us yet!

Following with desserts, a bowl of sweet rice balls is the perfect way to end the night.

Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan (御品元冰火汤圆) serves theirs over ice, drizzled with sweet osmanthus honey. This was our personal favourite!

Watch out for the ones served in sweet fermented rice soup, though; it’s tastes incredibly alcoholic and might not be the best choice if you’re not an alcohol fan.

If you’re not a fan of the crowd, the night market is a mere 5-minute walk from the Rainbow Bridge (彩虹桥) and the perfect spot to enjoy dinner alongside scenic night views. Vibes. ✨

How to get to Raohe Night Market: 1-minute walk from Songshan Metro Station

2. Release sky lanterns at Shifen Old Street (十分老街）

The nostalgic charm of Shifen Old Street (十分老街) is an experience you simply can’t miss when visiting Taipei.

Lined with quaint shops on both sides of the railway tracks, this bustling street offers a unique blend of history and local culture.

Don’t be surprised when a train 🚂 passes through every hour—it’s all part of the charm, making your shopping and sightseeing adventure even more memorable!

🌟 A must-do activity while you’re here is releasing sky lanterns. There are plenty of lantern vendors, and prices are relatively similar. Each lantern has four panels decked out in bright colours, so have fun writing well wishes and drawing doodles! The shop owners will then guide you through the release process and even help you snap photos, capturing the moment your lantern floats into the sky.

And to our coriander lovers, you have to try the iconic peanut ice cream roll (花生捲冰淇淋). 🍦. This local treat might sound strange, but the blend of creamy ice cream, crushed peanuts, and fresh herbs somehow works, trust me. It’s an unexpected treat that’s worth a try when in Taiwan. It might even change your mind if you’re a hater.

Dubbed the Niagara Falls of Taiwan, the Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布) is a brisk 30-minute walk away from the old street. Though much smaller in scale, the wide curtain of the waterfall tumbling down into the stream below is still a breathtaking and peaceful view away from the bustling street.

How to get to Shifen: Take the railway to Ruifang Station and transfer to the Pingxi Line to reach Shifen Station.

3. Have a picnic at Qingtiangang Grassland (擎天崗) 🌿

The Qingtiangang Grassland (擎天崗) is a pit stop if you're heading up to Yangmingshan National Park. The place features a circular trail that takes around 45 minutes to complete. The paths are flat with a few steep climbs, perfect for those wanting a chill outdoor hike while soaking in the greenery. 🌲🌿

This place is undeniably a goldmine for photos 📸. Pose along the winding pathways and spacious grass fields in the background and snap some shots of the panoramic views of Taipei City.

The grassland is also home to grazing water buffalos, though you'll have to maintain a safe distance while taking pictures to avoid disturbing them.

If the skies are clear, Qingtiangang also makes a great picnic spot. On your way up, grab a picnic mat, snacks, and bubble tea and spend a chill afternoon with friends, family, or even give yourself solo time.

Yangmingshan offers many fun trails to explore other than the Qingtiangang Grassland. Feel the rumbles of a dormant volcano at Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), or head over to Lengshuikeng (冷水坑) Hot Springs for a relaxing leg soak after all that walking.

How to get to Qingtiangang: Take the metro to either Jiantan or Shilin Station and take bus S15 up Yangmingshan. It's almost an hour's ride up the mountains, so I suggest boarding at Jiantan station for a better chance of getting a seat.

4. Stroll along Tamsui Old Street 🌅

Tamsui is one of the best places to catch the sunset while you’re in Taipei. Alongside gorgeous river views, stroll along the old street for souvenirs and food.

One speciality food in this district is Ageh (啊给). It consists of fried tofu stuffed with glass noodles and a sweet, tangy chilli sauce 🍜. If you’re extra like us, you can even take a 15-minute walk to Wenhua A-gei (文化啊给), the store which Jay Chou frequented when he was a student nearby.

Walk a little further along the street, and you’ll find yourself at New Taipei Private Tam-Kang High School (淡江高级中学)🎒🏫, the former high school of the celebrity singer.

Another popular snack from Tamsui is Iron Eggs (铁蛋)🥚, which you can get in a pack. They are hard-boiled soy-marinated quail eggs with a chewy texture and creamy yolk. For something sweet, the Castella Cake (緣味古早味現烤蛋糕) 🍰 is a giant loaf of spongy, fluffy cake with a distinct eggy flavour.

The Fisherman’s Wharf (淡水漁人碼頭) ⛴️🛳️ is also a picture-worthy spot in the Tamsui district. Now a leisure fishing port, it’s the place to catch the sunset with unobstructed views of the water bank and clear sky. Take a romantic stroll across the Lover’s Bridge (情人橋), which lights up with rainbow projections at night, illuminating the waters. 🌊

How to get to Tamsui: Alight at Tamsui Metro Station

5. Enjoy breathtaking sunset views at Jiufen Village (九份老街)

Being both our second visit to Jiufen Village, we weren’t expecting anything particularly new beyond the famous Jiufen Old Street (九份老街) —a charming yet notoriously crowded stretch, made even more frustrating when it rains (which happens a lot). But this time, luck was on our side! We were greeted with clear skies and a breathtaking sunset, proving that Jiufen’s magic really depends on the weather.

💡Psst… Pro Tip: A smarter way of navigating Jiufen

Instead of alighting at the usual Jiufen Old Street (九份老街) stop—where you’ll immediately be swallowed by tourist crowds—hop off one stop earlier at Jiufen Police Station (九份派出所).

From there, it’s just a 10-minute staircase walk to the main street, but with fewer people and plenty of hidden gems along the way.

We easily spent 30 minutes exploring the smaller shops, some of which had the cutest finds—including tons of Ghibli merchandise! (We totally caved in and bought a Calcifer lamp and a Totoro pouch. No regrets.)

Often dubbed as the city that looks like night scene from “Spirited Away”, Jiufen transforms into an enchating village at night.

As magical as it sounds, it felt exactly like the scene where night falls and all the lanterns light up.

Don’t get me wrong, sure the daytime mountain views sit right along the coastlines are stunning but the warm glow of red lanterns, the lively chatter and rhythmic clatter of bowls from the street-side food stalls was an entirely different experience in our opinion.

This nighttime energy in Jiufen was something we never expected but absolutely loved.

Rooftop Vibes and Unexpected Friendships 🍹

We ended our day at a rooftop bar called M Bar House, with an insane view of Jiufen under the night sky.

Drinks were on the pricier side (SG bar prices), but honestly the view made it worth every dollar. If you’re on a budget though, fret not as there are plenty of rooftops you can sneak onto for the same stunning scenery.

In fact, we even made new friends just by shouting across rooftops! Kid you not, we ended up taking photos of each other from different buildings and exchanging Instagram handles just to share them later.

Jiufen really has its way of bringing strangers together under this beautiful sky!

How to get to Jiufen: Alight at Ruifang Station, then take public buses 1062, 965 (buses also come from Taipei)

6. Take an artsy visit to HuaShan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914文化創意產業園區)

If you thought Taiwan wasn’t as young and artsy as Singapore, think again. Just a stone’s throw from Taipei Main Station, Huashan 1914 Creative Park is a vibrant hub of creativity, packed with art exhibitions, indie boutiques, and cozy cafés.

From the outside, the rustic, pointed-roof buildings give off an old charm, but step inside, and you'll find a mix of modern stores selling everything from postcards and stickers to handmade soaps, candles, and pottery. There's even a shop dedicated entirely to Snoopy merchandise!

Adding to the park’s charm are minimalist cafés and bars, some with live DJs spinning tracks, setting the perfect mood for this artsy enclave.

📍Address: No.1, Bade Road Sec.1, Zhong Zhen District, Taipei 100

How to get to HuaShan 1914 Creative Park: Alight at Taipei Main Station

7. Trendy Chifeng Street (赤峰街)

Originally planning to explore the Zhongshan District, we quickly realized that the luxury shopping and designer boutiques weren’t exactly within our student budget. Instead, this little street caught our eye with its indie, artsy vibe—lined with vintage stores, boutique cafés, and quirky specialty shops. It was an unexpected but delightful find.

Buubu Tea House卜卜商店

From the outside, Buubu Tea House (卜卜商店) looks like a charming little pottery shop selling the cutest handmade plates, bowls, cups, and felt coasters shaped like animals. But what took us by surprise was the hidden café on the second floor.

Walking up a narrow metal staircase, we stepped into a space that was a mix of rustic charm and modern aesthetics—a stark contrast to the slightly run-down exterior of the building. The café served beautifully plated desserts and drinks, making it a cozy spot for a mid-day break.

💡 Tip: The café is popular, so you might need to make a reservation and take a short walk before coming back!

📍 Address: 103, Taipei City, Datong District, Lane 49, Chifeng St, 2號2樓

📸 Instagram: @bog_tea_house_buubu

Waku Waku Pasta: A Taiwanese Take on Fusion Pasta

It was surprisngly difficult to find a good pasta shop in Taipei, but Waku Waku Pasta did not disappoint.

We tried the:

• Squid Mentaiko Pasta 🦑

• Garlic Oyster Pasta 🦪

• Truffle Cream Fries

• Seasonal Strawberry Basque Cheesecake 🍓

Everything was so flavourful, alongside a slice of lemon which made everything well-balanced, claiming the title of the better fusion western meals weve had in taiwan! Personally, the cheesecake was the star of the show.

📍 Address: No. 4號, Lane 8, Chifeng St, Datong District, Taipei City, 103

📸 Instagram: @wakuwaku_taipei

Melting Finger (舔舔手甜點店)

We’re not usually fans of macarons, but the adorable storefront of Melting Finger had us stopping in our tracks.

Our friend offered us a Jasmine Milk Tea Macaron, and to our surprise, it smelled exactly like Pokka Green Tea in Singapore.

Unlike the overly sugary macarons we’ve had before, this one had a well-balanced sweetness with a refreshing tea aroma—completely changing our perception of macarons.

Beyond just great flavors, Melting Finger also has an array of irresistibly cute designs, making them perfect for gifts. Plus, you can order online for easy shopping, with discounts and sales available!

📍 Address: No. 1號, Lane 37, Chifeng St, Datong District, Taipei City, 103

🔗 Website: Melting Finger

Akamaru Dango (赤丸団子)

As huge dango lovers, this tiny shop immediately caught our attention. Tucked away on a street corner, Akamaru Dango (赤丸団子) had a small but steady queue of young customers. The friendly staff greeted us warmly, handing over our order with a cheerful arigato!

🍡 We tried the:

• Classic Mitarashi (みたらし) – A perfect blend of sweet and savory soy glaze.

• Matcha (抹茶) – A need, for the matcha lovers

• Black Sesame (黒ごま) – For those who enjoy the rich nutty flavours

  
  

We genuinely can’t pick a favorite—each bite was soft, smooth, and perfectly chewy. Even our friend, who never liked dango before, changed his mind after this and said he’d be coming back for more!

📍 Address: No. 2號, Lane 49, Chifeng St, Datong District, Taipei City, 103

📘 Facebook: Akamaru Dango on Facebook

How to get to Chifeng Street: 6-min walk from Zhongshan Station

⭐ Bonus: Taiwan’s stamp culture

For the uninitiated, Taiwanese love their stamps. We’ve been collecting stamps since the start of our exchange; they’re a cute reminder that we’ve been to that area, including all the 7 areas we’ve been and mentioned above!

You can find the stamps at the information counter or visitor centre of metro stations. They're usually displayed at the counter, but if you don’t see any, ask the staff, and they’ll hand them to you. If not, look for souvenir shops at touristy places, as there are usually cuter versions of stamps dedicated to that specific place.

So… You, Me, Taipei?

As we continue our exchange journey in Taiwan, we’re fully embracing every moment of the last 2 months here. It’s like each stamp we’ve collected holds a memory of the places we’ve explored and the memories we’ve made with our friends in this beautiful city. From the bustling night markets to the scenic views and cozy cafes, Taipei has offered us experiences we will remember. To many many more!