Taiwan - Taipei Weekend Trip Itinerary - First timer's guide

Hubby had work in Taipei last weekend and asked if I wanted to tag along. When my parents agreed to look after the kids for the weekend, I jumped at the chance! I've never been to Taiwan. And when there is no kiddo involved I just know any short weekend getaway will be fantastic.

Taipei was indeed fascinating and surprised me on so many levels.


The city - very developed, well organized and clean.

The roads are well lit, most shops open till late about 10pm, with the night markets open till around 2am. I generally felt unthreatened and safe walking around by myself, even at the night markets.

Since the city area is quite compact, getting around is straight-forward and never an issue at all.

I found this map of the city area to be very useful.

The people - very polite, friendly and helpful. Even when they don't speak English well, they still try to help. When I requested for extra bubble wrap to protect the plates and bottles that I bought, they were eager to help.

I didn't encounter a single rudeness by the locals. When I bargained in the markets, the sellers were never pushy or angry, unlike in other Asian countries I've been to.

Taiwanese are very orderly. And they love to queue, whether to buy food or drinks, getting into cafes/restaurants or taking photos with some mascots.


The weather - this is the only gripe I have! According to the weather forecast, it will be raining, with a temperature ranging from 14-18℃.

But I never expected a torrential downpour for 3 WHOLE DAYS! It rained the whole time I was there, from morning to night. It did not stop, not even for a single minute! 😭

Have you ever walked in wet and cold socks and shoes? It was beyond uncomfortable! On the second night after walking in cold and wet shoes the whole day, I couldn't feel my toes at one point. It was excruciatingly painful.

My advice is to check the weather forecast carefully and AVOID the rainy and typhoon season!


The transport - very efficient, convenient and cheap. We took the MRT to most places.

This is the MRT map with the various fares.

Simply go to one of these machines, locate where you want to go and buy the tokens from there. Most places within the city area is only NT$25 per person per trip.

The trains come frequently and very fast. Definitely the best way to travel around Taipei.

We took the taxi once on the first day as it was raining hard. But it was a mistake as we were stuck in traffic and it costed us almost NT$250 when it would have been NT$25 per person per trip on the MRT.


The food - oh they are so incredible! There is food at every single corner. Everywhere I went, there were always dozens of cafes, restaurants, bistros, food courts, bakeries to choose from.

The café scene in Taipei is very happening too. I saw a couple of themed cafes around, all looked cosy and unique, like this Choco House café in Mitsukoshi Dept Store.

But we were not in Taipei for the hip cafes and restaurants. We were after the street food that Taiwan is so famous for.

Everybody raves about the street food in Taiwan. And they are not exaggerating. Taipei is undoubtedly the land of the street food. It has the best night market scene I've ever seen and some of the most exciting street food in Asia.

The options are endless. There are so many types of food and each of them looks fascinating, smells amazing, tastes delicious, and all at very reasonable prices! If only calories don't matter and we all have unlimited tummy space! 😜

Check out my post on street food at Raohe night market and Ximending.


The hotel - we stayed in Le Meridien Hotel at Xinyi district.

The location is terrific with plenty of entertainment, shopping, and dining complexes, notably Eslite Bookstore and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store.

Taipei City Hall MRT station is about 7 minutes walk, making it very convenient to get around.

The location, room quality, service staff, buffet breakfast and hotel facilities cannot be faulted. I highly recommend this hotel.

Check out my post on Le Meridien Hotel.


What to do - As we were there for 2 nights only, and it was raining non stop, we didn't get to do as many things as we would have liked.

But here are the things we managed to do:

1. Shopped at Xinyi district - Eslite Bookstore and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store

The flagship Eslite Bookstore is simply amazing. I spent a good part of the day here, shopping and admiring all the pretty little things.

Don't be fooled by its name, it has so much more than just books! It is more like a large and beautifully decorated department store. It sells everything from books to clothes to home furnishing to foodstuff and many more. Every corner you turn something new and interesting will surely catch your eye.

Do not miss the food section located at the basement and on the upper floor.

2. Visited Ximending - trendy area with lots of street food - opens till late

A trendy and lively area - the bustling streets surely appeal to the younger generations and the young at heart. Jam packed with shops selling cosmetic and skin care products, clothes and accessories, toys, phones, gadgets, arts and crafts.

Look out for the talented street performers that often congregate in Ximen too.

Plenty of dining options around here too. Whether you are looking for restaurants, cafes, street food, you can find them all here.

3. Cheap shopping at Wufenpu Commercial Area

If you are looking for some crazy bargain shopping, head to Wufenpu.

There are shops after shops lining the streets and the numerous small side streets. Incredibly large selection of clothes, sportswear, shoes, accessories for women, men and kids. If you love shopping, you can easily spend half the day here.

4. Eat street food at Raohe night market

You can't go to Taipei without visiting their night markets!

There are several to choose from but Raohe is the one I was recommended. You will find great bargains and some of Taipei’s best street food at this open air night market.

The one thing you should not miss in Raohe is....

The famous Pepper Pork Buns, with the perpetual snaking queue!

SO GOOD!

5. Eat at YuanYang Mala Hotpot - the BEST meal in Taipei

Unlimited amount of premium quality beef, seafood, meat balls, dumplings and many more, cooked in a rich, spicy and distinctive mala broth.

Plus, 16 flavours of Haagen Dazs ice cream!

And not forgetting, free flow of wine and beer!

A definite MUST HAVE in Taipei.

6. Have Omakase lunch at Mitsui Cuisine

Delectable Omakase lunch in an upscale posh setting all for SG$60. Yes, please!!

But Taipei is so much more than just the city area. Located just outside the city’s limits are hiking trails, hot springs, and mining town - all of which I would love to explore the next time I come back to Taiwan. 


Check out my other posts on Taipei coming up!