One Day in Taipei

By Phattharawan Nimchanasit March 22, 2023

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The capital of Taiwan offers an exciting mix of old and new, traditional and modern, and Eastern and Western. You will find centuries-old temples standing side by side with modern department stores. This kaleidoscope of experiences makes it worth exploring, even if you only have one day in Taipei.

Start your day with a traditional Taiwanese breakfast

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Food is a really big thing in Taipei. With so many different cuisines, street food stalls and restaurants, it would be a miss not to eat well. You should start your Taipei food journey with a traditional Taiwanese breakfast. Breakfast shops can be found literally everywhere around the city, so just find yourself a place close to your hotel that serves breakfast.

The breakfast consists of mostly high-calorie dishes with lots of carbs and eggs, accompanied with soy milk. Make sure to try You Tiao (deep fried sticks of dough), Shao Bing (baked wheat cake stuffed with egg or beef), Dan Bing (egg with scallions and ham), Fan Tuan (rice rolls stuffed with shredded pork) and Soymilk (both savory and sweet).

Visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

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After the breakfast, head to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a grandiose neoclassical monument built in honor of Chiang Kai-shek, the former president of the Republic of China. Since it’s one of the most popular Taipei attractions, an early visit is advisable to skip the crowds that come later in the day. This remarkable hall is located at the east end of Liberty Square, a large plaza surrounded by beautiful parks and ponds. Another thing not to miss is the hourly guard change, from 9AM to 5PM.

Pay a visit to the Longshan Temple

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This is one of the city’s most famous temples originally built in the 1700s but rebuilt during the Japanese rule. The temple is known as a ‘meeting place of the gods’ since it honors Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities. This conglomeration of traditions can be seen in its architectural elements such as Buddhist motifs and those of ancient Chinese gods. The place is usually busy, and you can find many people worshiping at any time of the day. Seeing their rituals is something very interesting, especially for visitors from different cultures.

Get the sweeping 360º view from Taipei 101

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Once the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 is still this city’s icon and the greatest attraction for travelers. This mega skyscraper is 508m (1666ft) high, has in total 101 floors and was designed to resemble a bamboo stalk. In case you want to have a panoramic view of the sunset, make sure to get there at least one hour earlier, since you can expect long lines most of the time. Be prepared for the fastest elevator ride of your life reaching 89th floor in only 37 seconds.

Once you reach the observatory deck, you’ll be enthralled by the sweeping, 360º city view. After seeing it from every possible angle, make sure to check out the massive gold damper, the construction element that keeps the tower stable in case of an earthquake or a typhoon. If you want to spend more time in this iconic tower, check out the luxurious Taipei 101 Shopping Mall on the first five floors or the huge food court area at the bottom floor.

Spend a night at the Ximending Market

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The famous Ximending district is the center of Taipei’s pop culture filled with trendy shops, electric cafes and bars and unique or rather bizarre restaurants. If you want to check one of them, head to the Modern Toilet Restaurant, an Asian restaurant with toilet and bathroom designs and accessories. At night, it is one of the greatest party areas in the city, with many young people and an electrifying atmosphere.

Source: https://onedayitinerary.com/one-day-in-taipei-itinerary/