Taipei seen from Elephant Mountain, with the Taipei 101 tower on the left and the city spread out below
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Taipei in 1 day

  • 1 day
  • 6.4 km on foot
  • 18 stops
  • Audio guide

One day is enough to get to know Taipei's most historic side, the city that grew up between the Tamsui River and the old walls. This plan suits a layover or a first taste: three walking routes through Ximending, Dadaocheng, Zhongzheng and Bangka, linked by MRT. You'll come away with tea, Qing-era city gates, Japanese-era buildings, incense-filled temples and a night market to finish.

One day in TaipeiFrom River Tea to Bangka Incense

Start early with “From Ximending to the River: Markets, Gates and Dadaocheng Tea”, from the Red House to Dihua Street and the Xia-Hai City God Temple, just as the herb and tea shops are opening. Have lu rou fan for lunch, then take the MRT to 228 Peace Memorial Park: in the afternoon, “City Walls, Governors and a Square for Freedom” links the Presidential Office Building with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. As the sun goes down, head to Bangka: “Gods, Oracles and Ghosts of Old Bangka” takes in Lungshan Temple and Bopiliao. Dinner is oyster omelette at Ningxia Night Market.

  1. Morning

    From Ximending to the River: Markets, Gates and Dadaocheng Tea

    Mixed · 2.4 km · 2 h 5 min

    1. Red House (Ximen Red House)An octagonal brick market built in 1908 on a former cemetery, the seed of Taipei's youngest neighbourhood.
    2. Zhongshan HallThe hall where, on 25 October 1945, fifty years of Japanese rule in Taiwan came to an end.
    3. North Gate (Beimen)The only one of Taipei's five city gates that still looks as it did in 1884.
    4. Dihua StreetTaipei's oldest street, where tea, herbs and fabrics made several generations of merchants rich.
    5. Taipei Xia-Hai City God TempleA tiny temple where, tradition says, the Old Man under the Moon ties lovers together with a red thread.
    6. Dadaocheng WharfThe old tea port, today the best place in Taipei to watch the sun go down over the river.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Lu rou fan, braised pork rice at Jin Feng (金峰魯肉飯). Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 1, 10, Zhongzheng, Taipei

  3. Afternoon

    City Walls, Governors and a Square for Freedom

    History · 2.1 km · 2 h

    1. National Taiwan MuseumA Greek temple at the end of the avenue, built on the ruins of a shrine to the goddess of the sea.
    2. 228 Peace Memorial Park and 228 Memorial MuseumThe radio station from which, in February 1947, Taipei's protest reached the whole island.
    3. Presidential Office BuildingThe red-brick palace built by the Japanese governors, now home to Taiwan's presidency.
    4. East Gate (Jingfu Gate)A gate without a wall in the middle of a roundabout: what remains of the Qing walled city.
    5. Liberty Square, National Theater and Concert HallThe vast plaza where, in March 1990, thousands of students carrying a white lily called for free elections.
    6. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial HallA white marble monument with a blue roof and 89 steps, which Taiwan is still debating how to remember.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Early evening

    Gods, Oracles and Ghosts of Old Bangka

    Mysteries & legends · 1.9 km · 1 h 50 min

    1. Ximending Tianhou TempleA Chinese sea goddess living in a former Japanese Buddhist temple, with the monk Kūkai still inside.
    2. Bangka Qingshui TempleThe statue of Master Qingshui, whose nose, tradition says, falls off to warn that disaster is coming.
    3. Bopiliao Historic BlockAn 18th-century street with an unsettling name, «the shed where skin is stripped», that nobody has fully explained.
    4. Bangka Lungshan TempleTaipei's most famous temple was born, tradition says, from a little incense pouch that glowed in the dark.
    5. Bangka Qingshan TempleThe god who came to stop an epidemic and who, every autumn, goes out at night to hunt spirits through the streets of Wanhua.
    6. Huaxi Street Night Market and Ghost MonthA former red-light district turned night market, and the rules for not disturbing the ghosts of the seventh month.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try O-a-jian, oyster omelette at Yuan Huan Bian (圓環邊蚵仔煎). Ningxia Rd. 46, Datong, Taipei

The map

Taipei in 1 day, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends

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Before you go

Tips for Taipei in 1 day

  • Get an EasyCard: it usually works on the MRT, buses and even some convenience stores, and saves you queuing for every ride. Check the terms when you buy it.
  • Taipei is humid and rain is frequent, especially in summer and typhoon season: carry a folding umbrella, water and shoes that can handle puddles.
  • You're welcome in temples during worship: keep your voice down, don't walk in front of people praying and ask before photographing anyone.

Questions

Taipei in 1 day: your questions

Can you see Taipei in one day?

You can see its historic core, which is what this plan covers: Dadaocheng, Zhongzheng and Bangka. Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, Beitou and Maokong are further out and need at least a second day. If one day is all you have, this is a good summary of the city.

How far will I walk?

The three routes add up to about 6.4 km, plus the walks to and from stations. It's worth taking the MRT between Dadaocheng, Zhongzheng and Bangka, so the heat and humidity will tire you more than the distance.

Which night market should I pick if I only have one evening?

For this plan, Ningxia: it's small, central and all about food, and it's where you'll find the oyster omelette for dinner. Raohe and Shilin are bigger and better known but further away; alternatively, Huaxi Street Night Market sits right at the end of the Bangka route.

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