3-Day Taipei Itinerary: The Best of Taipei in 3 days

Taipei is not only the capital of Taiwan but also the country’s most enticing and action-packed city. Like in any big city in the world, there is an overwhelming amount of things to do in Taipei in 3 days, whether you’re into temple hopping, history & culture, nature & epic views, soaking in hot springs, or stuffing your face with unbelievably delicious street food.

This detailed 3-day Taipei itinerary will help you to navigate the best that this city has to offer in a short amount of time. Everything below is easily accessible by public transportation, primarily the city’s excellent MRT.

3-Day Taipei Itinerary: Day 1

On the first of your 3 days in Taipei, you’re going to check off several of Taipei’s must-see attractions. Get up early to beat the heat and crowds, and make sure to wear proper shoes, as it’s going to be a busy day with lots of walking!

Morning

To start the day, and to welcome yourself to Taipei in grand fashion, you’re going to do an easy but extremely rewarding hike up Elephant Mountain. Take to the MRT to the station of the same name, and walk 10 minutes through Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) Park to the start of the trail.

The stepped trail is steep but only takes about 20 minutes to reach what is probably the most incredible view of Taipei, with mighty Taipei 101 dominating the foreground. After you get your bearings, either follow the trail further to the other animal-named mountains (Leopard, Tiger, and Lion), or continue to the next step.

After descending Elephant Mountain, walk or ride the MRT one stop to Taipei 101, Taipei’s (and Taiwan’s) most famous landmark, located in the Xinyi District. Head to the 5th floor to check in for a ride on the world’s fastest elevator up to the 89th-floor Observatory (opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on weekends).

Besides the incredible 360-degree view, you can see the massive stabilizing ball that prevents the skyscraper from falling in the event of an earthquake.

This area offers high-end shopping and luxury accommodation, and some of the best hotels in Taipei are located here.

Afternoon

Ride the MRT to Yongkang Street for lunch, where you can dine on soup dumplings at the original branch of Din Tai Fung, Taipei’s most famous restaurant, then head down the street for mango shaved ice for dessert.

Next, continue by MRT in the same direction to Liberty Square, home to the impressive Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. After snapping all the photos you need, ride two stops on the green line to Ximen (Ximending), the city’s coolest neighborhood.

Take exit 6 and explore the pedestrian-only shopping district. Keep an eye out for Tattoo Alley, Cinema Lane, Modern Toilet Restaurant, and awesome street art at Taipei Cinema Park. At the end, circle back to Red House, a Japanese-era theater which now houses arts & craft vendors. Beside it, you’ll find Taipei’s best collection of bar patios and center of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene. Take a seat and enjoy a much-deserved cocktail.

Evening

Provided you didn’t have too many cocktails, ride the blue line one stop (or temple-hop via Tianhou, Qingshui, and Qingshan Temples, some of the city’s oldest) to Longshan Temple, Taipei’s most famous.

After observing lively scenes of worship, make your way to Huaxi Street Night Market, which specializes in medicinal herb soups & stews.

If you can manage to save some room in your belly, follow up by choosing from one of the city’s other incredible night markets. Shilin Night Market is the biggest, Ningxia is the best for shaved ice desserts, Raohe has an awesome temple at its entrance, while Nanjichang is more off-the-beaten track (but within walking distance of Huaxi!).

3-Day Taipei Itinerary: Day 2

Now that you’ve experienced the big-name attractions, it’s time to dig a little deeper and get a real feel for what Taipei is all about.

Morning

Ride the MRT red line to Yuanshan Station and walk 10 minutes west to Taipei Confucius Temple, a serene abode of elegant courtyards. You’ll notice the decoration in the temple is much simpler than in other Taiwanese temples.

Next door, Dalongdong Baoan Temple is more characteristic of Taiwanese temples, most of which honor a combination of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk deities. The temple is especially known for its incredibly intricate paintings and carvings.

Return to Yuanshan MRT, and on the other side of it, head to Taipei Fine Arts Museum, one of Taipei’s best art galleries. Next up, walk through the Floral Tunnel to Lin An Tai Historical Home at the northern end of Xinsheng Park. If you’ve got time after your visit, walk through Lin An Tai Evacuation Gate to reach Dajia Riverside Park for an incredible view of iconic Grand Hotel, built in the classical Chinese style, on the other side of the river.

Afternoon

Return to Yuanshan station via Maji Square, an open-air food court specializing in a combination of local and international street foods, where you can stop for lunch.

Next, ride the MRT eight stations north to Beitou station, where you can transfer and ride one more stop to Xinbeitou on the pink line, to reach Beitou Hot Spring Village.

Built by the Japanese during their colonial occupation of Taiwan, the neighborhood features a hot spring park, some historic Japanese buildings, hot spring ramen shops, and numerous hot spring spas to choose from. For more details on these sights and the best spas for every budget, see this detailed guide to Beitou Hot Spring.

If you’ve got extra time before dinner, you can also check out other sights within a few MRT stops, like Guandu Temple, Hongshulin Mangroves, of the riverside market at Danshui (Tamsui). For a great sunset, head to Lover’s Bridge at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, a short bus or ferry ride from the riverside market.

Evening

If you didn’t already go there on your first day, hit Shilin Night Market on your way back to the city center. Alternatively, try Addiction Aquatic, a traditional fish market turned into upscale seafood-focused food center.

Last but not least, finish the night with a drink. You’ll have loads of choices to choose from. Craft beer lovers can try Driftwood in Ximending, Mikkeler Taipei on historic Dihua Street, or Redpoint Brewing Co. Taproom in Da’an.

For fancy cocktails, try cinema-themed Hankou 60 in Ximending, Once (a ‘secret’ speakeasy) near Taipei 101, or ambience-heavy WOOBAR in Xinyi District.

Try Xinyi district for the poshest night clubs, Gongguan for cafés and student vibes, or grab a beer from 7-Eleven and explore any neighborhood on foot.

3-Day Taipei Itinerary: Day 3

Having thoroughly explored the city, it’s time to get out of the city on the last of your 3 days in Taipei. There are dozens of possible day trips from Taipei, so choosing one may not be easy. If you’ve got kids, consider heading to Taipei Zoo in the southeastern corner of Taipei, followed by a ride on the Maokong Gondola to teahouses overlooking Taipei.

Here’s a day trip itinerary that will squeeze in several of the best sights outside of Taipei. Start by riding the TRA (regular) train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, then transfer to the small-gauge Pingxi train line. Ride it to Shifen stop and walk to Shifen Waterfall, the widest waterfall in all of Taiwan.

Next, return to Ruifang and catch the local bus to Jiufen, a former gold mining town on top of a mountain. There you can enjoy amazing views down to the city, and walk up atmospheric staircases lined with red lanterns to historic teashops.

Returning to the bus stop, ride the same bus a few stops further to Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, where you can see the old gold mine, Golden Waterfall, and even drink coffee garnished with real gold leaf. If you’ve got energy for a hike, the gorgeous trail to Teapot Mountain also starts here.

From Jinguashi, ride the bus back to Ruifang Station, where you can get the train to Keelung (you’ll need to transfer at Badu Station). Keelung is a port city with one of the best night markets in all of Taiwan. Feast till you drop, the perfect way to end your three days in Taipei, before catching the train back to the city.

And that concludes this 3-day Taipei itinerary. I hope you’ve found all the information you need for planning an incredible visit to Taiwan’s capital. Let us know how it goes!

About The Author: Nick Kembel has lived in Taiwan for over a decade and is the author of Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner. He blogs about Taiwan at Spiritual Travels, and answers any questions about Taiwan in his Facebook group Taiwan Travel Planning.