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The capital and largest city in the country of Taiwan, Taipei is a place where the East and West come together. Home to the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101, as well as bustling industries and bright neon lights, this city will never fail to surprise you. Within the past 30 years, Taipei has come a very long way, from countryside and fields of rice to the metropolis that it is today. The economy of Taipei absolutely skyrocketed in the last few decades, and has continued to grow ever since. Known as one of the safest and friendliest places to live, the city of Taipei has no areas whatsoever that are seen as unsafe or dangerous. Even though this does not seem like one of the most popular tourist destinations around the globe, Taipei is a wonderful and welcoming city to visit, so book your student flight right away!

Taipei Pictures

Things to do in Taipei

There are several prominent landmarks in Taipei that are great sightseeing attractions. The first of which is Taipei 101, which is the enormous financial and shopping center for Taiwan and is said to represent bamboo rising and prospering from the earth. Another must-see is the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, with Zhongshan Park in front of it and a 19-foot statue inside. The National Concert Hall has stunning architecture and is great to view a Taiwanese dance troupe performance. Also, the five star Grand Hotel in Taipei is rated among the world’s top ten hotels, so stay here if you get the chance! Museums, parks, and temples are very frequent in Taipei, it wouldn’t be possible to see them all. A few museums to visit include The National Palace Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan Storyland, and the Museum of Drinking Water. Some beautiful parks include the glorious Taipei Botanical Garden, Daan Forest Park, and 228 Peace Park. A temple which you should definitely visit is the Longshan Temple, used for several generations as a holy area and place for help or advice. Hot springs are very popular bathing and spa areas in Taipei, so be sure to strip down and check out one of these, in order to get the full Taiwanese experience.

Nightlife in Taipei

No matter what time of day, there is always something entertaining to do in Taipei, especially at night. Whether you would like to go out for cocktails in a trendy bar, hit up the dance clubs all night, or check out some live music, you will never be bored in Taipei. A favorite national pastime is karaoke, so a popular place to go is KTV, which is a large venue where you can rent out a room with karaoke equipment and sing all night with your friends. Night markets are also very popular nighttime destinations, which usually begin around 4pm, but are best after 7pm. A few great bars and clubs to check out include Luxy, Ziga Zaga, The Wall Live House, and the Standing Room (with Happy Hour everyday). There is also the Indian Beerhouse located in Taipei that has a dinosaur skeleton theme, which makes for a fun and interesting night. If you are traveling on a budget, the Taiwan Beer Bar is your best bet for a great time with little money.

Dining in Taipei

With most likely one of the highest densities of restaurants in the world, Taipei has some place to eat on nearly every single
street. In addition to just Chinese food, Taipei has everything from Thai to Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, and Italian types of cuisine. Some typical meals which you will find in the restaurants of Taipei include an oyster omelet, tianbula, tofu, and Taiwanese sausage. To have a taste of traditional cuisine of Taiwan, try one of these restaurants in the city: Tainan Tan-tsu-mien Seafood Restaurant, Ching-Yeh, or Shinyeh’s Table. The variety of foods and cultures is so wide that it is nearly impossible to list them all. In addition to the types of cuisine already mentioned, Taipei also has several pizza places, European-style restaurants, steakhouses,and vegetarian specialty places.

Shopping in Taipei

One of the largest night markets in Taipei is the Shihlin Night Market, which you can see in the picture. This market is famous for a variety of foods and snacks at very low prices, and is frequented by many students of the area to shop and have a nice time. Aside from night markets, the main shopping area is divided into two different sections, the East and the West. In the West, you will find the old city with narrow streets and small boutiques. In the East, there are gorgeous wide boulevards and four main shopping malls. One popular shopping area is the Xinyi District, which contains Taipei 101, Convention Hall, and the World Trade Center for Taipei. The Miramar Entertainment Park is a great shopping center that houses the one and only IMAX theater in Taiwan and a Ferris wheel with excellent views of the city. A few other great places to shop include the Breeze Center, Core Pacific Living Mall, and Ximending (where most local students flock). Handcrafted items can be found in the Weekend Jade Market, which contains jade, flowers, jewelry, etc. Also, the Chinese Handicraft Mart is a good place to purchase these souveneirs.

Taipei Travel Tips

• In terms of weather, the most comfortable season to visit Taipei is during the Fall, when there is little rain and average temperatures.
• Taipei is recognized as the “scooter capital of the world”, because almost every citizen owns one. Buy or rent a scooter when you visit!
• When traveling by cab in Taipei, be careful that the driver does not charge you too much for your ride, and if he or she does, bargain to get a fair price.