How to Explore Taipei in Two Days: A Complete Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Got an upcoming trip to Taiwan? Before you set your compass elsewhere, I’d recommend spending at least 48 hours in Taipei.

On my first visit, it didn’t take long for Taiwan’s capital to become one of my favorite big cities in Asia. And with this guide, I’m sure I could convince you of the same!

Poor ol’ Taipei rarely gets the attention it deserves from travelers. And it’s a shame because, in my opinion, the Taiwanese capital rolls all the best of East Asia into one (not-so) compact package. It’s got innovation without the high price tags and cultural intrigue without a strict visa regime. And for food? Well, I think Taipei might just trump them all!

Ready to plan the ultimate trip to this fascinating Taiwanese city? Get started with this complete 2-day Taipei itinerary, including my recommendations on what to see & do, what to eat, and where to stay!

Day 1: What to do in Taipei in two days

Yawn! It’s our first morning. We don’t have time to waste!

Let’s grab a quick coffee to go—or iced coffee, if visiting in the hot and humid summer months. Let’s start our first day in Taipei walking (or travelling on the Taipei MRT) to Liberty Square in Taipei’s Zhongzheng District.

Beat the crowds to Liberty Square

On my first morning in Taipei, I couldn’t help but venture to the city’s political and social nerve center: Liberty Square. The plaza has been around for ages. (Though it’s far newer than the ancient Chinese architectural styles on its buildings would suggest.)

At one end of Liberty Square, I spotted Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a monument to modern Taiwan’s most infamous politician; on the other, Taipei’s fraternal twin cultural buildings: the National Concert Hall and the National Theatre.

As I arrived very early in the morning, the plaza was pleasantly devoid of people save the occasional fitness nut. If you’re lucky enough, as I was, you might even catch Taiwanese soldiers raising the flag of Taiwan in the centre of the square!

If you arrive later in the morning, I’d recommend wandering into Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to learn more about the man and the history of modern Taiwan. (The hall opens at 9 am and entrance is free.)

I was able to catch the hourly changing of the guard. Try to stick around for it.

Leave Liberty Square through the park to the left-hand side of the main building. If you arrive early enough, you may get to watch Taipei’s residents warm up for their day with Tai Chi.

Energize with a Taiwanese breakfast at Dongmen Market

From Liberty Square, it took me less than 10 minutes by foot to get to Dongmen Market. I spotted this market on a map, and, hey, since I was starving, I had to take a peek!

Unlike my favorite Taipei night markets, Dongmen Market starts moving just after dawn. And, if you ask me, it’s the perfect place to gobble down a cheap and filling breakfast before moving on with your Taipei itinerary.

Push through the crowded stalls of Dongmen Market to choose from a variety of fresh meats, seafood, noodles, soups, or dumplings. (No surprise: I went for dumplings and noodles.)

Like nearly every street food hotspot we’ll encounter in our two days in Taipei, it’s hard to go wrong with much at Dongmen Market. Follow your nose or the crowds to find your perfect breakfast combo!

Breathe a sigh of relief at Da’an Forest Park

With a stomach full of Taiwanese food and energy to spare, let’s follow the roar of traffic on Xinyi Road to Da’an Forest Park to escape the busy streets and inhale some fresh air in the “lungs of Taipei.”

While I can’t say Da’an Park compares to a well-manicured Japanese garden in, let’s say, Kyoto, it’s a pleasant break from the densely-populated centre of Taipei.

Meandering through the park, you’ll come across birds, turtles, and even a bamboo forest if you veer far enough south. I found Da’an Park to be the perfect spot to relax and recharge before wandering back north to Xinyi Road for bigger adventures in Taipei City.

Get shadowed by Taipei 101

The symbol of Taipei since 2004, Taipei 101 defies description. Up to this point, I’d only seen the tower from afar. But seeing it up close? Well, that was somethin’ else.

To appreciate Taipei 101’s magnitude, you need to stare at it from below and look up. (I promise you: It’s shockingly tall.)

Taipei 101 dominates the city’s skyline. I had no problem finding my way here from Da’an Park. What you choose to do once you get there is (literally) up in the air.

Most travellers visit Taipei 101 to jet up to the outdoor observation deck on the 91st floor (NT$600; $20) and leave. (Which, I have to admit, is still worthwhile.)

But for perpetually hungry travellers like me, I believe the true brilliance of the building lies in the food courts and restaurants on the lower floor!

See Also: When is the Best Time to Visit Taipei?

After gawking at Taipei’s skyline from (way) above, I couldn’t help but drop down to the lower level and queue up for the long—but worthwhile—wait at the world-famous Din Tai Fung.

Without exaggeration, the xiaolongbao (Shanghainese-style dumplings) I tried at Din Tai Fung changed my life. (RIP: Crappy North American Chinese takeout.)

For less than $20, I sampled several mouth-watering xiaolongbao varieties, including pork, crab roe, and chicken. I couldn’t recommend enough to fill yourself up here for the next leg of our trip!

See Taipei from above at Elephant Mountain and the Four Beasts

Even if you aren’t much of a hiker, I recommend challenging yourself to scale up the seemingly never-ending staircase to the viewpoint atop Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan).

Climbing up Elephant Mountain is one of my favorite things to do in Taipei. And even if after the first couple hundred steps you’re cursing this recommendation, you’ll thank me when you reach the top.

See Also: Our Favorite Day Trips from Taipei

The entrance to the Elephant Mountain Trail lies about 20 minutes by foot from Taipei 101 on a quiet side street south of Sanli Park (use this Four Beasts Mountain Hiking Map to help you).

After getting up here, I realized that one could easily spend the better half of the day navigating through the dense forest trails high above Taipei.

But we’re on a time-crunch. Let’s just try to push through the first 600 metres or so of stairs; it’ll reward you with one of the finest views of Taipei I saw on my Taiwan trip itinerary.

Chow down at Tonghua Night Market (Linjiang Night Market)

Once you’re through wandering the subtropical forests above Taipei, it’s about a 20-minute walk through Xinyi District to Tonghua Night Market (also called Linjiang Street Night Market).

Visiting a night market is, of course, one of the absolute must-do activities while visiting Taiwan. And this stop is the perfect spot to recharge with some Taiwanese street snacks and get our first taste of night market culture!

Of all the Taipei night markets, Tonghua was one of my favourites. It’s cheaper, smaller, and less crowded than both Shilin Night Market and Raohe Street Night Market.

Tonghua Night Market also feels more like a hangout for locals than a trap for tourists. I found the food selection here great, too; there were soooo many delicious snacks to choose from here!

With all the usual street food goodies here, you should have no problem finding something to suit your tastes.

My recommendation? Keep your eyes peeled in the main section of the market for the “ninja-chef” who hunts his own boar. (See the bottom of the picture below!)

Don’t miss out on his delicious sausages and garlic pork skewers, cooked with his blend of signature spices.

Feel the buzz of Taipei at Ximending

On your way back to your hotel from Tonghua Night Market (Xinyi Anhe or Taipei 101 MRT), navigate to Ximen MRT Station on the blue metro line for a taste of Taipei high-tech style.

Thought Taipei’s architecture was nothing more than a handful of temples and bleak concrete high-rises? Let’s dispel that one by wandering around Ximending at night.

This area was one of my favorite spots in the city. Ximending is hip, fashionable, energetic, and youthful—the perfect expression of an ever-expanding global city growing into itself.

I’d recommend taking this chance to follow Taipei’s up-and-comers through the streets of Ximending as they dodge in and out of swanky boutiques. (If you wish, join ’em!)

Still hungry? (Of course, we are!) Scourge the twisting alleyways for a snack at one of the many trendy late-night Japanese restaurants before heading back to your hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Day 2: Things to do in Taipei in 48 hours

Fuel up at Shuanglian Morning Market

Good morning! Let’s start our second day in Taipei with a coffee or tea and a fresh morning fruit snack at the Shuanglian Morning Market. This market is located just outside of the Shuanglian MRT Station.

Like Dongmen Market, I noticed that Shuanglian is a haunt for locals rather than tourists. You’ll probably get a few stares (and smiles!) as you saunter along the alley.

Get a taste of old Taipei on Dalong Street

After wandering around the marketplace, let’s use our navigational skills to march northwest to Dalong Street. I loved walking along Dalong Street and immersing myself in its produce markets, food stalls, and chaos. It felt much like stepping back into Taipei’s storied past.

Things in Dalong feel a little less organized and tame—and I think that’s all part of the fun. You’ll dodge speeding motorbikes and inhale interesting odours. (Expect intermittent whiffs of stinky tofu!)

And, if you’re still hungry after breakfast, we can find some of Taipei’s tastiest daytime street snacks here.

(Later in my trip, I learned that Dalong Street also hosts a night market. Unfortunately, I only visited in the early afternoon and can’t comment on it.)

Marvel at the Confucius Temple and Bao’an Temple

Moving along the whirlwind of Dalong Street, I stumbled upon—just north of all the action—two of Taipei’s finest religious buildings: Confucius Temple and Bao’an Temple.

Both temples feature spectacular architecture, but the much older Bao’an Temple stood out to me as the more arresting of the two.

Like many temples in Taiwan, Bao’an fuses elements from Taoism, Buddhism, and Taiwanese folk religions. It’s created a striking mélange of intricate designs whose details could captivate for hours.

Catch your breath at Taipei Expo Park

From Confucius Temple, I took a short walk down Kulun Street to Taipei Expo Park. Home to gardens, pavilions, and museums, including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei Expo Park will give us a nice break from the chaos of Taipei City.

Don’t want to slip into a museum? I still think wandering around the park is a good way to kill some time and relax before the evening rolls around.

I’d also recommend checking out the nearby Dajia Riverside Park for city views over the Keelung River. Grab a coffee at Amal Café in front of Dajia Wharf for your walk through the park.

Indulge your spirit at Longshan Temple

After a nice rest, aim to roll into Longshan Temple (via the MRT Station of the same name) just before 6 pm. Among both tourists and worshippers, Longshan Temple is the king of religious institutions in Taipei. Moments of emptiness at Longshan seem rare. Every time I visited this temple, I had to share the experience with hefty crowds.

What I found most interesting at Longshan Temple was how patrons encourage guests to partake in the worship. It’s confusing at first. I have no doubt I looked like a lost puppy to onlookers as I fumbled through getting started!

But after burning the incense sticks at the wrong end, followed by a few chuckles from my Taiwanese helpers, I finally figured it out.

I wandered along the seven worship stations, gently dropping my incense sticks into the caldrons and offering well-wishes to my family and friends back home along the way.

It’s undoubtedly an interesting, even if touristy, experience!

Seriously fill up Taiwanese cuisine at a Taipei night market

We already know that night markets put Taipei on the map. And I’ve yet to find one more notorious than Huaxi Street Night Market—also known as “Snake Alley.” This infamous market is located just steps away from Longshan Temple.

Unfortunately, I arrived too early to catch the evening action at Huaxi Street Night Market, so I can’t comment on the quality of the street food—or whether the snakes are still out in full force.

After wandering through the area mere hours before opening, though, I can only imagine that Huaxi Street Night Market isn’t exactly the most savoury of Taipei night markets.

If I’ve scared you off, no worries: in Taipei, other night markets are never far away.

The nearby Wuzhou Street Night Market and Guangzhou Street Night Market lack the seedy reputation of Huaxi Street. They stuck me as a better choice if searching for something more tasteful in the area.

But if you really want to eat at the granddaddy of all night markets in Taipei, I have to recommend Shilin Night Market, located near Jiantan MRT Station on the red metro line (20 minutes from Ximen MRT).

Claustrophobic travellers beware: Shilin Night Market is about as crowded as public places get—anywhere. Once you tough out the crowds, though, I promise that your taste buds will be rewarded with Taipei’s finest selection of street food.

Follow the long queues and harvest all your patience to find all the tastiest Taiwanese street food favourites. (I really enjoyed the fried chicken cutlets, pepper buns, and peanut ice rolls here.)

Where to stay

Finding the best hotels in Taipei isn’t always straightforward. Taipei is, after all, a massive city, spread out over several central districts!

For first-time travellers to Taipei, I’d recommend staying in or around one of the three most central districts: Zhongzheng District, Wanhua District, or Xinyi District. At any hotel in these areas, you’ll be close to many of the attractions listed in this 2-day Taipei itinerary.

My personal pick would be the Roaders Hotel in Wanhua District. Roaders Hotel is perfectly positioned to experience the nighttime buzz of Ximending. We love the hotel’s design, combining a retro old-west feel with modern touches that are all to its own.

Craving a midnight snack? Just pop out from Roaders Hotel and scour the alleyways of Ximending to find some hot oyster vermicelli to slurp on. The hotel is also super close to Taipei Main Station and the Ximen MRT, getting you anywhere you want to go in central Taipei in a flash.

Need some more suggestions? Here are a couple of our other favorite hotels in Taipei for travellers: