Taipei in a weekend: a simple plan for a first visit
Two days are not enough to know Taipei, but they are enough to like it. A loose plan built around the MRT, a few landmarks and the evenings.
Taipei is an easy first city in Asia. The MRT is clean and clearly signed in Chinese and English, the city is safe at night, and most of what a first-time visitor wants to see sits within a few stops of each other.
Day one: the centre
Start at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the wide plaza of Liberty Square, with the National Theater and Concert Hall on either side. The changing of the guard inside the hall draws a small crowd, so arrive a little early if you want to watch it.
From there, walk or take the MRT towards Ximending for lunch and people-watching, then head east in the late afternoon to Taipei 101. You do not need to go up to enjoy it; the area around Xinyi is pleasant to walk, and the tower looks best from a distance as the lights come on.
Day two: temples, hills and a river
- Morning: Longshan Temple in Wanhua is busy with worshippers from early on. Visit quietly and step aside for people who are praying.
- Afternoon: Elephant Mountain is a short but steep climb of stairs with the classic view of Taipei 101. Go before sunset and bring water.
- Evening: one of the night markets, such as Raohe or Shilin, for dinner standing up.
Small things that help
Get an EasyCard at any MRT station on arrival; it also works on buses and in convenience stores. Do not eat or drink inside the MRT paid area, as the rule is enforced. Carry a light umbrella in any season, because Taipei rain arrives quickly and leaves just as fast.
A weekend will not show you everything, and that is fine. It is a city that rewards a second visit.
Photos: happypixel19, falco, tingyaoh, fishopen770 on Pixabay, used under the Pixabay Content License. These are not my photographs.
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