Looking for a short getaway that punches way above its weight?
Taipei delivers — mouthwatering street food, quirky temples covered in seashells, craft cocktail bars styled like convenience stores, and one of Asia’s most walkable city centres. All just a short flight from Singapore.
We’ve picked the 15 best things to do in Taipei for 2026 covering food, culture, nightlife, and hidden gems most tourists skip.
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⚡️ TLDR: Taipei at a Glance
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Food lovers, culture seekers, night owls |
| Best time to visit | March–May or October–December |
| Currency | New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) |
| Getting around | MRT: clean, cheap, foreigner-friendly |
| Don’t skip | Raohe Night Market, Huashan Creative Park, Houtong Cat Village |
| Pay smart | YouTrip for zero-fee TWD spend at wholesale rates |
📚 Table of Contents
- 🥢 Top Taipei Food & Drinks
- 🗺️ Must-See Attractions
- 🌟 Hidden Gems & Unique Experiences
- 🏨 Where to Stay in Taipei
- 🚆 Day Trips from Taipei
- 🚇 Getting Around Taipei
- 🌤️ Best Time to Visit
- 💳 Money & Travel Tips
- ❓ FAQ
🥢 Top Taipei Food & Drinks
1. Yong He Soya Milk (永和豆漿大王)
Image Credits: corner.inc
Start your morning the Taiwanese way. Yong He Soya Milk serves the classics — warm or savoury soy milk, egg pancakes, rice rolls, and crispy you tiao (dough fritters). Expect queues, especially on weekends. Worth every minute.
- Address: No. 102, Section 2, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei
- Hours: Tues–Sat 5 AM–2 PM, 4 PM–1 AM | Sun 5 AM–2 PM, 4 PM–12 AM | Closed Mon
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2. Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice (金峰魯肉飯)
Image Credits: Migrationology
Picking the best lu rou fan (braised pork rice) in Taipei is an argument nobody wins, but Jin Feng is reliably in the conversation. Pair the pork rice with pig stomach soup, braised tofu, or oyster mee sua for a full spread. Good for groups, easy on the wallet.
- Address: No. 10, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
- Hours: Tues–Sat 11 AM–1 AM | Sun 11 AM–11 PM | Closed Mon
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3. Yong Kang Beef Noodles (永康牛肉麵)
Image credits: Daniel Food Diary
One of the most cited beef noodle shops in the city. Handmade noodles with a chewy texture, tender braised beef, soft beef tendon, and a rich broth that’s been cooking for hours. The setting is cosy and local, nothing fancy. Exactly what you want.
- Address: No. 17, Lane 31, Section 2, Jinshan S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 11 AM–8:30 PM
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4. Moon Moon Food (雙月食品社)
Image credits: Eating in Taipei
Michelin Bib Gourmand, eight years running. Think Singaporean zhi char energy, but Taiwanese — chicken soup with clams, braised intestines, oysters done just right. Arrive early or join a queue. While you wait, make a quick detour to Fu Hang Dou Jiang nearby for a soy milk fix.
- Address: Section 1, Jinan Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 11 AM–2 PM, 5 PM–8 PM
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5. Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
Image credits: Unsplash
One of the best night markets in Taipei. Less touristy than Shilin, but just as satisfying. Don’t miss:
- Scallion pancakes fresh off the griddle
- Crispy fried chicken
- Oyster omelette
- Smelly tofu (try it once, you’ll get it)
- Fresh-pressed guava juice
- Shaved ice for dessert
Address: Raohe St, Songshan District, Taipei
Hours: Daily 5 PM–12 AM
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6. Guiji Tea (龜記茗品)
Image Credits: TVBS
Premium ingredients, interesting flavour pairings, and long enough menus to keep a boba fan busy. The Fresh Milk Tea and Winter Melon Tie Guan Yin are popular for good reason. If you’re a tea purist, go for the Hongxuan Tea or Four Season Tea instead.
- Address: No. 4, Lane 74, Section 3, Bade Road, Songshan District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 11 AM–10 PM
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7. Fake Sober
Image Credits: @uhm.hjh on Lemon8
Edgy interiors, neon lighting, cocktails like a Skittles-infused mix that shouldn’t work but does. Fake Sober is one of the best bars in Taipei for a pre-game or a late-night session. And it opens at 8 AM, so it doubles as a café if you’re pacing yourself.
- Address: No. 20, Songshou Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 8 AM–2 AM
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8. 首頁- WATcocktail
Image Credits: WATcocktail
A convenience store-themed bar serving pre-bottled craft cocktails in cute packaging — 12 flavours, each with distinct profiles. The bartenders are friendly and genuinely helpful at narrowing down your pick. Try the lychee tieguanyin and shiso cocktail. Take a bottle home while you’re at it.
- Address: No. 25, Lane 49, Chifeng Street, Datong District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 3 PM–10 PM
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🗺️ Must-See Attractions in Taipei
9. Taipei 101
Image Credits: Unsplash
Yes, it’s a cliché. It’s also genuinely impressive. Skip the pricier observatory (600 TWD | ~S$26) and head up to Simple Kaffa Sola on the 88th floor instead — same skyline views over coffee, minimum spend from 240 TWD (~S$10).
Book ahead; walk-in waits can exceed an hour during peak hours. The Xinyi District surrounding it has some of the best shopping in the city. Boutiques, high-street brands, and good rooftop bars within walking distance.
Pro tip: If you’re doing Din Tai Fung, the Taipei 101 branch is one of the originals. Go hungry, bring patience.
- Simple Kaffa Sola hours: Daily 10 AM–8 PM (reservations recommended)
- Taipei 101 address: No. 45, City Hall Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei
- Taipei 101 hours: Sun–Thu 11 AM–9:30 PM | Fri–Sat 11 AM–10 PM
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10. Taipei Zoo
Image Credits: Taipei Zoo
One of Asia’s largest and most affordable zoos. Spot Formosan black bears, red pandas, and koalas in well-maintained habitats. Great for families or anyone who wants to slow the pace down for a half-day.
- Address: No. 30, Section 2, Xinguang Rd, Wenshan District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 9 AM–5 PM (last entry 4 PM)
- Note: Closed Chinese New Year’s Eve and Jun 22–Jul 1, 2026. Also closes on typhoon days.
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11. Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Image Credits: 臺北旅遊網
A converted distillery turned creative hub: exhibitions, indie stores, art cinemas, design markets, and a revolving mix of cafés and restaurants filling the old warehouses. It’s the kind of place where you plan to spend an hour and end up staying for three. Leave it unscheduled.
- Address: No. 1, Section 1, Bade Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
- Hours: Open 24 hours (individual venues vary, check ahead)
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12. White Wabbit Records
Image Credits: nspp.mofa.gov.tw
For the vinyl crowd. An intimate shop stocking a well-curated selection of local, international, and indie records — heavy on psychedelic and indie genres. The staff know their stuff and are happy to geek out. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth 30 minutes of your afternoon.
- Address: No. 1-1, Lane 21, Pucheng St, Da’an District, Taipei
- Hours: Daily 11 AM–9 PM
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🌟 Hidden Gems & Unique Experiences
13. Fufu Dingshan Temple
Image Credits: Trip.com
An hour’s drive north of the city, this nautical sea shrine is decorated with over 60,000 pieces of seashells and corals. A tribute to Matsu (goddess of the sea), the 18 disciples of Buddha, and Buddhist monk Ji Gong. Shell-beaded chandeliers, dragon-head turtle guardians, and a genuinely otherworldly atmosphere. Worth the trip.
- Address: 69, Sanzhi District, New Taipei City
- Hours: Daily 7:30 AM–7 PM
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14. Rixing Type Foundry (日星鑄字行)
Image Credits: Neocha
The last Chinese character movable type foundry in Taiwan. Over 50,000 characters, 120,000+ individual moulds, and a dying craft kept alive by one family. They do custom stamps, one of the better souvenir ideas in the city.
- Address: No. 13, Lane 97, Taiyuan Rd, Datong District, Taipei
- Hours: Wed, Fri & Sat 10 AM–5 PM | Closed Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun
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15. Huotong Cat Village (猴硐貓村)
Image Credits: Taiwan Today
A former mining village that’s been quietly taken over by cats. Dozens of well-fed resident felines, cat-themed cafés, lucky cat shrines, and cat foam latte art. It’s on the way to Jiufen and Shifen, so it pairs well as a half-day detour. Bring an SD card.
- Address: Fengjia Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei City
- Hours: 24 hours (individual venues vary)
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🏨 Where to Stay in Taipei
Taipei’s neighbourhoods have very different vibes, and where you stay shapes the trip.
| Area | Best For | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Ximending | First-timers, nightlife | Busy, youthful, very walkable |
| Da’an | Foodies, café hoppers | Relaxed, tree-lined, local |
| Xinyi | Shoppers, business travellers | Polished, central, close to 101 |
| Zhongshan | Art, boutiques, mid-range hotels | Creative, slightly under the radar |
| Songshan | Night market access, MRT convenience | Residential, practical |
Budget travellers will find solid options from S$55/night upward. Mid-range hotels in Da’an or Zhongshan typically run S$100–S$150/night for well-reviewed properties.
🚆 Day Trips from Taipei
Image Credits: Unsplash
Taipei makes a good base for a few well-known day trips, both easy by public transport.
- Jiufen: A hillside former gold mining town with narrow lanes, red lanterns, and tea houses with sweeping ocean views. Takes about 1.5 hours by bus or train from Taipei. Combine with Houtong Cat Village en route for a full day out.
- Taichung: Taiwan’s third-largest city, about 1 hour from Taipei by High Speed Rail. Good for Rainbow Village, the Calligraphy Greenway, Feng Chia Night Market, and a more relaxed pace than Taipei. A solid overnight if you have extra days.
🚇 Getting Around Taipei
- MRT: The easiest way to get around. Clean, reliable, English-friendly, and cheap. An EasyCard (loaded at any MRT station) covers the metro, buses, and YouBike. Get one on arrival.
- Uber: Available in Taipei. Useful for areas not well-covered by MRT or for late nights.
- Grab: Not available for ride-hailing in Taiwan. Use Uber or metered taxis instead.
- Airport to city: Taoyuan International Airport connects to Taipei Main Station via the Airport MRT (about 35 minutes, 160 TWD (~S$7) by EasyCard or single-journey token). The fastest option from the airport.
- Taiwan arrival card: Singapore passport holders do not require a visa for Taiwan (visa-free for up to 30 days). Complete the online arrival card via the National Immigration Agency website within 3 days before your flight.
🌤️ Best Time to Visit Taipei
| Season | Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Best | March–May | Mild, low humidity, cherry blossoms in March |
| Best | October–December | Cool, dry, comfortable for walking |
| Avoid if possible | June–September | Typhoon season, hot and humid |
| Rainy days | Year-round | Taipei gets rain regularly, pack a compact umbrella |
For rainy days specifically: Huashan Creative Park, Ximending’s covered shopping streets, and Taipei 101’s mall are all good indoor options that double as real activities.
💳 Money & Travel Tips
- Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). Cash is still widely used, especially at night markets, small temples, and older eateries.
- Getting cash: ATMs are everywhere: 7-Elevens, FamilyMarts, and bank branches. Most accept foreign cards.
- Cards: Major attractions and restaurants in central Taipei accept Visa. Night markets and older spots are cash-only.
- Connectivity: Prepaid 4G SIMs from Chunghwa Telecom are widely available at the airport. If you prefer a lighter option, Airalo eSIMs work well for Taiwan.
- Save on currency exchange: Skip the money changer queue. Load TWD on your YouTrip card before you fly and spend directly — you get wholesale exchange rates with zero foreign transaction fees. Every swipe at a restaurant or convenience store saves you the typical 2.5–3.5% that regular bank cards charge.
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FAQs
For first-timers: Raohe Street Night Market, Taipei 101 (go for Simple Kaffa, not just the observatory), Huashan Creative Park, and at least one afternoon in Da’an wandering café to café. Add a day trip to Jiufen if you have extra time.
Da’an for foodies and a local feel. Ximending if you want nightlife on your doorstep. Xinyi if you’re there for shopping or business. All three have good MRT access.
Lu rou fan (braised pork rice), beef noodles, oyster omelette, scallion pancakes, and anything from a night market. For breakfast, traditional soy milk shops like Yong He or Fu Hang are a ritual worth experiencing.
Uber operates in Taipei. Grab is not available for ride-hailing in Taiwan. Use Uber or standard metered taxis instead.
Three to four days cover the main city well. Add a fifth if you want day trips to Jiufen and Taichung without rushing.
Yes. It’s about 4 hours direct from Singapore, no visa required, and the city is compact enough that a long weekend (Fri–Mon) gives you a proper trip without feeling rushed.
Ready For Your Fill of Fun in Taiwan?
Taipei earns every hour you give it — night market queues, shell-covered temples, and all.
Pack your YouTrip card alongside the stretchy pants. Load TWD before you fly and spend at wholesale exchange rates with zero transaction fees, no money changer needed.
Sign up with code <YTBLOG5> and get S$5 free YouTrip credits to kickstart your trip fund. Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions. We promise you won’t regret it. Join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips, event invites, and more!
Happy travels!
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