Best Things to Do in Taipei: Night Markets, Hot Springs & Skyline Views

Taipei packs a lot into a compact city, from glass‑and‑steel skyscrapers to hot springs and hillside trails. Online reviews tend to praise how easy it is to get around, the safety even late at night and the sheer variety of food and culture available on the MRT network. Here are some of the most popular things to do, with a focus on what travellers say they enjoy about each place.

Taipei 101 and Xinyi District

1. Taipei 101 Observatory

Taipei 101 is the city’s most recognisable landmark and still one of the tallest eco‑friendly buildings in the world. Visitors love the observatory for its 360 degree views and the thrill of riding one of the world’s fastest lifts up to the 89th floor in about 37 seconds. Online reviewers often describe the panorama as “breathtaking” and say that seeing the tuned mass damper, the giant golden pendulum that keeps the tower stable, is a highlight in itself. Many recommend going on a clear day, ideally around sunset, so you get both daylight and the city lights in one visit. Some people comment that tickets are not cheap and advise skipping it if you are not particularly interested in high viewpoints, but even those reviewers usually concede that the view is impressive.

Around the base of Taipei 101, the Xinyi district is full of shopping malls, food courts and rooftop bars. Travellers mention that it feels modern and international, with everything from Din Tai Fung dumplings to designer boutiques, yet still very convenient thanks to the MRT station underneath.

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)

2. Xiangshan Hiking Trail

For postcard views of Taipei 101 from the outside, reviewers almost universally recommend the short hike up Elephant Mountain, also called Xiangshan. It is a steep stair climb that usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, but many comments say that even people who are not keen hikers manage it with a few rest stops. Long term residents and travel bloggers suggest coming an hour before sunset to secure a spot on the famous viewing platforms, as they fill up with photographers waiting for the skyline to light up.

What people like most is the contrast. In a very short time you go from dense city streets to lush greenery and then look back over the whole basin, Taipei 101 rising out of the middle. Several reviews describe it as one of the best value experiences in Taipei because it is free, easy to reach by MRT and delivers some of the city’s most iconic photos.

Shilin Night Market

3. Taipei’s largest night market

Shilin Night Market is often called the biggest and most famous night market in Taiwan. It spreads around Jiantan MRT station with hundreds of food stalls, an underground food court, games arcades and shops selling everything from clothes to phone cases. Visitors on Yelp and travel blogs describe it as chaotic, loud and crowded, yet also enormous fun if you enjoy street food and people watching.

Popular bites that online reviewers single out include XXL fried chicken, oyster omelettes, grilled king oyster mushrooms, lu rou fan (braised minced pork on rice) and all sorts of bubble tea. Many travellers appreciate the sheer variety and say it is a good place to sample multiple Taiwanese snacks in one evening. On the downside, some comments mention that the main streets can feel very touristy and that it is easy to get lost in the maze. Even critics, however, often still tell first‑time visitors that Shilin is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone.

Raohe Street Night Market

4. Compact alternative to Shilin

Raohe Street Night Market, near Songshan station, is smaller and more linear, which some locals and expats actually prefer. Reddit users compare it favourably with Shilin, saying that although it is also touristy, its straight street layout, gateway temple and strong street market feel match what many people imagine when they think of a Taiwanese night market.

Reviews highlight the famous pepper buns baked in tandoor style ovens at the entrance, grilled seafood, herbal pork ribs soup and various skewers. The atmosphere is busy but slightly less overwhelming than Shilin, and many travellers like combining a visit here with a stroll by the nearby riverside park after eating.

National Palace Museum

5. World‑class collection of Chinese art

The National Palace Museum in Shilin holds one of the world’s finest collections of Chinese imperial art and artefacts, including bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade. Visitors on forums and review sites describe it as “world class” and say it can easily fill half a day, particularly if you take time to read the English explanations or join a guided tour.

Many reviews pick out the famous jade cabbage sculpture and the meat‑shaped stone as must‑see curiosities, although they also warn that crowds can form around them. People generally appreciate the modern building, air conditioning and well‑organised displays, although a few mention that the sheer amount of material can be overwhelming and suggest focusing on one or two sections if you are short on time. The surrounding gardens and nearby Zhishan Garden offer a peaceful walk after the galleries.

Beitou Hot Springs

6. Soak in volcanic waters

Beitou, at the northern end of the MRT red line, is Taipei’s hot spring district. Travellers like how easy it is to reach compared with rural onsen towns, and still feel as if they have escaped the city. The area has public baths, private resort style facilities, the small but interesting Beitou Hot Spring Museum and the steamy Thermal Valley where you can see the milky green spring water bubbling away.

Online comments often mention the mix of Japanese era architecture and modern hotels, as well as the convenience of spending a few hours soaking and then heading straight back into town. Some visitors warn that weekends can be busy and recommend checking the bathing rules, such as compulsory swimwear or separate male and female pools, before you go.

Tamsui Riverside and Old Street

7. Sea breezes and sunset views

Tamsui, at the northern end of the MRT line by the river mouth, is frequently listed by TripAdvisor and other guides as one of Taipei’s must‑see districts. The old street area is lined with food stalls and souvenir shops, while the riverside promenade offers wide views, live buskers and sunset over the water.

Travellers say they enjoy strolling with snacks such as iron egg, fish ball soup and giant ice creams, then watching the sky change colour from the pier or crossing to Fisherman’s Wharf for the view of Lover’s Bridge lit up after dark. Many reviews note that it feels like a small seaside town within the city and works well as a half‑day trip, especially in the late afternoon and evening.

Maokong Gondola and Tea Houses

8. Views, tea and gentle hiking

On the opposite side of the city from Tamsui, the Maokong Gondola climbs from the edge of the city up into tea growing hills near Taipei Zoo. Travel writers and reviewers praise the ride for giving bird’s eye views over the city, forests and bao zhong tea fields. Some visitors on Reddit even say they preferred the gondola to the Taipei 101 observatory because the journey itself is more relaxing and less crowded, while still offering impressive views.

At the top, there are traditional tea houses with terraces overlooking the valley, as well as short hiking trails to spots such as Silver Stream Cave and Waterfall. People like lingering here in the evening with a pot of high mountain tea, watching Taipei light up below before taking the gondola back down.

Temples and historic squares

9. Longshan Temple and Liberty Square

For a taste of traditional religious life, Longshan Temple in Wanhua is often mentioned in “must see” lists. Visitors comment on the thick incense, detailed carvings and the constant flow of worshippers, which together create a very atmospheric experience, especially at night when the complex is lit up.

Nearby, Liberty Square and the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall form a grand ceremonial space with white gates, blue tiled roofs and sweeping steps. Travellers highlight the changing of the guard ceremony, the photographic symmetry of the square and the chance to learn more about Taiwan’s modern history in the exhibition halls. The adjacent 228 Peace Memorial Park and small museum are also praised for their calm greenery and historical context.

Creative Parks and Indie Culture

10. Huashan 1914 and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

Finally, reviewers regularly recommend Taipei’s creative parks to anyone interested in design, photography or indie culture. Huashan 1914 Creative Park and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park occupy former industrial sites that have been turned into galleries, design shops, cafés and event spaces. Travellers like the changing exhibitions, weekend markets and plentiful photo spots among old brick warehouses and chimneys.

Many comments say these parks are ideal places to slow down between more intense sightseeing, grab a coffee, browse Taiwanese brands and perhaps catch a pop‑up art show or film screening.

Taken together, these sights and neighbourhoods give a good cross‑section of Taipei: modern towers and mountain trails, hot springs and night markets, imperial antiques and contemporary art. With the MRT connecting almost everything and a reputation for being welcoming and easy to navigate, it is no surprise that online reviews for the city as a whole are consistently positive.