With only 2 or 3 days in Taipei, most people end up with the same sights: Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Palace Museum and Dadaocheng. This guide takes a different angle and plans the food around the route between those sights, saving the last night for an American hot dog. If you're wondering where to spend an evening, take a look at AI DARTS, a self-serve darts bar in Da'an.
Day 1: Taipei 101, CKS Memorial Hall and a Night Market
Daytime at Taipei 101: crowds are lighter in the morning and the observation deck view is clearer. The Xinyi area is full of department stores, so lunch at a food court or a nearby restaurant saves the most time.
Afternoon at CKS Memorial Hall: the hourly changing of the guard is something many foreign visitors time their visit around. The grounds are big, so give yourself an hour or two to stroll.
Night market for dinner: Shilin or Raohe Night Market. Work your way through oyster omelets, "small sausage in big sausage" and popcorn chicken. A night market is the safest bet for your first night in Taipei.
Day 2: National Palace Museum and Dadaocheng
Daytime at the Palace Museum: the collection is huge, so allow at least half a day and eat before you go in.
Afternoon in Dadaocheng and Dihua Street: dried goods, fabric shops and old tea houses, great for souvenirs. Watch the sunset at Dadaocheng Wharf in the early evening and have dinner nearby.
Last Night: Hotdogray Inside AI DARTS
For something different on your last night, head to AI DARTS on Section 4 of Renai Road in Da'an District; Hotdogray is inside. The signature is chili made from pure pork simmered with a dozen-plus spices: the Chili Dog is $70 and the signature Seared Cheese Chili Dog is $100, and you can pair it with a beer ($100, your pick of Taiwan Beer, Budweiser or Heineken). Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 8 PM to around midnight, plus every other Saturday. If it rains or something unexpected comes up we may not open, so check the in-store notice or our LINE announcements. Confirm it's a serving day before you lock in your plans. After eating you can play a few games of darts; the dartboards are self-serve 24/7.
See the full menu here, and for MRT and bus directions see our getting-here guide.
Day 3 (If You Have It): East District and Longshan Temple
Daytime in the East District: the lanes are full of boutiques and clothing shops. For what to eat while shopping, see this guide.
Afternoon at Longshan Temple and Wanhua: old-town atmosphere with plenty of local snacks nearby, so you can eat your way around.
