Taiwan
I have only seen a small slice of Taiwan, but Taipei made a strong first impression. I stopped for a short stay in January 2024 at the end of a month in Asia. I also came through Taoyuan on a connection in December 2024.
What I did
Spent a short stop in Taipei in January 2024.
Stayed in the East District around Zhongxiao Dunhua.
Hiked the trails right next to the city center, with Taipei 101 views from the top.
Ate my way through Taipei. The food is amazing.
Used the airport connection through Taoyuan on the way to Bangkok in December 2024.
Where to stay
Zhongxiao Dunhua (East District): department stores, cafes, bars in the side lanes and a walk to Xinyi and Taipei 101. I stayed at RF Hotel on Zhongxiao East Road.
Xinyi: modern, near Taipei 101 and good for skyline views.
Ximending: youthful, busy and good for street food.
Near Taipei Main Station: the easiest base for trains and the airport MRT.
Getting there and around
Taoyuan airport: about 40 to 60 minutes from central Taipei. The airport MRT express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35 to 40 minutes.
Songshan airport: right in the city and used for some regional flights.
In the city: the MRT is excellent. Get an EasyCard for the MRT, buses and convenience stores.
Between cities: the high-speed rail runs down the west coast.
What to eat
Beef noodle soup, the national dish.
Xiaolongbao soup dumplings, such as at Din Tai Fung.
Lu rou fan, braised pork over rice.
Night market snacks: pepper buns, oyster omelet and scallion pancakes.
Soy milk with youtiao for breakfast.
What to drink
Tea: high-mountain oolong is the star, and the tea houses of Maokong, reached by gondola, are a relaxed way to try it.
Bubble tea: Taiwan invented it, so order one at the source and choose your sweetness and ice level.
Whisky: Kavalan, from Yilan, is a world-class single malt with a distillery you can visit.
Beer: Taiwan Beer is everywhere, and the Taihu Brewing taproom in Taipei is a good craft option.
Cocktails: Taipei has a strong cocktail scene, with small bars tucked away in the East District side lanes.
Coffee: Taipei has an excellent cafe scene, and fresh juices and winter melon tea are sold at every night market.
Hikes close to the city
One of the best things about Taipei is how fast you can get from the MRT to a real trail. These are all easy to reach from the center.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan): a short, steep climb from Xiangshan MRT station to the classic Taipei 101 view. Go for sunset.
Four Beasts Mountain: link Elephant, Tiger, Leopard and Lion peaks for a longer half day loop in the same area.
Jiantanshan: a quieter ridge walk from Jiantan MRT with views over the city and the Grand Hotel.
Yangmingshan National Park: about 30 to 45 minutes by bus from the city. Volcanic peaks, hot springs and Qixing Mountain, the highest point in Taipei.
Teapot Mountain: a scramble above Jiufen with ocean views. Pair it with Jiufen old street on a day trip.
Don't miss
Taipei 101 and the Elephant Mountain hike at sunset.
A night market, such as Raohe or Shilin.
The National Palace Museum.
Longshan Temple.
A day trip to Jiufen and Shifen.
Beitou hot springs.
Day trips and side trips
Jiufen and Shifen for old streets and sky lanterns.
Beitou hot springs.
Maokong Gondola to the tea houses.
Festivals and events
Lunar New Year: countrywide, usually in late January or February. Temple visits, family meals and red lanterns.
Lantern Festival: usually in February or March. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival near Shifen is the famous one.
Dragon Boat Festival: usually in June. Boat races and zongzi rice dumplings.
Mid-Autumn Festival: usually in September. Moon cakes and barbecues in the parks.
Taipei 101 New Year fireworks: on December 31, a well-known show over the skyscraper.
Megaport Festival: Kaohsiung, usually in March. A big rock and pop festival.
Spring Scream: Kenting, usually in April. A long-running indie music festival by the beach.
Taiwan Pride: Taipei, usually in October. One of the largest in Asia.
Ghost Festival: countrywide, usually in August. Temple offerings and Keelung lantern events.
Music and dance
Mandopop and Taiwanese pop: the country's mainstream sound, heard in KTV rooms and big concerts.
Indie and live bands: small venues in Taipei around Gongguan and Ximending.
Electronic: Taipei has a lively club and DJ scene in the Xinyi district.
Traditional: Taiwanese opera and temple music can be heard at festivals.
Dance: Indigenous song and dance performances are the most distinctive, and lion dances and temple processions are common at festivals. For dancing, the Xinyi district in Taipei has the clubs.
Photography spots
Elephant Mountain at sunset into blue hour for the classic Taipei 101 view.
Raohe Night Market's gate and Ciyou Temple at night.
Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at blue hour.
Longshan Temple's carved roofs in soft morning light.
Drones: restricted in Taipei, with much of the city near Songshan Airport off limits, and national parks need permits.
My experience
Taipei surprised me. The food is amazing, and you can be on a real hiking trail with a view of the whole city minutes from the center. It was a quick, easy stop, and a good place to end a long trip. The East District is practical, with malls, cafes and an easy MRT. I would recommend it to food lovers and anyone adding a stopover on the way to or from Asia.
Cost of living
Overall: Taipei and Taichung: $$, about 50% cheaper than New York. Kaohsiung is cheaper still.
Coffee: about $3
Local lunch: about $6
Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $60
Beer or cocktail: about $4 / $9
Ride across town: about $6
Mid-range hotel: about $85 a night
Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $900 a month in Taipei's Da'an or Zhongshan, $650 in Taichung's West District
Daily budget: about $55 budget, $120 comfortable, $250+ luxury in Taipei; Taichung is about 15% less
Taipei is great value for a rich, safe city. Night markets and street food cost almost nothing, and the metro is cheap and excellent. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.
Working remotely
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is fast and common, often 100 Mbps or better. Cafes are plentiful and many have outlets. Power cuts are rare.
Coworking and cafes: Taipei is the nomad base, famous for cafe culture in Da'an, Zhongshan and Xinyi, plus Garage+ and JustCo. Taichung is relaxed and cheaper with good cafes. Kaohsiung is an up and coming southern option.
Time zone: UTC+8, 12 hours ahead of US Eastern (13 hours when the US is on standard time).
Visa for longer stays: US citizens get 90 days visa-free. Taiwan offers the Employment Gold Card for qualified professionals, but it is not a classic nomad visa. Check current rules.
Nomad rating: 4 out of 5, safe, clean, cheap and well connected, with a modest but growing nomad scene.
Good to know
Language: Mandarin Chinese in Traditional characters, plus Taiwanese Hokkien. English signage is good on the MRT, but less common in small shops.
Currency: New Taiwan dollar. Cash is still common at night markets and small shops.
Plugs: Type A and B, 110V. US devices work without an adapter.
Entry for US citizens: visa-free for tourist stays. Check current rules before you fly.
Best time to visit: October to April is mild. January is cool and often drizzly, and summer is hot with typhoon risk.
Getting around: MRT, high-speed rail, plentiful taxis and Uber.
Tipping: not expected. Hotels and nicer restaurants add a service charge.
SIM/eSIM: Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile sell tourist SIMs at the airport, or use an eSIM.
Apps: Uber for rides, and Uber Eats and Foodpanda for delivery.
Water: drink bottled or boiled water rather than straight from the tap.
Useful phrases
Hello: Ni hao
Thank you: Xie xie
Please: Qing
How much?: Duo shao qian?
The check please: Mai dan
Nightlife
Taipei's nightlife is easygoing, safe and food driven. The night markets are an evening out in themselves, and the city is known for craft cocktail and listening bars more than rowdy clubs.
When people go out: Night markets run from about 5 until midnight. Bars fill from 9 and clubs peak after 11, usually closing around 4. Friday and Saturday are the big nights.
Where the action is: Xinyi District has the glitzy clubs and rooftop bars around Taipei 101. Zhongxiao Dunhua and Da'an have cocktail bars, and Ximending is the youth area with late-night food.
The music: Pop, hip hop and house in the clubs, with jazz and vinyl in the listening bars.
Must-visit: Spend an evening at Shilin or Raohe Night Market, which is the classic Taipei night out.
Good to know: Many bars have no cover and drinks are moderate by US standards. Dress is smart casual, and some clubs refuse sandals or shorts. The MRT closes around midnight, so plan your ride back or use a taxi or Uber, and watch your drink.
Meeting people
Social scene: Taipei is easygoing and welcoming. Language exchanges, hiking groups on the trails around the city, coworking spaces and night markets are the best places to meet people. Many locals are glad to practice English.
Apps: Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are used by expats, and LINE is the main messaging app. Meetup, Facebook groups and Couchsurfing hangouts are active in Taipei.
Etiquette: A smile and a nod are enough, with a light handshake in business. Be punctual. Plans are made on LINE. Splitting the bill or taking turns is common.
Stay smart: Meet in public and watch your drink in bars. Taipei is very safe, and taxis are metered and reliable.
Staying safe
One of the safest places in Asia.
Watch for scooters at crosswalks.
Earthquakes happen, so know your hotel's exits.