TAIWAN

Arrival: Taipei

Welcome to Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan! While many people tend to overlook Taiwan as a main travel destination when visiting this part of the world, it would be a shame to not experience this country for at least a few days. Taipei is a large city, but it is clean, well organized, and offers many sites to see, delicious food to enjoy and a unique culture all its own. You could easily see the major sites in Taipei within 2 days, as they can all be accessed by the MRT (metro). If you don't mind getting your steps in, put on your walking shoes and head to the nearest MRT station to start exploring!

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall:

Our first stop being the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. The architecture in this area (Liberty Square Archway and the National Concert Hall are in the same plaza) is stunning and worth the visit alone, however, if you can, try to be there on the hour so you can watch the changing of the guard ceremony up in the Memorial Hall itself.

Dihua Street:

Next, it was off to the Datong District for lunch and to stroll down Dihua Street. This is the oldest street in Taipei and has a wide variety of shops to buy local goods and food. You can find spices, bulk foods, souvenirs, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. and don't forget to stop in one of the tea houses along the way for a little break. 

Taipei 101:

This iconic building stands at 101 stories tall and 1,667 ft making it one of the tallest buildings in the world. To reach the observatory decks on floors 88 and 91, you can purchase tickets here for about $20 (or $40 for the express pass). The floors at the base of the building are home to an extensive shopping mall that is also worth a visit. Boasting multiple floors of different shops and an impressive food court, it is fun to stroll through and is a great option for lunch.   

Elephant Mountain @ sunset:

Unfortunately, while we were there, it rained in the evening and we were unable to do this hike, but we did speak to others who had recommended it. It will take about 20-30 minutes but could be a strenuous hike to some as the stairs can be a challenge, but once at the top you will have views over the whole city.  The closest MRT station is Xiangshan and once you get off, you can follow signs to the base of the hike.  

Shilin, Ningxia, and Raohe Night Markets:

These markets are a great way to try many different types of local food, do some shopping, and play arcade games if you wish to do so.  While these markets get very busy, we enjoyed just strolling through and trying food from hundreds of different stalls. Fair warning, you will most likely be assaulted by the smell of stinky tofu while you are there. This local delicacy has rightfully earned its name and you can smell it well before you see it. 

Taipei Botanical Garden:

The botanical gardens are a wonderful, free activity in Taipei. Open from 6am-8pm, you can easily fit this into your tour throughout the city. The closest MRT station is Xiaonanmen Station and will take about 30 minutes to meander through.