Taipei is a city where incense curls around centuries-old temples while neon glows over steamy bowls of beef noodles. Once a Qing outpost and later shaped by Japanese urban planning, today it’s a tech-forward capital with lightning-fast transit, world-class museums, and a night market scene that rivals anywhere in Asia. The city’s rhythm is friendly, efficient, and delicious.

From the jade-green hills of Yangmingshan to the sea-carved hoodoos of Yehliu and red-lantern alleys of Jiufen, Taipei is a superb base for day trips across northern Taiwan. Tea culture permeates everything—don’t be surprised if the best conversation of your trip happens in a quiet teahouse while rain patters on the roof.

Practical notes: Pick up an EasyCard for cashless rides on MRT and buses (typical fares NT$20–65). The Airport MRT gets you into town in 35–45 minutes. Taipei is safe, walkable, and food-obsessed—bring an appetite and small bills for night markets. Summer is hot and humid; winters are mild and occasionally drizzly—pack a light rain layer.

Taipei

Taipei rewards wanderers: prayer chants at Longshan Temple, Qing-era shophouses on Dihua Street, and the elegant fan of the city viewed from Elephant Mountain. Food is a civic pastime—think pepper buns blistered in tandoor-like ovens, soy milk breakfasts, and the clean umami of a perfect bowl of beef noodles.

• Top Sights: Taipei 101 observatory, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Dihua Street, Beitou Hot Springs, Yangmingshan National Park.
• Neighborhoods to Explore: Ximending (youthful, neon), Dadaocheng (tea houses, textiles, heritage), Da’an (cafes, leafy boulevards), Xinyi (shopping, skyline views).
• What to Eat: Beef noodles (Yongkang Beef Noodle), braised pork rice (Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan), scallion pancakes (Tian Jin), pepper buns (Raohe Night Market gate stall), soy milk & shaobing (Fuhang Soy Milk), sushi & seafood (Addiction Aquatic Development).

Where to stay: For location and comfort, book in Xinyi (near Taipei 101), Da’an, or Zhongshan for easy MRT access.

• Luxury: Mandarin Oriental, Taipei — palatial spa, refined rooms near Songshan Airport. Check availability
• Upscale: Grand Hyatt Taipei — resort-style pool and city views steps from Taipei 101. Check availability
• Budget/Social: Meander Taipei Hostel (Ximending) — bright, friendly, and walkable to endless snacks. Check availability
• Browse broader options on Hotels.com or apartment stays on VRBO.

Getting there & around: Fly into TPE (Taoyuan). Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com (US West Coast ~12–14h nonstop; Tokyo ~3–4h; Hong Kong ~1.5–2h). From TPE, the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station takes 35–45 minutes (~NT$150); taxis to Xinyi are ~40–60 minutes (~NT$1,000–1,200, metered). For intercity trains in Taiwan, see Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Ximending Energy, and Night-Market Flavors

Afternoon: Land at TPE and ride the Airport MRT into town. Drop bags, freshen up, and start in pedestrian-friendly Ximending—Taipei’s answer to Shibuya. Grab a first taste at Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles (silky vermicelli with umami-rich broth; add black vinegar and chili), or sip brown sugar boba from Tiger Sugar while people-watching under the billboards.

Evening: Head to Ningxia Night Market (compact, food-focused). Try Liu Yu Zi taro balls stuffed with salted egg yolk, oyster omelets at Yuan Huan, scallion pancakes at 黃記蔥油餅, and tang yuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) for dessert. For a sit-down late dinner, consider A Slow Life (Dadaocheng) for Taiwanese small plates or make it noodles round two at Yongkang Beef Noodle (deep, spiced broth and cheeks that melt).

Night: Settle into a speakeasy-style cocktail at Ounce (Da’an) or keep it tea-forward at Dadaocheng’s heritage teahouses. Rest early—tomorrow is a big city day.

Day 2: Icons of Taipei—Temples, Palaces, Plazas

Morning: Start with a classic breakfast at Fuhang Soy Milk (come by 7:00–8:00 AM to dodge lines). Order hot soy milk, shaobing with youtiao, and egg crêpes. Then visit Longshan Temple (1738), where dragon columns and red lanterns frame a steady swirl of worshippers; continue through Bopiliao Historic Block’s Qing-to-Japanese-era facades.

Afternoon: Explore Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall—don’t miss the hourly guard change—then ride to the National Palace Museum. Its jade and bronze collections are unrivaled (allow 2–3 hours); the famous “cabbage” is smaller than you expect and more exquisite. Coffee break at Simple Kaffa The Coffee One (champion-roasted beans; try the brown sugar latte).

Evening: Consider a guided city sampler to streamline logistics and context: Small-Group: Classic Taipei Landmarks Day Tour.

For dinner, head to Shilin Night Market for a grazing feast—grilled squid-on-a-stick, big chicken cutlets, and herbal pork rib soup—or go refined with contemporary Taiwanese at MUME-adjacent bistros in Da’an. Nightcap at Fika Fika Cafe’s evening brew or a mango ice at Smoothie House (seasonal).

Day 3: Yehliu, Jiufen Lanterns, and Shifen Waterfall

All day (recommended tour): Venture to Taiwan’s dramatic northeast coast with an easy small-group day trip that hits the highlights: Yehliu & Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour (Departure from Ximending).

Marvel at Yehliu’s wind-and-wave-sculpted hoodoos (Queen’s Head is the star), wander Jiufen Old Street’s teahouses and stairways (A-Mei Teahouse is the classic photo), and admire the rainbow spray at Shifen Waterfall. In Pingxi, you can write wishes on a sky lantern before release.

Food tips: Snack on taro balls and sweet potato balls in Jiufen; seek out taro ice cream rolls with peanut brittle shavings. Back in Taipei, reward yourself with seafood at Addiction Aquatic Development—choose counter-style sushi, hot pot, or grilled seafood; everything is hyper-fresh.

Day 4: Steam and Summit—Beitou Hot Springs & Yangmingshan

Morning: Take the MRT to Beitou (transfer at Beitou to Xinbeitou). Visit Beitou Hot Spring Museum (Japanese-era history) and peer into the misting, emerald Beitou Thermal Valley. Soak at the public Millennium Hot Spring (budget) or a private room at a hot spring hotel; bring a swimsuit and towel.

Afternoon: Continue into Yangmingshan National Park for sulfur vents at Xiaoyoukeng, mirror-still Qingtiangang grasslands, and seasonal calla lily fields (spring). For a stress-free nature day with transport handled, join the Small-Group: Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour.

Evening: Return to town for dinner in Beitou: Man Lai Hot Spring Ramen (rich, porky broth) or a Taiwanese homestyle meal at Sushi Express’s nearby upscale sibling locations if you crave fish. Alternatively, head to Dadaocheng for a tea ceremony at a heritage shop, pairing lightly roasted oolong with pineapple cakes from a local bakery.

Day 5: Bicycles, Skyline, and Raohe Night Market

Morning: See the city wake up the way locals do—by bike. Join the 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast) to pedal past traditional markets, riverside paths, and low-key temples with a guide.

If you prefer caffeine, detour after to Rufous Coffee Roasters for a textbook flat white.

Afternoon: Explore Songshan Cultural and Creative Park—design boutiques inside a former tobacco factory—then glide up to the Taipei 101 Observatory for sweeping views (watch weather for clarity). Lunch at Din Tai Fung (Taipei 101): order xiao long bao, truffle pork dumplings, and hot-and-sour soup; grab a queue number early or mid-afternoon to minimize waits.

Evening: Hike the short, steep stairs of Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) for sunset photos of Taipei 101 lighting up. Celebrate with a street-food dinner at Raohe Night Market: start at the Fuzhou black pepper bun bakery by the east gate (watch them slap dough onto the oven walls), then try grilled mochi, pork rib medicinal soup, and almond tofu. For dessert, seek shaved ice mounded with seasonal fruit.

Day 6: Rivers, Forts, and Farewell

Morning: Ride the MRT red line to Tamsui for a breezy riverside finale. Stroll Tamsui Old Street for fish ball soup, A-gei (glass noodles stuffed in fried tofu with sweet sauce), and iron eggs (chewy, soy-braised). Visit Fort San Domingo and the Former British Consulate for coastal history and views.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Tamsui’s waterfront seafood stalls, then return to the city for last-minute shopping on Yongkang Street (ceramics, tea, and snacks to pack). If time allows, pop into the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) or sip one last pour-over at Coffee Lover’s Planet in Breeze Nanshan before heading to the airport.

Evening (departure): Aim to leave your hotel ~3.5 hours before your flight. Airport MRT to TPE is ~35–45 minutes; taxis run ~40–60 minutes depending on traffic. For flights, compare real-time options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Keep your EasyCard for a future return—you’ll want one.

Prefer guides and drivers for the north coast?

If you’d rather customize the classics (Yehliu, Jiufen, Pingxi) on your schedule, book the Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup.

It’s ideal for families, photographers, or anyone who wants flexibility (and extra room for snacks between stops).

Summary: In six days, you’ll taste Taipei’s best bowls, soak in volcanic waters, wander lantern-lit alleys above the sea, and watch the skyline flicker to life from a mountain perch. Taipei is a city that welcomes curiosity—one you’ll leave already planning to return.