Taipei Travel Guide

WHAT TO DO IN TAIPEI IN 3 DAYS

Come and check our Taipei travel guide, where we visited to Taiwan famous Shilin night market, Ximending district, Jiufen and Shifen taste original bubble tea. Finally! Gees Travel trips to Taipei, Taiwan. We decided to travel to Taiwan mainly because the country is now having a visa-free travel to all Philippine nationals. This means that Philippine nationals are no longer required to acquire VISA prior to our visit. This was the latest initiative made by government of Taiwan to welcome foreign visitors and to boost country’s tourism.

Where Is Taipei

Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China), an island nation located in East Asia. It is situated in the northern part of Taiwan, near the Tamsui River Taipei is known for its impressive skyline, including the iconic Taipei 101 building, as well as for its rich history, temples, night markets, and thriving street food scene.

How To Enter Taipei

"Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall In Taipei"

With effect on last 1st November 2017, Philippine nationals are eligible to visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan) completely visa-free for 14 days. As a requirement, the individual must have below requirements.

  • Individual Passport with remaining validity of at least six months starting from the date of arrival in Taiwan.
  • Individual Passport  must have onward/return air or ferry tickets, cruise ship ticket or on-going tickets
  • Individual has never been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan  to destination.

Best Time To Visit In Taipei

The best time to visit Taipei largely depends on the type of weather you prefer and the activities you want to enjoy. However, overall, the most ideal time to visit Taipei is during the fall and spring seasons.

  • Fall (September to November)
    During this period, the weather is generally pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less humidity. Temperatures range from 24°C to 30°C, making it comfortable for outdoor activities.
  • Winter (December to February)
    Winter in Taipei is relatively mild but cooler, with temperatures averaging around 12°C to 18°C which can feel chilly.
  • Spring (March to May)
    The spring months are mild and comfortable, with temperatures average 22°C. It’s not hot or humid, so it’s a great time for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
  • Summer (June to August)
    During summer, the weather can be quite hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching 30°C to 35°C. Also during this time, a chance of typhoons and heavy rains, particularly in July and August are high.

How To Go To Taipei

Taipei Tianhou Temple with Dragon

To get to Taipei, the most common and convenient way is by air travel, as it is an international destination. The main international gateway to Taipei is Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), located about 40 kilometers west of the city center. Visitors who are planning to visit Taipei, booking a flight in advance is your best option for convenience and ease.

Getting Around Taipei

Getting around Taipei is easy, with the country extensive and efficient transportation system that makes it easy for visitors and locals to get around. The use of EasyCard is the mode to pay for train, bus or taxi. The card allows convenient seamless way travel to travel within the city.

  • MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)
    The Taipei MRT is the most popular and convenient way to get around. It covers most parts of the city and is fast, clean, and easy to use. The fare ranges from NT$20 to NT$50 depending on the distance.
  • Buses
    Taipei integrated bus system is extensive, covering locations outside the MRT network. There are over 200 bus routes across the city.
  • Taxis
    Taxis are widely available in Taipei, and they can be hailed on the street or booked via apps like Uber.

Where To Eat At Taipei

"Beef Brisket with Flat Noodle Soup in Taipei Travel Guide"
"Bubble Tea With Pearl in Taipei Travel Guide"
"Spring Roll with Ice Cream"

Beef Noodle Soup
No. 69, Luoyang Street, Wanhua Dist, Taipei 108, Taiwan

Modern Toilet Restaurant
2F., No.7, Ln. 50, Xining S. Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City 108, Taiwan

Ximending Night Market
No. 10, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108, Taiwan

Shillin Night Market
No. 101, Jihe Road, Shilin District, Taipei City 111, Taiwan

Our visit wouldn’t be complete if we were not able to taste its famous bubble tea.  Taipei is known to have its bubble milk tea and green tea which actually has a great taste.

Places To Go In Taipei

288 Peace Memorial Park

 100, Zhongzheng District
Entrance Fee: FREE
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday
(10:00AM – 5:00PM)
& closed Monday

It is Taipei’s municipal park that is closely located to Presidential Palace and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.

How To Get There
Ride the train to NTU Hospital Station, just one stop from Taipei Main Station. Walk and head to Exit 1, from there the park will be located..

Chiang Kai-Shek Hall Memorial

"Chiang Kai Shek Memrorial Hall in Taipie-Taipei Travel Guide"

No. 21, Zhongshan South Road
Entrance Fee: FREE
Opening Hours
: 9:00am-6:00pm (DAILY)

It is Taipei’s most historical place where number of tourists visit to check the monument that was built in memory of the former President Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek.

How To Get There
Ride train and alight at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall station. Walk for about 10 minutes along the Luosifu road and enter on the entrance on the Aiguo East Road.

Elephant Mountain

"Taipei 101 Tower View From Elephant Mountain-Taipei Travel Guide"
Elephant Mount Direction Yi Xian Tian and LingYun Temple

Xinyi District, Taipei
Entrance Fee: FREE
Opening hours: 24 hrs

It is the mountain located in the city where it is commonly visited by locals and visitors for hiking and to witness the panaramic view of the city of Taipei and the world renowned skyscrapper Taipei 101 tower.

How To Get There
Ride the train and alight at Xiangshan station and head the Exit 2. Walk straight along the Xinyi Road and follow the sign that directs to the foot of the mountain on the Xiangshan Trail.

Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, and Shifen Tour
We booked this tour from Klook which includes 16-seater bus, light snacks, and a tourist guide.  On the day, we woke up early in the morning and took our breakfast for us to prepare for this tour.  The meet-up point was in front of Gakuden Bakery near to Ximen station at 730 am, where our scheduled tour will start at 8 am.

Yehliu Geopark

Gangdong Road, Yehliu Village Wanli District New Taipei City
Entrance Fee: NT$ 30
Opening Hours: 8:00am-5:0opm (DAILY)

It is a rock formation that is located on the north coast part of Taiwan.

How To Get There
It is located on the northernmost point of Taiwan, and it took us almost 1-hour travel from Taipei City.

YIN-YANG SEA

Ying Yang Sea

226, Ruifang District

Located on the north part of Taiwan, it is a bay mix of yellow and blue water.

Golden Waterfall

Jinshui Road, Ruifang District
Entrance Fee FREE
Opening Hours: 24 hrs

Golden Waterfall from Goldmine in Taipei

Jiufen Village

"Red Chinese Lanterns Hanging on Jiufen Old Street-Taipei Travel Guide"
Welcome to Jiufen Signboard

Jishan Street, Ruifang District

It is a small village that is located on top of the mountain, where a number of local shops, foods, and souvenirs items are available.

Shifen Old Street

"To Shifen Old Street Sign Chinese Lantern-Taipei Travel Guide"

226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District
Entrance Fee FREE
Opening Hours: 24 hrs

Shifen Old Street is one of the famous place in Taiwan where Chinese lantern is set to fly in the sky. Lanterns came in different colors which represent different purpose in life such as study, marriage, health, and fortunes. Once you have selected the color you want, you have to write your wishes on the lantern itself. After lighting up the lantern, the local assistant will help you take photo or video while you are releasing the lantern to the sky. Releasing of lanterns are located on the train tracks where by visitors and train will share the road. Usually train will come every hour, so everyone will need to clear the tracks once the train arrive.

Lantern Price: Single Color: NT$ 180 | Multi-Colored: NT$ 200

How To Get There
If you are coming from the city of Taipei, riding a train at Songshan Station to Ruifang Train station then from Ruifang station take train to Shifen Station.

It was a whole day tour and went back to the city past 5 pm.  For us, it is recommended to avail on tour packages to this sites to avoid hassle on taking public transport from one place to another.  We are able to booked at the price at around S$ 30/pax for this one day tour.  It was good and fun.

Yangmingshan National Park

"XiaoYouKeng Volcano Yangmingshan National Park-Taipei Travel Guide""

It is one of the National parks in Taiwan that is located 40mins from the Taipei City. It is an uphill and mountainous park that has scenic beauty from mountains, volcano, and grassland.

How To Get There:
Ride the train and alight at Jiantan Station(R15), Take the Exit 1  and head to Bus North Bound: R5(Mini Bus) or <-S15-> S17 to Yangmingshan Station
Fare: NT$ 15 | Travel Time: ~40 mins.

Once we reached Yangmingshan Bus Station, we ride bus S108 located opposite of the bus terminal. This bus caters the service to all known landmarks within the park. The bus only caters up to a max of 18 passengers.
Fare: NT$ 15 (*per ride/trip) | Using Easy Card Fare: NT$ 8 /trip

QingTianGang

QingTianGang Green Grassland in Taipei

After our visit to the volcano, we rode a bus at the nearby bus stop that leads us to QingTianGang.  When we arrived, we were surprised to see the vast grassland. While walking we noticed buffalo on the sides feeding their young ones and eating grass.

Final Thoughts

"Ximending Panoramic At Night-Taipei Travel Guide"

That’s a wrapped up on our Traiwan travel guide, we hope that you have gain some information and we hope you can use this in fture travel. Overall, we were tired but happy to have another experienced in our life as we explored Taipei for just a short 3-days adventure.  We know that there are still places, and foods we need to explore but given the time its not enough. We would definitely be back and will visit other places of interest.

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Taipei Travel Guide and Itinerary

DAY 1

  • 07:00am Depart Mactan-Cebu
  • 10:00am  ETA Taoyuan Intl Airport
  • 10:30am  Immigration Clearance
  • 11:00am   Collect 5-Day 4G Sim Card
                      Puchase MRT Ticket
                      To Taipei Main Station
                      Fare: NTD 160
  • 11:30am   ETA Taipei Main Station
                      LUNCH
                      Beef Noodle House
  • 12:30pm  Hotel Check IN
                      Tomorrow Hotel
  • 01:30pm  Walk to 2/28 Peace Park
  • 02:30pm Head to President Palace
                      Chiang Kai-Shek Hall   
  • 04:30pm Ride MRT
                      Chiang Kai-Shek Hall 
                      Alight at Xiangshan MRT
  • 05:00pm Hike Elephant Mountain
  • 06:00pm Head back to Hotel. REST
  • 07:30pm Dinner
                      Modern Toilet Restaurant
  • 09:00pm Explore Ximending
  • 10:30pm  Head back to the Hotel
                      Rest. Sleep

DAY 2

  • 05:30am Wake Up.Ready
  • 06:30am Buffet Breakfast (Hotel)
  • 07:30am Heat to Meet Up
                      Gakuden Bakery
  • 07:45:am Depart for Klook Tour
  • 08:30am Yehliu Geopark. Explore
                      Entrance Fee: NTD80
  • 10:00am Depart Ying Yang Sea
  • 10:30am  ETA Ying Yang Sea
                      and Golden Waterfall
  • 11:15am    Depart to Jiufen Old Street
  • 11:30am   ETA Jiufen. Explore
                      Lunch
  • 01:30pm  Depart to Shifen   
  • 02:30pm ETA Shifen
                      Sky Lantern: NTD 140
  • 03:40pm Depart Shifen
                      Head back to City
  • 04:45pm ETA City
                      Hotel & Rest
  • 06:30pm Shilin Night Market
                      Dinner
  • 09:30pm Back to the Hotel
                      Rest. Sleep

DAY 3

  • 06:30am Wake Up.Ready
  • 07:30am  Buffet Breakfast (Hotel)
  • 08:30am  Check out Hotel
                       Leave Baggage on Hotel
  • 09:00:am Yangmingshan National
                       Park
  • 09:45am  ETA Yangmingshan Park   
  • 10:00am   Ride bus to XiaoYouKeng
  • 10:30am   ETA XiaoYouKeng   
  • 10:45am   Depart to QingTianGang
  • 11:00am    ETA QingTianGang
  • 11:45pm    Depart Yangmingshan  
  • 12:30pm   Lunch KFC 
                       Near Jiantan MRT
  • 01:30pm   Head to Ximending
  • 03:30pm  Watch Cinema
                       The Incredibles 2
  • 05:30pm   Last Minute Shopping
  • 06:30pm   Dinner
  • 08:30pm   Taipei Main station
                        Ride train to Airport
  • 10:00pm   ETA Taoyuan Intl Airport
  • 10:30pm    Counter Check In
  • 02:00am   Depart Taiwan
  • 04:00am   ETA Manila

the gees travel

A wife and a mother of three toddlers | Previously working as customer service executive in a logistics supply chain | working at home mom. But in spite of this added responsibilities I still find time to travel and explore together with my family.