Arriving in Taipei, I had no expectations. I had long heard fellow travellers sing their praises for Taiwan and its capital city, but I made the purposeful decision to not research before the trip, as an alternative hoping to wander the streets and come upon the town by happenstance. As it seems, this will not be essentially the most ideal technique to see Taipei. The city itself is sprawling and opened up, but thankfully the general public transport is straightforward to navigate and well connected. Here’s what to do in Taipei in your first time when you’re hoping to experience the hidden gems of the town, in addition to the highest attractions.
Your first time in Taipei
When you land in Taipei, it is straightforward enough to catch public transport from the airport into the town. There is a direct train from the airport to the town, with just a couple of stops in between before you reach the Taipei Main Station.
Once in the town, you have got a couple of decisions for getting around. The public metro is straightforward to make use of and navigate, but in case your hotel is positioned near the train station you may also decide to walk as the town is flat and pathways wide for rolling your suitcase. A final option is to hop in a cab to take you on to the door of your hotel, nevertheless I’d say that is the least fun option!
Where to remain in Taipei
There is not any shortage of hotels and guesthouses in Taipei. I selected to book my stay at CitizenM, as I used to be in search of a hotel that was central and I at all times love these hotels for his or her simplicity, affordability and better of all: the views! My foremost suggestion for staying at CitizenM could be to decide on a room on a better floor, so that you get to benefit from the views over the town.
Where to eat in Taipei
Taipei is a city practically made for foodies. There are countless Taiwanese delicacies to try but much more importantly for me was the sweets selection. Taiwan can also be the birthplace of bubble tea (boba tea), so you may look forward to finding tea shops on almost every corner.
My favourite food find was a small teahouse named Matcha One. As a fond matcha fan, this was the one and only place I researched for the trip, as I used to be seeking the very best matcha on the town. As it seems, this matcha store is extremely celebrated with rave reviews. Despite being slightly out of the best way, I made some extent to go to not once but twice, for arguably the very best matcha soft serve ice cream on the earth (or definitely the very best matcha ice cream I’ve ever enjoyed!)
My next suggestion is Comida. I stumbled upon this place nearby my hotel when seeking a coffee. Not only did they’ve an amazing coffee, but additionally they concentrate on famous Taiwanese cheese toasties – with almond butter! If that sounds weird, don’t overthink it. I promise you this was the most effective things I ate in Taiwan and I’d totally recommend it for an affordable breakfast.
Next up is Cookie DPT. As lots of you’ll already know I now own and operate a cookie shop in Brisbane named Brooki Bakehouse, so sweets and bakeries are sometimes at the highest of my list after I travel. Although this wasn’t my variety of cookie (it was rather more dry and dense than my preferred underbaked cookie with a crispy exterior), it was a cool shop to go to and great to see the cookie trend has reached Taipei. If you would like to try my variety of cookie, you would possibly want to envision out my online cookie class.
If you fancy a bubble tea, Tao Tao Teahouse was my favourite find (and trust me, I drank my weight in bubble tea on this trip).
Things to see in Taipei
Taipei 101 Observatory is the primary alternative for a view over the town and is very beautiful at sunset.
The Beitou hot springs are a well-liked spot half-hour from downtown and an amazing technique to escape the town hustle and bustle.
Fancy a hike? Xiangshan Trail is a brief 45-minute hike that gives an amazing view of Taipei, especially at sunset.
If you fancy a day trip, Jiufen is an exquisite mountainous town with authentic teahouses. It feels a bit like stepping back in time.
