Travel Inspired

 Hello:  Nee How (Nǐ hǎo). Mandarin is the official language, but English is widely understood so “hello” works well.  

Thank you: Shay shay (Xiè xie) or just say “thank you.”

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) is roughly equal to 3 cents U.S.; $1 U.S. ~32 NTD.

Planning Your Trip:

I have seen several newsletters in the last few months describing Taipei as a superior place for single travelers.  They are correct!  I decided to stop in Taipei on my way home from Borneo and Indonesia.  The flight from Jakarta to Taipei was affordable, I was able to experience Taiwan’s Starlux airline, and the stop in Taipei would break up a long flight back to the U.S. with a few days in a city I had yet to explore.

Once I arrived, I jumped on the MRT to my hotel.  One of the things I love about Asian countries – they usually have great public transportation.  The train from the airport into the city was no problem.  I bought an EasyCard at the service window by the train and the woman gave me a card to load more value and a token to use for the initial ride to the city.  I grabbed the Express train for a 40-minute ride to the main station.  

And then the adventure began.  I had no cell service thanks to a faulty eSIM (they can fail to activate quickly when you fly from country to country on a regional eSIM) and no WiFi.  I had planned to walk to my hotel as I booked something close to the train station but without a map, I was a bit stranded.  And even though Taipei has Uber, I couldn’t order one without cell service or WiFi.  There were taxis but they only accepted NTD cash.  I finally found an ATM, withdrew local currency, and then stood in the taxi line to get to my hotel.  The good news - it was only about a $3 ride. The next day, in the daylight, I was able to see where the hotel was in relation to the train station.  Yikes – a matter of blocks or a longer walk underground to an exit by the hotel. But now that I knew my location, I never had to taxi again!  I averaged about 12 miles a day walking around the city and had the MRT as back-up.

And I finally sorted out my eSim issues by going to a local Taiwan Mobile store, a great suggestion from the lady at the information booth in the train station.  The man fixed it by changing the APN, a 30-second fix.  Once connected, I had a map which is always useful in a new city.

Practicalities:

Customs/Arrival: You can complete an easy online eVisa registration card for a flawless entry.  If you take the MRT into the Taipei main train station, there are information booths where you can ask questions (and they speak English) and even get a physical map with additional information on the city.  More information on the visitor information centers.

Transport:  Buy an iPass at the airport for travel on the Taoyuan MRT subway. I traveled in the evening and very early morning to/from the airport and it was packed with commuters.  Very clean and safe.  The added bonus is that you can use the iPass card to purchase items at stores such as 7 Eleven, the Family Mart, and even McDonalds, or Burger King.  This allowed me to use up extra value at the airport to buy a couple of snacks before my departure flight.  

Using Google Maps: When you have a signal, it works well!

Money: This is a very cash-focused city so plan to withdraw about $15-$25/day for cheap easy meals at food courts or in the night markets. Very, very few places take credit cards especially if you are using food courts and street kiosks for food. 

Side notes:  Be aware if you purchase an eSIM that it may not activate immediately when you arrive.  I had one but it failed to activate when I landed, leaving me with no cell service and no map to get to my hotel, which I knew was close.  Depending on where you are in the train station, a map may or may not show your hotel.  When I initially departed the airport train, the maps on the wall did not show my hotel. Once I was able to walk underground to an area closer to my hotel, there it was on the map!  The underground walkways at the main train station are extensive and do allow you to walk a fair distance before exiting.  

Lodging:  CitizenM (a Marriott hotel) - I loved the vibe and location of this hotel, a short walk from the main train station and walking distance to many of the sights I have listed below. Although the rooms can be tiny, they are organized in such an efficient way that you have plenty of room for everything.  I had a room with a window (some do not have windows) which gave me great views of the city.  Another bonus – they did have a small café where you could order food.  Very handy when you arrive at 9 p.m.  If you decide to stay at the CitizenM hotel, you can follow the underground signs at the main train station to the Beiman exit, #2 (you’ll be heading west, towards the river).  Once you arrive above ground, it is very easy to look to the south and spot the high-rise hotel across the street, a bright red sign at the top.

Food: 

If you are game for street food, wander through a night market (I found one close to my hotel in the Ximen area) to slurp up some noodles, munch on fried chicken (I tried the Jiguang Fried Chicken – watch for bones), and finish with some ice cream.  You will see long lines at many places and the food is usually inexpensive and worth the wait. 

Coffee and tea shops are everywhere, including Starbucks, so sample from many!  I found some of the tea concoctions in the different shops to be refreshing and different.  The server will ask you about sugar level (always low for me) and how much ice so it’s easy to customize for your taste.  All were very affordable and welcome on a hot afternoon.

Din Tai Fung – Delicious dumplings!  I can’t stop thinking about the sticky rice with pork dumplings I ate for lunch.  I ate at the shop on the 1st floor of the Taipei 101 building and although I had a wait (the lobby was packed!), it was well worth it.  The wait board said 75 minutes, but when I checked back after 40 minutes, my number was up!  The waitress helped me select different dumplings - pork and vegetable dumplings, spicy shrimp dumplings, and sticky rice with pork dumplings (especially delicious!).

Food Courts – I visited a couple of food courts for quick, easy, delicious meals.  I was staying close to a large department store, so I wandered in one day, mostly to enjoy a little AC.  Once I saw the sign for the food court in the basement, I had to check it out.  The area was packed with people and as I walked around, I could see many options for a good lunch.  I decided on a noodle restaurant, that seemed quite popular, and ordered a delicious pork and vegetable udon soup.  The food was so good that I returned the next day to try a different restaurant for dinner and ordered wonton meat noodles with vegetables.  The “rough cut” noodles were thick and yummy.  The meal was quite delicious and filling for only a few dollars.  And if they don’t speak English, you can point to the photos in the menu. 

Places visited/Area Sights/ Notable Activities:  

I usually spend my first day in a city investing some time in a good wander, investigating different stores and restaurants and just enjoying being part of the crowd.  I saw packed stores and had to go inside to see what was drawing in some many people!  But it was just another day of everyone out and about, enjoying the nice weather and each other’s company.  The ubiquitous tea shops always had a line, and I wondered if there were any big favorites for the locals.  I walked down to the Tamsui River, and discovered the park area with walking paths, lots of cyclists, families relaxing in the outdoors, and the spectacle of flying fish all along the water.  

As I wandered, I noticed at several of the large street intersections, there were two stopping areas for traffic – one for cars and another for motorbikes, with the bikes weaving up to the most forward stopping point and waiting in a large group.  It made sense.  Once the light was green, the motorbikes took off first, eliminating potential traffic issues I’ve seen in other countries where the riders are constantly dodging through the cars. 

I spent some time walking through the Taipei City Mall as I made my way back and forth from my hotel to the MRT.  I couldn’t quite figure out all the different kiosks but in some sections, I noticed a pattern and heavy concentration on what I might describe as “gaming” and the world of imaginary characters (anime, manga, etc.).  As I continued to wander, I began to believe I could buy almost anything here – clothing, luggage, electronics, food, and the list goes on. 

For dinner, I was on the hunt for beef noodle soup and happened upon a night market in the Ximending Walking District (highlighted by a colorful banner over one entrance declaring “Welcome to Ximending”) crowded with people and activity, including some talented street performers.  One young man impressed the audience by balancing on his hands on three stacked blocks of wood on a platform a few feet above the ground. That was quite a feat!  There were vendors for food and various things, making it difficult to walk through the crowds.  I jumped in line at the busiest noodle shop I saw and had a beef mushroom noodle soup.  Honestly - it was just okay, but the atmosphere was unique for most Westerners, sitting hunched shoulder to shoulder along a narrow wood table as everyone slurped their dinner, a few fans going at high speed to cool the stuffy area.

Taipei 101 - I was able to book a ticket online the day before through the GetYourGuide site.  It was quick and easy to ride the Metro from the main train station to the Taipei tower.  I would plan to go early to beat the crowds and the heat.  It is an impressive piece of architecture with a LOVE sculpture (a nod to the one in Philly perhaps?) in the front. This is the tower that Alex Honnold free-climbed in January of 2026.  I stood outside, trying to evaluate just how that climb commenced.  I imagine it required some very detailed planning to master what appeared to be smooth glass facades that stretched up into the sky.  

Since I had a digital ticket, I only had to wait a few minutes in the elevator line for the ~40 second ride from the 5th floor to the 89th.  The 360-degree view of the city included numerous displays (with flowers, etc.) so people could pose for photos, the skyline of Taipei in the background.  There was a gift shop and a few small cafes on the viewing level and a huge visual display touch-screen map of the surrounding area that you could move around to see labels for the buildings and other features you were viewing.  

Since the tall building (tallest in the world until 2010; now the 11th tallest in the world) has to withstand winds and earthquakes, make sure you investigate the tuned mass damper.  It is a large gold pendulum that sways to offset building movement.  It will make you appreciate math and engineering.  

On the bottom floors, there are shops and restaurants so you can grab lunch and luxury items from Gucci, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and others. And since you are there, try Din Tai Fung for dumplings.  You will not be disappointed.

In the blocks around the tower, there were several more high-end shops, so I wandered a bit more to see if I could find anything interesting.  So many high end shops!  But all were pretty empty.

Taipei Walking Tour:  I designed my own walking tour based on several sites, fairly close together, and walking distance from my hotel.  There are free walking tours (and paid) that also visit many of these sites, but you need to look at the times and days available since not all sites are open every day.  Sometimes I prefer to wander alone to eliminate any group-imposed time restraints. 

I started with the Longshan Temple, early in the day and witnessed a very crowded temple with multitudes of women chanting inside the walls of the main hall.  It is an incredible treasure of a building with ornate carvings and paintings, the morning chants a background soundtrack as I walked slowly through, taking photos and recording a snippet of the chants.  

From there, it was a short walk to the Bopilliao Historic Block, a collection of wonderful old buildings, with polished thick wood plank floors, filled with information and signs on the history of the area including important merchants, the school and education system (including testing for special positions), and the medical field since herbs, plants, and animals are an important part of the medical history of Taiwan.  There were only a few other visitors, so it was a relaxing and informative foray through history.  

Not too far away was the Red House, another revitalized and beautiful old building filled with booths displaying crafts and goods from local designers.  

From there, I walked by the Presidential office (a rather stately and enormous building) and crossed the road to  228 Peace Park.  It is definitely worth walking through the park (a possible break from the heat) and visiting the museum to learn more about the history of Taiwan.

Next, I walked over to see the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial.  As I approached the memorial, walking along the other side of the street, it was easy to be “wowed” by the immensity of the complex and the striking white building topped by an equally striking blue-tiled roof, especially when viewed through the arched gate along Zhongshan South Road.  It is part of a very impressive complex with buildings for the National Theater and the National Concert Hall.  Of course, there is the requisite statue of Chiang Kai-Shek once you summit the long staircase to walk inside the main building.  You can then descend a staircase to the main museum area. There were several exhibits of impressive art, and a special “Flowers of Freedom” exhibit, highlighting fights for democracy and freedom in different places and times.  I think you can learn so much about a country by seeing what they choose to display to the world.  As you continue to wander through the hall, there are exhibitions detailing the life of Chiang Kai-Shek, including the cars he used, and a wax replica of him sitting at his desk in a recreated office setting.  

Once you’ve thoroughly investigated the Memorial and Museum, there is a convenient MRT stop so you can relax on a ride back to your hotel.  After all, you’ve probably already logged several miles. 

Next visit to Taiwan, I plan to explore some of the countryside.  I found the experience to be a delight – friendly people, interesting sights, yummy food, and a great sense of safety as I wandered from place to place in the city.