If Taiwan is not on your list of places to visit in Asia, it definitely should be.
Often overlooked in favour of its neighbour Hong Kong, Taiwan is emerging as a food lover’s heaven, boasting some of the best street food in Asia. You can also take in some spectacular scenery, rich culture and make friends with the lovely locals.
Getting there
Many low-cost airlines operating in the region offer cheap flights to Taipei. For around s$200 return depending on the time of year, you can fly with Air Asia or Tiger direct into Taoyuan, Taipei’s main airport. A 30 minute taxi ride from the airport into the city will set you back around S$50. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus which takes you straight to the main Taipei train/bus station. It takes a little longer, but it’s slightly cheaper.
Stay
Taipei has an abundance of well appointed hotels, but if you want to combine convenience with a bit of luxury, opt for the Palais De Chine. This 5-star hotel is attached to Taipei’s main rail station and won’t disappoint. The decor is shamelessly extravagant – think Baroque and lots of velvet. The restaurants offer first rate dining, with the seafood buffet in La Rotisserie well worth the mid-range price tag.
Do and See
Taiwan was once ruled by the Chinese, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese and is a real melting pot of culture, food and architecture. Many monuments to past rulers still stand and are a big tourist draw. Check out the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial and the Martyr Shrine. There are also many hot water springs in Taipei, with the Beitou Hot Springs resort being the most famous and worth a visit.
A visit to Taipei is also incomplete without a trip to Longshan Temple. This beautiful temple is one of the oldest in Taipei and many go to see the Guanyin Goddess of Compassion and the famous dragons decorating the hall.
For culture vultures, the streets of Dadaocheng are a must. Located a short walk from Shuanglian MRT station, many of the old buildings have been given a new lease of life as Art Yards housing shops and studios, and there are plenty of interesting photo opportunities. Dadoacheng is the ideal place to buy some indigenous ‘Hakka’ pottery and get a feel for Taipei’s up-and-coming art scene. Check out Le Zinc Cafe and bar for a much needed glass of vino and tapas, and Harui is a great little boutique for quaint hand crafted nick nacks and souvenirs.
Eat and Shop
For serious shoppers, Taipei 101 is the place to go. Make sure you take an ear-popping trip up to the top of 101 in the high speed elevator to appreciate the spectacular 360 degree view of Taipei. Located in the modern Xinyi district, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world up until four years ago and is also home to Taipei’s best shopping centre. All your high end labels can be found here, and the Xinyi district in general is great for shopping, bars and restaurants. Try Brass Monkey Bar for a beer and Beata te for great Italian food with an even better view of Taipei 101.
Yongkang Street is Taipei’s official ‘cafe’ district and is home to several great little spots for your daily dose of caffeine. Stop for lunch at Eating Time (best milkshakes and burgers in Taipei) and try La Douceur Patisserie for their unusual Macarons (we like the Lavender flavour!). For Good Cafe also does the best (in our opinion) coffee on Yongkang Street but because it’s so good it gets busy so be prepared to wait for a table.
If night markets are your thing, don’t miss Shilin Night Market. It’s by far the largest of Taipei’s night markets and offers everything from t-shirts and souvenirs to well know Taiwanese street food such as Beef Noodles and the infamous stinky tofu (it tastes ok, we promise). Hop on the MRT to Jiantan station, or just hail a taxi.
Getting Around
Taipei is one huge city. The city’s MRT is by far the best way to get around. It’s cheap and easy to navigate, not too dissimilar to Singapore’s MRT system. Taxis run on a metre system and most of the drivers speak good English, though it’s advisable to have your destination written down or a map handy. Failing that – grab a map and walk! Taipei is full of wonderful little back streets that you’ll only discover on foot!
Make sure you read the part two of this guide, featuring Taroko Gorge.
Top image: Longshan Temple Taipei and Yong Kang Street Taipei
This article was contributed by the very talented Nicola McMahon of Brightstar Photography.