Here we are at the land of bubble tea and night markets – Taipei!! This city has grown to be a very popular destination for DIY trips amongst the youths in the recent years. With many delicacies, shopping towns and breathtaking sceneries, Taipei offers a balance of hustle-bustle and tranquility.
Credit: Giphy
Before we go into the details of the itinerary, if you are deciding to do a DIY trip of your own, here’s the Taipei Metro website (for navigation within Taipei itself) and the Taiwan Railways Administration website (for navigation to other major cities). You can get their metro card known as EasyCard, from the counter at almost any metro stations. Do check with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Singapore for any promotional events!
To keep your social media updated at any time, check out Changi Recommends’ overseas WIFI router. Right now, there is a promotion for DBS cards for the Taiwan router rental at SGD $3/day (key in DBSWIFI3 at the checkout page). The promotion ends on 28th February 2017 and validity for travel is until 31st March 2017.
Day 1: Shop, Eat And Repeat
When you have just arrived in Taipei after long hours of travelling, shopping and eating are the best ways to refuel your body!
Shopping at Ximending (西门町)
- Do some light shopping
- Try out Taiwanese street food (Remember to opt for vegetarian options!)
Ximending at night
Credits: Cecil Lee on Flickr
Lunch
- Have a good bowl of beef noodles over at Muslim beef noodle restaurant
Look at this bowl of goodness~
Credits: Globalgoodfood
Taipei City Mall
- Shop at this underground mall regardless of any adverse weather!
Follow the directions from the streets or from the train station itself!
Credits: Antonio Tajuelo on Flickr
Dinner at Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)
- Muster your courage and try their stinky tofu!
Credits: Gavin Anderson on Flickr
- Queue for the barbeque corn on cob, deep fried crabs and many more (Just remember to look out for vegetarian sign (素), or check with the owners if they use vegetable oil for seafood)
- Head to their underground food street!
Day 2: Road trip to Houtong Cat Village (猴硐猫村)!
Breakfast
- TRA Bento on the train! (Opt for their vegetarian bento!)
Credit: Giphy
Houtong Cat Village (猴硐猫村):
- Play with the cats in the village
Is this Charlie Chaplin? 
Credits: cotaro70s on Flickr
- Shop for souvenirs
- Have lunch at Hide and Seek Café (Desserts are vegetarian friendly!)
- Play with the cats in the cafe
This cat cream puff is so cute!
Credits: Hide & Seek Café Official Facebook Page
Wufenpu (五分埔)
- Shop till you drop!
Unique bags and shoes can also be found here
Credits: Jzee on Flickr
Dinner at Rao He Night Market (饶河夜市):
- Just a short 10-minute walk from Wufenpu!
The entrance to the night market
Credits: Jorge Gonzalez on Flickr
- Try their peanut ice cream popiah, grilled oysters, grill king oyster mushroom (personal favourite!), stinky tofu and shaved ice!
For people who love mushrooms, this is heavenly!
Credits: williamnyk on Flickr
Day 3: Day trip out to Hualien (花莲)!
TRA Bento breakfast on train:
Look at how yummy these are!
Credits: Wayde Nash on Facebook
Taroko Gorge National Park:
- You can embark on various trails here to see the amazing view offered in this park
- If you are looking for a jog with a view, you can do it here too!
Amazing isn’t it?
Credits: Alexander Synaptic on Flickr
Lunch at King of India Halal Restaurant:
- This halal restaurant serves all kinds of authentic Indian food (Psst! You can opt for vegetarian here too!)
Mao Kong (猫空):
You are able to see different trees blossoming at different timing of the year.
Credits: sama093 on Flickr
- Board the Maokong gondola towards Maokong to see the sunset over Taipei city
- Enjoy a cup of tea at the Maokong Teahouse while watching the day end and Instagram all those night views!!!
Spot Taipei’s iconic building Taipei 101
Credits: Christophe Delaere on Flickr
Dinner at Really Good Seafood:
Credit: Giphy
- Indulge in their nine-course Muslim-friendly set meals consisting of assorted sashimi, pan-fried scallops and ending with their homemade dessert!
Enjoy the sweetness of these fresh sashimi
Credits: live2makan
Day 4: Shifen, Sky lanterns and Elephant Mountain
Breakfast at Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang (永和豆浆大王):
- Try their Shaobing Youtiao, or Sesame flatbread with doughstick (They have vegetarian choices of course)
- Enjoy a bowl of sweet or salty soya milk to go with their plain youtiao
Flat sesame bread with doughstick!
Credits: A hungry girl’s guide to taipei
If shaobing isn’t for you, get a bowl of sweet or salty soya milk to go with the crispy youtiao
Credits: A hungry girl’s guide to taipei
Day trip down to Shifen (十分):
- Instagram all the railway photos!!!
- Shop for souvenirs along the railway town
Cross freely through the tracks when there is no train
Credits: wsifrancis on Flickr
- Release the sky lantern (天灯) with your wishes written on it
Credit: Giphy
Write your wishes on the lantern and release it!
Credits: Andy Enero on Flickr
Shifen Waterfalls (十分大瀑布):
Look at this majestic view! Makes all the walking worthwhile~
Credits: Jennifer on Flickr
- As the waterfall splashes into the lake, try to catch the sight of a rainbow!
Dessert Time at Smoothie House:
The milk shaved ice will just melt in your mouth, perfect dessert for any weather!
Credits: The Perpetual Foreigner
Elephant Mountain (象山)
- A short hike of 15 to 20 minutes will get you to the top
#HHWT tip: Try to avoid weekends, as it is fairly crowded!
Watch the sunset at the platform when you have reached the peak
Credits: Guillaume Pelinski on Flickr
Credits: Kyle Wang on Flickr
#HHWT tip: If you visit Taipei during the year-end countdown, you can witness the amazing fireworks on the Taipei 101 building from Elephant Mountain!
Dinner at Dingxian 101 (顶鲜101):
- Order the Muslim-friendly set meals
- They serve a variety of main courses such as Taiwan oyster omelette, stir-fried rice with salmon, and steamed king prawns (All meals end with a homemade dessert)
Credits: eztable
#HHWT tip: Make reservations in advance!
Day 5: Last day in Taipei!
Breakfast at Chiba restaurant @ amba Hotel:
- Enjoy their Muslim-friendly buffet spread!
Credits: Amba Hotel
Honey directly dripping from the comb?! Where can you get fresh honey like this other than from farms?
Credits: Amba Hotel
Ximending (西门町) or Taipei Underground shopping mall:
- Do some last minute shopping for souvenirs and food products
![😊]()
Credits: Giphy
Lunch at Chang Beef Noodle Soup:
- Enjoy a bowl of savoury beef noodles to end the trip!
Credits: thinzaroo
Taipei is definitely the next place to visit if you are looking for relaxation, indulgence and of course FOOD! We hope that this itinerary helps you to cover the major highlights of this beautiful city.
If you’ve been to Taipei, let us know of any other interesting attractions to visit in the comments below 