First time in Taipei — what locals actually recommend
If it's your first weekend in Taipei, this is the locals' shortlist — the sights worth the queue, the food you can't skip, and the neighbourhood walks that show you the place.
Top spots in Taipei
Da'an Forest Park
OutdoorsDa'an
Taipei's Central Park — lotus pond, free outdoor concerts.
Taipei 101
CultureXinyi
Damper-ball observatory and the world's fastest elevator.
Elephant Mountain
OutdoorsXinyi
20-minute hike for the postcard Taipei 101 sunset shot.
Shilin Night Market
Food & DrinkShilin
Biggest night market — XXL fried chicken, stinky tofu, oyster omelette.
Where to eat
Din Tai Fung (Original)
$$Taiwanese / Dim sum · Xinyi
The original Xinyi location — 18-fold xiao long bao at the source.
RAW
$$$$Contemporary Taiwanese · Zhongshan
André Chiang's two-Michelin-star tasting — reserve 4 months out.
Fuhang Soy Milk
$Breakfast · Zhongzheng
Famous queue (1 hour) for shao bing youtiao + warm soy milk.
Yong Kang Beef Noodle
$$Beef noodle · Da'an
The 60-year-old reference point for Taipei's national dish.
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, Elephant Mountain. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Taipei and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.