Itinerary Taipei

Visiting Taipei in October is an excellent choice! October is autumn in Taiwan—comfortable temperatures (average 20-28°C), low humidity, and a lower risk of typhoons, making it one of the best months to experience the city’s vibrant streets, food markets, and cultural sites.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	1700 USD
🏨 Accommodations	1100 USD
🧳 Gear	100 USD
🗺️ On-site	500 USD
Total	3400 USD

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇹🇼 Taipei - 5 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🛕 Longshan Temple ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Taipei’s most famous temple; elaborate architecture and vibrant local religion—best visited in the morning to observe rituals.

• [ ] 🏛️ National Palace Museum ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • One of the world’s top museums; 700,000+ Chinese imperial artifacts—audio guide recommended.

• [ ] 🏙️ Taipei 101 ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Iconic skyscraper with observatory—stunning 360° city views, especially on clear afternoons.

• [ ] 🌳 Daan Forest Park ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Taipei’s “Central Park”; relax, walk, or rent bikes; great for a peaceful break from city bustle.

• [ ] 🏛️ Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Historical plaza & monument; impressive archways, guarded by soldiers—a must for photos.

• [ ] 🎨 Huashan 1914 Creative Park ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Trendy art hub in a former sake factory—design shops, galleries, indie cafés.

• [ ] 🏘️ Dihua Street (Dadaocheng) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Wonderfully preserved block for heritage architecture, tea shops, traditional medicine stores.

• [ ] 🌳 Yangmingshan National Park ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Lush park with hot springs, hiking trails—best accessed by taxi or bus; bring water.

• [ ] 🎨 Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Cutting-edge Taiwanese and international exhibitions.

• [ ] 🏘️ Ximending Youth District ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Lively entertainment & shopping hub; street art, quirky stores, local fashion.

• [ ] 🏞️ Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) Trail ⭐⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Short but steep hike to the best Taipei cityscape sunset views—bring water, sturdy shoes.

• [ ] 🌳 Shilin Night Market – Daytime reconnaissance ⭐ (~1h)

  • Visit early to see stalls setting up and less-crowded sample shopping.

• [ ] 🎨 Songshan Cultural & Creative Park ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Taipei’s “creative village”—exhibitions, boutiques, event spaces.

• [ ] 🏘️ Taipei City Mall ⭐ (~1h)

  • Underground shopping avenue—gadget stores, quirky souvenirs.

• [ ] 🚞 Maokong Gondola ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Scenic cable car with tea plantation views—combine with a teahouse stop.

• [ ] 🏛️ Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall ⭐ (~1h)

  • Mausoleum, museum, and changing of the guard—nice photo opportunities.

• [ ] 🌳 Raohe Street Tourist Night Market – Early walk ⭐ (~1h)

  • Daytime stroll before the evening rush to check out the atmosphere.

• [ ] 🧧 Lin An Tai Ancestral House ⭐ (~1h)

  • 18th-century mansion with tranquil gardens—an architectural hidden gem.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Ounce Taipei (speakeasy bar) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Hidden gem for sophisticated cocktails—ask bartender for local-inspired mixes.

• [ ] 🎤 KTV (Karaoke) PartyWorld ⭐ (~2h)

  • Iconic Taiwanese nightlife experience—private rooms, extensive song selection.

• [ ] 🏮 Shilin Night Market ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Taipei’s largest night market—street food adventure, games, and lively crowds.

• [ ] 🏮 Raohe Street Night Market ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Slightly smaller, famed for black pepper buns—great atmosphere, crafts, snacks.

• [ ] 🛍️ Bellavita Luxury Mall ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Upscale shopping experience—best for fashionistas & high-end shoppers.

• [ ] 🍸 Bar Mood Taipei (award-winning) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Innovative cocktails featuring Taiwan ingredients; stylish clientele.

• [ ] 🍸 Le Boudoir Taipei ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Trendy cocktail bar, more intimate than Ounce.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Din Tai Fung (Original, Xinyi) ⭐⭐⭐

  • The original xiao long bao dumplings; expect a queue, but it’s worth it (~18 USD/pax).

• [ ] 🍲 Yongkang Beef Noodles ⭐⭐

  • Legendary noodle soup—hearty and rich (~10 USD/bowl).

• [ ] 🍢 Ningxia Night Market ⭐⭐

  • Smaller but lauded for oyster omelettes and taro desserts (~2-10 USD).

• [ ] 🍚 Fuhang Soy Milk ⭐

  • Famous breakfast—savory soymilk and youtiao (fried dough) (~6 USD).

• [ ] 🍰 SunnyHills Pineapple Cake Café ⭐

  • Relaxing spot for famous pineapple cakes with tea (free sample + ~18 USD/box).

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Miramar Entertainment Park (Ferris Wheel + Shopping) (~2h)

  • Shopping mall with rooftop Ferris wheel—nice city views.

• [ ] 🌳 Botanical Garden (~1h)

  • Calm spot for plant lovers, not essential unless you want more greenery.

• [ ] 🎨 Taipei Fine Arts Museum (~1.5h)

  • Worth it if you’re serious about contemporary art.

🎬 Films & series to watch

🇹🇼 Taipei

• [ ] 🎬 Yi Yi (2000) — ⭐ 8.1 — Modern Taipei life, subtle family drama — Criterion
• [ ] 🎬 The Assassin (2015) — ⭐ 6.3 — Martial arts, stunning Taiwanese scenery — Amazon Prime
• [ ] 📺 A Touch of Green (2015) — ⭐ 8.3 — WWII-era drama, rich in Taiwanese history — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 Monga (2010) — ⭐ 7.0 — Gangster drama set in old Taipei — Netflix
• [ ] 📺 Taipei Exchange (2010) — ⭐ 6.8 — Café culture and young entrepreneurs — Netflix

🍜 Local specialties

🇹🇼 Taipei

• [ ] Xiao long bao (soup dumplings)
• [ ] Beef noodle soup
• [ ] Gua bao (Taiwanese burger)
• [ ] Stinky tofu
• [ ] Pineapple cake
• [ ] Oyster omelette
• [ ] Mango shaved ice

📍 Maps - places to pin

🇹🇼 Taipei

1. 🌤️ Longshan Temple
2. 🌙 Shilin Night Market
3. 🛍️ Bellavita Mall
4. 🏨 Humble House Taipei (suggested hotel)
5. 🍽️ Din Tai Fung (Xinyi flagship)

✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Taipei
• [ ] ✈️ Taipei → London

🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Taipei	5	Humble House Taipei or MUJI Hotel	1100 USD
Total	5 nights		1100 USD