Taipei travel tips

[Raymond Lin]

I know there are a few members here who live in Taiwan, would like some advice if possible. I've booked my flight now, landing Wednesday and leaving Sunday. I have a wedding on Saturday so that leaves Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday free to do things.

So what's the best way to get to and from the airport and the best area to stay, any particular hotels to recommend? Are the subway best with a kind of Oyster Card and what is the cash/card payment situations?

Thanks in advance

 

[Feef]

A few? Well, there's me, I'd love to know if there are any other ocuk types here though

To and from the airport, take the MRT, I think it's $160 to Taipei main station. Be sure to get the express train rather than the commuter one though, they leave from the same platform at Taoyuan, but the electronic signs will tell you which is which. You can get a bus for about $120, but it's just not worth it with traffic etc.

Get an EasyCard (yoyocard) as soon as you can, convenience stores at the airport should have them for $100. Works on any bus or MRT, marginally cheaper than buying single trip tickets, and you don't have to mess about with change. You can top them up at any 7/11 or family mart, or at any MRT station. Cash still rules, I don't think you can use a card to top them up, just stick money on it when you arrive - they can be used to pay in convenience stores too for any instant noodles or whatever you may need. Most convenience stores do accept cards and contactless payment, but I've never tried it with a non Taiwanese card.

As for places to stay, really depends on your budget and plans. I've been here almost 6 years and very rarely go to Taipei, prefer the pace of life down south, but stayed in a reasonable mid range hotel near Taipei main when my mum came to visit 2 years back, can find the name if that's your sort of thing. Apart from that I've only stayed in hostel places for a night or two. I only really know a few areas of the city (ximending, yonghe, good amount of da'an), but with the MRT you can get to most places pretty easily. Basically just make sure you're fairly near a stop and you're sorted.

And enjoy! Happy to answer any other Taiwan related questions.

 

[Rroff]

A few? Well, there's me, I'd love to know if there are any other ocuk types here though

Unless you've changed your username or something there are 2-3 others I've seen mention they live in Taiwan - annoyingly coming up a blank on the usernames right now though.

 

[Feef]

I knew two others in China when I lived there before, but haven't noticed any other taiwan based posters. Happy to be proved wrong though

 

[Raymond Lin]

A few? Well, there's me, I'd love to know if there are any other ocuk types here though

To and from the airport, take the MRT, I think it's $160 to Taipei main station. Be sure to get the express train rather than the commuter one though, they leave from the same platform at Taoyuan, but the electronic signs will tell you which is which. You can get a bus for about $120, but it's just not worth it with traffic etc.

Get an EasyCard (yoyocard) as soon as you can, convenience stores at the airport should have them for $100. Works on any bus or MRT, marginally cheaper than buying single trip tickets, and you don't have to mess about with change. You can top them up at any 7/11 or family mart, or at any MRT station. Cash still rules, I don't think you can use a card to top them up, just stick money on it when you arrive - they can be used to pay in convenience stores too for any instant noodles or whatever you may need. Most convenience stores do accept cards and contactless payment, but I've never tried it with a non Taiwanese card.

As for places to stay, really depends on your budget and plans. I've been here almost 6 years and very rarely go to Taipei, prefer the pace of life down south, but stayed in a reasonable mid range hotel near Taipei main when my mum came to visit 2 years back, can find the name if that's your sort of thing. Apart from that I've only stayed in hostel places for a night or two. I only really know a few areas of the city (ximending, yonghe, good amount of da'an), but with the MRT you can get to most places pretty easily. Basically just make sure you're fairly near a stop and you're sorted.

And enjoy! Happy to answer any other Taiwan related questions.

Thanks, since this is not a work trip but a holiday with a wedding, and I have a plus 1. I am looking to somewhere nice, normally I can slump it but the Hong Kong leg of my trip I've booked into The Cordis which sets the bar quite high. So somewhere i think up to £150 a night. But that's not really a problem, I am sure i'll find somewhere.

What is there to do for 2 days? I hear the street food scene at night is obscene, like something call Shilin Night Market? But in the day i have no idea where to go except Taipei 101.

 

[NoNameNoNumber]

I got addicted to Pocari Sweat when I was there, seemed a safer addiction than betel nuts that the taxi drivers are all on.

The Shilin night market is awesome for street food and full of locals, fresh produce, sounds, lights... Awesome
I don't really agree with zoo's but we did spend a brilliant day there, then in the evening we headed up the Moakong gondola, the views over the city from there are immense-if it's clear.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I got addicted to Pocari Sweat when I was there, seemed a safer addiction than betel nuts that the taxi drivers are all on.

The Shilin night market is awesome for street food and full of locals, fresh produce, sounds, lights... Awesome
I don't really agree with zoo's but we did spend a brilliant day there, then in the evening we headed up the Moakong gondola, the views over the city from there are immense-if it's clear.

Pocari Sweat is okay, Calpis is better

 

[Ironic Namesake]

I stayed in Palais De Chine Hotel about a month back, no complaints and central location for public transport. You get more hotel for you money than in HK (not exactly difficult!)

Also Uber is quite cheap and widely available if you’re staying in the city. I didn’t use public transport at all in the 4-5 days I was there.

 

[Sankari]

Watch out for earthquakes.

 

[Feef]

To be honest, being up the 101 is probably the safest place you could be in an earthquake but they've stopped happening every 10 minutes now.

What is there to do for 2 days? I hear the street food scene at night is obscene, like something call Shilin Night Market? But in the day i have no idea where to go except Taipei 101.

I actually often have the same problem when I do venture up there, I end up mostly touring interesting bars Shilin is the best known night market, and probably the biggest, though I've never heard anyone in Taipei say anything good about it - consensus is usually that Raohe is better, but I've not been myself.

That aside, you've got the zoo/gondola as mentioned above, CKS/ SYS memorial halls, national palace museum, many temples (Longshan is probably best known, and quite nice, though the area is less so), Ximending/red house for where the trendy young types hang out, huashan or Taipei artists village for some more contemporary art stuff, snake alley (does what it says on the tin), the huge computer market at Guanghua or the video games one under Taipei main, and various theatres for traditional performances. Think that covers most of the standard spots to visit.

If you're more in to outdoorsy things, Yangmingshan and Elephant mountain are pretty easy to get to from the city and have some nice views (on a clear day, which is... Yeah.), or there are hot springs in Beitou and a few other places. You can also get the MRT all the way out to Danshui on the coast, which has an old Portuguese church, but is a bit reminiscent of a British seaside resort on the actual seafront.

Really, whenever I go, I just sort of wander around until I see something interesting - it is a big city, and there's loads more than the places I mentioned above, but if you're more limited with time then maybe pick out a few of those to investigate.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

To be honest, being up the 101 is probably the safest place you could be in an earthquake but they've stopped happening every 10 minutes now.



I actually often have the same problem when I do venture up there, I end up mostly touring interesting bars Shilin is the best known night market, and probably the biggest, though I've never heard anyone in Taipei say anything good about it - consensus is usually that Raohe is better, but I've not been myself.

That aside, you've got the zoo/gondola as mentioned above, CKS/ SYS memorial halls, national palace museum, many temples (Longshan is probably best known, and quite nice, though the area is less so), Ximending/red house for where the trendy young types hang out, huashan or Taipei artists village for some more contemporary art stuff, snake alley (does what it says on the tin), the huge computer market at Guanghua or the video games one under Taipei main, and various theatres for traditional performances. Think that covers most of the standard spots to visit.

If you're more in to outdoorsy things, Yangmingshan and Elephant mountain are pretty easy to get to from the city and have some nice views (on a clear day, which is... Yeah.), or there are hot springs in Beitou and a few other places. You can also get the MRT all the way out to Danshui on the coast, which has an old Portuguese church, but is a bit reminiscent of a British seaside resort on the actual seafront.

Really, whenever I go, I just sort of wander around until I see something interesting - it is a big city, and there's loads more than the places I mentioned above, but if you're more limited with time then maybe pick out a few of those to investigate.

To add to this if you like Mussels there is a decent harbour which sells them and its known for being delicious. Stir fry them in Basil & Chilli, I've been a few times with the wife but since I don't speak mandarin I don't know the name

If it sounds like something you'd like let me know and I'll ask the wife when she gets up. Taipei is a great city but as always in Taiwan most things revolve around food!