# 5 days in Taiwan > Five days in Taiwan: Taipei's night markets, Elephant Mountain at sunset and a day trip to Jiufen, with transport, money and street food tips. - URL: https://efficienttravellers.com/destinations/5-days-in-taiwan/ - Authors: Carola & Martín - Region: Asia - Published: 2025-04-22 - Places covered: Taipei, Jiufen - Authors' ratings: Budget-friendly 3/5, Adventure 3/5, Food 5/5, Overall 4/5 - Source: Efficient Travellers (https://efficienttravellers.com/) --- ## Let’s start Taiwan was a last-minute decision at the end of our 3-month backpacking trip in Asia, and we’re so glad we went! Taiwan has quite a complex history, and its mix of cultures can be seen everywhere. You can clearly feel the Japanese influence and see the traces of the Dutch colonization, although the dominant culture today is, of course, Chinese. This island found a place in our hearts; it was definitely a cool and unique place to visit! ### Before you go - **Vaccines**: No special vaccinations are required—just the standard ones. - **Visa**: Italian citizens do not need a visa for tourist or short-term business visits to Taiwan lasting up to 90 days. - **When to visit**: Any season is great for visiting Taiwan because the temperature doesn’t typically reach extreme values at any point in the year. We went in December and we were walking around with just a jumper. ![5-days-in-taiwan](https://efficienttravellers.com/images/posts/5-days-in-taiwan-img-1.webp) ## TL;DR - Night markets are the real deal. Raohe was our favorite, but all of them are full of must-try street food. - Elephant Mountain at sunset and a day trip to Jiufen are unforgettable highlights. - Five days is enough for Taipei and the surrounding area. However, if you have more time, you can head south for beaches, nature, and a more in-depth experience of this beautiful island. ## Efficiency tips ### Transportation from the airport Both terminals are connected to Taipei Main Station in the city center via the Airport **MRT** Line, which runs two types of trains. It’s super convenient (around 5€) and easy to figure out! ### Money Always use your Wise or [Revolut](https://revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=martin_qh_ww83!OCT1-26-AR-L1&geo-redirect) card for the best exchange rate, but be aware that you'll need cash for most things (mainly the night markets). No-fee ATMs: **Cathay Bank** and **Taiwan Cooperative Bank**. ### SIM card After claiming your baggage, you can easily get a SIM card (we used **Chunghwa**) right at the airport. We got unlimited 4G for 5 days for €8. Remember that, considering the language barrier, having mobile data is fundamental to getting around Taiwan. ### Public transport The **EasyCard** works for all public and regional transport across Taiwan, and you can even use it to pay in some convenience stores like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart. Since we were staying just 5 days, we decided not to get one since you can easily pay for each ride in cash without any problem. ## Authentic experiences 1. Take a bus to **Jiufen** for a beautiful day escape from Taipei. 2. Get to the top of Elephant Mountain (**Xiangshan**) at sunset for stunning views. 3. Eat as much street food as possible, particularly at our favorite night market, **Raohe**. (Read our super detailed section about food in this post for more information!) 4. Wander around **Dihua Street**, Taipei’s oldest street, and get local tea and dried goods. 5. Go souvenir shopping around **Ximending** and **Yongkang Street**. ![5-days-in-taiwan](https://efficienttravellers.com/images/posts/5-days-in-taiwan-img-2.webp) ## Itinerary Taiwan is a fantastic island with so much more to offer beyond Taipei. If you’ve got more time than we did, we recommend heading down south to places like Tainan, Kaohsiung, or even the east coast for more nature and beaches. If you’re working with a shorter schedule like ours, here’s our **5-day itinerary, mainly around Taipei**. **DAY 1** After landing in the morning, we started with a crispy scallion pancake from **Chuanzi** (check the Food section). Then we headed to **Longshan Temple**, a must-see in the city. Nearby is **Bangka Park**, and also the **Bopiliao Historical Block**, one of Taiwan’s earliest commercial districts. You will find some cool old-school buildings with lovely murals and photo spots. Don’t miss Herb Lane if you’re a tea fan! After visiting those spots, we visited two not-so-touristic night markets: **Huaxi Street Night Market** and **Guangzhou Street Night Market**. The former was not very alive (we don’t know if it was for the time of the day or if it’s not such a lively market), but the latter was full of people and packed with food stalls to try some Taiwanese snacks! Finally, we wrapped up our first Taiwan evening with more food at **Ningxia Night Market**, one of Taipei’s most popular street markets. **DAY 2** We started the day with a free walking tour of the **Old Town** via [Guruwalk](https://www.guruwalk.com/es/walks/45627-el-primer-guru-en-taiwan-casco-antiguo-de-taipei-recorrido-introductorio-gratuito-por-taiwan), starting from the beautiful **228 Peace Memorial Park**. The tour was an insightful and entertaining way to learn about Taiwan’s history. The guide was great! In the afternoon, we explored **Ximending**, a vibrant district full of shops everywhere that reminded us a lot of Myeong-dong in Seoul. Close by, there is **The Red House**, a cool spot with indie vendors. Then we headed across town for the iconic **Taipei 101** and found the perfect [photo spot](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PmK1yUJwouNMk98R9). We checked out **Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall** and the massive **Liberty Square Arch**. We ended the day hiking up **Elephant Mountain**. The path is not too long, but those stairs will quite burn your thighs. The view at the top is 100% worth it; we absolutely suggest going for sunset! **DAY 3** We headed to **Huashan 1914 Creative Park** and then explored the **Zhongzheng District**. There is not much to see here, but walking around the area without any particular destination is still lovely. Then we went to **Dihua Street**, which we believe is one of Taipei’s most charming highlights. It’s the oldest street in Taipei, packed with tea shops and beautiful architecture. Without any doubt, our favorite street in the city. In the afternoon, we hung out on **Yongkang Street**, another Taiwanese gem! It’s excellent for souvenir shopping and a nice walk. There’s a legendary bakery here (Sunmerry Dongmen Shop, check our Food section not to miss it!). Close by, there’s **Daan Park**, a lovely green space with plenty of spots to relax. You will probably see groups of older folks doing gymnastics everywhere. We found it truly wholesome and inspiring, since it showed us how much people here care about staying fit, caring for their health, and aging well. In the evening, we went to **Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market**. It had a pleasant atmosphere, especially at night, with live music and the riverside views. However, the food was quite disappointing since it was not local at all, so we didn’t grab anything to eat here in the end. To wrap up the evening, we went back to Dihua Street to see it at night. Totally recommended, since the view with the night lights gives an entirely different vibe, and we believe it’s nice to see the street in both scenarios. **DAY 4** We took the **965** bus that goes straight to **Jiufen**, which is super easy and direct. Jiufen is a charming mountainside village. The place is highly touristic, but those misty mountain views and narrow alleyways feel like a movie set. It’s the perfect place for a day escape from Taipei. You will find tons of food stalls, souvenir shops, and whatnot. The crowds get intense, so you must be patient when walking around. For the best place to have lunch at a local price without getting overcharged like any other tourist, check out our Food section! In the evening, we returned to the city for **Raohe Night Market**. It was hands down the best one we went to. We had so much food here! **DAY 5** If you’re a coffee lover, you may want some coffee at the [Simple Kaffa Huashan Flagship Store](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hUWWM47ohRtVHMcb7). It’s ranked as one of the best coffee shops in the world. We were planning to have our last breakfast here, but after seeing the prices, we decided not to. We kept this day to revisit some of our favorite places, eat a lot of food that we still had to try, and do some shopping in the Ximending district. Then, unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye to this beautiful island. ## Food If you like to get out of your (Western) comfort zone with food, you will lose your mind here. The number of options and variety of dishes and desserts Taiwan offers is crazy. There were so many things to try, and we spent so few days that we had to optimize as much as we could, not to lose the chance of eating anything. There must be several more things to try, so do not take this list as exhaustive, although it is undoubtedly quite solid. We typically list dishes and then our favorite spots to try them. We will take a different approach here. We will list all the things we tried together with the place where we had them, being quite sure that they are a solid (if not the best) option. We will also write the names in Mandarin because that may be useful for doing more research on your own. Please let us know if we made any mistakes with the Mandarin here! - **Snowflake Ice** (雪花冰) at [Yi Zhu Mai Ice Shop](https://maps.app.goo.gl/pcZCajS2DfUN9kxR8): The classic shaved ice dessert, but the Taiwanese version is much softer and creamier than the traditional one. Very refreshing and tasty, especially for sweet lovers. We had the chocolate one with Oreo for 180 NTD (6.20 USD), which is reasonable if you divide it in two (the portions are enormous, so this is fine!). - **Zongzi** (粽子) at [Wangji Fucheng Zongzi](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WeRKG9UhUc6uA1So6): We tried more than 20 dishes during our stay in Taiwan, and the zongzi was, by far, the star. The zongzi of pork (the place's specialty) is INCREDIBLE, and the price is more than fair (80 NTD or 2.70 USD each). It is super filled, and the pork inside is high quality (we appreciated eating meat and not just fat like in many other places). It also had mushrooms and nuts, which was an excellent combination. The staff was also super nice and friendly, always smiling and thankful to the customers. This place is a must for anyone looking for good and authentic food in Taipei. - **Bubble Tea** (珍珠奶茶) at [50 Lan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MSwepScDxmLHeMx6A): We are not huge fans of bubble tea, but we enjoyed drinking this one! We had a big bubble oolong milk tea (the classic one), which was 50 NTD (1.70 USD). Nothing mind-blowing, but it's a bubble tea after all – there is little room for innovation. - **Pepper buns** (胡椒餅) at [Fuzhou Pepper Buns (pork pepper buns)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/53u8yoYL89qbC6Zt6): These buns are good, but not as memorable as the hype suggests (at least according to us). Watching the team work is a show in itself, though; they are incredibly efficient and fun to see. At 60 NTD (about 2 USD) each, the price is fair, though slightly steep, likely due to the Michelin recommendation and the spot’s popularity. - **Braised pork rice** (魯肉飯) at [Dadaocheng Braised Pork Rice](https://maps.app.goo.gl/6q5fiQzk1yGXjh9BA): We stopped here to try this Taiwanese staple for 45 NTD (1.50 USD) for the large portion without egg. It’s well-made and flavorful, but it’s essentially just rice with very fatty pork and sauce. Not our favorite due to the fattiness, though it seems to be a local favorite. - **Pineapple cake** (鳳梨酥) at [SUNMERRY Dongmen Shop](https://maps.app.goo.gl/wYNtnLk13WLBJczR8): We walked in after seeing this bakery packed with locals (always a great sign). The pastries are of top quality, and the prices are pretty good. A 5-piece pineapple cake bag was 100 NTD (3.40 USD), a perfect souvenir. We also tried a walnut croissant, which was easily one of the best pastries we’ve had in Asia. - **Beef noodle soup** (臺灣牛肉麵) at [Liu Shandong Beef Noodles](https://maps.app.goo.gl/tjqPW6fhgqt8hGSj8): These noodles are on another level. The meat was also super tasty and well-cooked. To be honest, 220 NTD (7.50 USD) may seem expensive, but considering the place's popularity and the food's quality, it looks okay. Make sure to arrive early because the hype for this spot is insane. We arrived at 11.15 am, queued for 15 minutes, and were seated at 11.30 am. The queue seemed infinite even that early, but it advanced quite fast. - **Beef pies with millet bowl** (餡餅) at [Zhuji Pie Congee Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Main Station Store](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4syKtEKZFExSQU2GA): This spot was recommended to us, but the wait was long and the food court was quite busy. We tried a beef pie, a veggie pie (50 NTD or 1.70 USD each), and a millet congee (25 NTD). The pies were decent but small, and the whole meal felt underwhelming for 125 NTD. The congee… We are probably not used to its taste, but we had to try it anyway. - **Popcorn chicken** (鹽酥雞) at [Shi Yun Crispy Salted Fried Chicken (Ximen)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/dsWxXASmQF2b83Mp7): This is a frying paradise. Beyond popcorn chicken, you can fry almost anything. We tried chicken, fish cake, and “broccoli” (which is actually cauliflower). All this food for 160 NTD (5.40 USD) was crazy cheap. Seating is limited, so most people ask for take-out. Flavors were great, but go easy on the spice and garlic if you’re not used to intense flavors! - **Gua Bao** (刈包) at [石家割包](https://maps.app.goo.gl/C7mGv3z8RcZq3jA6A): You can’t leave Taipei without trying a gua bao. We asked a local for a recommendation, and she sent us here, which we then found was a super popular place among locals. For 65 NTD (2.20 USD), we got one of the best things we’ve eaten in Asia. No idea what was in it, but it was INCREDIBLE (although not veggie-friendly at all!). - **Sweet potato balls** (台灣QQ地瓜球) at [香酥地瓜球（搬家）至民生西路209號 …](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MkE6JVBBJQK7ipSH6): This very trendy snack was a bit disappointing. To be honest, it doesn't have much taste… It's just some fried dough. Despite the hype and long, slow-moving line, it didn’t meet our expectations. The price is fair at 55 NTD (1.85 USD) for a generous portion, but we’d recommend spending your time and money elsewhere. - **Pineapple bun** (菠蘿包) at [Master An’s Ice Fire Pineapple Bun](https://maps.app.goo.gl/d85xBrhmHzsg1zwQ8): Don’t miss the cheese and butter bun! The contrast between the cold filling and warm bun is fantastic. It costs 55 NTD (1.85 USD), an excellent price. Despite a long queue, it moved fast thanks to the incredibly efficient staff. The line was long, and people were mostly locals in line, so this spot is clearly a Taiwanese favorite. - **Crispy Egg Pancake** (脆皮蛋餅) at [Whatever GG 脆皮蛋餅（饒河夜市）](https://maps.app.goo.gl/TfZ5gtPN4uRvJ4e2A): This egg pancake is just amazing. The number of things it has inside is crazy. Also, the whole cooking process is hypnotic; it is quite an experience just looking at the cook doing stuff. The price is around 90 NTD (3 USD), a bit overpriced compared to other street snacks, but it’s definitely worth it. The queue may seem long, but it advances super fast. - **Scallion pancake** (抓餅) at [Chuanzi Scallion Cake](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zdefGdCg8C2NBBrR8): We expected a typical street pancake, but it was surprisingly delicious. The ham with egg (60 NTD or 2 USD) and veggie with egg (55 NTD or 1.85 USD) were both generous and tasty—great value and a perfect quick snack. The list above is already quite long, but we still have more information for our loyal readers who got this far. They are not in the list for different reasons, but they are still useful information you must have if you head to Taiwan. - The only typical thing to eat that we tried but didn’t make it to the list is the taro pastry (芋頭酥). We didn’t put it there because we tried it in a random place and it was not that good. No idea if the stall was bad, or if the taro is just not to our taste. In any case, you must try it to cross out all the typical food from your list! - Another thing we ate that didn’t make it to the list because we are not sure if it’s a Taiwanese staple or not is the [Crispy Milk Donuts](https://maps.app.goo.gl/fyeABFequt3C7RHe9). This donut is incredible; it has perfect flavor and texture, and is still warm when you get it. At 40 NTD (1.35 USD), it’s well-priced despite the hype. The line looks infinite, but moves quickly; we waited about 15 minutes. Definitely worth it. - **The boiled dumplings** (水餃) are also a classic, but we found the must-visit spot not in Taipei but in Jiufen. [安迪藥燉排骨/老街美食/小吃/restaurants/吃的/附近美食/推薦晚餐](https://maps.app.goo.gl/cizaq8y4Mj6wHJhd6) is the best place to have a homemade, cheap, and tasty meal in the area. We ordered 10 pork dumplings for 60 NTD (2 USD), while in any other place in the touristy street, the prices were double for even smaller portions. Apart from the price, the dumplings were heavenly. The place was full of locals, which is always the green flag we look for. - There is nothing typical about [Twin Brothers Coffee](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SwogfWarKzEehSsS6), but it’s too good to leave out. It’s hard to find words that describe how good this place is. First, the cinnamon roll (120 NTD or 4 USD) is just LEGENDARY, and they do a limited number per day. It is (for real) the best roll we have ever had (and Carola is a self-proclaimed cinnamon roll expert). Also, the size is enormous, so if you are not too hungry, you can probably share it in 2. We also had a cappuccino and a light coffee latte (80 NTD or 2.70 USD each), and they were delicious. Fast service, cozy vibe, and popular with locals. Undoubtedly an ideal spot for a non-typical breakfast in Taipei. ![5-days-in-taiwan](https://efficienttravellers.com/images/posts/5-days-in-taiwan-img-3.webp)