Day 1 in Taipei

Welcome to Taipei! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city by taking a Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing tour of the city on board a double-decker bus. The tour will transport you around the city to the most popular attractions including the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101 tower, Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the National Palace Museum. Hop-off at any of the attractions and explore what the capital city has to offer.

After getting a feel for the city and exploring the surroundings make your way to one of the city`s main landmarks, Taipei 101. This stunning skyscraper stands at 1,666 ft tall in the heart of the city, making it the 8th tallest skyscraper in the world. The tower features 101 floors above ground and 5 basement floors filled with shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Head down to the basement floors where you will find an array of food options including the famous Din Tai Fung Dumpling Chain and a grocery store. Enjoy some delicious local cuisine and then wander around the mall and other stores.

Next, make your way up to the 91st floor to the towers outdoor observation deck via the world`s second fastest elevators which will zip you to top in 37 seconds. Enjoy the sweeping panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. Check out the 660-ton wind damper located on the 88th floor at the center of the tower, this giant piece of technology helps keep the building upright and stops it from swaying during typhoons or earthquakes.

From here take a small hike up Elephant Mountain to the viewpoint located at the summit. This is one of the best vantage points in the city to capture a sunset. Here you can enjoy views over the entire city as it starts to light up after the sun goes down. From here you can enjoy sweeping views of the iconic Tapei 101 tower which is quite an impressive sight at night.

The Xinyi District is the surrounding area of the mountain and Taipei 101 tower, a prime shopping area in the capital city filled with department stores, malls, and high-end restaurants. Find one of the many restaurants here that appeal to your taste buds and sit down for a relaxing meal in this vibrant area.

After dinner wander around this popular neighborhood which boasts some exciting nightlife venues such as bars, clubs, and karaoke. Visit Taiwan`s premier bookstore `Eslite` which spans over 7 floors filled with books, magazines, clothing stores, Starbucks and a food court and is open 24 hours.

Head back to your hotel for a good night`s rest.

Day 2 in Taipei

Start your day off with a traditional Taiwanese breakfast, `doujiang` (soybean milk), `shaobing` (sesame flatbread) and `youtiao` (long Chinese donut) and some pearl milk tea! After breakfast head to Longshan Temple, one of the oldest and largest temples in the city. The popular temple was built in 1738 by the Fujian settlers with traditional Fujianese style architecture featuring intricate wood carvings and impressive ornate interior décor. Spend some time inside the temple where you can light some complimentary incense and watch the locals who come here to pray for good health.

Make your way to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, this historical landmark of the city was built in memory of the former President of the Republic of China and includes a national park and Liberty Square where the National Theatre and the National Concert Hall are also located. The octagon-shaped building with 8 sides represents fortune and wealth per the Chinese symbolism with two sets of 89 (the age he passed) steps take you up to the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek. Watch the changing of guards ceremony performed every hour at either side of the statue.

Grab some lunch and head to Daan Forest Park for a picnic under the trees. This large public park covers 64 acres and is considered Taipei`s `Central Park` decorated with walking and cycling paths, an amphitheater, children`s playground and a skating rink. Enjoy the beautiful flowers and do some people watching, you may even witness some locals practicing martial arts. This is a great place to utilize the city`s YouBike sharing system and take a spin around the park onboard a bicycle. Hundreds of sharing stations are set up all over the city, where you pay to rent a bicycle for a period of time and can drop it off at any other location across the city, perfect for sightseeing.

After lunch, visit the Miniatures Museums of Taiwan, this amazing museum showcases miniature arts including miniature dolls, dollhouses, and replicas of famous buildings such as Buckingham Palace on a pea-sized scale! Step inside and feel like a giant in this small world, check out the 1 cm tall whiskey bottle, the 40 bulb chandelier made from a single grain of rice and the functioning TV which is the size of a postage stamp!!

Next, if you are into art check out The Museum of Contemporary Art showcasing contemporary Taiwanese art, housed in a historical building featuring Japanese colonial style architecture with red brick and a bell tower, visitors can browse the exhibits including contemporary media, photography and graphic design.

Alternatively, visit the Taipei Fine Arts Museum located inside the Taipei Expo Park, one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the city featuring unique architecture and displaying a wide variety of Taiwanese and International Art and the Children`s Education Center.

As evening time approaches, make your way over to the famous Shilin Night Market and stop to see the magnificent Grand Hotel on your way. The hotel is an iconic landmark in the city and dates back to the 50`s set in an elegant 14 story vermillion Chinese palace style building on a hill in the city surrounded by the mountains.

Make sure you come hungry to the Shilin Night Street Market. This vibrant market is overflowing with delicious street food stalls and local restaurants where visitors can enjoy some of the best food in the city. Try some oyster omelets, stinky tofu, fried pork buns, fried squid, pork dumplings, meat soup and more! Wash it down with a tasty cup of bubble tea and you have just experienced some of the snacks that the locals here love. The bustling lively market fills a maze of narrow alleyways lined with locals and tourists buying and selling food along with souvenirs in one of the biggest night markets found in the capital city.

After a busy day head back to your hotel for a good night`s rest.

Day 3 in Taipei

Start your day off early with a trip to the National Palace Museum (opens at 8:30 am) which lies at the base of the Yangmingshan National Park. The museum is said to be one of the best in the world and houses a massive complete collection of over 700,000 pieces of Chinese art and artifacts, which is one of the largest collections in the entire world. Famous pieces from the extensive collection include the Meat-Shaped Stone, Jadeite Cabbage and a remake of the `Along the River during the Qingming Festival` painting from the 12th century.

Grab some lunch and head to the mountains! The Yangmingshan National Park is an enchanting forested area filled with hiking trails, peaks and rolling hills where visitors can explore the beautiful countryside with flowing waterfalls and stunning cherry blossom blooms in the spring. Seven Star Mountain is the tallest dormant volcano in the country and the highest point in the city. Stroll through the lush green forests with fragrant flowers and wildlife and check out the large clock made of flowers and scenic lookout points.

Next up is the Beitou Hot Springs, visit the hot pools to ease your tired feet, sit back and relax in the waters that are heated by the natural springs from the nearby volcanic systems. Beitou is a world-class hot springs destination and the area is filled with luxury resorts and spas. Treat yourself to an afternoon of relaxation.

On your last evening in Taipei visit Tamsui, a quaint seaside fishing village that sits on the Tamsui River. Enjoy a sunset here over the Taiwan Strait, visit the scenic Fisherman`s Wharf featuring a boardwalk lined with restaurants and shops. Dine on delicious freshly caught seafood at any of the waterfront restaurants that the area has to offer. Take a romantic stroll along the boardwalk to Lover`s Bridge after dinner and visit the small shops.

Additional Days in Taipei

Should you be able to spend additional days in Taipei be sure to visit the Taipei Zoo featuring the famous Big Panda House where you can see `Yuan Zai` the first giant panda cub to be born in Taiwan, along with hundreds of other animals and exhibits.

One of the Maokong Gondola stops is situated right next to the Zoo, hop on and take the scenic journey up the mountain to Maokong Village which is famous for its tea, there are tea gardens, shops, restaurants and a tea museum located here.

If you are in Taipei on a weekend be sure to check out the Jianguo Holiday Market and the adjacent Jade Market which are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am until 6 pm. The markets fill the streets with stalls selling flowers, plants, jewelry, and trinkets.

If your visit is during the spring (end of March beginning of April) be sure to visit the Tian-Yuan Temple which is a very popular site for `Sakura` viewing the cherry blossom blooms.

Your Last Day in Taipei

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport, if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.