20 Fun Things To Do in Taiwan!

Last spring we had the best trip to Taiwan to visit family! My mother was born and raised in Taiwan and I lived in Taipei when I was little. My mother’s side of the family lives in Hualien on the beautiful east coast and we took our kids to visit for spring break. We had the absolute best time and cannot wait to go back! We love Taiwan’s amazing food, beautiful landscape, language, culture, and of course being together with family.

Here is a our list of favorite things to do, eat, and see while visiting Taiwan! Enjoy!

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Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is a skyscraper located in Taipei. It was formerly the world’s tallest building! The iconic Taiwan landmark has 101 floors and is shaped like a stalk of bamboo with eight sections resembling a traditional Chinese pagoda. If the weather is nice, it’s fun to ascend 1,258 ft and visit the observatory at the top! Taipei 101 also features a luxury multi-level shopping mall, high-end (and high-altitude!) dining, and super fast speed elevators!

Related blog post: Taipei 101 in Taiwan

View from the Taipei 101 observatory:

Breeze Taipei Main Station

Breeze Shopping Mall at Taipei Main Station has everything you need and want to eat! It is conveniently located within the train station with lines of shops, restaurants, cafes, food courts, and convenience stores from the ground level to 2nd floor. There are so many delicious options!

Taiwan Railway Bento Lunchbox (Bian Dang) 便當

Taste the nostalgic flavors of the Taiwan Railways Bento Lunchbox! The railway bento or bian dang 便當 is a staple for locals and a quintessential Taiwanese experience. I remember riding the train in Taiwan with my mother and she explained that the bentos always remind her of her childhood. The bentos are made by Taiwan Railways and sold from a small cart pushed down the aisles of the train. Taiwan’s extensive train network and its train bentos are from the time of Japan’s colonial rule of Taiwan which lasted 50 years from 1895 to 1945.

Taipei Underground Mall

In Taipei, one of the best shopping and dining experiences can be found right under your feet! Taipei Underground Mall is located beneath Taipei Main Station and connects to major transportation hubs so it is super convenient and accessible. It is Taiwan’s largest and longest underground street, making it a great family-friendly shopping and dining experience anytime of year and in any weather!

Bao So Hard

This delicious steamed bun shop is perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go! We love their fluffy steamed buns filled with savory ingredients. There are multiple locations but we went to the one in the Underground Mall beneath Taipei Main Station.

National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院

The National Palace Museum (Guoli Gugong Bowuyuan 國立故宮博物院) in Taipei houses a collection of over 700,000 pieces of imperial artifacts and artworks formerly held in Beijing’s Forbidden City. It is one of Taipei’s must-see attractions with items spanning 5,000 years of history. My kids especially enjoyed the hands-on exhibits in the children’s gallery!

Xing Tian Temple 行天宮

Experience one of thousands of temples in Taiwan with its vibrant colors, smell of burning incense, and sound of chanting. It is a beautiful way to learn about Taiwan’s Buddhism, Taoism, Confucian, and folk worldviews. We visited the popular Xing Tian Temple 行天宮 in Taipei.

Tian Fu Yuan 天福园

Eat like a local and order zhua bing 抓饼 (crispy chewy scallion pull apart pancake) and dao xiao mian 刀削面 (knife cut noodles) at Tian Fu Yuan 天福园 in Taipei. This is our favorite small family-owned restaurant in Taiwan. My parents have been coming here for decades and are good friends with the owners. The food is simple and delicious and always hits the spot. Don’t forget to grab some delicious cold xiao cai 小菜 (appetizers and side dishes) on the shelf!

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel (Yuánshān Dà Fàndiàn 圓山大飯店) has always been one of my favorite buildings in Taipei. When I was little and our family lived in Taiwan, the Grand Hotel was one of the first buildings I recognized. It is a beautiful and historic hotel surrounded by picturesque gardens and panoramic city view. After Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan in 1949, he wanted to build a five-star hotel to accommodate foreign ambassadors and guests. His wife, Madame Chiang, suggested building it on Yuanshan Mountain. The Grand Hotel was established in 1952 by Madam Chiang, and was Taiwan’s first five-star hotel.

Night Markets

Night markets in Taiwan are an absolute must-have cultural experience! Enjoy cheap snacks from hundreds of food stalls, play carnival style games to win prizes, and bargain shop for fun clothes and accessories. Every major city has its own night market and vendors usually stay open until midnight. Some of my best memories of Taiwan are going to the night market with family and friends. Night markets are a living tradition and such an entertaining way to get a taste of local Taiwanese food and social life! Don’t forget to try stinky tofu, popcorn chicken, and boba drinks!

Yong Kang Street 永康街

Yong Kang Street 永康街 is a bustling neighborhood in Taipei known for its trendy cafes, boutique shops, and tasty restaurants. It is also the birthplace of the original Din Tai Fung located on Xinyi Road.

The delicious flaky hot pancakes from Tian Jin Scallion Pancake are famous so there is always a long line, but it moves quickly!

The historic location of the original Din Tai Fung on Xinyi Road is now only available for take-out. You can watch them hand make dumplings through the window.

Sunmerry Bakery

Sunmerry Bakery is our favorite place for fresh pastries and desserts! Founded in 1986 in Taipei, Sunmerry originally started in Japan and was brought to Taiwan. The family-owned company is now a household name in Taipei, known for its Japanese baking techniques and local Taiwan flavors. Everything is so delicious and the fresh baked treats smell so good! There are several locations, but we like the bakery on Yong Kang Jie.

Smoothie House

Smoothie House in Taipei’s Yong Kang neighborhood is home to the famous mango snowflake ice! Exclusive recipes made with fresh fruit from local farms prepared into delicious desserts make you want to keep coming back for more. The mango snowflake ice is the must-order on their menu. It is SO good!

Dong Men Jiao Zi Guan 東門餃子館

Dong Men Jiao Zi Guan 東門餃子館 has been my family’s favorite restaurant for dumplings in Taipei for decades. Established in 1961 in the Yong Kang Jie neighborhood by an immigrant family from northern China, it has been a local favorite for over 60+ years. We always get a large order of dumplings, along with many other favorites on the menu, and we especially enjoy the variety of cold xiao cai 小菜 (small dishes) on the shelf as well.

All You Can Eat Hot Pot

In Taiwan you must experience the joy of All You Can Eat (AYCE) hot pot buffet! Order unlimited meat, vegetables, seafood, rice, noodles, drinks, and dessert. Cook everything yourself right at your table in your own boiling pot! Make sure to only order what you will eat, as many restaurants will charge a penalty for wasted food.

Convenience Stores

Taiwan convenience stores, like 7-11 or FamilyMart, are found all over the island. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are essential for all of your favorite snacks and treats! In Taiwan, convenience stores are also where you go to ship packages, pay bills, print documents, buy train tickets, and more. Our kids’ favorite souvenirs were $3 umbrellas from a 7-11 on a rainy day. My favorite souvenir was 7-11 brand packs of sour dried plums!

Taroko National Park in Hualien

Taroko National Park (Tailuge 太魯閣) is one of Taiwan’s nine national parks. It is the most famous national park in Taiwan and located in Hualien on the east coast. Taroko Gorge was carved through marble mountains by the Liwu River over millions of years. The name “Taroko” is from the Truku tribe, an indigenous group of people from the area.

*Update: Following a major earthquake that profoundly impacted the landscape of the national park in 2024, Taroko Gorge opened with significant restrictions. Please check their official website for updates and openings.

Taiwan's Indigenous Cuisine

There are 16 indigenous tribes in Taiwan, most based in Hualien, Taitung, Nantou, and Chiayi. While staying with family in Hualien we visited Mataian Wetland Ecological Park and learned about Taiwan’s indigenous Amis people (阿美族), culture, and cuisine. We tasted salt fish, duck, small shrimp, purple rice, raw scallions, and soup. It was all very tasty! My kids especially loved the seafood, so my cousin taught them how to eat fish eyeballs (like our grandparents would always do), which my kids did and really enjoyed!

Taiwan's East Coast

Taiwan’s east coast has some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. The Qingshui Cliffs are a spectacular geological sight rising vertically from the Pacific Ocean. Qixingtan Beach (meaning “Seven Star Lake”) is famous for its smooth, polished marble and granite stones sculpted by the ocean. The east coast of Taiwan is a nature lover’s dream!

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup 台湾牛肉面

Widely considered the national dish of Taiwan, Beef Noodle Soup features a comforting bowl of tender slow-cooked beef and fresh chewy noodles topped with bok choy and scallions in a rich savory broth. It has always been one of my favorite meals which I find irresistible. There are so many varieties of Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup and you can find the dish from budget-friendly to top tier restaurants. If you find yourself with some free time when flying out of Taiwan from Taoyuan International Airport, I highly recommend ordering Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup from Halal Beef Noodle House near Gate C3 in Terminal 2.

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