What's there NOT to do in Taipei?! This is definitely a city that's comparable to the other exciting metropolises of the world, like New York City. There's a certain rhythm to this city that really makes it so much fun and exciting to visit or live. First of all, Taipei is a TERRIFIC place for EATING! Whether you want to eat at a fancy buffet (complete with fresh fish from a tank that is cooked to your liking) or from the nearby street vendor, Taipei has some of the best food in the world! Taipei is also a TERRIFIC place for shopping. There are so many stores and so many hidden alleys with deals to discover.
If you love shoes, this is definitely the city to come to. Taipei is also great for
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Taipei is also a TERRIFIC place for shopping. There are so many stores and so many hidden alleys with deals to discover.
If you love shoes, this is definitely the city to come to.
Taipei is also great for entertainment. Karaoke, live (and free) outdoor concerts, celebrations for no reason, and clubs and bars galore are all just a little taste of what Taipei has to offer.
And finally, if you just want to be a tourist and sightsee, it’s got some of the best attractions. The infamous National Palace Museum is cheap and houses some of China’s most prized possessions. Then there’s the nearby harbour of Tamshui. Plus there’s the beaches (one that’s especially beautiful is 2 hours away) all along the coast. Taipei really is one of my favourite places in the world!
Quick Tips:
There are magazines around, especially for expats in Taipei, which you can get at the "foreigner" locations, such as the Mandarin Training Center at ShiDa University or any of the "foreign" bars and restaurants such as Friday’s. They’re excellent for looking up places to go and what events are on. We’ve usually just come across events just by luck. We ended up at a free Jay Chou concert (he’s one of the biggest Taiwanese stars) on New Year’s Eve just because we happened to go by the Presidential Palace that night. One of the best places to go for free stuff or good deals is the Warner Village area. They always have some kind of event going on, and that’s where we’ve always ended up getting a lot of free stuff.
Best Way To Get Around:
The MRT (subway system) is probably the best thing that’s come to Taipei. It’s quick, cheap, and efficient – you can get basically anywhere. Buses are also easy to use if you can read Chinese, or if you can, just get someone to give you the number of the bus to take. All you have to do now to take these two modes of transportation is buy a card that you can refill with money. And this card is amazing. You can have it in a suitcase and just scan the suitcase - the machine manages to detect the card!
The other way of getting around Taipei is by taxi, but this is now becoming an extremely expensive mode of transportation.
If you want to drive yourself, good luck. I’d suggest not doing that until you’ve been in Taipei for a month or so – just so you can get a feel of how traffic flow works, because it doesn’t. You’ll have to break every traffic law you ever learned in order to fit in with Taipei traffic. For example, they have left turn lanes from the right on most roads. And double parking? No problem!
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