Taipei for First-Timers: Night Markets, Hot Springs & the MRT

Taipei doesn't get the hype Tokyo or Bangkok does, which is part of why it's worth going: fewer crowds at genuinely major sights, one of the best transit systems in Asia, and a night market food scene that rivals anywhere on the continent. I live here, so this one gets updated the most often.

1. Where to base yourself

• Zhongshan / Taipei Main Station — most central, every MRT line within reach, walkable to a lot of sights.
• Da'an — quieter, leafy, near Da'an Park, good cafe scene, still well connected.
• Ximending — youth-culture, shopping, and nightlife district, loud and fun, less convenient for early starts.

2. Night markets: which ones actually deliver

Taipei has dozens of night markets and they're not interchangeable. Three worth prioritizing:

• Raohe Street Night Market — compact, one main strip, easy to do properly in an hour or two. Start at the temple entrance and eat your way down.
• Shilin Night Market — the biggest and most famous, genuinely huge, go hungry and expect crowds; the food court in the basement is where a lot of the best stalls actually are.
• Ningxia Night Market — smaller, more locals than tourists, excellent for traditional Taiwanese dishes without the queue.

Order small and share: braised pork rice, oyster omelet, stinky tofu (worth trying once even if the smell puts you off), and a cup of freshly shaken bubble tea — this is where it was invented.

3. Beitou: hot springs without leaving the city

Beitou is a 30-minute MRT ride from central Taipei and has natural hot springs fed by a volcanic valley. Options range from free public foot-soak pools to proper bathhouses and hotel spring facilities. Thermal Valley (the steaming, sulfuric source pool) is worth the short walk even if you don't bathe — you can't swim in it, but the sight and smell of the mineral-rich steam is worth seeing. Combine with the nearby Beitou Hot Spring Museum, a restored Japanese-era bathhouse.

4. Jiufen without the tour-bus crush

Jiufen's lantern-lit hillside streets (said to have partly inspired the setting of Spirited Away, though this is debated) are stunning — and absolutely packed by early afternoon once the tour buses arrive from Taipei. Take an early direct bus (from Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT station) and arrive by 9am; you'll get the same photos with a fraction of the crowd, and can be back in the city by early afternoon.

5. Temples worth the stop

Longshan Temple in Wanhua district is Taipei's most famous, still actively used for worship — go respectfully, don't block people who are praying, and take the incense-burning ritual in as an observer rather than a photo op. It's a short MRT ride and pairs well with a walk through the surrounding old Wanhua district.

6. Common first-timer mistakes

• Not buying an EasyCard on arrival — it works across MRT, buses, and even convenience stores, and saves real hassle over single-journey tickets.
• Skipping Taipei 101 at night — the observation deck is fine by day, but the city view after dark is the better version of this experience.
• Underestimating how spicy "not spicy" can be at some stalls — ask for mild if you're unsure, Taiwanese chili oil is not shy.
• Trying to do Jiufen as an afternoon trip — go early or accept the crowds; there isn't really a good midday version of this trip.