Soft day in Taipei
Notes from a day spent exploring Taiwan’s capital.
This time I’m trying a new diary-style post where I take you along on a soft day in Taipei. I hope you enjoy this new format!
Taipei is one of those cities that seems to have something for everyone: historic landmarks, creative spaces, great food, and lively night markets. This particular Saturday ended up becoming one of my favourite days in the city.
08:00 Wake up at our hotel near Ningxia Night Market and get ready to head out for breakfast. The sun is already shining, and I’m excited for a day of exploring Taipei.
08:50 Breakfast at Ri Xin Xian Zuo Breakfast Restaurant, a popular local spot. There’s a line outside, but it moves quickly and we’re seated within fifteen minutes. The woman managing both the queue and the tables is a true professional. She moves at remarkable speed while somehow remembering everyone’s orders with impressive precision.
09:05 A Taiwanese breakfast of scallion pancake, peanut butter sandwich, and milk tea. A simple combination, but somehow exactly what I’m craving.
09:40 Walk to the metro and make our way to National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park.
10:20 Explore the park and its grand historic buildings, including Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Theater, and the National Concert Hall. The architecture is stunning, and we take our time wandering through the expansive complex.
11:30 All that walking works up an appetite. Time for lunch.
12:10 A bowl of fresh beef noodle soup at Xiao Meihao Beef Noodle Restaurant. The restaurant also doubles as a butcher shop, so all the meat is exceptionally fresh. Our noodles arrive first, followed by a waiter carrying a large thermos of fragrant broth, which he pours into the bowls right at our table. The noodles are excellent, and the beef is so tender it practically melts in your mouth.
13:00 A stroll around Dongmen market. Stalls overflow with fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, and everyday ingredients.
13:30 Head to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, a former industrial site transformed into a hub for artists, makers, and creative businesses.
14:00 An outdoor makers market is in full swing. Pottery, jewellery, illustrations, and all sorts of handmade treasures fill the stalls. I leave with one of the cute ceramic cats as a souvenir.
15:00 Walk over to Eslite Spectrum. One floor is dedicated entirely to Taiwanese makers, while the top floor houses a large bookshop that’s easy to spend far too much time in.
16:00 After a full afternoon of exploring, it feels like the right moment for dessert.
16:30 Stop by The Original Sao Dou Hua. A bowl of warm tofu pudding is exactly what I need. The café itself is tiny, with only four tables. As we sit down, we notice two adorable dogs asleep together in a stroller, a scene that feels very Taipei.
17:20 Arrive at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, another cultural hub filled with local artists, exhibitions, independent shops, and creative projects. We spend some time wandering through the market stalls and browsing the small boutiques.
18:00 Make it to Central Art park just in time for sunset. It’s a warm Saturday evening and the lawns are filled with people enjoying the last hours of daylight. Kids are playing ball, dogs are running around, and groups of friends are gathered on picnic blankets. Watching it all unfold, I can’t help but think that this is what everyday life in Taipei must feel like. A lovely way to wrap up our walk before heading back to the hotel for a short rest.
20:00 Dinner at Lei Hou. A cozy restaurant serving delicious dim sum and dumplings.
21:00 No day in Taipei feels complete without a visit to a night market. Luckily, Ningxia Night Market is right outside our hotel. The streets are packed, and the longest lines usually point to the best food. What continues to amaze me about Taiwanese night markets is how clean and organized they feel despite the crowds. The sheer variety of food is overwhelming, with different aromas drifting through the air and competing for your attention at every turn.
21:30 Pick up our favourite treat, a strawberry mochi, and take one last stroll through the market before calling it a day. After a full day in Taipei, a good night’s sleep is well deserved.
I hope you enjoyed following along on this day in Taipei. The city still has plenty left for me to discover, but this Saturday felt like a pretty good introduction. What would you add to your perfect day in Taipei?
If you’d like to read more stories from Taiwan, you might enjoy these posts:
I’m still working my way through the photos and notes from the rest of the trip. Subscribe if you’d like to receive future stories from Taiwan and beyond.
Sounds like a day well spent! The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park looks absolutely stunning. 🌳
Thank you, its not somewhere I know much about and I'd been curious so I enjoyed reading. Also love the lighting in your pictures! Seems a nice place to visit