Three days is an excellent amount of time to budget for Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan.
This will be enough time to check off most of the big-name sights, try several night markets, and do a day trip to some of the top attractions near the city.
I’ve checked hundreds on Taipei itineraries in my Facebook group. There are so many different ways you can go about it. In this article, I’ll stick to the classic route. Use it as a basic guideline, then customize according to your specific interests.
My Printable Itinerary: 3 Days in Taipei
If you purchase the paid version of my 3-day itinerary for Taipei, you will get over 6000 words (18 pages) of instructions for every step of your 3-day itinerary. I sell this as a printable pdf because it is too long (and valuable!) for a blog post.
The paid itinerary will tell you how long you’ll need for every stop, exactly how to get between them (right down to which MRT exit numbers to take), how to manage your timing for sunset, specific restaurant options for every meal of your trip, and other insider tips.
The file also comes with two alternative itineraries: one focused on off-the-beaten-track places and another focused on family-friendly attractions.
In this blog post, I will just give a general overview of the classic itinerary.
Also read my Taipei city guide, where to stay in Taipei, and Taipei 5-day itinerary.
How to Plan Your 3 Days in Taiwan
The most common way people budget three days in Taiwan is to spend two full days exploring Taipei city, then use their third day for a day trip.
The most popular day trip (by a long shot) is Jiufen and Shifen (with the option to add a few more places in the same area), so that is the one I describe here. However, I’ll still give you some other day trip options, too.
If you want to spend three full days in the city only (i.e. no day trip), then I suggest you check my Taipei 5-day itinerary. That one includes three full days in the city plus two different day trips.
Itinerary: Day 1
For your arrival in Taiwan, read my guides to Taoyuan Airport, getting a SIM or eSIM, getting an EasyCard, and how to get to the city.
On your first day in Taipei, it’s natural to start in the Taipei Old City, with big-name attractions like Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Ximending Shopping District.
It’s easy to DIY it, but you could also join one of these free Old City walking tours. While these tours are “free”, they are volunteer-run, and I encourage you to tip the guide at the end (the amount is up to you).
In the afternoon, we’ll proceed to Taipei 101, the city’s most famous landmark, or the option to hike Elephant Mountain beside it, for an epic sunset. Then we close the day at one of the city’s famous night markets!
Morning
I have long advised travelers to start their day at the spiritual heart of the city: Longshan Temple.
Not only is this the most important temple in the city but also there’s a cool morning chanting ceremony led by nuns. This takes place every morning from 6:00 to 6:45 and 8:00 to 8:45.
Read my Longshan Temple guide to find out how to pray, throw moon blocks, ask a god for love, and get a free bracelet in the temple.
Your first morning should also include a visit to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Depending on your hotel location and how early you get up, you could do this before or after Longshan Temple.
The landmark blue-and-white hall is dedicated to the former dictator, with a free museum about him inside.
The hall sits on a huge square with two classical Chinese buildings (National Theater and Concert Hall) and the impressive Liberty Square Arch.
If you visit early in the morning (6 to 8 AM), you are likely to see elderly people doing qigong in the parks around the square. From 9 AM, there is an hourly guard changing ceremony in front of the hall.
In the late morning (aim for 11 AM, when most shops start to open), head to Ximending Shopping District.
This is a popular pedestrian neighborhood full of souvenir shops (see my Taiwan souvenirs guide), cute cafés (including cat cafés and bubble tea shops), restaurants, and street art.
There are many lunch options in Ximending. This is also one of the most popular areas to stay in Taipei. Read my Ximending guide for more things to do there.
Afternoon
After lunch in Ximending, you may want to proceed directly to Taipei 101 area if you’d like to visit both Taipei 101 Observatory AND climb Elephant Mountain to watch the sunset.
If you get my paid itinerary, I have several paragraphs explaining the times needed for all of these, which change according to the season (and sunset time).
However, if you only want to do one of those (Taipei 101 OR Elephant Mountain), you could visit one more place before you head to it.
One option is Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a cultural center in a former sake distillery with art displays and cafés. Another option would be to take a stroll in Da’an Forest Park and/or go to Yongkang Street for mango shaved ice.
Next, make your way to Taipei 101, the country’s most famous landmark and former tallest building in the world (read my Taipei 101 visiting guide).
From the MRT, you’ll enter B1 of the building then take an elevator to 5F to check-in for Taipei 101 Observatory (88, 89, 91F).
The line can take up to up to one hour on busy days. Pre-purchasing your tickets (Klook / KKday) won’t save you any time or money, unless you purchase the fast-track entry (double the price). The 101F add-on is not worth the money (in my opinion).
So why do so many people still buy it on Klook/KKday? Well, then you can pay for it before your trip, collect Klook points, and use promo codes to get a discount.
Another more exciting option is the Skyline 460 experience (Klook / KKday, starting at 2 PM or 3 PM), which allows you instant entry, VIP elevator to the top, standing on the actual roof of Taipei 101, plus entrance to the normal observatory. Read my Skyline 460 experience here.
If you time it right, you can watch sunset from Taipei 101 and see the city lights come on at night.
Alternatively, you may want to watch the sunset from Elephant Mountain, which is right next to Taipei 101. Ride the MRT to Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) station, from where it’s a 45-minute walk to the famous viewpoint (the second half is steeply uphill).
Read my Elephant Mountain guide for all the info.
Evening
After Taipei 101 or Elephant Mountain, it makes the most sense to go to Tonghua (Linjiang Street) Night Market, which is only a few MRT stops away. Read my Tonghua Night Market guide.
However, some travelers prefer to go to Raohe Night Market, which is more famous, but also more crowded and further away. Read my Raohe Night Market guide.
A sit-down dinner option is Din Tai Fung (Taiwan’s most famous restaurant, for xiaolongbao) at B1 of Taipei 101. Expect long lines, but you can get in faster if you pre-order (Klook / KKday). Yet another option is the 5-star buffet in Taipei 101, A-Joy (Klook).
After dinner, if you still have energy, see my recommended speakeasy cocktail bars, craft beer bars, and other things to do at night in Taipei.
Itinerary: Day 2
You’ll start day two in Taipei with traditional breakfast, then a choice of morning activities (museum, hiking, or urban exploring).
In the afternoon, I’ll take you to Beitou Hot Spring, catch sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf in Tamsui, then finish with more night market action.
Morning
On Day 2, wake up early for breakfast at Taipei’s most famous breakfast shop, Fu Hang Soy Milk. The line can take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes, but I feel it’s worth the wait!
Read my Fu Hang Soy Milk guide to plan what you’ll order before you get to the front. If you prefer a less touristy one with shorter wait, here are other breakfast shops I recommend in Taipei and my breakfast menu decoder.
Next, I’m giving you three different options for your morning activity, depending on what appeals more to you. If you’re into museums, head to National Palace Museum (Klook / KKday), the largest collection of Chinese artifacts in the world.
With kids, consider instead Taipei Children’s Amusement Park (Klook / KKday), a DIY pineapple making class (Klook / KKday / my guide, adults also can do it!), or National Taiwan Museum (animal-focused, with dinosaur exhibit across the street).
If you prefer hiking, take a bus up to Yangmingshan National Park. See my Yangmingshan guide, how to get there, or, for the simplest guide, read about my favorite hike there, Qingtiangang Grassland.
If you choose this option, start your day as early as possible, and you’ll be able to bus directly to the next stop (Beitou Hot Spring).
A third option is to spend the morning exploring Dihua Street, considered “Taipei’s oldest street”. Read my Dihua Street walking guide.
Dihua Street is also a good place to try on traditional Taiwanese qipaos for taking photos, but you need to book it in advance. See my guide to renting qipaos in Taiwan. It’s also a great place for buying tea.
If you choose this option, you could potentially include a seafood lunch at Addiction Aquatic Development (read my guide) before proceeding to Beitou.
Afternoon
No matter which morning activity you chose, proceed next to Xibeitou MRT station for Beitou Hot Spring. Because several things at Beitou are closed on Mondays, try not to let this day fall on a Monday.
Around Beitou Hot Spring Park, visit your choice of Ketagalan Taiwanese aboriginal museum, Beitou Hot Spring Museum, and the impressive Thermal Valley.
To take a hot spring bath, you may choose from three kinds: coed with bathing suits, nude and sex-separated bathhouse, or private room for couples. I give my recommendations for all three kinds in my Beitou Hot Spring guide.
Next, take the MRT to Tamsui (the final stop on the Red Line) and stroll along the lovely riverside promenade, where the Tamsui river meets the sea, with lots of snack options.
Catch a river ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can hopefully catch the sunset from Lover’s Bridge. Read my Tamsui guide for more info.
Evening
On the way back to Taipei, stop at Shilin Night Market. While many no longer consider it the best one in Taipei, it is still worth visiting for its 3D baby tiger, large collection of games, and it still has many good food stalls. See my Shilin Night Market guide.
Alternatively, try the quirky, poo-themed Modern Toilet Restaurant, which has a location in Shilin Night Market. See my Modern Toilet guide.
Yet another option: if you never made it to Din Tai Fung yesterday, you could stop at the Tianmu or Mitsukoshi Nanxi locations.
Itinerary: Day 3
For your third day in Taipei, I recommend doing a day trip. Most people choose Jiufen Old Street (see my guide), Shifen Old Street (for setting off sky lanterns on the train tracks, see my guide), and 1-3 other places in the area.
Some other places you may include are Yehliu Geopark, Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, Bitoujiao Trail, Houtong Cat Village (guide), Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail (guide), Shifen Waterfall (guide), Pingxi Old Street, Jingtong Old Street, Shen’ao Rail Bike (guide), and Keelung Night Market (guide).
Note that some (but not all) of these are stops on the Pingxi Line. Read my Pingxi Line guide to learn more about them.
You can DIY it, but the transportation details do get a little complicated, and totally depend on which of the above places you choose, and in what order.
For this reason, many travelers go with an organized day trip on Klook (here or here) or KKday (here or here). These will drop you off at each spot and give you time to explore on your own.
To figure out how to get to and between all of these places on your own, I’ve laid out all the details in my paid itinerary.
If you take one of the organized day trips, most will get you back to Taipei Main Station around 6 PM. In that case, consider having dinner at Ningxia Night Market (see my guide).
Then, catch at 8 PM traditional Taiwanese opera performance at 8 PM at TaipeiEye nearby. This includes the chance to take photos with the costumed performers.
Currently there are performances on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. See the schedule, read about it here, and buy tickets on Klook / KKday.
If you DIY your day trip, consider finishing at Keelung Night Market, one of the best in the country, then take a train back to Taipei. But then it would be rushed to make it back in time for TaipeiEye.
And that’s a wrap! If you’re going to attempt this itinerary or a variation of it, I highly recommend spending a few bucks on the paid version, which is printable and contains about three times the content and details.