What can I do in Taipei during a 48-hour layover?
A layover in Taipei gives you plenty of time to visit the region’s major landmarks and tourist spots. From the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Monument to numerous colorful sacred temples, the Aurora Museum of Art, and the bustle of Dihua Street in the Datong district, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a weekend—maybe even enough for to inspire you to plan a longer trip. stay! Located near the port city of Keelung, Taiwan’s capital offers visitors a modern city with historical roots and a sense of ancient religious majesty. If you’re wondering, “What can I do in Taipei in 48 hours?”, take a look at our list below for some suggestions.
Must-see attractions
The Taipei 101 Observatory is one of the most popular attractions in Taipei. Its observation deck offers panoramic views of the city, different exhibits, good food to enjoy, and gift shops where visitors can buy souvenirs. Yangmingshan National Park offers a taste of natural beauty and is famous for its hot springs and Qixing Mountain volcano. The National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial honors the general and onetime ruler of China and the Shi-men ting night market is ideal for some retail therapy. Taipei’s nightlife is exciting and packed with karaoke, live music, cocktail bars and clubs to enjoy. The Taipei Zoo’s Maokong Gondola ride is a half-hour, four-kilometer ride in a glass-bottomed “Glass Cabin” that offers a perfect view of the historic teahouses below.
Stop and take the perfect photo
Elephant Mountain or “Xiangshan” in Chinese is so named because of its elephant shape. Many tourists go up the mountain to take selfies and photos with friends and family. You can walk to the top of the mountain in about 15-20 minutes, but you will have to overcome quite a few stairs. Approximately 10 minutes later, you will arrive at the affectionately named “photographer’s platform”. The next stop is Six Giant Rocks and people tend to climb on top of them to get a great photo! At the top, you’ll find the Giant Rocks Platform and you can marvel at the Taipei cityscape and take as many pictures as you like, including some amazing shots with the 101 Observatory in the distance.
Things to see in Taipei
Embrace the arts in Taipei and catch an evening performance at the National Theater and Concert Hall. These astonishing performances showcase classic legends from the region, and performers or acrobats show off their gaily painted faces and flashy costumes as they dance and sing opera music. Songshan Ciyou Folk Temple is a blaze of color and sculpture and you should definitely stop here before you leave. Adorned with boldly painted dragons and other important figures, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Mazu. Visit the 95-meter Miramar Ferris wheel to admire views of the city and adjacent national parks. In winter, enjoy the cherry blossoms at Tian Tuan Temple, and in spring, marvel at the gannet fields in Yangmingshan National Park.
Taste local food in Taipei
Beef noodles and beef noodle soup are some of the most popular foods in Taipei, loved by locals and visitors alike. You will also find an excellent variety of soup dumplings to enjoy. Other tasty traditional foods include minced pork rice, oyster omelettes, daikon scallion pancakes, spicy foods, and pork pepper buns! Shi Yun fried chicken is fried in potato flour, spices, and garlic and can be purchased at restaurants and street vendors in the city. Noodles are one of the most popular foods in the city and you’ll find it in a variety of different dishes, the most famous of which are probably oysters and noodles.
Things to buy in Taipei
Don’t forget to stock up on the best oolong tea from Taipei’s teahouses and some mini sky lanterns to take home as souvenirs. The city is the best place to buy jade statues, ornaments, and jewelry. You can also find a variety of decorative Chinese knots and Taiwanese glove puppets from vendors and markets in the city. There is traditional Chinese art on display and the famous oil paper umbrellas. Nougat bars, biscuit cake, papel de cerdo, and biscuits de sol are the typical edible treats you’ll want to stock up on in town. Also, don’t forget to stop in and grab a box of Taiwan’s delicious pineapple cakes. These cakes are divine and available almost everywhere in Taipei and at the airports as well.
