Best Things to Do in Taipei: 7 Must-Visit Spots for Singapore Travellers

Best Things to Do in Taipei: Why Singaporeans Keep Coming Back

Taipei is just a two-hour and forty-minute flight from Changi, yet it consistently ranks among the top three most-searched travel destinations by Singaporeans on Google Trends. That proximity, combined with a Taiwanese dollar that stretches your SGD further than almost anywhere else in Asia, makes Taipei the kind of city you visit once and immediately start planning a return trip. Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned repeat visitor, the city rewards curiosity — every alley hides a dumpling stall, a vinyl record shop, or a century-old temple wedged between glass towers.

This guide cuts through the noise. No filler, no generic sightseeing checklists. What follows are the specific neighbourhoods, markets, and experiences that actually deliver — the kind of insider knowledge that takes most visitors four trips to accumulate. If you are planning a long weekend escape from Singapore, bookmark this now.

Top Taipei Attractions Worth Your Time

Taipei 101 is obligatory, yes, but the real magic happens at ground level. The Xinyi District surrounding the tower is a walkable grid of flagship stores, rooftop bars, and the sprawling Eslite Spectrum bookstore that stays open until midnight. Spend an evening here rather than a rushed afternoon. For something with more cultural weight, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the adjacent National Theater offer dramatic architecture and free evening performances on certain weekends — check the schedule before you go.

Da'an District is where Taipei's creative class lives and eats. Yongkang Street, a ten-minute walk from Da'an MRT station, is arguably the single most rewarding food street in the city. Din Tai Fung's original flagship is here, and the xiao long bao (S$8–12 per basket) remains the benchmark against which every other soup dumpling is judged. Arrive before 11am or after 2pm to keep your wait under forty-five minutes.

Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Road Original)

📍 No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Da'an District, Taipei

⏰ Mon–Fri 10am–9pm, Sat–Sun 9am–9pm

🗺 View on Google Maps

Taipei Night Markets: What to Eat and Where to Go

Singaporeans are night market veterans, but Taipei's versions operate on a different scale. Shilin Night Market is the most famous and the most crowded — arrive hungry and go straight for the oyster vermicelli (蚵仔麵線, around NT$60 / S$2.50), the scallion pancakes, and the giant fried chicken cutlet that has its own cult following. The basement food hall is where the serious eating happens; the street level is mostly trinkets and carnival games.

For a less touristy experience, Raohe Street Night Market near Songshan MRT is smaller, easier to navigate, and home to one of the city's most iconic snacks: the pepper pork bun from Fuzhou Shizu Pepper Buns stall, which has operated from the same spot at the temple entrance for decades. Expect a queue of fifteen to twenty minutes, but the charcoal-baked bun stuffed with juicy minced pork and scallions is worth every second.

A NT$60 bowl of oyster vermicelli at Shilin Night Market costs less than a kopi at most Singapore coffee shops — and it is objectively more satisfying.

• Shilin Night Market: Oyster vermicelli (NT$60), scallion pancake (NT$50), giant fried chicken (NT$100)
• Raohe Street Night Market: Fuzhou pepper pork bun (NT$55), stinky tofu (NT$60), taro balls in sweet soup (NT$70)
• Ningxia Night Market: Pork liver soup (NT$50), red bean cake (NT$25), braised pork rice (NT$60)

Shopping in Taipei: Streets That Beat Orchard Road on Value

Ximending is Taipei's answer to Harajuku — a pedestrianised zone in the Wanhua District packed with streetwear boutiques, K-beauty imports, independent designers, and more bubble tea shops per square metre than anywhere else on earth. It skews young but the prices are genuinely competitive. Independent Taiwanese brands like INVINCIBLE and plain-T specialists cluster around the Red House theatre, making this a legitimate destination for anyone who follows streetwear.

For mid-range and luxury shopping, Zhongxiao East Road (specifically the stretch between Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT stations) is Taipei's answer to Orchard Road — cleaner, less crowded, and with better coffee options between stores. SOGO department store anchors the strip and runs regular member discounts that tourists can access with a passport. Eslite Spectrum in Songshan Cultural Park is the destination for design-forward homewares, Taiwanese craft spirits, and artisan food gifts to bring back to Singapore.

Half-Day Escapes from Central Taipei

Jiufen is the one day trip every Singapore visitor asks about, and the hype is mostly justified. The hillside old street with its red lanterns, tea houses, and ocean views is genuinely atmospheric — just go on a weekday to avoid weekend crowds that make the narrow lanes almost impassable. The forty-five-minute bus ride from Zhongxiao Fuxing station costs NT$101 each way. Book a window seat at Amei Tea House for the view, order the taro balls in warm ginger soup, and stay until after sunset when the lanterns glow.

Beitou Hot Springs, reachable in twenty minutes on the MRT, is the wellness option that most visitors skip and later regret. The public hot spring bath at Millennium Hot Springs costs NT$40 — less than S$2 — and the sulphuric waters are the real deal. Pair it with a walk through the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, which is free and genuinely fascinating, and you have a half-day that costs almost nothing but feels like a full spa retreat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Taipei?

Four full days is the sweet spot for first-timers. You can cover the major attractions, two or three night markets, a day trip to Jiufen or Beitou, and still have time for spontaneous alley-wandering. Repeat visitors often do long weekends of three nights and focus on a single neighbourhood per day.

Is Taipei budget-friendly for Singaporeans?

Very. The SGD to TWD exchange rate currently sits around 1 SGD to 22–23 TWD, meaning a full night market dinner for two costs under S$15. Mid-range restaurant meals run S$8–20 per person. Budget accommodation in good locations starts around S$50 per night.

What is the best time of year to visit Taipei from Singapore?

October to December offers the most comfortable weather — mild temperatures around 20–25°C, lower humidity, and fewer typhoon risks. Spring (March to May) is also pleasant. Avoid July and August if you are sensitive to heat and humidity, which rivals Singapore's worst days.

Which MRT card should Singaporeans get in Taipei?

Pick up an EasyCard (悠遊卡) at the airport upon arrival. It works on the MRT, buses, YouBike rentals, and even convenience store purchases. Load NT$500 to start — it will last most of a four-day trip for transit costs.