Taipei 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Taipei plan works

Taipei + Jiufen + Shifen

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Taipei rather than in transit. MRT (EasyCard) covers the city — NT$20–65 per ride, all-day pass NT$150. YouBike 2.0 shared bikes are everywhere (NT$10/30 min). Taxis are metered and cheap (NT$85 flag drop). Taoyuan Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in 36 min for NT$150. Songshan Airport (domestic + Tokyo/Seoul/Shanghai) is inside the city — MRT one stop.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Full essentials above.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Jiufen Old Street + Shifen lantern release day trip (Spirited Away vibe).

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Yehliu Geopark + Tamsui fisherman's wharf sunset OR Maokong Gondola tea day.

Where to base yourself

• Xinyi

  Taipei 101, luxury malls (Bellavita, ATT4Fun), Mandarin Oriental, Grand Hyatt, W Taipei — first-time base.

• Zhongshan / Zhongshan North

  Design boutiques, Regent Taipei, Palais de Chine, cafés and old-city walkability.

• Ximending

  Taipei's Shibuya — youth street fashion, budget hotels, movie theatres, Longshan Temple nearby.

• Da'an / Yongkang

  Din Tai Fung original, boutique cafés, National Taiwan University area — foodie's base.

Best time to run this itinerary

October–December is peak — 18–26°C, clear skies, Taipei 101 New Year fireworks. March–May brings cherry blossom and Yangmingshan calla lilies (25°C). June–September is hot, humid, typhoon-prone. January–February can be chilly and wet but hot springs are at their best. Lunar New Year (Jan/Feb) shuts many small shops for 5 days.

Before you go

• EasyCard works on MRT, buses, YouBike shared bikes, taxis, 7-Eleven and payment at convenience stores.

• Standing on the RIGHT of escalators is the local rule; leave the left side clear for walkers.

• Tap water is drinkable after boiling; bottled water is cheap (NT$15/500ml) and safer for visitors.