Taipei in 3 Nights: Night Markets, Hot Springs, and Mountain Views

Why Taipei Works So Well in Four Days

Taipei is one of those rare cities where you can hit temples, skyscrapers, mountain villages, and steaming hot springs without ever renting a car. Everything worth seeing sits within about an hour of the city center, and the metro (the MRT) is clean, cheap, and signposted in English. That makes it a near-perfect fit for a long weekend or a 3-night, 4-day trip.

This guide lays out a realistic route: Taipei 101 and the food-dense district around it, the sprawling Shilin Night Market, a half-day escape to the lantern-lit hillside of Jiufen, and a slow morning soaking in the volcanic springs of Beitou. No rushing, no 6 a.m. wake-ups, and plenty of room to sit down for a bowl of beef noodle soup.

A quick note on money before you go: Taiwan runs on the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), and at the time of writing roughly 30 TWD equals about 1 USD. Most night-market stalls and small shops are cash-only, so plan to carry bills. The costs below are approximate and meant for budgeting, not gospel.

Day 1: Landing, Longshan Temple, and Ximending After Dark

Most international flights land at Taoyuan International Airport, about 40 km west of the city. The fastest way in is the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, which takes roughly 35–50 minutes and costs about 160 TWD. Grab an EasyCard (悠遊卡) from any station kiosk on arrival, load it with 500 TWD, and you're set for nearly all your transit and even convenience-store snacks.

Afternoon: Longshan Temple

Once you've dropped your bags, ease into the trip at Longshan Temple, one of the oldest and most atmospheric temples in the city. Entry is free, incense hangs thick in the air, and you'll see locals of every age praying side by side. Give yourself 45 minutes and step back to just watch the rhythm of it.

Evening: Ximending

A short walk or one MRT stop away is Ximending, Taipei's neon-soaked pedestrian shopping district, often compared to Tokyo's Shibuya. It's the right speed for a jet-lagged first night: street performers, bubble tea, cheap eats, and people-watching. Try Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle, a famous standing-only stall where a small bowl runs about 55 TWD.

Day 2: Taipei 101, Elephant Mountain, and Shilin Night Market

Day two is the big one. Start with the icon, earn a viewpoint, then eat your way through the city's most famous night market.

Morning: Taipei 101

Taipei 101 was once the tallest building in the world, and its observatory on the 89th floor still delivers a sweeping view. The elevator hits the top in about 37 seconds. Tickets run around 600 TWD; going right at opening (usually 11 a.m.) keeps the lines short. The basement and lower floors are a full mall, and the food court is a solid, budget-friendly lunch stop.

Late afternoon: Elephant Mountain

For the postcard shot of Taipei 101 rising out of the skyline, hike Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan). It's a stair climb of roughly 20 to 30 minutes, sweaty but short, and the payoff at sunset is genuinely worth it. Bring water and go about 90 minutes before dusk to claim a good spot on the rocks.

Evening: Shilin Night Market

Cap the day at Shilin Night Market, the largest in Taipei, reachable via the Jiantan MRT station. Come hungry. The must-tries: oyster omelet (蚵仔煎), giant fried chicken cutlet from Hot-Star (about 90 TWD), stinky tofu if you're brave, and a mango shaved ice to finish. Budget around 300 to 500 TWD to graze properly.

Day 3: A Half-Day Trip to Jiufen and Shifen

Trade the city for the hills today. Jiufen is a former gold-mining town clinging to a mountainside northeast of Taipei, all narrow lanes, red lanterns, and teahouses with ocean views. It's frequently cited as an inspiration for the bathhouse in a certain famous animated film, though the studio has never confirmed it.

Getting there

The simplest route is the train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (about 50 minutes, 76 TWD), then a short bus or taxi up the hill. Alternatively, direct buses run from Taipei; either way, budget about 75 to 90 minutes each direction. Go on a weekday if you can, because Jiufen's alleys get shoulder-to-shoulder crowded on weekends.

What to do

• Wander Jiufen Old Street and snack on taro balls, savory pork, and peanut ice cream rolls.
• Sit down at A-Mei Teahouse for a pot of high-mountain oolong; expect around 300 TWD per person, and treat it as renting a beautiful view for an hour.
• If time allows, add Shifen, where you write a wish on a paper sky lantern and release it over the old railway tracks (about 200 TWD per lantern).

Head back before the evening rush so you're not standing on a packed bus in the dark. A quiet dinner back near your hotel is the right way to close the day.

Day 4: Beitou Hot Springs, Then Home

Save the softest day for last. Beitou is a hot-spring district right inside the city, reachable in about 30 minutes by MRT (transfer to the short Xinbeitou branch line). Steam literally drifts up from Thermal Valley, and the whole neighborhood smells faintly of sulfur in the best possible way.

How to soak

You have two options. The Beitou Public Hot Spring is an open-air, swimsuit-required bath with several pools at different temperatures for as little as 60 TWD, run in timed sessions. For more comfort, many hotels rent private spring rooms by the hour, typically 800 to 1,500 TWD, which is ideal if you want a quiet last morning before flying out.

While you're there, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (free entry) and the striking green Beitou Public Library are both a short stroll away and make for a gentle, low-effort morning.

Getting to the airport

From Beitou, ride the MRT back to Taipei Main Station and catch the Airport MRT. Give yourself at least 3 hours before an international departure, factoring in the roughly 50-minute train ride plus check-in and security.

Practical Tips and a Sample Budget

A few things that make a Taipei trip smoother:

• Transit: One EasyCard covers the MRT, city buses, and most convenience stores. Load about 700 to 1,000 TWD for the whole trip and top up as needed.
• Weather: Taipei is humid year-round. Spring (March to May) and fall (October to November) are the most comfortable; summer brings heat and occasional typhoons, so keep plans flexible.
• Cash: Night markets and small stalls are cash-only. ATMs at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart reliably accept foreign cards.
• Connectivity: A tourist SIM or eSIM is cheap and worth it for maps and translation on the fly.

Rough per-person budget (excluding flights)

• Accommodation, 3 nights mid-range: 4,500 to 9,000 TWD
• Food (night markets plus a few sit-down meals): 3,000 to 4,500 TWD
• Transit and day trips: 1,200 to 1,800 TWD
• Attractions and hot springs: 1,500 to 2,500 TWD

All in, a comfortable 4-day trip lands somewhere around 10,000 to 18,000 TWD (roughly 330 to 600 USD) before flights, which makes Taipei one of the better-value city breaks in Asia.

When you're ready to turn this outline into a real schedule, let myTravel handle the sequencing. Enter your dates, and its AI proposes a day-by-day plan you can rearrange freely, then track your spending against it as you go. Start yours at myTravel and tweak the route to your own pace.