After almost two weeks of island-wide adventure on the open roads of Taiwan, the last stop on our epic road trip was its vibrant capital city – Taipei. We planned to spend our final few days enjoying Taipei’s dynamic urban energy, feasting on its incredible food scene, and fitting in some last-minute souvenir shopping.
We began our first full day in Taipei by fueling up on a classic Taiwanese breakfast. At a popular local breakfast joint, we devoured fluffy omelettes stuffed with sweet potatoes, accompanied by fried crullers and rich soy milk. Thus energized, we headed out ready to explore.
As Taipei has an extensive, user-friendly metro system, we had no problems getting around car-free for the next few days. Our first destination was the historic Longshan Temple, one of the city’s most important and popular Buddhist temples. Even on a weekday morning, devotees filled the stately shrine complex offering incense at the central altar. We observed the ornate architecture and spiritual rituals with fascination before wandering the bustling market streets around the temple.
After soaking in some culture, we embraced our inner shopaholics at the multi-storey fashion mecca Taipei 101 Shopping Mall at the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. We had fun browsing through endless stores showcasing global brands alongside homegrown labels and checking out the cool modern architectural details that make Taipei 101 an engineering marvel.
By the afternoon, we were ready to discover Taipei’s other famous claim to fame – its spectacular food scene! We headed to Shilin Night Market, the city’s most iconic. The moment we dived into the hundreds of food stalls lining the covered market streets, we were blown away by the staggering variety of Taiwanese street eats on display. From peppery hot stinky tofu to giant fried chicken steaks, candied fruits on sticks to rainbow shaved ice… we were spoilt for choice!
Over the next few hours, we happily noshed on Taiwanese snacks while exploring the market’s labyrinth of lanes and unexpected corners. We also enjoyed practicing our bargaining skills with locals as we hunted for quirky souvenirs. Laden with bags of goodies but still craving more iconic Taiwanese fare, we capped off day one in Taipei with steaming bowls of danzi mian – punchy minced pork noodle soup swimming with veggies. Slurping those hearty noodles marked a deliciously satisfying end to our jam-packed first day discovering Taipei’s charms.
On our final day on the road in Taiwan, we dedicated the morning to sightseeing in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei’s gorgeous natural playground right on its doorstep! We rode a public bus about 40 minutes out from the city hustle to the mountain valleys and hiking trails of grassy Yangmingshan. Clean air and beautiful scenery awaited us as we spent a delightful few hours walking through flower gardens, sulphur creek beds and a scenic waterfall nestled in lush forest.
For our last meal in Taiwan, we fittingly went back to our Taipei city roots to feast on Michelin-standard soup dumplings! We headed to Din Tai Fung, the famed Taiwanese chain awarded a coveted Michelin star for their succulent xiaolongbao. Seated in Din Tai Fung’s glitzy two-storey flagship Taipei restaurant, we relished every last juicy morsel of these flawless pork and crab soup dumplings. Watching the open kitchen dumpling masters meticulously preparing each delicate basket of xiaolongbao made for a mesmerizing foodie experience!
With full bellies and somewhat heavy hearts coming to the tail-end of our epic Taiwanese adventure, we spent our final evening in Taipei exploring the atmospheric lanes of Dihua Old Street. Once the beating heart of Taipei’s traditional Chinese medicinal trading scene, this vibrant neighborhood brims with heritage architecture, quaint tea shops and enduring vibes of old-world charm. As dusk fell and lanterns came ablaze in Dihua Street’s shopfronts, we knew this evocative glimpse into Taipei’s history was the perfect finale.
Tomorrow we fly home with amazing memories from the length and breadth of this diverse island nation. But gazing up at Taipei 101’s glittering silhouette once more, we know a piece of our hearts will forever remain in Taiwan – until we return again!