After arrival and before hotel check-in, ease into Taipei with a relaxing walk through Daan Park, where tree-lined paths, a small pond and local tai chi groups give a gentle introduction to city life. Stop for a late brunch at Fuhang Soy Milk or a nearby café on Fuxing South Road to try fresh soy milk, youtiao and Taiwanese breakfast classics, then stroll the boutique-lined streets toward Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to peek at the modern architecture and urban gardens before your 15:00 hotel check-in.
Head to Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) Trail around 16:30 for a brisk climb-the stepped path and lookout platforms take about 20-30 minutes to reach the classic skyline viewpoint where you can set up for sunset photos of Taipei 101 as the city lights wake. After descending, wander the nearby Xinyi Shopping District, pop into a specialty tea shop like Royal Tea or grab a Taiwanese snack at ATT 4 FUN before checking into your hotel at 15:00 and freshening up for evening plans.
After freshening up, wander over to the lively Bellavita area for an elegant dinner-choose Taiwanese-fusion at RAW or modern izakaya vibes at MUME Bar before dessert. Later, stroll through the neon-lit lanes around Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, pop into a craft beer bar like Zhongxiao Brewing or try street snacks at a nearby night stall, then finish the night with skyline cocktails at the rooftop bar of W Taipei for a relaxed view back toward the lit-up city.
Start the day with a slow train ride to Houtong Cat Village, arriving around 09:00 to wander the narrow alleys where friendly cats lounge on old railway platforms and local vendors sell cat-themed snacks and souvenirs; don't miss the photo-op at the restored Houtong Railway Station and the small museum showcasing the town's mining past. Afterward, take a short taxi or Uber to Ruifang Old Street for a morning tea break-sample a warm pineapple cake and traditional Taiwanese tea at a cozy teahouse-then stroll down to the colorful waterfront of Zhengbin Fishing Port to catch early reflections on the water before heading on to Keelung or Jiufen for the afternoon.
Make your way up to Jiufen Old Street in the early afternoon and lose yourself in its narrow, lantern-lined alleys-sample sweet potato balls from a stall, sip oolong at A-Mei Tea House with its balcony views, and browse handcrafted snacks and tea tins in tucked-away shops. As daylight softens, walk the short path to Gold Ecological Park (Jinguashi) to explore the abandoned mines and the atmospheric Gold Museum exhibits, then settle at a hillside teahouse to watch clouds roll over the harbor before the evening crowd arrives in Jiufen.
As night falls, wander the atmospheric lanes toward Shengping Theater, catch a short show or browse its vintage posters, then head to A-Mei Tea House Annex for a quieter rooftop tea service with jasmine and local sweets while lanterns glow below. Finish with a slow walk to Jiufen Old Street Night Market Extension to sample piping-hot taro balls and sweet potato pancakes from local stalls, followed by a tipple at Keelung Harbor Viewpoint Café to watch fishing boats bob under lantern-lit skies.
Begin with a peaceful stroll and photo hunt through the wide plazas of Liberty Square, arriving in time to watch the changing of the guard at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and explore the memorial's galleries; the soaring architecture and manicured grounds make for iconic morning light. Then wander over to the nearby Huashan 1914 Creative Park to browse indie boutiques, pop-up art exhibitions and specialty coffee at Waking Up Coffee, finishing with a relaxed Taiwanese-style brunch of dan bing and fresh tea at the park's café before heading toward Yongkang for the afternoon.
Wander the charming lanes of Yongkang Street's quieter side alleys to sample artisan ice cream at Olive Gelato and browse specialty tea shops, then slip into Dingjia Alley for a relaxed late-lunch of street-style xiao long bao and scallion pancakes at local stalls. Afterward, stroll toward the tree-lined paths of Daan Forest Park to rest by the pond or rent a bike to explore the greenery before heading up to the shopping towers around Taipei 101 mall for an early-evening coffee and skyline sightlines.
As dusk falls, head to Huaxi Street Night Market for adventurous bites like snake soup alternatives, grilled squid and herbal snacks, then cross to the nearby Ximending Red House area to catch live street performances and browse indie craft stalls. Finish the night with a relaxed drink and skyline views at Elephant Mountain's nearby lookout café (short MRT + walk), or if you prefer lively local flavor, sample oyster omelette and sesame oil chicken at stalls in Ningxia Night Market while soaking up the bustle.
Ease into the last morning with a seafood feast at Addiction Aquatic Development, savoring uni hand rolls and Alaskan crab at the market counters before picking up fresh sashimi to-go. Afterwards, stroll nearby to Tianmu Market for premium souvenirs like baked pineapple cakes and specialty teas, then grab a final local coffee at Coffee Alley Tianmu before heading to the hotel to pack and make your way to the Airport MRT.
After a leisurely morning seafood feast, spend the afternoon hunting for last-minute gifts in Zhongxiao Dunhua's boutique lanes-pop into SunnyHills for fresh pineapple cake boxes and Ten Ren Tea for compact oolong tins to pack easily. Then stroll to Taipei City Mall beneath the station for duty-free style souvenirs and affordable gadget finds, and finish with a calm cup at VVG Something before heading to the hotel to collect bags and make the 15:30 Airport MRT transfer.
Wind down your trip with a relaxed final stroll through Shilin Night Market for last-minute street-food souvenirs-try a silky mango shaved ice from a popular stall and pick up packaged squid snacks for the flight. If time allows, pop into nearby Bopiliao Historical Block for a quick wander through preserved Qing-era lanes and then head to Taipei Main Station to board the Taoyuan Airport MRT, enjoying one last bubble tea from Chun Shui Tang en route to the terminal.