Singapore to Taipei. Four and a half hours on a Scoot flight. You land in the afternoon, clear customs, and by the time you check into your hotel the evening light is fading over the city. That is when Taipei starts to make sense.
Here is how to do 5 days in Taipei as a first-timer, without wasting time on the wrong things.
Day 1: Arrive, Settle, Ximending
Get from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to your hotel via the MRT Airport Line. Alight at Taipei Main Station and take the MRT to your hotel.
The evening is for exploring Ximending. Walk the pedestrian-only streets, find a bubble milk tea, and get your bearings.
Day 2: Taipei City
Start early at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Get there for the changing of the guard ceremony at 9am.
Walk to the National Taiwan Museum. The museum is small but well-curated.
Take the MRT to Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) in the afternoon. The hike up takes 30-40 minutes. You will be rewarded with a view over Taipei Basin and the Taipei 101 skyline.
Day 3: Jiufen and Shifen Day Trip
Today is outside Taipei. Jiufen and Shifen are gold mining towns in the hills north of the city, about 40km away.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Zhongxiao Xinshui Station, then transfer to the bus (1062 or 795) to Jiufen. The bus ride is 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Jiufen: Walk the old streets, try the peanut ice cream roll, the taro balls, and the stir-fried squid.
Shifen: 15 minutes by bus from Jiufen. The old railway tracks here are famous for sky lanterns. Release a lantern with a wish written on it for approximately S$15-S$20.
Day 4: Longshan Temple, Bopiliao, Shilin Night Market
Morning at Longshan Temple in Wanhua. This is a working temple. Go early when it is quieter. Dress modestly.
Walk to Bopiliao Old Street after. A restored heritage area with small galleries, craft shops, and tea houses.
Afternoon at Shilin Night Market. Go early around 4pm to beat the rush.
Day 5: Taipei 101 or Taroko Gorge, then Departure
Option A: Taipei 101 in the morning. Go up the observation deck for the view.
Option B: Taroko Gorge. This is a full day trip. Take the train from Taipei Station to Hualien (2 hours), see the gorge, return.
Evening: Ningxia Night Market for a final dinner. The pork rice sets here are the way to end the trip.
Logistics You Need to Know
Getting an EasyCard: Buy at the airport on arrival. S$100 deposit. Load it with S$500 for a week.
MRT in Taipei: The system is colour-coded, straightforward, and in English. A single journey costs S$0.50-S$3.
Visa: Singapore passport. No visa needed. Register the Taiwan Arrival Form online before departure.
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