Taipei — Jiufen old street
A mountain village of narrow lanes, red lanterns, and tea houses overlooking the sea. The model for Spirited Away (disputed but widely believed). Go at dusk when the lanterns light up. Weekdays are far less crowded.
✨ Must-sees in Taiwan
The real must-sees in Taiwan go beyond the postcard spots. These are the places locals point visitors toward once the obvious sights are out of the way.
In Taiwan, must-sees comes down to a few things: taipei — jiufen old street, taipei — elephant mountain at sunset, and taipei — yongkang street.
Taipei — Elephant Mountain at sunset
A 20-minute hike to the best view of Taipei 101 and the city skyline. The sunset-to-city-lights transition is stunning. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to secure a spot.
Taipei — Yongkang Street
A food pilgrimage street. Din Tai Fung's original branch (xiaolongbao), Smoothie House (mango shaved ice), and a dozen other legendary spots within walking distance.
Kaohsiung — Pier-2 Art Center
A revitalized harbor warehouse district with street art, installations, indie shops, and the light rail running through it. Rent a bike and ride along the Love River.
Kaohsiung — Lotus Pond temples
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Spring and Autumn Pavilions — enter through the dragon's mouth, exit through the tiger's. Colorful, kitschy, and deeply Taiwanese. Best photographed at golden hour.
Kaohsiung — Liuhe Night Market
Kaohsiung's most famous night market. Seafood-heavy — grilled squid, papaya milk, and coffin bread (thick toast stuffed with creamy seafood chowder). Smaller and more manageable than Taipei's markets.
Tainan — The temple city
Taiwan's oldest city and cultural capital. Hundreds of temples, many centuries old. The Confucius Temple and Grand Mazu Temple are essential. Tainan is also the food capital — locals will fight you on this.
Tainan — Shennong Street
A photogenic lane of restored old shops with flower-covered facades, bars, and boutiques. At night, paper lanterns glow overhead. It's Tainan's most Instagram-worthy spot — but genuinely charming.
Tainan — Breakfast culture
Tainan does breakfast differently — milkfish congee, beef soup (at 5am), and danzai noodles. Weekend food crawls through old-town streets are how Tainanese spend Saturday mornings.