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There are infinite numbers of ways to spend 3 days in Taipei. Sure, 3 days is hardly enough time to spend anywhere, but in a city that seems to have as many eateries as it does people, there are far too many options and all of them good. The best way to experience Taipei is to discover it for yourself. Go toward whatever looks cool. Eat at wherever is the most crowded. When in doubt, get in line. Even if you don’t know what you’re waiting for, it most likely won’t disappoint! But for a traveler visiting this foodie haven for the first time, here are some guidelines (along with many options — think of it as a “choose your own adventure” type piece) to get you started.

SKIP TO: DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE | MAP

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DAY ONE

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Start your day early (especially during the summers to beat the heat), and wake up with the oldest district of the city.

Head over to Longshan Temple (MRT: Longshan Temple line 5, take exit 1 and walk straight through the park). The 18th century Buddhist temple is among the most famous in Taiwan and attracts visitors from around the world. But early in the mornings, the temple is a place for local worshippers.

Enter the temple from the door on the right. It is customary to step in with your left foot first, and to step over (rather than on) the shallow ledge. Take 3 incense sticks and light them using the flames on the side. Begin at the front, behind the offering table, and make your way in through the temple in a counter-clockwise fashion. The 3 incense sticks go in the main 3 censers at the front, middle, and back of the temple.

Photography is allowed, given it is a popular tourist destination. But as in any place of worship, be respectful (don’t take pictures of the altars or the worshippers!), especially when it is crowded during prayer days. Exit the temple through the left door (the one you didn’t enter through, which should be on the right side if you are walking out), and step out using your right foot.

Spend a little time walking around the surrounding neighborhood. Stroll around 剝皮寮歷史街區 Bopiliao Historical Block for a glimpse of life centuries ago with preserved architecture dating back to 1799. Cool off with some 青草茶 (a slightly bitter herbal tea) at a stand nearby and feel the city pick up pace as the morning continues.

By this time, you should have worked up quite an appetite. Which is good, because in Taiwan, once the eating begins, it doesn’t end.

So go back down and take the MRT towards Taipei Main Station, and then transfer to the red line and go to Dong Men. It’s time to go the foodie enclave that is loved by tourists and locals alike: Yong Kang Street. Every city has that one street that is especially known for having the best food. While that title is hotly contested in this city of food, this street has probably ranked reliably high through the years.

Now here is when you can start to “choose your own adventure,” depending on how you’re feeling and what experience you’re looking for.

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No matter which option you chose, you’re probably pretty full right now. Which is a shame. So take a leisurely walk through the neighborhood. Check out the souvenir shops – a lot of the shops offer hand-crafted goods by local artists.

And then, when you’re ready, it’s time to eat again. Beef noodle soup. The pride and joy of Taiwanese cuisine. The source of controversy and rivalries, the inspiration for contests and awards. Again, you must choose your own adventure:

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Now that you’re so full you can’t breathe, you can walk it off with some revitalized culture and trendy shopping. Depending on where you are staying, choose your adventure. Both are essentially the same experience. But after a long first day, you probably won’t regret being that much closer to bed.

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DAY TWO

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Pick your own itinerary, if you are more of a history, art and museums person, go with option 1. Otherwise, for food and gondolas, go with option 2.

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DAY THREE

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Wake up early (again) and head over to Elephant Mountain (the last station on the red MRT line). Cut through Zhongqiang Park and then follow the path toward the mountain, turn right at the temple and you’ll see the entrance to the Elephant Mountain trail. About 15 minutes up, you’ll reach the Six Boulders area, where everyone camps out with their tripods to capture the perfect postcard-worthy shot of the city. If there is one place where you should take a photo on this trip, it should be here. So snap away! While it is absolutely stunning to be here during sunset, everyone has the same idea. So it’s much more peaceful in the early morning. Mostly locals and old people getting their morning exercise in so you won’t have to compete for a spot on the boulder.

Head back toward Taipei 101 and grab coffee and breakfast at Woolloomooloo. The Australian-inspired café pours a great flat white. Otherwise, for a more traditional pick me up, head straight to CKS Memorial Hall Station, also on the red line. Grab traditional breakfast pastries at 江蘇老宜記燒餅舖, right around the corner from Nanmen Market. Get a sweet black sesame one and a savory scallion one. And a cup of cold soy milk.

Then, walk over to CKS Memorial Hall. This is a large park and historical site dedicated to Chiang Kai Shek. On one side is the majestic blue-roofed hall that houses the giant statue of Chiang Kai Shek and hosts exhibitions below. I’ve seen everything from Salvador Dali to Hello Kitty exhibited there so you never know! If you go at certain times, you can also see the guards change. On the other side of the park is the bright red National Theatre, as well as a nearly identical National Concert Hall facing it. CKS Memorial Hall is a beautiful urban park with manicured gardens and picturesque ponds. You can even feed the koi by buying fish food from the dispensers! Some of my best childhood memories were here. Also, I made the Snapchat Geofilter, so use it!

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Given that this is the historic center of the city (XinYi became a thing much more recently) there are so many great food options to choose from. Right across from CKS is a place called 杭州小籠湯包 Hangzhou Soup Dumplings, which has the whole DTF ordeal, but you sit on stools and it’s like a third of the price. They market it as DTF flavors, night market prices. Best to be enjoyed with a group of people though, so that you can try more stuff. Or, go back to 南門市場 Nanmen Market and grab a “lunchbox” of whatever dishes look good. Or, go to 金峰魯肉飯 Jin Feng braised meat for the classic Taiwanese dish of rich braised pork over rice. This place is so tiny, but so worth it.

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Next, take the MRT green line over to Beimen Station. There, you’ll find 迪化街 Dihua Street, an “old street” as we call them in Chinese. A street that commercializes the preservation of history and is great for visitors to learn about life in the olden days and shop around in traditional stores. This is a great place to pick up a souvenir.

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Then, make your way toward Taipei Main Station. If you’re up for navigating an underground labyrinth, go ahead and check out the underground malls beneath the station. There are 4 main ones, all full of little shops and eateries. I prefer the front station K and Z malls. It’s an excellent place to hide out if it’s pouring outside though! Just for fun, check out the station’s 2nd floor food court. It has food courts within the food court. You could do a whole enthographic study of Taiwan just on that floor. But don’t eat there.

Instead, continue across the street toward Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. On Guanqian road next to the Uniqlo, there will be stairs leading up to Coffee Alley. It’s time to experience the modern Taiwanese afternoon tea culture: an extravagant and photogenic full meal that leaves you stuffed yet doesn’t count as the main 3 meals of the day. Get the ice cream with cotton candy and espresso. It’s basically a sundae topped with white spun sugar and served with a shot of espresso. Pour the espresso over the cotton candy and it transforms into a think coffee syrup over the ice cream. It tastes as amazing as it sounds.

And then, here are a couple options on how you can walk off the afternoon tea.

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Finally, keep walking west until you get to XiMenDing. This is like the Times Square/Harajuku of Taipei. The pedestrian area is full of student friendly shops, street food, movie theaters, KTV complexes and hair salons. And SO MANY tea drink stores. Basically everything Taiwanese students need. If you have time to kill, get your hair washed (for like $5) or rent a karaoke room (yes these are two very common pastimes in Taiwan). By the way, karaoke places in Taiwan are often all-you-can-eat. It’s a great place for shopping and hanging out with friends. Check out the Red House, a former theater that now has exhibits and a tea house inside. But seriously, go KTV – order a round of Taiwan Beer and sing your heart out. They’re open 24/7.

But if you’re really stubborn about not singing, hop back on the green line from Ximen MRT and head to ZhongShan/ShuangLian. This is another shopping and dining hub with two Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s and a lot of other stores and restaurants around. Finish off the night in what is arguably Taipei’s best night market for food: Ningxia Night Market.

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