Six years ago, D visited Taipei for only two days. Three years ago, we met and since the first date as we chatted about our travels over dumplings, he’s raved about Taipei and how he dreams of returning someday.
“It’s just such a cool city,” he’d say. But he couldn’t really tell me why. And he didn’t have any pictures to show me either, aside from some blurry ones taken from the top of the Taipei 101. And so I never believed him.
Taipei doesn’t seem to be on the radar for a lot of people, myself included. Maybe because there isn’t any famous landmarks (besides Taipei 101, but who travels to a country just to see a tall building??). It seems to get passed over on Southeast Asia itineraries for the beaches in Thailand, the ancient temples in Cambodia, or the bustling city of Hong Kong. I admit, I didn’t see the draw of Taipei either.
But as soon as we arrived in Taipei and started exploring, I understood. And after two weeks in the city, I was in love. Maybe D had a hard time putting into words how cool Taipei is, but I can, and with pictures to help!
I have so many specifics I want to share about Taipei, but first, I thought I’d introduce the city a little. So here are 17 big and small reasons why Taipei is the coolest Asian city (in no particular order):
1. Bakeries | Taipei may have the best bakeries in the world! Bakery runs quickly became a daily habit. Make sure you try the pastries with an Asian flare, like the ones topped with dried pork bits or scallions!
2. It’s very orderly | People queue up neatly and wait their turn. When it comes to escalators, everyone understands the concept of standers on right, walkers on left. Cars stop for pedestrians. Is this really Asia??
3. Night markets | This is the most fun part of Taiwanese culture! We lived right next to one and I loved grazing my way through it for dinner almost every night, trying staples like pan fried dumplings or more adventurous eats like pork blood cake.
Hmmm… that lady holding her nose… is it possible that she smelled…
4. Stinky tofu?! | This is a must try night market snack! Don’t worry, even if you can’t read the Chinese signs, you don’t have to search very hard for them. Just let your nose guide you, provided you don’t mistaken it for a sewer!
Stinky tofu is fermented which gives off its famous stench. But don’t let that stop you! I promise they’re much tastier than they smell! As pungent as the smell is, the taste is actually quite mild. A good one is fried up until it’s perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft and airy on the inside. Accompany it with a hot sauce and pickled cabbage! Delicious!!
5. The cutest pets | Immaculately groomed frou-frou dogs with clothes = cute overload. These little cuties are everywhere! It seems that the designer pet trend is alive and well in Taipei.
6. Friendly locals | Everyone was so genuinely nice and helpful. I was able to speak the language but not read the words a lot of the time. Everyone was happy to go over menus with me or to help me read something. The only disadvantage I see for other travelers is that most people don’t speak English. :(
7. Amazing public transportation | Taipei’s metro system is extensive and so easy to use that even someone who’s severely directionally-challenged like me can understand it.
8. It’s safe | It was nice to not constantly be in fear of getting pick-pocketed, or of getting run over by cars or scooters.
9. Enviable street fashion | As a full-time traveler who lives out of a carry-on, being fashionable is the least of my priorities. But with such cute clothing styles and cheap prices, never have I been more tempted to fall back into my old shopaholic ways.
10. Tea eggs at convenience stores | A warm pot of tea eggs (hard boiled eggs made in tea infused water) can be found in every convenience store (like Seven-11). At only 25 cents each, these are the best snacks!
11. Bike friendly city | With bike lanes and bike rentals dotted all around the city, I love that Taipei encourages this environmental friendly activity. We didn’t get to use it this time but I would love to explore the city by bike next time!
12. Some of the best teas in the world | Taiwan is a famous tea-producing area. D is a hardcore tea lover (fun fact: he even tried to have a tea shop once!) so this country is tea-paradise to him. We left with a large bag of tieguanyin, one of Taiwan’s most popular teas.
We already knew about Taiwan’s excellent tea, but we were completely surprised by all the…
13. Quirky coffee shops | I absolutely die for vintage, whimsical decor like this! D says the coffee is outstanding too. Cheap, smooth, and strong.
14. Egg tarts | If I had a list of “things worth getting fat for,” egg tarts would be at the top of that list.
15. Cutesy culture | Sparkly hair accesories, big bows, lace, patterned tights, and ruffles are a huge part of Taiwanese fashion. It’s completely acceptable to wear hair clips with bunny ears. It’s totally my kind of place! (And yes, I’m almost 30.)
16. Street art | Taipei has an edge to it. I’m never quite sure what I’ll run into. We discovered some great street art around Ximen (often thought of as the Harajuku of Taipei).
17. The food | I mentioned a few food items, but you didn’t think this would be off the list, did you?? Taiwan is filled with EVERYTHING I love! Noodles! Dumplings! Spicy foods! Pork belly! Buns! Of course we did away with the diet and ate everything in sight!
And lastly, I rate Taipei as one of the highest value destinations I’ve ever been to. This may come off as sounding politically incorrect, but I see Taipei as an advanced modern society with developing world prices. After traveling to a few other Southeast Asian countries, I really think Taipei gives the best value for what you get.
A meal costs approximately $2-4 US per person (and trust me, if you eat $4 worth of food by yourself, you will be STUFFED). We were hard pressed to spend $20 a day and we ate out every single meal, including milk teas and bakery treats. It’s true that Vietnam and Thailand are similar in terms of cost of food (though quality of food is higher in Vietnam and Taipei, I find), but in comparison, Taipei is a modern society with modern infrastructure and conveniences. I would say that Taipei is almost as nice as Singapore, but at a fraction of the cost.
Have you been to Taipei? And if not, have I made you want to go?? If not, then I truly suck as a blogger!
This post is linked up to Travel Tuesday.
When I was studying abroad, I met a lot of Taiwanese students and they convinced me to go so I’ve always been on the lookout for cheap tickets. Plus, all that delicious food! Need to brush up on my mandarin though.
If you find the cheap tickets, GO! Taipei completely blew my mind! I was surprised that almost nobody spoke English. I was told that everyone learns English in school, so most people can read & write it, but are poor with listening and speaking because of lack of practice.
It sounds like a great place to live! I’m not sure that I would visit unless there were cultural attractions within an easy day-trip or we made it a stopping point between other sites.
I think it’s a really good place to live too! I wouldn’t mind living there for a while AT ALL! I do understand how most people wouldn’t go there as a vacation destination because there aren’t any famous attractions, but it will make a great short visit in between other cities! I kinda like how there aren’t too much to see, and instead, the fun thing about it is just being there and experiencing the city!
YEAH!!!! So glad you had such a good time there. : ) Those are exactly the reasons I think it’s an excellent Asian country to visit, especially for first-timers! Cheap, delicious, fun, and safe.
Taipei is probably the first Asian city that I loved RIGHT AWAY! It definitely helps that all the food there are my favorites and that I speak the language, I think. You’re right, it is a good place for first-timers to Asia! I really liked being in a modern and safe Asian country after months of being in other countries!
So many cool things to try out actually! And the food, omg. I think I will go crazy? Are they fond of spicey food? If then, I’m so there!!
Taipei has ALL kinds of foods from all areas of China! That’s why I loved the food so much! So there is plenty of spicy food there, and if the food isn’t spicy by itself, there’s always a jar of chili paste/oil on the tables so you can make your own spice!
Gimme!!!!
#2 blows my mind! I’ve heard so many good things about Taiwan that it’s now on my list. And I kind of regret not buying clips with bunny ears when I was in China. . .I’d totally wear those guys.
I know! I’ve never seen such an orderly Asian city (except for Singapore, but that hardly counts). It tickled me so much to go into the metro stations and see everyone lined up so neatly in front of the doors or on the escalators. I didn’t buy any bunny ear clips either because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to wear them anywhere else. We do have plans to go back to Taipei at the end of this year, so I will gladly send you some! :)
Oh wow, sounds fabulous! It’s not a place I’ve ever thought of visiting, but it sounds like the kind of place I’d love :) Love that D couldn’t explain why he loved it, I think sometimes that’s the sign of a great place as it tells you so much about the vibe and character, which are highly important for a great city.
Yeah! It didn’t matter that there are no famous attractions. The fun of it was just being there and observing the vibe! That’s my favorite kind of city! If you’re ever back in the Southeast Asia area again, remember to plan for a little bit of time in Taipei. I think you’d love it too!
I would go further to say that Taipei is probably a state of the art Singapore-hippie Tokyo hybrid. I’m going to redeem my frequent flyer miles this month, and I’m torn between Barcelona, revisit Tokyo, and Taipei on the fringes. Will I make you feel better by saying this post has put Taipei back in the midst for me?
Yes! I would exactly describe Taipei as an edgy Singapore mixed with Japanese style. Ooh that’s a tough choice, but honestly, if you have the chance to go back to Europe, I would do that! I feel like Europe is so far and expensive to travel to that it’d be a waste not to use your miles for that. Traveling between SEA countries is cheaper and easier!
Yep, you’ve definitely made me want to go, for sure! I already love Singapore so every point you’ve made was like “uh-huh…. yep…. sounds brilliant…. uh-huh”. Honestly, I had no idea it was much more affordable… I guess I just sort of assumed it would be expensive too. Have no idea how bad the smell was, but that stinky tofu looks delicious! Maybe I am meant to live in Taiwan :)
I like Taipei a lot more than Singapore! I think it’s edgier and I like this kind of food more (though I do miss all that Indian food in Singapore)! Before we went, D kept on telling me that the both of us can pig out on only $5 worth of food, and I didn’t believe that the food is that cheap. But it is!! If you ever go, and if you like tofu, please don’t be put off by the smell and try stinky tofu!
I’m so glad you loved your time in Taipei! I 100% agree with you – Taiwan often gets overlooked but is a great destination to get more for your money, and as you said safe and easy to navigate. one thing on your list surprised me though… I’ve lived here for nearly 3 years and have managed fine with pretty much zero Mandarin [though I really should start learning]. people are always walking up to me and wanting to practice their English. everyone is SO NICE that even if you can’t manage a conversation they help as best as they can with hand language :) I’m moving up to Taipei this summer so if/when you come back we should meet up!
Oh that’s so good to hear! From my experience, most people didn’t speak English, but luckily, I could revert to Mandarin, so I didn’t know how completely non-Mandarin-speaking people would manage! And also since I look like a local, they don’t need to try English with me, haha. But yeah, everyone was so friendly!! We’re thinking of going back this fall to stay for longer (and to explore more of Taiwan) and I would love to meet up!!
You’ve definitely made me want to go! Looks like an awesome place all around! And all that food (okay, maybe not the stinky tofu, though I would try it) looks and sounds amazing!
Don’t knock the stinky tofu til you’ve tried it! The taste is really mild and it’s so deliciously crispy & airy! I would say it’s a must try Taiwanese specialty! :)
Not bad, not bad. I could definitely take a trip there :)
The egg tarts remind me of custard tarts that we get in the UK… and possibly here in Belgium, but I’ve not looked haha.
Ahhh how can you not have looked? I’m so obsessed with egg tarts!!
It seems so different to anything I had ever imagined. To be honest, it hadn’t really been on my radar either but reading this, it makes me think twice! Such unusual things like the tea eggs and the stinky tofu – I’d love to try those out. And the bakeries, well I think you know how much I’d want to try out the food in those as well! It must have been such a cool feeling to go with medium expectations and to leave so fascinated by a place :)
It was completely different from what I was picturing!! Maybe I’ve spent too long in Southeast Asia, but I didn’t think Taipei would be so modern or clean/orderly. And I was so surprised by how affordable it is there too! To me, it really has the best of both worlds.. cheap, delicious street food, but in a modern city!
I have actually heard a few bloggers talk about Tapei recently; before then I’m not even sure I could’ve pointed out its exact location on a map!
I’m definitely intrigued now, although I must admit I kinda like the chaos of other South-East Asian countries – probably because they’re so different to the UK :-)
I’m glad more people are talking about Taipei! It seems like that Taipei is becoming a more popular expat place too. Should I settle down somewhere, Taipei is probably the top of my list! I like the chaos too (like in Hanoi), but I think I’d get sick of living there. I like that Taipei has modern conveniences and super fast wifi!
I’m not going to lie … Taipei has not been on my radar at all. If I’m being honest … I didn’t even exactly know where it was …. (embarrassing)… But after reading this I’m SERIOUSLY tempted. Holy crap everything (Especially the food) looks amazing! That stinky tofu cracked me up! I usually say I’ll try anything once, but smelling like a sewer.. that seems a little hard to get past haha But hey, if you say it’s good I believe ya! Also those egg tarts remind me a lot of pastries that they have in Portugal! If they’re anything like those I could eat them for daysssss … You’ve been successful as a blogger my friend. Taipei is officially on the list ..
I think the egg tarts are similar to the Portuguese ones! I read that the Portuguese ones have more of a creme brulee finish on top, but I honestly wouldn’t know the difference. All I know is that they’re soooo good!! Yay! I’m glad it’s on the list now. If you’re ever in the Southeast Asian area, I think Taipei is definitely a worthy stop, just to relax and eat the amazing food… including the stinky tofu!
Tea eggs? I will have to try that! I found you through Kerri’s blogger spotlight and I am glad I did! I have never been anywhere like Taipei, but that whole continent really fascinates me!
Thanks so much for stopping by Holly! I love meeting new bloggers! We’ve been in Southeast Asia for half a year now so I have a lot of posts about it! I hope you get to visit someday. Taipei is a really good place to ease into the Asian culture!
Oh wow, this sounds like my kind of place. I’ve read so many good things about Taipei now. I really wanted to try and make it there while I’m still in Asia but it doesn’t look like it’s happening :( What was the best dish that you tried there?
Taipei completely amazed me. It was way cooler than anything I had imagined! Oh gosh, we had soooo much good food there. The street food is so good and cheap. My favorites will have to be dumplings and noodles of any kind! I can eat that kind of stuff everyday!
I’ve never really thought about visiting Taipei before, but it looks pretty good – especially the food! Might make a nice stop-off on the way to Australia or New Zealand perhaps.
I think it’s a good city to stop in on the way to somewhere else. I understand how some people may not think it’s worth its own trip, since it’s not really famous for anything. But it’ll definitely make a fun place to just hang out in for a few days and absorb the culture! The food is AMAZING!
Bakeries and cool cafes? I’m convinced!
Two of my favorite things! Really, one of my criteria for whether an area is good to live in or not is whether there are cafes and dessert shops around!
I just hopped across to your blog from Kerri’s over at Crumbs in the Bed and I am definitely staying – these food photos are amazing, and I love the look of the coffee shops too. – Tasha
Hi Natasha! Thanks so much for coming over! :D That coffee shop is probably the cutest one I’ve ever seen. I love quirky cafes like that!!
Not a problem – I love these photos!
The bakeries look amazing. I’d love to eat one of those pastries right now. And the culture alone looks amazing. I’ll have to visit here some time.
The bakeries are soooo good. I miss my egg tarts and cream puffs and butter buns! I really think Taipei has such a cool culture. It’s edgy and also girly, and delicious!
I want to go back to Taiwan so badly! I grew up there and think it would be so cool to visit again as an adult.
That’s so cool that you grew up there! It’s always interesting to re-visit a childhood home and see it through the eyes of an adult! I hope you get to go back soon!
you had me at the first picture…but then I saw the dog/puppy one and totally again!
People have the cutest pets there, and it looks like that they really take good care of their dogs!
It’s so awesome to meet someone who shares my intense love of Taipei. I HAVE to move there someday. Too bad the job opportunities just aren’t the same as they are on the mainland. If they were I’d be on the first flight!
We loved Taipei so much too that we want to come back and spend more time here (like a couple of months)! Where are you in China? We’re currently in China too!
Anna, I also love Taiwan, especially Taipei…but wasn’t a fan of the packaged eggs. I didn’t try any in a pot sitting there…maybe I’ll have to go back!
I wouldn’t actually recommend trying the tea eggs from the convenience stores if you’re not a huge fan! I just liked the fact that the stores had them for quick snacks. I’d recommend you get it from a proper eatery! I grew up on tea eggs and I love them!
Wow, Taipei looks like an awesome destination for these reasons! The bakeries! Food! Pets! Fashion! Tea! They all look great! And I’ll have to take your word on the tofu :p
If you get there, you must try the tofu! It’s a Taiwanese specialty, and it’s soooo good if you can get past the smell!