6 things to do in Taipei on a budget

Imagining your life post lock-down? Roaming Taipei right now or planning on booking a holiday? Living on a budget? Sharon Chou has you covered with her list of things to do in Taipei - all activities are also no more than $24!

1. Taipei 101 Observatory: The best way to observe the city is to opt in for a ticket to the observatory deck at Taipei 101 to get a 360 degree view. The 91st floor was once the highest floor that was open, but in 2019, its top floor first opened to the public. Now, with the 101st floor available, it has attracted more visitors around the world.

2. Bike at the riverside in Dazhi

The riverside in Dazhi is a popular biking spot in Taipei for locals. With the riverside park having wide bicycle lanes, good views and gorgeous nature, it attracts a lot of people to bike there all year round. It is also possible to see downtown Taipei from the park as well as the most popular landmark of Taipei, Taipei 101. Afterwards, pop by the Miramar ferris wheel, which has the view of the city and is considered an iconic landmark of Taipei. It’s most popular at night when the ferris wheel displays different themes of neon light shows - don’t miss it!

3. Night Markets

Night market culture is big in Taiwan and is one of the places that attracts foreigners. Offering entertainment, food and shopping, the night market is a place that you cannot miss. There are quite a few top hit night market destinations in Taipei, but the top 5 are still considered Shilin, Tonghua, Raohe, Ningxia and Huaxi. In fact, by tourist numbers, Taipei’s night markets remain the country’s number one tourist attraction and several vendors are even Michelin recognized.

4. Daan Forest Park

Da’an Forest Park, also known as the Central Park of Taipei, is a public park located in the heart of Taipei in Da’an District. Situated in the urban centre and occupying 26 hectares, it is the largest park in Taipei with a forest-like environment and the spacious environment makes it a rare city park. It is one of the most protected parks in Taipei from urban destruction, hosting a wide variety of wild flowers and trees. The park also creates a nice habitat for squirrels and different species of birds that you wouldn’t normally see. Make sure to take a stroll around the park.

5. Memorial Halls

If you are into history, the memorial halls are a great place to visit. The Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall is probably the second most recognizable building in Taipei. The imposing blue and white structure was actually built to honor a former dictator and the memorial hall sits in Liberty Square which also houses the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall on the other hand predates CKS Memorial Hall and commemorates the founding father of the Republic of China.

6. Hike at the Elephant Mountain

The Elephant Mountain, located in downtown Taipei, is a popular place to visit between foreigners and locals whether in the evening or in the early morning. It is close to Taipei 101 and has a decent view of the skyline of Taipei and a good night view. It is 183m high and has a hiking trail of about 1.5km long, perfect for beginners and those looking to get some fresh air on weekends.

Taipei in the evening from Elephant Mountain.

With thanks for E. Su for providing some of the photos