lin821

I "think" Jamaldo was referring to these (sampled) threads about TPE layover:

9 hours in TPE: should I bother?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...a-layover.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...e-layover.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...erlap-tpe.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...-tpe-help.html

Depending on how you like to spend your day, you may also want to check in the following selective threads for one-day trips in Taipei:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...ay-taipei.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...me-taipei.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...ay-taipei.html

There are more TPE/Taipei threads but not geared towards less-than-a-day visits.

International arrivals at TSA (Songshan airport) is quite recent (April or May this year) and only operate with certain paired international cities in Japan and China. If you somehow can manage to get in from TSA, it'll definitely save you time on transportation, and render more hours for city/food exploration.

Songshan airport is on MRT route and near Songshan Railroad Station. Taipei Main Station is a very busy place (maybe not during 5:00 am ) and tourists can easily get lost with our much-to-be-desired signs. I don't think a hotel near Taipei Main Station will be inconvenient, but if I were you, I probably would look for something near Songshan District, Daan District, and/or Xinyi District. As a matter of fact, any hotel near MRT stations is fine since MRT is a lifesaver when touring Taipei.

For the time being, if I were you, I'd take MRT over buses. Taipei MRT runs very frequently, on time, and no traffic jam. Except the transfer stops/stations get quite crowded during rush hours (around 17:00- 19:00). Get yourself an EasyCard (i.e. Yo-Yo Card 悠遊卡) for riding MRT and buses. Most convenient stores (7-Elevens, Family Mart..etc) and certain retailers take Yo-Yo Card but not credit card. Yo-Yo card is reloadable in NTD$100 increments. IIRC, no expiration date on the card.

Both Daan and Xinyi Districts are "newer" areas than Taipei Main Station, which is located in Zhongzheng District (the old downtown) and close to Wanhwa Districts. If you pick a hotel near Taipei Main Station, you get to explore Ximenting, Longshan Temple and night markets in Wanhwa District.

If you stay near Songshan, Daan or Xinyin District, you get to see "East District" on Zhongxia E. RD, Wufenpu, Raohe Street Night Market, Shida Night Market, and/or Tonghwa Night Market.

After reviewing previous discussion threads on TPE/Taipei, you may want to follow up in thread with your specific liking so folks in the know can give you more tailored suggestions. Welcome to Taipei!

ETA:
Just saw Jamaldo's remark on night markets. Does Shihlin Night Market have its own special small eats? Yes, but I won't pick Shihlin Night Market as the go-to night market in Taipie. Speaking as a local, Shihlin is overrated and has been "taken over" by Chinese tourists. It shows in the way the vendors do and promo their business.

There's a recent survey done in the local that the variety of food in Shihlin Night Market is far worse than any other named night markets in Taipei. Even the much smaller Tonghwa Night Market, my old neighborhood night market, gets better review than Shihlin. No doubt, Shihlin is a big name night market but its "popularity" is also due to physical proximity to National Palace Museum. Easier for visitors to drop by after the museum.

I rank Raohe Street, Shihda, Hwaxi Street, Gongang, and Tonghwa Night Markets higher than Shihlin. As a matter of fact, I strongly recommend any international visitor to see Raohe Street Night Market for their debut night market exploration in Taiwan.