What to do in Taipei?
 

I will be going to Taipei for a business trip next month. Of course, I will be squeezing a day or two in for pleasure. For those who are native or well traveled in Taipei, any suggestions on what is worth visiting with the limited time I have? Also, how's the weather there in mid-late Feb? Thanks in advance.

LAX

Night Market is always fun!

Then Snake Alley for Dinner, at dinner, you will figure out how it got it's name....

There is a pretty good history museum too, lots of old stuff from the mainland that ended up there. ;)

There is quite a lot to see. Perhaps my report may help you.

A "Must-See" is the National Palace Museum, though it undergoing renovation in the moment and CKS Memorial

Def recommend the the National Palace Museum...not many places in the world where you can view 7000 year old artifacts from the same civilisation. The pieces in that museum are stunning and they say if they rotate the viewing collection every 3 months, it would take 15 years or so to see it all.

Bars and pubs to visit are The Pig, Sean's at the Westin and of course, Carnegies.

Other than this, food is excellent! Def recommend the night street markets...watch out for chou dofu! (stinky tofu)

Mmmm! Yum Yum! It takes certain special individuals to appreciate them. Thanks for all the great info. I realize I have only limited time, so I will pick and choose carefully. Anyone been to Taipei 101? I have heard that the observation deck is not open yet. Is that right? Thanks in advance.

LAX

I was at Taipei 101 back in mid-Nov but the observation deck wasn't open then. Was to be open by Chinese New Year. Will be there next week and see how it goes. It does have a very nice and large foodcourt in the basement with tons of food choice.

You might want to try a search for Taipei to get among others

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ghlight=taipei

or try here http://tiscsvr.tbroc.gov.tw/en/

goto the Hooters there and pick up a t-shirt ^ ^

go to a dim-sum restaurant :)

or a mongolian barbeque

but there may not be too much to Hoot about :)

If you like chinese steamed dumplings, go to Ding Tai Fung... arguably the best steamed shiao lung bao (little dragon dumplings) in the world! Pretty much everyone in Taipei will know if you ask them

Night markets rock - check out the Shih Lin night market. I'd suggest that you start at the Chien T'an end (at the MRT station conveniently called... Chien T'an!) and walk your way through the crowds and the action.

Taipei 101 observation-deck is still closed as of last Sunday, the area around
Taipei 101 is basically the westernized modern shopping district.
If you want to get more authentic impressions, do Snake Alley. National Palace Museum is a must.
Weather is usually around 20C/70F for highs, 13C/55F for lows and mostly fairly dry, though it can be humid and windy at times and feel a lot colder.

How about ATM usage?
 

Thanks for more great advice. Has anyone tried using ATMs (with foreign ATM cards) in Taipei? What about credit cards? I guess most major establishments would probably take plastics, but not smaller shops/restaurants. I usually get my initial allotment of foreign currency at airports upon arrivals at most places I travel to, will this work at Taipei? Thanks in advance.

LAX

Sure! ATM away.

Cards are usable at the nicer places but you'll probably use cash more than anything else.

one other area to consider taking a stroll through Shih Men Ding... or translated as "West Gate District". It's a short hop west of the Taipei Central Railway Station by MRT and it's full of oddball shops populated by Taipei's younger hipper denizens. There's a multi-story shopping mall filled with tiny shops full of hobby stuff including a large selection of plastic aircraft models. Quite funky, imo!