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!

Just a friendly bump to attract more attention to this thread. Thanks.

LAX

Bump!
 

Another friendly bump to see if anyone else has anything to add. I will be leaving in about 2 weeks. Any input much appreciated! By the way, what's the best way to get to downtown from the airport? Thanks in advance.

LAX

Definitely visit Taipei 101. There's some cool shopping there and it IS the tallest building in the world currently, so it's something to say you've done.

As far as getting to downtown from TPE, a cab will run you about US $20 from TPE - Taipei 101. I've done this several times. I've also taken the bus, which is significantly cheaper (~ US $5). And the buses are fairly nice, sort of like a domestic F seat, rather than the city buses that you are used to in the USA. Ask at the information desk at Arrivals, they will direct you down a hall to where the buses leave. You can see which buses leave to what locations. There are several bus lines that will stop in front of most of the main business hotels and main tourist sites. You can look on the sign on the wall (in English) and see which bus goes where as well as prices. It's very easy. I'd recommend taking the bus if you want to save $15, especially if you are alone and you don't have too much baggage. If you are with 2 or 3 people, you might as well just take a cab, it's easier and it'll drop you right at your hotel door rather than 50 feet away on the street. Good luck and have a great time!!!

Parking around there is horrid. Its not a great place at all (the hooters that is)
in terms of food and *ahem* scenery.

I stopped in once since I get my haircut across the street. Not worth going back.

Museum Definitely

Taipei 101 Yes

Shi Lin night market Yes

Snake Alley night market Maybe

Hooters nah

ATM's no problem

--

Bus is what I do.
If its business, then just take the taxi.

I'll be there starting Feb 25th? U there?

Wow! What a coincidence?! I will be arriving TPE on Feb 25 (in the morning) as well. How long are you going to stay? Thanks for your advice.

LAX

You can also take the MRT to the end of the Tamshui line and have a nice stroll along the water. Kind of honky tonk, but there are some pleasant diversions. The college at the top of the hill is a nice lookout point. I enjoy hiking along Yangminshan mountain. There are some hot baths that are worthwhile. If you miss westerners, eat at the American Club Sunday morning buffet (you may need a sponsor.)

Chiang Kai Shek memorial is worthwhile, imho, and the Handicraft Mart just across the street is a good place for souveniers and jade. You can walk all around Taipei and hit the provincial history museum grounds, CKS memorial and the concert hall/theatre buildings, presidential palace building, and history museum/botanical gardens all in a couple hours. None of these museums approach the national palace museum, but to get a taste, they are good.

if you get out of town, Chiu Fen (not sure on spelling) is a neat town built into the side of a hill. Yeliu is a great place on the coast to see some interesting rock formations. Keelung has some gun fortresses from WWII. Again, there are lots of hills and mountains to hike. Take tea at a tea house. If you have lots of time, head out to Hualien and Taroko gorge.

Mongolian barbecue
 

OBOne...I'm sitting in a hotel in a little town in South Carolina (yes, Mississippi, I apologize for those things I said) and I've gotta read about the Mongolian barbecue places in Taipee??????? Best I have ever had...it just ain't fair...

Yeah and a nice bottle of Johnie Walker Blue and some good Gaoliang will make the night fly by.

Taipei
 

Forgot to mention...if you want to go up the road a few miles there is Keelung. It's been years, but the place used to be your basic China seaport. Very "Sand Pebbles". Nice hotel overlooking the harbor called "Nancy's". It's a sailor thing...