16 Unique Things To Do in Taipei, Taiwan (2024)
Looking for special things to do in Taipei besides the usual sightseeing suggestions? Look no further! In the post, you’ll find 16 unique and exciting experiences you don’t want to miss in Taipei, Taiwan.
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Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a resident of Taipei, you’re in the market to find hidden gems and things beyond what the usual itineraries and guides recommend for Taipei. Well, you’re in luck!
After living here for four years, I’ve gathered up my experiences into one post to share with you the more unique things Taipei has to offer. In no particular order, here are 16 unique things to do in Taipei:
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16 Unique Things To Do in Taipei
1. Shrimp Fishing
Ever heard of this? You’re not going on a boat in the middle of the city, trying your hand at catching shrimp. Instead, it’s a building with pools filled with shrimp where you can hang out with friends and fish.
Most shrimp fishing places have a kitchen, so people are drinking beer, eating food, and fishing; often Taiwanese people will do this after going out at night.
In my experience, you’ll get liver as bait which you cut up, place on your hook, then toss your fishing pole into the water and wait.
Once you’ve caught enough shrimp, the workers will wash them for you and place them up on the grill, then you get to cook them right then and there.
It was a bit difficult for me to watch as I have a profound love for all animals, however this is a very unique experience in Taipei that I don’t think you can get anywhere else and I’m happy I did it!
You pay by hour, typically around $350 NTD (roughly $11 USD) and up. I went here and had a great time.
If that is too far away for you, my friends have gone here and had a great experience, too!
2. Hike to a Buddhist Temple in a Cave
One of the reasons I loved living in Taipei was the nature that surrounded the city. You were never too far away from beautiful scenery and fresh air.
This hike is like none other, built in 1914 is a temple that is embedded into the mountain side with a picturesque waterfall sprinkling down to the left of it.
You’ll start your hike at the Yinhe Cave Hiking Trail and then make your way up towards it! You’ll not only get to see the beautiful mountain side, but also city views with Taipei 101.
Like many of the trails in Taiwan, it involves stairs and can be slippery, so come prepared. On the whole, it’s an easy hike so don’t be worried!
If you’re feeling up for more hiking, you can continue all the way to Maokong for some afternoon tea.
3. Visit the Grand Hotel’s Secret Tunnel and Slide
Up until about 2019, this wasn’t open to visitors and then naturally it closed due to Covid-19.
However, it recently opened back up and it’s a pretty cool thing to do in Taipei, especially if you’re into history.
The Grand Hotel is beautiful with exquisite architecture (this alone you should come for) and the tunnels were originally made in the 1970s due to threats of the Cold War and China.
It was kept a secret (even from hotel staff) up until there was a fire and they rediscovered them.
Fair warning: the tour is only in Mandarin as of right now and you cannot (I repeat, cannot) slide down the slide.
The cost is $250 NTD (about $7.80 USD). You can book your tickets here.
If secret tunnels aren’t really your thing, I still recommend going to the hotel to check it out, you’re allowed to walk around inside and it’s truly magnificent.
4. Learn How to Make Taiwanese Cuisine
One of the best things about traveling to new countries is trying the local food, but learning how to make it is a great way to learn more about the culture. Plus you can recreate your favorite dishes once you’re back home!
In Taiwan, there are so many different kinds of food and drinks you could learn how to make, here are some of my favorite options:
- Bake your very own Pineapple Cake. It’s not quite a cake, more like a tart, but it’s one of the top traditional Taiwanese snacks that you absolutely need to try when visiting (the one from Din Tai Fung is my favorite). The cost is $400 NTD (roughly $12.50 USD) and you can buy your tickets through their website or through KKDay.
- At CookInn they offer 6 different kinds of cooking classes from street food to traditional food to gourmet meals. You get fantastic options! This one is slightly on the pricier side, but for the amount of food you make, I think it’s worth it. Depending on which set you choose, it will cost between 2,200 – 2,500 NTD (about $68.50 – $78 USD). They also offer vegetarian options.
5. Paint and Sip
Get your creative juices flowing at a fun shop called The Escape Artist. You pay for your canvas (about $1000 NTD and up for the larger canvases) and they provide all of the paint, paint brushes, as well as any kind of tool you might need.
Food and drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) are available and there isn’t a time limit either, which can be hard to come by in Taipei.
It’s a fun activity to do on your own as well as with friends!
6. See One of the Last Standing Chinese-style Mansions & Gardens
The Lin Family Mansion and Garden is the most complete Chinese-style mansion and garden in Taiwan today.
The Lin family got their wealth through rice and salt companies back in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, after China lost the Anglo-Chinese war, they left Taiwan and in the 20th century, it became a place of refuge for nearly 300 families as people fled from China to Taiwan.
Later, it was deteriorating so people created a fundraiser for it to be restored and in 1986 the restoration was complete.
A beautiful mix of history intertwined with Chinese architecture and nature, it’s a stunning area to walk around and feel the culture of the past.
7. Sip on Masterfully Made Cocktails (or Mocktails!)
Another unique thing to experience in Taipei is Lab. It’s by far one of the most innovative bars in Taipei, if not the world.
The owners are a sweet couple and they create the most out-of-this-world flavors and drinks using machinery I don’t know the name of (there is a reason why it’s called Lab).
Chemistry meets mixology – they are true alchemists and you don’t want to miss it!
It’s a small bar and usually not very crowded during weekdays, giving it cozy vibes. You might need to make a reservation for the weekends though, roughly $400 NTD/drink.
8. Collect Stamps from the MRT stations
Within each MRT station in Taipei, and other places like Jiufen and Alishan, there is a small station area where you can find a counter with a stamp.
You can add them into a small notebook, each are crafted specifically for the location so it creates a cute little collection and it’s fun to see what each stamp looks like as you’re traveling around Taipei!
9. Taste Traditional Taiwanese Ice Cream
And I’m talking authentic with a capital A. One of my Taiwanese students showed me this spot and when I told my Taiwanese friends about it, they themselves hadn’t even tried it!
They offer sorbet with unique flavors like taro, lychee, and peanut butter. The traditional ice cream is the one with chunks of pineapple and a plum.
They also serve a sweet rice dish that has an acquired taste, but apparently is good for women (featured on the right side of the photo).
10. Drink Authentic Tea in Maokong
This one you may have seen before, but I believe it’s a very fun and special thing to do that Taipei offers.
Take the brown line to the Taipei Zoo MRT station and follow the signs to the Maokong Gondola. After a joyful ride along the mountains, take the leisurely walk to Yao Yue Teahouse (or any others in the area).
Here you will be served traditional tea and can order authentic Taiwanese food (which I highly recommend) all while sitting outside surrounded by lush mountains.
Be sure to check out the cute shops along the roads here, they have yummy ice cream and cute little souvenir shops.
11. Take a Street Food Tour
Want to know the ins and outs of Taiwanese street food from a local?
The 10 Tastings of Taipei: Street Food Tour can be 100% personalized so whether you’re traveling to Taipei for the first time or have lived here for years, everyone can eat something they’ve never had before (or if you have dietary restrictions, they can accommodated for that).
Not only will you get to try the special Taiwanese street food, but you’ll also be able to learn about food culture from a local – which is a fantastic experience in any country you visit.
Each tour is private, so if you’re one person it’s quite pricey (roughly $100 USD), however if you are a group of 4 or more it’s much more affordable ($38 USD or less/person).
If you’re traveling solo and it’s outside your budget, see if some friends at your hostel would join you!
12. Relax with a Massage
While they’re lesser known than the Thai massage, the massages in Taiwan are quite unique due to their Chinese Medicine practices.
They can also be equally painful (lol). When you’re walking around the city and see a large foot with different colors outside as a sign and diagrams of the human body on the windows – you know you have come to the right place: it’s a traditional massage parlor.
They typically offer foot massages (including the calves) as well as half-body and full-body massages.
You can choose between 30/60/90 minutes so the price range can be anywhere from about $600 – $2000 NTD depending on the massage parlor.
Usually it’s okay to just pop in without a reservation and get a massage, but more formal parlors may require a reservation.
If you’re in the mood to pamper yourself, I highly recommend the two hour, full-body massage from The Village Spa.
The space is serene and cozy with a Japanese style. I had the massage therapist number 36 and she was amazing. If you’d like you can request her when booking.
13. Check out Modern Architecture near Taipei 101
This one is a little random, but it is truly my favorite building in Taipei and I think everyone deserves to see it!
It just looks so cool, I always loved passing by it when I lived here. The building was completed in 2019 and is just a hop-skip away from Taipei 101, so it’s very easy to add into any plans when you’re in the Xinyi area.
I’ve been told it’s one of the most expensive apartment buildings in Taipei (not surprising) and apparently it even has an elevator for your car to reach your apartment (very surprising!).
14. DIY Ring
This one is for my crafty people! Another unique experience to do in Taipei is making your own ring at Everyday is a Gift.
It makes for a fun story when people see your ring and ask about it. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance through a direct message or phone call.
You can find their facebook here and while they speak Mandarin during the workshop, many foreigners have gone and haven’t had any issues with communication.
15. Visit the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine
Most people don’t see this their first time visiting Taiwan and I didn’t even know about it until my last year living in Taiwan.
I passed by it in a taxi and was like Wait! What was that?!
The National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine has beautiful architecture (inspired by the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City) with a changing of the guards ceremony, every hour on the hour.
It’s dedicated to the over 300,000 soldiers that lost their lives during the Sino-Japanese war, the Chinese Civil war, and the revolution before Taiwan became Taiwan (the Republic of China).
16. Admire the Wuji Tianyuan Temple
This picturesque Taoist temple is located quite north, but if you’re in Tamsui for the day (or don’t mind making the trek) then I highly recommend going to see it.
Most temples in Taipei don’t include circular pagodas so it’s a unique sight to see, especially if you visit during cherry blossom season (March – April).
Prepare for crowds if you go during this time.
That concludes the 16 unique things to do in Taipei, Taiwan! I hope you have a wonderful time exploring this amazing city. If you try any of these, I’d love to hear about your experience! Feel free to comment below 🙂
happy trails ♥
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