20 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan with your Friends!

20 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan

1. Cafe Grazie Mega City Banchiao

This is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in Taiwan. The food is palatable and the price is reasonable. If you want to have a quick taste of a western cuisine available for walk ins, try Cafe Grazie. But you have to be patient though because you will have to wait for your table if you don’t have a reservation.

Official website: https://grazie.com.tw/

2. Tainan Train Station

When talking about Tainan Train Station (臺南車站) it must be mentioned that when Crown Prince Hirohito visited Taiwan it was still a wooden station. Elementary school students lined up on the platform to welcome the Crown Prince. The station was rebuilt in 1936, and remains unchanged today. The Station also has a rather mysterious second story, which house the now-disused railway restaurant and hotel.

Some clues of their existence are still visible when looking up from the station hall. After the restaurant closed in 1986, apart from the occasional tour, almost nobody ventured up there. All of the furnishings upstairs are preserved almost as they were in that year; the railway hotel reception counter remains as elegant as ever, and the decorations in the restaurant are also preserved in their original state. After refurbishment, the second floor will re-open, giving visitors to Tainan a glimpse of the station’s past. (Reference: https://www.twtainan.net/en/attractions/detail/4440)

Also Read: Fun Attractions in Taiwan https://everydaywithgen.com/20-fun-taiwan-attractions-to-visit-in-taiwan/

3. Tasty Steakhouse Tainan

One of the places I think of everytime I crave for a delicious steak. Tasty steakhouse serves really good steak with a reasonable price. You can find Tasty in Taiwan islandwide and it is better to have a reservation before going to the restaurant. Check official website for a Tasty Branch near you.

Official website: https://www.tasty.com.tw/

4. Anping District Tainan

In earlier times, Anping was known as “Dayuan,” the origin of the name “Taiwan.” It is known not only for its deep culture and history, but also for its sunsets, nightlife, beautiful natural scenery, ocean activities, and delicious cuisine.

Anping abounds with historic sites—Anping Fort, the Eternal Golden Castle, and Anping Tree House are a few of its major attractions. Other points of interest include the Old Julius Mannich Merchant House, Haishan Hostel, Tait & Co. Merchant House and Anping Minor Artillery Fort. These historical sites reflect the history and architectural styles of the Dutch occupation, Cheng Cheng-kung (Koxinga) period, Qing administration, and Japanese colonial era, embodying more than 300 years of quintessential history in Taiwan.

No visit to Anping is complete without trying the amazing array of delicious local foods—shrimp cakes, bean curd pudding, candied fruit, shrimp rolls, oyster rolls, fish ball soup, and oyster pancakes, for a start. The shops around Yanping Old Street(Anping Old Street) are good places to find distinctive mementos and gifts—no one leaves Anping empty-handed!

20 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan Reference: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002119&id=A12-00104

5. Modern Toilet Restaurant

If you are into a different level of dining, then this Modern Toilet Themed Restaurant is for you. If you’re coprophobia, I do not recommend this place to you because everything you see in this restaurant is literally and authentically toilet themed. The food is placed in a toilet jam and shaped like a poop. Experience dining like no other only here at Modern Toilet Restaurant.

6. Nishi Honganji Square

Located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Changsha Street in southern Ximending, a busy shopping district catering to young shoppers, Wanhua Plaza No. 406 occupies what used to be Nishi Honganji, a Japanese temple formally named “The Taiwanese Branch of Jodo Shinshu Honganji School.”

Jointly constructed by Japanese and Taiwanese Buddhists from 1904 to 1912, this authentic Japanese-style building complex housed the Taiwanese chapter of a Shin, or Pure Land, Buddhism subgroup with most of its structures — the main hall, mausoleum, monks’ living quarters called “Kuri” and bell tower — designed in a Buddhist eclectic motif prevalent in 18th and 19th century Japan.

The Rinbansho (quarters of a head priest), nevertheless, is a traditional Japanese residential structure and the Shuxin Hall (a.k.a., Tree Heart Hall) a modernist mix of bricks, European log cabins and Japanese roofing.

Reference: https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/693

7. Indigenous People’s Park

In order for people to learn about the lives of indigenous people without going out of Taipei City, this stylish indigenous cultural theme park full of related cultural images was constructed. It is located next to the National Palace Museum in Waishuangxi of Taipei City.

Walk along the path full of totem tiles and enter the area of lakeside water and wooden deck corridor. Along the waterside, there are bald cypresses and aquatic plants, such as wild ginger flowers and water lilies. With various native plants and designs presenting cultural images, including stone chairs, stone walls and totem floor tiles, the Park aims to give people a better understanding of the art and lives of indigenous people.

Reference: https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/2005

8. National Taiwan Arts Education Center

National Taiwan Arts Education Center is subordinated to Ministry of Education and is the national social educational institute promoting art education and cultural planning & development with the core idea establishing the interaction between human and art.

This center is in charge of studying, guiding and promoting the art education; as the development of business in this center focuses on meeting the educational standard and social demands in order to coordinate with our country’s innovatively educational policy, and accommodate national lifelong Nanhai Gallerylearning needs, including general art education in school, social art education and professional art education.

It’s expected to popularize the public’s recognition, appreciation, participation and employment of art in order to upgrade the quality of life for people.

Reference: https://www.arte.gov.tw/eng/abo_concept.asp

9. Yuan Dao Guanyin Temple Tamsui New Taipei City

In 1993, the 3^rd Patriarch of Forshang Buddhism, Master Lee Sun-Don, undertook the task entrusted by his respectful teacher, the 2^nd Patriarch, for building the Forshang Patriarch Temple (zushimiao祖師廟). The construction began in 1997. Under Master Lee’s design and leadership, a Tang-styled architecture – a sanctuary embodying Forshang dharma heritage – came into existence in Tamsui, New Taipei City of north Taiwan in 2000. In honor of Forshang’s 2^nd Patriarch, Yuan-Dao Bodhisattva, the Forshang Patriarch Temple was officially named “Yuan-Dao Guanyin Temple.”

Reference: Yuandao Guanyin Temple Official Website https://www.yuandao.org.tw/origin.php

10. Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Founded in 2008 by Mr. Jung-Wen Wang, esteemed publisher and entrepreneur for 40 years, the Taiwan Cultural & Creativity Development Foundation (TCCDF) has been dedicated to connecting and empowering educators, creators, and changemakers by fostering meaningful conversations and exchanges. We are based in Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Taipei’s energetic cultural hub. Together with the park, TCCDF celebrates local and international creative talents through talks, readings, exhibits, and performances.

Reference: Official Website https://www.huashan1914.com/w/huashan1914_en/foundation

11. Chunshen Restaurant 春申食府 (Shanghainese)

A taste of a Shanghainese Restaurant in Taipei.

Reference: Official Website https://springofshanghai.net/menunew/

12. Shilin Night Market

Specialties: oyster omelets, wrapped biscuits, stir-fried cuttlefish, shaved ice, fried chicken, stinky tofu, fried buns, spare ribs stewed in herbal soupThe Shilin Night Market is one of the well-organized and most popular night markets. It is separated into two major sections. One sector covers the streets surrounding the traditional Yangming Theatre and stretching to the Chicheng Temple on Danan Rd. The other sector is a centralized food court serving a wide variety of snacks that attract large crowds. At the Shilin Night Market, visitors can shop from store to store and have a large selection of clothes and accessories that they can bargain for reasonable prices.

Also a lot of the foods from Shilin Night Market are famous for their local flavors and are only available at the Shilin Night Market. Visitors are able to enjoy a wide range of local food, including Sausage Wrapped in Glutinous Rice, Stir-fried Squids, Oyster Omelets, Shilin Super Size Sausages, Ribs Stewed in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shanghai Bun, Qinwaxiadan, Scallion Pancakes, Paopao Ice, Huge Chicken Cutlet, and many more.

Reference: https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/1692

13. Dajia Riverside Park Taipei

The park, which covers an area of ​​approximately 43.2 hectares, is a new land created after the Keelung River was cut and straightened. It was renovated by the Water Conservancy Department into a sports and water park. Because of its vast area and flat terrain, it has become a popular venue for various outdoor activities in the North City. 
The Great Section of the Keelung River is a straight river and stable water, so the Dragon Boat Festival competition is held here every year. Under the Dazhi Bridge is a popular launching place for light boats and other water sports, and the Taipei Sports Institute regularly trains canoes here. 
In addition to bicycle paths, the Riverside Park also has basketball courts, tennis courts, badminton courts and other sports facilities, allowing people to exercise and enjoy rare leisure and leisure! The most famous thing in Dajia Riverside Park is the 75-meter-high "Fountain of Hope". The fan-shaped fountain water curtain is set against the classical and brilliant red building of the Grand Hotel, and the scenery is unforgettable.

Reference: https://heo.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=E65DBD99C91AEAC4&sms=3A0FD6D3764BFBA7&s=0A0218A08C6748A8

14. Xinyi District Taipei City

Xinyi District or Sinyi District is considered the financial district of Taipei, Taiwan. The district is also one of the shopping area in Taipei, anchored by a number of department stores and malls.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinyi_District,_Taipei

15. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

In 2011, the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was positioned as the “Creative Hub of Taipei”, with the objective to nurture creative talents and energy. The Park is not designed with a commercial focus, but rather, its mission is to kindle creativity and innovation and to be in synch with the interdisciplinary developmental trend observed in today’s industries. The Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is not just a platform for showcasing creativity and innovation. It strives to be a hub for inspiring and nurturing the spirits of creativity, and with the five key strategies of “Creative Lab”, “Creative Union”, “Creative School”, “Creative Showcase” and “Creative Hub”, the objective is for the Park to achieve the goal of becoming Taipei’s creative hub. 

Reference: https://www.songshanculturalpark.org/english

16. Taiwan Traditional Theater Center

The Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center (TTTC), under the National Center for Traditional Arts (NCFTA), is a performance venue located in Zhishan, Taipei. The GuoGuang Opera Company, National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO), and Taiwan Music Institute have established their presence here. TTTC is the first professional theatrical venue to feature resident performing groups and a multi-purpose facility suited for artistic and cultural exhibitions and performances, art education and cultural and leisure events in Taiwan.

Its simple and flowing architectural style nevertheless implies operatic aesthetics of boundless possibilities. Its main structures, based on the traditional elements of one table with two chairs that comprise the core stage props of Traditional Chinese opera, are inverted and transformed into a fresh and fashionable condensed classical form that actively explores the contemporary new meaning of opera in line with our changing times.

Reference: https://tttc.ncfta.gov.tw/home/en-us/AboutTTTC

17. Tide Watching Plaza Sampan Inclusive Playground 觀潮廣場 舢舨船共融遊戲場

Tamsui Riverside Park is a long stretch of a boardwalk and a sightseeing place perfect for sunset viewing. One of the most perfect spot for the sunset in Tamsui is here at Sampan Playground.

18. Danhai Light Train Tamsui New Taipei City

Danshui Danhai Light Train is one of the three operating trams in Taiwan. You can enjoy a relaxing Tamsui Sightseeing at Danhai District by riding this Danhai Light Train at Hongshulin MRT Station at the Red Line MRT.

19. Foreigner Beef Noodles 老外一品牛肉麵

This is a very special Chinese restaurant because the chef is a foreigner and he has won an award for his delicious and authentic Taiwanese Beef Noodles.

20. Chin Chin Garden Taipei City

Beautiful place to spend a nice meal with the family. It’s also a popular venue for weddings and other events. Recently it has a space for camping too. Surely a great place to visit in Taipei City.