Dear ll,
On the 4th January I'm stopping over in Taipei for 4 days.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice backpackers to stay at?
And what should I not miss when I'm in town (I don't mind getting out of town as well).
Thanks for your advise,
Nicole
I dont think I'll have time for hiking, but I would like to see some attractions. Preferably not so touristy!
thanks
nl
Here are a few suggestions of things to see in Taipei:
Martyrs' Shrine (as long as you're there for the changing of the guard)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
National Palace Museum (a must if you have any interest in Chinese art)
Confucius Temple and Bao-an Temple (close to each other)
Longshan Temple (there is also the nearby Snake Alley night market, but it might be too "touristy")
Shihlin Night Market
Ximending (if you have already been to Tokyo or Osaka this area can be safely skipped)
Taipei 101 ("touristy" but it was the world's tallest building until recently)
Easy day trips from Taipei via public transportation:
Danshui (lots of history and food)
Beitou (hot spring area)
Taipei Zoo (if you feel the need to see pandas)
Keelung
Jiufen and Jinguashi
You should get either the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide books on Taiwan and do some reading.
For non-touristy stuff...
...well the good thing about Taiwan is that while there are other Asian tourists and tour groups, you're not going to see places saturated with backpackers anywhere. Shi-da has studenty type foreigners but Taipei has no Khao San Road to speak of.
My favorites, some on the tourist route and some not:
1.) Bao'an and Confucius Temples (I second Kaminoge)
2.) National Palace Museum (yay!)
3.) Maokong (good views and good tea with far fewer tourists and such than Yangmingshan) with Zhinan Temple
4.) Jiufen and Pingxi - you could do both in one long day, including a short hike! But if you can only choose one, choose Jiufen as it is more immediately rewarding with amazing views and funky teahouses. The shopping street is touristy but there are other places to wander.
5.) Wandering around, drinking coffee or beer in Shi-da's back lanes (off Shi-da Road)
6.) Raohe Night Market - got a lot to offer but not as touristy as Shilin
7.) Xinbeitou - the public hotsprings or Longnaitang if you're OK with getting nekkid with old folks, or soaking your feet in the warm mineral water stream
8.) Wufenpu Fashion Market - near Raohe, got lots of locals but not touristy per se - best at night, with a lot to see even if you don't buy
Stick something you "have" to see in there like CKS Memorial Hall or Taipei 101 (neither of which are really necessary and neither is worth more than an hour or so and maybe a day trip on the HSR down to Tainan and you've got yourself a stopover.