Taiwan itinerary 3 days — How to spend 3 days 2 nights in Taiwan & what to do in Taiwan for 3 days perfectly?

Taiwan is a beautiful island with everything for you to ‘playing and exploring’. From the majestic scenery, unique and delicious street food and unique cultural activities, blending modern and traditional architecture. But with 3 days how could you to fully explore Taiwan? Rest assured that Living Nomads has provided you with a super detailed and full of joy itinerary below. How many days in Taipei is enough? I think 5 days in Taipei is enough but even with 3 days you can visit Taiwan. If you have more time you can spend 6 days, 7 days, 10 days or even 11 days in Taiwan. So, what to do in Taiwan for 3 days and how to spend 3 days in Taiwan (3 days 2 nights in Taiwan)? Let’s check out our suggested Taiwan itinerary 3 days 2 nights (Taiwan itinerary for 3 days, Taiwan travel itinerary 3 days) to find out the answer!

Taiwan itinerary 3 days 2 nights — Day 1: Explore the city’s tourist attractions icons and night market

Once you visited Taipei, you definitely must visit the city’s iconic destinations as well as explore the bustling night markets with colorful culture! Living Nomads will list the top attractions in the city for you to choose from.

National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum boasts own one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the world, including calligraphy, ceramics and paintings… There are often many exhibitions held concurrently with various collections, so there is always something new for you to explore. After a short walk, you’ll reach the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines – its collection showing the highlights the lives of fourteen recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan. With the diversity of festivals, cultural and artistic traditions of these tribes, if you are passionate about culture and history, this will definitely be a place not to be missed.

TIP: The National Palace Museum will have free English tours at 10 am and 3 pm (you need to reserve here) and Shung Ye Museum has free tours at 2 pm every weekend (no reservation required).

Address: No. 221, Sec 2, Zhi Shan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Opening hours: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm from Sunday to Thursday (until 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday)
Getting there: Nearest MRT Station: Red Line Shilin Sation (士林)

Book National Palace Museum E-Ticket or National Palace & Shung Ye Museum Ticket here.

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

This Memorial Hall was built in 1975 to commemorate the former President of the Republic of China, General Chiang Kai-shek, and is considered a prominent historical landmark in Taiwan.

The eight sides of the octagonal shaped memorial building represent the number 8, symbolizing wealth, prosperity according to the Chinese concept. Meanwhile, two white stairs, each stair has 89 steps, symbolizing the age of Chiang Kai-shek. One of the special features here is the hourly change of the guards on either side of the Chiang Kai-shek statue.

Address: No. 221, Sec 2, Zhi Shan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Free admission
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Red Line or Green Line to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station

Maokong Gondola

The mountain village of Maokong is a great place in Taipei to give you a breathtaking panoramic view of the city – and enjoy a variety of local teas. To get to this village, you have to take the 4-km Maokong cable car. With the Crystal Cabins cable car system or the glass bottom cable car, you will admire the wonderful scenery when across the Zhinan River when you are on the way to Maokong (about 30 minutes riding).

Location: Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan
Opening hours: 9am to 9pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9am to 10pm on Fridays, 8:30 am to 10am on Saturdays and 8:30 am to 9pm on Sundays (note that Opening hours subject to weather conditions)
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Brown line to the last station, Taipei Zoo

Taipei 101 Tower

Your trip to Taipei is definitely not complete without visiting Taipei 101, which is the tallest tower in the world until the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai was completed in 2010. On a clear day, you can see some of the most beautiful views in Asia and look down to the Taiwan Strait, as well as get a better view of the mountains of this beautiful island. Moreover, you can reach the top of the tower by one of the fastest elevators in the world, reaching the top in just 37 seconds! Considered an engineering feat, this superstar structure is stabilized by a huge 730 tons damper sphere.

Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District
Opening hours: 9am to 10pm
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Red Line (Xiangshan MRT) to Taipei 101 station or Blue Line to Taipei City Hall Station

You can book tickets to Taipei 101 tower for a discount here.

Raohe Night Market

This is considered to be Taipei’s oldest night market with a 600m long pedestrian walkway, stretching along Raohe Road between the two gates. Here, you will find a variety of stalls serving food, snacks, buble milk tea and other items.

In addition to eating, you can also shop for clothes if you pass by the nearby Clothing Shopping Outlet in Wufenpu or you can also visit the Ciyou Temple at the end of the night market to the east.

Address: Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Free admission
Opening hours: 5 pm to midnight
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Green Line to Songshan station

If you still have time in Taipei on the first day, you can considering check out the following locations:

Presidential Office Building

This building was built and operated as the Governor’s Office during colonial Japan, was restored after its demolition during World War II. By the end of the Chinese Civil War, it served as the Presidential Office Building of the KMT (Kuomintang) party leader of the city. As such, this is a great place to stop if you want to learn more about the country’s past in political development.

Address: No. 122, Section 1, Chongqing South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Free admission
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 11:30 am Monday to Friday
Getting there: Nearest MRT Station: Red Line to NTU Hospital Station (exit 1)

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Once you enter the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, you’ll find images of his achievements lasting from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. It is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You can also immerse yourself in nature in Zhongshan Park with lush gardens.

Address: No. 505, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Free admission
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Blue Line to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station

Martyrs’ Shrine

This shrine, with its full name is National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, is a memorial to the nearly 400,000 soldiers who died in the war against communism in mainland China. This place was built in 1969, is a typical feature of the palace architecture of the northern region which was popularized during Chiang Kai-shek era.

For most tourists, like the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Martyrs’ shrine is known for the changing of guards or the soldiers at the main gate. This change takes place every hour until 5 pm and lasts about 20 minutes.

Address: No. 139, Beian Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
Free admission
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Jiantan station

Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

This is a Taiwanese Taoist temple that has received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for preserving temple rituals and festivals. Built to worship Baosheng Dadi, this 900m2 temple has a delicate structure typical of traditional art. If you have a trip from March to June, you can witness the Baoshen Cultural Festival with parades, walking rituals, lion and dragon dance, Taiwanese opera performances, and other traditional activities. For an accurate schedule of events, check out the temple’s website.

Address: No. 61, Hami Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Free admission
Opening hours: 7am to 10pm daily
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Red line to Yuanshan station

Elephant Mountain (Mount Xiangshan)

This is a great place to get a panoramic view of Taipei. Also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail or Xiangshan, the Elephant Mountain hiking trail is near Xinyi shopping area and Taipei 101. It will take you about 15-20 minutes to climb here.

Free admission
Hours: It’s best not to come here on weekends because it can be very crowded. You should hike in the late afternoon to enjoy the daytime, sunset and night views of Taipei.
Getting there: Nearest MRT Station: Red Line to Xiangshan Station (or if you’re in Taipei 101, walk to the east of Xinyi Road to Xiangshan Station within 15 minutes)

Huahsi (or Huaxi) Night Market

Also known as a “snake alley”, offers a wide variety of dishes, but the most famous are dishes made from snakes and turtles. If you are brave enough to try a strange dish, try snake soup! If not, try the famous Tainan dan-dan noodles.

Address: Huaxi Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Free admission
Opening hours: 4 pm to midnight
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Blue Line to Longshan Temple Station

Shilin Night Market

This is one of the largest and most famous night markets in Taiwan, attracting many visitors. With lots of alleys, you can find a wide variety of local, traditional and international goods – including local dishes, of course. Some of the dishes you should try are: oysters vermicelli, fried pork buns, stinky tofu and oyster omelette..

Location: Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan
Free admission
Opening hours: 4 pm to midnight
Nearest MRT station: Red Line to Jiantan station

Taiwan travel itinerary 3 days — Day 2: Discover the city’s ancient and modern

Ximending Youth Shopping District

This is one of the famous tourist destinations not only in Taiwan but also in Asia with countless fashion stores of all styles, sparkling accessory stores and extremely rich goods. Considered as a paradise for shopping lovers, when strolling along Ximending street, visitors can find all the favorite items and products from many countries such as China and Japan and other Western countries. In addition, Ximending is also home to many types of entertainment, mainly aimed at the needs of young people. Another area that is equally attractive is the food court with lots of different local dishes.

Hours: Open all day and night; but the best time to go will start from 5pm to the midnight.
Getting there: Nearest MRT station: Blue Line or Green Line to Ximen Station.

Jiufen Village and the North East Coast

The northeastern coast of Taiwan is home to majestic scenery, exotic villages and fascinating geology, attracting a large number of visitors during the day. Take time to get to Pitou’s cape with the beautiful caves and concave cliffs blessed by nature. On the way to Nanya, you’ll see the area’s erosion and extreme weather create a true sculpture garden, with the rocks creating a beautiful stripe pattern caused by oxidation.

The Jiufen Ancient Village is the next destination on the journey. This gold mine from 1890 has become an ancient village you see today. The Jiufen is famous for its sweets such as Taro Balls Sweets and Ah Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Rolls. Make sure you try these, it’s not too difficult to buy.

Tips: Jiufen Old Street is the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away” movie. If you are a fan of the movie, look for jewelry and snacks like in the movie. Look for some similarities to the movie of the buildings, you will surely find a lot.

Book a tour to Jiufen and the North east coast

3 days in Taiwan — Day3: Discover the natural beauty of Taiwan

Alishan

Alishan or “Alishan Mountain” is a national park attracting the most tourists in Taiwan. Located at a special height, you will find interesting flora with many giant 2,000-year-old Taiwan cypress trees. The area also has a cool but a bit of an unusual climate so you can experience a cloudless morning with haze or thicker fog later in the day, and a downpour at the end day (so remember to bring your umbrella and jacket).

If you take the famous Alishan train, you can also visit some important places in the national park through 3 lines: Sacred Tree Line, Zhushan Line and Mianyuei Line. For hikers, there are some great trails that you can trek in this location such as the path to the giant tree of Mt. Shuishan (the oldest tree in the garden at the age of 2700).

Book a tour to Alishan here.

Moreover, if you have more days in Taiwan, check out some of the other activities below:

Visiting Yangmingshan National Park and hot springs

Yangmingshan is the only park in Taiwan that surprises you with its volcanic terrain and hot spring bath experience. This 300-hectare park is designed in a classic Chinese style so you can enjoy the tranquility and relaxation when escape the city. Mount Shamao offers visitors a beautiful place for mind, body and soul. Surrounded by breathtaking forests, the volcanic geology of this area forms a source of hot springs, believed to have many healing properties. If soaked in warm water, all your stress will disappear immediately.

You can book tour to Yangmingshan National Park and Hot Springs at attractive discounted prices to enjoy this exciting journey:

• Shuttle bus at the hotel
• English, Mandarin and Japanese speaking guides
• Tickets to the hot springs and towels

Tips: Use Klook discount codes to save even more.

Check out Klook’s National Park and Hot Spring Tour of Klook

Visiting Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake will not disappoint you with the tranquil, fresh scenery of the water and the surrounding mountains and hills. Take time to cruise on the boat to admire the scenery and then experience the Sun Moon Lake cable car trip to see the whole scene. You can also explore this place by wandering along the trail around the lake, before ending the exciting journey with a visit to the Wenwu Temple.

You can book a Klook tour for the most unforgettable experience in Sun Moon Lake:

• Pick up at the hotel
• Lunch and insurance
• Take a boat tour around the lake and visit Syuanguang temple and Ida Thao
• Walk around the lake, and enjoy the nature around you, visit the Wenwu temple or wander into the market to buy some souvenirs.

Book One day tour in Sun Moon Lake here.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taipei you can refer to

• Taoyuan Airport Private Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Sedan Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• [SALE] Taoyuan Airport MRT Ticket & Exclusive Shopping Coupon
• Taipei Free Walking Tour Historic Route
• Taipei Double Decker Bus Tour
• Taipei Popular Sightseeing Private Car Charter : Jiufen, Pingxi, and North Coast (Chinese/English/Korean)
• Northeast Coast Scenic Day Tour
• Jiufen Shuttle Bus from Ximen
• Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen Day Tour with Korean and English Speaking Guides
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
• 4G SIM Card (TPE Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Far EasTone Telecom
• 4G WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Consecutive Unlimited Pass (2 or 3 Days)
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you finding more top things to do in Taipei: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Taipei travel blog — The fullest Taipei city guide for a wonderful trip to Taipei for the first-timers.