In 2018, two of my close friends invited me to join their trip to Taiwan. Without second thoughts, I said yes. I booked my ticket on a whim, and before I knew it, we were touching down in Taipei. To be honest, Taiwan had flown under my radar. It wasn’t even on my top 10 list.
All I knew wasโฆ F4, Meteor Garden, and Jerry Yan. More than anything, it was about a new stamp, high school nostalgia, and a country waiting to be explored. Looking back, our Taipei day 1 itinerary set the tone for everything that followed. So here’s how it went, starting with how we got into the city.
โ๏ธ How to Get to Taipei Main Station from Taoyuan International Airport
We landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport around 11 AM via AirAsia. Immigration was a breeze. After claiming our baggage, we took the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station. It connects both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 directly, so it was an easy first choice. We bought an MRT token for NT$160, hopped on the train, and enjoyed the ride.
๐ก Pro-Tips (Learn From Our First-Timer Mistakes!):
๐ณ Get an EasyCard Right Away: Purchase one at the airport MRT service counter or any 7-Eleven/FamilyMart (NT$100 deposit + load funds). We skipped this at the start, which meant manually buying single tokens all day instead of enjoying contactless convenience. ๐คฆโโ๏ธ
๐ Catch the Purple Line: Board the Express Train, which skips minor stops and reaches Taipei Main Station in ~36 minutes. We accidentally boarded the Blue Line (Commuter Train) instead. Not terrible, but since it stops at every station, our ride took over 50 minutes. ๐ข
๐จ Where We Stayed in Taipei City
We booked our accommodation through Agoda, a budget-friendly hostel that turned out to be a great fit. It’s a short walk from Ximending Station, close enough to keep transit times low, and within walking distance of some amazing street food.
๐ค SleepBox Hostel: Our Taipei Home Base
After navigating out of Taipei Main Station, we took a cab (NT$80) to SleepBox Hostel. It is located along Hengyang Road in the Zhongzheng District. Its location turned out to be a total win. Sandwiched right between Taipei Main Station and the high-energy streets of Ximending, with NTU Hospital and Ximending MRT Station just a short walk away.
SleepBox offers a sleek, capsule-style design that balances affordability with surprisingly good personal privacy. Every room came equipped with comfortable bedding, solid soundproofing panels, personal reading lights, power outlets, and secure luggage lockers beneath the bunk setups.
Dropping our heavy luggage here right after our 50-minute commuter train ride felt like a massive relief. After a quick freshen-up, we were ready to step back out and start exploring the neighborhood.
๐ Quick Accommodation Takeaways:
๐ The Location: Unbeatable access. A ~7-minute walk to Ximending Walking Street and ~10 minutes to Taipei Main Station.
๐งณ Best For: Solo travelers, friends on a budget, and short-stay backpackers who just need a quiet, clean, and secure pod to sleep in.
๐ก Hostel Tip: Bring a pair of lightweight slip-on shoes or flip-flops! Like many hostels in Taiwan, you’ll be swapping your street shoes for indoor slippers upon entering the accommodation areas.
๐ Getting Around Taipei City as First-Timers
Once we freshened up and dropped our luggage at SleepBox Hostel, it was time to tackle the city. Navigating Taipei as first-time visitors can feel intimidating at first glance, but it quickly proves to be one of the cleanest, safest, and most efficient public transit networks in the world.
Here’s what we learned right off the bat during our first afternoon on the move:
๐ The Taipei Metro (MRT) is Your Best Friend: Clean, cheap, and impeccably punctual. Color-coded lines and clear English signage make transfers at major hubs completely hassle-free.
๐ณ Tap-and-Go Convenience: Getting an EasyCard (or using contactless tokens) is an absolute game-changer. You can use it across the MRT, local buses, YouBike rentals, and even for quick snacks at 7-Eleven!
๐ง Milk Tea Shops Are Everywhere: You are never more than a few paces away from a boba fix! From famous chains to quiet alleyway counters, grabbing a fresh boba or fruit tea to sip on while exploring is practically a rite of passage.
๐ถโโ๏ธPedestrian-Friendly Streets: Most major districts have wide sidewalks, covered arcades for rainy days, and marked zebra crossings. Just watch for scooters when stepping off the curb!
๐ก First-Timer Transit Tip: Download Google Maps or the official Go! Taipei Metro app for real-time schedules, exit numbers, and English platform directions.
๐ฒ Ximending and the Rainy Surprise
Stepping out into Ximending for the first time feels like walking straight into a neon-lit, high-energy dream. Known as the “Harajuku of Taipei,” the pedestrian precinct was packed with trendy shops, street performers, and the irresistible aromas of sizzling local food. We spent our first couple of hours wandering the colorful alleyways, soaking in the youth culture, and grabbing quick bites along the way.
Then, right on cue, Taipei gave us our official welcome gift: a sudden, relentless downpour. One minute we were taking in the street art, and the next, everyone was ducking under store awnings and diving into the covered arcades. But that’s the magic of Ximending. The rain didn’t slow the city down one bit.
We ended up at Xiao Niu Jiang (ๅฐ็ๅ ) along Xining South Road, a budget-friendly 2nd-floor spot. I ordered a pork chop curry rice. It was the perfect, cozy refuge to refuel our energy after a long morning of travel.
We watched the colorful reflection of the neon signs shimmer across the wet pavement and squeezed onto the covered sidewalks alongside locals sipping warm milk tea. What could have been a wet mess turned into one of the most memorable, atmospheric moments of our first day.
๐ก Rainy Day Ximending Tip:
โ Embrace the Arcades: Taipei’s streets are lined with covered walkway arcades. You can walk through almost the entire district completely dry if you stick to the storefront overhangs!
๐ฎ A Temple in the City: Tianhou Mazu Temple
Before we hit the temple, we made a quick stopover at a local CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice shop, and I treated myself to a refreshing passion fruit drink (NT$45). I was already familiar with the CoCo brand since I’d seen their branches back home in Manila, but I’d honestly never paid much attention to them. Sipping a cold, freshly made passion fruit tea while exploring Taipei completely changed my mind. Maybe I should start checking out CoCo when I get back home. ๐ต๐ญ
Stepping through its narrow storefront entrance feels like stepping into another era. The hum of street crowds instantly fades, replaced by the soft glow of red lanterns, the rich scent of burning incense, and intricate gold-leaf carvings. Dedicated primarily to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, it stands as one of the three great historic temples of the Wanhua District.
It was the ultimate refuge during our rainy afternoon stroll. Watching local devotees pause mid-shopping trip to light incense and offer quiet prayers brought a grounding contrast to Ximending’s high-energy youth culture.
๐ Quick Visitor Notes:
๐ Address: No. 51, Chengdu Road (just a 3-minute walk from MRT Ximen Station, Exit 6).
๐๏ธ Admission: Free entry.
๐ก Don’t Miss the 2nd Floor: Head up the stairs to view the upper main hall and get an elevated perspective of the courtyard, lanterns, and rooftop dragon carvings!
๐น๐ผ Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Later that day, we hopped on the MRT (Ximen Station, Green Line, straight to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station) to explore one of Taipei’s most recognizable landmarks. Blue sky or rain, this place is breathtaking.
It’s far more than just a grand monument. It’s a dynamic, living cultural space filled with open-air art galleries, historic exhibits, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Walking out onto the massive expanse of Liberty Square, surrounded by the National Theater and Concert Hall, truly puts the scale of Taiwan’s history into perspective.
๐ Grand Landmark Highlights:
๐๏ธ Changing of the Guard: Held every hour on the hour (9:00 AMโ5:00 PM)โa crisp, disciplined ceremony that’s a must-see for first-timers. (Note: in 2018, this took place inside the main hall beneath the giant statue of Chiang Kai-shek; as of July 2024, the ceremony has since moved outdoors to Democracy Boulevard.)
๐จ Art Galleries & Exhibits: The sub-level features rotating art exhibitions, cultural displays, and historical artifacts.
๐ณ Liberty Square & Gardens: Perfect for iconic photo ops, strolling along the ponds, and local people-watching (you’ll often see dance troupes and tai chi groups practicing).
๐ Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station (Exit 5, accessible via both the Red and Green Lines).
๐ข First Glimpse of Taipei 101
As the sun began to set, we hopped back on the MRT Red Line straight to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station. Emerging from Exit 4, you’re instantly hit by the sheer scale of the 509-meter, bamboo-inspired skyscraper. Standing right at its base, craning your neck, and watching the lights flicker on against the evening sky is an absolute core memory.
Instead of going up to the expensive indoor observation deck on our very first afternoon, we opted to soak in the atmosphere right from the ground. We took a relaxed walk around the surrounding plaza, took in the modern architecture of the Xinyi Shopping District, and snapped plenty of photos of the illuminated tower from below.
๐ Taipei 101 Ground-Level Tips:
๐ Direct MRT Access: Take the Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi) straight to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station. Exit 4 drops you right at the base of the tower.
๐ธ Best Ground Photos: Step back across the street near the MRT plaza or adjacent shopping mall courtyards to fit the full 508-meter height of the building into your camera frame.
โ Seven9 Brunch Coffee + Taipei Arena Stop
After hours of walking through Ximending and taking in historic landmarks, our feet desperately needed a breather. We decided to head over toward the Songshan District near Taipei Arena to unwind at Seven9 Brunch Coffee and to meet my friend’s relative, who was currently working there. From Taipei 101 Red Line Station (Tamsui-bound), we hopped on the train to Daan Station. From there, we transferred to the Brown Line until we reached Nanjing Fuxing Station. We interchanged to the Green Line and exited at Taipei Arena Station. Afterwards, we walked to Seven9 Brunch Coffee.
Seven9 Brunch is a cozy, low-key spot that hits the exact sweet spot between a hearty Taiwanese breakfast joint and a relaxed neighborhood cafe. Stepping inside out of the evening humidity felt like an instant relief. I ordered roasted chicken.
We took time to sit down, sip our drinks, catch up with my friend’s relative, and plan out our next route for tomorrow’s activity. We thanked our friend’s relative as she treated our meal free of charge.
๐ Quick Cafe Notes:
๐ Location: Songshan District, within a short walking distance from MRT Taipei Arena Station (Green Line).
๐ณ Vibe: Laid-back, local, and budget-friendly. Ideal for a late breakfast, casual afternoon iced coffee, or a quiet break away from heavily touristy zones.
โจ Reflections on Our First Day in Taipei City
Looking back, our Taipei day 1 itinerary was a glorious, whirlwind adventure. From landing on a whim and navigating the airport transit to dodging afternoon rain in Ximending, stepping into the quiet beauty of Tianhou Temple, sipping my first passion fruit tea from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, and standing beneath the illuminated giant that is Taipei 101, Taipei proved instantly that it’s vibrant, welcoming, and ridiculously easy to fall in love with. ๐น๐ผ๐
Even with our minor first-timer missteps (like taking the slow commuter train instead of the express MRT), the city made everything feel effortless. It turns out that a country booked on a total impulse can end up giving you some of your absolute favorite travel memories.
๐ก First Day Takeaways for Backpackers:
โ Go with the Flow: Rain in Taipei is practically guaranteed, but it never ruins the day. Just grab an umbrella, embrace the covered walkways, and dive into a cozy food spot!
๐ง Pacing is Everything: Don’t feel pressured to pack every single paid attraction into Day 1. Taking time to sit down over boba or any local coffee break helps you soak in the local vibe.
๐ณ Easy Card is Key: Grab your transit card right at the airport. Your feet and wallet will thank you later!
Stay tuned for the next post in this series, where we head beyond the city center to explore old mountain streets, historic railways, and mouthwatering night market eats. Day 2 only gets better! ๐๐ฎ
This blog is part of my Taiwan It That Way Series 2018.
When I first set foot on Taiwanโs land, I didnโt know if it was a spark, a pull, or something else entirelyโbut I felt it. That quiet, familiar feeling, like I was exactly where I was meant to be. Not just a place I visited, but a place that felt like home.
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Trip Dates: June 30โJuly 3, 2018
