Why travel to...Taipei

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan is a modern metropolis with friendly people, good food and interesting cultural influences. Whether your visit is a short stay or a long trip, boredom will not strike and you're sure to find plenty of activities to try. A city with lots to offer; below is just a few reasons why to travel to Taipei!

Food

Of course the first reason to travel to Taiwan has to be for all the delicious food the country has. Taiwanese food is famous worldwide and there are tonnes of snacks, street foods and traditional meals to try. Popular foods to eat are beef noodles, soup dumplings, pineapple cake, oyster omelette and for the brave among us stinky tofu!! Taiwan is also home to the popular Tapioca(bubble tea/boba) and you can find tapioca stalls/shops on pretty much every street corner in Taipei! Personally I had tapioca at least twice a day during my trip, and each time from a different stall! 

Culture

Taiwan is a very culture rich country with a lot of history and this of course is reflected within the country's capital Taipei. Taiwanese culture is a magnificent blend of traditional Chinese practices, indigenous Taiwanese culture as well as influences from Japan and Korea. There is of course also modern culture that is more focused on technology and art! This means that there are many cultural activities to partake in and sites to explore! Within the city you can find unique street art, visit one of the many museums (The National Palace Museum is a popular choice) or visit a temple such as Lungshan Temple.

On the outskirts of Taipei you can find Jiufen,  and Shifen. At Jiuefen you can take in the beautiful lanterns and experience the markets and many tea houses. Whilst in Shifen there is a spectacular waterfall and an old train track (which is still occasionally used!) where its common to release your very own lantern wish.

Easy to Navigate

Taipei is a city that is pretty easy to navigate around. With plenty of train/bus stations it is easy to get from one place to another (granted you know your destination stop). There are plenty of signs in English too so it's easy to find which route you need to take and where you need to go. Plus if you do get lost station staff are often more than happy to help. The public transportation, and in particular the MRT are also pretty cheap, which means more money for food and souvenirs!

City and Nature 

If you are interested in exploring the city Taipei has a bustling city atmosphere, particularly in areas such as Ximending where you can catch cultural events, partake in some shopping and find some cool street art. Taipei 101 area is also a great for shopping and of course to see the spectacularly high 101 skyscraper. An alternative city area is Shilin, great for street food and famous for its night market. Here you can join the locals and other tourists in hitting up food stall after food stall!  

As it is a capital city you would expect little to no nature, which rings true for the city centre. As you reach the surrounding areas and city outskirts however, much more nature can be found! A popular place to explore and escape from the city is Yangmingshan. Yangmingshan is a national park area filled with mountains and hot springs, perfect for those looking to go hiking! The mountain trails here are very easy to follow and once you reach the peaks you are met with spectacular views. The Beitou hot springs are also incredibly relaxing and soothing!

Another place of nature that is within the city is Elephant mountain formally known as Xiangshan. Elephant mountain is an easy to climb mountain that offers spectacular views of the city, especially at sunset!

English Friendly

When travelling to foreign countries (particularly ones where English is not the native language) it can be difficult to find your way, ask for help, etc. And whilst you can learn some key phrases sometimes it's just not enough to get by! Taiwan, however, is a very English friendly country, and this of course extends to its capital city Taipei. Not only are there plenty of English signs and speakers in Taipei but also the people are often happy to engage in English conversation, making for a friendly and easygoing atmosphere!