There’s no single travel guide that could possibly cover everything you need to know about Taipei and Taiwan, so this is me attempting to collect the best of the best.
I’ve sourced articles from mainstream newspapers and magazines, and balanced those with posts from bloggers — both Taiwan residents and first-timer tourists.
Topics covered: lots of food, traveling with kids, day trips outside Taipei, walking tours, female solo travelers, LGBTQ travel and shopping for souvenirs.
There’s also a brief FAQ section with these two zingers: “why is Taiwan called Chinese Taipei at the Olympics?” and “how is Taiwan different from China?”
I hope you find this super useful. Enjoy!
First, My Favorite Taipei Guide
Airbnb Magazine’s The Insider’s Guide to Taipei from June 2019
Where to Eat & Drink in Taipei
Eater’s The 38 Essential Taipei Restaurants last updated March 2019
The full list of Taipei Michelin Restaurants 2019
My post Where to Eat in Taipei from March 2019
My post Where to Drink in Taipei from Aug 2019
My post The Best Vegan & Vegetarian Eats in Taipei from Sept 2019
My post Where to Eat Beef Noodle Soup in Taipei from Jan 2020
My post Where to Eat Western Comfort Foods in Taipei last updated Jan 2020
My post Eat Like You’re in Japan last updated Jan 2020
A Style Alike’s directory of Instagram-ready Taipei cafes and restaurants
What to Eat in Taipei
The Saturday Paper’s Taipei’s Beef Noodle Soup from Aug 2019
Journy’s Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup: A Primer from Jan 2019
The New York Times’s Where Stinky Tofu Is at Its Malodorous Best from Nov 2017
Eater’s Boba Explained: A Taxonomy of Taipei’s Bubble Tea from March 2019
Roads & Kingdom’s The Curious Case of Q from in May 2017
My post How to Eat Taiwanese Breakfast from Feb 2017
Eater’s What to Eat at Taiwan’s Most Famous Night Market (Video) from July 2019
My post What to Eat at Tonghua Night Market from Nov 2019
Where to Stay in Taipei
The Curious Explorer’s Where to Stay in Taipei: Neighborhoods, Hotels & Hostels
My post A Stay at Taipei’s Best Design Hotel (the Kimpton Daan) from Dec 2019
Walking Tours in Taipei
Taipei with Kids
My post The Best Things to Do in Taipei with Kids from Nov 2019
My post Where to Have Brunch with Kids in Taipei from Aug 2019
Nick Kembel’s Taipei with Kids from May 2018
Mama Baby Mandarin’s guide to Taiwan Camps for Kids 2019
Taipei with Parents
Taiwan Scene’s 10 Things To Do With Your Parents in Taipei from July 2019
Taipei for Solo Female Travelers
The Pinay Solo Backpacker’s Taipei Travel Guide from July 2019
The Wandering Quinn’s 12 Reasons I Loved Taipei & My Taipei Travel Tips from March 2019
Where Goes Rose’s A Complete Guide to Visiting Taipei from May 2019
Leaving Taipei & Exploring Taiwan
My post Tips for an Easy Weekend in Taichung from Nov 2019
The Curious Explorer’s 124 Fun Things To Do In Taiwan
Nick Kembel’s An Insider’s Taiwan Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 Weeks from July 2019
Josh Ellis’s collection of beautiful hikes around Taiwan
Bloomberg’s Cycling Taiwan’s East Coast Route from Nov 2017
Taipei for LGBTQ Travelers
Once Upon A Journey’s Gay Taiwan: Asia’s Best Destination for LGBTQ+ Travelers from June 2019
Queer in the World’s The Essential Guide To Gay Travel In Taipei 2019
Nomadic Boys’ Gay Life in Taipei interview from May 2019
Where to Shop for Souvenirs
My post on “Made in Taiwan” Gift & Souvenirs last updated August 2019
My post The Tricky Taipei 2019 Holiday Gift Guide from Dec 2019
A Few More Notable Posts…
Will Fly For Food’s The First Timer’s Travel Guide to Taipei last updated July 2019
My post Taiwanese Instagram Accounts You Should Follow from Jan 2019
Nick Kembel’s 30 Jaw-Dropping Temples in Taipei & New Taipei City from Aug 2019
Tips & Things to Be Aware Of
South China Morning Post’s The Dark Side of Flying Sky Lanterns (Video)
Mama Baby Mandarin’s very useful list of Taiwan Travel Info
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FAQs
Why is Taiwan called Chinese Taipei at the Olympics? This story I wrote about my dad explains it.
How is Taiwan different from China? Here goes: Taiwan is democratic and its citizens can vote in elections — China’s can’t. Taiwan has its own currency. Taiwanese citizens have their own passport. You can access Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter in Taiwan — you can’t in China. Same-sex marriage is legal in Taiwan — it’s not in China. Finally, Taiwan practices freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
For more background on Taiwan’s weird place in the world:
The Atlantic’s Taiwan’s Status Is a Geopolitical Absurdity from July 2019