One day in Taipei means choosing, so this plan follows the MRT from the old west side to the new east side and lets the city tell its own story: an old temple in the morning, a skyscraper in the afternoon, a hilltop sunset and a night market to finish. Every hop is short. The longest ride of the day is 23 minutes, and the whole day costs about NT$175 in MRT fares.
Before you start
- Load an EasyCard with a few hundred dollars and tap in and out all day. → EasyCard
- Wear shoes you can climb stairs in. Elephant Mountain is all steps.
- Start from Taipei Main Station (Blue Line BL12, Red Line R10) or wherever your hotel is. → Where to stay
Morning: Longshan Temple (龍山寺)
MRT: Longshan Temple Station (Blue Line, BL10). From Taipei Main Station it is 5 minutes, NT$20.
Start in Wanhua, one of Taipei's oldest neighborhoods. Its great temple is busiest and most beautiful in the morning, when locals come to pray before work and the incense hangs in the air. Be quiet, keep out of the worshippers' way, and take your time. → Longshan Temple guide · Wanhua
Late morning: Ximending (西門町)
MRT: Ximen Station (Blue Line BL11, Green Line G12). One stop, 2 minutes, NT$20, or walk.
Taipei's pedestrian shopping district, all neon, street snacks and young crowds. It wakes up late, so don't come too early, and it is a good place for a quick snack. → Ximending guide
Midday: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂)
MRT: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station (Green Line G10, Red Line R08). From Ximen, 3 minutes on the Green Line, NT$20.
The huge white hall, its blue roof and the plaza between the National Theater and Concert Hall are Taipei's grandest public space. Come for the scale and the architecture, and read up on the history before you go. → Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall guide
Lunch: Yongkang Street (永康街)
MRT: Dongmen Station (Red Line R07, Orange Line O06). One stop on the Red Line, 3 minutes, NT$20.
One of the city's great food streets, a few minutes' walk from the station exit. It is the place for a bowl of beef noodle soup, a plate of dumplings or a shaved ice. → Da'an and Yongkang Street · Beef noodle soup
Afternoon: Taipei 101
MRT: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station (Red Line, R03). From Dongmen, 7 minutes, NT$20.
Go up to the observatory if the sky is clear, or spend the afternoon in the Xinyi district's malls around the tower. → Taipei 101 guide · Xinyi
Sunset: Elephant Mountain (象山)
MRT: Xiangshan Station (Red Line, R02). One more stop, 2 minutes, NT$20.
This is the view of Taipei 101 you have seen in every photo. The trail is steep stairs from start to finish, so set off well before sunset, bring water, and stay to watch the city lights come on. → Elephant Mountain guide
Evening: Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
MRT: Songshan Station (Green Line, G19). From Xiangshan, 23 minutes, NT$30.
Finish with dinner in a long, lively night market lane a short walk from the station. Graze rather than sit down: a little of everything is the point. → Taipei night markets · Raohe on NightMarket.tw
Back to Taipei Main Station from Songshan: 14 minutes, NT$25.
The rides at a glance
| From | To | Ride | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei Main (BL12) | Longshan Temple (BL10) | 5 min | NT$20 |
| Longshan Temple (BL10) | Ximen (BL11) | 2 min | NT$20 |
| Ximen (G12) | Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (G10) | 3 min | NT$20 |
| Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (R08) | Dongmen (R07) | 3 min | NT$20 |
| Dongmen (R07) | Taipei 101/World Trade Center (R03) | 7 min | NT$20 |
| Taipei 101/World Trade Center (R03) | Xiangshan (R02) | 2 min | NT$20 |
| Xiangshan (R02) | Songshan (G19) | 23 min | NT$30 |
| Songshan (G19) | Taipei Main (R10) | 14 min | NT$25 |
Tweaks and swaps
- Rain? Swap Elephant Mountain for an indoor afternoon. → Rainy-day plan
- Love a show? Skip the night market and book a concert or a performance. → Shows and nightlife
- Want to eat more? → What to eat in Taipei
- Got another day? → The 2-day plan
Sources
Ride times and single-journey adult fares come from Taipei Metro's fare and travel time search (time on the train only, so add a few minutes for walking and changing lines). Hours, tickets and directions for each sight are on the linked guide pages, each with its own sources. Checked October 2026.