Taipei 3 Nights 4 Days Free Travel Guide — From Ximending to Jiufen
With a direct flight of about 2.5 to 3 hours from Incheon, Taipei is an entry city for Korean travelers, allowing a 90-day stay without a visa. With just one EasyCard, you can easily navigate the MRT, buses, and convenience stores. This guide covers the itinerary, budget, EasyCard usage, and hotel areas (Ximending/Zhongzheng District/Xinyi District/Daan District) for a 3-night, 4-day trip, including shopping in Ximending, the night view from Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, Din Tai Fung's soup dumplings, the old streets of Jiufen, and the Yehliu Geopark. It's a great choice for first-time travelers or a short vacation.
🤖 Translated automatically by AI (GPT-4o-mini). Reviewed periodically.
From a Korean traveler's perspective, departing from Seoul/ICN, Taipei is the closest city in the Greater China region, with a direct flight taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. With a Korean passport, you can stay for 90 days without a visa. The abundance of Chinese character signs makes it easy to navigate and read menus, and with just one EasyCard, you can manage MRT, buses, convenience stores, and YouBike (public bicycles) all at once, making it less burdensome for first-time travelers. Although 3 nights and 4 days is tight, you can enjoy all the highlights. To summarize — Day 1: Arrival, Ximending Night Market, Taipei 101 night view; Day 2: National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Din Tai Fung flagship store; Day 3: Day trip to Jiufen and Yehliu (or Jinguashi); Day 4: Last beef noodle soup, Shilin Night Market, and airport. I’ve organized information on EasyCard, hotel areas, seasons, and budgets based on 2026.
Overview
- Accommodation Locations: Ximending (shopping, tourist convenience, MRT Ximen Station, youthful atmosphere), Zhongzheng District (historical sites, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, convenient transfers at Taipei Main Station), Xinyi District (shopping, within walking distance of Taipei 101, concentration of luxury hotels), Daan District (local vibe, cafes, Yongkang Street). If it’s your first visit, I recommend 3 nights in Ximending or 2 nights in Ximending + 1 night in Xinyi. You can check real-time prices by season in the hotel cards below.
- Transportation: EasyCard (悠遊卡) is essential. You can obtain it at the airport, MRT ticket offices, or convenience stores, with a deposit of 100 TWD + initial charge (usually starting from 200 to 500 TWD). The basic MRT fare is 20 to 25 TWD (depending on distance), bus fares are around 15 TWD, and YouBike costs 10 TWD for 30 minutes. You can get a refund for the remaining balance upon departure (the deposit is fully refundable if used 5 times or more within 3 months). Some Korean cards can be charged, but cash is the most reliable.
- Airport to City: The Taoyuan Airport MRT express train takes about 35 minutes, while the regular train takes about 50 minutes, costing 150 TWD (EasyCard payment is possible). If you’re looking for value, the City Bus 1819 (to Taipei Main Station) costs 135 TWD and takes about 60 minutes. If you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with 2-3 people, taking a taxi or Uber for 1,200 to 1,500 TWD is also reasonable.
- Budget for 3 Nights and 4 Days per Person: Excluding flights, expect around 600,000 to 1,100,000 KRW (mid-range accommodation + meals + entrance fees + transportation, varying by hotel grade and season). For meals focused on night markets, dim sum, and beef noodles, a daily budget of 600 to 1,000 TWD (about 25,000 to 40,000 KRW) is sufficient.
- Seasons: October to April is the best (18 to 25°C, many clear days, moderate humidity). January to February can be a bit chilly (13 to 18°C, a jacket is needed). May to September is hot and humid (28 to 33°C, feels like 35°C+) with possible showers and typhoons. If you’re traveling from June to September, a light umbrella or raincoat is essential as it rains frequently.
- Currency and Exchange Rate: TWD (New Taiwan Dollar), as of 2026, is approximately 42 to 45 KRW. ATM withdrawals often provide better exchange rates than currency exchange offices. Credit cards are accepted at city hotels, large restaurants, and convenience stores, but many night markets, local eateries, and small restaurants only accept cash, so it’s advisable to carry around 1,000 TWD in cash.
- Language and Safety: English is commonly understood in hotels, tourist spots, and some restaurants, while Mandarin (the national language) and Hokkien are spoken on the streets. The advantage of having menus in Chinese characters is that Koreans can read them reasonably well. The safety is quite good (walking at night is fine), but be cautious of slippery street stalls and stairs as it rains frequently.
Day 1 — Arrival, Ximending, Taipei 101 Night View
If you depart from Incheon in the morning (usually between 9 and 11 AM), you’ll arrive in Taipei around lunchtime. It takes about 35 minutes by the airport MRT express train to Taipei Main Station, where you can drop off your luggage and head to Ximending (MRT Bannan Line, Ximen Station).
Ximending (西門町) is like the Myeongdong or Shibuya of Taipei. The streets are filled with shops, drugstores, and local eateries mixed together. For lunch, I recommend the Ah-Chung Mian Xian (阿宗麵線) for a light meal of noodle soup (70 TWD). The proper way to enjoy it is to stand in the narrow alley in front of the shop with your bowl. For dessert, try C 18° chocolate or mango shaved ice (Ice Monster, Sanmei Restaurant).
Before sunset, take the MRT to Taipei 101 (台北 101) (transfer at MRT Bannan Line and Xinyi Line, 台北101/世貿站). The entrance fee for the observation deck is about 600 TWD, and the view of the basin city from the 89th floor is breathtaking. If you enter just before sunset (between 5 and 6 PM depending on the season), you can enjoy both the sunset and the night view, which is the best experience. If you have time, you can also hike Xiangshan (象山) (20 to 30 minutes) for a free view of Taipei 101 from the front (starting from MRT Xiangshan Station).
For dinner, head to Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) in Xinyi, either at the flagship store or the one next to Yongkang Street. A serving of soup dumplings costs about 250 TWD, and you can enjoy a hearty meal for 600 to 800 TWD per person, including crab fried rice and shrimp wonton noodles. The flagship store often has long waiting lines — sometimes the branch inside the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store is faster.
Day 2 — National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Yongkang Street
For breakfast, you can either enjoy the hotel breakfast or try the warm soy milk + shaobing + danbing at Fu Hang Dou Jiang (阜杭豆漿) (MRT Shandao Temple Station). It’s recommended to go before 8 AM as the lines can be long.
The National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) is a must-visit in Taipei. It houses about 700,000 artifacts from the Chinese imperial collection, with around 7,000 items on display at any time. The entrance fee is 350 TWD, and a Korean audio guide is available for an additional 150 TWD. Make sure to check the locations of highlights like Cabbage of Jade (翠玉白菜), Meat-Shaped Stone (肉形石), and Mao Gong Ding in advance. You’ll typically spend about 3 to 4 hours here. Take bus 255 or 304 from MRT Shilin Station.
In the afternoon, head to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂) (MRT Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station). Admission is free, and the changing of the guard ceremony at the top of each hour is a tourist highlight (9 AM to 5 PM). There are also the National Concert Hall and National Theater nearby, which are great for photos.
For dinner, explore the area around Yongkang Street (永康街). The signature dish at Yongkang Beef Noodle (永康牛肉麵) is their beef noodles (about 280 TWD), and for dessert, try the Smoothie (思慕昔) mango shaved ice or the original Chun Shui Tang (春水堂) (the original store is in Taichung, but the Taipei branch is also good) for their pearl milk tea (150 TWD). It’s meaningful to have a cup from the birthplace of pearl milk tea.
Day 3 — Day Trip to Jiufen and Yehliu
About an hour from downtown Taipei, Jiufen (九份) is a mountainous village famous for its ambiance reminiscent of the movie Spirited Away. While it’s not the direct inspiration for the film, the narrow stairways lined with red lanterns, old streets, and tea houses with great views are definitely impressive.
Getting There: Instead of heading towards the terminal stations of Songshan or Nangang on the MRT Bannan Line, take the train from Taipei Main Station to Keelung Station (基隆) (about 50 minutes, 60 TWD) and then transfer to bus 788 or 1062 (about 30 to 40 minutes) to Jiufen. The most convenient option is to take the direct bus 1062 from MRT Zhongshan Junior High School Station (about 90 minutes, around 100 TWD). Tours like Jiufen + Yehliu Day Tour available on KKday or Klook (with Korean guides or audio guides, about 1,600 to 2,400 TWD) are also popular, typically covering Yehliu in the morning and Jiufen in the afternoon for an efficient itinerary.
Yehliu (野柳) is a coastal park known for its unique rock formations, including the Queen's Head (女王頭), Candle Rock, and Ginger Rock. The entrance fee is 120 TWD, and 1 to 2 hours is sufficient for a visit. For lunch, enjoy a seafood set nearby. If you have extra time, you can also visit the old gold mine museum and Golden Waterfall in Jinguashi (金瓜石), but be cautious as it can make your schedule tight — enjoying the sunset in Jiufen is more romantic.
In Jiufen, enjoy oolong tea and a snack set (about 400 to 600 TWD) at A-Mei Tea House (阿妹茶樓) or a teahouse on the Shuqi Stairs (豎崎路) while watching the sunset. The desserts in the night market area, such as Taro Balls (芋圓) and Sweet Potato Balls, are famous. Depart around 7 PM and return to Taipei city by around 10 PM.
Day 4 — Shilin Night Market, Last Tea, and Airport
On the last day, don’t rush your schedule; pack your bags according to your hotel checkout time (usually between 11 AM and 12 PM). You can store your luggage at a coin locker at Taipei Main Station (small 70 TWD/day, medium 100 to 150 TWD) or ask the hotel to hold it before heading directly to the airport.
In the morning, take a stroll through the old neighborhoods like Longshan Temple (龍山寺·MRT 龍山寺站) or Bopiliao Historical Block (剝皮寮). For your last lunch, enjoy light beef noodles or dim sum in Ximending or Zhongzheng District.
If you have an evening flight, make sure to visit Shilin Night Market (士林夜市·MRT 劍潭站) in the afternoon or evening (some stalls operate during the day, but the main night market starts at 5 PM). Signature foods include oyster omelets (蚵仔煎), pepper buns (胡椒餅), large intestine noodles (大腸麵線), and fried chicken (豪大大雞排, a large fried chicken the size of A4 paper). For cafes and souvenir shopping, the Zhongshan Station area is also great, and if you’re looking for gifts, visiting the SunnyHills (微熱山丘) flagship store (Nanjing East Road) for a tasting and a cup of tea before purchasing is the best option.
For airport transfer, take the Taoyuan MRT express (about 35 minutes from Taipei Main Station, 150 TWD) or the city bus. It’s safe to arrive at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
Where to Stay in Taipei
Choosing the right area for your hotel in Taipei can significantly affect your satisfaction with the trip.
- Ximending (西門町·MRT Ximen Station): If it’s your first visit and you enjoy shopping and a youthful atmosphere, this is the top choice. The mid-range hotel prices are also reasonable. However, be aware that the streets can be noisy on weekend nights.
- Zhongzheng District/Taipei Main Station Area: This area offers the best transfers for airport MRT, trains, and MRT. If you plan day trips to Jiufen, Yehliu, or outer destinations like Hsinchu or Taichung, this is convenient.
- Xinyi District (信義區·MRT City Hall Station/Taipei 101): Within walking distance of Taipei 101 and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, this area is packed with luxury hotels and 5-star accommodations. It’s best for night views and shopping, but prices are higher.
- Daan District/Yongkang Street/Zhongshan Station: Recommended for those who enjoy local vibes, cafes, and gourmet food. It tends to be quieter as fewer foreign tourists visit.
Prices vary significantly by season and day of the week. You can check real-time prices for 4-star hotels in Ximending and Xinyi based on 2026 in the hotel cards below. Even the same hotel can be 20 to 30% cheaper on weekdays (Sunday to Thursday) compared to weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is EasyCard better than single-ride tickets?
If you plan to take the MRT or bus more than 3 times a day, the EasyCard is definitely more advantageous. You pay a deposit of 100 TWD, but if you use it 5 times or more within 3 months, you can get a full refund upon departure, and it works for MRT automatic gates, convenience store payments, and YouBike all in one card. Single-ride tickets are only worth it if you’re riding once or twice.
Q. Is a day trip to Jiufen sufficient? What about an overnight stay?
Most people find a day trip sufficient. However, if you want to see the old streets of Jiufen without the crowds and experience the morning mist, I recommend an overnight stay. There are many guesthouses and homestays in the mountains, and on weekdays, you can find accommodations for around 1,500 to 3,000 TWD. However, moving hotel luggage can be cumbersome, so for first-time visitors, a day trip plus following the main itinerary is more efficient.
Q. Should I avoid the rainy season from May to September?
While October to April is indeed the best time to visit, it’s not the case that it rains all day from May to September. There are often afternoon showers or squalls, so bringing an umbrella or raincoat and increasing indoor activities (like the National Palace Museum, Din Tai Fung, and department stores) can make your trip enjoyable. Additionally, flight and hotel prices are 30 to 40% cheaper during the off-season. However, if a typhoon warning (海上·陸上 颱風警報) is issued, MRT, museums, and buses to Jiufen may temporarily stop, so it’s wise to check the weather forecast a week before your departure.