Taipei walks that don't involve hiking
Explore Taipei on foot with three easy routes through very different neighborhoods
Taipei is a pleasant city to explore on foot, even if climbing a mountain is absolutely not on the agenda.
These three easy walks take you through some of the city’s best-known neighborhoods, parks, shopping streets, historic areas, and food spots, with plenty of places to stop along the way.
#1: Zhongshan MRT Station to Shuanglian MRT Station
For cafes, shopping, and a wander
Start at Zhongshan MRT Station and follow Zhongshan Linear Park north toward Shuanglian MRT Station for an easy walk through one of Taipei's trendiest areas. It's great for people watching, and there are plenty of places to rest.
The pedestrian corridor is lined with greenery, seating areas, cafes, shops, and creative spaces. On weekends, there are often pop-up markets selling accessories, crafts, and other small finds.
Be sure to wander beyond the park itself. Nearby Chifeng Street is packed with independent stores, vintage shops, and cafes, as well as Athena, an independent bookstore.
Closer to Shuanglian MRT Station, you can also stop at Wen Chang Temple, which is popular with students praying for academic success.
Department stores, including Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and Eslite Nanxi, are also clustered around Zhongshan MRT Station if you want to add some shopping at the start of the walk.
by Wen Chang Temple, which is popular among students who prayThere are also department stores around both MRT stations — and you can even walk underground all the way to Beimen MRT Station. It's good to keep in mind if the weather turns bad.
#2: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to Daan Forest Park via Yongkang Street
Start with history, stop for lunch, finish in the park
Start at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where the huge plaza, blue-and-white memorial building, National Theater, and National Concert Hall make this one of Taipei's most recognizable places.
The grounds are also worth exploring beyond the main square, with landscaped gardens, ponds, and shaded paths that make the area surprisingly pleasant for a wander.
Late afternoon is a particularly good time to start, when the heat begins to ease and you can continue the walk into the evening.
If you are hungry early on, Hang Zhou Xiao Long Bao, just beside the memorial hall area on Hangzhou South Road, is a great local spot for steamed dumplings.
From there, head east toward Yongkang Street, one of Taipei's best-known areas for food, cafes, tea shops, and small independent stores.
It is also a good place to look for souvenirs, while the surrounding alleys are worth exploring rather than sticking only to the main street.
After eating or shopping, continue south toward Daan Forest Park for a quieter finish. The large central park has open lawns, tree-lined paths, ponds, and plenty of benches, making it a suitable place to slow down after the busier streets that surround it.
#3: Beimen to Dadaocheng via Dihua Street
See a more historic side of the city
For this walk, This Is Taipei recommends starting at Beimen MRT Station. Beimen literally means 'north gate,' and it's one of the surviving gates from the Qing-era city walls. It was also once the main entrance toward the thriving Dadaocheng area.
Keep walking toward Dihua Street, the oldest street in the city, according to the Taipei City Government, where tea stores sit beside traditional medicine shops, fabric sellers, cafes, and souvenir stores.
Many businesses along the route still sell the tea, herbs, dried goods, and textiles that helped turn Dadaocheng into one of Taipei’s most important trading districts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is worth spending some time here. Stop at Yongle Fabric Market, browse the shops for tea and souvenirs, or visit Xiahai City God Temple, which is well known for people praying to Yue Lao, the deity associated with love and matchmaking.
Finish by heading west through the No. 5 Water Gate to Dadaocheng Wharf. The waterfront is a popular place for riverside walks, food and drinks at the container market, and views across the Tamsui River.
This route works particularly well in the late afternoon, giving you time to explore Dihua Street while shops are still open before reaching the river toward evening.
