Taiwan Walking Tours: Four Historic Quarters
Four routes, four centuries
Taiwan is a good walking country because its old quarters are compact and well preserved. These four routes each take two to three hours, and all can be self-guided with a phone map and comfortable shoes.
Dadaocheng and Dihua Street, Taipei
Dadaocheng was Taipei’s river port, and Dihua Street still carries the red-brick tea merchants, Chinese herbal medicine shops and fabric markets of the 19th century. Independent coffee roasters have moved into several shopfronts. Walk it north to south in the morning, before the shops fill. The free Xiahai City God Temple, known for matchmaker prayers, is a short detour, and so is a ride along the river bike paths at the end.
Wanhua and Bopiliao
Wanhua, also called Bangkha, is Taipei’s oldest district. The preserved Bopiliao Historic Block shows Qing-dynasty and Japanese-era shophouses, and Herb Lane nearby sells medicinal teas to sample. Longshan Temple (founded 1738, free entry) is a natural start or finish. Dress modestly there.
Anping, Tainan
Anping holds Taiwan’s oldest European settlement, Fort Zeelandia, dating to 1624. Stroll Yanping Street for shrimp rolls, then visit the former Tait and Co. warehouse, where banyan roots have swallowed the walls, a favourite for photographers. Carry water and a hat because Tainan summers are hot.
Jiufen stairways
Jiufen’s stone staircases along Shuqi Road climb through lantern-lit tea houses, including the multi-storey Amei Tea House. Come on a weekday morning, since the lanes narrow when crowded. If you want a guided option, you can browse Jiufen walking tours on GetYourGuide .
A stair climb with a view
Elephant Mountain’s steep stone staircase, about 600 steps, is a free sunset walk with a skyline view of Taipei 101. Start well before dusk and carry a torch for the descent.
Transit and etiquette
Taipei’s MRT bans eating and drinking inside the fare gates, including water, with fines of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500, so finish drinks outside. An EasyCard covers the MRT and city buses, and YouBike bicycle rental costs about NT$5 to NT$10 per half hour. For Hualien and the east, Taiwan Railways trains are the only rail option, and Taroko National Park is only partly open, so check the park’s site before you plan a walk there. Typhoon season runs July to October, so check the Central Weather Administration before walking days.
Food stops on the way
Every route has its snacks. On Dadaocheng and Wanhua walks, a fried oyster omelette is NT$70 to NT$90 and braised pork rice NT$35 to NT$60. In Anping, shrimp rolls on Yanping Street are the local pick. A riverside ride on a YouBike from Dadaocheng Wharf to Tamsui makes a good end to a day, watching the sun settle into the Taiwan Strait.
For more route ideas, see the 4-day itinerary . Tip: start each route at opening time and eat breakfast on the way, because the best light and thinnest crowds come before 10:00. For a free cultural stop, Taipei tourism’s official site has general visitor information for the capital.