Who + strategy
First-timers with a long weekend. Fly into Songshan Airport (~15 min by taxi downtown) and reclaim 2 hours vs Taoyuan. Stay near MRT Zhongshan or Taipei Main Station.
Day1: Dumplings + CKS + Palace Museum
- Morning Songshan arrival, drop bags → Din Tai Fung (Xinyi/Nanxi; take a number first, browse nearby shops while waiting).
- Afternoon CKS Memorial hourly guard change → Palace Museum Three Treasures express (60–100 min). Closed mostly Mondays.
- Dinner classic Taiwanese (A-Ye: pre-book).
Day2: Longshan + Jiufen/Shifen + Shilin
- Breakfast Zhouji pork porridge → Longshan Temple (Dragon Gate in, Tiger Gate out; red thread after greeting all gods).
- Midday Jiufen (bus 965/1062, 1–1.5 hrs): taro balls → Shuqi Rd → A-Mei Tea House → Shifen sky lantern.
- Night Shilin Night Market (chicken steak, pepper bun, shaved ice). MRT Jiantan.
Day3: 101 + Yongkang + fly home
- Breakfast Fu Hang Soy Milk (go at opening) → Taipei 101 observatory (timed e-ticket).
- Lunch Yongkang beef noodles → souvenir hunt on Yongkang Street → Songshan Airport.
Tips
- Rain gear for Jiufen; check Palace Museum Monday closure; dodge meal peaks at Din Tai Fung/Fu Hang.
- EasyCard + small cash; night markets are mostly cash-only.
