The Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Night Markets 臺北夜市指南

Basic Taipei Travel Tips:

• There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
• Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions such as for street food still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here. Sponsored Links
• Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi such as from Klook here so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
• Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here. 
• The electrical voltage is 110V.
• Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
• For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here. 

When should you go to Taipei?

In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October-November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. 
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Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. 
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year. 

Where to Stay in Taipei?

High end:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), which are all very high-quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Budget Hotels:
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Attractions in Taipei:

There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here.

Activities in Taipei:

Don’t forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen’ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Klook here or KKday here.

How to get there:

The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei’s Songshan and Toayuan Airport.
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei.
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here.
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei’s city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line.
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.

How to get around in Taipei:

Taipei’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. â€‹You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Taipei Night Market Map:

Check out our map below of the night markets and shopping areas that we will cover in this blog:

Night Markets Ranking Criteria:

To help make this list more useful for you, we will rank the old streets in the following three areas from 1-5 (1 being worst, 5 being best).
1. Tourist Appeal: The popularity of the night market, whether or not there are lots of restaurants, shops, and crowds of people here. Would you recommend foreign tourists to come here?
2. Cheap Prices: Whether or not this night market is cheaply priced compared to other night markets around Taiwan.
3. Quality of Food: Delicious food, unique food, a variety of food, and most of all food that leaves you wanting to come back for more.
3. Ease of Transportation: Is the night market near an MRT station, or do you have to ride a scooter, take a bus, or take a taxi to see it?

 

 

1. Tourist Appeal: 5
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

 

 

Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市

Ningxia Night Market is one of the most popular night markets in Taipei. The night market takes up two city blocks and includes food stalls as well as sit-down areas and restaurants. Popular delicacies here include Oyster Omelet, fried chicken, fried squid, and much more. The night market is also very close to the Dadaocheng historical area and is often considered to be a part of it. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei.
Check out our full guide to Ningxia Night Market here.  ​

1. Tourist Appeal: 5
2. Cheap Prices: 3
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Nanjichang Night Market 南機場夜市

Nanjichang Night Market (南機場夜市) is a large night market area in Zhongzheng District of Taipei known for its variety of food stalls and local crowds. The night market sits far away from the MRT station, meaning that usually only locals will snack here and prices are generally cheaper. Popular foods here include meatballs, sesame flatbread, stinky tofu, and more. It is definitely an authentic Taipei night market experience. 
Check out our full guide to Nanjichang Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 3

Liaoning Street Night Market 遼寧街夜市

Liaoning Street Night Market (遼寧街夜市) is a large restaurant and eating area in Zhongshan District of Taipei known for its variety of seafood restaurants and stalls. The night market sits next to Nanjing Fuxing MRT Station, meaning there are always crowds of hungry people looking for cheap snacks here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Liaoning Street Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 4

Shida Night Market 師大夜市

Shida Night Market is a large eating and shopping area near National Taiwan Normal University. The night market sits next to two other major universities, meaning there are always crowds of hungry students looking for cheap snacks here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Shida Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 4
3. Ease of Transportation: 4

Gongguan Night Market 公館夜市

Gongguan Night Market and Gonguan Shopping District are a large shopping area near Gonguan MRT Station. The night market sits next to National Taiwan University, meaning there are always crowds of hungry students looking for cheap snacks here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Gongguan Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Dalong Street Night Market 大龍街夜市

Dalong Street Night Market is a small night market in Taipei near the Taipei Confucius Temple and Dalongdong Baoan Temple. Here you can find local snacks and delicacies such as braised pork rice, fried chicken, and meatballs without huge crowds of people. It is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area. 
Check out our full guide to Dalong Street Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 3
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 3
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Shezi Night Market 社子夜市

Shezi Night Market (社子夜市) is a long eating and shopping area on the Shezi Peninsula in Shilin District of Taipei. The night market is small and also doubles as a wet market during the day. You will not find many tourists here, making it an authentic local night market experience. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei.
Check out our full guide to Shezi Night Market here.  

1. Tourist Appeal: 3
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 3
3. Ease of Transportation: 3

Shuangcheng Street Night Market 雙城街夜市

Shuangcheng Street Night Market is a large eating and shopping area near Zhongshan Elementary School MRT Station in Zhongshan District in Taipei. The night market includes an open “food court” stall area and a closed market area that sells clothes and other items. Even though it is a relatively small night market, it is one of the oldest and most well-established in Taipei. 
Check out our full guide to Shuangcheng Street Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 5
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 4
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Yansan Night Market 延三夜市

Yansan Night Market (aka Yuan Sen Night Market, or Daqiaotou Night Market, or Yanping Tourist Night Market) is a small night market in Datong District of Taipei. The night market is not fancy, not touristy, and not very busy. It caters to local snacks for local people. It also has three shops that were mentioned in the Michelin guide to Taiwan.
Check out our full guide to Yansan Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 3
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 3
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Lehua Night Market 樂華夜市

Lehua Night Market in Yonghe District of New Taipei City is busy and vibrant. It may be the most crowded night market in Taipei, serving residents of both Zhonghe and Yonghe. It also has some of the cheapest prices. Popular foods here include rice cakes, shrimp soup, oyster omelets, and shaved ice. It is definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.
Check out our full guide to Lehua Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 4
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Sanhe Night Market 三和夜市

Recently I also visited Sanhe Night Market in New Taipei. This place is deceivingly big. The night market stretches down this alley for over a kilometer.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Taoyuan Night Market 桃園觀光夜市

Taoyuan Tourist Night Market is a large night market in the center of downtown Taoyuan. Popular foods here include lamb soup, squid soup, fried chicken, ​and more. Even though it is a tourist night market, you will usually only find locals here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taoyuan. 
Check out our full guide to Taoyuan Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 4
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 3

Baodouzi Weekend Night Market 八斗子假日夜市

Badouzi Weekend Night Market is a popular night market on the coast of Keelung near Baodouzi Harbor. Even though it is only open on weekends, you will find almost every Taiwanese night market snack you could want here. You probably won’t see any other tourists or foreigners.  Popular foods here include fried squid, steak, onion pancakes, papaya milk, and more.
Check out our full guide to Badouzi Weekend Night Market here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 3
2. Cheap Prices: 5
3. Quality of Food: 4
3. Ease of Transportation: 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yongkang Street 永康街

Yongkang Street is home to some of the best food in Taipei. Neither a night market nor an old street, it is just a street with good food. The street is mostly geared to the tastes of tourists and foreign travelers. Besides food, there are also art shops, clothing shops, bookstores, tea shops, and many other specialty shops. 
Check out our full guide to Yongkang Street here.

1. Tourist Appeal: 5
2. Cheap Prices: 4
3. Quality of Food: 5
3. Ease of Transportation: 5

Final Night Market Rankings (out of 20):

Shilin Night Market 士林夜市: 18
Raohe Street Night Market 饒河街夜市: 19
Tonghua (Linjiang) Street Night Market 通化(臨江)街夜市: 18
Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街觀光夜市: 16
Bangka Night Market (Guangzhou Street Night Market) 艋舺夜市 （廣州街夜市）: 15
Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市: 18
Nanjichang Night Market 南機場夜市: 17
Liaoning Street Night Market 遼寧街夜市: 17
Shida Night Market 師大夜市: 16
Gongguan Night Market 公館夜市: 18
Dalong Street Night Market 大龍街夜市: 15
Shezi Night Market 社子夜市:14
Shuangcheng Street Night Market 雙城街夜市: 18
Yansan Night Market 延三夜市: 16
Lehua Night Market 樂華夜市: 18
Sanhe Night Market 三和夜市: 18
Taoyuan Night Market 桃園觀光夜市: 17
Baodouzi Weekend Night Market 八斗子假日夜市: 16
Xizhi Night Market 汐止夜市: 17
Miaokou Night Market 廟口夜市: 17
​Luodong Night Market 羅東夜市: 16
Hongdao Night Market 弘道夜市: 11
Ximending 西門町: 18
​Jianguo Holiday Flower Market 建國假日花市: 13
Wufenpu 五分埔: 16
Yongkang Street 永康街: 19

Conclusion:

According to the above rankings, Raohe Street Night Market 饒河街夜市 and Yongkang Street 永康街 are the best. However, Yongkang Street is not actually a night market, so Raohe Street Night Market wins.

What is the best night market in greater Taipei?

— Foreigners in Taiwan 🇹🇼 外國人在台灣 (@foreignersinTW) January 12, 2018

However, as you can see from the very official poll above, Shilin Night Market is the most popular night market in Taipei and is often considered the best by the masses.

There is no perfect night market out there. Go try them out and see which one you like best!

Our Guide to Taipei’s Old Streets 台北老街指南

Taipei has some amazing old streets waiting to be discovered by you. Each one of the old streets around Taipei has a special story to tell that can help you understand more about Taiwan’s History and Culture. In this guide, we will introduce the most popular old streets in Taipei, as well as some that are less well-known. 
Check out our guide to Taipei’s Old Streets here.        


Also be sure to check out our full guide to Taipei here.                   
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.