It was our third day in Taiwan, and also the last day for two of my friends, who were flying home earlier than us. That alone made the day emotional—but it was also exciting and a little terrifying for me.
Why? Because we were finally visiting Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.
In our original itinerary, we planned to visit the National Palace Museum, but we decided to skip it after realizing how far it was from the city center. Instead, we focused on places that were closer—and honestly, it turned out to be the right call.
⏰ 7:00 AM – Wake-Up Call
Even though we went to bed late the night before, we still woke up early, excited for the day ahead.
When we travel, I always make sure to wake up first so I can shower peacefully and take my time getting ready. I also like to look presentable—especially since photos are involved (LOL).
Once we were all done, we headed down to the hotel’s dining area for breakfast.
For a small hotel, Just Sleep Hotel Ximending really impressed me with their breakfast spread.
I only had:
- Salad
- A couple of dim sum
- Bread
And honestly? I regret it now. I should’ve tried at least one of everything, just so I’d know how they tasted. I was too excited and didn’t eat enough—and that’s one travel mistake I still remember. 😅
After breakfast, we met our friends in the hotel lobby and walked to the train station.
Related Post: 🏨 Just Sleep Hotel Ximending Review: Clean Stay Near Taipei Night Market
🚆 9:00 AM – Travel to
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
What I really loved, though, was how disciplined and respectful locals are when riding the train. Everyone lines up properly, no one pushes, and the routes are surprisingly easy to understand—much easier compared to Hong Kong or South Korea.
If only it were the same in the Philippines. 😅
🏛️ 9:45 AM – Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
(+ National Concert Hall & Taiwan Democracy Park)
After almost an hour of travel, we arrived at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, along with the National Concert Hall and Taiwan Democracy Park—all located in one huge, open area.
When we arrived, it wasn’t crowded yet, so we took our time
taking photos. But because we lingered near the entrance for so long, we didn’t
realize how quickly the crowd built up.
This is one of Taiwan’s top tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors daily. We visited on a Monday, which I highly recommend. If you can, always visit on a weekday.
💡 Tips:
- Visit on a weekday
- Allocate at least 1 hour
- Walk around the hall and the park
- Enjoy the weather and open spaces
🚆 11:15 AM – Travel to Taipei 101
By the time we finished exploring and taking photos, it was almost lunchtime. We didn’t bother checking nearby restaurants since Taipei 101 was only about 20 minutes away.
Another thing I love about Taiwan? Lockers everywhere. You can easily leave heavy bags behind and explore comfortably.
🍜 11:40 AM – Lunch at Taipei 101 Food Hall
Our original plan was to eat at Din Tai Fung, but
when we arrived, it was fully booked—and we were way too hungry to wait.
So we headed to the Taipei 101 Food Hall instead.
The smell alone was enough to make us hungry all over again. There were so many food options, but since we weren’t very familiar with Taiwanese food at the time, we just ordered what looked good.
And yes—it was good.
Like we always do when traveling, we ordered different dishes and shared everything so we could all try a bit of everything.
🏙️ 12:40 PM – Taipei 101 Observatory
After lunch, we explored the tower—from food stalls to dessert shops and galleries. Before reaching the main observatory lobby, there are several exhibits you shouldn’t skip, so make sure to explore them first.
Taipei 101 is:
- One of
the tallest buildings in the world
- Home to one of the fastest elevators
It only takes 38 seconds to reach the top.
That excited me… and scared me at the same time.
At the observatory, I thought the glass floor was real—only to find out it was actually a mirror reflecting the inside of the tower.
Did that help?
No.
My brain completely shut down. I’m afraid of heights, and I refused to step on it. I just took photos of my friends while screaming and laughing with them. When I looked around, I noticed other people doing the same thing—so at least I wasn’t alone.
After lots of photos and gallery hopping, our friends had to leave for their flight. We stayed a bit longer before heading out.
🚶♀️ 3:00 PM – Walk to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
We left around 3:00 PM, still stopping to take photos along the way. Since we didn’t know when we’d be back in Taiwan, we really took our time.
That said… my knees and feet were already giving up on me.
I didn’t tell my friend because I didn’t want her to feel bad or suggest going back to the hotel.
Big mistake.
It was a very long walk.
🏛️ 4:30 PM – Sun Yat-Sen
Memorial Hall
By the time we arrived, the memorial hall was already closed. Both of us were exhausted, so we spent most of our time sitting on benches, resting, and just soaking in the surroundings.
Of course, we still walked around and took photos—but slowly.
It was almost dark when we left.
👡 5:30 PM – Travel to Shilin Night Market
On the way to the train station, my feet could no longer handle my boots. We stopped at a local store so I could buy slippers—and thank goodness we did.
We still had one last stop for the day: Shilin Night Market.
🌙 6:12 PM – Shilin Night Market
We had only been to Ximending Night Market before,
but Shilin quickly became my favorite.
Why?
- Bigger
- More food choices
More
organized- Even has a hidden old temple if you walk far enough
We didn’t eat dinner beforehand, so we went all in:
- Pork buns (and watched how they’re made!)
- Peanut mochi
- Long French fries (which I still crave to this day)
- Chicken on a Salad
- Blow-torched Beef
- Chicken Pop
We kept eating until we were completely satisfied.
Related Post: 🍓 Candied Fruits – Taiwan’s Sweet & Shiny Street Snack
🚆 10:00 PM – Back to the Hotel
After everything, we walked—again—to the train station and headed back to Just Sleep Hotel.
I don’t even remember how we made it back. I just remember feeling so relieved when I saw the hotel.
No photos. No stories. Just exhaustion.
All I know is that I wasn’t looking forward to the next day—because it meant our last day in Taiwan.
🌿Some travel days are packed, exhausting, emotional, and unforgettable—all at once.
Day 3 in Taiwan was exactly that.✨ The kind of day that hurts your feet, fills your camera, and stays with you long after the trip ends.
🌿 Lakwatserang Ligaw Quote
✨ “Some travel days don’t just show you a place—they test your fears, tire your feet, and leave you with stories you’ll never forget.” 💙
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• a Taipei 3–4 day itinerary• a Taipei 101 ticket & visit guide• or a Shilin vs Ximending night market comparison
Check out my other Taiwandering Four Posts:
🐼 TaiwanDering Four Day 4: Longshan Temple | Bangka Qingshan Temple | Taipei Zoo
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