As the largest city in an incredibly modern but traditional country, Taipei holds the interest of people from all around the world. This bustling city offers visitors a chance to get away from it all or to immerse themselves in some of the most modern and unique travel experiences out there.
If you spend a week in Taipei, you’ll be blown away by how strangely wonderful this vibrant and intriguing city is. Forget the temples, palaces, and usual tourist hot spots, and instead check out some of the weird things to do in Taipei. You’ll come across attractions you won’t find anywhere else in the world, from eating at a modern toilet restaurant to petting felines at a cat village.
Ready to discover and learn about some of the most unique things to do in Taipei? Let’s dive in!
Unusual and Fun Things To Do in Taipei, Taiwan
Wondering what to do in Taipei if you’re looking for unusual activities? You won’t be once you read this list of weird and wacky adventures in the Taiwanese capital. Go on, have some fun!
17. Get Your Fortune Told by a Bird
That’s right, Taipei is one of the only places in the world where one of the top things to do is get your fortune told by a bird. Strangely located in an underground shopping mall by Longshan subway station, you’ll find Miss Chen and her talented fortune-telling bird, “Big Luck Master”.
The bird plucks cards from a pack, and that’s how you’ll know what the future holds. This is a fun and unconventional experience you probably won’t find anywhere else on Earth.
How to get there: Take the metro to Longshan Temple station, and walk to the underground mall.
Address: Longshan Temple Metro Station, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
16. Eat in a Modern Toilet Restaurant
The thought of sitting on an actual toilet and eating a mashed potato and gravy meal that looks more like diarrhea on a plate than lunch might not sound too appealing. But it’s such a fun experience.
A unique Taipei itinerary should include a visit to the Modern Toilet Restaurant. You’ll have a wonderful time ordering unusual dishes. Children giggle while sipping juice from a mini urinal, and washing their hands in a toilet bowl in the bathroom was an unimaginable experience.
You can go in just for drinks or food, and the menu ranges from small snacks to plates of Taiwanese food, as well as a massive list of poo-themed desserts. This is probably one of the most fun things to do in Taipei for young adults and adventurous kids.
Alternatively, if you actually want to try authentic Taiwanese street food, check out some of the coolest Taipei night markets with this 2-hour walking tour or this street food and market tour.
How to get there: Take the metro to Ximen MRT Exit 6 and walk for a few minutes.
Address: Xining S Rd 108, Lane 50, Wanhua District
15. Join the Hello Kitty Craze
Despite Hello Kitty originating in Japan, no other people group has adopted the pink-and-white cartoon cat as their own as much as the Taiwanese. A national airline, Taiwan-based EVA Air, even has Hello Kitty-themed planes and Hello Kitty-themed check-in counters. To explore the theme, you can visit one of the several 7-Eleven Hello Kitty stores in Ximending.
You can buy Hello Kitty souvenirs, sip on frothy Hello Kitty cappuccinos, and, of course, eat all sorts of tasty treats with the cutest cat in the world’s face imprinted on everything. Expect to pay between US$12 and US$ 20, depending on your order, and prepare for a pink overload.
How to get there: Located in the Ximending area of the Wanhua and Zhongzheng districts.
Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Section 2, Hankou St, 73號1樓
14. Get a Sneak Peek at the Tuned Mass Damper of Taipei
Taipei 101 is the tallest building in the city and was once the tallest building in the world. The engineers behind the building came up with the genius idea to put a tuned mass damper inside the building, which acts like a giant pendulum to stop the building from swaying.
Should there be any movement from the tower, the mass damper moves to counter it and stop the building from toppling. It’s visible between the 87th and 92nd floors when visiting Taipei 101. Not ready to leave? Get an Observatory Deck entry ticket for sweeping city views.
How to get there: Take the metro to the Taipei 101 metro stop.
13. Visit a Street Dedicated to Stinky Tofu
Do you love tofu? Then you must check out the entire street in Taipei dedicated to the solid white blocks. Be warned, however, that Taipei is also pretty famous for its stinky tofu, and boy, does that stuff STINK. You can find fried, stewed, and grilled stinky tofu, as well as ice cream.
Walking down a street with people cooking and selling it can be quite the challenge, but if you’re a tofu lover, then it’s a must. Shenkeng Old Street is worth visiting in its own right. Characterized by historic red brick buildings and paved lanes, it’s a feast of aromas that invigorate your senses. The food stalls here sell various kinds of tofu. Try the deep-fried or grilled stinky tofu.
How to get there: About 15 minutes by bus from the Muzha MRT Station.
Address: Shenkeng Street, Shenkeng District, New Taipei City
12. Visit a Creative Park: A Winery Turned Art Park
One of the best things to do in Taipei is to visit creative parks. There are two main artistic parks in the city, but focus on Huashan 1914 Creative Park. It’s quirky, intriguing, and one of the fun places to visit in Taipei for families with kids. Oh, and it was once a winery and sake distillery.
From movie screenings and street art to craft breweries, boutique shops, art galleries, and unique photography exhibitions, there is plenty to see. Taipei is endowed with many artsy spaces, and you never know what new and interesting things you’ll find in these creative parks.
The video below gives great insight into what sort of fun things there are to do there. And if you’re an art enthusiast, this is an excellent guide to the top creative parks in Taiwan.
Address: Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Section 1, Bade Road, Zhongzheng District
11. Go Tea Tasting in a Forest
Daan Forest Park is located right in the center of Taipei near some major shopping districts. It’s a highly green area ideal for kids, families, or couples looking to escape the hustle and bustle of one of Asia’s busiest cities. In the park, you’ll find an Artists Corner, Shi Men Ting novelty area, a culture park, and one of the top places to taste tea in Taiwan.
Outside of the park, drinking tea is popular across Taipei. There are some fun day trips outside the city where tea drinking is its own activity, as you sit in dainty tea shops with spectacular views of the countryside. Check out this private scenic tour.
How to get there: The park is so large that you’ll find many entrances around the city.
Address: No. 1號, Section 2, Xinsheng S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
10. Green Tea Ice Cream in Maokong Hills
Have you ever tasted green tea ice cream? Well, what could be better than a creamy green tea ice cream in the home of green tea, while riding the Maokong Gondola up the hills outside Taipei? Delicious treats and stunning city views make this one of Taipei’s unique places to visit.
How to get there: Metro to Taipei City Hall Station, then take bus route G1, BR18, or BR21.
9. Visit a Mid-Century UFO Village
Okay, now this is by far the wackiest of all the things to do near Taipei. There’s a 50-year-old, very creepy UFO village you can visit just outside the city. The “UFOs” are actually weirdly shaped pod houses that line a beach. The houses were designed by a Finnish architect to resemble flying saucers, but following a decline in tourism, the entire resort was abandoned.
How to get there: From Taipei City Hall Bus Station, take the 1815 bus to the 翡翠灣 stop (just before Yehliu Geopark).
Address: Tingtao Road, Wanli District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 20
8. Play With Feline Friends in a Cat Village
While cat cafés have opened across the world, Taiwan takes it one step further by creating entire cat villages. The Houtong Cat Village, in what was once a mining town outside Taipei, began when a local cat lover launched a drive to rescue abandoned cats and give them a better life.
They posted photos of the cats online, and people quickly fell in love with them and began visiting the town to see them. The village now features shops, cafés, and places to relax for tourists to chill after checking out the cats.
How to get there: From the Ruifang train station, cross the street and take Bus 808 or F808 to the Houtong town area, or take the Pingxi line from Ruifang.
7. Light a Lantern on a Railway Track
One of the best day trips from Taipei is to Shifen Village and Waterfall, just a short train ride away. This village is known for its annual sky lantern festival and for a train that runs along the main street. For about US$6, you can buy your own paper lantern, decorate it, and then let it go up into the sky.
Then, suddenly, the train arrives, and everyone laughs and quickly runs off the tracks. Afterward, you can either walk or take an electric scooter to a nearby waterfall.
You can take the bus and train there, but there are also organized day trips from Taipei to make your trip a little easier, such as this private scenic tour. That said, going it alone can be cheaper, but you must be comfortable traveling solo. Find the directions below.
How to get there: Take a northbound train from Taipei Main Station towards Ruifang Station. There, you can get a transfer to the Pingxi Line. You can purchase a One-Day ticket for this line at the station for about NT 52.
6. Hike to a Milk Pond and Hot Springs
While probably not that weird or wacky, a day at Yangmingshan hiking on an active volcano is a pretty mad thing to do. All the hot springs in the area are heated by these active volcanic mountains, and there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the National Park, one of Taiwan’s 7 main National Parks.
Visiting a volcano in Taiwan is a must, as the island has one of the highest numbers of volcanoes in the world. To find out more about the volcanic activity in the area, read this article.
How to get there: Take either city bus R5, small bus S15, or S17 to Yangmingshan station. You can also book an organized tour of Yangmingshan with a local guide here.
5. Eat at a Fish Ball Museum
The Taiwanese love their fish balls so much that they have an entire Tamsui Tengfeng Ball Museum dedicated to the fishy delights. Apart from learning all about fish ball facts, you can of course also taste the delicious treats. This is an unusual activity to do on a rainy day.
How to get there: It’s located in the Tamsui district, so the easiest way to get there is by MRT.
Address: No. 117號, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251
4. Chill in Some Boiling Hot Springs
Except for Reykjavik, Iceland, and Budapest, Hungary, Taipei is one of the few places in the world where you can bathe in geothermal hot springs right in the city center. You can easily hop on the metro to the Beitou Hot Springs. There, you can spend about half a day checking out the hot waters and then take a dip in the much cooler hot spring swimming holes in the area.
Some are free, and you can join the locals by rolling up your trousers, taking off your socks (be sure to wash your feet first), and soaking in these soothing geothermal waters.
How to get there: Take the Red Line to Beitou Station, then transfer 1 station to Xinbeitou
3. Climb Elephant Mountain
While not as unusual as other things in this list, hiking Elephant Mountain at or after sunset is an absolute must. You won’t be alone. The hiking trail is very popular with locals and tourists. But it’s guaranteed that some of the best views in Taipei can be seen from the top of this hill.
It’s funny to see up to 20 people at a time queuing for a photo on top of the rock pictured below, but once you climb up to take your own pic, you’ll see why it’s so popular.
How to get there: Xiangshan Station, Exit 2, and then follow the hiking signs in the park.
2. Do a Night Market Grand Tour, Eating Street Food, & Drinking Boba Tea
While food in general, or night markets, are not unique, food in Taipei is special, and the city is home to some of the world’s best and most famous night markets.
Not only are the night markets incredibly atmospheric and enjoyable to walk around, but each of the 4 main markets in Taipei has distinct characteristics. They offer some pretty weird and delicious street food, such as giant grilled squid, peanut shaved ice cream, snake wine, or blow-torched steaks. Take this night market food tour to explore the best street food.
No Taipei itinerary would be complete without a local food tour, eating your way around the city.
How to get there: There are 4 main options: Shilin Night Market, Huaxi, Ningxia, and Raohe Night Market; all are near metro stations.
1. Shopping and Speakeasies in Ximengding
One of the first shopping districts in Taiwan, Ximengding is often referred to as Taipei’s Harajuku or Shibuya. The area is known for setting fashion trends, selling the newest in consumer goods, and housing thousands of shops offering wares from around the world.
At night, the area is lit by large screens and advertisements, similar to Times Square in New York, while during the day it sees large, fashionable crowds and various mascots roaming the streets. It’s a great place for people watching and admiring the latest Taiwanese fashion trends.
As everything in Taipei centers on food and drink, it’s no wonder this vibrant area is full of bars and restaurants. It’s known as the best place in Taipei to taste Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, a must-try, and it’s also home to a cool Speakeasy bar, which you can read more about here.
How to get there: Exit 6 of Ximen MRT Metro Station.
Quirky Places To Stay in Taipei
Now that you have an exciting list of unusual things to do in Taipei, it’s time to find a place to call home during your visit. Below, you’ll find some of the top recommendations for Taipei hotels.
Fun Inn Taipei Hostel
This Taipei hostel offers budget-friendly accommodation. Their 4 to 12-person dormitories offer clean sheets and bedding, private curtains, and security lockers to keep belongings safe. The communal kitchen and lounge are a great place to socialize and rest between activities.
Sato Castle Motel
The SUPER quirky Sato Castle Taipei Motel seems to be listed on every list of bizarre Taiwan accommodation lists to be found on the internet, and it’s not difficult to see why.
This funky motel is a little bit mad, with every room decorated with a different theme, ranging from a soccer-themed bedroom to a pink geisha-themed room. The outside looks like a castle, and you won’t be able to stop snapping pics of this cool and quirky destination hotel.
Here’s a video I made when I stayed here with my friend 🙂
Unusual Things to Do in Taipei: Wrapped Up
Taipei is one of the coolest places to visit in the world. From its rich history, stretching from the Chinese Civil War to the modern metropolis it is today, this capital city is worth a visit. There are many ordinary things to do here, but you’ll be blown away by all the quirky attractions.
Think eating surprisingly delicious food in a toilet-themed restaurant, visiting deserted UFO villages, or even better, a cat village, and tasting mouth-watering stinky tofu. That’s right, exploring Taipei will leave your jaw on the floor, but with many unforgettable memories.
Next Read: Quirky Things To Do In Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Last updated on May 8th, 2026 at 11:38 am
