24 Hours in Taipei: A Whirlwind Day Trip You’ll Remember

✈️ Free travel checklist and itinerary template at the end of this blog post!

Have you ever booked a last-minute trip just to shake things up? That’s exactly what I did with a spontaneous 24-hour adventure in Taipei, Taiwan on April 25, 2025. With no sleep and just a week of planning, I hopped on a flight, touched down at 1:00 AM, and made the most of every moment in the city.

My One-Day Taipei Itinerary

1:00 AM – Arrived at Taoyuan Airport
Landing in Taipei while the city was asleep felt exciting and a little surreal.

6:00 AM – Temple visit
Starting the day in a quiet temple set the tone for the trip. Peaceful, reflective, and so different from my usual mornings.

9:00 AM – Breakfast
I found a local spot and had a traditional Taiwanese breakfast. Simple but delicious.

10:30 AM – Free walking tour at 228 Peace Memorial Park
This was a great way to learn about Taipei's history and meet fellow travelers. Highly recommend.

2:00 PM – Checked into a hostel and napped
By this point, I was completely drained from traveling and not sleeping the night before. A few hours of rest helped recharge me.

7:00 PM – Checked out and headed to a night market food tour
The night market was everything I imagined. Bright lights, tasty street food, and a buzzing local vibe. I arrived late because I took the wrong train, but thankfully, the group was chill about it.

10:00 PM – Rushed back to the airport
Not my proudest moment, but I was that person running to catch their flight. Still made it though.

1:00 AM – Flight back home

💰 Total Cost: $350 (all in)

That covered the flight, food, hostel, tours, and transportation. For a full 24-hour international trip, I think it was pretty worth it.

📝 Final Thoughts

Even though I was super tired and had a few small slip-ups (like scanning the wrong card on the bus), I met some amazing people, ate incredible food, and created fun memories. Big thanks to my new friend Paul who took the best photos of the trip.

If you’re thinking of doing a quick getaway, this kind of trip is perfect for stepping away from your daily routine. I’d rate the experience an 8 out of 10. With more sleep, it could have easily been a 10.

📌 Want to plan your own quick trip?

Download my free travel checklist and itinerary template to help you stay organized and make the most of every hour.