Home to various museums and the renowned Shilin night market, Shilin is the ideal place to go if you’re looking for a fun one-day trip without being bombarded by the intimidating tourist crowds of Taipei.
With so many sights to see and delicious foods to try, it is perfect destination to hang out with friends or even to explore alone. Most of the attractions in Shilin are super kid-friendly as well (some even educational!), making it an amazing place for a family day-out if you have kids. Follow this one-day guide to Shilin for an amazing trip and a local, authentic experience.
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The Best Things to Do in Shilin, Taipei in a Day
If you’re heading to Shilin and wondering how to make the most of your day here, then this is the perfect itinerary for you. We’ve got you covered from the where to eat to all the best attractions of Shilin. Grab a pair of comfortable walking shoes and get your sunhat on, and without further ado, let’s dive right in!
national taiwan science education center
The National Taiwan Science Education Center(科教館) is one of the biggest attractions in Shilin and essentially a large interactive museum for children (and adults!) of all ages. On top of it being a museum, they also host many temporary exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions they have hosted before include The PowerPuff Girls Exhibition, Tarot Card Reading Exhibitions, and many Haunted House experiences. Many of these exhibitions hold some educational value, while some of them are just for fun.
Be sure to be careful though before you buy tickets to these exhibitions though, as most of them require an intermediate level of Chinese understanding. Make sure to always check if the one you’re interested in is English user friendly before you buy your tickets!
We got tickets to the Minxiong Haunted House Experience, which is a very well known haunted house in Chiayi. I highly recommend exhibitions like these because they are super fun and doesn’t have any language requirements. It’s also great if you’re looking to release some adrenaline!
psst. You can now find Minxiong Haunted House the movie on Disney+. It’s a great film- I highly recommend it!
After you come out of the exhibition, take some time to walk around and explore the building. There are so many sections to this museum and so many beautiful corners to take photos, honestly, you could spend a whole afternoon here without running out of things to do. The National Science Education Center also makes for a very educational trip if you’re traveling with children!
Lunch at Golden son korean pasta
Golden Son Korean Pasta is just within a minute walk from the Jiantan MRT station. My friend discovered this restaurant and wanted to try it out. Korean pasta sounded very new and interesting to me, but I was pleasantly surprised. The pasta here is delicious and unlike any of the pasta I’ve tried before- you can definitely taste the Korean fusion! We ordered the Pasta with Luncheon Meat in Spinach Green Sauce and the Pasta with Beef Ball in Korean Hot Pepper Paste.
The spinach Pasta came as a pretty green dish; it was very creamy and the slight spinach flavor made it very refreshing. The Korean hot pepper paste pasta, however, was totally on another level. It was super flavorful and tasted exactly like what I would expect Korean pasta to taste like. I personally prefer the Korean hot pepper paste pasta dish, a must try if you’re going to dine here!
Overall I’d give it a 4.5/5 . I would definitely recommend it for pasta lovers who are looking to try new, exotic forms of pasta!
Taipei children’s amusement park
Taipei Children’s Amusement Park is located literally right next to the National Taiwan Science Education center. It is literally THE place to go if you have children and are looking for a place to take them out on the weekends. Or if you’re an adult who likes miniature amusement parks👉👈
The admission ticket is 30 NTD per person, and you’ll have to pay an additional 20-80NTD for your ride of choice.
If you’re coming here without children, I recommend coming later in the afternoon to avoid the heat. If you’re coming with children, come early to get the most out of your day- you could easily spend up to an entire day here!
shuangxi riverside park
Head to the Shuangxi Riverside Park at dusk for the most stunning sunset and meaningful conversations with your friends. This place is 5 minutes away by walk from the Natinal Science Education Center and the Children’s Amusement Park.
There are a lot of bikers and runners here taking advantage of the most pleasant weather of the day- maybe you’ll want to rent a U-bike and join them, too. My friend and I plopped ourselves down randomly and talked for a long time while watching the bikers go on and about. These moments- the ones where you’re completely soaking up the present moment – are my favorite part of any day.
tip: place your phone somewhere nearby and take a time-lapse, you’ll love the result!
Whose secondhand bookstore 胡思二手書店
I’m super excited to share this bookstore with you guys- anyone who knows me knows that I love to read, I love the smell of old books, and I love love LOVE a good secondhand bookstore. I get so excited just thinking about it!
This one is located literally right next to the MRT station. It’s got a nice selection of English books- mostly fiction novels, and they even have a good number of books in French and German. They also have stores in other locations, this bookstore is definitely worth checking out!
let me know in the comments if you’d like a separate post secondhand bookstore recommendations in Taiwan
shilin night market
Shilin night market is hands down one of the most popular night markets in Taipei, and dare I say, all of Taiwan. Night markets are definitely something you cannot miss when coming to Taiwan (really, you just can’t!). Head to the Shilin night market to end your day with some delicious local Taiwanese food.
More Things to Do in Shilin (If You Have Extra Time)
Shezi island- 56deco cafe
Shezi island (社子島）is a part of Shilin that’s actually connected to the mainland but it is called so due to its island-like appearance.
The most notable attraction at Shezi Island is undoubtedly the 56deco cafe. Decorated with an elaborate collection of vintage European furniture, this charming cafe makes for an excellent stop in the afternoon to take a rest.
They update their furniture collection quite regularly, so don’t be surprised if something looks a little different the next time you come here!
national palace museum
The National Palace Museum in Shilin houses a permanent collection of 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts which were brought here from the Forbidden City of Beijing and some other places during the ROC retreat. They definitely have an impressive collection and a great start to the day for those who are looking for a slow morning.
Shung ye museum of formosan aborigines
The Sung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines is located just diagonal to the National palace Museum and houses various exhibits showcasing the different histories and cultures of the very many Aborigines tribes in Taiwan. Here, you’ll find everything from different tribes’ ways of life to the traditional clothing that they wear.
Fun fact: there are officially 16 aborigines tribes in Taiwan
This museum is a great place to explore for a while if you’re someone who’s into or interested in learning more about Taiwanese history and culture, as Taiwanese aborigines play a crucial part in who we are today.
Follow this guide to make the most out of your trip to Shilin, Taipei!
What are some of your favorite things to do in Shilin? Let me know in the comments below! 💛
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Until next time,
Love your sharings, exquisite blog with interesting photos. Can’t wait for other updates!!😎
Highly recommend a second hand book store in Taichung called Molly, abundant book sources with a relaxing atmosphere perfect for a cozy afternoon.