Night Markets are one of the best features in Asia travel map and Taipei does not disappoint at all. These night markets open in many parts of the the city in the evening and sells a wide variety of clothes and household products but tourists mainly get attracted by the sumptuous street food. Some of these markets are actually normal city streets that transform into night markets from the evening. This transformation is remarkable and the markets remain open till midnight. Here is a list of the most popular and bigger-scale night markets in Taipei.
Must visit Night Markets in Taipei
Taipei Raohe Night Market
Located in downtown Taipei, Raohe is the oldest night market in the city. This particular section of the street is only 600m long and the Land God Temple is at one end which marks one side of the market. It is a huge market and the predominant item here is food. The seating area is right in the center of the street and shoppers can walk along the sidewalk.
Nearest MRT: Song Shan Station
Shilin Night Market
The sprawling Shilin Night Market is the biggest night market in all of Taiwan. The place is always brimming with tourists and locals. The majority of the market is covered so that it is protected from rain and the whole area is popular with bargain hunters. There are more than 500 food stalls and the popular items include clothes and souvenirs. A visit to this brightly colored night night market is a must-do activity for any tourist.
Nearest MRT: Jiantan Station
Ningxia Night Market
Since night markets in Taipei is all about food, the Ningxia Night Market is no different from others. This one specializes in Taiwanese snack food and is actually the 1st night market in the country that has successfully separated pedestrian traffic from the car traffic. The most popular dishes here include barbecued squid on a stick, pig kidney, grilled cheesy scallops, fish rolls and egg omelets. The market is totally packed on all sides and one may feel a bit claustrophobic sometimes but it has a good collection of exotic food items. However there are so stalls for cellphone accessories or no clothing stalls; just food and food everywhere.
Nearest MRT: Zhongshan Station on the Green Line
Tonghua Night Market
Located near the iconic landmark – Taipei 101 – the Tonghua Night Market is basically a market for the local population. It is not so popular with foreign tourists but one can always come here to explore the place. One will find almost everything here and can easily access the city center from this market. You will come across people of different age groups in this market and the younger generation loves coming here to pick up trendy clothes. The older generation, though, comes here to pick up goods for daily use. The food stalls are very popular just like the other night markets but here you will get to sample Taiwanese local food. The sheng jian bao or pan-fried buns sell like hot cakes along with cilantro burrito for dessert. If you are adventurous then you may try the braised duck tongue, fried chicken feet or oyster omelet. The stall vendors are easily approachable and they are very friendly. They will also share facts about the cultural and historical background of Taiwan which will keep you captivated for hours. If you feel shy then they are ready to crack jokes to make you feel comfortable.
Nearest MRT: Xinyi Anhe Station on Red Line
Gongguan Night Market
This is actually the largest night market located in the south district of this beautiful city. One will get all kinds of items in this market which makes it very different from the other night markets. There are tea houses, bookstores, accessory stores and also a movie theater! The prices of the goods are very reasonable here as the market is quite close to the National Taiwan University. As usual there are a number of food stalls here which sells local and international food. The most popular dishes here are Scallion Egg Pancake, Bubble Milk Tea, Cuttlefish Vermicelli with thick soup and if you are really adventurous then sample a plate of pig’s blood cakes. The taste is not very overwhelming; so even first-timers will like the rich flavor of this blood cake. The snacks here are very popular and one may have to wait in the queue for around 30 – 40 min to get the ordered dish. If you don’t want to stand in the queue then you can head over to one of the many restaurants that are located in the vicinity of this place and eat in peace.
