Taipei is a metropolitan city and is home to one of the world’s Tallest skyscrapers, Taipei 101 at the heart of the city. With such modern architecture present, visitors are surprised when they discover the city is also full of small traditional streets and local markets. These Top 7 Old Streets to visit in Taipei are some of the best locations to experience the culture and traditional architecture in Taipei.

Jiufen Old Street

Jiufen is one of the most popular old streets to visit in Taipei for tourists that are looking for a day trip. Jiufen is actually more of an old town, with traditional houses which lay on the hills of the mountain and shopping streets with market stalls that sit between them. The streets are full of shops and street food vendors and the hills are full of adventure.

Let’s not forget that Jiufen was the inspiration for the famous Anime movie spirited away, and it’s not hard to see where they got this inspiration. The town has many hidden gems throughout. Jiufen is one of the top picks for visitors and locals to visit in Taipei. The town has a bit of everything and can be reached quite easily by direct bus from Taipei City Center.

Shiding Old Street

Shiding Old Street is definitely one of the most underrated old streets to visit in Taipei. Old village houses overlook the scenic riverside with mountains providing a picturesque background. The streets were very quiet and this further added to the charm. The Old Street doesn’t seem like a typical tourist destination as there are not many shops and even fewer tourists.

Despite not being very busy the tranquility was what I enjoyed most about this place. If you’re looking for a more peaceful place to spend a day away from those busy Taipei city streets then this is it. The town doesn’t have the same tourist facilities as some of the other areas such as shops and restaurants but regardless of this, it is still one of the best old streets to visit in Taipei. I decided to wait around in Shiding town for the night view and I was not disappointed. If you enjoy photography or just a peaceful evening walk then it is surely worth sticking around until nightfall.

Shengkeng Old Street

Shenkeng old street is a historic old Street in Taipei. The street is somewhere in between commercial and traditional. Shops and restaurants line the main street, making it a fairly busy destination. Despite this, the streets still looks and feel like an old historic town, and it is one of the more popular old streets to visit in Taipei.

Shengkeng old street has a unique look and is reminiscent of some old streets in Mainland China. If you are looking to do some shopping and food tasting whilst checking out some traditional-style buildings then this is a great place to spend the day or at least a few hours. Shiding and Shengkeng old streets are very close to each other and have buses that go in both directions. The two old towns could easily be seen within one day especially as they are close to Taipei City.

Bopiliao Historical Block

This historic area is one of the easiest old streets to visit in Taipei as it is located in the city center area and can be easily reached. Bopiliao old street is a great place to take photos or walk around. This historic quarter is better suited for a short visit as there are not many shops open on the old street and most buildings in the area look quite similar.

The main attraction of this historic area is the architecture and its close proximity to the city center, this make it an easy place to visit if you don’t want to travel too far.

Lungshan Temple

Within 4 minutes walk of the Bopiliao historic Block and a stones throw away from multiple traditional night markets, Lungshan Temple is set in a truly historic district. This Buddhist Temple was built in 1738 by Chinese settlers of the Qing Dynasty making it one of the oldest Temples on the Island. A beautiful example of History and Buddhism in Taipei.

You can smell the incense burning and watch people praying. The temple grounds are fairly large in comparison to other temples in Taipei and you could easily spend a few hours observing the Buddhist culture.

The best time to visit is in the late afternoon so you can catch the nearby Huaxi Street Night Market and the Guangzhou Street Night Market which open in the early evening. Both these markets are also very traditional and will complement your day’s visit.

Tamsui Old Street

A visit to the Tamsui district isn’t complete without walking through the Tamsui old Street. Although Tamsui doesn’t have the same traditional buildings as the other streets, it is still one of the most popular old streets to visit in Taipei. It is actually more like a market street where you can buy traditional foods, snacks, and souvenirs. A kind of local old market street rather than an actual old street.

Nonetheless, it is still a great place to visit as there are some interesting restaurants and shops here especially if you’re looking for cool souvenirs and trinkets. Tamsui is a great place to get a feel for the culture and more traditional lifestyles in Taipei. The Tamsui District also has many other sights nearby, such as the Portuguese fort and the Harbour area.

Xiangshan district

The Xiangshan district is known for its famous Elephant Mountain. The mountain is one of the top sights in Taipei. However many people do not walk the alleys and residential streets of the Xiangshan district. The area is known by locals as being haunted, and I must admit it does have that scary vibe to it, with dimly lit and sometimes eerily quiet streets.

The Xiangshan district is not an old street or even a known site. The area is however a great way to experience old Taipei through long walks down these rustic streets. It is rather messy and you will see small local shops on some streets or tranquil river streams on others. With its close proximity to Taipei 101 and being at the doorstep of the Elephant mountain the Xiangshan district is worth a visit.

This was my list of the Top 7 Old Streets to visit in Taipei. There are many more old streets to visit in Taipei but these are the 7 that I found to be the most enjoyable, easiest to visit, and most worthy of visiting.