Taiwan is an up and coming tourist destination and the country has so many beautiful places just waiting to be explored.
We went to Taipei on a small detour from our Hong Kong trip and we spent two days there. Indeed the city does not have a lot of landmarks to visit, however its charm lies in something completely different.
Due to not being the typical city with a lot of attractions, Taipei developed a very large coffee shop and restaurant culture. You will find the craziest, most interesting or even the cutest places to enjoy your coffee here. Also the city's charm can be mostly observed at night when everything comes to life.
Press PLAY to get the right Taipei mood.
Here is a short list of things to do in Taipei:
1. Visit Taipei 101
This landmark is by far the most famous in Taipei so you must not leave the city without seeing it. The impressive building holds the tallest Starbucks in the world, but you need to call in advance for a reservation. Like a lot in advance, as we tried calling a day before but the lines were busy all the time.
2. Hike to the top of Elephant Mountain
...and enjoy the amazing view from above this lovely city. It's a great place to put things into perspective and actually realise how tall Taipei 101 is.
3. Explore the city by night
...and be mesmerized by the colorful neon lights.
4. Check out the crowded night markets
Taipei has a night market at every corner...well almost, but for sure has the most night markets we have ever seen in a city. They are very lively and offer a lot of variety of products, especially food. Our top picks: Raohe Night Market and Ningxia Night Market.
5. Indulge yourself in some tasty local food
...and if you feel brave enough and have a hardcore stomach, try the stinky tofu. We couldn't...the smell was just too appalling.
6. Visit their crazy and eccentric restaurants
One of the most famous ones is The Modern Toilet...I guess there is no need to explain the main theme here, right? However, this is not for everyone, I guess.
This is actual edible food and a milkshake!
...or visit any cute coffee shop you can find. Trust me they have them at every step. From coffee shops were you can play with alpacas to ones were you can feel like Alice in Wonderland and sit in a huge tea cup, without a doubt in Taipei you will find at least one to fulfil your childhood fantasies.
The colorful neon lights and the lively night markets will for sure make for an unforgettable experience in Taipei.
Hugs,
O
I remember while planning our trip to Venice, I was most excited of the day trip to Burano. When seeing pictures of this colourful little town I just couldn't wait to get there and see it with my own eyes.
If you plan a visit to Venice you mustn't forget to include a half or full day trip to Burano, with it being only 45 minutes away by boat.
Getting there has never been easier as there is a vaporetto line (number 12) that goes from Venice directly there. I believe it costs 6,5 euros per person, however we bought a day pass for 20 euros and it was far more convenient as you can hop on and hop off anywhere in Venice or the nearest islands, including Burano and Murano.
I went there with the highest expectations and I was not disappointed! To be fair, I am a sucker for cute little colorful towns, but this one has definitely exceeded my imagination. Each cute house is painted in a different shade of pink, blue, red or yellow with white laundry hanging out the window.
The colorful windows of Burano
I would recommend that you get "lost" through the streets of Burano and wander to all the narrow alleys, as for some reason the majority of tourists just visit the main street, Via Galuppi, which is a shame as Burano has a lot to offer and there is so much beauty to discover.
The locals here are the friendliest! An old lady came out to collect her laundry right when we were taking pictures with them, we wanted to leave so not to intrude, but she smiled at us and told us to stay and take our time...she then waited patiently for us to finish...It might sound silly, but these kinds of things I remember most from our travels.
The afternoons tend to get a little crowded, so the best time to visit is definitely in the morning. There are some cute little restaurants along the main canal with pretty accessible prices and really good sea food, that goes well with a glass of Aperol Spritz.
Color me pretty
Without a doubt...la vita e bella in Burano!
Sending colorful hugs,
O
