Ximending Walking District

It's my second time staying in Taiwan, and I always choose accommodation near Ximending Walking Street. I just love the vibe here - it feels lively yet homey at the same time. Everything is convenient, from food to shopping, and it's perfect for night walks. I'm just a little sad that most shops close a bit early, but overall it's still my favorite area to stay in Taipei.

I think you absolutely must visit this place when you are in Taipei! It is so lively and the atmosphere is just perfect for a leisurely stroll. You can shop and enjoy the food, but be sure to take some time to wander around. It is definitely not enough to spend just one or two hours there!

Because it's known for tourist rainbow pedestrian, that's why you need to experience and walk in this spot. It is small and not too much to do after, the red house is near here but not too much to buy for. Just to experience the place is okay and visit for quick time. Not too much interesting to do here just taking photos and experience it.

You have not been to Taiwan if you did not visit ximengding. The mother of all night market. Place is packed with the young and trendy. Fashion, food and souvenir galore. Spoiled by choices available. Pricing still reasonable. Managed to tried out the sotong noodle as the wait time is the least. Good meal with a starchy base. The white bitter gourd drink is also another winner

Many shops here that sell souvenirs like t-shirts, key chains, magnets, local snacks, etc. Many local food sold here but not halal, except for 1 that sells halal kebab bread. It was interesting to see the locals bringing their pets around in prams. No entrance fee. The place is actually huge. It's like between 2 MRT stations. It is like you can alight from 1 MRT station & walk around the district & exit to another MRT station.

Walking distance from our hotel this olace has a lively atmosphere, extensive amount of shops for souvenirs, clothes and shoes, diverse dining options and with many shows at night. I super love the Taiwanese sausage, Xin Fu Tang milk tea and Tanghulu. A wondrous experience to remember.

Worth to spend time and try. Crowded and good vibe, many good foods to try. Location is great Price is so so Sometimes there is street singer, yoyo performance and 6-pack pole dancing which is most appealing hahaha Some restaurants are super crowded, if you have time can give it a try ;)

Why don’t you browse through my videos and pictures for a summary of the exciting life at Ximending Walking District–very close to Ximen MRT? 100% will return. Already missing it, in fact.

We purposely booked our hotel a block from Ximending Walking District 西門町徒步區 and near Ximending Night Market 西門町商圈. The area also encompasses Taipei's main LGBTQ area with quite a few gay bars and businesses near The Red House. Plus the Taiwan Pride Rainbow street crosswalk (attractions unfortunately erased by the governor in my home state of Florida) is already becoming an iconic tourist and local photo op stop. Here, everyone seems to be waiting patiently in line to have their Instagram or TikTok moment. Ximending has comfortable crowds during the day, with street artists performing acrobats and shows. The Walking District and Night Market really comes alive on weekend nights, packed with tourists and young locals alike. The streets and buildings are all lit in a family friendly, festive atmosphere. There are oodles of Made in Taiwan tourist souvenir shops, the famous Pop Mart, countless restaurants and cafes, and multiple street food hawkers on every corner. Be adventuresome and try some of these inexpensive eats! There is something new to see, eat and buy every step of the way. Teenagers will especially love it. Ximending is easy to get to, right outside the Ximen MRT station. It definitely goes on your list of things to do at night in Taipei.

Large district with tons of shops and food -- you could easily spend 2-3 hours here. Not all vendors accept credit cards so bring cash. There are not many trash cans so I suggest eating near the food vendors and tossing your garbage there. There's a good mix of food vendors and souvenir shops. Most of the souvenir shops have AC which is a nice break from the heat. There are not many areas to sit and eat in this district.

When we decided to go to Taipei, I knew I had to come here. The neighborhood is literally walking distance to Ximen MRT Station. If you're into night market food, there's plenty here. There's also a ton of commercially packaged snacks and souvenirs to choose from. Our only dilemma was to figure out what to eat due to limited stomach space.

The rave and great reviews were right on. There was barely a line when we got there on a weekday afternoon. Service was lightning fast and the noodle soup was AMAZING. Only draw back is you will most likely slurp while standing because there is no seating. Worth the trip. Highly recommend!

Night market that is also lively during the daytime and afternoon. Make sure you bring cash! Most stores are open late, until around 10pm Lots of trendy clothes, shoes, street food, restaurants, massage parlors, gachapons, movie theatres, drink stall, and more! Great area to spend at least a full day in.

Wow! Just wow. I visited Taipei in February and stayed at a nearby hotel. This place is the best! I went back a few times. The street vendors food was to die for. Lamb skewers honestly can't be beat. There were plenty of souvenir shops, packed with local foods and magnets (among other things). There are also other shops there such as cosmed, clothing stores, etc. The Don quijote store took all my money, haha. I got some fruit, onigiri and ichiran ramen packets.

This is a large shopping district with many many street vendors, shops, and lots of street food. The smells were decent from some of the street food places, but most didn't look too appetizing to me. The stores seemed to all be a repeat of each other as well. Lots of souvenir places as well as touristy type stores.

I would definitely say Ximending is one of the top places/area to visit in Taipei at night. Generally stores and a lot in of restaurants don't open until later in the day and best time to visit is in the evening. They have shops, restaurants, street vendors, and bars in this area. Highly recommended for all those visiting Taipei, Taiwan.

What an awesome place! A huge shopping center! Clothing, accessories, foods, drinks, so much more! If it's your first time here, be prepared to give yourself couple hours to explore around and see what they offer :) My hotel was 15-20 mins walking distance to Ximending. Definitely worth the walk! A lot of good food and shopping stores. This is a tourist attraction so can get really crowded. Be sure to bring cash as some stores and most food vendors only accept cash. Happy Shopping!

If you're in Taipei and want to get a taste of the trendy local culture, this is the place to go! It is THE SPOT for the young and hip; it is often rowdy and crowded; but get to see so many different things- from street vendors to discount souvenirs shops, to political protesters! Also a great spot for photos. During the day the rainbow row is a popular spot. At night the neon lights are spectacular! And the incredible BARGAINS! From shoes to accessories to clothes! Street foods are at their best here! Most vendors don't but I found a few who manage some English. A must-see for any tourist in Taipei, but be prepared for the crowds and cacophony, and on summer nights, sweats and smells!

I've read blogs that say Ximending is like the harajuku of Japan or the mini Times Square of NY and I can definitely see why! This place has so much character. It's has shopping, restaurants, street food, and so much more! If you visit Taipei this needs to be on your list to visit! I think it's better to go in the evening when all the lights are on and billboards are lit up.

There is no equivalent of NYC's Time Square or London's Piccadilly Circus in Taipei per se, but one place that comes close would be Ximending, a trendy shopping district that is a magnet for both tourists and the locals. The moment you come out of the MRT station following signs for "Ximending Pedestrian Area", you'd be in the middle of a plaza bustling with people. On this particular visit, a dance group was performing and streaming. This vast shopping district is very well organized. The main pedestrian streets are marked with arrays of "color-coded" posts to help you stay oriented. While this is not a night market where all the food stalls are highly concentrated, you can still find all the variety of food and snacks, albeit spread out and in a more trendy and commercial setting. Speaking of which, I don't see the mobile street hawkers that I saw in my previous visit 6 years ago, dodging the police. I guess that makes the place more upscale. One must stop for foodies is the Ah-Chung in the turquois post section, famous for its "oyster noodle slur with pig intestines". It's easy to eat and its bonito infused flavor is to die for. Changdu Star Fruits Ice also see constant long line; I can't imagine what it'd be like in the summer. Lau Tian Lu, which specializes in soy braised meats is another must-mention. In other words: put this on your list for your next visit to Taipei.

This is the night market to go to for your shopping needs. It definitely caters more for clothing and shopping rather than food, although there's numerous great food options too. The streets are lined from store to store for all your trendy and hip clothes. I liked all the string lights along the streets (not sure if this was just for the holidays though), but it made the space very lovely, fun, and festive. Note that the only public restroom is at a Starbucks (and the line was insanely long).

A very crowded shopping district. We came here before a long flight back to LA. It's a very young crowd that hangs out here. We came for lunch and grabbed some Japanese udon. I also tried boba from one of the many tea places. It was fun to see where young people hang out in Taiwain.

I've stayed in this area a couple of times. It's close to Ximen station, with a ton of shopping and restaurants, some street food, a few movie theaters and also the gay district. It's lively everyday. Lots of people come here. It can get a bit chaotic and loud. There's some street performers too. There's some benches but not a whole lot so you might have to wait for someone to leave. For the most part the area is kept clean.

a cool place to check out when visiting Taiwan for the first time. it's definitely another version of Korea's myeongdong. lots of cutesy stuff and food.

When people come and visit Taiwan they are most likely going to stop by on one of the night markets that is in Taipei. One of the very largest and most popular ones is Ximending. It is super easy to get to on the subway line, lots of things to buy and it isn't just only opened at night. You can also come here during the afternoon if you want it be less crowded. But if you want to experience the large crowds you should come here during a weekend at night time. I do usually go into a few stores that sells women clothes. The price for clothing is reasonable. Just be warned some places don't have price tags so I would suggest going to ones that have the amount labeled. I recently bought a night gown for winter time that was a panda print. Overall if you enjoy cute animal prints, tasty street vendor food or even a boba come on down here and you'll get it all!! Tip- They also have movie theaters if you have more time. Also if you are looking for contacts there are a few stores that sell them and even inside Watson has them also!

For any Taiwan trip that involves eating, drinking, shopping, and fun, you have to come down to Ximen shopping district, which of course is known colloquially as Ximending. Ximending is incredibly easy to access from the MRT, but if you really plan on getting in from the right side to start your journey into Ximending, make sure to exit at the 6th exit/entrance, or, when you tell the taxi driver to get you there, to bring you to that exit/entrance. The food here is great, with an incredible selection, and can be found spread throughout the entire streets spanning in all different directions. The drink selection here is plentiful, with numerous drinking options, and a plethora of boba shops, sometimes that may even overwhelm you if you're a boba beginner. Shopping galore at Ximending, and really, there is such a wide variety of clothes shopping, from the low end stuff that may be great for the thrifty shopper, to some incredibly high end brands that will appeal to even the nicheiest of shoppers. And finally, fun is abound, as there are arcades, after arcades, after arcades all throughout the shopping area, but also movie theaters, and live performances on the streets. If you plan to be in Taipei, and want to treat yourself to that Taipei night life that isn't just about night markets, Ximending will got you covered.

This is the oldest district in Taipei. Much to do and see. Food everywhere. I just hate the MRT station bathroom, it is very far away.

A lot of people here. We spent our night time here. A lot of street shops and street food, and street artists. We saw young people street dancing here. Very crowded here. A Great night market.

We made the mistake of coming here in the day time. But we later came back at night and noticed the difference. At night it's way more crowded but there are lots of food stands on the street. There are also performances. The atmosphere is very different from the day time. If you are here shopping for souvenirs, you will notice 40% of the shops here sells Taiwan's famous pineapple cake. Prices range from 100 NTW to 500 NTW. They also let you sample before buying. I am not sure about the difference. To me all the pineapple cake tasted the same. We did have a fun night shopping here at night.

I did not know how exciting and Ximending until I happened to pass by during the nighttime. My hotel was near there and there was a clear difference between Ximending during the day and night. This place turned out to be one of the highlights during my trip to Taipei. There were street performers, all different types of food stalls, shops. and other gatherings and events happening. For example, they were filming something for a t.v. on the weekend I was visiting. Recommendation: Come to this area during the night for a lively atmosphere and enjoy the food, people and shops!

I stayed at an airBnB walking distance to Ximending. There is also a really fun hostel basically the same distance away; where English is spoken well. Also, ximending area has a convenient entrance to the MRT. There's so much to do here. Escape games, Massage, street performers, arcade, theater, loads of food, and shopping. Love the fresh fruits for sale that included durian

I was here in the daytime when it's probably a whole lot calmer than the night market time. Plenty of shops are open at lunch time and though the afternoon. Lots of retail and the usual small cubbyholes that seem popular in Taipei. Clothing seemed to be the most popular items for sale from leather belts to sneakers to tshirts with snarky messages. It's a pedestrian area but there are still a few scooters here and there so watch out. Some shops take credit but most are cash.

Always a must visit destination for fast food eating & nick knack shopping. Being somewhat closed to traffic enables hordes of pedestrians to flood the streets and suitcase vendors to set up shop. A fun and lively environment, we enjoyed: ~ cubed pepper steak- good flavor but a bit chewy. Serving was generous and pricing was moderate at $6. Tamsui equivalent was 1/2 the price but serving slightly smaller. Due to the chewiness, I would entertain other vendors. ~ Only inches away was a fried chicken vendor. Very tasty as they fry to order and smothered with chopped garlic and green onions. IMO bette than the neighboring steak bits. Every time we visit, there is a popular nick knack. This year are cable management ties. I'm sure they have them in the US, but I simply hardly shop. Plus at $.50 a piece, you cant go wrong. After a few hours of hours of walking we're hungry...time for the next meal!

Restaurants, street food stalls and carts, bookstores, clothing stores, make-up, electronics, souvenir stands, arcades, bars, clubs, and more...what else could you possibly want in a shopping district?! Ximending is known for being a popular place for both young people and tourists to hang out, eat, and shop. It was one of the first "pedestrian zones" in TW where vehicles are not allowed during times of high pedestrian traffic. It's also easily accessible since there is an MRT station close by, as well as bus stops. There's a huge range of foods available here! Chains like a 3-story KFC and a 3-story Starbucks with a gallery on the top floor are good if you need something quick. There are also places like Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodles for some more authentic Taiwanese food. Food carts are scattered throughout Ximending, but they move around often depending on where the crowds are! One of my favorites was the Cong Zhua Bing cart...delicious flakey scallion pancake with ham and egg inside! As far as clothing stores, you'll find both brand name stores like Uniqlo and SuperDry, as well as smaller clothing stalls. Ximending is definitely a must-see when visiting TW!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! A must stop when you're in Taiwan! Ximending is a shopping district with alleys upon alleys of shops for food, fashion and souvenirs. We spent almost a full day here during our short trip in Taipei and we wish to come back here soon for another visit!

This place is a tourist mecca. It's a one stop shop. They have souvenir shops, clothing and shoe shops, makeup shops, cell phone shops, theaters, street food vendors, a three story KFC, Coco Curry House, Starbucks, and 7-11 to name a few places. The prices weren't cheap. It was on par with what you'd find at other places. The Ximen metro stop is right in the front.

It is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District, and so crowded and packed at night.

boy has xmd gotten super touristy over the years that we were only surrounded by tourists... xmd is like a daymarket that turns into a nightmarket with brick and mortar food vendors instead of food carts. many of the food places have other locations, so there's really no need to go to xmd unless you want to do some shopping, and by shopping it's night market quality, very "street-style". honestly, with this many people coming for food, i wished there were areas to sit and eat, throw me a rock, a ledge, or SOMETHING for people to sit on instead of looking ghetto af eating standing... what a mess. this place needs a revamp. nxt time, hard pass.

Because I'm a bit of an introvert I don't like to shop at markets in Taiwan and China because everyone is pretty aggressive (in a nice way, but still). If you even come close to approaching an item, which at a place like this where or a night market is everywhere, you're going to be approached by someone in a nanosecond. If you seem interested or God forbid you touch anything, the shopkeeper will hump your leg and convince you that the leggings your looking at is by far the best thing ever invented and that it will definitely go with everything in your wardrobe. Also, doesn't this sweater look great as well? What about this scarf? My mom THRIVES on this. Me? I'm from a land where I can get most of my stuff from Amazon Prime and order in my sweat pants without people trying to upsale half the store. My mom tells me to suck it up and just fake it. So I did. With that being said, Ximenting is a huge lively, young area with flashing lights, tons of bubble tea places and eateries and even more clothing stalls and stores. As much as I dislike shopping in this fashion I sure did seem to buy a lot of crap to bring back. Every night my mom go on a hunt for more. Nothing in particular, just "window shopping" and yet we manage to come back with bags. It's fun and you can even find some great stuff if you're patient, which I'm learning to be. This place doesn't have as many food stalls as the many night markets around, but you're going to find tons of food. Come hungry and thirsty.

This place is literally has bright billboard lights that attracts a good crowd esp on a weekend. Tons of shops, restaurants, spa,hair salons,tea place etc etc....since it is popular with tourists and locals and can get very packed.

(Disclaimer: Review based on visit to Taipei in November 2013.) Ximending is arguably Taipei's most lively area. It is known as the Harajuku of Taipei and the large video screen in the center of Ximending can't help but draw comparison to Times Square in New York. The neighborhood is full of shopping boutiques selling clothes, cosmetics and shoes which appeal to the trendsetters and young crowd. Some shops are local, while big chains like UNIQLO have shops here too. As for food, there are street vendors though not as many as you would find at night markets like Shilin. There are also snack/dessert places, plenty of bubble tea shops and many fast food restaurants (ex. KFC) as well. Unlike the night markets, Ximending can still be lively in the daytime. Though it is generally deserted until mid-morning at earliest. It seems like shops in Taipei just open later in general compared to the US. If you are looking for a lively place in Taipei to visit day or night, I would suggest checking out Ximending.

This is one of the famous places to visit in Taipei. No matter how many kids there are or what is happening, you should try and make it out to the place at least for 2 hours during your trip. It is close to the main station so it is really easy to get to. I spent about 3 USD on a taxi from the main station because I was too lazy to find my hotel after taking the MRT. This place is similar to Myeondong, but smaller. You will see the face shop, innisfree, etude house, and skin foods here. There are a lot of food stalls during night time similar to a night market, but not the same. For example, you will not see the oyster egg omelette or pepper pork buns. However, the food here is still good. The carts move around to find better places to sell their food. There are a lot of convenient stores such as Watson and 7 eleven so you can get some personal items if you need them. I am not sure where to go for breakfast here. If you are looking for a busy place to be and like Hong Dae or Myeondong or Chinatown/Koreatown in NY or DC, then you can consider staying here. However, if you like a quieter more sophisticated crowd, then I would stay near Taipei 101, where the clubs and bars are and nice restaurants. Ximending has a lot to offer, but it gets crowded at night. There are bubble tea stands in every street so don't worry. The only reason I gave this place 5 stars is because it is a must see place when you are in Taipei. It is not going to be the end of the world that you missed it, but people will ask if you have been here, same with Taipei 101.

Ximending is one of the most underrated shopping districts in Asia. Anything new you would ever want to try that is trending from all over East Asia is here, and shops are changing frequently in the primary locations. Noted by many as the Harajuku of Taipei, I can definitely see the comparison. Ximending is one of the best places to find young, edgy clothing, accessories, and beauty products, beauty salons, and gel nail art salons---also mixed in with local Taiwanese small designers. This district is noted by locals as a tourist trap, which is fine with me. Compared to trendy brand name shopping districts like Xinyi, Ximending definitely has a street and alley (might market) shopping atmosphere, versus mega brand name shopping malls. Don't have time to go to Seoul? You can find all of the most popular beauty stores here, like Etude House, Face Shop, Innisfree, and more. Don't have time to go to Tokyo? Well, there are plenty of crane arcades, karaoke (KTV), cute stuffed toys, Japanese popular restaurants, kawaii nail salons, and adorable fashion shops with platform shoes. I'm look at you Saizeriya... I still have yet to find those Japanese photo booths, called Purikura, here... Have been looking during every visit and asking around. The location is easy to get to by MRT, just go to the Ximending stop and take exit 6. Right by the exit is a Japanese chain called Mister Donut that is my obsession; don't even get me started on that.

I absolutely LOVED Ximending when I was in Taipei! It's a shopping paradise for those who like to shop as I do. This is Taiwan's version of Time Square in New York. Known as the college town, Ximending offers many restaurant and shops any time of the day. The area is bustling with shoppers who are ready to shop, dine and catch a wonderful movie; get ready to be entertained! After a busy day exploring the city, visit Ximending pedestrian area for a bit of shopping and a nice refreshing cocktail. Hop on the metro and head to Ximending Shopping district, which is a fully pedestrianized area that has lots of amazing street food, funky bars and themed cafes including the Modern Toilet Restaurant. You will need at least an hour for the toilet restaurant as everyone has to get a drink or something to eat while there. Behind the *Ximen Red House Theater is the old red light district now home to hip and hopping cocktail bars. It's a great place to grab a nightcap! The Red House in Ximending is one of the most notable buildings in Taipei. It is located across the street from the Ximen Station entrance. There are also tons of alleys with market stalls, brand name stalls, and food stalls. Must try food to try in Ximending is the Hot-star fried chicken - an absolutely massive piece of delicious fried chicken that Taiwanese people seem to love. One of the most happening places in the city and a must visit during any weekend in Taipei. You can definitely spend all day shopping, dining and exploring in this area; enjoy! *Visit The Red House (really cute for souvenirs) From 11AM-10PM

I still remember when I wandered the alleys of 西門町 as a tiny high schooler, thinking it was the coolest thing to be walking here with my friends and without my parents. I'm sure that's how native Taiwanese kids felt when they were coming here in elementary school. I'll have to say, some of the standout things to do are: Watching street shows - plenty of performers on the street (licensed or not) for your entertainment. A very unique one I saw last time I was here was the harpist near the MRT station entrance. Street food - plenty of stalls and carts for your eating convenience Small gift shops - of course, every tourist spot has its tourist shops. Find a souvenir for everyone on your list. "Brand Name" makeup and clothing shops - I love buying Korean makeup products, and 西門町 has it all. Overall, I'll have to say that 西門町 is probably one of the better local spots that you can still be a tourist at. Definitely for the young in age and at heart!

Fun, delicious snacks, drinks, desserts, and crowded! This is by far my favorite night market / night life in Taiwan. I would highly recommend going here. Be sure to try the bittermelon juice! I remember getting it during the day- not sure if they have it at night since I tried searching for it but couldn't find them.

This is a great place for tourist like myself. It has foods, shopping and lots of Lookikg around. This is probably one of the lost touristy place to come too

This place is always bustling with activity. Tons of young people hang out here. There's lots of shopping and food places here. It's a really interesting people watching spot. There's always something going on here. Definitely a tourist spot. There's a subway stop right here as well. You easily spend several hours here just checking everything out. It's actually not hard to get lost since the place is so massive. Favorite spots here are the street food and Net clothing store. This spot is close to a somewhat sketchy area of Taipei and attracts some weird characters, but overall it's alright.

Ximending is the main shopping and Pedestrian area in Taipei where many people come shop, eat food and walk in the streets. On our trip we came here twice. Once was in the daytime during a rainy day (nothing unusual as it rains lots in Taipei) and once at night. Daytime wasn't too busy, Friday night was fun as there were lots of young people in the streets. It felt like the place had come alive. The best way I'd describe the vibe of Ximending is shopping, food, street action and street lights, music, nightlife and of course food carts, bubble tea shops and busy pedestrian streets. If this is your calling chalk up a visit here. It mirrors in other big cities the Times Square (NYC), Fisherman's wharf (SF), Shibuya (Tokyo), Champs Élysées (Paris) type of vibe. Lots of interesting people watching and food and money spending opportunities abound. It's reachable by exit 6 at Ximen metro stop where the green and the blue lines converge. Very easy accessible and convient. The most popular food shop to visit by lines and locals eating it should be Ay- Chung rice noodle soup with pork intestine in Ximending. We had just gorged on Hot Pot so as I wrote this I'm so dissapointed I didn't force feed try it. It looked like a gloopy goopy good bowl of rice noodle soup. Definitely will next trip!

Ximending is a shopping district in the Wanhua District and also the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan. Sometimes called the Harajuku of Taipei, this neighborhood has everything! There are restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, trinket stalls, clubs, bars, and more. So many people! So many stores to shop at! So many food stands to try! If I lived in Taiwan, guys would have such an easy time taking me on dates. Take me to a night market or places like Ximending, and I'm a happy camper! (Plus, it's cheap!) It's a win-win for everyone! ;)

Red house is here, Super cool building with alot of nice little vendors inside. Definitely worth a visit when you're in the area. Tons of food and cool shops

This is the one place in Taipei that is a must visit. There is so much good food, so much shopping and so many places to get beautified. I am always saving my nails, lashes and even brows for a trip over to Ximending to do it at a fraction of the price BUT better quality. There is nothing that beats a culture that really cares about customer service and quality. I absolultey love it here. You can find all sorts of shopping from beauty products to glasses to luxury brands and the cheaper alternatives to. This is the one stop shop for many and a lot of my favorite stores have branches here as well. Let's not forget that Ximending is also known for great eats. There are a lot of small stands where you can find something for everyone!

This place is the equivalent of Shibuya in Tokyo, and Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. It's where you go if you want to go shopping, grab food, grab a drink or peoplewatch. Avoid this place if you dislike crowds. There is even a nightmarket along the main area and also like all good night markets it has hot-star (recommended street food!)

Close by Taipei Main Station, Ximending is easily accessible via MRT, bus, and taxi without big cab fare. As one of the must visit spots in Taipei, Ximending is a lively district full of locals, tourists, big screen tv, and lights for entertainment, shopping, and dining. Although most items are catered for the younger hipsters, it's fun to walk around to explore the small boutiques as well as the typical name brands for trendy clothing, unique stuff, and local souvenirs. There are quite a few street performers showcasing their talents. On weekends, you'll see various star chasing fans supporting their idols' concerts/signing. There are also few theaters nearby. Definitely a busy place with lots of hubbubs with a feel of Timeshare, Shibuya and Myeondong.

Ximending is a busy, bustling place with a Times Square kind of feel. If you're into big crowds, this is your place to go in the evenings. There is always something going on around here, especially with the Ximengding night market (lots of food and shopping opportunities), KTV (karaoke), restaurants, etc. There is an MRT stop that takes you conveniently to any one of the major street corners of Ximending. I found it to be a bit crowded and noisy for me, but I know that appeals to lots of people.

this is seriously the trendiest, hippest hood in taipei. it's like soho in nyc, shops, restaurants, cafes, and of course, lots of crowds! i come here at least once per visit to taipei and always end up depleting my wallet a bit since i'm finding so many clothes, shoes, snacks, and souvenirs that i want to buy. this area is also foreigner friendly, so you will likely be ok if you only speak english. there are also quite a few non-taiwanese restaurants if you're missing your hometown comfort food or need a break from taiwanese cuisine...american, italian, and japanese food were found in this area. easily accessible via the met @ ximen station, and you can easily walk through every street and alleyway for hours on end and find something new at each corner.

It's shopping, people watching and food all in one place. Pretty much any Taiwanese food you can imagine is here. I'm not saying it's the best food but it's the easiest way to eat everything you'd like. There's clothing, cell phone accessories, shoes, bedding, actual restaurants and bars (besides quick sit down stalls), etc. It's extremely crowded so I knocked it down a star. If you're claustrophobic, I do NOT recommend that you visit. It was also mostly youngsters. Not a lot of people 40+ from what I could tell. Definitely seemed like it's the cool place to be. My brother and uncle both recommended that we stay near here but clearly they don't know me very well because it was definitely not my scene! I'm sure if you enjoyed night life, you'd like it. But I'm a hermit and the people and noise would have been more than I could handle for 6 days. It's one of those things you should do at least once to tick it off your list.