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Meet people in Taipei: night markets, hikes and friendly strangers

Updated: · Hellohood

In short

The easiest way to meet people in Taipei is to eat and walk together: go to Raohe or Shilin Night Market in the evening, hike Elephant Mountain for the Taipei 101 view, or join a tip-based free walking tour. Hostels in Ximending are social too. Hellohood shows small plans nearby, like a night-market crawl, that you can join today.

Taipei is one of the easiest big cities in Asia to settle into: safe, clean, cheap to get around and full of food. Locals are warm and helpful, though often a bit shy about starting a conversation in English, so the first move is usually yours. You will find backpackers around Ximending, digital nomads and English teachers in Da'an and Zhongshan, and plenty of Mandarin students who are happy to swap languages over bubble tea. Night markets do a lot of the social work for you.

Hellohood shows small real-life plans on a map: a night-market dinner, a hike up Elephant Mountain, coffee in Da'an. Tap to join and a group chat opens. The Taipei city chat is a good place to ask questions, and if you add your trip you can see who else is around on your dates. The app is still new in Taipei, so the map may be quiet. Starting something simple, like Raohe Night Market at seven, is often the quickest way to meet people.

Where people meet in Taipei

  • Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) — A short, steep hike with the classic view of Taipei 101. Go just before sunset, when the rocks at the top fill with people.
  • Shilin Night Market — Taipei's best-known night market, packed with food stalls and games every evening. Big and hectic, great with a small group.
  • Raohe Night Market — Compact and lively, right next to Ciyou Temple in Songshan. One straight lane, so it is easy to meet up and graze.
  • Daan Forest Park — A big central park with lawns and paths, popular with joggers and families. Nice for an easy morning run or a picnic.
  • Songshan Cultural and Creative Park — A former tobacco factory turned exhibition and design space, with a pond and cafés. Good for an afternoon wander.

Neighbourhoods where people hang out in Taipei

  • Ximending — A young, busy shopping and street-food district, and the main backpacker base. Easy to find company for an evening out.
  • Da'an — Leafy streets full of cafés, plus Daan Forest Park. Popular with students, nomads and anyone who wants to work from a café and meet people after.
  • Zhongshan — Cafés, small shops and quiet lanes. Good for a relaxed afternoon walk with someone you just met.
  • Songshan — Home to Raohe Night Market and the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and busy every evening.
  • Xinyi — The district around Taipei 101 and the trailhead to Elephant Mountain. Where people meet before sunset hikes.

Things to do alone in Taipei (that easily turn social)

  1. Climb Elephant Mountain before sunset and chat with others waiting on the rocks for the Taipei 101 view.
  2. Graze through Raohe Night Market and ask the people in the longest queue what they are waiting for.
  3. Join a tip-based free walking tour and grab food with the group afterwards.
  4. Take a morning run through Daan Forest Park, where joggers and families share the paths.
  5. Spend an afternoon at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and strike up a conversation at an exhibition.

Hostels, pub crawls & the social scene

Most social hostels are in Ximending or around Taipei Main Station, which are next to each other and well connected by MRT. The common room is the place to ask who wants to try a night market or take the bus to Jiufen the next day. Some hostels run group dinners or walks, and pub crawls happen on weekends. Many people in Taipei do not drink much anyway, so evenings often revolve around food: a night-market crawl or bubble tea is a very normal alternative to a bar.

Regular things you can just show up to

  • Shilin Night Market — Open every evening with food stalls and games. A classic first night out, especially with a few people to share dishes.
  • Raohe Night Market — Also nightly, smaller and easier to navigate, right next to Ciyou Temple.
  • Free walking tours — Tip-based tours through the old parts of the city. A simple way to meet other travellers on your first day.

Tips for solo travellers & newcomers

  • Get an EasyCard: it works on the MRT, buses and in convenience stores.
  • Taipei is very safe, even late at night; the usual care with belongings in crowded night markets is enough.
  • Women travel alone here without much fuss; on Hellohood you can join women-only plans and always meet in public places.
  • English is common among younger people, but learning xie xie (thank you) in Mandarin makes a good impression.
  • Night markets get going after dark and stay busy late; hikes are best early or just before sunset in the hot months.

Day trips that are better together

  • Jiufen — Take the bus to this hillside old town with lantern-lit lanes and sea views; more fun with a group sharing tea at the top.
  • Beitou hot springs — Ride the MRT north for hot springs and a steaming valley; easy to organise with a few people after a long week.
  • Tamsui — Take the MRT to the riverside for sunset and street snacks, a relaxed group outing.

Best time to go

October to April is cooler and the most comfortable time, while summer is hot and can bring typhoons.

Plan ideas to start on Hellohood

  • Sunset hike up Elephant Mountain
  • Dinner crawl at Raohe Night Market
  • Saturday morning run in Daan Forest Park
  • Day trip to Jiufen by bus
  • Language exchange over bubble tea in Da'an

How Hellohood works

  1. Open the map and see small plans nearby — today, tonight, this weekend.
  2. Tap to join: a group chat opens so you can say hi first.
  3. Meet in a public place. Or start your own plan in seconds.

FAQ

Is Taipei good for solo travellers?

Very. It is safe, affordable, easy to navigate and the food alone makes it worth it. Locals are friendly, if a little reserved at first, and night markets, hostels and free walking tours give you plenty of chances to meet other people.

Is Taipei safe to travel alone, also for women?

Taipei is very safe, including for women travelling alone and at night. Normal care in busy night markets is enough. On Hellohood you can join women-only plans, and all plans take place in public places.

Where do solo travellers stay in Taipei?

Ximending and the area around Taipei Main Station are the usual choices. They have most of the social hostels, lots of street food and fast MRT connections to everything else, including Elephant Mountain and the night markets.

How do I make friends in Taipei as an expat?

Many expats meet people through language learning, since lots of locals want to practise English and lots of newcomers are learning Mandarin. Hiking and café culture help too. Starting a small regular plan, like a weekly night-market dinner, is a simple way to build a circle.

Is there a language exchange in Taipei?

Language swaps are very common because so many people study Mandarin here. The easiest way is to set one up yourself: suggest a coffee or bubble tea language exchange in Da'an as a small plan and see who joins.

Is Hellohood free?

Yes, Hellohood is completely free, with no paywall and no ads. Joining or starting plans, using the Taipei city chat and adding your trip cost nothing. It is about friendship and shared activities.

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