What we loved about Taipei
The People We have never, in all our travels, ever been to a place where the people are so friendly, kind and thoughtful. Neighbors in our apartment building took us out to dinner. At least a few times a week, people just stop us on the street to welcome us to Taiwan. You almost hate to ask directions because people will insist on walking out of their way to show you where to go. But it’s just how people are here. Old people are as a matter of course helped across the street, people leap up for others on the metro, and in a crowded city, people happily make room for one another. I wish the entire world was a bit more like Taiwan. It would be a better world.
Safety Going along with the thoughtful, friendly people is a nearly non-existent crime rate. We’ve seen people leave their wallet on an outside table while they go inside for something, seen stores display cell phones on card tables on the street unwatched and young women pile up their purses on a crowded square and then turn their backs to take selfies – and everything was left alone. Honesty is taken for granted. How nice.
Public Transportation We were impressed with Barcelona’s metro – but that’s because we hadn’t yet seen Taipei’s public transportation system. Their metro is super modern, clean, efficient and very inexpensive. You can cross the city on the metro for about 90 cents American. You feel like you’re in some sort of futuristic movie in the subway stops, down to the music they play as the train arrives. And the bus system is fast, reliable and super cheap – about 45 cents to go nearly everywhere in town.
The Entire Food Scene Eating in Taipei is an experience. Some apartments don’t even have kitchens here, as the choices for food – especially street food – are at every street corner and so affordable. It can be a bit overwhelming and there are some things Taiwanese people eat that take some getting used to (or maybe some avoidance!) but there are also incredibly delicious foods sold by super friendly people nearly everywhere! You’ll also find lots of Japanese food and sushi, and if you just want some comfort food now and again, Western food isn’t impossible to find, either.
Wandering the Streets Taipei is the best city we’ve found for just wandering. You’ll find 
rabbit warrens of little shops tucked behind gleaming department stores, craftsmen making things by hand and ladies at card tables stuffing dumplings. Its probably the most fascinating place to just explore I’ve ever seen. You may run out of tour-book type sights, but there is always something new to see.
What we didn’t like about Taipei
Weather It’s a tropical island, so it’s hot, humid and rainy. Really rainy. Make sure you have an umbrella – not only for the rain, but to block the sun.
Lodging While we liked our apartment, it was typically Taipei tiny. You could seriously fit our entire Taipei apartment in our Charlottesville kitchen. It was very well designed, but without an inch to spare. Don’t bring anything extra!