Thing to do
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's best-known night market spreads through the lanes of Shilin, combining a large food court with street snack stalls and clothes shops.
Raohe Street Night Market
A compact 600-metre night market on Raohe Street, anchored by the 18th-century Ciyou Temple and famous for pepper buns and herbal pork ribs.
At a glance
- Type
- Night market
- Area
- Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- travel.taipei
Good to know
- Street food
- Seating area
- Toilets
- Next to Songshan MRT
Why we recommend it
Raohe Street Night Market is a good choice for a first night market in Taipei, because it packs a great deal of eating into a manageable space. It runs for about 600 metres along a single street in the Songshan District, so unlike the sprawl of Shilin you can walk from one end to the other and back again, sampling as you go. The eastern end is marked by Ciyou Temple, founded in 1753, and it is one of the area's landmarks and worth a look before or after you eat.
The market follows a simple pattern. Near the eastern entrance, carts sell everyday goods, toys, traditional crafts and street snacks; further along you find stalls with flowers, stones and folk art; and the central stretch is where most of the food stalls cluster, with Taiwanese dishes, drinks and cut fruit. A narrow strip of seating runs along both sides, so you can rest between snacks, and the market has toilets.
The Taipei tourism office highlights oyster vermicelli, spare ribs stewed in herbal soup, pepper meat buns, duck, stinky tofu, beef noodles and tempura among the specialities. Popular booths often have queues, which are generally a good sign, so join one for the stall that tempts you most. Prices are low, so the best approach is to share several small dishes rather than commit to one.
The market is open all year, and the tourism office lists hours from 17:00 to midnight. Arriving around opening time means shorter queues, while late evening is busier but has the most atmosphere. Bring small notes and coins, wear comfortable shoes, and expect to stand while you eat. Allow one and a half to two hours. It suits couples, families and solo travellers, and it is one of the easiest night markets for first-timers to navigate.
Getting there is straightforward: Songshan MRT station is about 100 metres from the market, via Exit 5. Nearby, the Rainbow Bridge is about 200 metres to the north-west and Songshan Market about 250 metres to the south-west. The Wufenpu district, which the tourism office describes as Taipei's largest garment wholesale market, is around 600 metres to the south if you want to shop for clothes.
Raohe Street Night Market FAQs
What time does Raohe Night Market open?
The Taipei tourism office lists the market as open from 17:00 to midnight, all year.
Which MRT station is nearest?
Songshan Station is about 100 metres away via Exit 5.
How long is the market?
It runs for about 600 metres along Raohe Street.
What should you eat?
Pepper meat buns, herbal-stewed spare ribs, oyster vermicelli, stinky tofu and beef noodles are among the specialities.
What is the temple at the end of the market?
Ciyou Temple, founded in 1753, stands at the eastern end.
Are there toilets and seating?
Yes, the market has toilets and a narrow seating area along both sides.
When is the best time to go?
Arrive around opening time for shorter queues, or later in the evening for the busiest atmosphere.
What else is nearby?
The Rainbow Bridge is about 200 metres away and the Wufenpu garment district is about 600 metres to the south.