Your Guide to Visiting a Taipei Night Market with Kids
If Italy means pasta, then Taiwan means night markets. Seriously. Don’t leave Taiwan without visiting a night market, yes, even with your kids! You wouldn’t dare to leave Italy without eating some pasta, right?
Recently, I returned from my 5th trip to Taiwan, and like all the previous trips, nightly Taipei night market visits were prioritized. These special markets are very dear to my family’s heart, and a trip to Taiwan equates to lots of night market visits.
Let’s get into what even is a night market, why these markets are so special to Taiwan, where you can find them in Taipei, and what to expect and plan for when you bring your kids.
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Jump to: What is a night market, Day vs. Night, Worth it, Our Visits, Best markets with Kids, Tips for bringing Kids, 20 Night Markets in taipei
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What is a night market?
A night market is a type of market that occurs mostly at nighttime where independent vendors and stalls gather to sell goods. Night markets often sell food, goods, crafts, and may offer other entertainment. Akin to a traditional daytime market or bazaar, a farmer’s market, or even a fair – yet a distinct nighttime experience.
Night markets got their start in China during the Tang Dynasty. They shifted and shaped over the years, and have spread to other Asian countries, and additional communities around the world.
Modern-day night markets in Taiwan were popularized after WWII. At this time, Taiwan began mass-producing many goods, which started selling at the night markets. The food vendors also capitalized on the evolving economy and workforce selling xiaochi and cheaper food than typical restaurants, which appealed to the migrant workers.
Xiaochi (小吃) which literally translates to small eats, or snacks, is a special category of food in Chinese culture. Xiaochi is usually thought of as something more substantial than what you may find in a vending machine, more like Spanish tapas or Middle Eastern meze. Night markets are known for xiaochi.
Today, night markets are most popular in East and Southeast Asia, namely in Taiwan, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Additionally, you can find night markets in Morocco, Nigeria, Canada, Tanzania, UK, the US, and beyond.
How do Taiwanese daytime markets differ from night markets?
Daytime markets in Taiwan often offer more regular everyday items, more essentials. They may offer fresh seafood, raw meat, vegetables, fruit, spices, tea, clothing, cookware, house items, and more. People seem more rushed at the daytime markets, get in, get what they need, and get out.
On the other hand, nighttime markets seem to be more for entertainment and extras, not necessarily for essentials. Night markets (夜市) in Taiwan often offer snacks and small bites, drinks and desserts, games and claw machines, trending clothing, accessories, and more.
Furthermore, they provide a third space, a gathering spot for socializing outside the home and work. They offer a fun, family-friendly environment for people of all ages to enjoy later in the evening. People at nighttime markets are more likely to hang around, stroll, and stay awhile.
Many of the night markets have no permanent structures or facilities. Instead vendor carts are wheeled in and lined up, often taking over a regular street, for the evening market.
Why are night markets worth visiting in Taiwan?
Night markets are so synonymous with Taiwanese culture, they are worth a visit. The night markets are a fascinating window and crash course in Taiwanese culture and lifestyle.
Some refer to Taiwan as the “night market capital of the world” as it boasts the most night markets. The title of the largest night market in the word goes to a night market in Bangkok, Thailand, the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Taiwan, on the other hand, stands out by sheer volume hosting over 700 markets, especially when you consider the smaller size of the island.
While Taiwanese night markets are world renowned and therefore draw many visitors, they weren’t created for tourists specifically. Certain markets attract more tourists than others. But still, night markets in Taipei cater to and appeal to locals too.
Today, Taiwan’s night markets attract international audiences. The vendors are used to interacting with non-locals, and communicating is possible through pointing, pictures and calculators if you cannot speak Mandarin Chinese and if they cannot speak English or your preferred language.
If you’re planning to visit Taiwan and seeking what to do in Taipei with kids, don’t miss the night markets.
My Introduction to Taiwan’s Night Markets
I first heard about night markets from my husband (then boyfriend) when we were only 17. We just met in college, and this is what he was most excited to tell me about Taiwan, where is family origins lie.
He visited Taiwan annually growing up and night markets have always been his favorite part.
My first visit to Shilin Night Market in Taipei, the largest market in Taiwan, happened after a summer in Shanghai. Shilin has grown and evolved since then, and while it’s lost some of its popularity, it’s still special and worth a visit today.
Over the years and visits, I strolled the large and small night markets, more touristy ones, and more local ones. I’ve seen night markets up north, tons in Taipei, all the way south in Kenting, and others in between.
Even branching out to other countries, recently we perused night markets in Hoi An and Da Nang, Vietnam.
I have visited my fair share of night markets, and still, I look forward to returning and discovering new ones each time we visit Taiwan.
Taipei Night Markets with Our Kids
During our last two trips to Taiwan, we had extra passengers with us. We expanded into a family of 5. No longer a couple of bright eyed young adults checking out the night markets anymore.
Visiting night markets looks different these days. As we tried to balance multiple snacks and drinks and make sure no one got lost, we may have wistfully thought back to when it was only the 2 of us. How much easier it was. Yet it is still so much fun going with the kids, maybe even more fun. Definitely not easier, though, let’s be real.
It’s extra special to share this big piece of my husband’s childhood and Taiwanese culture with our kids. It’s so fun to see them light up and delight in the unique night market culture. It’s such a lively environement, it’s hard not to be enamoured.
With our kids, at 15 months old, 5 years old, and 7 years old, and again at 3 years old, 7 years old, and 9 years old, we visited Shilin Night Market, Linjiang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, and Ximending Night Market.
Shilin Night Market with Kids
A fan favorite, a family favorite, we’ve been to Shilin Night Market several times. It is one of the most famous night markets, as it holds the title of the largest night market in Taiwan.
I’ve visited Shilin many times over the last 17 years and it’s changed many times. On our latest visit, I was surprised how established it’s become. Shilin has a lot more permanent structures and spaces for the market than some other night markets.
Certain areas of Shilin market are easier to navigate than other areas and other markets since there is more space.
There are a lot of night market game stations that keep the kids engaged. They also have a proper restroom facility, which helps with young kids.
It is a little bit further north from other markets and from the most central areas of Taipei, which is not convenient for everyone. Though, it’s still easy enough to get to.
Linjiang Night Market with Kids
Linjiang Night Market (also known as Tonghua Night Market) is not as large as some of the other night markets, yet it delivers just as well. It’s a great one for families with younger children as it feels more mangeable than some others.
Linjiang still offers the classic night market experience with all the quintessential night market offerings – xiaochi, treats, games, clothing, and more. It’s also a convenient option if you’re staying near Taipei 101.
This is the one our kids first fell in love with. They wanted to return every night, and even on our next trip.
Ningxia Night Market with Kids
We enjoyed a special experience visiting Ningxia this time. We arrived before the night market officially opened, and got to see the fascinating, speedy setup process.
The street was nearly empty and quiet, and then all of a sudden carts were rumbling in from all directions. Workers on a mission, their daily routine, quickly speeding into their spots and setting up their stands. Hawkers directing and yelling, everything started to buzz.
Before long, the street was lined with stands up and down, and the crowds descended.
Ningxia was compact (really compact) and crowded, as most night markets are, however, at least it felt organized. The food was grouped together, and across the intersection the games were grouped together. The food area was much more crowded and tougher to squeeze through. The kids game area, however, was not crazy crowded which was nice.
When my middle child said they needed the toilet, I had a quick panic. Sometimes finding a restroom in the city is not easy, or at least not quick. Thankfully, though, they had restrooms open in the school building along Ningxia street for night market visitors to use.
Ximending Night Market with Kids
Ximending is one of my favorite areas in Taipei. Though, I was disappointed by the night market.
Ximending is a fun hip area, popular with young adults. My husband and I visited a bunch when we were younger and are probably still clinging to our younger years and memories.
This area is almost always busy and vibrant, and you can easily find plenty to keep you busy. However, it doesn’t offer as much of a proper or traditional night market setup as others. Therefore the experience doesn’t feel the same. There are some xiaochi charts, and plenty of shops and street food. But we didn’t find any games and the kids were not into it.
For younger kids, I wouldn’t recommend Ximending for a night market experience. For older kids, I would recommend visiting Ximending as a place to hit up in general, though still not for the night market experience specifically.
Best Taipei Night Markets to Visit for Families with Younger Kids
If you don’t have the time or ability to check out multiple night markets in Taipei, I’d recommend checking out at least one of these four markets listed below. These are your best bets for well-established, authentic, well-reviewed night markets with plenty of games for young kids.
If you’re in Taiwan for a while and want to check out a variety of night markets, see the list in the section further below of 20 night markets in Taipei.
1. Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)
- Shilin District
- No. 101, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
- Open every day from 4 PM to 12 AM
- Biggest night market in Taipei
- Oversized arcade/game area
2. Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街夜市)
- Songshan District
- Raohe St, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
- Open every day from 5 PM to 12 AM
- Most popular night market in Taipei
- Picturesque with an ornate paifang gate
- Next to the beautiful Songshan Ci You Temple
- Near the Keelung River and Rainbow Bridge
3. Linjiang Night Market (臨江街夜市)
- Sometimes referred to as Tonghua Night Market (通化街夜市)
- Da’an District
- Linjiang St and Tonghua St, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
- Open every day from 6 PM to 12 AM
- Good location near newer areas, like Taipei 101
- Smaller night market, feels manageable
4. Ningxia Night Market (寧夏夜市)
- Datong District
- No. 58號, Ningxia Rd, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
- Open every day from 5 PM to 11:30 PM
- Centrally located, close to Taipei Main Station
- Crowded, but organized
Tips for Bringing Kids to Night Markets
Practical Tips
- Arrive earlier rather than later for fewer crowds. The vibe may be a little different, and all the carts may not be out right at opening, but if you’re vying for minimal chaos and trying to ease in, going early helps.
- Visit on a weekday if you’re able, rather than on a weekend.
- Night markets continue to operate even when it’s rainy.
- There should be restrooms available at most night markets, at least at the most popular ones, you may need to ask around to find it though.
- Bring baby wipes, mini hand sanitizer, and mini tissue packs for cleaning messy hands and faces.
- Some stalls with more substantial food have small stools and tables to use for guests, but most of the night market has limited to no seating.
- Bring TWD cash in smaller bills and coins. Few stands accept cards or tap payments, though now many are taking LINE pay.
- If your child is extra sensitive to loud and or crowded spaces, plan accordingly to help them be more comfortable (i.e. with headphones or being in a carrier or stroller, or fidget toys), take breaks, or visit a smaller market. Even in the largest markets, you can usually cut out of the main crowded drag and find a quieter spot or side street if needed.
Navigating the Crowd
- For babies, consider using a baby carrier over a stroller. It will be easier to keep them close.
- Strollers are okay if you prefer. We brought ours many times, but it’s challenging to maneuver through the crowds. Sometimes, though, it can be easier to strap a toddler in a stroller than let them walk. And on the plus side, strollers help hold stuff!
- Taiwan is a safe country, very family-friendly, and kids are frequent night market visitors. Nevertheless, Taipei is a city, and night markets are often crowded. Use caution and keep your kids close, like you would at any large, busy event or space.
- Consider having your kids use an AirTag as an extra safety precaution. There are kid wristbands to hold them, even cute character bands.
10 Must-Try Kid-Approved Eats
Night markets mostly revolve around the food. Even pickier kids (I speak from personal experience) should be okay to eat at a night market, with fresh fruit, fried chicken and even extra long french fries available.
Below are 10 common night market snacks that are more likely to be kid-approved.
- Scallion pancake – a chewy, flaky, and crispy wheat flatbread-type pancake with green onions in it. My kids LOVE scallion pancakes and eat them all the time.
- Popcorn chicken – small pieces of chicken coated and fried usually with a salt and pepper spice and crispy basil. Another one of my kids’ favorite foods.
- Big chicken – an XXL chicken fried chicken popularized by the night markets.
- Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) – mini pork and soup filled dumplings, popularized by Din Tai Fung (started in Taiwan), are typically available at night markets for cheap.
- Taiwanese sausage – a large grilled pork sausage, thicker like kielbasa or bratwurst rather than a hot dog.
- Skewer sticks – grilled beef, pork and chicken skewers are usually easy to find at night markets. Likewise, you can find various vegetable skewers and corn on the cob grilled.
- Taro ball/sweet potato balls – fried chewy and colorful balls made from tapioca starch and sweet potatoes/taro.
- Novelty waffles – you can find little waffle stands that will make fresh waffles in all sorts of shapes, such as fish and other animals, characters, teddy bears, and more. Plus the bubble waffles.
- Fruit – it’s easy to find fresh tropical fruit, freshly cut at night markets, such as pineapple, rose (or wax) apples, guava, dragon fruit, watermelon, mango and more.
- Juice – get your little one fresh squeezed fruit juice at a market stall, watermelon juice is popular and plentiful.
Fun Night Markets Games for Your Kids to Try
- Balloon Pop
The classic balloon games are the easiest to find. There are various setups, but you will see different displays of balloons on a wall or board. The aim of the game is to pop as many balloons as possible, the more balloons popped, the larger the prize (stuffies, small toys, etc.). You may find balloon games with darts, bows and arrows, or airguns with plastic pellets.
- Fishing Game
The fishing game is a night market tradition for kids. You can find open tanks of small fish where you’ll be provided a net and bucket to try to scoop up the fish. There are different versions, some with a paper net, an extra challenge. You can also find shrimp ones where they can grill the shrimp afterward for you to eat. On the other side, more recently we experienced a plastic pool filled with plastic fish. My toddler loved this version.
- Pachinko Pinball
Pachinko is an arcade-type game from Japan often found in adult casinos for gambling. At night markets, you can find small kid-sized and kid-themed ones for entertainment. It’s not exactly the same, but similar to a pinball game machine.
20 Taipei Night Markets to Consider Visiting
What’s the best night market to visit in Taipei? Honestly, I’m going to say whichever night market is closest to you, whether you’re out and about and stumble upon one, or whichever is closest to your accommodations.
With over 700 night markets in Taiwan, covering every area of the island, you’re bound to find one near you. While they can range in size and style, essentially, they offer similar experiences.
If you have limited time, consider what type of experience you’re after and select a night market accordingly.
Do you have a tight schedule? Then pick something nearby or along your route. And something that works for your schedule (some markets open earlier and stay open later than others). Do you (or your other travelers) get overwhelmed easily in loud crowds? Then start with a smaller market. Do you have young children? Then pick a night market with games. (Most have some, but select do not.) Is there a certain food you want to try? Then search for a specific market that offers it.
There are too many night markets in Taiwan to list them all. But here are some of the top night markets in Taipei to consider visiting. They’re organized by district to help you pick the one closest to you.
Beitou District
- Shipai Night Market 石牌夜市 – a northern Taipei option
Shilin District
- Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 – Taiwan’s largest night market with plenty of food, shopping and games for everyone
Datong District
- Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 – longstanding market, compact, famous for its food
- Dalong Street Night Market 大龍街夜市 – smaller market, less popular with visitors, close to Dalongdong Baoan Temple
Zhongshan District
- Shuangcheng Street Night Market 雙城街夜市 – great food, but not much more
- Liaoning Street Night Market 遼寧街夜市 – one of the smallest, minimal offerings
Songshan District
- Raohe Street Night Market 饒河街夜市 – most popular and iconic, beautiful setting
Neihu District
- 737 Lane Food Street 737巷美食街 – more local in a residential area
Wanhua District
- Ximending Night Market 西門町商圈 – trendy area, non-traditional market
- Guangzhou Street Night Market 廣州街夜市 – good food and games, close to Longshan Temple and Huaxi Street Night Market
- Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街夜市 – formerly popular as the infamous snake alley, also next to an elderly red light district
Zhongzheng District
- Nanjichang Night Market 南機場夜市 – more popular with locals, fewer tourists
Da’an District
- Linjiang Night Market 臨江街夜市 (Or Tonghua Night Market 通化街夜市) – smaller market, but with all the standard offerings and not far from Taipei 101
- Shida Night Market 師大夜市 – popular with university students, good shopping
- Gongguan Night Market 市公館夜市 – in a dbusiness district with lots to do nearby
Xinyyi District
- Linkou Night Market 林口夜市 – newer market, only open Sundays and Wednesdays
Wenshan District
- Jingmei Night Market 景美夜市 – traditional daytime market that transitions to night market in the evening
New Taipei City
- Banqiao Nanya Night Market 板橋湳雅夜市 – a foodie paradise
- Sanhe Night Market 三和夜市 – larger market more popular with locals
- Lehua Night Market 樂華夜市 – lots of unique snack options
Not in Taipei, but if you are staying in or checking out Taoyuan at all (where TPE airport is), then consider visiting these night markets. And if you’re visiting other areas in Taiwan, look up what night markets they have to offer – you can find them in all over the island.
Taoyuan
- Zhongli Night Market 中壢區觀光夜市
- Taoyuan Night Market 桃園觀光夜市
Embrace the culture, embrace the chaos
If you’re looking for what to do at night in Taipei with kids, consider visiting a night market. Even though they occur at night, they are family-friendly and fun for the kids to experience.
Night markets in Taipei are loud and crowded. You will smell an array of scents (hello stinky tofu!) and see various sights. It can be sensory overload and overwhelming for kids and even for adults. (I get overloaded easily, I understand.)
Pick a Taipei night market that’s geared for kids with great games. Seek out some kid-approved snacks, stroll, and stay awhile. It’s an immersive cultural experience that appeals to all the senses.
Prepare however you need to, but open your mind and try to just go. Embrace the chaos and experience the Taiwanese night market culture.
Having been to various night markets in other places, they’re not the same as in Taiwan. Taiwan’s night market culture is unique. It’s extra special and I promise it’s worth it.
