This summer, Taipei City is encouraging couples to break away from the usual dinner-and-a-movie date by exploring a diverse array of destinations and experiences, from tranquil mountain escapes to the vibrant riverside festivities of the Taipei Summer Festival, now underway through Aug. 15.
As featured in the Summer issue of Taipei quarterly magazine, the cover story “Taipei for Two” offers countless ideas for couples looking for intimate escapes, from tucked-away cafes and teahouses in the hills to hands-on creative studios and thrilling escape rooms in the heart of the urban core.
The American Military Housing community near Yangmingshan National Park offers a quiet, tree-lined escape from the bustle of downtown. Once home to US military officers during and after the Korean War, the neighborhood’s restored houses have been transformed into cozy cafes. Nearby Yangming Park and Erziping Trail make for an easy addition to the outing.
Across town, the Maokong Gondola carries you high above the city to the Maokong area, where teahouses stay open into the evening, and slow-brewed pots of Tieguanyin or Baozhong tea and sweeping views of the Taipei skyline create the perfect setting for couples’ unhurried conversations.
Those seeking a cultural outing can spend an afternoon at Fubon Art Museum, designed by architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with Kris Yao (姚仁喜). The museum’s light-filled galleries and landscaped outdoor plaza provide a tranquil complement to dinner or a stroll around Taipei 101.
For more hands-on or even full-body activities, visit a creative studio to design and iron your own patches onto plushies, keyrings, and everyday fabrics. Or sign up for a session offered by one of Taipei’s escape rooms and VR arcades. Team up – or face off – your significant other in shared virtual worlds for a high-energy alternative.
Taipei Summer Festival
Couples looking to round out a Taipei date night can head to the Taipei Summer Festival at Dadaocheng Wharf and Yanping Riverside Park.
This year, the festival teams up with the popular international IP “Spider-Man” for the first time to present two 20-minute light shows on the Aug. 15 closing day, combining fireworks and drone art, where “Spider-Man” will soar through Taipei’s night sky set to the original film score.
Apart from the major show, a weekday show on Aug. 5 features an eight-minute fireworks display themed around creativity, craftsmanship, and romance.
Couples are welcome to enrich their date by strolling along Dihua Street during the afternoon and doing some souvenir shopping, then grabbing a bite at the waterfront food stalls before settling in along the riverside to watch the sky light up together.
For more Taipei travel information, read the Summer issue of Taipei quarterly magazine.
This article is based on information provided by the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government.