Michi Photostory: First Night in Taipei: Exploring Ningxia Night Market

After a long day of travel, we finally arrived in Taipei with only a few hours to explore. If you’re visiting the city for the first time, one of the best things to do at night is visit a night market and that’s exactly how we spent our first evening.

Why We Chose Ningxia Night Market

Taipei is known for its famous night markets, including Raohe Night Market, Shilin Night Market, and Ningxia Night Market. Since we were staying at CityInn Hotel, we chose Ningxia Night Market because it was the nearest and most convenient option.

Before our trip, I considered booking a food walking tour in Taipei. However, I don’t usually eat heavy meals in the evening, and I prefer sleeping early, so the usual 6:45 PM start time didn’t suit my schedule. Instead, we decided to explore the Ningxia Night Market on our own.

If you’re someone who wants to try more dishes and learn about Taiwanese street food, a guided food tour can still be a great option.

Taipei Ningxia Night Market Food Walking Tour (Incl. 10 Foods)

How to Get to Ningxia Night Market

Ningxia Night Market is centrally located in Taipei and is easy to reach using public transportation.

The most convenient way is by MRT:

Zhongshan Station (Red Line, R11) – about a 7–10 minute walk
Shuanglian Station (Red Line, R12) – about an 8–10 minute walk

From either station, you can walk Ningxia Road, where the night market is located.

If you’re coming from Taipei Main Station, you can walk for about 10–15 minutes or take a short taxi ride. This makes it a great option if you’re staying nearby.

Other options include:

Bus routes that stop near Ningxia Street
Taxi or ride-hailing apps for direct access

Best Time to Visit Ningxia Night Market

Ningxia Night Market is typically open from around 5:30 PM to midnight, although some stalls may open earlier or close later.

Best time to visit (fewer crowds): 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM or after 10:00 PM
Peak hours: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, especially on weekends

Since the market is relatively small and narrow, it can get very crowded during peak hours.

Our Ningxia Night Market Food Experience

We weren’t very hungry when we arrived because we had already eaten snacks at KFC and McDonald’s earlier that day (you can check my previous post for more details). So this visit was more about experiencing the famous atmosphere of the Taipei night market than doing a full food crawl.

The market was lively and packed with people, which made it a bit challenging to move around and order food. Still, we managed to try some popular street food:

Cube Steak – NTD 150
Chicken BBQ – NTD 100
Grilled Mushrooms – NTD 120
Peanut Ice Cream Roll – NTD 60
Grilled Squid – (price unknown because my mom paid for it)

Prices & Payment Tips

Most food stalls at Ningxia Night Market only accept cash, so make sure to bring enough Taiwanese dollars with you. Prices are generally affordable, making it a great place to try different kinds of Taipei street food.

How Long to Spend at Ningxia Night Market

We stayed for less than two hours, which was enough to walk through the market, try a few snacks, and enjoy the atmosphere. If you plan to eat more or explore every stall, you may want to stay longer.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Ningxia Night Market is a must-visit if you’re looking for an authentic Taipei night market experience. From the delicious street food to the vibrant local atmosphere, it’s the perfect way to spend your first night in the city.

Even though our visit was short, it was a fun and memorable introduction to Taiwan’s street food culture. Next time, I’d definitely come back with a bigger appetite and try more of the best food in Ningxia Night Market.