A Morning Ride Through Taipei
There’s something about becoming an older adult where your at-home hobbies become your vacation hobbies. Biking at home? Yes. Biking on vacation? Absolutely. There’s also something about pedaling through a new city makes me feel like a local.
Look for the big blue sign and you’ll know you’re at the right spot!
So it should come as no surprise that I found and booked the Taipei: 4-Hour Morning City Cycling Tour with Breakfast through GetYourGuide. Not only is Taipei one of the flattest, most bike-friendly cities in Asia, but it’s also full of stories tucked into alleys and neighborhoods you’d miss entirely by car or metro.
A Bright and (Mostly) Early Start
Taipei was still calm and cool, the light soft, and the traffic still sleepy. Our guide, Rita, greeted us with a big smile and some news: one of the families in our group was running late.
As it turns out, their hotel concierge accidentally gave the taxi driver the address for the east side of the city instead of the west side meeting point. Despite calling the guide before 9:00 to give her a heads-up, traffic kept them stalled—and they rolled up a full hour late. 42 minutes for the first of their group to show up, and almost exactly an hour for the other cab to show up. (A side note here: my booking through GetYourGuide gave me the exact address AND a map view of where I was supposed to arrive. Everyone else booked through TripAdvisor and they ALL had issues with the exact address of the meeting spot.)
But honestly? It was hard to be upset. They were warm, friendly, and immediately poked fun at themselves for the mix-up. They turned what could’ve been an awkward moment into an easy laugh, and the rest of us just rolled with it. Everyone seemed pretty flexible, which made the whole vibe of the group really laid-back and enjoyable. For me, personally, I was here to bike and everything else was just extra.
Still, the delay did have a ripple effect - we had to skip the morning market stop, and by the time we reached the temple, we caught only the tail end of the changing of the guards. Literally: we saw the guards walking away. In case you’re interested though, the changing of the guards happens every hour on the hour from 9am-5pm, so it wasn’t a total loss.
Fueling Up Like a Local
Taiwan morning breakfast
After quickly getting the rest of the group fitted with bikes and helmets, we headed straight for breakfast. Our first official stop was a traditional Taiwanese breakfast spot. Nothing says “good morning” like a spread of iced soy milk, steamed buns, danbing (egg crepes), youtiao (fried dough sticks), and something I can’t stop thinking about—radish cake.
The food was served quickly, but nothing felt rushed. Here’s everything we ate for breakfastt:
Radish cake (turnip cake / tshài-thâu-kué) – This was the star for me. Light and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and somehow had the flavor of bacon. I dipped it in soy sauce and genuinely had to resist the urge to eat the entire plate myself.
Iced soy milk (with sugar) – I’m not a soy milk person, but I gave it a shot. It’s thinner and lighter than American soy milk, but still tasted like “water milk” to me. Not my favorite, but worth trying once.
Steamed pork bun – Warm, soft, and full of savory, slightly sweet pork that reminded me of a breakfast sausage. Comforting and filling.
Youtiao – These deep-fried dough sticks are kind of like a churro without the cinnamon and sugar. Golden, crisp, and meant to be dipped in soy milk (again, maybe more for others than me).
Egg crepes (danbing) – Soft, thin wraps filled with scallions. Light and balanced—a great contrast to the heavier bites.
A Different Way to See the City
After breakfast, we quickly headed off to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to catch the changing of the guards. As we rode, Rita wove in stories about Taipei’s past—from Japanese colonial architecture to the early trading days along Dihua Street. We pedaled through Dihua Street, past the old city gates, and even paused outside the Presidential Office Building. What I appreciated most was that the tour wasn’t just about ticking off major landmarks—it was about connecting to the rhythm of the city. The pace was perfect—slow enough to take everything in, fast enough to cover a lot of ground.
While the cultural stops were interesting, what I really came for was the biking itself. And that part didn’t disappoint. The path was mostly flat and traffic-free, winding through parks and side streets with just enough twists to keep things interesting. We wound our way through town back to Longshan Temple for an herbal tea break. Longhsan Temple is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Taipei. It was built in 1738 by Chinese immigrants from Fujian, China and has some of the most ornate architecture and intricate carvings that I’ve ever seen. It’s easy to see the details during the day but I think the temple is more beautiful at night.
One of my favorite spots was biking the peaceful riverside area, where we just soaked in the view. Riding through a new city at eye level, feeling the breeze, hearing the city wake up - it’s one of my favorite ways to explore. I’d been a pedestrian in this city for nearly a week before I took this bike tour so I’d seen bikers all week. I was impressed with how biker friendly it was. The roads were mostly flat and calm, and even with a few tight turns, it felt accessible and safe.
Pro Tips Before You Roll
Our biking group for the morning!
Wear sunscreen - especially on your hands! My hands, forearms, and upper thighs got burned.
Breathable layers. Having a breezy jacket kept (most) of my arms from getting sunburned and allowed the wind to blow through.
Bring water. Rita gave us each a bottle of water to start the day but it doesn’t hurt to bring your own!
Arrive early.
Charge your camera or phone—you’ll want to capture the sunrise alleys!
Book early in your trip—this tour is limited to 9 people and it books up quickly!
If you're planning a trip to Taipei and this tour sounds like your kind of morning, you can book the Taipei 4-Hour Morning City Cycling Tour with Breakfast here. It’s the same tour I did—and if you book through my link, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, your support is truly appreciated!
Also, don’t forget to check out my other Taipei travel posts for more food, sights, and unexpected adventures around the city.
