10 to 12 hours (or more)

Ximending Shopping District: bustling shopping and dining district heavy on small shops with traditional Taiwan goods and bites, as well as plenty of chain stores from Europe and the United States. Metro: Ximen Station, blue and Green lines. Walk one block west. Duration: 20 minutes to 2 hours. Depends on your desire to browse (and your patience with gaggles of Taipei teens).

Dihua Street: Section 1, Dihua Street, Datong District; travel.taipei. Traditional shopping district since the 19th century, lined with older buildings, many of which have been restored. Metro: beimen Station, Green and blue lines. Duration: 20 minutes to an hour, depending on your browsing speed.

Bike the Tamsui riverfront: In some areas, bike lanes are common, but the easiest ride is on the riverfront; the Tamsui is lined with bike paths that connect promenades and parks, including Yanping Riverside park near Dihua Street, and Longshan Riverside Park closer to the Lungshan Temple. Ride from one to the other. (bike-sharing system Ubike (or Youbike) is widespread in Taipei. It helps to have a Taipei Easycard, a pass for local transportation; otherwise you will need to put down a deposit with a credit card. If possible register at taipei.youbike.com.tw/en/ in advance and download the Ubike-Taipei app.) Lungshan Temple: See the four- to five-hour route.

Six- to eight-hour route: Get back on the blue Line toward Nangang Exhibition center and get off at Sun YatSen Memorial Hall Station.

Ningxia Night Market: Ningxia Road at Mingsheng West Road, Datong District. Tightly packed, block-long night market devoted to traditional foods (as well as a few inventive dishes, including one that can be described as blowtorch beef cubes). Plenty of seafood, both cooked and fresh. Metro: Shuanglian Station, Red Line. Walk two long blocks west. Duration: 20 minutes to an hour. Small enough to survey the whole market and eat small bites from three vendors in a short period.