Taipei: Morning Bike Tour with Temples, Markets & Breakfast

Summary

Cycle Taipei’s lively streets with breakfast stops and temple visits

You’ll cycle through Taipei’s neighborhoods as locals start their day: tasting traditional breakfast dishes, weaving between markets and temples like Longshan and Dihua Street, hearing stories from your guide along the way. Expect plenty of stops for food and photos — plus small moments you’ll remember after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect my first real taste of Taipei to be a warm soy milk in a noisy breakfast shop, but that’s how this bike tour started. The guide — I think her name was Annie — handed me a flaky egg pancake before we even unlocked the bikes. It was early, but the city already buzzed with scooters and that herbal smell from street stalls. I tried to say “thank you” in Mandarin; Annie grinned and corrected me softly (I still probably got it wrong).

We wove through narrow lanes, past old men playing chess outside tiny tea shops. The morning air felt thick but not heavy yet — apparently the summer heat comes later. Our group stopped at a Daoist temple tucked behind market stalls, incense curling up into the rafters. Annie explained something about the god of literature, and a local woman pressed a paper charm into my hand. I kept it in my pocket for luck.

The cycling itself wasn’t hard — mostly flat, with lots of stops to look around or grab sips of water. We rode by the Presidential Office Building (didn’t expect it to look so… Japanese?), then down Dihua Street where the scent shifted from dried herbs to sweet pastries. Someone in our group bought candied fruit on a stick; I just watched the shopkeepers chatting in Taiwanese dialects I couldn’t catch. Honestly, half the fun was just watching daily life happen all around us.

By the time we reached Longshan Temple, my shirt was sticking to my back but I barely noticed — too busy watching people toss fortune blocks and pour tea for strangers. Annie poured us each a cup too, laughing when someone tried to guess what kind of leaves they used (no one got it right). The ride ended back at the shop before noon, sun climbing high over Taipei rooftops. I still think about that first bite of breakfast sometimes — maybe because it tasted like waking up somewhere completely new.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Morning cycling tour of Taipei

• Meet at Taipei Bike Works shop
• Enjoy traditional Taiwanese breakfast
• Visit Daoist temple in morning market
• Explore traditional street market
• Pass by reconstructed east city gate
• See grand memorial and watch guard change
• Visit Presidential Office Building
• Tour Longshan Temple
• View old ferry port and river scenery
• Walk through 19th-century Dihua Street
• Stop at festive love temple with free tea

Top questions

How long is the Taipei morning cycling city tour?

The tour lasts about 4 hours, starting early in the morning.

Is breakfast included on this Taipei bike tour?

Yes, a traditional Taiwanese breakfast is included at the start of the tour.

What are some highlights visited during the bike tour?

You’ll visit places like Longshan Temple, Dihua Street, local markets, and see historic buildings such as the Presidential Office Building.

Where does the cycling tour start in Taipei?

The meeting point is at Taipei Bike Works: No. 9 Lane 70 Section 2 Chongqing N Rd., Datong District.

What’s provided on this Taipei cycling day trip?

The tour includes use of bicycle and helmet, water, rain jacket if needed, English-speaking guide, breakfast foods plus coffee or tea.

Is this bike tour suitable for beginners?

Yes — it’s mostly flat riding with frequent stops; suitable for most fitness levels over 12 years old.

Does this day trip run year-round?

Yes, but summer tours (July–September) start earlier due to heat; check exact times when booking.

What’s included

Your morning includes use of a comfortable bicycle and helmet plus water along the way; an English-speaking guide leads you through each stop; you’ll get traditional Taiwanese breakfast foods with coffee or tea at a local spot; rain jackets are available if needed before returning to where you started by midday.