Planning to visit Valparaiso and Viña del Mar? Check out this super-easy, step-by-step guide (with video) to get to these coastal cities from Santiago de Chile

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If you have 2 or 3 days extra in Santiago de Chile, you should definitely consider paying a visit to the coastal cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.

Valparaiso used to be the most thriving harbor city in Chile on the Pacific coast. Nicknamed “Valpo” by the locals, this city is full of history and its historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The influential Chilean writer, Pablo Neruda, used to live here. During the California gold rush in the 1800s, ships from around the world looking to join the gold mania always made a stop at Valparaiso, before they continued their journey to California. No wonder that in this city you will find countless traces of foreign traditions, monuments, and buildings from around the world.

The neighboring Viña del Mar is a quiet and much smaller city compared to Valparaiso. Nonetheless, you will still find many things to do here. Every year, it proudly hosts the oldest and largest music festival in Latin America, Viña del Mar International Song Festival. A very convenient tramline connects Viña del Mar and Valparaiso to each other, so you can easily combine your visit to both cities.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to reach Valparaiso and Viña del Mar is by bus. Buses (instead of trains) are the most common mode of intercity transportation in Chile. You will see that even Chileans also use buses for their day-to-day intercity commute as well.

In this post, I am going to help you to navigate your way from Santiago de Chile to Valparaiso or Viña del Mar, starting from buying a bus ticket until you arrive in these cities.

I hope that this guide will make it really super easy for you, especially if Spanish is not your strongest language.

How To Easily To Get To Valparaiso & Viña del Mar From Santiago de Chile

To make this guide crystal-clear for you, I will break this guide down into: (1) how to purchase a bus ticket; (2) how to go to the bus station; and (3) how to board your bus at the bus station.

The whole journey from Santiago de Chile to Valparaiso or Viña del Mar will take approximately 2 and 2.5 hours respectively. If you are more visually oriented, there is a video available down here that will help explain this to you.

#1 – Purchasing a bus ticket to Valparaiso and/or Viña del Mar

Purchasing bus tickets in Chile is surprisingly simple. You can buy it online or at the bus station.

There are two major bus companies with extensive networks across Chile that you can choose from: Turbus and Pullman. However, in this post, I will focus on Turbus since I used their service. You can access their website and purchase tickets here. It is super easy and you can pay with all major credit cards, like Mastercard and Visa.

Both Turbus and Pullman buses depart from two major bus stations in Santiago de Chile: Alameda and Pajaritos bus stations. You should choose the departure station based on where you stay in Santiago.

If you happen to stay in Santiago’s downtown area around Plaza de Armas, Providencia or Las Condes, the best bus station for you is Alameda bus station, since Pajaritos is located further away on the western edge of the city’s downtown.

After purchasing your bus ticket online, do not forget to print it out and bring it to the bus station.

#2 – Going to the bus station

Both Alameda and Pajaritos bus stations are easily reachable by public transport, especially with the metro/underground.

For Alameda bus station, take Line 1 (red line) to Universidad de Santiago metro station. For Pajaritos, take similar Line 1 to Pajaritos metro station. Allow yourself enough time and arrive at the bus station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Once you arrive at both metro stations, simply follow the signs toward the bus stations (“Terminal de Buses”) and you are going to be there within no time. If you would like to see that visually, watch the video here below (for Alameda bus station).

#3 – Waiting and boarding your bus at the station

At the bus station, go to the counter of the respective bus company that you choose (Turbus or Pullman) and ask them from which platform your bus will depart. At Alameda bus station, Turbus also has a Customer Service corner, where you can speak to friendly customer service staff that speak English fluently.

Head to the bus platform (follow the sign “Andanes”) and wait for your bus either inside or outside. Spot the platform number of your bus, and get in the bus 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

If you have luggage with you, just approach the bus driver. He will sticker your luggage and provide you with a ticket, with which you can retrieve your luggage back on the destination. Then board the bus and take the seat allocated to your ticket.

Again, the video below will help illustrate this to you visually as well (for Alameda bus station).

Have you been to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar?

So there you go! I hope that this guide will make it super easy for you to visit Valparaiso or Viña del Mar from Santiago de Chile.

Please let me know if this post is helpful for you, and do not hesitate to share your experience. Also, if you feel that there is something unclear from this guide, just let me know.

Do you like this post and want to receive some more travel updates regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. In addition, check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling, including this step-by-step guide on how to get from Taipei to Jiufen. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!

Get ready to discover this cultural melting pot in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur. Learn here 21 things to do and eat during a 3-day trip in this dynamic city!

DISCLAIMER: This page contains affiliate links, which means I will get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through it. If you decide to use my links, I would like to sincerely thank you for your support to my blog!

The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most frequented destinations in Southeast Asia. And that does not sound too surprising.

Kuala Lumpur has so much to offer for travelers, with its rich history, diverse culture, great food, and affordable luxury.

In this post, I would like to share with you 21 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO AND EAT from my short 3-day trip to Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully, this serves as an inspiration for your own future itinerary.

As always, I will also provide some HONEST tips and information to help you prepare for your trip, even before you arrive in Kuala Lumpur.

21 Awesome Things to Do and Eat in Kuala Lumpur: 3-day itinerary

Pre-arrival

To help you prepare your visit before you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, here are few essential things to keep in mind.

#1 – Get familiar with Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city with numerous neighborhoods and surrounded by suburbs and satellite cities, such as Petaling Jaya, Sepang, and Putrajaya.

The core city center area consists of several neighborhoods such as Old City Center/Chinatown, Golden Triangle (Bukit Bintang and KL Central Business District), Chow Kit, Kampung Baru and Brickfields (Little India).

If you only visit Kuala Lumpur for a few days, these are the best areas that I would recommend for you to stay and explore. This is also the focus of the itinerary covered in this post.

Kuala Lumpur is truly a melting pot of different cultures, as each of these areas represents Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures that live side by side in Malaysia, giving this city its unique character.

#2 – Hotels or Airbnb?                                        

Accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is amazingly cheap, and I think it is even the cheapest in South East Asia.

To give you an illustration, the price for luxurious 5-star hotel room runs just between USD 60 – 80 per night! I myself stayed at JW MARRIOTT KUALA LUMPUR in Bukit Bintang. This is one of the luxurious 5-star hotels in Bukit Bintang, just stone-thrown distance from Pavilion Mall and just 5 minutes walking distance to Jalan Alor. And guess the rate? Just under USD 75 per night!

Against that price, I must say that you have plenty of options for luxurious hotel brands to choose from. But if you’re looking for an excellent budget hotel, I would highly recommend HOTEL CERIA BUKIT BINTANG. This 2-star hotel has one of the most spacious rooms and complete amenities in Kuala Lumpur with a budget price. Starting at around USD 15 a night, you can stay in a modern and spacious room at one of the best locations in Kuala Lumpur.

If you choose Airbnb instead, there are also plenty of excellent options. To help you bring the cost down, don’t forget to use this link to get €30 off for your first Airbnb booking.

#3 – Currencies, payment, and tipping                                        

The currency used in Malaysia is Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). As of now, the exchange rate of USD to MYR is around 4.11 (1 USD = ~4 MYR).

Like everywhere in South East Asia, cash payment is still heavily used in Kuala Lumpur, especially in night markets or food stalls. The credit card is only limited in use at large restaurants, shopping malls, and supermarkets.

As always, instead of exchanging a lot of money at home, I would suggest doing so in Kuala Lumpur upon your arrival, as you will tend to get a better rate. You can exchange money at the airport against a competitive rate, but I would suggest shopping around some money changers in the city, as you would tend to get a better rate.

Unlike in the US, tipping is absolutely not necessary in Kuala Lumpur.

Upon arrival

If you fly to Kuala Lumpur, you will arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

This airport is about 45 km to the south of Kuala Lumpur and consists of 2 terminals: KLIA main terminal and KLIA2 (dedicated terminal for low-cost carriers such as Air Asia). Please note that both terminals are located far from each other, and the inter-terminal connection is only available after exiting the arrival hall via Gateway@KLIA2 complex.

To get you from the airport to the city, the best way is to take either the airport taxi or ride-hailing service, like Uber or Grab, to get to your hotel. This is perhaps not the cheapest option, but it certainly is the most convenient.

The airport taxi works with a fixed fare of MYR 74.80 (~USD 19) to anywhere in Kuala Lumpur. You just need to buy a coupon at the taxi counter inside the arrival hall (just follow the signboard at the arrival hall) and give the coupon to one of the taxi drivers outside at the official taxi stand. An Uber ride will also cost about the same, around MYR 60 – 80 (~USD 15 – 20), depending on your destination in Kuala Lumpur.

A cheaper alternative is by KLIA Express trains. The journey from KLIA to KL Sentral station costs MYR 55 (~USD 14.50) and takes around 30 minutes. But from there, you may still need to take another taxi or train to reach your final destination.

Once you are in the city, getting around should go as a breeze. Kuala Lumpur has a decent public transport system, with Monorail, LRT and MRT. The system is pretty well inter-connected and cheap, so I would highly recommend taking public transport to get around in town. If public transport is not your thing, don’t worry. You can always get a taxi or Uber, and yes they are incredibly cheap.

Itinerary and Food

Day 1 – Things to do:

#1 – Petronas Twin Towers (Suria KLCC)

Let’s start our day by exploring Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic building, Petronas Twin Tower.

This 451-meter tower is still recorded to date as the tallest twin towers in the world. You can visit the Sky Bridge and the Observation Deck to get a magnificent 360-degree view of Kuala Lumpur and beyond. The ticket price is MYR 80 (~USD 20) for adult and MYR 33 (~USD 8) for children.

If you get cold chills from climbing a tall building, that’s ok. You can stay on the ground and go shopping instead in one of Kuala Lumpur’s prestigious malls, Suria KLCC, which is located beneath the towers.

To reach Petronas Twin Towers, you can either take the MRT to KLCC (Kelana Jaya Line) or Monorail to Bukit Nanas.

Location: Petronas Twin Towers (Suria KLCC), Persiaran Petronas, Kuala Lumpur

#2 – Bukit Bintang

Image courtesy of WonderfulMalaysia.com

Bukit Bintang is the main epicenter of fashion, shopping, and entertainment in Kuala Lumpur. This boulevard is full of shopping malls, bars, clubs, and luxurious hotels.

The area is quite vast and stretches from Jalan Bukit Bintang to the adjacent Jalan Imbi and Jalan Pudu.

In this area, you can shop here for any types of budgets. Are you into luxurious brands? Head to the Pavilion Mall, and wander around the biggest mall in Kuala Lumpur boasting the most luxurious brands in the world. Or are you more budget-minded? Go shop till you drop at Berjaya Times Square at the adjacent Jalan Imbi.

To reach Bukit Bintang, you can take the Monorail to Air Asia – Bukit Bintang. Bukit Bintang is also well-connected with Petronas Towers’ area through an air-conditioned pedestrian bridge, which you can access via Pavilion Mall area.

Location: Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

#3 – Alor Street (Jalan Alor)

Image courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Jalan Alor is the best place to satisfy your insatiable hunger. It is famous as the food mekka of Kuala Lumpur, hosting hundreds of street food stalls and restaurants.

You can find all range of Asian food here, from Malay, Chinese to Thai (read below some of my food recommendation for Jalan Alor). The stalls and restaurants usually start to open from 5 PM and keep bustling until 2 or 3 AM.

Jalan Alor is extremely easy to reach. It is just behind Bukit Bintang Street, a short 3-minute walk from Monorail station Air Asia – Bukit Bintang.

Location: Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

Day 1 – Food:

#4 – Nasi Lemak

If you ask Malaysian people about their national dish, they would surely say: nasi lemak!

Literally translated in English as “fat rice”, the center of the dish is the rice itself, which is cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, resulting in a savory and fragrant rice. The rice is usually served with some roasted peanuts, fried anchovies (or ikan bilis), salted egg, sambal, and pickled cucumber.

You can also add some proteins to your taste, such as beef rendang or fried chicken (ayam goreng).

In Kuala Lumpur, nasi lemak is usually served as breakfast and one of the most popular places to get nasi lemak is R.A. Nasi Lemak in Kampung Baru. Here nasi lemak is served fresh every morning, for an extremely affordable price starting from MYR 6 (~USD 1.5).

Location: R.A. Nasi Lemak, Jalan Raja Abdullah 15, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur

#5 – Malaysian Satay

Another must-try local food item is the Malaysian satay. Almost every country in Southeast Asia has their own version of satay or other skewered meat, but Malaysian satay is regarded as one of the best.

Malaysian satay often uses beef, chicken, and mutton (lamb). It’s always grilled fresh on a charcoal and drizzled with thick peanut sauce.

One of the best local places to get Malaysian satay is at Wong Ah Wah in Jalan Alor. When you arrive in Jalan Alor, right away you will see and smell the smoked aroma of freshly grilled satay. Price starts at around MYR 21 (~USD 5) for a portion of 10 skewers.

Location: Wong Ah Wah, Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

#6 – Grilled Chicken Wings

Image courtesy of Timeout.com

Believe it or not, Malaysian people love chicken wings (well, who doesn’t anyway). But instead of deep frying them, Malaysian likes to grill them on a fresh charcoal.

By grilling them, you get the smoky, sweet and juicy wings that you’ll never taste before!

You can sample these grilled chicken wings at Wong Ah Wah in Jalan Alor as well. Grilled chicken wings are one of their specialties, so guaranteed you’re at the best spot to try it out! Price starts at MYR 3.2 (~USD 0.75) per piece.

Location: Wong Ah Wah, Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

#7 – Durian

Let’s close the evening with desserts. But not just a dessert, it is the king of fruits, durian!

Durian is a fruit that many despise, due to its pungent smell. But believe me, it’s absolutely delicious! That rich, custardy, creamy and sweet flesh will just make your day.

If you haven’t tried durian before, please be open-minded and try some first before giving your verdict. You can even just buy some to taste, instead of buying the whole fruit.

You can get durian at many vendors along Jalan Alor, who sell the arguably best type of durian called Musang King.

Location: Multiple durian vendors, Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

Day 2 – Things to do:

#8 – Petaling Street (Jalan Petaling) / Chinatown

Image courtesy of Says.com

Petaling Street is a famous traditional street market, located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown.

It is full of vendors offering bargains on clothing, bags, cosmetics, and accessories. If you want to hone your haggling skills, this is certainly the place to go.

After shopping, don’t forget to check on the side alleys, where you can find some hidden gems for an authentic Chinese Malay food.

To reach Petaling Street, you can take the Monorail to Maharajalela station, and it’s about 3 minutes’ walk from there.

Location: Jalan Petaling, Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

#9 – Central Market (Pasar Seni)

Image courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Central Market (or Pasar Seni, literally translated Art Market) is one of the most well-known landmarks in the Old Town area of Kuala Lumpur. The building itself is a national heritage site built in art-deco style in 1888.

As its name suggests, here you can find all kinds of local artworks and crafts, from paintings to Malaysian batik and artisanal souvenirs. In addition to that, there are also many food stalls both inside and outside the building, offering mouthwatering snacks and local delicacies.

To reach Central Market, you can take the MRT to Pasar Seni (Kelana Jaya line). It is also very close to Petaling Street, so you can combine both places during your visit.

Location: Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Center, Kuala Lumpur

#10 – Masjid Jamek

Another famous landmark in Kuala Lumpur’s Old Town area is Masjid Jamek. It is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur and built along the Gombak and Klang rivers.

Designed in the Indian Muslim Mughal architecture style, the mosque was built in 1909 and served as Kuala Lumpur’s main mosque until the new National Mosque, Masjid Negara was built in 1965.

Masjid Jamek is just 5 minutes’ walk to the north of Petaling Street and Central Market.

Location: Masjid Jamek, Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur

#11 – Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka)

Just right across Masjid Jamek, you can visit one of the historic sites in Malaysia, Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka).

It was on this place that the British’ Union Jack flag was lowered and Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time, pronouncing the Independence of Malaysia on 31 August 1957. Since then, the square has been the fixed venue for the annual National Independence Day Parade.

In front of the square, you can also admire the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which resembles a similar architecture style as Masjid Jamek. This building used to house the offices of the British colonial administration and used to be known as Government Offices during the British colonial area.

Location: Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur

Day 2 – Food:

#12 – Malaysian Laksa

Laksa is another extremely popular Malaysian dish that has a long history in Southeast Asia.

This noodle dish is typically made with rice noodle, combined with rich broth made from curry or Assam (tamarind). The curry-broth laksa is called curry laksa, while the one with Assam broth is called Assam laksa.

Over time, each region in Malaysia has created their own version of laksa, and therefore variations such as the Laksa Johor, Singapore Katong Laksa, and Sarawak Laksa were bred.

One of the best places to get Malaysian laksa is at Madras Lane Curry Laksa, located just off the corner of Petaling Street. Besides curry laksa, Assam laksa is also available here.

Location: Madras Lane Curry Laksa, City Center (old) Madras Lane Off Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur

#13 – Hokkien Mee

Image courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Originated from China’s Fujian (Hokkien) province, Hokkien Mee is one of the popular Chinese dishes in Malaysia.

This noodle dish is deeply loved by locals and typically consists of egg noodles and rice noodles stir-fried together with egg, slices of pork, seafood and seasoned with dark soy sauce. The result is an excellent mix of savory and sweet noodles with a smooth texture.

One of the best places to sample Hokkien Mee is at Kim Lian Kee, located at one of the side streets of Petaling Street.

Location: Kim Lian Kee, Jalan Hang Lekir 92, City Center, Kuala Lumpur

#14 – Nasi Kandar

Image courtesy of KLfoodie.com

Another local dish you must try in Kuala Lumpur is nasi kandar. Originated from Penang, it was popularized by Indian Muslim traders from India.

When you order nasi kandar, you will be served a portion of rice (sometimes plain, but sometimes flavored with coconut milk), and you will be able to choose yourself the variety of curries and side dishes. The price you pay is determined by how many items you choose.

One of the best places to get Nasi Kandar is at Restoran Annexe Nasi Kandar, located conveniently at the ground floor of Central Market (Pasar Seni).

Location: Restoran Annexe Nasi Kandar, City Center (old) Ground Floor, Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur

Day 3 – Things to do:

#15 – Batu Caves

Located 11 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is one of the major attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and smaller cave temples, housing several Hindu shrines considered to be an important religious landmark by Hindus. It is also the host of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.

To reach Batu Caves, you can either go by train or Uber. Uber ride will cost around MYR 40 -50 (~USD 10 – 12) and take approximately 20-30 minutes.

If you decide to go by train, you can take a free shuttle bus from KL Sentral to Sentul Station, and from there take the KTM Komuter Train to Batu Caves. A train ride costs MYR 2.30 (~USD 0.50) one-way and takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Location: Batu Caves, Gombak, Selangor

#16 – Perdana Botanical Garden

Let’s escape the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur and visit the serene Perdana Botanical Garden.

This botanical garden is first large-scale recreational park and established in 1888. The park boasts several attractions such as KL Butterfly Park, Bird Park, and Planetarium.

The entrance of the garden is quite close to KL Sentral Station and admission is free, although you may have to pay a small amount to visit some attractions.

Location: Perdana Botanical Garden, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur

#17 – Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)

Image courtesy of SimplyGo.in

Just a stone-throw away from Perdana Botanical Garden, you can visit and marvel at the beauty of The Royal Museum.

This Royal Museum used to be the former residence of the Supreme King of Malaysia (Yang Dipertuan Agong). In 2013, it was converted into a museum and renamed as “Old Istana Negara”, after the opening of new national palace in 2011.

The Royal Museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and the entrance fee is MYR 10 (~USD 2.5) for an adult.

Location: Royal Museum, Jalan Istana, Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur

#18 – Heli Lounge Rooftop Bar

Image courtesy of Scratchingmymap.com

Let’s end the evening with few drinks at the best rooftop bar in Kuala Lumpur, the Heli Lounge.

As its name suggests, this rooftop bar used to be a helipad. From this bar, you will get a drink with a spectacular night view of Kuala Lumpur. Come early well before 9 PM to avoid paying for the entrance fee and enjoy the Happy Hour.

To reach the Heli Rooftop Bar, just take Monorail to Raja Chulan.

Location: Heli Lounge Rooftop Bar, 34 Menara KH, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Day 3 – Food:

#19 – Roti Canai and Teh Tarik

Image courtesy of Foodadvisor.my

Roti canai is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread, which is very popular among Malaysian as a breakfast item.

You can order roti canai either sweet or savory by mixing it with meat, egg or cheese. To accompany your roti canai, order the famous teh tarik. This sweet and milky elixir will certainly make your breakfast complete.

You can sample roti canai and teh tarik at Dhivya’s Cafe, located in the vicinity of Batu Caves.

Location: Dhivya’s Cafe, Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

#20 – Ikan Bakar (Grilled Fish)

Image courtesy of Says.com

Ikan Bakar is a quintessential Malaysian dish that you should definitely try.

Before wrapped in banana leaf and grilled, the fish is first marinated with a mix of spices such as pepper, ginger, and garlic. After that, it is perfectly grilled on charcoal and served over hot steamed rice and fresh sambal chili sauce.

One of the best places to taste Malaysian Ikan Bakar is at Gerai Serai Menanti Ikan Bakar Jalan Bellamy, located very close to the Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara).

Location: Gerai Seri Menanti Ikan Bakar Jalan Bellamy, Lorong Bellamy & Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur

#21 – Ice Kepal Milo (Milo Ice Balls)

Image courtesy of Minimeinsights.com

For dessert, let’s try out the Ice Kepal Milo, which has gone viral in Malaysia and Southeast Asia for the last couple of years.

This delectable dessert consists of shaved ice, coated with a thick creamy concoction of Milo, the chocolate flavored hot beverage popular in Southeast Asia. You can also top your Ice Kepal with chocolate sprinkles and peanuts.

Ice Kepal Milo is available almost everywhere in Kuala Lumpur, but one of the best places to get it is at Johny’s Ice Kepal.

Location: Johny’s Ice Kepal, Taman Sepakat, Jalan AU3/12, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur

——–

Are you ready now to explore Kuala Lumpur?

I hope you will find this itinerary and guide useful.

If you visit Kuala Lumpur, I would love to hear your experience and what you think about it. Please do so in the comment below, or send me a message.

Do you like this post and want to receive some more awesome travel tips regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. And also check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!

Get ready to discover one of the most fascinating Asian cities, Hong Kong. Learn here 20 things to do and eat during a 3-day trip in this mega city!

DISCLAIMER: This page contains affiliate links, which means I will get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through it. If you decide to use my links, I would like to sincerely thank you for your support to my blog! 

Hong Kong needs no more introductions. With 7 million people, it’s one of the most densely packed cities in the world. But it’s also packed with amazing food and all kinds of crazy things.

The rich history and cultural marriage between East and West make Hong Kong always a fascinating place to visit.

In this post, I would like to share with you 20 things you should do and eat from my short 3-day trip to Hong Kong. Hopefully, this serves as an inspiration for your own future itinerary.

As always, I will also provide some HONEST tips and information to help you prepare for your trip, even before you arrive in Hong Kong.

20 Things to Do and Eat in Hong Kong: 3-day itinerary

Pre-arrival

To help you prepare your visit before you arrive in Hong Kong, here are a few essential things to keep in mind.

#1 – Get familiar with the Hong Kong area

Hong Kong consists of 3 geographical regions, originated from the division established during the British colonial time: Kowloon (the northern island), Hong Kong Island (the southern island), and the New Territories (the vast area north of Kowloon towards mainland China, including Lantau island).

If you only visit Hong Kong for a few days, the best area I would recommend for you to stay and explore is the Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. This is also the focus of the itinerary covered in this post.

Kowloon has the old Hong Kong atmosphere and home to Hong Kong’s legendary districts such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Mongkok and Sham Shui Po.

On the contrary, Hong Kong Island represents modern Hong Kong, surrounded by high-rise buildings and luxurious apartments. Hong Kong Island is also home to the Hong Kong Central business district.

#2 – Hotels or Airbnb?                                       

Accommodation in Hong Kong is generally quite expensive. Hotel price in Hong Kong is somewhat similar level to that in Japan, Europe or the US.

And because the city is so dense, the hotel room in Hong Kong can be quite tiny. It’s also worth noting that accommodation price at Kowloon is in average lower than at Hong Kong Island.

I myself stayed at The Mira in Tsim Sha Tsui. This is one of the funkiest hotels in Kowloon, strategically located on the corner of Nathan Road and Kimberley Road.

If you’re looking for a good mid-range hotel, I would highly recommend Royal Plaza Hotel in Mongkok. This 4-star hotel has one of the most modern and spacious rooms in Hong Kong at a decent price.

Starting at around $120 a night, you can stay in a modern and spacious room at one of the best locations in Kowloon.

Image Courtesy of Royal Plaza Hotel

If you want to find more budget-priced accommodations, I would suggest moving farther away from Hong Kong Central. One area that you can explore is Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island.

If you choose Airbnb instead, there are also plenty of good quality options. However, don’t expect to get them as cheap as in other Asian cities, and the space you get will perhaps not be bigger than a hotel room.

To help you bring the cost down, don’t forget to use this link to get €30 off for your first Airbnb booking.

#3 – Currencies, payment, and tipping                                        

Although Hong Kong is officially part of China, the currency used in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), instead of the Chinese Yuan (CNY). As of now, the exchange rate of USD to HKD is around 8 HKD (1 USD = ~8 HKD).

Cash payment is still heavily used in Hong Kong, especially in night markets or food stalls. A credit card is only limited in use at large restaurants, malls or supermarkets.

As always, instead of exchanging a lot of money at home, I would suggest doing so in Hong Kong upon your arrival, as you will tend to get a better rate.

To find the best money changer in Hong Kong, I would suggest shopping around in Chungking Mansion on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. This place may look dodgy, but it is actually safe. Just ignore those sleazy salesmen in front of the building, and you’re going to be ok.

Unlike in the US, tipping is absolutely not necessary in Hong Kong.

Upon arrival

If you fly to Hong Kong, you will arrive at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

This grand airport is built on an artificial island of Chek Lap Kok, near Lantau Island, about 35 km to the west of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

To get you from the airport to the city, the best way is to take the Airport Express Train. In just under 25 minutes, it will take you to Kowloon Station for HKD 105 one-way, or Hong Kong Station in Central (Hong Kong Island) for HKD 115.

From there, you can take either a taxi or ride-hailing service like Uber to get to your hotel. Perhaps even a better solution, at Kowloon station, there is a free shuttle service to some major hotels in Kowloon. You can check here whether your hotel is listed or not.

In case your hotel is not on the list, don’t be discouraged. I would still recommend taking the shuttle anyway and pick a hotel on the list that is located nearest by to your hotel.

Free shuttle bus from Kowloon station, seen at Holiday Inn Hotel. Image Courtesy of Hongkongextras.com

Not forget to mention, Hong Kong has one of the best and affordable public transport systems in the world. So I would highly recommend taking public transport (MTR, tram) to get around in town.

But before boarding any public transport, I would highly recommend you to get yourself a public transport card, Octopus card. This card will make your life much easier when using public transport. You can even use it to pay at 7-Eleven or some restaurant chains like Café de Coral.

You can buy the Octopus card at any major MTR stations and at the airport.

Itinerary and Food

Day 1 – Kowloon

Things to do:

#1 – Nathan Road

Image Courtesy of UrbanCapture.com

Let’s start to explore Hong Kong from Kowloon’s main boulevard, Nathan Road.

This boulevard is the main artery road of Kowloon, and runs literally from north to south Kowloon, starting from Sham Shui Po to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Nathan Road is jam-packed with a plethora of shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and malls. You can walk up and down the street, trying to find the best shopping deals or the most delicious food.

This road is also the place to see and to be seen. Don’t be surprised if you bump into some Hong Kong celebrities (if you can recognize them) partying at some swanky clubs on Nathan Road.

Tired of walking? No problem at all. Many (if not all) double-decker buses in Hong Kong are passing through Nathan Road. So just jump in and start exploring!

Location: Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

#2 – Kowloon Park

Image Courtesy of Tickikids.com

Want to escape the hustle of bustle of Kowloon a little bit? Then let’s head to Kowloon Park.

Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Park is a green and serene sanctuary in the middle of hectic Kowloon. You can wander around this 33-acre park and relax among the lush green trees and beautiful roses.

The park also boasts several attraction places, such as Kowloon Park Sports Center, swimming pool, and Avenue of Comic Stars. Or if you are into history, you can visit the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center Museum.

To reach the park, you can take MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui (Red Line). The entrance of the park is located on Nathan Road.

Location: Kowloon Park, Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

#3 – Harbourfront (Victoria Harbor)

When the sun starts setting and the lights start shining, there is only one place you have to go: the Harbourfront.

Harbourfront in Hong Kong is similar to what the Bund is in Shanghai. From the Harbourfront, you can enjoy the view overlooking Victoria Harbor and the skyline of Hong Kong Island, with its magnificent lighting in the evening.

At 8 PM, make sure you are at Harborfront’s area near Hong Kong Cultural Center to watch the spectacular light show Symphony of Lights, where the lighting on the buildings forms a harmonious dance with the music played by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to that, Harbourfront also boasts several other attractions, such as Avenue of Stars, where you can find Bruce Lee’s statue and handprints of Hong Kong celebrities, as well as Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Location: Harbourfront, Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

#4 – Star Ferry (Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, and back)

After enjoying the view of Victoria Harbor and watching the light show at Harbourfront, what can be more awesome than taking a Star Ferry to cross the Victoria Harbor?

The Star Ferry is a legendary transportation mode that exists almost 130 years, connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong Island since 1888.

A one-way ferry ride from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island costs only HKD 0.50, making this the cheapest tourist attraction in Hong Kong.

You can board the Star Ferry from the Star Ferry Pier, located just next to the Hong Kong Cultural Center at the Harbourfront.

Location: Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

PROTIP – Before getting into food tips, I’d like to inform you that many restaurants in Hong Kong do not provide napkins. So if you find it important to have one, bring one with you.

Food:

#5 – Hong Kong Breakfast

Image Courtesy of ThatFoodCray.com

Why don’t start your day in Hong Kong with a typical Hong Kong breakfast?

Perhaps totally unexpected, a typical Hong Kong style breakfast does not only consist of dim sum and congee.

Due to its British colonial history, Hong Kong has also embraced typical Western breakfast staples such as French toast, elbow macaroni soup and scrambled eggs with ham. However, Hong Kong people have made their own twist of these breakfast goodness.

One of the most popular places to get Hong Kong style breakfast is at Australia Dairy Company in Jordan, Kowloon (despite its name, there is actually nothing Australian in this “company”).

A set of Hong Kong style breakfast consists of toast, elbow macaroni soup and scrambled eggs with ham only costs HKD 32. While you’re there, don’t forget to also try their famous steamed milk.

In the morning there is always a long line at this place, so be patient. Also, make sure you know what to order quickly because they are famous for their food and unfortunately not for their customer friendliness.

Location: Australia Dairy Company, 47 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong.

#6 – Wonton Noodle Soup

Image Courtesy of TipTapTrip.net

Another local food that you should give a try is Hong Kong wonton noodle soup. Unlike other wonton noodle soup that you may have had before, in Hong Kong, this dish has been elevated to another level.

The noodle is always freshly hand-made bamboo noodle, referring to the traditional process of slowly kneading the dough with a bamboo stick. This ensures that the noodle has excellent texture, bouncy and al-dente.

The broth is traditionally made from dried fish, instead of bone broth mixed with salt and MSG. This gives the broth that unique signature flavor of Hong Kong wonton noodle soup.

One of the best local places to get Hong Kong wonton noodle soup is at Chee Kei. A bowl of wonton noodle soup costs around HKD 60.

Chee Kei has several locations in Hong Kong, but I would recommend the one in Tsim Sha Tsui. To reach the restaurant, take MRT to Tsim Sha Tsui (Red Line).

Location: Chee Kei, 52 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

#7 – Hong Kong Desserts

Image Courtesy of Foodolicious.wordpress.com

Let’s close the evening with desserts! Hong Kong people love desserts and they really take desserts seriously.

One of the best dessert places in Hong Kong is Chung Kee Dessert. At Chung Kee, there are tons of choices of desserts, ranging from traditional sweet sticky rice to mixed fruit with ice cream. The best thing about Chung Kee is that it opens until late in the AM!

All dessert items look very good here, and that will make it difficult for you to make a choice. But if you want to go local, why don’t you try the local favorite: durian ice!

Chung Kee Dessert has several locations in Hong Kong, but I would recommend the one in Jordan. To reach the restaurant, take MRT to Jordan (Red Line).

Location: Chung Kee Dessert, 23 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong.

Day 2 – Hong Kong Island

Things to do:

#8 – Victoria Peak

I am sure you have seen a lot of pictures of the above panoramic eagle-eye view of Hong Kong before. But do you know where they are taken? Yes, the Victoria Peak!

Victoria Peak is one of the must-go destinations on Hong Kong Island. It is the highest peak on Hong Kong Island and offers you breathtaking views of Hong Kong Central, Victoria Harbor, Lamma Island and other surrounding islands on the South China Sea.

To reach the Peak is an experience in itself. The best and iconic way to reach the peak is by the legendary Peak Tram. You can board the tram from the Peak Tram station in Hong Kong Central. A one-way ride costs HKD 32 and you can pay with your Octopus Card.

Another alternative way to reach the peak is by bus (number 15), costing HKD 9.80. Although it’s cheaper and the ride may be more scenic, it’s considerably far slower to reach the Peak. Therefore I would recommend taking the bus only on the way back to Hong Kong Central.

As you can guess, the Victoria Peak is very busy. The busiest time is during the evening when the city’s skyline is lit beautifully. During the normal hours in the morning or afternoon, you can expect to wait in queue for the Peak Tram at least for 30-45 minutes.

Location: Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

#9 – Wan Chai and Causeway Bay

Wander around and shop till you drop in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. These major shopping districts of Hong Kong Island are packed with big malls and boutique shops, carrying both locally made and imported fashion from around the world.

Causeway Bay is also very popular among Hong Kong’s youth. Especially on weekends, many of this fashionable youth flock to Causeway Bay wearing their most trendy outfits.

To make it easier for you to explore Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, why don’t you hop on the Hong Kong’s iconic 110-year old trams (called “Ding Ding” by locals).

Location: Wan Chai – Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.

#10 – Horse Racing, Happy Valley

Image Courtesy of CityAM.com

For those of you looking for a thrilling evening and something different than only sightseeing or shopping, I guarantee a trip to the horse racing track will be the right thing for you.

Hong Kong has made horse racing a fun experience. There is no requirement to bet, and you can just have a great time by enjoying the race alongside live music, drinks and more.

Hong Kong has 2 world-class horse tracks, but in my opinion, you will get the best horse racing experience at the ultra-modern Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong Island.

The race in Happy Valley starts every Wednesday evening from around 19.00. But come early, as it can get very crowded. Alongside the race track, there are different live music podiums and beer garden.

Entrance costs only HKD 45 and you can pay with your Octopus card. To reach Happy Valley, you can take MTR to Causeway Bay (Blue line). Then you can take the tram to Happy Valley, or walk 15 minutes.

Location: Hongkong Jockey Club Happy Valley Racecourse, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.

#11 – Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo

Image Courtesy of DiscoverHongkong.com

Explore Hong Kong nightlife at Hong Kong’s most popular clubbing districts: Lan Kwai Fong and Soho.

Lan Kwai Fong is a historic district at Hong Kong Central with narrow street and alleys, lined with over 90 restaurants and bars. Here you can find many options for pub crawls or just relaxing wine bar.

Just a few hundred meters to the west at Staunton Street and Elgin Street, you will find the hip and happening SoHo. Check out the vibrant Man Hing Lane and diverse clubs and bars in the area.

Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are both in Hong Kong Central and can be reached by MTR (Red or Blue line).

Location: Lan Kwai Fong – Soho, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.

Food:

#12 – Ichiran Ramen

Image Courtesy of Notey.com

If you read my previous guide on Tokyo, you may know already that I am very fond of Ichiran ramen.

For me, Ichiran is hands down one of the best ramen places in Japan and it also has increasingly gained popularity even outside Japan.

Ichiran is famous for the unique anti-social concept of its restaurant. At Ichiran, there are no communal table seats. Instead, each customer sits individually separate from each other on a bar-like setting. And there is no waiter either, as ordering takes place via a vending machine and a form.

Ichiran has several locations in Hong Kong, and one of them is in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island.  A bowl of ramen with soft-boiled eggs and cha siu cost about HKD 129.

Location: Ichiran Causeway Bay, Lockhart House, Block A, 440 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

#13 – Roast Goose (and other roast meat)

Image Courtesy of DanielFoodDiary.com

If there’s one single food item that is worth traveling all the way to Hong Kong, it is the Hong Kong style roast goose!

That crispy skin and juicy, succulent meat make my mouth watered even just from thinking about it.

And when you want to taste the best roast goose in Hong Kong, you must go to Kam’s Roast Goose in Wan Chai.

This establishment has even won and retained its 1 Michelin star for 3 years in a row, making it one of the cheapest Michelin-starred establishments in the world (for another cheapest Michelin-starred place in Hong Kong, make sure you continue reading this guide). A portion of roast goose leg over rice costs only HKD 93.

But if I may recommend you for the top item to order in Kam’s Roast Goose, it would be half roast goose and half suckling pig, on top of rice. I guarantee it’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted before!

As with any other great restaurants in Hong Kong, there will be a line, especially during the lunch and dinner hours. But the line goes very quickly and the restaurant is very customer friendly (I guess that’s why they won the Michelin star).

To reach Kam’s Roast Goose, take MTR to Wan Chai (Blue line).

Location: Kam’s Roast Goose, 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

#14 – Brisket Noodle Soup

Image Courtesy of Misstamchiak.com

Another local noodle soup that you need to try in Hong Kong is brisket noodle soup. This is the specialty of one famous eating place in Hong Kong Central, Kau Kee.

The combination of aromatic beef broth, succulent brisket, and chewy rice noodle will make you fall in love with this dish.

Besides brisket noodle soup, Kau Kee is also known for its beef tendon curry noodle soup. So make sure you try both when in Kau Kee.

A bowl of brisket noodle soup costs starting from HKD 45.

Location: Kau Kee, 21 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong.

Day 3 – Kowloon

Things to do:

#15 – Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck

Video Courtesy of HONG KONG

Start in the morning with a visit to International Commercial Center, the highest building in Hong Kong. Get a 360-degree view of Hong Kong from the Sky 100 Observation Deck, located on the 100th floor of the tower.

Entrance fee is HKD 188 for walk-in (HKD 169 if you order online) for an adult. You can also enjoy the view while relaxing at the café on the 101st floor.

Location: Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck, International Commercial Center (ICC), 1 Austin Road W, West Kowloon, Hong Kong.

#16 – Ladies Market, Mongkok

Image Courtesy of Placesweknow.com

Ladies Market in Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, is a mekka for bargain seekers of female clothing, bags, cosmetics, and accessories. If you want to hone your haggling skills, this is the place the go.

With hundreds of stalls in a 1-kilometer stretch, you can find literally everything here. But be prepared to go elbow-on-elbow with other customers to grab the best bargains.

To reach Ladies Market, take MTR to Mongkok (Red line), and walk 2 blocks along Nelson Street to reach Tung Choi Street.

Location: Ladies Market, Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong.

#17 – Temple Street Night Market

Image Courtesy of Blog.Secretescapes.com

Need to shop for souvenirs to bring back home? Then let’s spend the rest of the evening at the famous Temple Street Night Market.

Named after the Tin Hau temple located in the center of the street, this night market is not just about shopping.

Feeling a bit superstitious? Get your future revealed by the local fortune tellers. Feeling hungry? Temple Street is full of local street food vendors too (read below my recommendation). And hang around a little longer to watch local opera singer performance.

To reach Temple Street, take MTR to Yau Ma Tei (Red line), and walk to Temple Street.

Location: Temple Street Night Market, Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong.

Food:

#18 – Dim Sum, Tim Ho Wan

Do you know the saying “to save the best for the last”? Well, this is arguably one of the best food items in Hong Kong, which I save for you until the last day in Hong Kong.

You may have had dim sum before, but this is not an ordinary dim sum. This is dim sum from Tim Ho Wan, a 1-Michelin star restaurant in Hong Kong!

Everything in Tim Ho Wan is really good, but they are especially famous for the char siu bao (BBQ pork bun). And don’t forget to order shrimp dumpling and shiu mai as well.

Price for each dim sum item starts from HKD 14, making Tim Ho Wan the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world.

Tim Ho Wan has several locations in Hong Kong, but I would recommend going to their first flagship location in Sham Shui Po, which will give you a unique experience.

It opens at 10 AM, but usually, there is already a line around 9 AM. To reach Tim Ho Wan, take MTR to Sham Shui Po (Red line), and walk about 4 blocks to Fuk Wing Street.

Location: Tim Ho Wan, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.

#19 – Claypot Rice (Bao Zai Fan)

Image Courtesy of Timeout.com

Let’s continue our food journey in Hong Kong with a classic Cantonese dish, bao zai fan (clay pot rice).

This popular comfort food dish consists of rice, slow cooked in a clay pot on a charcoal, and topped with meat, mushroom or vegetables.

One of the best places for clay pot rice in Hong Kong is Hing Kee claypot rice in Temple Street. At Hing Kee, you can select many choices of topping, like chicken or salted fish. But my recommendation for you would be to order the classic bao zai fan, topped with preserved meat and lap ceung (Chinese sausage).

Hing Kee is just around the corner of Temple Street and Arthur Street in Yau Ma Tei, making it an excellent food stop while visiting Temple Street Night Market.

Price of a claypot rice at Hing Kee starts from HKD 39.

Location: Hing Kee Claypot Rice, 14, 19, 21 Temple Street & Arthur Street, Yau Ma Tei

#20 – Oyster pancake

Image Courtesy of Chowandthecity.wordpress.com

Oyster pancake is another classic Cantonese dish that should not be forgotten.

Fresh oyster fried in a mixed batter of eggs and potato starch is especially great for an appetizer or as an accompanying dish for drinking.

You can order this oyster pancake in many classic Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong, such as Hing Kee. So while you wait on your bao zai fan, you can enjoy this local savory goodness as an appetizer.

Location: Hing Kee Clay Pot Rice, Hi Lung Lane, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

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Are you ready to explore Hong Kong?

I hope you will find this itinerary and guide useful. If you visit Hong Kong, I would love to hear your experience and what you think about it. Please do so in the comment below, or send me a message.

Do you like this post and want to receive some more awesome travel tips regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. And also check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!

Planning to visit Jiufen? Check out here the super-easy, step-by-step guide (with pictures) to get to Jiufen from Taipei Main Station

If you’re visiting Taipei for more than a few days, you should definitely also pay a visit to Jiufen.

Once famous for gold mining, this picturesque village is located around 40 km northeast of Taipei. With its gorgeous panoramic sceneries, this mountainous town is very much loved by tourists, especially those looking for delicious street foods and seeking a bit of tranquility away from bustling Taipei.

One of the fastest and easiest ways to reach Jiufen is to take a train (TRA) from Taipei Main Station.

BUT HERE IS THE CATCH! Although every travel guides say it’s very easy to do, unfortunately in practice it’s not really the case.

The combination of confusing signs and lack of clear guides in English at Taipei Main Station make it very tricky, even for the most seasoned travelers. It took me even almost half an hour to figure out how to buy a ticket at Taipei Main Station!

But fear no longer! In this post, I will provide you with an easy step-by-step guide (with pictures) how to navigate your way from Taipei Main Station to Jiufen, starting from buying a train ticket until you arrive in Jiufen.

Hopefully, this guide will make it really super easy for you to reach Jiufen from Taipei!

How to easily get to Jiufen from Taipei Main Station

To make this guide crystal-clear for you, I will break the journey down into 2 parts: (1) from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station (by TRA train); and (2) from Ruifang Station to Jiufen (by bus).

The whole journey from Taipei Main Station to Jiufen will take approximately 1 hour (40 minutes to get to Ruifang by train, and another 20 minutes from Ruifang to Jiufen by bus).

From Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station

#1 – Purchase a TRA train ticket to Ruifang Station

Once you arrive at Taipei Main Station, follow the sign to TRA. After that, you can purchase a TRA ticket to Ruifang Station through the ticket machine.

The ticket machine is located at the far right of the hall, next to the ticket counter. It looks like the one below.

PRO TIP #1: THE TICKET MACHINE ONLY ACCEPTS COINS AND DOES NOT ACCEPT EASY CARD. If you don’t have any coins, there is a coin exchange machine available (colored in blue seen in the image above), where you can exchange your paper money for coins. For your information, the price for Local Train (the cheapest train) is 49 NTD. So you will need a 50 NTD coin to buy the ticket.

PRO TIP #2: USE THE MACHINE WHERE RUIFANG IS LISTED AS DESTINATION. In my experience, there are only 2 machines available that have “RUIFANG” listed as a destination. The first one is the machine located at the most right, and the second one is the third machine from the right.

To purchase the ticket, perform and select the following on the buttons of the machine:

1) Insert your coins

2) Select number of passengers

3) Select “LOCAL” as Train Type

4) Select “FULL FARE” as Ticket Type

5) Select “RUIFANG” as your destination

So there you go, congrats! By now you would have successfully purchased your train ticket to Ruifang! Don’t forget to take your tickets with you and go to the platform.

UPDATE 05/10/2018: Now you can use your Easy Card to take the TRA train to Ruifang, so you don’t have to buy a ticket from the ticket machine.

#2 – Go to platform 4 and wait for the train

After purchasing your ticket, head to platform 4, from where all the northbound trains will depart.

Once you get off the elevator, you will immediately see a sign in front of you indicating where you can wait for the Local Train.

PRO TIP #3: MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ON THE ELECTRONIC SIGNBOARD FROM WHICH SIDE YOU CAN BOARD THE NEXT FIRST LOCAL TRAIN. For your information, platform 4 has 2 sides: 4A and 4B. In my case, the next first Local Train is going to depart from the 4B side.

Be very careful though. Make sure you don’t board the wrong trains (Chu-Kuang or Tze-Chiang Express trains). You will either go towards wrong direction (Keelung) or get fined heavily!

#3 – Get off the train at Ruifang Station

Once you are on the train, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view of northern Taiwan’s landscape out of the window.

Occasionally, just keep an eye on the sign on top of the train door to check when you need to get off at Ruifang Station.

Ruifang Station to Jiufen

#4 – Take the bus from Ruifang Station to Jiufen

Once you arrive in Ruifang Station, take the EXIT WEST to get to the bus to Jiufen. The bus station at Ruifang is not located outside of the station, but a bit further away down the road.

After exiting the station and facing the Wellcome supermarket, take a left and walk 250 meters down the road until you see the police station on your right. The bus stop to Jiufen is located NEXT TO this police station.

The bus ride from Ruifang to Jiufen will cost you 15 NTD, and you can pay using your Easy Card.

Police Station Ruifang                                                                       Bus Stop to Jiufen, next to the Police Station

#5 – Get off the bus at Jiufen Old Street

The first stop from Ruifang Station will be at Jiufen Old Street. This is also where the majority of the crowds will get off.

From the bus stop, just walk uphill about 100 meters towards the entrance gate of Jiufen Old Street. Enjoy your time at Jiufen!

Are there any alternatives to get to Jiufen?

You can also take the bus directly from outside of the MRT station Zhongxiao Fuxing to Jiufen (Keelung bus 1062). Although the route may be more scenic, however, it takes FOREVER to arrive in Jiufen.

Instead, I would recommend taking the bus on the way back to Taipei from Jiufen. Take bus 1062 from Jiufen to Taipei, and stop at Songshan station, where you can visit the nearby Raohe Night Market.

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So there you go! I hope that this guide will make it super easy for you to visit Jiufen from Taipei.

Please let me know if this post is helpful for you, and do not hesitate to share your experience. Also, if you feel that there is something unclear from this guide, just let me know.

Do you like this post and want to receive some more travel updates regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. And also check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!

My first-time visit in Taipei has been full of pleasant surprises. Learn here these 10 unique things I experienced in this lovely city.

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Well, my travel through Asian cities this year has eventually brought me to the capital city of Taiwan: Taipei!

Before arriving in Taipei, I have done quite some research about the city, what to do and what to eat. Yet once I arrived there, there were many things I experienced that I did not expect before.

With this post, I hope to share my experiences about Taipei, which I am sure would be helpful for you to get to know the city even better, especially if you plan to visit Taipei in the near future.

So without further ado, here are the 10 things that surprised me from Taipei, Taiwan!

10 Surprising Things I Experienced in Taipei, Taiwan

#1 – Taiwanese people are extremely generous

This is perhaps an understatement. As long as I have been traveling, I have never met people as generous as in Taipei.

Even right after I arrived at the airport, I have witnessed their remarkable generosity. At the airport, I met a lady, who was very generous to pay for my bus ride to the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) station, after knowing that I didn’t have enough money to pay.

On another occasion, I met a polite young man at a beef noodle soup joint. After striking a conversation over a bowl of noodle soup, in the end, he cordially invited me to a weekend picnic with his friends.

So guys here is my first 2 cents for you: NEVER be afraid to talk with the locals. They would be more than happy to help and welcome you in their beloved city!

#2 – Baseball is a hit in Taipei

Baseball is apparently a very popular sport in Taiwan. In Taipei, you can see baseball played everywhere at school’s playground, parks and of course in the ballparks.

And if you happen to go to sports cafés, it’s very likely that you will see a baseball game on TV, rather than any other sports.

People in Taiwan also apparently follow Major League Baseball (MLB) very closely. So if you’re a baseball fan, guaranteed you will get along with the locals just fine. And funny enough, many of them mention the Yankees as their most favorite team. HA!

#3 – There is a strong Japanese influence

To my surprise, there is still a strong Japanese footprint in Taipei. In Taipei, you can find izakayas and Japanese restaurants on every corner of the streets.

In the hindsight, this perhaps should not come as a surprise at all, especially when you learn that Taiwan has been ruled by the Japanese Empire for about half a century. Many people in Taipei are also still fluent in Japanese.

In addition to that, in Taipei, you will find an abundance of tasty Japanese food, ranging from fresh sushi to delicious a bowl of ramen.

#4 – Cash is king

For a city as advanced as Taipei, I am surprised that cash payment is still highly used. Even in a renowned restaurant like Din Tai Fung, payment is only possible with cash.

Credit cards are unfortunately only accepted in major shopping malls and selected numbers of restaurants. So if you plan to visit Taipei, I would recommend always having some cash with you.

The recommended and most cost-effective way to do that is to withdraw money from ATMs. In Taipei, there are 2 ATMs that do not charge any fee for withdrawing money with a foreign credit card: (1) the blue ATM at the airport (see image below); and (2) ATMs of Taiwan Cooperative Bank.

#5 – Biking is a big thing

In Taipei, people love biking. Taipei even has an excellent and very affordable public bike rental system called Youbike, which you can pay using Easycard (public transport card) or credit card.

Streets in Taipei also have been equipped with a dedicated bike line. Nonetheless, I should warn you to be careful when biking on the streets of Taipei.

The danger especially looms when pedestrians sometimes also walk on the bike line. On top of that, some streets do not really have a defined bike line, forcing you to bike either on the sidewalk or on the road.

#6 – Long queue at bubble tea joints at lunch

What strikes me the most during lunch hour in Taipei is the long queue at the bubble tea joints.

It dawned on me that bubble tea is the most favorite item for people in Taipei during lunch. They seem to only have a light lunch, accompanied by a glass of refreshing bubble tea.

So next time you are in Taipei during lunch, don’t forget to pick a bubble tea, just like locals do.

#7 – It’s not that cheap

In terms of price level, you can expect Taipei to be as expensive as big Asian cities such as Hong Kong or Tokyo.

For example, in Taipei, you have to pay at least 50 NTD (~$2) for a glass of bubble tea. A tall Americano at Starbucks will cost you 95 NTD (~$4).

However, for hotels and accommodations, Taipei is slightly more affordable. There are numerous mid-range hotels like this Ambience Hotel in Zhongshan district, with outstanding amenities and free breakfast for a great price.

Or as an alternative, there is of course also plenty of excellent Airbnb accommodation in Taipei.

#8 – Traditional and modest vibe

Unlike other big Asian cities, Taipei is more traditional and less cosmopolitan. Apart of Taipei 101, Taipei’s skyline is hardly filled with tall skyscrapers and glossy buildings.

Instead, the majority of the city still has a traditional Chinese feeling. From the street food stalls scattered everywhere on the streets and numerous night markets to moms-and-pops stores, these are typically modest buildings with old Chinese decoration.

#9 – Hilly and green

Taipei is surrounded by numerous hills and lush green nature. Usually, many locals flock to these hills to go hiking or relaxing picnic and barbecue.

To the west of the city in Xinyi district, the infamous Xiangshan Mountain (or Elephant Mountain) provides a scenic trail for hiking lovers, as well as a peaceful area for a relaxing getaway.

To the north of the city in Neihu district, there is also the Jinmianshan Trail, which is equally charming as well.

#10 – Laid back atmosphere

Despite being one of the high-tech hubs in Asia, Taipei is a very laid-back city.

You will see a stark difference with other big Asian cities. Very seldom you will see people running around hastily like in Hong Kong, or seeing people working for crazy long hours like in Tokyo.

Have you been to Taipei? What are your thoughts about these 10 things I listed?

Do you like this post and want to receive some more travel updates regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. And also check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!

Tokyo is undoubtedly a bucket list destination for every traveler. Learn here 23 things to do and eat during a 4-day trip in this mega city!

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For quite a while, Tokyo has been on top of my bucket list, and I’m sure that it’s been on yours too.

Home to over 12 million people, covering an area of over 2,000 square kilometers, Tokyo is not only huge, it’s ginormous! There are so many things to do and so many things to eat.

Tokyo is so unique that there is no single word that can describe it well. It’s quirky, somewhat bizarre, but also startlingly cute and adorable.

It’s a city where you can see the beautiful harmony between modern and traditional, between tranquility and hectic chaos. Honestly, I never feel amazed and welcomed in a city than in Tokyo!

In this post, I would like to share with you 23 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO AND EAT from my short 4-day trip to Tokyo. Hopefully, this serves as an inspiration for your own future itinerary.

As always, I will also provide some HONEST tips and information to help you prepare for your trip, even before you arrive in Tokyo.

23 Things to Do and Eat in Tokyo, Japan: 4-day itinerary

Pre-arrival

To help you prepare your visit before you arrive in Tokyo, here are few essential things to keep in mind.

#1 – Get familiar with Tokyo metropolitan area

As said before, Tokyo is humongous. Tokyo metropolitan area contains 23 central wards, not including the suburbs and islands surrounding the city.

If you only visit Tokyo for a week or less, the best area I would recommend for you to stay and explore is the Central Tokyo, which consists of 8 wards in the heart of the city: Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Toshima, and Meguro. This is also the focus of the itinerary covered in this post.

#2 – Hotels or Airbnb?

Accommodation in Tokyo is generally quite expensive. Because the city is so dense and over-populated, the hotel room in Tokyo is also notoriously super tiny. As an example, a $100 a night hotel room at Ibis Shinjuku is only 8 square meters big and has just 1 single bed.

There are of course exceptions. One of them that I highly recommend is Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku. This hotel has one of the most spacious rooms in Tokyo with an extremely decent price.

Starting at around $150 a night, you can stay in a modern and spacious room with a king-size bed at one of the best locations in Central Tokyo.

Image courtesy of Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

If you choose Airbnb instead, there are plenty of good quality accommodations. However, don’t expect to get them as cheap as in other Asian cities, and the space you get is perhaps only marginally bigger than at a hotel.

Also, many of cheaper accommodations are likely to be located away from Central Tokyo, so have that in mind while making your choice.

To help you bring the cost down, don’t forget to use this link to get €30 off for your first Airbnb booking.

#3 – Currencies, payment, and tipping

Cash payment is still heavily used in Japan. A credit card is only limited in use.

In case you’d like to exchange some money before your departure, Japan’s currency is called Japanese Yen (JPY). As of now, the exchange rate of USD to JPY is around 109 JPY (1 USD = ~109 JPY).

As always, instead of exchanging money at home, I would suggest doing so in Japan upon your arrival, as you will tend to get a better rate.

Or you can also choose to withdraw money at the ATM. However, withdrawing money with foreign credit/debit cards is only possible at 2 ATM machines: (1) 7-Bank ATMs located at 7-Eleven convenience stores and at the airport; and (2) postal ATMs found mainly at the post offices.

Unlike in the US, tipping is absolutely not necessary in Japan and even can be considered as rude. In Japan, a good service is considered as part of the price you pay for. So when you tip, it can be interpreted that the level of service you expect was lower compared to what you actually get.

Upon arrival

If you fly to Tokyo, you will either arrive at Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT)

Haneda Airport is located the closest to Central Tokyo, about 10 km to the south. On the other hand, Narita Airport is the farthest from the city, about 32 km to the west.

Unfortunately, ride-hailing service like Uber does not exist in Tokyo. So in order to get you from the airport, the only options available are the taxi and public transport.

Luckily, Japan has one of the best and affordable public transport systems in the world. So I would highly recommend taking public transport to get you from the airport.

But before boarding any public transport, I would highly recommend you to get yourself a public transport card, such as Suica or Pasmo card. These cards make it easy for you to transfer from one line to another. You can buy these cards at the ticket machine at any major stations and at the airport.

From Narita Airport, the fastest way to get you to the city is to take Narita Express to major stations in Central Tokyo, like Tokyo Station, Shinjuku or Shibuya. And from there you can take the JR metro lines to your final destination.

From Haneda airport, the best and fun way to get to the city is to take the monorail to Station Shinagawa, where you can transfer to JR Yamanote Line (Green Line) to reach your final destination in Central Tokyo.

Itinerary and Food

Day 1 – Shinjuku

Things to do:

#1 – Kabukichō and Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku

Let’s start to explore Tokyo from Shinjuku. Shinjuku is one of the major wards in Central Tokyo, and Shinjuku station is one of the busiest train and metro stations in Central Tokyo.

That means there are plenty of things to do, see and eat in Shinjuku. Stroll first around Kabukichō, the famous “red light district” area of Shinjuku. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t worry, it’s all PG-13 here.

In Kabukichō there are many shops, izakaya (bar/eating place in Japanese), karaoke, pachinko places and restaurants. The most famous and notorious one is, of course, the Robot Restaurant. If you’re interested to see the Robot show, you can purchase a ticket, which costs around $75.

Go head back to Shinjuku station and let’s now explore the area around the station called Nishishinjuku.

In the east side of the station, you can find Japan’s luxurious department store, Takashimaya, and a plethora of other shops and restaurants.

And in the west side, you can find the famous alleyway called Yakitori Alley Memory Lane (or Piss Alley), which contains a row of small izakayas serving yakitori.

A little warning: the izakayas in this alley are very tiny and not really friendly (see instead my recommendation for Yakitori place in Shinjuku below). And you have to pay 300 JPY “tourist levy” just to get a table.

Location: Kabukichō and Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku

#2 – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku

Continuing our day in Shinjuku, get the best 360-degree view of Tokyo for FREE from this building. In a clear sunny day, you can even see Mount Fuji from this building.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government building has 2 observatory towers, the north and south towers. The north one is best to visit during the morning, while the south one during the afternoon. The building is just 10 minutes walk from Shibuya station.

Location: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, 2 Chome-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to

Food:

#3 – Ichiran Ramen

Ichiran is hands down one of the best ramen places in Japan! It is one of the Japanese restaurant chains that have increasingly gained popularity even outside Japan.

Ichiran is famous for the unique anti-social concept of its restaurant. At Ichiran, there are no communal table seats. Instead, each customer sits individually separate from each other in a bar-like setting. And there is no waiter either, as ordering takes place via a vending machine and a form.

All of this aims to let you focus just to enjoy the ramen. And oh boy, it doesn’t disappoint (see video below, courtesy of Mikey Chen, my favorite foodie Youtuber)! A bowl of tonkotsu ramen, complete with a soft-boiled egg, costs around 1,500 JPY (~$14) at Ichiran, and it’s worth every penny!

Location: Ichiran Ramen Shinjuku, 160-0022 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−34−11

#4 – Yakitori

Another must-eat item in Tokyo is, of course, Japanese yakitori.

For those of you who are not familiar with yakitori, it is a skewered meat (mainly chicken and chicken parts), freshly grilled over charcoal. Its salty and smoky flavor makes it a perfect pair with a cold beer.

My personal favorite yakitori that I highly recommend to get is chicken skins, giblets, and hearts.

There are many izakayas to get yakitori in Shinjuku (including in Yakitori Alley Memory Lane in Shinjuku), but I highly recommend to go to Hajimeya in Kabukichō. The place is more spacious and the service is extremely friendly. Price starts at around 200 JPY (~$2) per stick.

Location: Hajimeya, 160-0021 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukichō, 1 Chome−26

#5 – Tempura

Tempura is a 4-century long deep frying tradition in Japan, which started when oil was brought into Japan from Portugal. In fact, the word “tempura” is derived from the Portuguese word “tempero,” which means “to season”.

In Tokyo, there are many places specializing in perfecting the art of tempura, which results in less greasy and much tastier tempura.

One of them is Funabashiya Honten in Shinjuku, where the tempura master fries and serves the ingredients right in front of you. Here you can get a set of 9 mixed tempura (consists of shrimp, fish, and vegetables) for around 3,500 JPY (~$30).

Location: Funabashiya Honten, 160-0022 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−31

Day 2 – Shibuya

Things to do:

#6 – Scramble Crossing and Hachiko Memorial Statue, Shibuya

Let’s explore another major ward in Central Tokyo, Shibuya. Similar to Shinjuku, Shibuya is bustling with high-end shops, bars, and restaurants. It’s also a noticeably more popular area to hang out for the younger Japanese.

One of the most iconic things to do and see in Shibuya is the scramble crossing across the Shibuya station, near the Hachiko exit.

Hachiko itself is a legendary Akita dog, whose heartbreaking story has been adapted into a movie titled Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, starring famous actor Richard Gere.  Every day thousands of people visit Hachiko Memorial Statue to pay tribute to this remarkable loyal dog.

Location: Shibuya Station, Hachiko exit, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to

#7 – Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogi

From Shibuya station, let’s head north to an area called Yoyogi. It is famous for the beautiful serene park called Yoyogi Park.

In the weekend you can see the locals doing numerous of outdoor activities, from jogging, meditation or just having a relaxing stroll with their families and pets.

In the heart of Yoyogi Park, you can find Meiji Jingu shrine. This esteemed Shinto shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.

You can reach Yoyogi Park with JR Yamanote metro line, and stops at Harajuku station.

Location: Yoyogi Park, 2-1 Yoyogikamizonochō, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to

#8 – Harajuku, Shibuya

Harajuku is a district in Shibuya, known as the epicenter of Japanese youth culture and fashion.

To see and experience it yourself, walk down the famous Takeshita Street. This pedestrian shopping street is lined with fashion boutiques, shops, and cafes.

Especially on weekends, many of Japanese youth flock to this street wearing their most unique, creative and futuristic outfits.

Location: Harajuku Station, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to

Food:

#9 – Sushi

You haven’t been to Japan, if you haven’t had sushi, right?

You might have had sushi elsewhere before, but in Japan, guaranteed, you will have the best and freshest sushi that you would ever taste.

There are many great places to get sushi in Shibuya. But one of the most affordable places that I highly recommend is Katsu Midori. It is one of the best kaitensuzhi (conveyor-belt sushi) in Tokyo, and the sushi is said to be as fresh as at Tsukiji.

The line is always long, but the turnaround is quite fast. The price starts as cheap as 100 to 500 JPY per plate.

Location: Katsu Midori Seibu Shibuya, Seibu Department Store 8th Floor (building A), 150-0042 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Udagawachō, 21

#10 – Takoyaki

Takoyaki, or octopus balls, is one of the best-known street food snacks in Japan.

To sample takoyaki, there is a place called Gindaco Takoyaki, located just outside the exit of Harajuku station. Price is 500 JPY (~$5) for a plate of 6 takoyaki balls.

Location: Gindaco Takoyaki, 150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 1 Chome−14−24

#11 – Tonkatsu

For the deep-fried food lovers, tonkatsu is one of the best Japanese foods you must try.

Tonkatsu is a deep-fried Panko-breaded pork cutlet, which is quite similar to schnitzel. There are several styles of tonkatsu, but my favorite is the Tonkatsu Cyazuke style.

With Cyazuke style, the crispy tonkatsu is topped with cabbage and served on top of white rice. And as a finishing touch, a hot green tea is poured over it. A bowl of miso soup and Japanese pickles are usually also served on the side.

You can sample the Tonkatsu Cyazuke style at Tonkatsu Maisen Shibuya Hikarie. Price starts around 1,500 JPY (~$14).

Location: Tonkatsu Maisen Shibuya Hikarie, 150-0002 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Shibuya, 2 Chome−21

Day 3 – Chuo and Chiyoda

Things to do:

#12 – Tsukiji Fish Market, Chuo

Tsukiji Fish Market is the biggest fish and seafood market in Japan, and even in the world.

If you’re an early bird, you can watch the biggest tuna auction in the world in this market, which starts at 5 AM in the morning.

If getting up early to watch tuna auction is not your thing, you can walk around the market and see the abundance of fresh seafood varieties offered in the market, including sashimi, oysters, etc.

The market gets quite busy around 8 AM, and typically many vendors close already between 10 – 11 AM.

Location: Tsukiji Fish Market, 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to

#13 – Akihabara

Akihabara is a district in Chiyoda famously known for the epicenter of Japanese anime and gaming culture.

For anime and manga lovers, Akihabara will feel like heaven for you. There are many shops selling anime-related collectibles, games, and electronics.

In addition to that, what also has become popular in Akihabara is the maid café. To avoid any awkwardness though, I should warn you that this is not your typical café.

All waitresses here dress up like a maid or other girly anime characters. They often offer to sing and dance for you, while you’re sipping your favorite beverages.

Location: Akihabara, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to

#14 – Tokyo National Museum, Ueno

Tokyo National Museum in Ueno is the oldest and largest Japanese art museum in Japan.

Located in the center of Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections from Asia.

One of the most interesting exhibitions in the museum is on the history of Samurai. Alongside many Samurai objects in the display, the museum offers an insightful story about the life of Samurai during one of the fascinating period in Japanese history.

To get to the museum, just simply take JR Yamanote line to Ueno station. Entrance fee to the museum for an adult is 620 JPY (~$6).

Location: Tokyo National Museum, 13-9 Uenokōen, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to

#15 – Sensō-ji Temple, Asakusa

Sensō-ji Temple is the oldest, biggest and the most famous Shinto temple in Tokyo.

The temple is the host of the annual festival, Sanja Matsuri, when many people go to pray at the temple in honor of the spirits of 3 men founding the temple.

During the course of the year, the temple gets visited frequently by the locals, either to pray or even hold a wedding ceremony. This is when you will see many of them dressed beautifully in traditional Japanese kimonos.

In front of the temple, there is a 200-meter long shopping street called Nakamise, where you can get typical Japanese souvenirs and snacks. To get to Sensō-ji, the best way is to take JR Yamanote line to Ueno station, and then change to JR Asakusa or Ginza line to Asakusa station.

Location: Sensō-ji, 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to

Food:

#16 – Sashimi (and other fresh seafood)

When you visit Tsukiji Fish Market, make sure you sample the freshest sashimi ever, straight out of the Pacific Ocean. There are countless vendors at the market offering fatty salmon, tuna, shrimps, oyster and other seafood.

Or if raw fish is not your thing, you can also find some vendors offering it cooked, steamed or grilled.

Location: Tsukiji Fish Market, 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to

#17 – Tsukemen Ramen              

In the world of Japanese ramen, tsukemen is one of the most precious jewels.

Tsukemen ramen is a dipping-style ramen, where the al-dente cold noodle is served separately from the hot rich, thick broth. Simply dip the noodle into the flavorful broth, and enjoy the explosion of the flavor in your mouth (slurping is a must!).

One of arguably the best tsukemen ramen places in Tokyo is Rokurinsha. It’s located in the basement of Tokyo station, in one of the shopping alley famously called Tokyo Ramen Street. The line is always long here, but the turnaround is quite quick. See Youtube video below, courtesy of Jason Jose, for an impression.

To get to the location is quite tricky because Tokyo station is huge. Just make sure you follow the sign to the Yaesu South Exit. Once you reach the exit gate, you’ll see McDonald’s on your right, and next to it you can find a stairway to go the basement level. You’ll see Rokurinsha immediately right in front of you.

Price is around 1,500 JPY (~$14).

Location: Rokurinsha, Tokyo Station JR Yaesu South Exit, level Basement 1 (Tokyo Ramen Street)

#18 – Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is another famous street food snack in Japan. It is Japanese savory omelet/pancake containing varieties of ingredients, like meat, shrimps, octopus, and vegetables.

The great thing about okonomiyaki is that you can freely choose whatever you want to have in it. All the ingredients are then mixed up and grilled on a hot plate. Although okonomiyaki is often seen as a snack, it can be very filling, depending on the number of ingredients you choose.

One of the best places to sample okonomiyaki in Asakusa is at Sometaro. In this place, your okonomiyaki is grilled to perfection on your table. Okonomiyaki is best to enjoy with a cold beer or Japanese Yuzu sour. Price is around 1,500 JPY (~$14).

Location: Sometaro Okonomiyaki, 111-0035 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Nishiasakusa, 2 Chome−2

Day 4 – Minato

Things to do:

#19 – Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, Odaiba

Spend the last day in Tokyo exploring the Tokyo Bay area, on the man-made island called Odaiba. And what can be better on your last day than relaxing at a hot spring?

Oedo-Onsen is a hot spring park with various types of indoor and outdoor baths. You can relax and enjoy its sophisticated decoration theme inspired from the Edo period.

Entrance fee is starting from 2,600 JPY (~$24) for 1 adult.

Location: Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, 135-0064 Tōkyō-to, Kōtō-ku, Aomi, 2 Chome−6

#20 – Rainbow Bridge, Minato

In the evening, get a breathtaking view of Tokyo and Tokyo Bay on this charming Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge connects Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo.

At night, the bridge is beautifully lit with rainbow-colored lighting, which makes it a perfect spot to take your Instagram picture!

You can reach Rainbow Bridge by taking the Yurikamome train line and stop at Shibaura-Futo station.

Location: Rainbow Bridge, Minato, Tōkyō-to

Food:

#21 – Udon

Udon is perhaps not as hyped as its more popular sibling, ramen. But in terms of taste and ability to comfort you, I can guarantee that it is one of the best noodles out there.

Unlike ramen, udon is a thicker type of noodle and usually served only in a mild plain broth, or even without broth. But the best thing about udon is that you can enjoy it with any toppings you want. My favorite is to top it with chopped garlic, ginger, scallions and shrimp tempura.

One of the best places to sample udon in Tokyo is at Marugame Seimen. Price starts at 800 JPY (~$8) for a bowl of udon without any topping.

Location: Marugame Seimen, 2 Chome-3-12 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tōkyō-to

#22 – Japanese Curry

Perhaps the most misunderstood Japanese dish ever, Japanese curry is very different than the Indian curry most people may think about.

Japanese curry is a whole new thing. It is thicker, sweeter, and darker than the Indian version. And the truth is that it is one of the most popular nation’s comfort foods.

One of the best places to taste Japanese curry is at CoCo Ichibanya. Try the katsu (chicken cutlet) curry, and add the roasted garlic bits. It will definitely blow your mind away! See video below, courtesy of Simon and Martina, one of my favorite foodie Youtubers.

Location: CoCo Ichibanya Minato-ku Mita, 108-0073 Tōkyō-to, Minato-ku, Mita, 3 Chome−4

#23 – Mochi

Let’s end our culinary journey in Tokyo with Japan’s most loved sweet treats, mochi. This sweet colorful rice cake comes in many flavors. My favorite is, of course, the matcha flavor.

One of the best places to get mochi in Tokyo is at Shiono. Price is starting at 990 JPY (~$9).

Location: Shiono, 2 chome-13-2 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo

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So there you go! I hope you will find this itinerary and guide useful. If you visit Tokyo, I would love to hear your experience and what you think about it. Please do so in the comment below, or send me a message.

Do you like this post and want to receive some more awesome food tips regularly? Please make sure that you subscribe to my email updates. And also check out my other blog posts for many more helpful tips for traveling. See you in the next blog post and until we Greet again!