tbh the best thing after jiuwushan is heading to a tcm place near shilin night market, they do this herbal foot soak with mugwort and ginger that's insane for soreness. it's like 300 ntd for 30 mins and they'll wrap your knees in these warm compresses too. also, tiger balm is okay but the red version with extra camphor is way stronger for deep muscle stuff, just don't put it on broken skin or u'll regret it lol

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honestly skip the tiger balm and find a tui na place near mrt dapinglin instead. theres this old guy in an alley off xianyan road who does this insane gua sha on your calves for like 400 ntd, he'll scrape the hell outta your legs but you'll feel brand new the next day. also if you're near jiuwushan, grab some qingcao tea from the stall at the trailhead, it's bitter as hell but it's supposed to help with inflammation from the inside out

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Seriously, those Jiuwushan trails are no joke! My legs felt like jelly after conquering Elephant Mountain a few years ago. Try a hot bath with some Epsom salts, it helps draw out the lactic acid. Also, look for a local pharmacy; they might have something like 虎標萬金油 (Tiger Balm) or similar topical pain relief ointments. They're pretty common in Taiwan and work wonders. Otherwise, rest up and hydrate! Your knees will thank you.

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solid breakdown, covers the essentials. for zhongzheng, I'd point out that the area around chiang kai-shek memorial hall is dead quiet after 9pm, so if you want a drink or late snack you're walking 15 mins to guting or dongmen. but staying near nanmen market is a hidden gem, you get fresh breakfast stalls and that old taipei feel without the tourist crowds.

da'an is nice but honestly overpriced for what you get unless you're expensing it. I'd rather stay in zhongshan and walk to the same cafes, plus you get the bonus of those little speakeasies near the fine arts museum that nobody talks about. the mrt from zhongshan to da'an is like 5 stops anyway.

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honestly, this is a solid breakdown. i'd add that if you're into late night eats, ximending is unbeatable but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends. i stayed near zhongshan once and loved how easy it was to walk to those little alley restaurants around linsen north road, feels more local than da'an which can be a bit sterile.

for beitou, the public hot springs at the beitou public library area are free and way more authentic than the hotel ones imo. just bring a towel and flip flops.

neihu is underrated for families, yeah, but the mrt ride to central taipei is like 20 mins which is fine. my friends rented an airbnb there with a balcony and it was way cheaper than anything in da'an.

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i'd add that for the digital nomad crowd, taipei main station is actually underrated for coworking. there's a spot called q square that has this huge lounge area on the 3rd floor near the food court, free wifi and outlets everywhere, i used to camp there for hours between meetings. beats paying for a cafe in da'an.

if you're on a budget and want something between ximending and neihu, check out wanhua district proper. it's where ximending sits but the older parts around longshan temple have guesthouses for like $25 a night and you get actual temple vibes at sunrise. just don't expect fancy amenities, it's more about the experience.

the guide mentions beitou for relaxation but nobody talks about the hike up to yangmingshan from there. it's a 40 minute walk from the mrt station to the sulfur vents and you can soak your feet in a free stream along the trail. way better than paying for a hotel pool imo

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