Under $100: Tainan, Taiwan

Located southwest of Taiwan, Tainan is the country’s oldest city with more than 200 years of history. The small, heritage city brims with temples and ancient sites begging to be explored. With only one day and $100 on hand, you can certainly make a great go of it.

Begin the morning with a stop at Wen Zhang. The fresh beef soup draws in an early crowd so arrive before 9 a.m. in order to avoid the queue. A bowl will cost $5. From there, take a short stroll along the Tainan Canal to take in the views and enjoy a bit of nature. Make your way over to the Anping area of town. This section contains beautiful, small streets lined with shops and historical buildings. Anping Old Street is a great walkway where you can sample milk tea and other goods, as well as visit Haishan Hall. Set aside $20 for souvenirs.

Anping is also the site of the Tait & Co Merchant House and the Anping Treehouse. Once a foreign trading house, it now hosts a museum documenting the colonial life of Tainan locals. Another popular walkway in Tainan is Shennong Street. Here you’ll find more opportunities to shop along with surprise vending machines. These offer the chance to win expensive prizes for only $2.

Next, head to Fu Sheng Hao for lunch. The rice cakes are phenomenal and only cost $5.

Spend the first half of the afternoon exploring the Anping Old Fort. The former palace suffered a few natural disasters over the years but is still wonderful to explore. It provides great views of the city and is surrounded by a bustling market. Budget $20 for goods to take home to friends. The nearby Tianhou Temple is also a must for any visitor to Tainan.

Finally, grab dinner at Tan Zou Ma Li for the best BBQ in the city. A meal will cost $20.