taiwan trip 2023

The Ultimate Taiwan Itinerary (2023)

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Having completed our own amazing two week Taiwan itinerary exploring the cities, mountains and scenic areas of Taiwan we’ve put together our recommended Taiwan itinerary. From chaotic Taipei to the beauty of Taroko Gorge to the natural wonder of Alishan, Taiwan is breathtaking and one of our favorite places to visit in Asia.  For those of you planning your own Taiwan itinerary, we wanted to share our Taiwan travel guide including the best things to do and what to see in Taiwan. 

Table of Contents

Taiwan Itinerary and Route

Most visitors touring around Taiwan either pick up a rental car and self-drive or use a mix of high-speed trains, tourist shuttles and taxis/private drivers to explore the country.

By rental car: With its excellent roads and good driving standards, Taiwan is the perfect country for a road trip. We followed a circular route starting and ending in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city and the point of arrival and departure for most Taiwan travellers – check prices now!

By public transport:  this Taiwan itinerary can also be completed by a mix of trains and buses. On the west coast of Taiwan, the major cities are serviced by High-Speed Rail – check prices here!

  Click here to reserve Taiwan Rail tickets!

Taiwan Route and Map

Here is a map of the route we recommend taking around Taiwan.

The Route:  Taipei – Taichung – Alishan – Kaohsiung – Kenting – Taitung – Taroko Gorge – Taipei

Click here for the Google map

How to Use This Google Map:  Click on the grey star at the top of the map and this map will be added to your Google Maps account. You can then view it on your phone or computer in Google Maps by clicking on the menu button, going to “Your Places” and selecting this map. We use these maps all the time as you can set out your itinerary ahead of time and quickly reference the saved maps.

Renting a car in Taiwan

Navigating Taiwan by rental car is relatively easy and we highly recommend renting a car in Taiwan if you are comfortable driving. The roads are high-quality, driving standards are generally good and fuel is extremely cheap (compared to the UK and Ireland).

We’re huge fans of road trips and have driven rental cars in over 40 countries so we have a lot of experience renting cars in foreign countries. Klook.com is a great option as it includes international rental car companies as well as some local options. Book your car now with Klook.com  where you will find the best rental car prices.

Taiwan itinerary tip: An International Driving Permit is mandatory when renting a car in Taiwan so make sure to get an IDP in your home country before departure if you are planning on driving a rental car.

Book your rental car with Klook!

Taiwan itinerary tip: Taipei is extremely well serviced by public transport and its subway is easy to navigate. As such, a rental car isn’t necessary in the city. If you are starting your Taiwan itinerary in Taipei, we recommend only picking up a car after you’ve explored Taipei rather than reserving at the airport on arrival. We picked up our rental car on our last morning in Taipei and left the city immediately for Taichung.  

Sim Card & Internet

As with most countries, having mobile data during a trip is invaluable for navigation and research. There are lots of options on arrival at Taipei’s Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) – we reserved a Chunghwa Telecom 4g sim through Klook who offer a slightly discounted rate on the airport price – click here for prices!

Taiwan itinerary tip: the Chunghwa desk only opens at 8am so make sure your flight times will work if you reserve in advance.

  Click here to reserve a SIM card!

How long to spend in Taiwan

From the chaotic Taipei to the magnificent sunrises in Alishan, the peaceful Taroko Gorge and the colourful Taichung there’s a lot to squeeze into a Taiwan itinerary. We recommend budgeting around 14 nights to explore Taiwan at a leisurely pace. This will allow you enough time to visit all the major sights and explore each destination fully.  You might wish to cut some things out if you have less time.

Best Time To Visit Taiwan

Depending on your tolerance to high temperatures, you may want to plan your visit to coincide with the cooler months! During the summer, temperatures are consistently over 30° and typhoon season is in full force. Spring and Autumn are a great time to visit Taiwan and its mild winters also mean the winter months are a good option.

Taiwan itinerary tip:  We visited Taiwan at the end of September and we managed to experience a heatwave as well as some typhoons which luckily changed direction at the last minute! The temperatures in Taipei were stifling and we had to retreat to air-conditioned buildings until late in the afternoon.

Daily Taiwan Itinerary

We’ve outlined our day to day Taiwan itinerary as a starting point for planning your own Taiwan experience.

Days 1 to 4: Taipei

Taiwan’s capital city really surprised us with the wide variety of things to see and do. After arriving at Taipei’s Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport we recommend spending the next three or four nights in Taipei. This will allow you to explore the main sights and to enjoy everything that this fun and chaotic city has to offer. We took the train from Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Taipei Main Station – click here for tickets

Click here for MRT tickets to Taipei

An EasyCard makes travel around Taipei and Kaohsiung incredibly easy. The EasyCard is a travel card that you can pre-order in advance and pick up in Taoyuan International Airport. You can preload the card with credit and use it on the metro and buses in Taipei. You can also bundle it with a sim card option that you can pick up at the same time – check prices now!

Buy your EasyCard now

From toilet-themed restaurants to colourful temples, stunning nature and awesome day trips, there’s plenty to squeeze into 4 days in Taipei. Check out our round-up of the best things to do in Taipei for more detailed information and photos of each of the attractions. Also check out our detailed Taipei itinerary to help you plan your time in the city. If you are travelling with kids make sure to check out our guide to the best things to do in Taipei with kids .

Where to Stay in Taipei

There are many great accommodation options in Taipei.

• CityInn Hotel Plus Ximending Branch–  we stayed in the CityInn Ximending branch and highly recommend both the location and the hotel. Rooms are compact but fantastic value, service is excellent and the hotel is just a few moments walk from the MRT, a Taipei essential  –  check prices now!
• Taipei Garden Hotel – another great option located close to Longshan Temple and Ximending –  check prices now!
• Dandy Hotel, Daan Park – clean, comfortable and located across the street from Taipei’s biggest park, Daan Forest Park –  check prices now!            

Click here for the best Taipei hotel prices

Day 1: Taipei 101, Maokong Gondola and Shilin Night Market

Start the day with a trip to the observation deck of Taipei 101, Taipei’s most iconic building. The 101 story building resembles a giant bamboo stick and the 91st-floor outdoor observation deck offers amazing 360-degree views of the city.

We booked our tickets for Taipei 101 via Klook and highly recommend it. You can reserve your timeslot in advance and for the best price using the Klook app. It’s super simple and avoids waiting in extra lines when Taipei 101 gets busy.  Taiwan activities were mostly discounted when we booked in advance –  check prices now!

Click here to book your Taipei 101 ticket

From Taipei 101 make your way to the Taipei Zoo MRT Station where the scenic Maokong Gondola cable car departs. The 30minute glass-bottomed cable car stops at the colourful Zhinan Temple before continuing to the quaint mountaintop village of Maokong known for its tea plantations and tea shops.

Taiwan Itinerary tip:  We purchased combo tickets for the Maokong Gondola and an evening double decker sightseeing tour from Klook in advance and it was awesome value. The gondola is closed most Monday’s so make sure to plan your trip around the gondola’s opening hours – click here to purchase the gondola and night tour combo tickets!

Click here to purchase Gondola tickets

Finish the day with a visit to Shilin Night Market, Taipei’s largest night market with over 500 stalls. There are some incredible Bid Gourmand stalls serving dishes such as Hai You Pork Ribs and Bin Small Sausage in Large Sausage, where the sausage wrapped in sticky rice is a huge hit. There’s a lot more to Shilin than just food and you can do everything from playing arcade games to praying in the temple located in the centre of the market.

Day 2: Elephant Mountain, CKS Memorial Hall, Ximending and Raohe night market

Start the day with a short but steep sunrise hike up Elephant Mountain which rewards with some of the best views of Taipei. The trail is well maintained with plenty of rest stops and some awesome viewing platforms.

After admiring Taipei from Elephant Mountain it’s time to explore the history of Taiwan with a visit to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The CKS Memorial is an important Taiwanese landmark erected in honour of the first president of Taiwan.

A themed cafe is a Taipei staple and a trip to the Modern Toilet Restaurant in Ximending is as novelty as they come. The entire restaurant is toilet themed. Meals are served in toilets, drinks in bedpans and the seats are full-sized toilets! Having filled up on poo themed dishes take a stroll around Ximending, one of Taipei’s quirkiest neighbourhoods.

If you prefer a serious foodie treat, eat at the Fuhung Noodle Restaurant. The shop is located just north of Ximending and is home to some of the best noodles we’ve ever had.

Longshan Temple is next on the agenda. Longshan is Taiwan’s most famous and well-loved temple and is located in the historic neighbourhood of Wanhua.

If you still have some energy, the Raohe Night Market is a short MRT ride away and is perfect for an early evening walk through.

Taiwan itinerary tip: our favourite dish in Raohe was the Fuzhou Shizu Black Pepper Buns. They are not to be missed!

Day 3: A Taipei park, the world’s highest Starbucks and Beitou Hot Springs

Start the morning with a visit to one of Taipei’s parks. Our favourites are Daan Forest Park, Taipei’s largest park, the Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a repurposed art, design and cultural venue and 228 Peace Memorial Park, a poignant tribute to the thousands of Taiwanese who died in the February 28, 1947, massacre.

Visit the world’s highest Starbucks which is located on the 35th floor at Taipei 101 and offers spectacular views of Taipei. A visit to Starbucks at Taipei 101 requires a reservation and the coffee shop has a minimum spend for visitors.

Taiwan itinerary tip:  The Starbucks at Taipei 101 requires a telephone reservation. Ask you hotel desk to make the reservation as you will likely need to speak Mandarin.

Spend the afternoon at the Beitou Hot Springs which are just 30 minutes outside Taipei and accessible via the MRT. There is a wide range of options for bathing in the hot springs: there are less expensive public hot springs as well as private baths and upscale hotels and resorts. As well as bathing, the scenic Beitou Hot Spring Park is beautiful to explore together with the Hot Spring Museum and Library which are located within the park.

Day 4: Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu Geopark

Taipei is surrounded by amazing natural beauty and a day trip outside the city is an essential addition to any Taipei itinerary. Shifen, Jiufen and the Yehliu Geopark are a great combination to discover a taste of Northern Taiwan.

The Yehliu Geopark contains a fascinating collection of unique geological formations in an otherworldly landscape created by sea erosion. It’s a beautiful coastal walk and a very popular stop outside Taipei.

The old street in the charming town of Jiufen is a tourist magnet with visitors indulging in local specialities such as glutinous rice cakes, peanut ice cream and fish balls in between souvenir shopping. The A-Mei Tea House is one of the most prominent landmarks in Jiufen and offers both great tea and great views!

Shifen is famous for both its old street and its scenic waterfall. The old streets of Shifen, located around the railway track, are where visitors congregate to release colourful lanterns bearing their wishes in life.

Taiwan itinerary tip : we visited Jiufen, Shiefen and Yeuhliu Geo Park using our rental car. If you prefer to use a tour, Klook offers a great shuttle bus options which ferries passengers between the key sights of Jiufen, Shifen and the Yehliu Geo Park on the North East coast of Taiwan –  click here to reserve shuttle bus tickets!

Click here to reserve shuttle bus tickets

Days 5 and 6: Taichung

After a few days of exploring Taipei, it’s time to head south to Taichung, Taiwan’s second-largest city. Taichung is busy and colourful and was a surprise hit in our Taiwan itinerary! There are lots of things to do Taichung and it is also the gateway for the immensely popular Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist attractions.

Where to Stay in Taichung

Taichung is a surprisingly large city and choosing where to stay can be tricky. We recommend:

• CityInn Hotel Plus – Taichung Station Branch – we loved the CityInn brand in Taiwan. Located in east Taichung beside Taichung’s main train station, the CityInn Hotel Plus is a great option. Rooms are clean and modern and the extra facilities like free common areas with coffee/refreshments and on-site laundry are invaluable –  click here to book now!
• La Vida Hotel – Regularly rated as one of the best hotels in Taichung, La Vida Hotel is a great option for those who want easy access to the Feng Chia Night Market. With European designed rooms the hotel is super comfortable and great for a stay in Taichung –    click here to book now!
• The Hung’s Mansion – where we chose to stay in Taichung and it’s a great option if you are driving like we were. With free parking, large comfortable rooms and great food, Hungs Mansion is also a short walk to the incredible Feng Chia Night Market – click here to book now!

Click here for the best Taichung hotel prices

How to get to Taichung

I t took us around 2 hours to drive between Taipei and Taichung .  I t takes one hour to travel by High-Speed Rail between Taipei and Taichung –  click here to buy rail tickets!

Click here to buy tickets to Taichung

Things to do in Taichung

Taichung deserves at least one full day to explore and, if we were to return, we’d allow two days! Start the morning at Rainbow Village , Taiwan’s most colourful neighbourhood before heading north of the city to the beautiful Zhongshe Flower Market. As well as a sea of flowers, props such as pianos, swings, and tractors make for great fun and great photo opportunities.

Taiwan itinerary tip:  tour buses arrive at Rainbow Village shortly after its 8am opening so we recommend arriving as close to 8am as possible. Zhongshe Flower Market tends to get busy in the afternoon when families congregate for barbeques.

Animation Alley is a great pit stop with its cartoon and Magna themed street art.

The 921 Earthquake Museum is a poignant place to visit: it is located on the site of a former junior high school and crosses the fault on which the earthquake occurred. The exterior remains as it did after the earthquake on Tuesday, 21 September 1999.

There are endless food and drink options in Taichung: our three favourites are Chung Shiu Tang, the touted home of Taiwan’s famous bubble tea, Miyahara for its Pineapple Cakes and I’m Talato, an ice cream shop with an ice cream floatie filled pool.

Round up the day with a trip to Feng Chia Night Market where the food is good and the clothing unique.

Day 7: Sun Moon Lake

How to get to Sun Moon Lake: Sun Moon Lake is a 1hour 15-minute drive from Taichung and is easily accessible by bus from both Taichung (approximately 2 hours) or Alishan (up to 3.5hours).

The cycle path surrounding the turquoise blue waters of Sun Moon Lake is one of the most popular ways to explore the Sun Moon Lake area. There’s also a scenic gondola cable car that offers beautiful views of the lake and connects it with the Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village.

Our other favourite stops were the Ci-En Pagoda and the Wen-Wu Temple . The 8 story Ci-En Pagoda requires a short uphill hike and is renowned for its views over the lake while the Chinese style Wen-Wu is vibrant and loud and there are lovely views of the lake over the burnt orange rooftops.

Finish the day with some street food at Ita Thao before returning to Taichung for the night.

Taiwan itinerary tip: the drive between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake takes about 75 minutes so we preferred to base ourselves in Taichung. Sun Moon Lake accommodation tends to be more expensive given its tourist draw and we were happy to drive.

Where to stay in Sun Moon Lake

If you wish to stay in the Sun Moon Lake area, some good options are:

• Fleur de Chine Hotel Sun Moon Lake: expensive but excellent with beautiful views over the lake – check prices now!
• Mei Jen House: homestay with great rooms, a vegan breakfast and an awesome sunrise tour. A great small but budget-friendly option in Sun Moon Lake – check prices now!

Click here for the best Sun Moon Lake Hotel prices

Day 8: Alishan

A mix of wilderness and tea plantations characterize the mountainous Alishan National Scenic Area. The Alishan sunrises are legendary in Taiwan and our time in Alishan was a highlight of our trip. From chasing the ‘Yun Hai’, the coveted sea cloud sunrise, to the historic railway and the stunning hiking trails Alishan is an excellent addition to any Taiwan itinerary.

Where to Stay in Alishan

• Alishan House/Alishan Hotel – the best hotel in the Alishan National Scenic Area and where we spent our night in Alishan. Rooms are expensive but the location is outstanding. It is worth the extra for the upgrade from the dated standard room in the old building to a superior room in the new building. Guests are not allowed to drive into the Scenic Area but the hotel runs a regular shuttle bus between the car park and the hotel – check prices now!
• Wankou Hotel: 5 minutes walk from the train station, Wankou Hotel is a good less expensive option to Alishan House. Nice views, clean rooms and good value accommodation – check prices now!
• Cing Shan Hotel : basic option located close to the train station, rooms are compact – check prices now!

Click here for the best Alishan Hotel prices

How to get to Alishan

The High-Speed Railway takes less than 40 minutes between Taichung and Chiayi Station and, from Chiayi, the bus takes 2 hours. Direct buses from Sun Moon Lake take up to 3.5hours. The drive from Taichung took around 3 hours in total.

Things to do in Alishan

There are 5 Wonders of Alishan and, although luck and weather dependent, most visitors strive to see them all. The 5 Wonders of Alishan are:

• Alishan Forest Railway
• The forest trails
• The sea of clouds

Taiwan itinerary tip: With some planning it’s possible to see Alishan’s Wonders during a one-night stay. If you wish to explore more extensively or at a more leisurely pace then extend the stay to two nights.

Aim to arrive in Alishan in the afternoon and take advantage of some of the stunning hiking trails in the area. Our favourite hike was to the Sacred Tree, estimated to be 3,000 years old before it collapsed in 1997. It’s located at the Sacred Tree (Shenmu) Railway and the trails pass giant red cypress trees which are over 1,000 years old.

After exploring the Alishan trails make sure to catch a famous Alishan sunset – we watched it from the amazingly located observation deck at the Alishan House Hotel , one of the best sunset spots in the Alishan Scenic Area.

Click here to reserve the Alishan House Hotel

It’s an early start in order to catch the legendary Alishan sunrise. We arranged our shuttle bus to the train station through the Alishan House Hotel on arrival the previous afternoon. After a 4:30 am wake-up call, we boarded the train to Chusan and watched the sunrise from the viewing platform.

After checking out we stopped by the Alishan Post Office and posted a traditional Alishan wooded postcard before leaving for Kaohsiung.

Day 9: Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is a large port city in Southern Taiwan. Although we used it as a stopover between Alishan and Kaohsiung, we soon discovered it is vibrant and charming in its own right.

Where to stay in Kaohsiung 

• Grand Hi La –  one of the best hotels in Kaohsiung. With a perfect location in the centre of the Sanduo shopping district, Hotel Cozzi has luxurious rooms and high-end furnishings which make for a truly amazing stay – check prices now!
• Hotel Cozzi  – this large luxury hotel is conveniently located above a shopping mall right in the centre of Kaohsiung and is a great option for exploring the city. There are lots of restaurants close to the hotel –  check prices now!
• Hotel Dua –  g reat transport connections via the adjacent MRT station the Hotel Dua is a great location for exploring the city  –  check prices now!

Click here for the best Kaohsiung Hotel prices

How to get to Kaohsiung

Take the bus from Alishan to Chiayi Station (journey time is around 2 hours 10 minutes) and, from there, take the train to Kaohsiung, a further 2 hours 10 minutes. Our drive time was around 3 hours in total.

Things to do in Kaohsiung

We only had a half day to explore Kaohsiung as we used the city as a stopover on our journey between Alishan and Kenting. The city deserves at least to days to see properly and if you are staying in the city, some of the best things to do in Kaohsiung are:

• Kaohsiung Night Markets: the Ruifeng Night Market is considered one of the best night food markets in Taiwan and its stalls serve up a mouth-watering array of local delicacies.
• Lotus Pond and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas: visitors to Kaohsiung are encouraged run into the mouth of the dragon and out of the tiger’s jaws at the 7-story twin Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. The reward is a reversal in fortune and a turn from bad luck to good.
• Cycle Cijn Island: Cijn Island is a black sand beach on a narrow strip of island in the city. The island, accessible by ferry or bridge, is a popular day excursion in Kaohsiung.
• Dream Mall: Kaohsiung’s Dream Mall is the largest in Taiwan and East Asia and even boasts an amusement park with a Ferris Wheel on its rooftop!
• Pier 2: once an abandoned warehouse site, Pier 2 now houses a large scale open air public art display. The quirky sculptures and artworks are a real treat and the area is vibrant and lively and one of the best places to visit in Kaohsiung.

Day 10 and 11: Kenting

The seaside town of Kenting is located at the southern tip of Taiwan and is famous for its picturesque beaches and lush green national park.

Where to stay in Kenting

Accommodation in Kenting is a mix of resort-style beachside hotels and smaller, boutique-style options.

• Caesar Park Hotel – resort hotel with direct beach access and an abundance of kids activities including a kids recreation centre in the basement –  check prices now!
• Chateau Beach Resort – located by the beach, just 5 to 10 minutes from Kenting Main Street. The hotel has stunning ocean views and a nice pool area – check prices now!
• Amanda Kenting – we opted for the smaller Amanda Kenting Hotel. The Moroccan themed hotel has great rooms, a lovely indoor pool and free exotic costume rental for photos! – check prices now!

Click here for the best Kenting Hotel prices

How to get to Kenting:

take the Kenting Express Bus from Kaohsiung’s Zuoying HSR station to Kenting. The journey time varies between 2 and 3 hours. The drive time is less than 2 hours.

Things to do in Kenting

Kenting is the perfect spot for some rest and relaxation. While we didn’t follow a strict itinerary, our favourite activities included:

• a ride on the Kenting Hai World Semi Submarine with its glass-bottomed panoramic views of the Kenting coral reefs
• paddling in the tidepools and shallow swimming spots
• visiting Baisha White Sand Bay, a beautiful beach which featured in the movie The Life of Pi
• exploring Kenting National Park and its lighthouse
• standing at the southernmost point in Taiwan which is marked by an observation station
• indulging in the street food, clothes and carnival games at the Kenting Night Market
• Snorkeling in Wanlitong Beach

Day 12: Taitung

Taitung is a sprawling, coastal town and a popular stopover between Kenting and Taroko Gorge. It is home to the Beinan Cultural Park, one of the largest and most important cultural sites in Taiwan. Taitung also acts as a gateway to the volcanic islands of Green Island and Orchid Island.

Where to stay in Taitung

• Kindness Hotel – clean and comfortable option with good breakfast and evening night snacks in Taitung city –  check prices now!
• Papago International Resort – although one hour outside Taitung it is a great location for a stopover between Kenting and Taroko Gorge. Lovely outdoor pool, hot tub and hot springs with a children’s playground – check prices now!
• Inn by the Village – located close to the railway, rooms are modern and spacious and the breakfast decent – check prices now!

Click here for the best Taitung hotel prices

How to get to Taitung:

take the bus from Kenting to Fanglaio (journey time 1 hour). From there, take the train between Fanglaio and Taitung (90 minutes). The drive time is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Things to do in Taitung

If you have time to explore Taitung some of the best things to do are:

• Beinan Cultural Park: the largest and most important cultural site in Taiwan. It was excavated in the 1980s when thousands of slate coffins were unearthed together with jewellery, pottery and tools.
• Brown Road: home to the famous Mr Brown Taiwanese Coffee and surrounded by rice fields and mountains.
• Orchid Island and Green Island: volcanic islands off the coast of Taitung famous for snorkelling, hot springs, coastal scenery and strong Aboriginal culture.

Day 13 and 14: Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge is another stunning stop in Taiwan. Taroko means magnificent and splendid and the mesmerizing scenery makes it more than deserving of the name. The steep mountains are covered in thick forest and a deep gorge carved out by the Liwu River, winds through the forest floor.

Where to stay in Taroko Gorge

Visitors to Taroko Gorge can stay in the Taroko National Park, close to the entrance to the park or in nearby Hualien where the trains from Taipei arrive and depart. We recommend staying in the park for both the close to nature experience and the convenience for sightseeing.

• Silks Place Taroko: we treated ourselves to a gorge view room in the luxury Silks Place Taroko which is located in the heart of the Taroko National Park. The facilities are amazing: there’s a rooftop outdoor pool (where we enjoyed a movie screening in the evening) and hot tubs, an indoor pool and tennis courts – check prices now!
• Taroko Village Hotel: located less than 1km from Swallow Grotto, the Taroko Village Hotel is a less expensive option to Silks Place for guests wanting to stay inside the Taroko National Park – check prices now!
• Chateau de Chine Hotel Hualien: if you opt for Hualien the Chateau de Chine Hotel is a good choice with its colourful exterior and spacious themed rooms– check prices now!

Click here for the best Taroko Gorge Hotel prices

How to get to Taroko Gorge:

we drove from Taitung to the Taroko National Park (around 4 hours). Public transport services the nearby city of Hualien, a 4-hour bus journey from Taitung. If you are arriving from Alishan you can take the bus to Taroko Gorge. If you are arriving from Taipei, an express train serves Hualien.

How to get around Taroko Gorge: there are a few options for navigating Taroko National Park. We used our rental car to explore. Many guests use a taxi/private car or rent a motorbike. If you are based in Hualien, it’s easy to join a tour – reserve a Taroko Gorge tour here!

Things to do in Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge is all about nature and most visitors spend the day hopping between its best short trails, bridges and viewpoints!

Begin the day with a hike through the relatively easy 4km Baiyang Trail which rewards with a stunning water curtain as well as magnificent views of the gorge along the way. Start early to avoid the crowds, bring a flashlight to navigate the tunnels and beware of the monkeys! Due to loose rock visitors are only allowed to the entrance of the first Water Curtain.

The next stop is the ever-popular Swallow Grotto, one of the best places from which to view the gorge. It is a short and flat footpath in the middle of the park and the surrounding river walls are lined with swallow nests

The Taroko Eternal Spring Changchun Shrine is one of the most popular sites in the park. The stunning temple sits atop a natural spring and was built in honour of the many who lost their lives building the highway through Taroko National Park.

We also loved the Chingxi Suspension Bridge and the Cimu Bridge. On the way out of the park make sure to stop at the stunning Qinghui Cliffs where visitors have the opportunity to admire the three distinct color tones that make up the Pacific Ocean

Taiwan itinerary tip: some of the trails in Taroko Gorge are closed due to weather damage so make sure to check the official website for the latest trail availability. There is a Visitor’s Centre at the entrance to the park which also provides trail information.

Day 15: Depart Taipei

Day 15 is a day of leisure until it’s time for your flight from Taipei.

How to get to Taipei: take the bus from Taroko Gorge to Hualien or Xincheng Station and then hop on the train to Taipei. The drive took around 3 hours.

For more on Taiwan

• Check out our round up of the best things to do in Taipei!

16 thoughts on “The Ultimate Taiwan Itinerary (2023)”

My husband and I are planning a trip to Hong Kong & Taiwan in December. The plan was 7 days each; however, after reading your itinerary it is beginning to look like I’m going to have to wrangle more days in Taiwan. The experience looks amazing!! Also, I really like the layout of your page. It gives me what I’m looking for without having to hunt through the fluff. Thanks!!

Thanks Amy, so happy you liked the post. Taiwan is amazing, Hong Kong too!

Have an awesome trip!

My husband and I are also going to HK & Taiwan at the end of November into mid-December. We are spending 8 days each that’s because we have friends and relatives in HK so we planned 3-4 days meeting people. However, I think 8 days in Taiwan is still too short to explore and enjoy, every where we go is going to be a rush. We are skipping the east side of the island. If you have not finalize your trip, I would suggest to spend less time in HK since it’s a much smaller city, and allocate more days in Taiwan. Enjoy your trip!

How did you find travel with the little one, was it mostly pram friendly or did you use a carrier?

We used a mix of carrier and stroller. Sometimes on the subway it was easier to carry him than search for an elevator!

Overall, it was a really baby friendly trip! We cover our family travels on Show Them the Globe , there’s some Taiwan articles over there too!

Hi Elaine – great blog post! We are thinking of traveling to Taiwan, possibly next Dec and would like to hire a car for convenience, rather than use public transport. Are hotels with cheap/free parking easy to find outside Taipei? How about parking in general at tourist sites (esp. at Taroko Gorge)? Are tourist sites/viewpoints signposted at Taroko Gorge? Many thanks for any info you could supply!

Hi Elizabeth

Parking was included in places like Alishan (the public car park where the hotel shuttles pick up from), Taroko Gorge, Kenting. It was only included in a few hotels in Taichung but i guess that’s to be expected in a city. In Taroko Gorge, parking was easy to find at some viewpoints but there are only a few spaces at the smaller view points so you might have to wait. We did some of our sightseeing before breakfast and had the viewpoints almost to ourselves!

Have a great trip Elaine

Hi Elaine, Great blog. Thanks for sharing all this information on Taiwan. Can you please share something else? Did you book all your accomodation in advance or were you able to just drive into a place and find accom when you got there? I look forward to your reply as we are headed to Taiwan at the end of December this year. Thanks Janie

It was really busy when we were there in September. I’m sure you get accommodation as you go but, for the more popular places, I’d probably reserve in advance.

Great post. A question: what is the best season to tour Taiwan based on your research or experience? Many thanks. I probably will have more question as we go deeper into our planning. Many thanks.

Spring or Autumn. Winter is fine if you don’t mind low temperatures. Summer is hot and humid and avoid typhoon season. We got caught in the tail end of the season in late September but it was ok.

Did you every drive in the taipei city area? Is it easy to drive and to find parking?

Planning to rent car over there since we have elderly with us. Thank you

Hi Nabihah, yes we drove in and around Taipei City during our time in Taiwan. Driving was surprisingly easy and while parking was tricky if you plan it in advance there are parking spaces in most places. Have fun

We are thinking of going with our little one when she turns one in Sept/Oct (hopefully that is okay time,probably Oct though is better?). Since you have 3 little ones, do you have recommendations with traveling with a little one? She is currently 4 months old and we just booked our flight from Canada to Hong Kong. We plan to add Taiwan in there as well. It’s great to hear that your trip was baby friendly!

Oh one more question, is it better to fly with little ones during the day or night!?

I much prefer night flights so the kids can sleep through most of it. We just flew 10 hours from Dublin to LA and back over Christmas and the daytime flight was so hard trying to entertain our one year old! She just wants to be free to run around and explore! The night flight was so much easier as she slept for 90% of it. I’ve always been really lucky with night flights but you do run the risk that they won’t sleep at all – if you think there’s a good chance they won’t sleep I’d probably stick to a daytime flight.

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Taiwan Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 23, 2023

Taiwan is one of the most underrated budget destinations in Asia. It offers a beautiful — and super affordable — mix of east and west, blending the culture and cuisines of mainland China , Japan , and Hong Kong . And all with a fraction of the crowds.

I don’t think enough people visit Taiwan. I spent time here as an English teacher and have revisited the country since. There is a lot to do there: hiking the mountains, eating at night markets, drinking at tea houses, lounging on beaches, and enjoying the country’s amazing nightlife. No matter your interests, Taiwan won’t disappoint — especially if you’re a foodie. The food here is some of the best in the region!

This travel guide to Taiwan can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this underrated island!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Taiwan

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Taiwan

1. Visit Jiufen

Jiufen is one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations. Founded during the Qing dynasty, Jiufen boomed as a gold mining town in the 1890s. Here, you can find all kinds of historic tea houses built into the hillside. The center of the city and its historic streets and buildings are all preserved and look as they did 100 years ago. Try the snacks on offer, visit one of the many tea houses, and do some hiking if you have time. It’s a pretty easy day trip from Taipei but you should aim to come early to beat the crowds. If your itinerary allows for it, consider spending a night here so you can experience it without the daytripper crowds.

2. Soak in the Hot Springs

Especially fun to visit in winter, the Beitou Hot Springs are just 30 minutes from downtown Taipei and you can get there on the MRT (you need to go to Xinbeitou station). There are lots of resorts, spas, and inns in the area which, with a vast array of wildlife and fauna, really feel like you’ve traveled much further afield. Visit the Hot Springs Museum, the Xinbeitou Historic Station, and Thermal Valley (a sulfurous lake nearby that has walking trails) while you’re here. There are also some really cool temples here, including the tiny wooden Puji Temple.

3. Explore Taroko National Park

Located southeast of Taipei, this national park offers visitors a chance to hike through beautiful mountainous terrain and gorges. It spans almost 250,000 acres and is one of only nine national parks in Taiwan. With loads of cliffs and waterfalls to explore, it’s a really stunning place to visit. Head to the Zhuilu Suspension Bridge for some amazing views and to the Eternal Spring Shrine or to the Changing Temple for a bit of culture and history. Some suggested walking trails include Shakadang, Changchun, Swallow Grotto, and Lushui-Heliu. Entrance to the park is free.

4. Visit Taipei 101

Formerly known as Taipei World Trade Center, this was the tallest building in the world from when it opened in 2004 until 2010 (when the Burj Khalifa took its place). Standing 508-meters (1,667-feet) tall, it towers over Taipei. There is an observation platform on the 89th floor (at 382-meters high). You can also go up to the 91st floor for an outdoor platform. If you’re needing some retail therapy (and can fit anything else in your bags), there’s a shopping mall at the bottom.

5. Explore the night markets

Taipei is home to dozens of night markets. Shulin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, Tonghua Night Market, Snake Alley, and Ningxia Night Market are all worth spending some time exploring but there are over 30 to choose from in Taipei alone. The food at these markets is the best (and cheapest) in the city. So much so that a few have even been given Michelin Bib Gourmands!

Other Things to See and Do in Taiwan

1. visit taipei.

Taipei is the epicenter of the country. Here there are sprawling food markets, a wild nightlife, spacious parks, and all kinds of interesting and quirky museums. Plus, the nearby mountains are full of easy and accessible hikes. Be sure to take a free walking tour, visit the National Palace Museum, see some temples (especially Confucius Temple and Bao-an Temple), and visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. I can’t sing the praises of this city highly enough (I lived here when I taught English). For even more on the city, here’s my full list of things to do in Taipei!

2. Go island hopping

The Pescadores Islands (known locally as Penghu) is an archipelago off the west coast between Taiwan and China. There are 90 islands in the region, perfect for exploring on a day trip. You can take a boat tour that visits several islands in the region, allowing you to snorkel, see sea turtles, and wander through traditional aboriginal villages and explore temples galore. Expect to pay around 1,500 TWD for a one-day multi-island tour.

3. See Tianhou Temple

Located in Taipei, this is one of the oldest temples in the city. Tianhou (also known as Mazu Temple, after the deity Mazu, goddess of the sea) was built in 1746 and is one of three major temples in Taiwan from the Qing period. It’s a beautiful Taoist temple filled with mythological creatures, incense, lucky goldfish, and people paying respect to the gods. Admission is free.

4. Hit the beach

The beaches of Kenting on the southern tip of the island are the best place to enjoy the summer weather. White Sand Bay is the most popular beach and a great place to swim, snorkel, and soak up the sun. Other beaches worth checking out are Fulong Beach, South Bay, Dawan Beach, Laomei Beach, and Little Bali Bay.

5. See the Lantern Festival

The famous Taiwan Lantern Festival is held every February/March and involves releasing hundreds of paper lanterns into the sky. There’s also a huge parade with floats, most of which relate to the year’s animal (from the Chinese zodiac). Thousands of people gather to watch and take part. To ensure the environment is protected, make sure you use a biodegradable eco-friendly lantern.

6. Hike Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain (also known as Yushan), the highest peak in Taiwan and East Asia with its peak at almost 4,000 meters above sea level, is a popular hike. If you don’t hike, there’s a special train that takes you to the peak before dawn (150 TWD). Most people do the hike over a couple of days, however, you can do it in a single day if you wake up super early and hike but that will mean over 10 hours of hiking. You’ll also need permits in advance so talk to your hotel or hostel staff as they can help you arrange those.

7. Tour Fo Guang Shan Monastery

This Zen monastery in Kaohsiung is a massive complex with eight towering pagodas that flank the monastery’s Big Buddha (which, at 36-meters tall, is the highest seated bronze Buddha in the world). Built in 1967 and spanning over 74 acres, the complex has a spacious outdoor walkway lined by manicured gardens as well as the huge pagodas. There are also over 14,000 statues of the Buddha here. Admission is free (donations are welcome) and there’s a delicious vegetarian restaurant inside with a huge buffet.

8. Visit the National Palace Museum

This museum, located in Taipei, has a collection of over 70,000 artifacts from Imperial China. Most of the collection was brought to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War (1929–1947). In addition to their permanent exhibits, there are also rotating exhibits throughout the year as well as a section for children. There are free daily tours in English as well as a detailed audio guide if you’d rather explore yourself. Admission is 350 TWD.

9. See the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Officially known as Liberty Square, this national monument was built in 1976 in honor of Chiang Kai-shek, former president of the Republic of China. He ruled mainland China from 1928 to 1949, and then in Taiwan from 1949 until his death in 1975. The memorial also houses a library and a museum that documents Chiang Kai-shek’s life and career. Tours in English are available daily but must be booked in advance. Admission is free.

10. Take a cooking class

Taiwan is a foodie’s dream and I always overindulge while I’m here. Noodle soups, incredible rice dishes, amazing buns, dumplings, and scallion pancakes are just some of the tasty local offerings. While cooking classes here are a little pricey, I think they are worth it if you really want to learn about the food. The cooking skills (and recipes) make a great souvenir to take home too. Expect to pay around 2,000 TWD for a class.

11. Go hiking

Taipei has plenty of hiking trails just outside town that are easily accessible. There are easy, moderate, and challenging trails, as well as both short and full-day hikes. Some suggested trails to check out are Xiangshan (easy, 45minutes), Bitoujiao (moderate, 2-3 hours), Jinmianshan (easy, 1.5 hours), Huang Didian (hard, 5 hours), and Pingxi Crag (moderate, 2-3 hours).

12. Visit Orchid Island

Located 64 kilometers (40 miles) off the southeastern coast, this lush, volcanic island offers hiking, swimming, diving, and amazing hot springs. There are also underground houses here, built to avoid the numerous typhoons that ravage the region. The island is home to only 5,000 people too. Visit the Lanyu Flying Fish Cultural Museum to learn about local culture. Flights from Taipei take just over an hour and cost around 4,500 TWD.

13. Hike Wuling Peak

For more hiking, head to Wuling Peak on Hehuan Mountain. Located in Central Taiwan, it stands 3,275 meters (10,744 feet) above sea level and makes for a good day trip for anyone looking to spend more time outdoors. The peak here is so high you can actually look down into a sea of clouds below. A round-trip hike takes around 2-3 hours. Be sure to bring a raincoat as well as water and sunscreen.

14. Explore the Northern Coastline

Head to the coast to see the otherworldly lunar-like landscapes at Yehliu Geopark. There are all kinds of unique rock formations here, including one that looks like Queen Elizabeth (which took over 4,000 years to form). It’s a popular tourist attraction so try to get here early to beat the crowds. Admission is 120 TWD.

15. Visit Tainan

This is Taiwan’s oldest urban area, established by the Dutch East India Company in 1624. Located in the south near Kaohsiung, Tainan was the capital of Taiwan from 1683-1887. There are all kinds of temples to visit here (don’t miss the Confucius Temple), several night markets, a historic old town, and a massive department store reminiscent of the Ginza district in Tokyo. There is also a nearby mangrove and wildlife reserve (it’s part of Taijiang National Park) just 30 minutes away by car.

16. Explore Taichung

Taichung is located in west-central Taiwan and is the second-largest city in the country. Spend some time walking the Parkway (a corridor of greenery perfect for walking and exploring), visit the Feng Chia Night Market, see the botanical garden, and explore the massive National Museum of Natural Science. If you’re a history buff, don’t miss the Taichung Folklore Park which is home to several traditional Taiwanese homes and buildings that showcase the country’s history.

Taiwan Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels dorms with 6-8-bed cost between 300-700 TWD per night. A private room costs anything from 1,000-3,000 TWD. Every place has free Wi-Fi and most hostels have self-catering facilities and include free breakfast.

Budget hotels start at 950 TWD for a small room with a double bed. Most rooms have AC but free breakfast is rarely included.

Airbnb is available around the country with private rooms starting at 650 TWD per night, though they average at least triple that. For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 1,000 TWD (though prices average triple that). Book early to find the best deals.

Wild camping is generally prohibited but there are lots of campgrounds around the country. Expect to pay at least 300 TWD for a basic plot without electricity.

Food – Taiwanese cuisine is a mix of influences, from Chinese, Japanese (owing to the Japanese occupation), and Western traditions. Seafood is a huge staple, with squid, crab, and shellfish being especially popular. Braised pork, oyster omelets, fish balls, and stinky tofu are just some of the many dishes you can find around the country.

Food at the outdoor markets costs around 35-100 TWD depending on what you get. An order of dumplings costs around 100 TWD. Noodle soup or a basic rice dish costs around 70 TWD.

A meal at a simple sit-down restaurant serving local cuisine costs around 120 TWD.

Western food costs between 100-400 TWD. Burgers (often made with pork rather than beef) are on the lower end while pizza is on the higher end.

Fast food is pretty popular here. MosBurger (the best fast food joint in the country) costs around 165 TWD for a combo meal. Sushi, one of the most popular food options, costs 300–450 TWD for a meal. (Plates at the conveyor belt places are around 30 TWD each.

A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs 500 TWD. A beer or a latte/cappuccino costs around 80 TWD while a bottle of water costs 21 TWD.

For a week’s worth of groceries including staples like rice, seasonal produce, and seafood, expect to pay 2,000-2,500 TWD.

Backpacking Taiwan Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget of 1,050 TWD per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, eat some street food, cook some meals, limit your drinking, do free walking tours, and take public transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of 2,700 TWD per day, you can stay in an Airbnb, enjoy some Western food, drink more, take the bus between cities, and do more paid activities like museum visits and cooking classes.

On a “luxury” budget of 5,600 TWD per day, you can stay in a hotel, rent a car or take the train between cities, take guided tours to the islands, go diving, eat out at any restaurant you want, and visit as many attractions as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in TWD.

Taiwan Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Taiwan is an affordable country so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank here. As long as you stick to local cuisine and limit your drinking, it’s hard to spend a lot of money. Here are a few tips to keep your spending in check:

• Skip the high-speed trains – The high-speed trains in Taiwan are super convenient but expensive. Stick to the slower local trains, which are about 50% cheaper than the HSR.
• Eat at the food markets – The food in Taiwan is world-class and the best food is at the night markets that dot all the cities.
• Avoid Western food – Western food is twice the price of Taiwanese food. It’s also not amazing so stick to the local cuisine to save money.
• Take free walking tours – Taipei, Jiufen, Tainan, and Kaohsiung all have free walking tours from companies like Like It Formosa . They’re my favorite walking tour company in Taiwan. Their tours are fun, informative, and free. Just remember to tip your guide at the end.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water here needs to be boiled before drinking so bring a bottle with a filter to ensure you have safe drinking water. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to you can be sure you water is safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Taiwan

Taiwan has plenty of fun and affordable hostels. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• Formosa 101 (Taipei)
• Star Hostel (Taipei)
• T-Life Hostel (Taichung)
• Fuqi Hostel-Heping (Tainan)

How to Get Around Taiwan

Public transportation – All of the major cities have public transportation that is fast, safe, and reliable. Fares start at 15 TWD and go up depending on how far you travel. Taipei and Kaohsiung both have metro systems with tickets costing between 20-65 TWD. A single-day pass in Taipei costs 150 TWD, while a day pass in Kaohsiung costs 180 TWD.

Bus – The bus is the cheapest way to get around Taiwan. Intercity coach buses are available to all major cities around Taiwan, including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. They are comfortable, modern, safe, and have air conditioning (too much, usually, so bring a sweater). The two main intercity bus companies are Ubus and Kuo-Kuang Bus. For fares and timetable information, visit taiwanbus.tw.

A bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes around five hours and costs 600-1,000 TWD while the three-hour trip from Taipei to Taichung costs as little as 90 TWD.

Train – The high-speed trains (HSR) in Taiwan are super convenient, however, they only go down the west side of the island and are very expensive. For example, a ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs around 1,500 TWD.

The “local” trains are much more affordable, often 50% cheaper. The trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung on a local train costs just 845 TWD. It’s also just 515-800 TWD from Taipei to Tainan and 675-800 TWD from Taipei to Taichung via the local train.

The HSR line doesn’t pass through city centers, so you either need to take a bus or train from the HSR station, which also costs more time and money.

Flying – Domestic flights are relatively affordable, however, they are much more expensive than the bus or train. The two-hour flight from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs more than 4,000 TWD.

Flights to neighboring Hong Kong start at 3,600 TWD and take five hours (they can be as much as 6,500 TWD so it’s best if you’re flexible with your dates) while flights to Singapore take five hours and cost around 3,500 TWD.

Car Rental – Driving here is safe, however, car rentals here are expensive, usually costing at least 1,500 TWD per day. You need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent a vehicle here. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Taiwan

July and August are the hottest months in the country and the most popular time to visit. Temperatures often hit 35°C (95°F) and prices are a little higher as well. It’s a great time to visit if you want to hit the beach.

The shoulder months of May-June and September-October offer the best balance of crowds, weather, and price. It’s still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors and do some hiking without getting rained out.

Winters in Taiwan are a little rainy but still warm, with daily highs around 18–20°C (65-68°F). Prices are a bit lower and it’s the perfect time to visit the relaxing (and relatively empty) hot springs. Expect big crowds in Taipei in December-January for the Chinese New Year.

How to Stay Safe in Taiwan

Taiwan is very safe, consistently ranking well on the Global Peace Index as one of the safest destinations in the world. Crimes against tourists are super rare. Overall, you are unlikely to encounter any problems in Taiwan and I never felt unsafe in the country. There are no scams here, everyone is super nice, and crime is super rare. It’s a great place to visit. My friends who live here also never have problems.

Solo female travelers should feel safe here for all those reasons. However, the standard precautions you take anywhere apply here too (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). There are numerous solo female travel blogs that can provide more specific tips.

Earthquakes are common in the region so make sure you’re familiar with your accommodation’s emergency exits. Between July and November, typhoons can occur so make sure you stay up to date on the latest weather — especially if you’re near the coast or out hiking.

110 is the emergency number for police while 119 is the emergency number for fire and ambulance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Taiwan Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Taiwan Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on China travel and continue planning your trip:

The 23 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Itinerary: What to Do in 4 (or More) Days

My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong

What Hitchhiking Solo as a Female in China Taught Me

7 Lessons Learned from 3 Months in China

How to Travel the Trans-Siberian Railway

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Perfect Taiwan Itinerary And Complete Taiwan Travel Guide

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 5, 2024

Categories Taiwan

Did you know Taiwan has the largest number and density of high mountains in the world? While this island may be small in size, it has much to offer!

From beautiful beaches to modern skyscrapers and from colorful street art to delicious cuisine, Taiwan has it all.

This Taiwan itinerary will guide you around the highlights of this green island that used to be called ‘Ilha Formosa' (meaning ‘ beautiful island ‘ in Portuguese). A fitting name as Taiwan is absolutely gorgeous!

Taiwan itinerary

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Itinerary for Taiwan and Taiwan travel map

In the map below you can find our Taiwan itinerary, at the end of the post you can download this map.

Click here for the interactive map

The ultimate Taiwan itinerary

• Day 1-3: Kaohsiung
• Day 4-6: Kenting National Park
• Day 7-9:  Tainan
• Day 10-11:  Taichung
• Day 12-13: Sun Moon Lake
• Day 14-19:  Taipei (part I)
• Day 20-23: Hualien and the Taroko Gorge
• Day 24-29:  Taipei (part II)

Important things to know when planning a trip to Taiwan

Taiwan is a great destination year-round, however, Spring (March-April) and Autumn (October-November) are the most popular times to visit. From mid-May until September, monsoon season causes a lot of rain, especially on the East Coast. We visited in May and while we did experience some rain, the weather was good on most days. However, we did adjust our travel plans because of the (terrible) weather forecast, and instead of traveling the entire length of Taiwan's East Coast (in the pouring rain), we opted to spend more time in Taipei (where it was still sunny). During Summer (June until August) Taiwan is hot and humid with temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius. Winter is low season in Taiwan, though it usually doesn't get that cold (around 10 degrees).

The official currency in Taiwan is the  New Taiwan dollar  ( NT $) .   Here  you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 34NT$ and $1 approximately 30NT$.

Plan your Taiwan trip like a pro with these tools: ? Pick up an EasyCard for cashless payments and to use public transport. ? Book discounted tickets for Taiwan's high-speed rail. ? Stay connected with a  Taiwan Wifi router . ? Plan your journey with the  T aiwan Lonely Planet . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Klook or Get Your Guide . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Taiwan travel tips

In general traveling around Taiwan is very easy. This beautiful small country is safe and well-organized and, as I already mentioned, the people are super friendly.

Nevertheless, here are some travel tips to make your Taiwan trip even easier (and cheaper!).

Buy an EasyCard

I recommend that as soon as you arrive in Taiwan, you pick up an EasyCard .

You can use this pass all over Taiwan to pay for transport (MRT, bicycles, buses, trains, ferries, etc.). The Easy Card gives you a discount on transport fares and saves you the hassle of having to pay with coins.

You can top up your credit in 7-11 and Family Mart (you can also pay with your EasyCard in these shops and several others).

Pick up a Wifi router at the airport

During our trip to Taiwan, we used a portable Wifi router with unlimited data to stay online.

We could connect all our devices (and we have a lot ) and had excellent reception everywhere in Taiwan (except in the tunnels on the East coast). Click here to book your Wifi router .

You can pick up the router upon arrival at Taoyuan international airport or Kaohsiung airport and use it throughout your Taiwan trip.

You can simply return the device to the service counter where you picked it up, or use a 24-hour drop-off box available at the airports mentioned above if you happen to have to catch a flight outside of business hours.

Be prepared to use Google Translate a lot

While the people in Taiwan are very friendly and always willing to help, I was surprised to learn that many Taiwanese don't speak English. At all.

They will still try to help you through and Google Translate makes it a lot easier. You can download the app for free in the App Store or the Play Store .

Our Taiwan trip: facts and figures

• I traveled with my husband; our trip started in Kaohsiung and ended in Taipei. Our Taiwan trip itinerary was  29 days in   total.
• We traveled around Taiwan by public transport (train, bus, and MRT). In Kenting National Park and Hualien, we rented a scooter. In Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, and Taipei we used the public bicycle rental systems, bus, and MRT to get around.
• During our trip around Taiwan, we spent approximately   2065 NT / €63 / $69 per day as a couple. If you want to know more about the costs of our Taiwan trip , check my budget breakdown .
• I have written detailed guides for most places we visited in Taiwan, in these guides you can find detailed information about our day-to-day activities, transportation, and detailed information about our accommodation . You can find the links to those posts in the itinerary below.

Where to find great budget accommodation in Taiwan

In the table below you can find our Taiwan accommodation. I’ve also written a separate post about the places we stayed in Taiwan with more details about these places.

Note: Prices for these hotels depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Use ‘click here' to see the latest prices on Agoda and Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

* Unfortunately, the Airbnbs we stayed at in Kaohsiung and Taipei are no longer available due to Covid-19. I've done my utmost to find a suitable alternative (see table) .

How to spend a month in Taiwan

Ideally, if you have a month in Taiwan as we did, you'd make a full circle around the island. You can either start and end your trip in Taipei or in Kaohsiung, as these are the largest hubs for international flights.

As I mentioned above, unfortunately, we didn't get to finish our Taiwan loop because monsoon season started and the East Coast was soaking wet.

Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun during the additional time we spend in Taipei and I don't regret making this decision. Below you can find our day by day one month Taiwan trip.

If you have less time available to explore Taiwan, don't worry, I've got you covered. Further on in the post, I also suggest shorter options (5, 7, and 10 days, plus 2 and 3 weeks) for your Taiwan travel itinerary.

Day 1 – 3: Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung isn't a well-known city, at least I had never heard of it before traveling to Taiwan. Of course, that could also just be me being ignorant…

Anyway, Kaohsiung is the third-largest city in Taiwan and this is where we started our trip. Kaohsiung is an important harbor city but also has many interesting sights.

My recommended activities for Kaohsiung are:

• Cycle the bicycle trail along the Love River . Worthwhile stops are the Kaohsiung 228 Peace Memorial Park, Zhongdou Wetlands Park, Botanical Garden, and the Lotus Pond.
• Cycle around the Lotus Pond. Another great bicycle trail goes around the Lotus Pond, on the south side of the lake you can find the colorful Tiger and Dragon Pagodas.
• Visit Qijin Island . This small island is only a 5-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Here you can explore the Cijin Coast Park, admire the view from the Cihou Lighthouse and visit the Maritime Museum.

Book your Kaohsiung accommodation: 85 Good Time Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Kaohsiung .

Day 4 – 6: Kenting National Park

From busy Kaohsiung, we traveled to the green Kenting National Park, in the South of Taiwan.

Fun fact: did you know there are 9 National Parks in Taiwan ?

Kenting National Park is beautiful, the beaches are pristine and the empty roads through lush green jungle make it the perfect place for a scooter road trip.

Some of the best places to visit in Kenting are:

• Maobitou Park : a great spot to admire the beautiful ocean views and impressive rock formations.
• Hengchun night market: try out lots of typical Taiwanese dishes and snacks and wash them down with a boba (bubble tea).
• Kenting town: take an hour or so to explore the town, but leave plenty of time to relax on a pretty Kenting beach, with white sand and stunning blue water.

Book your Kenting accommodation: Light Blue Bed & Breakfast

Click here to read about more things to do in Kenting .

Day 7 – 9: Tainan

Our next destination was Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan and one with a Dutch history which made it extra interesting for us (being from the Netherlands and all).

Back in 1624, the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or United East India Company in English) built Fort Zeelandia in Tainan and used the city as their ruling and trading base.

Besides the Dutch Fort, there are many beautiful temples in Tainan. In fact, there are more Buddhist and Taoist temples in Tainan than in any other Taiwanese city! The top spots in Tainan you should visit are:

• Koxinga’s Shrine : an impressive shrine dating from 1663. Also, take a stroll around the stylish garden in front of the complex.
• Fort Zeelandia: this fort was built by the Dutch in the early 17th century and used as a trading outpost. It's a great place to learn about (part of) the tumultuous history of Taiwan.
• National Museum of Taiwan History : another excellent place to learn about Taiwanese history and its many invaders throughout the decades (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese, and the Japanese).

Book your Tainan accommodation: Tie Dao Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Tainan .

Day 10 – 11: Taichung

Unfortunately, it was raining during the majority of our time in Taichung. We made the most of it though and went to the movies, ate wood-fired oven pizza, and hung out in cute cafes.

However, if the weather is a bit nicer, you can easily spend three days here as there are many things to do in this interesting city! Highlights in (and around) Taichung are:

• Rainbow Village : a short distance from Taichung city center you can find what is perhaps the most colorful village in the world. Painted by Huang Yong-Fu in a desperate attempt to preserve his home that was about to be torn down by the government, this artsy village has now become one of Taiwan’s most famous attractions!
• Chun Shui Tang Cultural Tea House : the birthplace of Taiwan's famous boba, aka bubble tea. Here you can take a bubble tea-making class and learn how to create these delicious and highly addictive concoctions yourself.
• Taichung Second Market : an authentic wet market with 100 years of history. Here you can eat local dishes created from secret family recipes handed down for generations!

Book your Taichung accommodation: Modern Inn

Click here to read about more things to do in Taichung .

Day 12 – 13: Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan and a very popular place to visit. It sure is a gorgeous place, unfortunately, the rain that found us in Taichung followed us to Sun Moon Lake.

We had planned to do lots of outdoor activities, like cycling around the lake and hiking up Mt. Shuishe.

Instead, we spent most of our time in the Starbucks in Shuishe Village, running outside whenever the rain stopped for a brief moment to take pictures of the still beautiful-looking lake.

Nevertheless, there are tons of things to do at Sun Moon Lake when the weather is nice:

• Follow (part of) the Yuetan Bike Path : a 29 kilometers bike route that goes around Sun Moon Lake. You can also opt for a shorter section of approximately 12 kilometers.
• Ride the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭: from the Ropeway, you can enjoy the best views over the lake and forested mountains.
• Visit the Wenwu Temple and Ci En Pagoda : these beautiful constructions‭ are highly worth a visit, and both can be reached with the  Round-The-Lake-Bus .

Book your Sun Moon Lake accommodation: Itathao Motel

? Discount : if you're planning a trip to Sun Moon Lake,  check out the Sun Moon Lake ropeway combo pass , which includes the ropeway, bike rental, and a boat trip over the lake.

Day 14 – 19: Taipei (part I)

I loved Taipei! I'm not usually one for big cities for a long period of time, but I really enjoyed our time in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. We spent 12 days there in total and still didn't run out of things to do.

What I loved most about Taipei is how easy it was to get away from the busy part of town and find some peace and quiet.

There is so much nature just a subway ride away from the center! For example, we hiked a mountain trail in the Maokong area and didn't come across anyone else.

I've written an extensive post about Taipei and a blog about day trips from Taipei , but to sum up, here are some of the main Taipei highlights to add to your Taipei itinerary.

Admire the view from the iconic Taipei 101

Go up to the observation deck on the 91st floor for marvelous birds-eye views of Taipei city ( purchase a fast-track ticket here ).

Explore the National Palace Museum

This huge museum houses one of the world's largest collections of ancient Chinese artifacts and is highly worth a visit. Click here to buy your ticket online .

Hike the Elephant Mountain trail

A steep but short walk to the top of Elephant Mountain (a 183-meter high hill) offering beautiful views over Taipei and the aforementioned Taipei 101.

Visit Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a huge and impressive building. Try to time your visit to coincide with the changing of the guards (every hour on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm).

Also visit the nearby Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness, National Concert Hall, and the National Theater.

Eat your way around Shilin Night Market 

Shilin Night Market is one of the best night markets in Taiwan, and also one of the largest in the country. Sample some famous street food dishes such as stinky tofu, fried buns, bubble tea, and oyster omelet.

There are so many food stalls you'll inevitably find yourself coming back a second night to try out more typical Taiwanese foods and snacks.

Take a day trip to Maokong

This is a pretty little village on the outskirts of Taipei that can be reached via the Maokong gondola ( buy your online ticket here ) or bus.

There are several great hiking trails around the village, which is known for the cultivation of high-quality tea.

Book your Taipei accommodation: Comma Boutique Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Taipei .

Day 20 – 23: Hualien and the Taroko Gorge

The East coast was my favorite part of Taiwan and I have only seen a small section! There are steep cliffs, a stunning blue ocean, marble mountains, and a green jungle.

It's much less populated than the rest of Taiwan, only 4% of the Taiwanese live on the East Coast. We spent 3 days in Hualien and used this relaxed city as a base to explore the famous Taroko Gorge and the area south of Hualien.

Some of the best things to do around Hualien are:

• Qinshui Cliffs : the combination of the steep cliffs and the vivid blue color of the ocean is a spectacular sight.
• Taroko Gorge: one of the most popular places to visit in Taiwan and rightly so, it's a beautiful place. There are hiking trails, waterfalls, rope bridges, and amazing views wherever you look. Click here to book a day trip from Taipei or take a Taroko tour from Hualien city .
• East Coast National Scenic Area : we rented a scooter and went for an adventurous drive along the coast and mountainous area south of Hualien.

Book your Hualien accommodation: Honey B Trip B&B

Click here to read about more things to do in Hualien .

Day 24-29: Taipei (part II)

Because of the approaching typhoon season, it was already very rainy on the East Coast. Therefore we did not continue south to Taitung ( cycling Taiwan’s east coast is a very popular option) but went back to Taipei instead.

In Taipei, we had mostly sunny days for the remainder of our trip and there was a lot more to do in and around Taipei so this was the best option for us.

But I sure would love to see more of the East coast of Taiwan!

Alternative Taiwan itineraries (5, 7, and 10 days + 2 and 3 weeks)

Taiwan itinerary 5 days.

If you just have 5 days to travel around Taiwan, don't worry! While you cannot see everything the island has to offer, you can get a taste and feel of the country.

This is how I would spend a Taiwan 5 day itinerary:

• Day 1-2: Taipei
• Day 3: make a day trip from Taipei (such as Beitou, Tamsui, Wulai, Maokong , or Yehliu Geopark )
• Day 4: travel to Sun Moon Lake
• Day 5: explore Sun Moon Lake and return to Taipei

Taiwan itinerary 7 days

For a 7-day Taiwan itinerary, I'd suggest the following:

• Day 3: make a day trip from Taipei (such as Beitou, Tamsui, Wulai, Maokong or Thousand Island Lake and the Shiding tea township )
• Day 5: explore Sun Moon Lake and travel to Taichung ( book HSR tickets with a discount here )
• Day 6: Taichung
• Day 7: Taichung and return to Taipei

With this Taiwan 1 week itinerary, you will get to explore the buzzing capital as well as Taiwan's second-largest city, Taichung, and one of Taiwan's absolute highlights: the beautiful Sun Moon Lake.

Taiwan itinerary 10 days

This 10 day Taiwan itinerary not only includes the two major cities of Taiwan (Taipei and Taichung), but also the two most beautiful natural sights: Taroko Gorge on the East Coast and Sun Moon Lake in the middle of the Island.

• Day 3: make a day trip from Taipei (such as Beitou, Tamsui, Wulai, or Maokong )
• Day 4: travel to Hualien
• Day 5: visit Taroko Gorge
• Day 6: travel to Sun Moon Lake
• Day 7: Sun Moon Lake
• Day 8-9: Taichung
• Day 10: Return to Taipei

For days 4-10 of this Taiwan 10 day itinerary, it's easiest to rent a car as this will allow you to explore Taroko Gorge independently.

It's also the easiest way to travel from the East Coast to the West coast. If you opt to travel via public transportation, the best way to travel from Hualien to Sun Moon Lake is via Taipei.

Taiwan 2 week itinerary

If you have 2 weeks in Taiwan, I'd recommend traveling either from North to South or vice versa. Your 2 week Taiwan itinerary could look like this:

• Day 1-3: Taipei
• Day 4-5: Sun Moon Lake
• Day 6-7: Taichung
• Day 8-9: Tainan
• Day 10-11: Kenting National Park
• Day 12-14: Kaohsiung

This 2 week Taiwan itinerary is especially suitable for people looking to travel in one direction instead of a loop.

Taiwan 3 week itinerary

If you don't mind a fast-paced itinerary, you could make a complete loop around Taiwain in three weeks. For this 3 week Taiwan itinerary, I'd suggest the following route:

• Day 6-8: Taichung
• Day 9-10: Tainan
• Day 11-13: Kaohsiung
• Day 14-15: Kenting National Park
• Day 16-17: Taitung
• Day 18-20: Hualien and Taroko Gorge
• Day 21: Return to Taipei

You will be traveling a lot with this 3-week itinerary for Taiwan and I'd recommend avoiding monsoon season (which is especially bad on the East Coast).

This itinerary for 3 weeks in Taiwan will show you very different sides of Taiwan. You'll explore several interesting cities, spend enough time at the most beautiful lake in Taiwan and also visit two National Parks (Taroko and Kenting).

Planning a trip to Taiwan: in conclusion

I had a great time in Taiwan and hope this post will help you plan your trip to this wonderful little island.

You can download the map and table with the transport information below. If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me a message !

This post was updated in November 2022.

ViaTravelers

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

Hello, Lotte! Thank you for thsi great blog! Taiwan is such a fascinating place to visit, and I love the Itinerary you gave. It makes an almost two-week trip to Taiwan packed and great!

Monday 4th of October 2021

Thanks for your kind words about my Taiwan itinerary:-) It's such a great country, too bad it's been closed since Covid... Anyway, enjoy your time in Amsterdam (I saw you went on a canal boat trip on your IG).

Monday 18th of January 2021

Thanks so much for sharing such an amazing post of your experience in Taiwan! I've always wanted to visit this country, and your post helped me add even more to my Taiwan must-visit list.

Sunday 24th of January 2021

Thank you for reading my Taiwan post and great to hear it's inspired you (even more) to visit this amazing island. I really loved our time there and would love to go back to explore more (and eat more delicious food...) One day!

Sunday 3rd of January 2021

Thank you so much for all this information. I truly appreciate it! I have been Virtual traveling since C19 and once this pandemic is contained and global green light turns on, Ilike to take my boys (husband and son) to Taiwan. Stay safe and god bless. Thank you

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Hi May Twu,

Thank you for reading my post and most welcome! For now, virtual travel is what will have to do... Hopefully, things will improve in 2021 with vaccine campaigns starting up. I hope you can visit Taiwan in the near future!

Stay safe and thanks again! Lotte

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

Hi. Thanks for the very informative itinerary!

May I know which month did you went to Taiwan? Thanks.

You are welcome! We went to Taiwan in May and left at the start of June. Have a nice trip:-)

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Thank your for post, it's very useful! Taiwan looks really amazing.

Saturday 24th of February 2018

Thank you, Taiwan is amazing indeed:-)

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A Detailed 7 Days in Taiwan Itinerary

Written By: Nick Kembel

City Guides , Taiwan

Updated On: December 27, 2022

There are more than a few compelling reasons to visit the East Asian island nation of Taiwan : super welcoming locals, the best night markets in Asia , excellent public transportation, alluring landscapes, and, recently, a commendable handling of the pandemic.

When noting Taiwan’s compact size on the map, you may think one week is enough.

However, once you start planning your trip, you’ll soon be overwhelmed with options and find yourself struggling to decide what to include or leave out.

Taiwan Itinerary – 7 Days

Below I’m going to cut to the chase and give you a 1 week Taiwan itinerary that takes in the best of the country’s cultural, historical, artistic, culinary, and scenic wonders in the most efficient way possible.

This is a tried-and-tested route that I’ve developed after over 10 years of living in and traveling around Taiwan.

From the steaming thermal waters of Beitou Hot Spring to an epic sunrise above a sea of clouds at Alishan National Scenic Area , you’ll have all the makings of the trip of a lifetime!  

Taiwan Itinerary Highlights

This Taiwan one-week itinerary assumes you’ll have seven complete days to work with.

• Days 1 and 2 are spent exploring the mesmerizing capital, Taipei City, while day 3 involves a multi-stop day trip from the city.
• Day 4 takes you down to artsy Taichung.
• From there, you’ll venture to stunning Sun Moon Lake on day 5.
• And on to the misty mountain resort of Alishan on days 6 and 7.

From there, you can circle back to Taipei, or head directly to Taoyuan Internation Airport. 

Day 1 – Taipei Itinerary and City Explorations

Welcome to Taiwan! Your first day in Taipei shall be devoted to covering some of the city’s must-visit attractions.

You’ll be relying entirely on the excellent MRT to get around Taipei.

Make sure to pick up an EasyCard at any MRT station for swiping in and out of all public transportation. You can get the TWD100 deposit back at the end of your trip.

Elephant Mountain & Taipei 101

To kick start your day and get oriented, you’re going to hike to the summit of Elephant Mountain in eastern Taipei City.

If that sounds daunting, put your worries aside! The trail entrance is a short walk from Xiangshan MRT Station, and it only takes about 20 minutes to reach the top.

Reaching the lookout point, your mouth will literally drop. This is hands-down the best view of Taipei, the place where postcards are shot.

Towering Taipei 101 dominates the view, but from here you can see all the way to neighboring New Taipei City. 

Once you’ve snapped enough photos, head back down the mountain and walk to the base of Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Ride the fastest elevator in the world to the 89 th \ to 91 st – floor Taipei 101 Observatory for another incredible, yet completely different perspective of Taipei.  

Need lunch in an air-conditioned setting? The food court on B1 of Taipei 101 has several decent options.

• Read: Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery of Hong Kong -Another epic View in Hong Kong

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

A quick hop on the MRT will bring you to CKS Memorial Hall, the city’s most impressive historical landmark.

The enormous blue and white monument honors the first president of the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name; it’s complicated…)

The monument stands in expansive Liberty Square, flanked by two classical Chinese buildings: National Concert Hall and National Theater.

Don’t miss the view from the Liberty Square Arch at the western end of the square.

Beitou Hot Spring

Now that you’ve done a fair share of walking, its time to kick back and soak in some thermal hot spring water.

Even if you’re visiting in the hotter months (May to September), press on, as there’s going to more to it than that.

Beitou is Taipei’s only hot spring, and the only one that is metro-accessible in all of Taiwan.

The hot spring was first developed by the Japanese during their colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), and today Beitou retains a thoroughly Japanese feel , with historical wooden bathhouses, a Japanese temple, and other landmarks harking back to the era.

Besides soaking in one of the many hot spring facilities, ranging from budget-friendly Beitou Public Hot Spring to high-end luxurious spas, you can also walk through Beitou Hot Spring Park, get enveloped in the mist at Beitou Thermal Valley, or learn about the area at Beitou Hot Spring Museum, housed in the original Japanese bathhouse.

Don’t leave without trying hot spring ramen and hot spring eggs!

Day 2 – Taipei Cool Neighborhoods and Attractions

There’s still a lot more to see in Taipei before you get out of the city. On day two you’ll round out your Taipei experience with some cultural attractions and cool neighborhoods.

Longshan Temple

Get up bright and early to witness the mesmerizing chanting ceremony at Longshan Temple, Taipei’s most famous temple, in Wanhua (the oldest section of Taipei). The ceremony begins at 6 a.m. and again at 8 a.m., with both lasting nearly an hour.

Serious temple aficionados can also track down other historic temples in Wanhua including Qingshan Temple, Qingshui Temple, and Taipei Tianhou Temple. 

North Gate & Dihua Street

Ride the MRT two stops from Longshan Temple to Beimen (North Gate) station. Take a moment to admire, and walk right under Beimen, the only of the original five historic gates to Taipei City that still looks like it did in the Qing Dynasty.

From there, walk a few blocks to Dihua Street in historical Dadaocheng neighborhood. The street is said to be the oldest in Taipei, and it remains a center of trade in traditional goods, just like it has been since the founding of Taipei.

Walk the entire length of the street, exploring ancient teashops, traditional Chinese medicine dispensers, fabric markets, temples, local food stalls, and more.

Ximending Youth Shopping District

Return to Beimen and walk (or backtrack one stop on the MRT) to Ximending.

We’ve purposely saved Taipei’s hippest neighborhood for later in the day, when things have started to get going.

Often called the “Shinjuku of Taipei”, the pedestrian-only neighborhood features cosplay cafés, claw machine arcades, bubble tea galore, an open air tattoo street, a toilet-themed restaurant, and some of the best street art in all of Taipei.

Pause for an afternoon cocktail at one of many patio bars beside Red House, a Japanese-era theater-cum-craft & design market. This patio bars are the center of the LGBTQ+ scene in Taipei. A fun craft market is also held here on weekends.

Raohe Night Market

While tourists usually make their way to Shilin Night Market, Taipei’s largest and most famous, you’ll be better off trying Raohe Night Market, with its more manageable size and local feel.

Besides all the incredible food on offer, including a few stalls featured in the Michelin Taipei Guide, you can also marvel at Songshan Ciyou Temple, one of the most beautiful and intricate temples in Taipei, near the eastern entrance to the night market.

5:00 is a great time to arrive at the market, before it gets too busy in the evening. 

Day 3 – Epic Day Trip from Taipei

Just like Taipei offers a staggering number of worthwhile sights and activities, there is also an endless number of day trip possibilities. Here you’ll learn how to combine four of the best ones in a single day trip from the city.

Shifen Waterfall

Shifen waterfall is the widest waterfall in Taiwan and is a sight to behold. Getting there is half the fun, too.

Ride the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, where you’ll transfer onto the small-gauge Pingxi Line to Shifen station.

Many visitors like to set off sky lanterns with wishes written on them from the narrow station. From there, it’s a short walk to the waterfall. 

Jiufen and Jinguashi

Jiufen is a mountaintop former gold mining boomtown transformed into popular market street.

Here you’ll enjoy incredible views down to the sea, traditional teahouses, and local specialties such as taro and sweet potato balls. To get there from Shifen, ride the Pingxi train back to Ruifang then transfer onto a bus.

Just a few bus stops past Jiufen, Jinguashi Gold Ecological Center is the site of one of the original gold mines.

It’s a great and less crowded add-on to Jiufen, where you can learn all about gold mining and enjoy more breathtaking views. 

Keelung Night Market

Keelung is Northern Taiwan’s largest port, but the main reason you’re coming here is to have dinner at one of the best night markets in all of Taiwan.

The photogenic market is lined with yellow lanterns, and every stall has its specialty written in English.

To get there from Jinguashi, ride the bus back to Ruifang Station, then hop on a train bound for Badu, from where you’ll transfer to a Keelung train. After your night market feast and a stroll by the harbor, it’s an easy 40-minute train ride back to Taipei.

Day 4 – Taichung City

Taichung is the largest city in Central Taiwan, and a nice addition to your Taiwan itinerary for its artistic attractions, not to mention it is the stepping-off point for the attractions in the days to follow.

Rainbow Village

The top reason for coming to Taichung is Rainbow Village, a former military dependents village courtyard home that has been transformed into a psychedelically colorful outdoor museum.

“Rainbow Grandpa” an elderly ex-KMT soldier, painted the walls to save his home from being bulldozed, and he can still be seen there maintaining the walls today.

After visiting Rainbow Village, head to the Taichung Train Station area and explore the area on foot. Check out Animation Lane, Totoro Bus Stop, Miyahara Ice Cream, and Natural Way Six Arts Cultural Center.

Insider Tip: Rainbow Village is quite a ways from the Taichung City Center and Taichung Station. To save time, take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from Taipei to Taichung, which gets you there twice as fast, plus the HSR station is closer to Rainbow Village than the regular train station.

Gaomei Wetland

On the coast of Taichung, this wetland area has a series of boardwalks that provide access to tidal flats. Huge wind turbines add to the atmosphere. Try to time your visit with sunset, as they tend to be gorgeous here.

Feng Chia Night Market

Finish off your day at Taichung’s largest and most popular night market. 

Day 5 – Sun Moon Lake

The jewel of the Central Mountain Range is Sun Moon Lake. A bit of a tourist magnet, the lake is nevertheless stunningly and is home to one of Taiwan’s smallest aboriginal tribes.

Regular buses from various points in Taichung take 90 minutes to reach Sun Moon Lake. You’ll arrive at Shuishe, the main village on the lake, where most hotels are found. From there, you can catch a lakeside bus to the below sights. 

Wenwu Temple

The most beautiful views of Sun Moon Lake can be enjoyed from enormous Wenwu Temple. Climb up into the depths of the temple until you reach the best lookout point at the top; you won’t be disappointed.

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

The Sun Moon Lake Cable Car ascends rapidly and givers riders unparalleled lake views.

At the top, it connects to a second cable car that descends the other side of the mountain to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, an amusement park meets aboriginal culture center.

If you’re looking for an authentic aboriginal experience, give it a miss. In March, however, blooming cherry blossoms on site make it worth the visit.

Ita Thao Village

Another village on the lake is Ita Thao, home to the Thao aboriginal tribe, which only numbers around 600.

While this is a more interesting place to stay than Shuishe, you’ll probably want to stick to the latter so you can catch your early bus to Alishan tomorrow.   Ita Thao is less touristy than Shuishe, and there’s a great day and night market along the main road to the lake, featuring aboriginal delicacies and Taiwanese snacks.

Catch a performance at Thao Tribe Performance Center for a more authentic experience.

Insider Tip : Besides the bus, you can also ride a ferry between Shuishe and Ita Thao villages. There’s also a third ferry stop on the lake, Xuanguang Temple, from where you can see Lalu Island, a sacred aboriginal burial ground on the lake. 

Day 6 – Sun Moon Lake to Alishan National Scenic Area

You’ll need to get up a little early to catch the bus from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan. Don’t miss it, as there are only two per day!

Sun Moon Lake to Alishan Bus Ride

Minibuses depart from Shuishe village to Alishan only twice per day, at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. You can usually buy tickets upon boarding, but it’s best to inquire the day before.

The ride to Alishan takes four hours. The drive is quite winding but also very scenic.

Alishan National Scenic Area

The final stop on this Taiwan seven-day itinerary is Alishan National Scenic Area, the country’s top mountain resort.

Alishan is famous for several things: sunrises, cherry blossom viewing in April, giant ancient cypress trees, and some of the best oolong tea in the world.

Check into your hotel, pick up a hiking map from the tourist center, then head out for an afternoon of hiking amongst the giant trees.

Yet another highlight is you get to ride the Alishan Forest Railway, a small train line originally built by the Japanese for logging the area.

When dining in the tourist village after your hike, make sure to try the locally grown fresh wasabi served with tofu.

It’s extremely flavorful and lacks the overpowering bite of the sushi wasabi you are probably used to. 

Insider tip: There are no hostels at Alishan, and a rather poor selection of regular hotels. Book far in advance to guarantee a room, especially if visiting on a weekend or holiday. During cherry blossom season (late March to early April), it can be almost impossible to get a room.  

Day 7 – Sunrise Above a Sea of Clouds

Set your alarm extra early to ride the Alishan Forest Railway up to the sunrise lookout point.

• You’ll need to reserve your tickets at the Alishan Railway Station the day before. Departure times change according to the time of the sunrise.

The reason everyone is willing to get up so early is for a chance to witness the spectacular phenomenon the sun rising above a sea of clouds in the valley below. You’ll need a bit of luck, though; out of a half dozen visits to Alishan, I’ve only seen it once.

Since you’ll be up so early, you’ll still have time to do some morning hiking before checking out of your hotel.

To get back to Taipei, the fastest option is to take a bus from Alishan to the Chiayi High Speed Rail station (four departures per day) and transfer to the HSR.

If you’re going directly to the airport, you can ride the HSR to Taoyuan station and transfer to the airport shuttle bus. 

The slower but cheaper option is to take a bus from Alishan to Chiayi Train Station (roughly every hour) and then take the regular train or bus to Taipei.

I hope you’ve found all the information for planning a fantastic one week in Taiwan. Let us know how it goes in the comments below!

Read About More Great Destinations in Asia

• 7 alternative Things to do in Taipei
• Things to do in Hong Kong – The Complete Travel Guide
• The best things to do in Beijing China
• 24 Top Things to Do in Shanghai, China in 2020
• The 35 Best Things to do in Tokyo, Japan
• 13 Things to do in Nanjing China – A Complete Guide to the Ancient Capital
• 25 Things to do in Suzhou China – All You Need to Know Before you Go

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Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Nick Kembel

Nick Kembel is the author of Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner and has penned Taiwan guides for CNN, National Geographic Traveller, Discover Taipei Magazine, and more. He went to Taiwan in 2008 with the intention of staying for a year, but that turned into 11 after he met his later-to-be wife on the Taipei MRT. He covers Taiwan extensively on his website Spiritual Travels. Follow Nick at NickKembel.com / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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3 thoughts on “A Detailed 7 Days in Taiwan Itinerary”

Many thanks

I would love to travel to Taiwan!!!

What a great article you have here. This is very helpful! I haven’t visited Taiwan so I will add it on my bucket list! It looks like a beautiful place. When it’s safe to travel again, I really want to go there. I’ve heard a lot of great things to do there. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I lived in Taiwan too, back in the mid 70’s, very time I go back to Taiwan it’s like going home, Taiwan is a great place to travel I like Taiwan better than mainland China.

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Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title…

Grand Mazu Temple

This lively temple once served as the palace of Ning Jin, the last king of the Ming dynasty. If you wish to confirm visually that a king's status is lower…

Tianliao Stone Temple

Tianliao Stone Temple is a fantastical, Gaudi-esque interpretation of a Taoist temple by Southeast Asian migrant workers. The 500 men had been hired to…

National Human Rights Museum

This former detention centre, court and jail was where political prisoners were incarcerated and tried during the White Terror period (1947–87). The…

Top picks from our travel experts

The 15 best experiences you can have in taiwan.

Nanyao Temple

Western Taiwan

Located 2km south of Changhua Train Station, this remarkable temple is one of the stops on the Mazu Pilgrimage. The distinctive character of the complex…

Besides the very tasty and varied craft brews on tap, what makes this place extra special is the outdoor rooftop seating with royal views of Taipei 101…

Alien Art Centre

A remarkable museum in a unique location. From the '50s to the '70s this white building was a hostel for young men departing for compulsory military…

Taroko Gorge

Taroko National Park

This 18km marble-walled gorge is Taroko National Park's crown jewel. It's a must-see attraction whether you're hiking its trails, peering at its…

Water Fairy Temple

Hidden inside a market named after itself, Shuixian Temple (literally 'Water Fairy Temple') is a far cry from the days when it was not only a place of…

Official God of War Temple

This is the oldest and most impressive temple in Taiwan dedicated to Guandi (Guan Gong), a Han-dynasty general deified as the God of War. He is the patron…

Guomao Community

Dramatic residential blocks with curved facades encircle a diaspora community in the Guomao area. The dozen-or-so 12-storey buildings were constructed for…

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Built in 1913 as the Beitou Public Baths, this handsome building is a copy of the bathhouses in Shizuokaken Idouyama in Japan. It is also a good example…

Story House of Naval Base Zuoying

In a compound next to Taiwan's largest naval base, this small museum pays tribute to Zuoying's strong military heritage. By means of relics, photos,…

Fu Wan Chocolate

Pingtung County

Cacao orchard, boutique, and hotel in one, Fu Wan makes fabulous, (mostly) tree-to-bar chocolate that's bagged multiple laurels at the International…

Jibei Sand Tail

Penghu Islands

Those desert island paradise photos you probably saw on Penghu's promotion brochures and websites were most likely taken at Jibei Sand Tail, a dazzling…

Former Japanese Navy Fongshan Radio Station

This mysterious national relic in Fengshan was a Japanese naval radio station that later became an interrogation facility under the Republic of China,…

A handsome modern fort with Qing dynasty foundations that used to guard the northern entrance to Kaohsiung Harbour. From the top of the barracks and the…

Tainan Art Museum

Both buildings of the Tainan Art Museum are now open – this one (Building 1), the former Tainan City Police Station raised in the Japanese era; and the…

Confucius Temple

Built in 1666 by the son of Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga),Taiwan's first Confucian temple and official school is quiet, dignified and coloured…

Hayashi Department Store

This art deco department store from the 1930s has been so beautifully restored that it's worth going in just to ascend the sweeping staircase, peer…

Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines

There are currently 16 recognised indigenous tribes in Taiwan, and the exhibits at this private museum cover the belief systems, festivals, geographic…

Wind God Temple

Nature-worship temples are hard to come by, which makes this one dedicated to the God of Wind unique. The small structure was originally part of an…

Bao'an Temple

Recipient of a Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for both its restoration and its revival of temple rites and festivities, Bao'an Temple (also called…

The neoclassical-style Land Bank dates from 1928. Japanese architects were heavily influenced by western ideas at the time and neoclassical revival was a…

National Museum of Prehistory

This hi-tech and engaging if occasionally disorientating museum charts Taiwan’s geological birth and human prehistory as well as introducing the island's…

Choose Chius

This is where Taiwan's first cacao grower, Mr Chiu, and his son run their restaurant and chocolate-making facility. They're the only Taiwanese chocolate…

Chihkan Towers

This old fort is a splendid place to roam around, or to enjoy an outdoor concert on weekends. However, only the foundation is the original. Chihkan has…

King of Medicine Temple

A foreboding temple dedicated to the King of Medicine (sometimes erroneously translated as 'Drug Lord'), the first of its kind in Taiwan. It faces the…

Penghu Aquarium

This large, family-friendly experience is home to an engrossing collection of living sea life, from a rescued three-legged turtle and magical family of…

City God Temple

When you enter the temple, look up for the two large abacuses used to calculate whether you have done more good than bad in life; check out the most…

National Museum of Taiwan Literature

This serious and excellent museum details the development of Taiwanese literature from the time of the pre-Han indigenous peoples to the modern era…

Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts

Set in a large park, this wonderful museum specialises in the works of Taiwanese artists, in particular, painters, sculptors, and installation and digital…

Shennong Street

Cafes, art galleries, fashion boutiques and B&Bs have flowered in the hub of Tainan's former Five Canals area, taking full advantage of the long, narrow,…

Cijin Island

This narrow island that acts as a buffer to the harbour and extends down the city coastline makes for a lovely day trip from the mainland. The main…

Tainan Art Museum Bldg 2

Created by Japanese architect and Pritzker Prize–winner Ban Shigeru, Building 2 of the Tainan Art Museum has a dozen galleries spread over five floors…

Military Dependants' Village Museum

Four houses of a military dependants' village have been restored and turned into a quaint museum. Besides exhibits on the KMT retreat from China and the…

Miaokou Night Market

Northern Taiwan

One of the most famous night markets in Taiwan, Miaokou's moreish mouthfuls are the main reason to find yourself in the rainy port city of Keelung, unless…

Anping Fort

Behind the Mazu Temple, the fort was a stronghold of Dutch power until its 1661 capture by Koxinga after a nine-month battle. Most of it has been…

Great South Gate

There used to be 14 city gates in Tainan and a city wall spreading several kilometres. This old gate is the only one of the four remaining gates that…

Anping Old Streets

To the right of the Anping Fort entrance (with your back to the fort), you’ll find some of the oldest streets in Taiwan. As you wander about, look for…

Koxinga's Shrine

This shrine was built in the Qing dynasty, but its roots date back to a shrine commemorating Ming loyalist Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) in the 1660s. The…

Altar of Heaven

Tainan families have been coming here for generations on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month to pray to the supreme Taoist entity, the Jade Emperor. The…

Tianhou Temple

This celebrated 17th-century Matsu temple sports high, sweeping swallowtail eaves and a wealth of gorgeous Chaozhou-style woodcarvings, mostly from a 1922…

Lukang Old Street

Lukang's old commercial hub, Yaolin and Butou Sts, is now a protected heritage zone. The narrow, century-old lanes are worth checking out for their red…

Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park

Green Island's windswept northeast corner was completely out of bounds for much of the 20th century, occupied by a large prison camp. Here, political…

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Spring 2024 Tours & Vacation Packages Taiwan

28 taiwan vacation packages in march, april and may.

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Taiwan Explorer 11 Days Panorama Tour

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Around Formosa Taiwan

Allan Chou was a remarkable tour guide

Tailor-Made Best Taiwan Tour with Daily Departure & Private Guide

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Explore Taiwan

Logan was a great tour guide and helpful in any moment.You’ll learn so much about local culture, Current events and helpful ideas to make you stay better.

Taiwan Island - 9 Days

Wonderful carefree vacation for both my husband and I, everything was well organized and taken care of, we are extremely happy with our food, accommodations and transportation. Our guide Amanda is the best guide anyone can ever wish for, her great sense of humour kept us well entertained, and she truly cared for all of our well being throughout our trip. Thanks!

Best of Taiwan 9 Days Tour

The trip was great. Eli at Delightful travel is such a delightful person to work with. Communication was great. They followed up every step of the way and problems are corrected immediately. I would definitely use tourradar and delightful travel again. However, the tour company used in taiwan can use some improvement. The guide named John and driver are definitely not used to western travelers.

Around Taiwan 8 day Private Tour (Premium)

Thanks to our excellent knowledgable guide, the itinerary was well put and we have a great time and learned a lot about Taiwan. Overall we would highly recommended this tour to other travellers.

Taiwan Express

This was an enjoyable tour with great stops at attractions and wonderful hotels.

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5-day Classic Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake & Alishan (Private)

Some longer days driving but this tour went to three top sites. Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake and Alishan National Forest area. Our guide, Jett, was very informative about Taiwan culture and current affairs.

Around Taiwan 8 Day Private Tour (Classic)

The planner, Claire, created a well thought out itinerary based on our requests. We hit all the highlights and had free time in the evenings to explore the night markets and area restaurants. Even though we moved on to a different town and changed hotels daily, we didn’t feel rushed. The tour guide, Kylie, was excellent (knowledgeable, kind, accommodating, helpful, positive, enthusiastic and a pleasure to be with) and the private VW Crafter van was very comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate us and all of our luggage. The driver and guide were always punctual. Overall we had an excellent tour and highly recommend My Taiwan Tour as the local agency that Tour Radar helped us find. The reason for 4 stars vs 5 is that the communication was difficult during planning phase. It often took more than a few days to get a reply and the price of the tour increased by $200-300 per person after we made minor changes. We ended up doing the last day of the tour unguided to keep the price increase under $200.

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Around Taiwan (Private)

exceptional small group tour, our family get to enjoy what the Taiwan has to offer on term. our driver and tour guide are well knowledge and was able to answer all our question about Taiwan's agriculture, environment, local attractions, geology, and any random question that we asked. we were able to add and or subtract time on each location as we desire. excellent hotel choice on every stop. I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who are first time visiting Taiwan.

3 DayTaroko Gorge Private Hiking Adventure

As we have been to Taroko Gorge the previous week, the itinerary was adjusted for us to hike other trails that we had not been to. The last day was sunny and the itinerary was changed so that we can enjoy the Snow Mountain, almost the highest point of Taiwan. Our guide Zoe knew the hikes very well and overall we had great time for this tour which is highly recommend for others who like hiking.

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2023 Taiwan travel guide：Help you plan your Taiwan solo travel

Last Updated on 12-30-2023

Taiwan is a little island nation with a big punch. Despite its small size of 36,193 square kilometers, it boasts a population of 23.9 million people.

Are you ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Taiwan, an East Asian treasure, has a rich history, vibrant culture, breathtaking scenery, and wonderful food. Taiwan has something for everyone, whether you’re a nature lover, a foodie, or a history buff. In this Taiwan travel guide, we’ll walk you through the top places, experiences, and advice for an unforgettable vacation to Taiwan in 2023, as well as assist you in planning your solo travel in Taiwan.

Why Taipei?

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Now you may ask, “Why Taipei?” As a foreigner coming to Taiwan for a solo trip, you may not know how to speak Mandarin. While Taiwan has many beautiful places, However, for travelers who are non-Chinese speakers, some of the more local places will be more difficult to explore. Therefore, areas like Taipei may be the best option for you for your first stop in Taiwan. It is super safe for both men and women, and moreover, English is fairly widely spoken there. Now let’s start with our recommended extended stay hotels for famous places.It boasts modern shopping malls, ancient temples, beautiful palaces, and night markets. Taipei is not only the political and economic center of Taiwan, but also the cultural hub of the island. There are plenty of attractions for visitors to eat, drink, and have fun.

Weather, festivals , and the operation hours of tourist sites must all be considered when deciding when to visit Taipei. In general, the fall months ( September to November ) and spring months ( March to May ) are regarded as the best periods to visit Taipei.

Autumn weather is pleasant with moderate temperatures, making it excellent for outdoor activities. During this time, Taipei’s bright blue skies and fresh air complement visits to sights such as Elephant Mountain and the Taipei 101 . Spring, on the other hand, is distinguished by the blossoming of flowers. Many parks and gardens organize flower-viewing activities, like as the cherry blossom season on Yangmingshan, which draw tourists to marvel at the magnificent floral displays.

Furthermore, the city’s festive festivities are important factors to consider when visiting Taipei. For example, one of Taipei’s most important traditional celebrations is the Lunar New Year, which is traditionally celebrated in January or February. Visitors may enjoy exciting events, shopping extravaganzas, and night market activities.

Before you pay a visit to Taipei, you must know about the weather in Taipei throughout the year.

Taipei has two airports, Taoyuan International Airport and Songshan Airport. Taoyuan International Airport is the main airport and the gateway to Taipei, while Songshan Airport serves mostly domestic flights and a few international flights. You can reach Taipei from many international cities, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, and more.

There are a wide range of accommodations available in Taipei to suit every budget and preference. From luxury hotels to budget hostels , you can find something that fits your needs. Some popular areas to stay in Taipei include Xinyi District, Zhongzheng District, and Daan District.

The mrhost provides a search tool to help users find the best hotel for their long stay in Taipei!

Taipei has a variety of monthly hotels and serviced apartments. There are several alternatives available, whether you choose a low-cost hotel, a hostel, or a more typical hotel or serviced apartment. Furthermore, Taipei is regarded as a secure city for lone female travelers and is recognized for its low rates, making it an ideal location for budget-conscious solo travelers.

The Denizen

The Denizen contemporary refuge for the modern traveler may be found in the nook of Da’an District. The Denizen redesigned the idea of live-work accommodation into studio spaces that encourage you to dive into the refined luxury of customized home living without sacrificing style, amenities, or personalized service.

Forte Green garden apartment

Forte Green Garden Apartment , located in the Songshan District, has various handy features like as a fitness center, free WiFi, and large rooms with flat-screen TVs. The Green Park Apartment (Business Residence), located in the center of the Dunhua financial area and minutes from the MRT, Zhongshan Expressway, and Songshan Airport, is a calm and lively atmosphere with spacious and comfortable bedrooms, providing you with a high-quality living space.

The transportation system in Taipei is efficient and easy to use. You can take the metro , buses, bike , or taxis to get around the city. The metro system is extensive, with lines that connect all parts of Taipei. To make transportation easier, Taiwan has a rechargeable smart card called the EasyCard . You can also rent a car to explore the city at your own pace.

1. Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is a landmark skyscraper in Taipei and was once the tallest building in the world. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city from the observation deck on the 89th floor.

2. National Palace Museum

National Palace Museum , one of the most popular museums in Taiwan. This museum is home to an extensive collection of ancient Chinese artifacts and artwork, including paintings, calligraphy, jade, and bronze. It’s a great place to learn about Chinese history and culture.

3. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Head to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall , a famous landmark in Taipei. The hall is dedicated to the former President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek. You can watch the changing of the guard ceremony or climb to the top of the hall to enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei.

4. Longshan Temple

After that, visit the Longshan Temple , one of the oldest and most famous temples in Taipei. The temple was built in 1738 and is dedicated to various Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian deities. Take your time to explore the temple’s beautiful architecture and religious relics.

5. Ximending Shopping District

Finish your day by exploring the Ximending Shopping District, a popular pedestrian shopping area in Taipei. You can find everything from trendy clothes to traditional snacks and souvenirs. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in Taipei’s modern culture.

1. Breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk

Start your day with breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk , a popular breakfast spot for locals and tourists alike. You can try their signature dish, the crispy scallion pancake, or their delicious soy milk.

2. Lunch at Din Tai Fung

Head to Din Tai Fung , a world-renowned restaurant that specializes in xiaolongbao, or steamed pork dumplings. The restaurant has branches all over the world, but the original store is in Taipei. You won’t regret trying these delicious dumplings.

• Monday to Friday 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
• Weekends 10:30 AM-8:30 PM
• Address: No. 194, Sec. 2, Xinyi Road, Daan District, Taipei City
• Nearby MRT station: 1 minute walk from Dongmen Station

3. Dinner at Maoyuan Restaurant

Maoyuan Restaurant is a well-known Taiwanese cuisine restaurant in Taipei with an almost 50-year history. It received great notice after getting the Bib Gourmand rating from the Taipei Michelin Guide in 2018. The restaurant, located near the Nanjing Fuxing MRT station, is famed for its traditional Taiwanese meals and has established itself as a culinary legend in Taiwan.

4. Night Market Tour

In the evening, go on a night market tour and taste some of Taipei’s best street food. You can visit popular night markets like Shilin Night Market, Raohe Street Night Market, and Ningxia Night Market. Try local favorites like stinky tofu, oyster omelets, and bubble tea.

Refer to our Taipei Night Markets article to learn about each of the most famous night markets in Taipei!

1. Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park , a mountain park with stunning natural scenery. You can hike the various trails, soak in the hot springs, and visit the flower clock and calla lily fields.

2. Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain, also known as Xiangshan , is a popular hiking trail in Taipei that offers stunning views of Taipei 101 and the city skyline. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and take photos.

3. Beitou Hot Springs

Beitou Hot Springs is one of the most famous hot springs in Taiwan. You can relax in the various public and private hot spring baths, visit the Thermal Valley, or explore the hot spring museum.

4. Tamsui Old Street

Visiting Tamsui Old Street , a historic district with a scenic waterfront view. You can stroll through the old streets, enjoy local street food, and visit the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf.

Some of the most popular souvenirs to buy in Taipei include pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥), oolong tea (烏龍茶), mini sky lanterns (小天燈), Taiwanese glove puppets (布袋戲偶), Chinese knots (中國結), Chinese paintings (國畫), oil paper umbrellas (油紙傘) and jade (玉). You can buy these souvenirs at many places in Taipei. Some of the most popular places include souvenir shops at tourist attractions such as Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market. You can also find them at stores such as Chia Te Bakery (佳德糕餅), SunnyHills (微熱山丘), and Ten Ren Tea (天仁茗茶).

If you’re looking for something unique, you can visit a former factory and museum in Taipei dedicated to the art of traditional block printing3. You can also find anime figurines, manga, DVDs and CDs and posters at Taipei Main Station.

In addition to the above mentioned souvenirs, there are many other famous souvenirs from Taiwan that you should bring back to your hometown.

Travel to Taiwan’s largest city in the south: Kaohsiung

Let us tell you all about the fabulous city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan! It’s one of Taiwan’s top three cities, and boy, has it come a long way! From a humble settlement to a bustling metropolis with a whopping 12 districts, Kaohsiung is the place to be!

Kaohsiung was once a total rockstar in the industrial scene, boasting the world’s THIRD largest port. today, it’s not just about industries; Kaohsiung has reinvented itself with a trendy, modern vibe. Kaohsiung is a real player in the trade game too, thanks to its strategic location and the amazing Kaohsiung Port. It’s the beating heart of commerce.

Whether you’re into history, culture, or just looking for some epic adventures, Kaohsiung has it all.

From November to April is the best season to visit Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for perfect weather and a terrific vacation experience. The weather is most pleasant during these months, with moderate temperatures and less possibilities of precipitation. It’s the ideal time to see the city’s attractive attractions, such as Love River, Shoushan, and Sizihwan Bay, which will leave you speechless.

If you prefer milder weather, consider traveling in May, June, or July, but bear in mind that typhoons, also known as tropical cyclones, might occur in July. Due to excessive rainfall, August is the rainiest month and may not be the best time to come.

Consider traveling during the off-season, either during the winter or summer, to avoid crowds and get fantastic hotel discounts. The city provides a one-of-a-kind experience all year, so whether you visit during the lovely winter months or the warmer summer days, you’re in for a treat.

So, plan your trip to Kaohsiung carefully and you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable journey in this dynamic city! Travel safely.

Getting to Kaohsiung from other places is easy and convenient due to its well-connected transportation network. Travelers have various options to choose from:

• High-Speed Rail (HSR) : The Taiwan High-Speed Rail offers a quick and efficient way to travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung. The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours from Taipei Main Station to HSR Zuoying Station, located in northern Kaohsiung.
• Train: If you prefer a more affordable option, you can take a regular train from Taipei Main Station to Kaohsiung Main Station. The travel time is approximately 4.5 to 6 hours.
• Bus: Buses provide a cost-effective means of reaching Kaohsiung from Taipei. The travel time is around 5 to 6 hours, and you can catch the bus from Taipei Bus Station.
• Flight: For those coming from farther destinations or seeking a quicker option, flights are available from Taipei Songshan Airport or Taoyuan airport to Kaohsiung International Airport.

You can also refer to our 4 Simple Ways to Travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung article to know the best way to get to Kaohsiung from Taipei.

When planning a trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s southern harbor city, you’ll find a variety of great places to stay. Whether you prefer the artistic vibe of Pier-2, known for its revitalized warehouses and creative atmosphere, or the convenience of the Kaohsiung Railway Station area, with bustling commercial activity and various hotels, there’s something for everyone.

For those seeking a more relaxed coastal experience, the harbor district offers a delightful blend of urban conveniences and beachfront scenery. Moreover, the Sanduo and Wufu Shopping Districts are excellent choices for travelers who enjoy shopping, entertainment, and a modern cityscape, with plenty of hotels catering to different budgets. Make the most of your Kaohsiung adventure by selecting the accommodation that suits your preferences and offers easy access to the attractions you wish to explore. Enjoy your stay and discover the best of Kaohsiung’s vibrant culture, delicious food, and beautiful green spaces!

👉Read more: Where to Stay in Kaohsiung Taiwan

Silks Club in Kaohsiung is a pinnacle of luxury and artistry, a collaboration between Yu-Ming Construction and the Regent Group. With 147 executive-level rooms, the hotel redefines opulence, starting from a minimum room size of 18 ping. The focus on “Visual Creativity,” “Regionalism,” and “Architectural Space” creates an enchanting ambiance. The Michelin-starred UKAI-Tei restaurant offers a remarkable culinary experience, while the infinity pool provides a panoramic harbor view. Silks Club is a sophisticated oasis, epitomizing excellence in Kaohsiung’s hospitality scene, making it a must-visit for those seeking a refined and artistic travel experience.

SaYo Hotel is a stylish and comfortable accommodation located in the elegant historical district of Yanchengpu, Kaohsiung. With its focus on providing a homely atmosphere and impeccable service, Sa-Yo Hotel is an excellent choice for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel features 70 spacious rooms and offers leisure facilities, a children’s game room, Wii gaming console, meeting rooms, and self-service laundry. Guests can also enjoy complimentary coffee at the welcome coffee bar from 10 AM to 10 PM. The hotel’s convenient location near Yancheng Public Market and attractions like Pier-2 Art Center and Love River makes it an ideal base for exploring the city.

To explore the city like a local, you can utilize the well-developed mass transportation system, including the MRT (Metro) , LRT (Light Rail Transit) , and buses. The Kaohsiung Metro currently has two routes, the red line and orange line, meeting at Formosa Boulevard Station, and trains operate at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes. Smoking, eating, and drinking are strictly prohibited in stations and on trains to maintain a pleasant riding environment.

For a unique experience, consider taking the Kaohsiung sightseeing bus, a double-decker bus, to explore the city’s unique charms. You can also enjoy water recreation facilities in Kaohsiung.

To navigate the city conveniently, it’s recommended to get an iPass or EasyCard, Kaohsiung’s transportation cards, which can be used to pay for fares in buses, MRT, and ferry boats. Additionally, the city aims to increase the percentage of electric buses, promoting low-carbon and green transportation.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s vibrant port city, offers an array of exciting activities and attractions that cater to diverse interests. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, a foodie, or an art admirer, Kaohsiung has something for everyone.

1. Explore Lotus Pond

Stroll around the picturesque Lotus Pond, known for its vibrant temples and scenic beauty. Admire the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and the Confucius Temple, which create a serene atmosphere.

2. Visit Pier 2 Art Center

Immerse yourself in Kaohsiung’s contemporary art scene at the Pier 2 Art Center . This creative hub showcases various art installations, galleries, and trendy cafes, making it a perfect spot for art enthusiasts and photography enthusiasts alike.

3. Take a Ferry to Cijin Island

Take a boat to Cijin Island for a taste of culture, history, and beautiful beaches. The Cihou Lighthouse and the seafood booths along the shore, which provide some of the freshest catches, should not be missed.

4. Marvel at the Dome of Light

Witness the stunning Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard Station, one of the most magnificent metro stations in the world. With its elaborate glasswork, this stunning art piece will leave you speechless.

5. Enjoy Kaohsiung Sunset Cruise

Take a romantic sunset cruise, which provides spectacular views of the city’s cityscape as the sun sets over the horizon. Capture the gorgeous scene while learning about Kaohsiung Port’s history. If you are traveling with your family to Kaohsiung, you can check out 15 Best Things to Do with kids in Kaohsiung article for more tourist attractions for you and your family.

👉Read more: Kaohsiung’s Top Secret Attractions 2023: Sunset and Lakeside Forest

1. Ruifeng Night Market

Ruifeng Night Market , located in Kaohsiung’s Left Camp neighborhood, is a lively and dynamic night market that draws both residents and visitors. It has been a popular destination for more than two decades and provides a varied range of culinary, fashion, and entertainment options. There is a wonderful selection of tasty street cuisine to choose from. Okinawa crispy fried squid, Korean-style pancakes, Japanese teppanyaki, and a unique Taiwanese tea known as “店小二特濃鮮紅茶” are all must-tries. These scrumptious sweets can be enjoyed by visitors while browsing the market’s various stalls and sellers.

Ruifeng Night Market is open from 6:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It is strategically placed near the Kaohsiung Arena MRT Station, making public transit easy to use.

2. Liuhe Night Market

Liuhe Night Market , also known as Liuohe Tourist Night Market, is a renowned night market in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It offers a wide variety of delectable dishes and snacks, such as Zheng’s papaya milk and Ahma’s grilled rice cake. Visitors can shop for trendy fashion items and souvenirs while immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere. The market’s strategic location near the Kaohsiung MRT Formosa Boulevard Station makes it easily accessible. Operating from evening till early morning, Liuhe Night Market is a must-visit for food enthusiasts and shoppers alike, offering an unforgettable experience of Taiwanese street food and culture.

Besides the two night markets mentioned above, Kaohsiung has many other night markets with their own specialties, so check out our Kaohsiung Night Market Recommendations article to explore more of Kaohsiung’s local specialties.

3. Duck Zhen(鴨肉珍)

“ Duck Zhen ” is a duck meat speciality restaurant in Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District. With a 65-year history, this restaurant has become a traditional neighborhood favorite as well as an iconic street food hotspot in the area. “Duck Jane” is known for its tasty duck dishes, and its menu includes duck rice, duck noodles, duck winter melon soup, mixed offal with duck blood, and more. The duck rice with beautifully seasoned minced meat is the outstanding dish.

Notably, “Duck Jane” received a Michelin Guide endorsement in 2022, confirming its position in the culinary landscape. Locals and tourists alike travel to this business to sample its long-standing heritage of offering exquisite duck dishes, which has earned it a place in Kaohsiung’s culinary canon.

4. Bei Gang Tsai Rice Tube (Yancheng)

Kaohsiung Bei Gang Tsai Rice Tube is a popular snack restaurant in Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District. It was founded in 1956 and has almost 60 years of history. It is known as a must-try local delicacy. Long lines form outside the business at all hours of the day and night, demonstrating its popularity. The hallmark meals include tube rice cake and steamed egg soup, both of which are highly recommended and available at reasonable costs, giving clients outstanding value for money.

Bei Gang Tsai Rice Tube is not only well-known in Kaohsiung, but it has also achieved Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, making it a symbol of Kaohsiung’s culinary scene. The shop, located beside the Love River in Yancheng District, serves unusual and excellent cuisine. Classics include the tube rice cake, steamed egg soup, and other delicacies such as the Flagfish Ring Soup.

1. Tardyhill Nature Park(漯底山自然公園)

Tardyhill Nature Park, also known as 漯底山 (Lào Dǐ Shān) or 凹底山 (Āo Dǐ Shān), is located in Kaohsiung’s Mituo District. This park has a large green area with woodland pathways. It was formerly an important military post during the Japanese colonial period. Climb up to the observation deck for sweeping views of Kaohsiung’s cityscape and shoreline. The park’s mudstone badland landscape is distinctive, and the park’s meandering pathways allow for observation of different natural biodiversity inside the wooded region. Within the park, there are also observation bridges, basketball courts, and a family play area.

2. Shoushan National Nature Park(壽山國家自然公園)

Shoushan National Nature Park is located in Kaohsiung’s Gushan District. It is a coral mountain on the city’s southern outskirts, near Sizihwan Bay. Shoushan, which has the most green space in Kaohsiung, is a popular natural attraction for locals. The park allows guests to get close to nature by delivering thrilling and natural activities. It is also popular among birdwatchers owing to the park’s rich biodiversity.

If I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t know that Kaohsiung has many other secret attractions that you should explore!

1. Kaohsiung Bu-Er-Jia Bakery (不二緻果)

Kaohsiung Bu-Er-Jia Bakery (不二緻果) was founded in 1938, and the most well-known signature is the “Real Taro.” Two creamy layers of fresh taro cream mousse are sandwiched between three slices of sponge cake, creating a soft, rich, and sweet but not too sweet flavor. In addition to the “Real Taro,” Kaohsiung Bu-Er-Jia Bakery’s distinctive delights include mille-feuille and mung bean pastry.

2. JOY WELL CAKE SHOP (中外餅鋪)

Joy Well Cake Shop is a classic pastry shop that was founded in 1905; the area’s well-known “Chess Pastry” began here. The 32 pieces of delicious sweets that are generally seen on the chessboard are ideal companions for a good cup of tea. There’s also pineapple cake, yolk pastry, and date paste cake with walnuts.

3. Zhenfang Mullet Roe Experience Factory-Mullet Roe

The Zhenfang Mullet Roe Experience Factory is located in Kaohsiung’s Qianzhen District. It is one of Taiwan’s biggest mullet roe producers. Zhenfang Mullet Roe Experience Factory began almost fifty years ago as a modest business with only two ping of space. With exceptional manufacturing skills and a reputation for excellence, it rapidly evolved into a specialist mullet roe store. The plant, led by the second generation, clings to traditional production methods while also using contemporary professional procedures. Processing sections, a knowledge and culture zone, product areas, a presentation room, interactive zones, DIY schools, and a sunny glass drying area are all part of the facility.

Visitors may get a firsthand look at the mullet roe manufacturing process and history, as well as obtain professional information about mullet roe in an exciting way. This factory is the only themed narrative zone in the world centered on mullet roe, allowing visitors to participate in DIY mullet roe manufacturing and feel the fascination of historic traditional craftsmanship.

4. 志明花生糖 (Zhming Peanut Brittle)

志明花生糖 (Zhming Peanut Brittle) is a well-known local peanut brittle in Kaohsiung. It’s a typical snack that residents and visitors alike enjoy. Peanut brittle is a traditional and delectable memento.

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Taiwan itinerary 4 days — suggested 4 days in taiwan itinerary for what to do in taiwan for 4 days.

Besides the modern architecture of a futuristic city, the unique cultural features have made Taiwan so charming, attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world. If you are planning a trip to Taiwan for 4 days and 3 nights, let’s continue reading to come up with a detailed itinerary and helpful tips for your vacation. So, how many days in Taiwan is enough and what to do in Taiwan for 4 days? Let’s check out our suggested Taiwan itinerary 4 days 3 nights (4 days in Taiwan itinerary, Taiwan travel itinerary 4 days, Taiwan itinerary 4d3n) to find out the answer!

What to do in Alishan? — 5 top attractions & best things to do in Alishan, Taiwan

Gingtiangang grassland yangmingshan — the ultimate guide on how to go & top things to do.

• When is the best time to visit Taiwan? — The best, worst, cheapest & best season to visit Taiwan
• Cherry blossom in Taiwan 2024 forecast — The best time & 8 best places to see cherry blossoms in Taiwan

About the island of Taiwan (# taiwan itinerary 4 days)

Taiwan is a small island in East Asia, located about 100 nautical miles off the southeast coast of China. As an island with a strong growth rate, dubbed the “Dragon of Asia”, this destination has a fairly developed economy and tourism industry. Owning a series of interesting attractions with breathtaking natural landscapes, including immense blue seas, vast forests, magnificent rivers and lakes as well as countless scenic spots and unique architectural works.

Taiwan is also a shopping and dining paradise with many of the busiest markets in Asia. Taiwan is a combination of cities with modern and lavish sights, but one must not forget the villages characterized by exotic cultural identities. With these interesting features, Taiwan has become a trendy place that any travel enthusiast wants to experience once.

What is the best time to travel to Taiwan? (# 4 days in taiwan itinerary)

Taiwan always has an irresistible attraction because this place puts on a different appearance each season, which will bring you different memorable experiences.

However, the most ideal time for a self-planned 4D3N vacation to Taiwan is during the spring. From March to May, the weather in Taiwan is quite pleasant. The night remains cool while the day is sunny with little rain. The scenery becomes very poetic and the natural landscape is full of life.

Or you can also visit Taiwan in the fall from September to November. At this time of the year, the weather is clear with a cool and windy atmosphere. Especially, this is the season when the flowers bloom like they are changing new clothes, creating a picturesque scene.

How to get to Taiwan (# taiwan itinerary 4 days 3 nights)

Traveling to taiwan by air (# taiwan itinerary 4 days).

Currently, the flight routes to Taiwan are being exploited more and more popularly. You can easily find the right flights for you among various carriers, such as Vietnam Airlines, Eva Air, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and so on. Make a quick search on Google to book flight tickets to Taiwan with affordable rates and many attractive promotions.

From the airport, you can choose to take the MRT or bus to go to different locations in the city. Or if traveling in a group of 3-5 people, you can travel by taxi for convenience and time efficiency.

Transportation in Taiwan (# taiwan travel itinerary 4 days)

For a great 4D3N trip to Taiwan, you need to choose a means of transport to move around many tourist attractions, making your journey to explore Taiwan more convenient and enjoyable.

In Taiwan, you have three main means of transportation: bus, MRT, and bicycle. Taiwan HSR (Taiwan High-Speed Rail), buses, and trains are intercity vehicles.

Bus (# taiwan itinerary 4d3n)

The public bus system in Taiwan is modern. Buses are chosen by many tourists because of their cost savings and extensive system, by which you can move to most tourist attractions in and out of the city.

Train and Taiwan HSR

Train and HSR are always the perfect choice for visitors traveling between cities.

The MRT stations in the city in Taiwan are often located near tourist attractions, so it is convenient for sightseeing and shopping.

Visiting Taiwan, you will see public bicycles near bus stations, MRT, or convenience stores. You should register for an ‘easy card’ with a phone number in Taiwan to be able to use this vehicle and visit the city.

Where to go and what to do in Taiwan for 4 days

Let’s check out the following 4D3N itinerary to visit Taiwan with a tight budget.

Day 1: Airport – Taipei (# taiwan itinerary 4 days)

Upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, you will be picked up to visit:

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Zhongzheng District – a commemorative place of the late President Chiang Kai-shek and an important landmark in Taiwan’s history.

Take pictures outside the National Palace Museum.

Visit Taipei 101 Tower – the most famous building in Taiwan with 101 stories (get to the 89th floor of the tower at your own expense). You can explore this bustling shopping mall with countless luxury brands from around the world.

Day 2: Taipei – Taichung (# 4 days in taiwan itinerary)

Shifen Cultural Village is famous for hosting the sky lantern festival. Here, you can choose a lantern and release it into the sky, carrying your prayers for peace and prosperity.

Yangmingshan National Park – 45 minutes by car from Taipei. It is one of the eight major national parks of Taiwan with unique volcanic terrain mixed with peaceful valleys and rich populations of flora and fauna. At the same time, you will be able to see the wonderful cherry blossoms in full bloom from late February to early March here.

Pineapple cake shop: Here you can learn how to make pineapple cakes and try to make them yourself.

Day 3: Taichung – Kaohsiung (# taiwan travel itinerary 4 days)

Sun Moon Lake (Riyue Tan) – You can take a cruise on the largest and most beautiful natural lake in Taiwan, admiring the beauty of the mountains and waters. The eastern part of the lake has a round shape like the sun, while the western part is curved in a semicircle. Therefore, it was named Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Wen Wu Temple (Riyue Tan Wen Wu Miao) is a place to worship Confucius and Lord Guan located on the northern shore of Sun Moon Lake in Taichung. This is one of the famous temples in Taiwan. Wen Wu Miao impresses visitors with its architecture on the hillside, stretching from a low to high altitude.

Go sightseeing and shopping for specialties at Ganoderma (Lingzhi) and green tea shops.

Day 4: Kaohsiung – Flying home

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum – This attraction is famous for the tallest bronze statue in the world today with a height of 108 meters.

Lotus Pond with Spring and Autumn Pavilions – a beautiful pond where you can zoom out to admire the scenery of Kaohsiung and breathe in the cool fresh air with the fragrance of lotus flowers blooming in the water during the lotus season. You will have the opportunity to see the beauty of the famous Love River of Kaohsiung City when the car passes by.

Take photos at Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, typical of Chinese architecture.

Where to stay when traveling to Taiwan? (# taiwan itinerary 4d3n)

For a 4D3N itinerary to Taiwan, visitors should book a hotel in Taiwan at least one month in advance. Remember to choose a suitable accommodation for the schedule that offers a good rate.

You can do a quick search to book hotels at favorable prices, along with many attractive promotions. It is recommended that you choose accommodation near the Taipei Main Station area for convenient transportation. Or you can choose a place in Nanyang – Xuchung area, which is a dining spot near the Main Station to easily discover Taiwanese cuisine.

Check out some of the hotels that are highly rated by travelers in Taiwan, including:

Grand Hyatt Taipei ( Agoda , Booking )

Grand Hyatt Taipei is located in a vibrant area one kilometer from downtown Taipei. From the hotel, guests can easily move to tourist attractions, shopping centers, and markets. Especially, advanced design and 5-star standard service allow you to have a memorable experience.

Address: No. 2 Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Northern Taiwan

Courtyard by Marriott Taipei ( Agoda , Booking )

Courtyard by Marriott Taipei will bring guests the experience of a high-end vacation in Taipei. With a location right around the corner from CityLink Nangang, the hotel space is lavish and modern, along with extraordinary meals and services.

Address: No. 359, Section 7, Zhongxiao East Road, Nangang District, Nangang, Taipei City, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan

Caesar Park Hotel Banqiao ( Agoda , Booking )

Immerse yourself in the vibrant city of Taipei, Caesar Park Hotel Banqiao will be your ideal choice. Because it is situated in the center of Banqiao District, the surroundings offer interesting shopping and dining spots.

Address: No. 8, Section 2, Xianmin Blvd., Banqiao District, Banqiao, New Taipei City, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan

Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport ( Agoda , Booking )

Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport is one of the luxury hotels, but the price is totally reasonable.

Address: No. 1-1, Hangzhan South Road, Dayuan District, Dayuan, Taoyuan City, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan

Check out more top and best hotels in Taipei on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Taiwan is a country rich in natural sceneries and modernistic cities besides the charm of ancient Chinese cultural heritage and traditions. This Taiwan itinerary 4 days is a great opportunity for you to discover all the quintessence of this island. Don’t forget that we always accompany you with our travel experiences to make your journey convenient and complete. Also, remember to book your hotel room in advance for the most favorable deals.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taipei you can refer to

• Taoyuan Airport Private Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Sedan Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• [SALE] Taoyuan Airport MRT Ticket & Exclusive Shopping Coupon
• Luxury Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Explore Taipei City
• Taipei Free Walking Tour Historic Route
• Taipei Double Decker Bus Tour
• Taipei Popular Sightseeing Private Car Charter : Jiufen, Pingxi, and North Coast (Chinese/English/Korean)
• Northeast Coast Scenic Day Tour
• Jiufen Shuttle Bus from Ximen
• Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen Day Tour with Korean and English Speaking Guides
• Taipei: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Shifen, and Golden Waterfall Day Tour
• EasyCard (TPE Airport Pick Up)
• Klook Pass Taipei (For international travelers)
• Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket
• Maokong Gondola Ticket
• Yeliou, Jinguashih, Juifen and Shihfen Join Day Tour
• Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass
• Taipei: Beitou and Yangmingshan One-Day Tour
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
• 4G SIM Card (TPE Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Far EasTone Telecom
• 4G WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from WiFiBB (Unlimited Data)
• 4G LTE WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Japan
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Consecutive Unlimited Pass (2 or 3 Days)
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you finding more top things to do in Taipei: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Taipei itinerary 4 days — How to spend 4 days in Taipei & what to do in Taipei for 4 days perfectly ?

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Taiwan Itinerary & DIY Travel Guide: Taipei w/ Day Tours (3 Days or More)

by Aileen Adalid Itineraries , Taiwan 109 comments

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Taiwan is a stunning island nation that is smacked right between the countries of  Japan and the Philippines . In fact, as someone who has grown up in the islands of  Batanes   (the northernmost place in the Philippines), Taiwan has since been a destination that I’ve wanted to visit. After all, we are actually closer to its borders so our radios would often pick up their stations; not to mention that our dialect (Ivatan) is even linguistically similar to the Taiwanese aborigine languages — that being said, these were enough reasons to pique my curiosity of Taiwan. (Taiwan Itinerary)

What are the top tours to do in Taiwan?

Check out these activities and tours to do to include in your Taiwan itinerary, and more: [ click ]

Anyhow, I was finally able to visit Taiwan some time ago! I only had 3 days to spare… but, I definitely had a great time as I explored the bustling capital of Taipei as well as the lush terrains that filled up the rest of the island.

With that said and done, let me share with you my 3-day Taiwan itinerary! I’ll pack it together with important info, tips, resources, and other activity suggestions ; so go ahead and copy, customize, shorten or lengthen the below guide as dependent on the length of your stay or the style of traveling that you will do.

I hope this Taiwan itinerary helps! Do let me know.

Top photo by: Shutterstock

Table of Contents

Taiwan Travel Guide

» quick travel planning.

• Top tours & experiences
• Find flights to Taiwan
• Visa requirements
• Best places to stay
• Travel insurance (5% discount)
• Stay connected

– – –

» Best Time to Visit

Taiwan enjoys 4 seasons, but they’re not as pronounced given that it generally has a humid subtropical climate. The seasons are divided into the following months and it’s best to either visit in late spring (April to May) or autumn (best in November) if you want comfortable temperatures.

• Spring : Pleasant temperature / Average lows at 15ºC to 22ºC and average highs at 19ºC to 27ºC.
• Summer : Hot and humid and sometimes very wet / Average lows at 24ºC to 28ºC and average highs at 27ºC to 31ºC
• Autumn : Cooler temperatures / Average lows at 18ºC to 27ºC and average highs at 27ºC to 30ºC
• Winter : Foggy and somewhat dry / Average lows at 13ºC to 15ºC and average highs at 17ºC to 19ºC
• WINTER: Dec to Feb
• SPRING: March to May
• SUMMER: June to Aug
• AUTUMN: Sept to Nov

» Getting in to Taiwan

Taiwan’s main international getaway is Taoyuan International Airport which is 40km southwest of Taipei. It is connected to the center via the Taoyuan Airport MRT and HSR Taoyuan Station (single trip price at no more than NT$160 / USD$5 / Php 260~). As such, I highly suggest buying a  Taiwan High-Speed Rail Unlimited Pass  which gives you unlimited rides on Taiwan’s THSR train network — including the train to and fro the airport.

There are also buses linking to the airport (you can buy a discounted roundtrip shuttle bus from the Airport to Taipei and vice versa  here ) , but if you rather want a taxi, a one-way fare can cost a minimum of NT$900.

If you want the utmost convenience and ease, especially without having to lug around your luggage, I suggest booking a  private transfer  to your hotel for only Php 1,000+ (or $23~) . This works best if you’re coming together with other people so that you can share the cost and save more!

For flights, I recommend browsing through  Skyscanner  to find the best flight deals from your point of origin. If you’re from the Philippines like me, Skyscanner also scans through the budget airlines such as Air Asia and Cebu Pacific in order to find which of the 2 has the cheapest rate on the dates you choose.

» Visa for Taiwan

Taiwan has various visa regulations. Depending on your nationality, you can be qualified for visa exemption, visa on arrival, eVisa, or an Online Travel Authorization Certificate (for more info, see  here ).

If you’re from the Philippines, you will be eligible for  visa-free access to Taiwan for 14 days, valid until July 31, 2023 . This visa-free initiative is still a part of a trial period that they have since implemented in 2017, and the only requirements you needed to show at the immigration are:

• An ordinary/regular passport with your signature and with remaining validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry (diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment).
• A return ticket or a ticket to your next destination (and a visa for that destination if it is required).
• No criminal record in Taiwan (the immigration in Taiwan will check this themselves upon your arrival).
• As applicable, proof of accommodation/ hotel booking , host/sponsor’s contact information, or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting etc.
• Check full visa requirements here as per your nationality.

» Where to Stay (Taiwan Accommodations)

To search for the best hotel accommodation in Taiwan at the best prices, I suggest cross-checking hotel prices between  Agoda  and  Booking.com . But if you’re rather interested in renting comfortable houses or apartments, you should search through AirBnB .

For a more comprehensive list, see this post on the top ‘ Best Hotels in Taipei ‘.

» Taiwan Currency

New Taiwan Dollar (TWD / NT$) wherein NT$29 is equal to about USD $1~ / €0.85~ / Php 52~ (this is as of June 2022). In the event that you want to exchange your money for TWD, I highly advise that you do NOT exchange your money at the airport since the rates there are not competitive.

• How to best exchange your currency? Either exchange it at a bank or at a money exchanger in your home country or in Taipei’s city center. Better yet, just withdraw from an ATM with your debit/credit card — however, you must do one big withdrawal to minimize fees with your bank. Speaking of cards, a lot of establishments accept credit cards but it’s always advisable to have cash on hand because a lot of smaller shops do not accept international credit cards.

» Cost of Travel in Taiwan

To give you an idea, you should expect to travel to Taiwan with an average daily cost of about USD $35~ per person on a budget, or at least $95~ if you want to experience more comfort in activities, tours, hotels, and more. (Values below show low budget to medium budget ranges).

• Hotels: $20 to $60 USD / day
• Food: $5 to $15 USD / day
• Fun: $5 to $15 USD / day
• Transport: $3 on average per day

» How to Get Around Taiwan

There are domestic flights carried out by EVA, Mandarin Airlines, and UNI Air. However, unless you’re traveling to the smaller islands of Taiwan, the trains are still the best option for going around the country as well as in Taipei.

For high-speed trains all over the island, there are 2 systems: Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR/HSR) and Taiwan Railway Administration.

Within Taipei, the city has an efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system that’s also called Metro Taipei. Other than single journey tickets, there are rechargeable  IC cards   (like  Easy Card ) and there is also the   Taipei Fun Pass . I recommend getting this pass because it gives  unlimited  rides not only on the MRT train but also on public buses (for Taipei City and New Taipei City), as well as gives you discounts on Taiwan’s top attractions like the Taipei 101 and National Palace Museum.

To date, it has 3 options:

Alternatively, you can also get a  Taiwan High-Speed Rail Unlimited Pass .

To better navigate yourself during your Taiwan itinerary, use  Google Maps ‘  directions  feature (signified by a blue icon with an arrow inside it) — I really find it a very helpful tool if I want to reach a certain place from a particular location. However, Google Maps doesn’t work offline if you want routes or transportation schedules, so I recommend that you get a  pocket WiFi  or a  SIM card  to stay connected; or better yet, get an eSIM for a hassle-free experience (use code AILEEN684 to get $3 off) .

» Staying Connected in Taiwan

Taiwan has one of the fastest internet connections in the world so you’re assured of great connections wherever you go. Hotels and most shops (even convenience stores) offer FREE WiFi connections — but in order to stay connected online at all times during your Taiwan itinerary, I recommend getting your own  pocket WiFi  or a  SIM card  to stay connected; or better yet, get an eSIM for a hassle-free experience (use code AILEEN684 to get $3 off) .

» Safety in Taiwan

Crime rate is relatively low in Taiwan and though petty crimes may happen, it is quite rare. As such, it helps to stay street smart at all times. Rest assured, it’s one of the safest countries to travel in even as a solo traveler ; just stay vigilant and you’ll be fine.

• HOW TO: Find the right travel insurance for you

» Helpful Mandarin Phrases

About 80% of the Taiwanese population speaks Mandarin Chinese. Rest assured, English is commonly used by the locals and you won’t have a hard time conversing with it, especially in places like Taipei.

As you venture outside of the capital though, it will become harder; but, it’s nothing that finger-pointing or Google Translate can’t solve. For a start, here are some sample phrases in Mandarin.

• RELATED READ: Best translation apps for travel

Hello:  Nǐ hǎo. Thank you:  Xiè xiè. You’re welcome:  Bú kèqi Goodbye:  Zàijiàn Goodbye (informal):  Bāi-bāi

Excuse me (getting attention):  Qǐng wèn Excuse me (begging pardon):  Dǎrǎo yixià Excuse me (coming through) / I’m sorry:  Duìbùqǐ Is there someone here who speaks English?:  Zhèlĭ yǒu rén hùi shuō Yīngyǔ ma? Help!:  Jiùmìng! Cheers!:  Gānbēi!

Other F.A.Q.

It is not common to tip in Taiwan, especially since if there is ever a “tip” to be taken, it will be in the form of a service charge on your bill amounting to about 10-15% of your total.

Taiwan typically uses type A (two flat parallel pins) and type B (two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin at the bottom). The country operates on a 110V voltage and a frequency of 60Hz.

 Please check their  latest travel advisories  page for more details.

All visitors to Taiwan must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the period of their intended stay (as well as have 2 blank pages).

There is and you can easily claim a tax refund for being a tourist; simply read this page for more info.

It is legal to fly a drone in the country as long as you follow the rules stated here .

Taiwan Itinerary Guide

Before I begin with the itinerary guide, if in case you’re more of a visual person, you can already watch my travel video/vlog below!

Take note that the 3-day Taiwan itinerary below does not take into account your arrival day in Taipei.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• The following Taiwan itinerary section is in a tabbed format; so, in order to see the next day’s contents, just click the headings below.
• if you’re staying longer in the city, you can make use of the last tab called ‘ Extra Days ‘ to see the other activities or trips you can do for filling up the rest of your vacation days.

Taipei Exploration

Once you arrive in the heart of Taipei, go and quickly enjoy its iconic landmarks as well as its busy night markets and colorful culture! With that, I’ll be listing the top attractions in the city; however, it would be  impossible to thoroughly visit EVERYTHING  (unless you swiftly go through every location) .

That’s why, depending on your interests, pick the best places that you’d like to see within the day for your Taiwan itinerary based on the descriptions that I’ll be providing below (my top favorites are marked with a star ★); and then, you can visit the rest during your other free time or during your other trip days if you’re staying longer than 3 days in Taiwan.

◘◘ ★ Taipei 101

Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, Taipei 101 was once called the world’s tallest building in 2004 — until Burj Khalifa in Dubai was completed in 2010.

Either way, nowadays, it holds the highest award as the tallest and largest green building in the world according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) . By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of this building before; after all, it serves as an icon of modern Taiwan (though it was initially built as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition) ; as such, it is a must to include this on your Taiwan itinerary.

Towering at 101 stories, the base of the building houses several shops and restaurants (such as the famous Din Tai Fung chain) but what most visitors aim to do is to access the observatory. To list out the highlights of the building:

• 5F Taipei 101 Mall : The floor where you can purchase tickets and take the Guinness World Record high-speed elevator to the observatory on the 89th floor (it travels at 1,010 meters/min or 60.6kph, taking only 37 seconds total). However, it’s best to purchase online to get a discounted price — I will discuss this in the detail in the ‘ admission ‘ section below.
• 89F Indoor Observatory : Offers unobstructed views of Taipei. It also has a museum where you can learn about the construction of Taipei 101.
• 88F Beauty of Taiwan Multimedia Corridor, Super Big Wind Damper, Treasure Sky : The highlight of this floor is at 5.5m (in diameter) and there’s a 660-ton wind damper that’s built in the core of the tower. Apparently, this amazing technology helps keep the building from swaying and helps keep it stand upright. Meanwhile, Treasure Sky is a place where you can find jewel crafts.
• 91F Outdoor Observatory : This is accessible via the stairs from the 89th floor, but since the winds can get quite strong, this floor is only open on days when the weather is favorable. Anyhow, inside, you will find a small theatre that features films about the annual New Years’ fireworks display set off from Taipei 101.

ADMISSION: General ticket is NT$600 (students are charged NT$540 and children under 115cm are charged free). However, if you book online , you will only pay around NT$400! With this, you not only get a discount but you also don’t have to wait in a long line. HOURS:  9:00AM to 10:00PM NEAREST MRT: Red Line (Xiangshan train) to Taipei 101 station or Blue Line to Taipei City Hall Station

◘◘ Elephant Mountain

This is yet another great place for acquiring great views over Taipei especially if you’re into doing some mild hiking! Also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail or Xiangshan, the hiking trail up to Elephant Mountain is found close to the Xinyi Shopping District and Taipei 101. The whole steep hike takes about 15 to 20 minutes only one way.

ADMISSION: Free TOUR: For a hassle-free experience, you can join an Elephant Mountain day tour which will already include a trip to Pinglin’s Thousand Island Lake, Bagua Tea Plantation and Shenkeng Old Street. HOURS:  It’s best to avoid coming here during weekends because it can get crowded. For the best times to hike, it will be during the late afternoon so that you can catch the daylight, sunset and nighttime views of Taipei. NEAREST MRT:  Red Line to Xiangshan Station (or if you’re in Taipei 101, walk east on Xinyi Road until you reach Xiangshan Station for 15 minutes)

◘◘ ★ National Palace Museum

This is home to the largest permanent collection of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks (spanning over 700,000 pieces)! They cover about 8,000 years of Chinese art history from the Neolithic to the modern age; plus, most of them are high-quality pieces that were collected by China’s emperors — which means that a lot of them were rooted in the Palace Museum of Beijing’s Forbidden City .

With such a number, it helps to note though that the exhibits continuously rotate because only a small number can be displayed at a time in order to properly preserve them. Still, it’s quite an impressive collection that’s worth visiting if you’re into Chinese culture and history!

Upon admission, you could also access the beautiful garden nearby called Zhishan Garden . Not too far away would also be the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines which could be accessed for free once you pay the entrance for the National Palace Museum. (TIP: The National Palace Museum holds free English tours at 10AM and 3PM;  book online beforehand to reserve your spot. Whereas the Shung Ye features free tours at 2PM every weekend; no booking is required).

ADMISSION:  NT $350 (for students with ID, only NT $150) HOURS:  8:30AM to 6:30PM from Sunday to Thursday (to 9:00PM from Friday to Saturday) PROMO: Book online to purchase your admission ticket since it is cheaper NEAREST MRT:  Red Line Shilin Sation (士林)

◘◘ Presidential Building

This recognizable building in Taipei was originally built to act as the Office of the Governor-General during the Japanese colonial period, but it has since been renovated after it was partially destroyed during World War II. By the end of the Chinese Civil War, it served as the Presidential Office Building of the Kuomintang leadership in the city. As such, this is a great place to stop by for your Taiwan itinerary if you want to learn more about the country’s past in terms of political development.

ADMISSION:  Free TOUR: For a hassle-free experience, you can join a Taipei city tour which will include a stop to this attraction HOURS:  9:00AM to 11:30AM from Monday to Friday NEAREST MRT:  Red Line to NTU Hospital Station (pass through Exit 1)

◘◘ ★ Chiang Kai-Shek (CKS) Memorial Hall

Built in memory of the former President of the Republic of China, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek , this monument is a prominent historical landmark in Taiwan that was opened in 1980 as part of the national park. The square is actually officially called Liberty Square but the name was changed due to political motivations, and due to people still commonly referring to it as the CKS Memorial Hall.

TRIVIA : The 8 sides of the octagon-shaped building represent the number 8 which is often traditionally associated with fortune and wealth as per Chinese symbolism. Meanwhile, the 2 sets of 89 steps represent Chiang Kai-shek’s age of death (and you will find a bronze statue of him in the main hall). One of the great spectacles of this hall too is the hourly changing of the guards on either side of the statue.

ADMISSION: Free TOUR: For a hassle-free experience, you can join a Taipei city tour which will include a stop at this attraction HOURS: 9:00 AM to 5:00PM daily NEAREST MRT:  Red Line or Green Line to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station

◘◘ National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

This is another memorial hall, but this time around, it’s dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China: Dr. Sun Yat-sen . Once you enter the premises, you will find displays showing his accomplishments that spanned from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. But other than this, the hall is also often used for various performances and exhibitions. You could even enjoy the surrounding park called Zhongshan Park which features gardens, decorative historical walls, and Lake Cui or Emerald Pond which has a nearby exhibition area.

ADMISSION: Free HOURS: 9:00 AM to 6:00PM daily NEAREST MRT: Blue Line to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station

◘◘ Martyrs’ Shrine

Officially called the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, this basically marks the memory of almost 400,000 soldiers who died during the war against the communist in mainland China. The complex, which was built in 1969, is a typical example of the northern ‘palace style’ architecture that was popularised during Chiang Kai-shek’s reign.

For most visitors, much like the CKS Memorial Hall, the Martyrs’ Shrine is known for its changing of the guards or soldiers at the front gate. This event happens every hour until 5PM and lasts for about 20 minutes so it’s worthy to consider for your Taiwan itinerary. Once you’re done watching the guards, just don’t forget to make the most of your stay and explore the surrounding architecture.

ADMISSION: Free TOUR: For a hassle-free experience, you can join a Taipei city tour which will include a stop at this attraction HOURS: 9:00 AM to 5:00PM daily NEAREST MRT: Jiantan Station

◘◘ Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

This is a beautiful Taiwanese Taoist temple that received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for both its restoration and revival qualities of temple rites and festivities. Dedicated to the Taoist saint, Baosheng Dadi , this 900sqm temple is an exquisite structure that is a great example of the traditional decorative arts. If you time your visit from March to June, you could even witness the popular Baoshen Cultural Festival where you can watch parade tours, fire-walking rituals, lion dances, Taiwanese opera performances, puppet shows, and other cultural presentations. For an accurate schedule of the events, see the temple’s website .

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  7:00 AM to 10:00PM daily NEAREST MRT: Red Line to Yuanshan Station

◘◘ ★ Maokong Gondola

The mountain village of Maokong is the best spot in Taipei that offers a stunning panoramic view of the city — not to mention, they also have a wide variety of high-quality local tea.

To reach this village, you must take the Maokong Gondola which is a 4-km scenic cable car ride. With their Crystal Cabins or glass-bottom cars, you will be rewarded with amazing views and angles not only over the metropolis but also over the lush Zhinan River as you make your way up to Maokong (the ride spans about 30 minutes).

ADMISSION: One-way NT$120 for adults and NT$50 for children (FREE if you purchase a  Taipei Pass ) PROMO: Book online to purchase your admission ticket since it is a cheaper package inclusive of roundtrip tickets with FREE Taipei Double-decker Sightseeing Night Bus ticket for only NT$220. HOURS:  Typically open from 9AM to 9PM on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9AM to 10PM on Fridays, 8:30AM to 10PM on Saturdays and 8:30AM to 9PM on Sundays (note that the gondola’s opening hours depend upon the weather situation) NEAREST MRT: Brown Line to the terminus station, Taipei Zoo

◘◘ ★ Mengjia Longshan Temple

This is one of the largest and oldest well-known temples in Taiwan that’s located in the historic Wanhua district. Said to have been built in 1738 by Fujian settlers as a gathering place for Chinese settlers, Longshan Temple has since been rebuilt multiple times after destruction by earthquakes, typhoons, and WWII bombings. Today, it stands as a Taiwanese worship house for a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist, and deities such as Matsu (or the goddess of the sea).

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  6:00AM to 10:00PM (best times to visit would be at 6AM, 8AM or 5PM when crowds would gather and engage in hypnotic chanting) NEAREST MRT: Blue Line to Longshan Temple

Night Markets

Taiwan is a haven for foodies so when the night starts to creep in, choose from any of the night markets below to stuff yourself full!

TIP : For a hassle-free experience, you can join a Taipei Night Market tour for your Taiwan itinerary in order to get the most out of the city’s top authentic Taiwanese dishes and local flavors with the help of a local guide! Otherwise, check out this list of restaurants that you can book online for scoring special deals and rates.

◘◘ ★ Raohe Street Night Market

This is said to be Taipei’s oldest night market! It’s a single pedestrian lane spanning about 600 meters and it goes along Raohe street between 2 ornate gates. Here, you’ll find an array of quaint shops and stalls that serve food, snacks, and other items. For the must-try food items? Come read my post below:

» READ: Taiwan Street Food in Raohe Street Night Market

Other than eating, you can also shop for clothes if you stroll through the nearby Clothing Shopping Outlet in Wufenpu, or you could also visit the Ciyou Temple which is at the eastern end of the night market.

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  5:00PM to midnight NEAREST MRT:  Green Line to Songshan Station

◘◘ Huahsi (or Huaxi) Night Market

Also called “Snake Alley”, Huahsi is conveniently found next to Longshan Temple, as well as 2 other markets namely Guangzhou and Wuzhou. There is a wide range of food items that you can find here but the most famous ones would be the dishes made from snakes and turtles. If you’re up for something this exotic for your Taiwan itinerary, do try the snake soup! For something more ‘normal’, try the famous  Tainan dan-dan noodles.

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  4:00PM to midnight NEAREST MRT:  Blue Line to Longshan Temple Station

◘◘ Shilin Night Market

This is one of the largest and most popular night markets in Taiwan to tourists. With its maze of alleyways, you can find a variety of local, traditional, and international merchandise — local cuisines included, of course! So make sure that you stop by the underground foodie paradise on the western side of the market. Some of the things to try are  oyster vermicelli, fried pork buns, bubble tea, stinky tofu, and oyster omelet .

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  4:00PM to midnight NEAREST MRT:  Red Line to Jiantan Station

◘◘ Tonghua Night Market

This is a short walking distance from Taipei 101 and it’s the best night market to visit if you want something more local and less touristy. Other than clothing and other merchandise, there are food stalls here that sell sushi, steaks, and dumplings among many other things.

ADMISSION: Free HOURS:  6:00PM to 1:00AM NEAREST MRT:  Red Line to Xinyi Anhe Station

Taipei Meals

◘◘ LUNCH: Eatogether Xinyi Restaurant

You must NEVER leave Taiwan without tasting the top local fares of xiaolongbao , beef noodles soup, and bubble tea! To get the best of everything, head over to this highly-rated buffet chain. BOOK: Online

◘◘ DINNER: Any of the night markets

Taipei’s night markets can easily fill you up for dinner; so go and take your pick from any of the previous night markets that I’ve mentioned, and you’re sure to enjoy the night away!

Otherwise, check out this list of Taipei restaurants that you can book online for scoring special deals and rates.

Discover North of Taiwan

After you had your fill of some of Taipei’s key attractions, it’s time to venture out of the city to discover northern Taiwan’s wonders!

◘◘ Day tour to Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen

This is one of the best day tours that I’ve ever experienced for my Taiwan itinerary! For a whole day, you will be exploring the following key locations…

• Geopark : This beautiful limestone cape has a range of interesting rock/geological formations that have been aptly named according to their shape (example: Fairy’s Shoe and Queen’s Head).
• Shifen Old Streets and Shifen Waterfall : Found in the Pingxi area, Shifen is basically a small town that surrounds the Shifen railway station. This place is famous not only for its picturesque train tracks and marketplace but also for its shops that let you release a Chinese sky lantern — in case you can’t make it to their official Sky Lantern Festival (held usually on the 15th day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar). Another nearby attraction that you can find is the 20-meter tall Shifen Waterfall which is said to be the most scenic in Taiwan.
• Jiufen : Once a prosperous gold mining town, Jiufen is now a popular tourist destination for its quaint scenes that relive scenes from the past. Here, you will find picturesque streets and tea houses adorned with red lanterns and some great spots for viewing the Pacific Ocean! If you’re a fan of Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away”, you must visit Jiufen since most of the scenes from the movie were inspired by this place.

DETAILED EXPERIENCE: Read this Jiufen Tour review DURATION:  About 8 hours (return time approximately 5:30PM) BOOKING:   Online

» Want some other day tour options for your Taiwan itinerary?  See here to view a complete list.

◘◘ Ximending Youth Shopping District

Dubbed as the ‘Harajuku’ of Taipei, this is the trendy shopping and nightlife haven in the city that has a wide selection of shops, restaurants, clubs, and bars found all throughout its streets. In fact, the moment that I stepped here, it really made me feel like I visited Shibuya in Japan! That being said, before the day ends, go and shop here ’til you drop — or if you’re more into clubs and bars, there is an array of choices for you.

HOURS:  It’s open all day up to the night, but the best time to go would be starting from 5PM up into the wee hours NEAREST MRT:  Blue or Green Line to Ximen

◘◘ Din Tai Fung Restaurant

This is the internationally-famous Taiwanese restaurant that makes great-tasting  xiaolongbao  (a kind of tasty soup dumpling); therefore, no trip to Taiwan is complete without visiting one of its branches — especially its original Taipei branch found on Xinyi Road. Regrettably… the drawback is that there can be an insanely long wait because a lot of travelers also want to get a taste of this place. My advice? Visit in the morning to try and skip the lines!

TIP:  If you are pressed on time during your Taiwan itinerary and can’t dedicate hours-long of waiting at Din Tai Fung, you can reserve your spot online at either the Xinyi or Taipei 101 branch — or join a Taipei night tour that includes a dinner at Din Tai Fung. For other substitutes, you can get some great tasting xiaolongbao at Kao Chi . NEAREST MRT:  Dongmen Station (for the Xinyi branch)

◘◘ Other options for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

If you want great discounted/packaged meals in Taipei for your Taiwan itinerary, check out these online deals . They have choices from hot pots, lobster sets, beef noodles, and more! Otherwise, you can also revisit the night markets for a meal.

BOOKING: Taipei restaurants

Nature Exploration

This day is for witnessing yet another example of Taiwan’s grandeur when it comes to natural landscapes.

◘◘ Day tour to Alishan National Scenic Area

Alishan or “Mount Ali” is Taiwan’s most visited national park. Due to its elevation, you will find interesting flora in its ‘Giant Forest’ that is full of towering 2,000-year-old giant Taiwanese red cypresses. The area also enjoys a cooler climate and an erratic weather pattern so you can experience a cloudless morning with denser clouds of mist or fog in the latter part of the day, and then followed by a lightning storm and some rain (so make sure to pack an umbrella and a jacket).

If you ride the famous Alishan Mountain Railway, you can also visit several key locations in the national park via the Sacred Tree Line, Zhushan Line (for sunrise views over the Jade Mountain), and Mianyuei Line. For hiking-lovers, there are several great trails that you can go through in this location such as the path that leads to the Giant Tree of Mt. Shuishan (the oldest tree in the park at 2,700 years old).

On the way to Alishan with this day tour , you will also get the chance to stop over these additional locations…

• Fenqihu : This is a medieval mountain railroad town near Alishan. Make sure that you visit its old narrow streets to shop for interesting souvenirs to bring back home, see its old railway museum, as well as to eat their famous ‘Fenqihu lunch box’ at the original restaurant that serves it (found underneath 7/11 on the main road — NT$100 only for takeaway or NT$120 for eating it on the spot).
• Alishan Shouzhen Temple: This place enshrines the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven (玄天上帝) as its main deity and it is the highest temple in Taiwan in terms of elevation.

BOOKING:   Online DURATION:  About 8 hours MEETING POINT: In this tour, it is possible to pick you up from any of the hotels found in Kaohsiung, Chiayi and Tainan City. Otherwise, if you’re coming from Taipei, they can pick you up from High Speed Railway stations found in Chiayi or Tainan. To get to these train station locations from Taipei, you need to book an HSR train. Book a  ticket , or you can also book an unlimited pass especially if you’re staying longer in Taiwan and plan to visit other places outside of Taipei). PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:  If you want to explore Alishan by yourself for your Taiwan itinerary, once you reach Chiayi station, take the direct bus to Alishan for about NT$300 (one way) which runs between 10:00AM to 11:30AM. There are also non-direct buses that cost NT$221 each way. Take note that the last bus to Alishan is at 2PM and the last bus back to Chiayi leaves at 5:10PM (found near Alishan’s 7-11 store).

◘◘ Explore the rest of Taipei

Once you’re back in Taipei after your day tour, this would be the perfect time to see the other historical landmarks or night markets that you haven’t managed to visit! (Refer to the list I’ve made under Day #1 to see the number of choices).

If you want great discounted/packaged meals in Taipei during your Taiwan itinerary, check out these online deals . They have choices from hot pots, lobster sets, beef noodles, and more! Otherwise, you can also revisit the night markets for a meal.

Other Taiwan Itinerary Activities

◘◘ Taipei Activities

Double Decker Bus Tour Sightseeing bus pass for a day.

Taipei Pub Crawl The heart of Taipei nightlife!

TaipeiEYE Peking Opera Performances featuring classical Taiwanese opera, Peking opera, Aboriginal dance, and more.

◘◘ Family Fun

Leofoo Village Theme Park Amusement park & safari.

E-Da Theme Park Aegean Sea inspired theme park.

National Aquarium Large museum and aquarium.

Suzuka Circuit Park Circuit rides amusement park.

Yehliu Ocean World Taiwan’s first ocean park.

i-Ride Taipei Flying Cinema Experience a multi-sensory 5D ride!

◘◘ Day Trips

Taroko Gorge Taiwan’s most scenic destination.

Thousand Island Lake & Plantation Stunning landscapes and tea culture.

Gaomei & Rainbow Community Taiwan’s renowned wetland & painted village.

Yangmingshan & Hot Springs Mountain escape & healing springs.

Sun Moon Lake Famous scenic lake.

Hualien Whale Watching Witness dolphins & whales.

Sun Link & Lotus Forest Scenic mountain lake.

Green Grasslands Tour Cingjing Farm, famous for its abundance of sheep!

Taitung Hot Air Balloon Tour Overlooking Luliao River and Beinan River.

Taichung Paragliding 10-15 minute paragliding flight over Nantou.

Tung Blossom Day Trip Taiwan’s renowned tung blossoms.

Taiping Mountain Tour Famous Taiwanese national park.

◘◘ Food & Restaurants

Chia Te Souvenir Award-winning pineapple cakes.

Sugar & Spice Nougat Taiwan’s famous French Nougat.

Zeng Noodles Popular instant noodles of Taiwan.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle Authentic Taiwanese noodles.

Beef Noodles & Rice Cooking Class Learn to make taiwan’s famous beef noodles.

Crispy Pork Jerky Popular “kuai che” dried pork jerky.

Taiwan Beef Noodles Famous bowl of savory beef noodles.

Smoothie House Must-try: their popular mango shaved ice!

Lovelycocoa Exquisite raw chocolate quality.

Spicy Hot Pot Red 9’s Sichuan-style hot pots..

Noodle Soups Must-try: Prime Beef Hind Shank Noodle Soup!

OneZo Milk Tea Get your fill of authentic boba tea!

Fu Hang Dou Jiang Top authentic Taiwanese breakfast meals!

Meinong & Aboriginal Village Witness the home of Hakka culture..

Liang Shan Aboriginal Culture Aboriginal culture at Wutai, Sandimen and Majia.

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Mix of theme park and aboriginal culture..

◘◘ Water Fun

Bitou Cape Scuba Diving See the Northeast Coast’s underworld.

Hsiukuluan River Rafting Paddle through Hualien’s wild rapids!

Qingshui Cliff Sea Kayaking See views of the Pacific and Hualien’s coast!

Chimei – Wang’an Island Hopping Explore two of Penghu’s beautiful and secluded islands.

Yilan Waiao Surfing The best surfing destination in Northern Taiwan!

SUP at Shenao Elephant Trunk Rock 3 hour guided SUP tour.

Explore other TOP destinations in Taiwan

HUALIEN Eastern Taiwan’s 2nd largest city, Hualien is a natural haven perfect for escapes from the city.

KAOHSIUNG Taiwan’s largest port city, has been gaining popularity as the next top destination in the country.

Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)! . However, take note that a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

The Best Tours in Taipei?

Come and check out this list which features the best activities and tours to do!

Taiwan may be a small country, but it has more than enough amazing activities and attractions to keep you coming back for more!

There’s still so much to see but I believe that my Taiwan itinerary guide here is a great start — with all that said and done, please feel free to tweak this itinerary and make full use of my other activity suggestions in order to make your trip shorter or longer and better fitting for your travel style.

Enjoy and do let me know how your trip goes!

Have you seen my latest vlog?

Hey there! I am Aileen Adalid. At 21, I quit my corporate job in the Philippines to pursue my dreams. Today, I am a successful  digital nomad  (online entrepreneur, travel writer, & vlogger) living a sustainable travel lifestyle.

My mission?  To show you how it is absolutely possible to  create a life of travel no matter the odds — and I will help you achieve that through my detailed travel hacks, guides, resources, tips, and MORE!

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Thank you I’m planning to visit Taiwan december

Your blog is so helpful! It’s definitely one of my go to sites when traveling abroad :)

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Taiwan Tours & Vacations

When Portuguese sailors first saw Taiwan off the starboard bow in 1544, they christened it Ilha Formosa, the 'Beautiful Island'.

And can you blame them? For 400 years communists, capitalists, imperialists, and everyone in between have fought over its mist-shrouded forests, soaring peaks, and plunging coastal cliffs. These days it’s definitely a case of ‘come for the adventure, stay for the stir-fries’, with some of the best fusion cuisines around, top road cycling, excellent mountain trekking, and world-class coffee to boot. Also variously known as the Republic of China and Chinese Tapei, Taiwan is a destination that has most definitely come into its own.

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5 LGBTQI-friendly travel destinations you might not have considered

5 unexpected natural wonders to visit in Taiwan

Taiwan at a glance

Capital city.

23.9 million

(GMT+08:00) Taipei

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin)

Learn more about Taiwan

Best time to visit taiwan.

While there’s really no bad time to visit Taiwan, some months are more predictable than others.

September to November is the best time to visit when you’ll find balmy nights, rich autumn foliage, and off-peak prices.

Traveling in spring (March to May) is down to luck: it could be clear skies, monsoonal rain, or even a sandstorm blown over from   China .

Swimming is best mid-year (June to August) when the weather can heat up, but there is always the small risk of typhoons.

Geography and environment

Taiwan is a little like   South America   with its spine-like ridge of (often impassable) mountains running southwest through the center of the island. The beauty of this setup is that topography and environment can change very quickly.

You can be cycling through low-lying rice paddies around Taitung one day, traversing the high forest passes of Yushan the next, and then finishing up on the white northern beaches around Fuguei Cape.

Generally, the central national parks and east coast are the most spectacular regions; the west coast is flat and highly developed with urban areas spreading over the river basins and flood plains that lead to the sea.

Top 5 attractions in Taiwan

1. sun moon lake.

One of Asia’s best-kept secrets, Sun Moon Lake is easily the equal of any Como, Bled, or Windermere. It’s a huge blue oasis hidden among the green peaks of Taiwan’s central mountain ranges. By day it’s merely beautiful, but in the blue-gold light of dawn, with mists rolling over the water and local fishermen paddling past, it’s like something out of a fairy tale.

2. Taroko Gorge

They have to shoot a James Bond chase scene through here, that’s all there is to it. Taroko Gorge was made for the cinema. It’s a winding maze of looming marble crags, huge cut-out roads tunneling right into the mountains, rushing river gorges, and looping alpine passes. If you are ever being chased by gangsters in your supercar, you want it to be here.

3. Qingshui Cliffs

Just google an image of ‘Qingshui Cliffs’ before we continue. All done? Now you know what we’re talking about. They’re basically a 21 km stretch of sheer jungle-covered cliffs plunging straight into the East China Sea, with a tiny highway clinging on about halfway up. This is not a journey for vertigo sufferers, but for fans of jaw-dropping natural wonders, it’s a must-do.

An easy one to tick off, since it’ll probably be your first stop in Taiwan. The northern city of Taipei is the island’s capital and offers a beating, chaotic counterpoint to the Zen-like beauty of the southern national parks. If you think it’s crazy by day, just wait until night, when a neon glow lights the sky and lantern-lit markets spring up in the colorful Songshan district.

5. Penghu Islands

Penghu is one of Taiwan’s hidden gems, an archipelago of 90 islands between the mainland and China. They’re remote, but worth the journey, with brilliant beaches devoid of crowds, glorious temples, towering basalt columns, and genuine old-fashioned Chinese hospitality. Penghu is also a windsurfing mecca and a nesting ground for rare green sea turtles. Not bad for one tiny volcanic island chain.

Further reading

Taiwan travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to travel to Taiwan?

TAIWAN VISA

Nationals of most countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay of 30-90 days. Please check with your nearest consulate for your specific eligibility.

Is tipping customary in Taiwan?

Tipping is not really common practice in Taiwan, except perhaps in the more high-class hotels. Most restaurants have a service charge built into the price, and taxi drivers will usually return your change to you.

What is the internet access like in Taiwan?

As one of Asia’s more tech-savvy destinations, cyber cafes are common in the major cities. Free Wi-Fi can also usually be found at the local library.

Can I use my cell phone while in Taiwan?

Cell phone coverage is excellent in Taiwan, apart from some of the more remote mountain areas. Ensure global roaming is activated before leaving home if you wish to use your mobile while traveling.

What are the toilets like in Taiwan?

Modern flushing toilets are commonplace in Taiwan, although it can be hard to find a public toilet in large cities.

What will it cost for a…?

Beer = 50 TWD Simple lunch at a cafe = 60 TWD Dinner in a restaurant = 150 TWD Street meal = 40 TWD Train ticket = 20 TWD Bottle of water = 19 TWD

Can I drink the water in Taiwan?

Water in Taiwan is usually filtered, and therefore safe, but use your common sense. Restaurants will generally filter their water, as will most of the drinking fountains. If you can’t find these in the more rural areas, bring some purification tablets to treat the water.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Taiwan?

Most hotels and department stores accept VISA and Mastercard, but Diners and AMEX are not usually accepted. For restaurants and small stores, cash is the normal form of payment.

What is ATM access like in Taiwan?

ATM access in Taiwan is exceptional, with most of their ATMs able to withdraw money from anywhere in the world using the Plus or Cirrus system. There is usually a TWD 20,000 limit for cash withdrawals.

What public holidays are celebrated in Taiwan ?

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• 1 Jan Founding Day of the Republic of China
• 2 Jan New Year's / Republic Day Holiday
• 27 Jan Chinese New Year
• 28 Jan Chinese New Year
• 29 Jan Chinese New Year
• 30 Jan Chinese New Year
• 31 Jan Chinese New Year
• 1 Feb Chinese New Year
• 27 Feb 228 Peace Memorial Day (Additional Holiday)
• 28 Feb 228 Peace Memorial Day
• 3 Apr Qingming Festival /Tomb Sweeping Day (Additional Holiday)
• 4 Apr Qingming Festival /Tomb Sweeping Day
• 4 Apr Children's Day
• 29 May Dragon Boat Festival (Additional Public Holiday)
• 30 May Dragon Boat Festival
• 4 Oct Mid-Autumn / Moon Festival
• 9 Oct ROC National Celebration Day (Additional Holiday)
• 10 Oct ROC National Celebration Day

*Please note these dates may vary. For a current list of public holidays in Taiwan go to World Travel Guide's website

Is Taiwan accessible for travellers with disabilities?

We’re committed to making travel accessible for everyone, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Taiwan generally has   accessibility   in mind when building new infrastructure, however, as a mountainous place there are many natural barriers to those with limited mobility. Outdoor activities such as hiking or visiting national parks are common on itineraries and may be off limits to wheelchair users or travelers for who steps or uneven ground are an issue. Wheelchair-accessible tour buses may be able to be booked in advance and taxis are good value. MRT trains have accessible facilities. Many hotels and guesthouses will have barrier-free rooms, but often cafes and restaurants have seating on upper floors without lifts. Outside Taipei and Kaohsiung cities and towns can lack sidewalks.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

A Taiwan Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 weeks (Slow & Fast Options!)

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

One of the most common questions about Taiwan that I get from my readers is how to plan the perfect Taiwan travel itinerary.

It’s a common story: people look at the map of Taiwan and see that it’s a pretty small country. So they think 7 days in Taiwan will be enough. Once they start planning their trip, they realize one week is not enough because there are SO MANY things to do in Taiwan . So they book 2 weeks in Taiwan. Then, the more they plan the finer details of their Taiwan itinerary, the more they wish they had actually booked 3 weeks or even one month in Taiwan!

In this article, I’m going to exactly how to plan your Taiwan travel schedule, no matter how many day’s you’ve got. After checking hundreds of people’s itineraries in my Taiwan Travel Planning Group , I’ve come to realize that the way people plan their itinerary varies A LOT. So many visitors cram two weeks of activities into one week or less. So I’m going to give itineraries for both slower travelers and for fast ones. I’ll also give a nature-focused itinerary and a city/culture one.

I’ve been living in Taiwan for over 10 years. I’ve written a book about Taiwan and articles for CNN, National Geographic Traveller, and others. I’ve planned numerous trips around Taiwan so the recommendations in this article are based on multiple first-hand experiences.

Table of Contents

Taiwan Itinerary Essentials

– Read my general Taiwan travel guide and these FAQs about Taiwan . Figure out the best time to visit Taiwan , the top festivals , and which budget airlines fly there . – Find all your day tours, drivers, discounted attraction tickets, and more on Klook! Use my referral link to get TWD 100 off your first booking . Learn about others apps for traveling in Taiwan and find more private drivers here . – Buy your SIM card / eSIM / WiFi device , EasyCard , and HSR tickets online before you arrive. Also consider getting a Taipei Fun Pass (read my review of the pass here ). – If you are looking for a customized luxury tour of Taiwan, I recommend Life of Taiwan . Tell them Nick sent you over! – If you’re visiting Taiwan as a family, I’ve written a similar Taiwan itinerary with kids . – Learn all about about Taiwanese food and my recommended restaurants and night markets in Taipei . – See my recommended hotels , hostels , and luxury resorts .

Sample Taiwan Itineraries

Here’s a brief outline of the itineraries I’ll be covering in this article. Since so many visitors only visit Taiwan for one week (I know because I’ve checked so many of your itineraries!), and because I know you try to squeeze in as much as you can, I’m provided both a slower (recommended!) and more rushed itinerary.

Typically, visitors want to squeeze in Taipei, Hualien/Taroko Gorge on the east coast, plus Sun Moon Lake and/or Alishan (on the west coast) in a short period of time. It might look like a quick drive across the island from Taroko Gorge to Sun Moon lake, but it is NOT!

There is a chain of high mountains in the center of Taiwan, with no public transportation. Even if you drive, the cross-island highway is often destroyed by landslides and impossible to cross. This means you’ll need to go from east coast to west coast via Taipei, so keep that in mind!

For the two-week itinerary, I’ve provided a nature-focused one and a city/culture-focused one, with some overlap. The three-week itinerary basically just covers all the stops of these two itineraries.

For each of the below outlines, I’ll explain how to do them in great detail below.

Taiwan in 1 Week: Slow

• Days 1-3: Taipei
• Days 4-5: Day trips from Taipei
• Days 6-7: Short trip outside the city, choose ONE of these: Hualien/Taroko Gorge, Taichung/Sun Moon Lake/Cingjing Farm, Alishan, Tainan, or Kaohsiung

Taiwan in 1 Week: Fast

Days 1-2: taipei.

• Day 3: Day trip from Taipei ( this one covers the top spots in one day!)
• Day 4: Long day trip to Taroko Gorge (details below)

Day 5: Sun Moon Lake and/or Cingjing Farm

Day 6: alishan.

• Day 7 Back to Taipei or directly to Taoyuan International Airport

Taiwan in 2 Weeks: Nature-Focused

If you want to do a full circle around Taiwan, two weeks is a reasonable amount of time. You can’t easily hit every stop without rushing, though. This itinerary focused on natural places and skips some of the big cities.

• Days 1-3 :Taipei (including day trip)

Days 4-5: Hualien and Taroko Gorge

• Day 6-7: Taitung (Chishang)
• Days 8-9: Xiaoliuqiu or Kenting National Park
• Days 10-11: Alishan
• Days 12-13: Sun Moon Lake and/or Cingjing Farm
• Days 14: To Taipei or Taoyuan International Airport

Two Weeks in Taiwan: City/Culture-Focused

• Day 6-7: Taitung city
• Days 8-9: Kaohsiung
• Days 10-11: Tainan
• Days 12-13: Taichung

Taiwan in 3 weeks

If you are able to spend more than two weeks in Taiwan, you can visit all the main stops I mentioned above, but add an extra night at each for a more relaxed pace.

Or, you can add more smaller stops and side trips to your schedule. Here’ just one example of what that could look like:

Days 1-4: Taipei

• Days 5-6: Hualien / Taroko Gorge
• Days 6-7: Taitung
• Days 8-9: Kenting National Park or Xiaoliuqiu Island

Days 10-11: Kaohsiung

Days 12-13: tainan, day 14: fenqihu or shizhuo, day 15: alishan.

• Days 16-17: Sun Moon Lake

Day 18: Cingjing Farm

• Day 19: Lukang
• Day 20: Taichung
• Day 21: Back to Taipei or directly to Taoyuan Airport

Transportation Info

In this section, I’ll cover everything you need to know about transportation for completing these itineraries in Taiwan.

Airport to Taipei

My itineraries assume you’ll be arriving at Taoyuan International Airport , Taipei’s main airport. There’s also a smaller city center airport called Songshan Airport, as well as international airports in Taichung and Kaohsiung.

On Day 1, to get from the airport to Taipei city center, hop in the Airport MRT. It runs frequently from around 6 AM to midnight, taking 35 or 50 minutes (every second one is express) and costing only TWD 160 one-way (or cheaper if you buy it here ).

You can pay in cash at the machine or ticket window, or swipe an EasyCard , the transportation card which almost all locals use in Taiwan. You can buy your EasyCard (TWD 100 non-refundable deposit + however much money you want to load onto it) from the ticket window, but the window isn’t always open. Or you can pre-order and pre-load your EasyCard for pickup when you arriver at the airport. Kids under 6 are free, while kids 6-12 and seniors can ask for a Concessionaire card (at the station only). Read more about it in my EasyCard guide .

There are also regular buses to the city (one hour). If you arrive between midnight at 6 AM, you’ll need to take a taxi (45 min, TWD 1000 to 1200), or arrange a private transfer (usually a little cheaper than taxi).

I cover all this in more detail in my guide to getting from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei .

If you have a very early or late flight, you can also consider to stay in one of these airport hotels at Taoyuan .

How to Rent a Car in Taiwan If you do decide to rent a car in Taiwan , you can pick it up from the various locations, including the Taoyuan Airport or in the city center. However, a lot of people find it easier to explore Taipei by MRT, ride the express train to Hualien (which is faster and easier than driving), then start their car rental in Hualien. Learn more in my guide to renting a car in Taiwan .

Getting around Taipei

Getting around Taipei is a breeze thanks to the amazing Taipei MRT system. Simply buy and load an EasyCard online , from any station, or from any convenience store, and use it swipe in and out of stations. You can also use it to pay at convenience stores, some taxis, other city buses and MRTs across Taiwan, some ferries, and even some food stalls. When in Taiwan, you can only use cash to load your EasyCard.

Also consider getting an Unlimited Fun Pass , which is a 1-3 day pass for tourists only. It includes unlimited MRT and bus rides in Taipei and New Taipei City , five tourist shuttle buses to attractions all over Northern Taiwan, and entrance fees to 16 major Taipei attractions. It is can save you a lot of time and trouble! There’s also a cheaper transport-only pass that doesn’t included the attractions. Read my guide to using Taipei Fun Passes to decide whether they are worth the money, and whether you need to get one for your kids.

TRA Trains Around Taiwan

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) runs trains in a full circle around Taiwan. There are a variety of train types/speeds, and all of their schedules can be searched and booked (from 28 days in advance) on the official TRA website .

Train types include LOCAL (no seat booking possible, just swipe your EasyCard), Tze-Chiang and Chu-Kuang (seat reservations recommended but you can always swipe EasyCard for standing ticket), and EXPRESS (seat reservation essential, as these trains often sell out). If you’re traveling during a long weekend or national holiday, booking train seats is essential.

In all my recommended Taiwan itineraries, you’ll be riding TRA trains from Taipei to Hualien (the express one here is especially popular and likely to sell out). It is also your only option from Hualien to Taitung and from Taitung to Kaohsiung.

From Kaohsiung to Taipei, and all the big cities between, you’ll have the choice of TRA trains or the High Speed Rail. TRA stations are usually more convenient because all of them are in the city center.

For Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, you’ll need to take some buses to reach them.

High Speed Rail (HSR)

Taiwan’s High Speed Rail (HSR) runs from Taipei City down the west coast to Kaohsiung (Zuoying Station). It has some very clear advantages and disadvantages (I do a more detailed comparison of TRA and HSR trains in my HSR booking guide ).

On the plus side, the HSR is twice as fast (but also twice as expensive). However, besides Taipei, every HSR station is inconveniently located outside of the city center. It means once you reach Taichung, Tainan, or Kaohsiung, you have to take local transport to reach the city center. Two cases where this isn’t a problem are Chiayi HSR station (where you can catch a direct bus to Alishan) or Taichung HSR station (where you can catch a direct bus to Sun Moon Lake).

If you book your tickets in advance (on the official site ) or here on Klook , you can get a discount. However, you can also just show up at the station and buy a non-reserved ticket, even last minute, even on sold out trains, and sit in the non-reserved section (cars 10-12).

You don’t actually need to use the HSR on my recommended Taiwan itineraries. In most cases, the TRA will suffice and will be more convenient. I would only recommend it if (for example), you want to quickly travel one of the big cities (Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, Taichung) to Taoyuan (where you can catch the Airport MRT to Taoyuan International Airport) or to Taipei.

Insider’s Tips: HSR tickets Book your HSR tickets in advance online to save money. But if you prefer flexibility, you can always buy a full-price HSR ticket at the last minute and sit in cars 10-12 (non-reserved section). We’ve even done this at the busiest time of the year ( Lunar New Year , when all HSR tickets sell out instantly) and only had to wait under an hour to get on a train and even get a seat. The same is true for any long weekends in Taiwan. If you order your HSR tickets online, you’ll still need to pick up physical copies in Taiwan from a convenience store or HSR station window. If you want to get digital tickets, use the T Express app .

1 Week Itinerary Details

If you’ve only got 7 days in Taiwan, obviously you aren’t going to tour the whole country, but it’s still enough time to get a very good taste of it. What most likely will happen is that you’ll finish your trip and start thinking about when you can come back again to see more of the country. I’m only repeating what many, many travelers say!

Here are my detailed itineraries for slow or fast travelers!

Slow Itinerary

For my slow one week itinerary, I recommend spending most of your time in Taipei, including some day trips from the city (keep in mind that you can see many parts of Taiwan as a day trip from Taipei!) There’s just so much to see in and around Taipei that it’s not really necessary to do a lot of traveling and changing hotels when you’ve only got a week.

Then I recommend one trip out of the city, perhaps for 2-3 nights. I’ll give several options!

Days 1-3 in Taipei

You need at least two fulls days just to cover the main sights on Taipei. Trust me, you won’t run out of things to do in Taipei !

I’ve suggested three days here assuming you won’t see and do much on Day 1. The exact number of numbers you stay in Taipei might depend on what time you arrive on Day 1. Will you have much time to explore the city on Day 1 or not? Will you be super tired after your long flight? Just a few things to consider.

I’ve got several separate articles to help you plan your time in Taipei. Start with my two day , three day , four day or five day itineraries for Taipei, which cover the main sights and how to see them most efficiently.

Also have a look at my guide to where to stay in Taipei , Taipei’s night markets , the best restaurants , and the best temples in Taipei . For Taipei-specific weather advice, see the best time to visit Taipei .

Also read about Taipei’s famous food streets and markets, like Yongkang Street , Shenkeng Old Street , Danshui Old Street , and Addiction Aquatic Development seafood supermarket .

Days 4-5: Day Trips from Taipei

There are so many incredible day trips from Taipei that I suggest reserving 1-2 days in your itinerary for it. Here are my 40 recommended day trips from Taipei .

Several of the most popular places to visit around Taipei can be combined into one epic day trip. Many people include several (but not all!) of the following into one day: Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen Old Street, Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, Golden Waterfall, Houtong Cat Village , Keelung Night Market , and Yehliu Geopark. This guided day tour visits several of them in one day, of you can follow my guides for doing it all on your own (see my day trips article linked above).

I’ve also got dedicated articles to the most famous day trips from Taipei: Jiufen Old Street , how to get to Jiufen , Wulai aboriginal village , and Jiaoxi Hot Spring . You may also want to visit some of Taipei’s best beaches or one of these fun amusement parks .

For families, consider visiting Yilan , which is loaded with kid-friendly museum, leisure farms, and other activities.

Days 6-7: Somewhere Outside Taipei

Depending on how many nights you decide to spend in Taipei, you can schedule 2-3 nights for staying somewhere outside Taipei.

Taroko Gorge in Hualien is a popular option. Here’s my Taroko Gorge guide . You can get there in only two hours on the fastest train (booking essential), or 3-4 hours on slower ones. It is possible to do Taroko Gorge as a rushed day trip from Taipei, but for our slower itinerary, I recommend spending a minimum of one night there, and two is better. Most people visit the gorge as a full-day tour such as this one , or with a private driver such as this one .

Another popular option is Sun Moon Lake or Cingjing Farm , the most famous places to visit in Nantou . Sun Moon Lake is a beautiful lake with temples, gondola, night markets, and other things to do. Cingjing Farm is a high mountain farm with beautiful mountain views, European-style buildings, and farm animals.

Both places can be reached via Taichung city. The regular train or bus to Taichung takes 2 hours, or the High Speed Rail takes one hour. From either station, it’s 1.5 hour bus ride to Sun Moon Lake or 2.5 hours to Cingjing Farm.

There are several options here. You might choose to spend 1 night in Taichung (see the main things to do in Taichung ), one night in Sun Moon Lake (see my Sun Moon Lake guide ), and one night in Cingjing Farm. Or you might skip Taichung and choose only SML or Cingjing. It’s up to you!

There are various transportation options and tours available on Klook for these visiting these places efficiently. Here’s a Taichung tour , Sun Moon Lake tour, shared transfer , private transfer, Cingjing and Hehuan Mountain tour , and SML and Cinjing combined tour .

Yet another option for you trip outside Taipei would be Alishan . This is Taiwan’s most popular mountain resort. It is famous for its beautiful sunrises, small gauge forest railway line, huge ancient trees, and high mountain tea. Here’s my guide to Alishan and how to get there . For this relaxed itinerary, I recommend riding the High Speed Rail to Chiayi station (1.5 hrs) then taking the bus (2 hrs) to get there.

One night is the bare minimum at Alishan, but two nights is more relaxed. You can consider one night in Fenqihu or Shizhuo villages on the way there, and one night in Alishan National Forest Recreation area. All the details are in my Alishan guide. Book your Alishan hotel early as they often sell out.

Other options for your stay outside of Taipei would be the cities of Tainan (the country’s ancient capital) or Kaohsiung (the country’s largest port city).

On your final day, you can ride the HSR from Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan or Kaohsiung to Taoyuan HSR station, then connect to the Airport MRT for getting to the Taoyuan International Airport. If coming from Hualien, you’ll need to ride the TRA train to Taipei Main Station then connect to the Airport MRT from there.

1 Week Fast Itinerary Details

So many visitors to Taiwan want to see Taipei + the Big Three Sights (Taroko, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan), but they only book one week or less to do it. This is too rushed, in my opinion, but it can be done. Here’s how:

Of course you can’t miss Taipei. Two full days here is enough to see the main sights.

Day 3: Day trip from Taipei

You can ‘t miss this either! I recommend this tour for visiting some of the best sights in one day.

Day 4: Day trip to Taroko Gorge

Since your schedule is very tight, I recommend visiting Taroko Gorge as a day trip from Taipei. If you take the earliest train of the day, you can make it just in time for this Taroko Gorge day tour . Or, come at a later time, and just hire a driver to take you around. There’s also this Taroko Gorge tour from Taipei , but I don’t recommend it because it involves too much driving time in one day.

If you prefer to spend a night in Hualien when you visit the gorge, it’s also possible in this itinerary. Follow the above instructions for getting to Taroko Gorge, then spend a night in one of the hotels in the gorge, in Xincheng village nearby, or in Hualien city (see my Taroko guide for my hotel recommendations). Then, the next morning, ride an early train back to Taipei, and onward to Taichung for getting to Sun Moon Lake. It means your time at Sun Moon Lake will be shorter, though, so go as early as possible.

From Taipei, ride the High Speed Rail to Tauchung station (1 hr). If you spend a night in Hualien, ride the regular train all the way to Taichung (slowest), or regular train to Taipei Main then transfer to the High Speed Rail.

If you choose Sun Moon Lake, there’s a direct bus from the HSR station (90 min). Try to go as early as possible so you can have a full day for exploring Sun Moon Lake. Spend the night in Shuishe village at Sun Moon Lake, which is where you’ll need to catch the bus to Alishan the next morning.

If you choose Cingjing Farm, you probably shouldn’t spend the night there, because it will take a long time to get to Alishan the next day. You can visit Cingjing and Hehuanshan as a day tour from Taichung , or choose this Cinging and Sun Moon Lake day tour to visit both places in one day.

See more info in my Cingjing guide , how to get to Cingjing , my guide to visiting Hehuanshan , and how to stay at Songsyue Lodge , the only hotel at Hehuanshan.

If you spend the night at Sun Moon Lake, there’s only one bus per day to Alishan, departing Shuishe village at 8 AM and arriving at Alishan around 11 AM. This will give you all afternoon for hiking and exploring Alishan, which is lots of time.

If you chose to spend the night at Cingjing, you can wake up early for sunrise, then go back to Taichung as early as possible for getting to Alishan.

If you did one of the SML or Cingjing tours, you probably finished in Taichung and spent the night there. To get from Taichung to Alishan, ride the regular train or High Speed Rail to Chiayi, then take the direct bus from Chiayi HSR station or Chiayi TRA station to Alishan (2 hrs). You can see all the bus times here . Try to reach Alishan by the early afternoon so you have some time for exploring there.

Day 7: Alishan Sunrise and Back to Taipei/Airport

On your last day, wake up super early to see the famous Alishan sunrise. Then, if you aren’t too rushed to get back to Taipei or to the airport for your flight, you can spend a few more hours hiking around Alishan.

Ride the bus from Alishan to the Chiayi HSR station for the fastest way back to Taoyuan (for the airport) or Taipei Main Station. For the airport, ride it to Taoyuan HSR station then take the Airport MRT to the airport.

Or take the bus to the Chiayi TRA station for the slower but cheaper way to go back. If you want to go directly to the airport, ride the TRA train to Taoyuan station, then take a taxi from there.

Taiwan 2 Week Itinerary

Two weeks is a good amount of time if you want to do a full circle around Taiwan. You won’t be able to hit every stop along the way (unless you are willing to rush and change hotels/locations almost every night). But you can at least cover most of the main ones.

If you plan to travel around Taiwan in two weeks, I’m going to give you two diffrent itinerary options. One is more focused on nature and the other on history and culture. You maybe want to modify or combine the two itineraries as you see fit.

Nature-Focused Itinerary

For my nature-focused itinerary, traveling clockwise around Taiwan, you will stop at Taroko Gorge, rural Taitung County, Alishan National Scenic Area, and Sun Moon Lake. Why clockwise? Well, that way just feels natural to me, plus I being able to ride the High Speed Rail directly to Taoyuan for getting to the airport on the final day, avoiding the need to go to

To avoid repeating a lot in this article, I’m going to describe each of these stops in detail (including hotel recommendations) below in my recommended 3-week itinerary. The route is the same, but you’ll just have to skip over a few stops. Essentially, my 3-week itinerary hits every one of the stops on these two 2-week itineraries.

Just a few things to mention about this specific itinerary. For Hualien, make sure to book your train early. Choose to stay at one of the hotels in the gorge or in Xinsheng village nearby for a quieter and more natural experience. If you do so, the next day, you might have to catch a local train from Xinsheng to Hualien first. From there, there are more trains onward to Chishang.

I recommend staying in one of the villages in Taitung for experiencing this beautiful, this rural part of Taiwan. Chishang is my top choice and is famous for cycling in the rice paddies. But other choices are Yuli, Guanshuan, and Luye. Read about them all in my guide to the East Coast of Taiwan .

For the next stop, Xiaoliuqiu is a small island where you can snorkel with sea turtles. To get there, ride the train from Chishang to Taitung city first. Then ride a train from Taitung city to Fangliao and take a taxi to the ferry port in Donggang for riding the ferry to Xiaoliuqiu.

Alternatively, follow the same steps to Fangliao then catch a bus to Kenting National Park, which has the best beaches on the mainland of Taiwan and many resorts or B&Bs to choose from.

From either one, return to Fangliao, then take the train to Chiayi. If you ride Fangliao to Kaohsiung, and then Kaohsiung to Chiayi, there will be more trains to choose from. Try to get to Chiayi before the last bus to Alishan. If you can’t, spend the night in Chiayi and go to Alishan then next day. Here’s my guide to getting to Alishan and visiting Alishan .

From Alishan, there’s one minibus per day to Sun Moon Lake, departing at 1 PM and arriving at SML at 4 PM. Spend the next day at Sun Moon Lake plus another night. Catch the shuttle bus from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung High Speed Rail station for connecting to the airport or Taipei.

Alternatively, after one night and one day visiting Sun Moon Lake, move to Cingjing Farm for your last night. You can get there by bus via Puli (budget about 2 hours) or take a shared transfer . On the final day, bus from Cinging to Taichung via Puli (2.5 hrs), or take a shared another shared transfer (1.5 hrs).

City & Culture-Focused Itinerary

If you’re more into the arts, culture, and urban explorations, then this itinerary is for you. You’ll still visit Taroko Gorge in Hualien, because I can’t justify skipping that. You can also experience Taiwanese aboriginal culture in Hualien, for example by taking this aboriginal cooking course .

Then you’ll do a circle around Taiwan via its main cities, stopping in each one to experience local attractions and culture. This won’t be all urban-sprawl – there are plenty of chances within the cities to get outside in nature.

There are a few more things to be said here that I haven’t already mentioned above. First, Taitung city is not the most exciting city. It’s hardly a city. It feels more like a small country town. But it has a few interesting cultural attractions (read these things to do in Taitung ), and you can use it as a home base for doing this tea culture day tour .

The Kaohsiung and Tainan portions are self explanatory. Just ride the regular (TRA) train to those cities and enjoy! Don’t bother with the HSR, because the stations for Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taichung are all outside of the city centers.

Read my guides to Kaohsiung , Tainan , and Taichung for all the juicy details. I’ll also cover them in more detail below.

Taiwan 3 week itinerary

OK, now I’m going to get down to some serious day-by-day details. The following is precisely how I would plan a 3 week itinerary for Taiwan. If you want to see all the places that I’ve mentioned in both 2-week itineraries without rushing, then you’ll need 2 to 3 weeks in Taiwan.

I’ll also sprinkle the itinerary with ideas for additional stops or side trips along way, including some more off-the-beaten-track attractions.how you what is possible, and how to cover all the main stops in Taiwan in three weeks, for those who want to. This is exactly how I travel, but I know others are different!

Spend your first 3-4 day in Taipei, including one or two days for a day trip out of the city. They exact number of nights you spend in Taipei might depend on what time you arrive on Day 1. Will you have much time (or energy?) to do much on Day 1? Generally, I recommend at least two full days for exploring Taipei, plus 1-2 days for day trips.

Consult my itineraries for 2 days or 3 days in Taipei , my top things to do in Taipei , guide to the best temples , restaurants , night markets , and amusement parks in Taipei .

Also see my neighborhood guides to funky Ximending , historic Dihua Street , food-focused Yongkang Street , Shenkeng stinky tofu street , and the hot springs of Beitou . Enjoy the best views of Taipei 101 from these spots .

See my Taipei accommodation guide for the best hotels in Taipei covering all budgets and types of travelers. Last but not least, check out my recommended day trips from Taipei , best beaches , and guides to Jiaoxi , Yilan , Wulai , Jiufen , Shifen , Keelung , and Tamsui (all possible day trips).

On day 4, catch a morning TRA train to Hualien (make sure to book in advance, up to 28 days, especially for the express train). Check in to your hotel and begin exploring some of the things to do in Hualien . See my recommended Hualien itinerary for planning your schedule.

If you’ve got time, consider taking this highly recommended aboriginal cooking course .

Where to Stay in Hualien There are three main places you can stay in Hualien County for visiting Taroko Gorge, and they are all quite different. 1. Hualien City : This offers the best choice of restaurants, accommodations of all price ranges, and other things to do, but it is the furthest from Taroko Gorge (30-40 minutes by car). Most Taroko tours start from here. Just Walk ( see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is an excellent hostel choice. Happiness is my Home (see on Booking ) is an excellent mid-range B&B. Farglory Resort (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is the best luxury seaside resort and has a sea-themed park attached (you can even sleep in it! ) 2. Xincheng : This is a very small town closest to the entrance to Taroko Gorge. There isn’t much there, but it’s quiet and there are some great hotels. It’s only a 10-minute drive to Taroko Gorge. You can also have the Taroko tours pick you up here. You can get off the train at Xincheng (Taroko Gorge station), one stop before Hualien on the express train from Taipei. When traveling on from here, you might have to train to Hualien city first, then catch your next train south. Liwu Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is the closest to Taroko Gorge. Liiko Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is the best hotel in town. 3. In Taroko Gorge : There are only a few hotels right inside Taroko Gorge. Aboriginal-themed Taroko Village Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is halfway up the gorge on a beautiful terrace with suspension bridge nearby and an aboriginal buffet restaurant. Ultra-luxurious Silks Place Taroko (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) at the top of the gorge is the best hotel in all of Hualien county. Both should offer pick-up and tour services.

See my Taroko Gorge article for everything you need to know for planning a trip to Taroko Gorge on the 5th day. If you’re looking for a tour, I recommend this one . Even better, hire a driver for a day to take you to the best spots.

You can also rent a scooter in Hualien City or in Xincheng (IDP or Taiwanese license needed) and visit the gorge yourself, but beware of the narrow road and possible landslides. Do not visit the gorge during or right after heavy rain, especially by scooter or bicycle.

You will want to wake up early for this one, and you’ll probably spend a long, full day visiting the various attractions, views, shrines, and hikes in the gorge, not to mention beautiful Qixingtan Beach and the dramatic Qingshui Cliffs nearby, which can also be included in your Taroko Gorge tour if you plan it right.

Other things to do in Hualien – If visiting Taiwan in winter , check out Wenshan Hot Spring , a natural hot spring in Taroko Gorge that was damaged by a typhoon, and is now semi-open (you might have to climb around a fence or two). – Other amazing experiences in Hualien include whale watching , paragliding , river tracing , rafting , seeing cute animals , sleeping inside an aquarium , and ATVing on a beach .

Day 6-7: Taitung

Your next stop is one of the most remote and beautiful corners of Taiwan, Taitung County. Also called the “rice basket of Taiwan”, Taitung is known for its clean air, fresh water, quaint rural scenery, and the stunning East Rift Valley.

For more details, learn how to plan your full Taitung itinerary here .

For Taitung county, you’ll have to decide which town to stay in. Some great choices are Yuli (actually in southern Hualien county, but near Taitung), Chishang, Guanshang, Luye, and Taitung city. I desribe each town in more detail in my East Coast guide .

It only takes 1-3 hours to get there on the train from Hualien, depending on which town you decide to stay in, and what speed of train you catch.

Yuli is very rural and you can cycle or ride a scooter to a waterfall, amazing hike, or hot springs. Chishang is the most popular town for its famous cycling paths among rice paddies. Guanshan is also known for cycling but less popular than Chishang. Luye is super rural and famous for the International Balloon Festival in summer and for its tea farms.

Taitung city is my least favorite option, but it does have some things to see and do , too. In all of these places, riding a bicycle or scooter to explore is best, but there are also tours like this one and this one .

There are direct flights from Taipei’s Songshan airport to Taitung City if you want to access the region faster.

How to Rent a Bike or Scooter in Taitung Exploring rural Taitung is best by bicycle or scooter. You can order your bicycle for Chishang here , or just get one from the many shops when you get there. Other towns in Taitung also have bicycle rental shops, usually around the train station, or you can inquire if your hotel has them. Guanshan definitely has lots, while Luye may not. It’s also possible to rent a scooter from a small shop outside each train station (Taiwanese license or IDP needed). You can reserve one in advance here for Yuli , Chishang , Guanshan , or Taitung station ( electric scooter also available ). I recommend doing this to avoid not finding one upon arrival.

Where to stay in Taitung County In Yuli , I highly recommend Wisdom Garden (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ). In Chishang : we liked Good Harvest B&B (see  on Booking  /  Agoda  /  TripAdvisor ), which is just out of town (ride a bike there!) but very close to the famous cycling paths. A fancier option is Papago International (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). In Guanshan , Remindful Homestay (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is a nice B&B in with free bikes available. In Luye , Jamie’s Guesthouse (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is a popular choice in town, while Luminous Hot Spring Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is a larger (but older) hotel with indoor hot spring, outdoor pool, and balconies facing nature. In Taitung city , Begonia B&B (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is an excellent B&B, while The Gaya (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) has a great location by the Railway Village and a rooftop pool.

Green Island and Orchid Island If you’ve got more time or want to focus your trip mainly on this part of Taiwan, hop on a ferry and spend a few days at Green Island (Lu Dao). This small island has more of a tropical feel, with great snorkeling/scuba diving, and has one of only three salt water hot springs in the world. Book your Green Island ferry tickets here . Orchid Island (Lanyu)is home to Taiwan’s most remote aboriginal tribe. A trip there involves more planning, so you’ll definitely want to consult my detailed guide to Orchid Island .

Days 8-9: Kenting National Park or Xiaoliuqiu

Kenting National Park occupies the southern tip of Taiwan and is home to Mainland Taiwan’s best beaches (the real best ones are on the offshore islands, like Penghu ). For more info than I’ll provide here, please see my Kenting travel guide and list of things to do in Kenting .

Still, the park offers gorgeous scenery and many activities, so if you’re looking for a beach vacation, do consider it! Kenting has three main beaches to choose from, in the order you would pass them: Nanwan (South Bay), Kenting Main Beach (or Kenting Night Market), and Sail Rock.

Nanwan and Sail Rock are small beaches with just a few simple hotels and great swimming. Kenting Main Beach is the largest town and has the most resorts and other hotels, but swimming is not technically allowed there.

There is also a very famous aquarium in Hengchun, a small city near Kenting, called the National Museum of Marine Biology . Here’s the local shuttle bus for getting to the aquarium and other places in Kenting.

To get there, ride a train from wherever you stayed in Hualien to Fangliao station (you will get more train options if you ride to Taitung city first, then catch a new train from Taitung onward). At Fangliao, you can board the shuttle bus to Kenting. Budget about four hours for getting to from Taitung to Kenting.

Best Hotels in Kenting Please read my Where to Stay in Kenting guide , but here are a few highlights: In Nanwan, try The First (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), a fun capsule hotel just off the beach or Nanwan Station (see on Booking / Agoda ) for a B&B. Kenting Main Street area has the biggest selection of accommodations, including some of the best resorts in Kenting, like Howard Beach Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) and Caesar Park (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). Sail Rock Beach, the furthest from Kaohsiung, has more excellent accommodations, like the snazzy Kenting 4 Sisters Villa (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ).

Xiaoliqiu (also called Little Liuqiu or Lambai Island) is a small coral island off the coast of Pingtung , just below Kaohsiung city. Here’s my detailed guide to Little Liuqiu Island .

The top reason to come here is to go snorkeling with the islands resident giant turtles. There are hundreds of them and you are guaranteed to see them. The island also makes for the perfect tropical getaway and I can’t speak highly enough of it.

The time to reach Xiaoliuqiu is almost the same as getting to Kenting, so you’ll have to make a tough choice here. Coming from Taitung, you’ll also want to take the train to Fangliao station. From there, you can just hop in a taxi to get to the Xiaoliuqiu ferry port in Donggang city. Don’t miss the excellent seafood market in the port!

Where to Stay on Xiaoliuqiu We loved our stay at Ocean Dream (see on Booking / Agoda ). It was right in the main town, so you can don’t need a scooter to get there. Our balcony overlooking a quiet corner of the harbor and we could even see across the ocean to Kaohsiung city in the distance. Our hotel arranged our scooter and snorkeling experience. You can also rent a scooter or electric bicycle and book your Xiaoliuqiu snorkeling experience here .

Kaohsiung is the largest port in Taiwan and the country’s second largest city. Street art enthusiasts will find some of Taiwan’s best street art in Kaohsiung , and the newly renovated waterfront around Pier 2 Art Center is a must. In the evening, check out one or more of the city’s bustling night markets .

Other things to do include hiking on Shoushan and connecting Chaishan mountains, where you can spot loads of wild macaques. Nearby, you can visit the restored British Consulate at Takow, which offers beautiful seaside views. Or head to Cijin Island for a few hours, which has a nice beach, fort, and art installations you can cycle to along the coast.

Don’t miss the awesome Lotus Pond , which features multiple temples, near Kaohsiung’s High Speed Rail Station (Zuoying). The KMRT also goes there.

Last but not least, some people’s main reason for coming to Kaohsiung is to visit the impressive Buddha Museum at Fo Guang Shan Monastery , the largest Buddha and monaster in Taiwan. You can even spend the night in the monastery!

If you’re coming from Kenting, you can ride the shuttle bus to Kaohsiung . From the Xiaoliuqiu ferry harbor, you can take local buses to Kaohsiung.

Where to Stay in Kaohsiung Whenever we visit Kaoshiung, we like to stay around the point where the Love River flows into the harbor, which is a romantic area at night. Harbour 10 Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) has nice river views, but it’s about 10 min walk to the nearest MRT. Hotel Yam Lagom (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is another choice with harbor/sea view from the higher rooms and close to Pier 2 and the MRT. I also had a good experience staying in KLA B&B (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), which has private rooms and capsule dorm rooms, in the same convenient neighborhood as the last one.

A quick hop on the train (30 min to 1 hour) going north will bring you to Tainan, Taiwan’s former capital. You can read about all the city has to offer in my guide to things to do in Tainan .

History buffs will find several of Taiwan’s oldest temples in Tainan . Also make sure to head over to Anping district (about 45 min by bus from central Tainan city) to see Anping Fort , Anping Old Street , and Anping Tree House . Also consider a side trip to Sicao Green Tunnel .

Most Taiwanese people regard Tainan as the cultural and food capital of Taiwan, so don’t miss the city’s famous street food. Read my guide to the best night markets in Tainan and learn about the individual dishes in my Taiwanese street food guide .

For something totally off-the-beaten-track, you can discover the remains of Tainan’s now defunct salt industry. Check out Cigu Salt Mountain and Salt Museum north of Tainan’s city center, or the visually stunning Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields further north near the border with Chiayi County. Read my guide to Tainan’s Salt Mountain and Salt Fields for all the details.

Last but not least, Guanziling mud hot spring in northeastern Tainan is one-of-a-kind, but it’ll take a little more effort to get there. Although Guanziling is technically in Tainan, it is closer to Chiayi city, so if you want to visit it, I suggest you travel to Chiayi city first (which you’ll have to in order to get to the next stops on this itinerary), then visit it as a half-day trip from there.

Where to Stay in Tainan Budget travelers can try Quiet Hostel (see on Agoda / Booking / Tripadvisor ), while A Fat at Home (see on Agoda / Booking ) is a local guesthouse in a great location by the Confucius Temple and is run by friendly hosts (don’t ask me about the name!) For families, nothing beats Hotel Cozzi (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ), which has some amazing facilities and play areas for kids. In Anping district, I loved An-Ping Inn Here (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ).

On day 14, travel from Tainan to Chiayi , the departure place for buses and trains to Fenqihu, Shizhuo, and Alishan.

Most tourists rush up to Alishan, Taiwan’s most famous mountain resort. But I personally recommend spending one night in either Fenqihu or Shizhuo villages on the way there. Fenqihu is famous for its bento lunchboxes and hikes though bamboo forests. Shizhuo is known for its Alishan High Mountain tea plantations where you can even spend the night.

Getting from Chiayi to Shizhuo, Fenqihu, and Alishan is a little complicated, with lots of options. I suggest you read my guide to Fenqihu, Shizhuo, and Alishan , as well as my guide to getting to Alishan .

If you choose Fenqihu , you can either go there by riding the famous Alishan Forest Railway (slower but more scenic, only 1-2 departures per morning, need to book ) or a regular bus (faster, with frequent departures, no booking needed). This train no longer goes all the way to Alishan because the upper portion of the railway line was destroyed in a landslide several years ago.

Fenqihu is a cute little mountain village with an Old Street. Its busy in the daytime when everyone stops there for lunchboxes on the way to Alishan. But at night it is super quiet and you can sometimes see fireflies there. The excellent Fenrui Historic Trail though bamboo forests starts here.

The next day, you can catch a bus from Fenqihu to get to Alishan.

Shizhuo is another small village very close to Fenqihu. The train doesn’t go there, but every bus from Chiayi to Alishan drives through it (Fenqihu is off the main highway, so only some of the buses make the small detour to it). For much more info than I provide here, head over to my Shizhuo guide !

Shizhuo is where most Alishan High Mountain Tea (Taiwan’s most famous tea) is grown. Some of the guesthouses along the highway are run by tea farmers, but for the best ones (like where we stayed), you’ll have to walk up the hill beside town or ask them to pick you up from either Fenqihu train station or Shizhuo bus station.

Shizhuo is quite off-the-beaten-track, especially compared to popular Alishan. But the scenery there is fantastic, including hiking trails through the tea farms and beautiful sunsets.

Where to Stay in Fenqihu and Shizhuo We enjoyed our stay at Fenchihu Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ), built above the only 7-Eleven in town. We had an amazing experience staying on a tea farm at Cuiti Guesthouse (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ). It was close to some hiking trails, had a beautiful sunset, and the farmer picked us up from the stations. You’ll need to bring dinner or hike into town for it. Breakfast is provided. If you want one that’s easier to get to, Alishan Hinoki B&B (see on Booking / Agoda ) is right on the highway, with Chiayi to Alishan buses going right past it, and is run by a tea farming family.

On day 15, make your way from Fenqihu or Shizhuo up to Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan’s most famous mountain resort, by bus.

Alishan is famous for Alishan High Mountain tea (you won’t see the tea farms unless you stop in Shizhuo), hiking trails though old growth forests with enormous and oddly shaped cypress trees, the three Alishan Forest Railway lines still operating in the park, and the breathtaking phenomenon of sunrises over seas of clouds.

For all these reasons, Alishan does attract tour group masses, but it’s still one of my favorite places in Taiwan. My guide to Alishan offers more information than you’ll find anywhere else, including how to get away from the crowds at Alishan.

If you happen to be coming when the cherry blossoms are blooming at Alishan ( March to April ), getting a room can be difficult or impossible. Many places to open their rooms up until around 3 months in advance, and then they all sell out right away.

On the day you arrive at Alishan, spend the afternoon doing the main tourist hiking loop around the scenic area, which only takes a few hours. Here you’ll have a chance to ride a few short legs of the Alishan Forest Railway, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get one of the train cars made entirely of wood like we did. They smell amazing inside!

On the morning of the 16th, wake up disturbingly early to take the small train line to the famous sunrise viewing point. The train is usually packed with notoriously loud tourists, so you can also consult my Alishan guide to find out how to hike up to the viewpoint, or to find other sunrise viewpoints with no tourists.

After that, you’ll have a few more hours to hike around before checking out and catch the only bus of the day (1 PM) to Sun Moon Lake.

Don’t forget to bring warm clothes, even in summer. Although rare, you may even see snow at Alishan in winter!

Where to Stay in Alishan The selection of hotels at Alishan is pretty weak. Most of the hotels are old and overpriced and located in a little tourist village around the main parking lot, train station, and collection of restaurant’s and shops. I recommend Shermuh Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) mainly because they offer free pickup from the bus station (double check to make sure they’re still offering it). Alishan Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is the nicest hotel at Alishan, but even it is a little old, too. It is often filled up by tour groups and it is located deeper in the park, away from all the amenities. They do offer pickup from the bus station, though. Unfortunately, there is no longer a hostel at Alishan. Budget travelers can consider just visiting as a day trip and staying in one of the hostels in Chiayi city, like this one .

Day 16-17: Sun Moon Lake

The next stop on this Taiwan itinerary is Sun Moon Lake. Because there’s only 1 bus per day from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake (departing 1 PM, arriving 4 PM), I recommend two nights here. You won’t have time to see or do anything after you arrive on Day 1.

Like Alishan, you’ll have to battle with some tourist crowds here, but I don’t personally find it that bad and I really love Sun Moon Lake. Some of the top attractions here include the Sun Moon Lake ropeway , riding boats across the lake , temples with amazing lake views, and a local night market.

See my extremely detailed guide to Sun Moon Lake here, including how to get off the beaten track.

You may want to consider getting a Sun Moon Lake Pass . I’ve also got articles on the best Sun Moon Lake tours and Sun Moon Lake’s amazing black tea .

Where to Stay at Sun Moon Lake There are two main villages on Sun Moon Lake. The main tourist village is called Shuishe. It’s more convenient, because it’s where your bus will arrive from Alishan, and where you will catch a bus to Taichung when you leave. In Shuishe, I recommend ‬ Shaoguang 188 ‭ (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ), a lovely guesthouse with stone bath tubs. I personally prefer Ita Thao, the aboriginal village on the other side of the lake. It’s a tourist town as well, but has a more local and less resorty feel. We loved staying at these rustic cabins on Sun Moon Lake (see on Agoda / Booking ), which were in a lush area just a few minutes walk out of Ita Thao. There are also some rooms with beautiful lake views right in town, such as Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ).

Right up there with Alishan, Cingjing Farm is one of Taiwan’s most popular mountain resorts. This one is a little different: it’s actually a high mountain farm! (Find all the info in my Cingjing Farm guide and read about why I’m not the biggest fan of Cingjing ).

Besides beautiful mountain views from most guesthouses, you’ll find a working European-style farm with farm animals. Other attractions include cherry blossoms (Feb to Mar), beautiful sunrises/sunsets, Cingjing Skywalk, and morning sunrise tours to Hehuanshan (one of the most famous places for seeing snow in Taiwan ).

It will taker you about two hours to travel from Sun Moon Lake to Cingjing Farm by bus (via Puli ), or you can take this shared transfer service . From Cinging to Taichung (the next stop), budget 2.5 hours, again via Puli, or this shared transfer service .

Where to Stay at Cingjing Farm Besides the official accommodation on the farm, there are loads of guesthouses at Cingjing, may of which offer spectacular views. The Old England (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is a very famous landmark hotel with afternoon tea. Iris Farmhouse (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is a simple but very friendly guesthouse with great views and hot pot dinner available. This is where I stayed when I visited. One downside is its a 30-minute uphill walk to the farm. More convenient options are Bokelai (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) or Cotsworld Villa (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). Both are close to the northern entrance of the farm.

Days 19-20: Taichung

The final stop on our Taiwan tour itinerary is Taichung! Taiwan’s “middle city” is known as the place where pearl milk tea was invented (you can still visit the original shop!)

Other top attractions in the city include Rainbow Village (read about how Rainbow Village has been partially destroyed ), 921 Earthquake Museum, and Feng Chia Night Market . Outside of the city, popular day trips include Gaomei Wetland , and Zhongshe Flower Market , and Lihpao Discovery Land (one of the newest and best amusement parks in Taiwan).

For all the info you need, see my guide to Taichung , recommended Taichung itinerary , and the best day trips from Taichung .

Where to Stay in Taichung Norden Ruder (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is a new, highly rated hostel in town. Red Dot (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) features a slide into the lobby, while Inhouse Hotel Grand (see on Agoda / Booking / TripAdvisor ) is a good mid-range choice.

Day 21: Back to Taipei or Taoyuan Airport

That wraps up our Taiwan itinerary! From Taichung, you can hop on the High Speed Rail to Taoyuan station, where you can transfer to the Taoyuan International Airport. There are also direct buses to the airport from Taichung bus station, just north of the TRA train station in the city center.

More Places to Consider

Whether you are living in Taiwan , have more time in your schedule, or prefer off-the-beaten-track destinations, here are even more ideas for your Taiwan itinerary!

Miaoli County

Miaoli is a less-visited county in between Taichung and Taipei, but it has so much to offer. Some of the top spots include picking strawberries in Dahu (winter only), remote Tai’an Hot Springs , hiking or sleeping in a temple on Lion’s Head Mountain , the fun Flying Cow Leisure Farm , or visiting Hobbit Houses here and here .

I’ve got even more ideas for exploring the area in my Miaoli guide. Please note, it takes more time to travel around Miaoli, so renting a car is a good idea for getting around.

Yilan county

Yilan is considered the family-friendly county of Taiwan. Only 60-90 minutes from Taipei, the county has dozens of kid-friendly museums, leisure farms ( meet capybaras here !), kid-friendly hot springs, glamping , beaches, and more. It is also known for its many excellent minsu (local guesthouses).

Jiaoxi, Yilan City, and Luodong are the three main towns in Yilan. Jiaoxi is famous for hot springs while Luodong is known for Luodong Night Market . Renting a car or hiring a driver is best if you want to explore the county. Yilan also has a famous mountain park called Taipingshan , with its Bong Bong Train and chance to see snow in winter.

For all the info you need, see my favorite things to do in Yilan and my guide to Jiaoxi , the most kid-friendly hot spring area in Taiwan.

Penghu Islands

The Penghu archipelago is a collection of Taiwanese islands in the Taiwan strait between Taiwan and China. They are super easy to visit thanks to direct flights from Taipei’s city-center Songshan Airport, Taichung, or Kaohsiung.

Some fun things to do in Penghu include island-hopping by scooter or boat, some of the country’s best beaches, traditional houses made of coral, tasting cactus ice cream, and the Penghu International Fireworks Festival. It’s best to avoid winter, when it’s super windy.

All the details are in my Penghu travel guide .

Well, that brings us to the end of my Taiwan itinerary. I hope you’ve found more than enough info for planning your visit. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions!

Related Posts

45 thoughts on “A Taiwan Itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 weeks (Slow & Fast Options!)”

Hi! My wife and I speak mandarin but we are both from UK and US. We have four days to travel outside of Taipei and are unsure how to use that time. The places we are considering is:

Taroko Gorge – Alishan – SunMoon Lake, do you think it would be wise to do all 3? Or just pick 1 or 2? Any advice would be appreciated.

I’m planning a slightly longer than week long trip to Taiwan and your tips and detailed writing really helped clear my mind. Just wanted to say a big thank you!

You’re very welcome!

Hej Nick, just planing a trip to Taiwan after a wedding in Hong Kong and so glad to have stumbled over your blog. Really helpful information. I will make sure to study it all. We are currently looking for a good ‘base camp’ somewhere in a pretty little town where we would like to spend most our time and plan trips from… Could I trouble you to ask for your advice? Is there any place you would recommend? We will be flying to and from Taichung City and probably want to do Taipeh, Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake. Many thanks, Mira

Hi Mira, Based on where you are planning to go, I can’t really think of an ideal “base camp”, since the places you are planning are really far from each other. It would only really make sense to stay in Hualien for visiting Taroko Gorge, stay in Taipei for visiting Taipei, and stay at Sun Moon Lake for visiting Sun Moon Lake. It would not be feasible to choose somewhere in between all of those, because your day trips to each place would be really far and you’d spend all your time on the road. I hope this helps, but do get in touch if you have any further questions!

Thank you for your reply. I figured it would not be possible without travelling around somewhat. Do you still have a recommendation for a particularly nice, maybe a bit more remote spot with a relaxed holiday feeling somewhere to spend a few days longer? Would you say Hualien or Sun Moon Lake would lend themselves more to do so? Many thanks.

Hi Mira, If you are looking for something more relaxed, I would say Hualien and Sun Moon Lake are not exactly that. Hualien City is just a pretty normal medium sized city, nothing special at all. If you staying somewhere closer to Taroko Gorge, like in Xincheng or even right in Taroko Gorge, definitely it will have more of a countryside/nature vibe, but still not really the “holiday” vibe I think you are looking for. Meanwhile, Sun Moon Lake I would say has more of a tourist vibe than anything. For both locations, though, the hotel you stay in will make a big difference. If you are staying in a nice resort, then certainly you can enjoy a relaxing holiday feeling at either place. But in a budget hotel, not so much… One area you might consider is Miaoli County. It’s quite off the beaten track as most foreign visitors don’t go there, but locals certainly do. Miaoli is most rural scenery and has been chosen as one of the world’s “slow living, slow travel” places. There are loads of B&Bs in small, quaint villages. See my Miaoli article for lots of pics and details. Another option you might consider is spending a few days in a hotel near one of Norther Taiwan’s beaches. They aren’t the best beaches in the world, but definitely you will find a more laid back, beachy vibe. You can look up my article on “Taipei Beaches” for ideas. I hope this all helps!

Brilliant. Thanks for this idea! I wish we had a couple of months rather than weeks really 😉

Hey Nick, great article, thanks! You wrote about so many temple in Taipei, maybe you know what temple is the best to meditate. Sometimes i dont want to do it in classes or at home. Looking forward to your reply!

Hi Madeline! If you are just looking for a quiet temple to meditate in by yourself, then I would consider the following: -Lion’s Head Mountain (in Hsinchu & Miaoli counties): there are many temples there and you can even spend the night. See my article about Lion’s Head Mountain for all the info. -Linji Huguo Temple: If you go up the stairs behind the main building, there is a quiet section in the woods above that may be suitable. – Songshan Tianbao Temple: It’s an old temple with some parts in ruins, but it is located in the forest on the edge of town, so you can surely find some peace and quiet spots there with no people at all. – Silver Stream Cave at Maokong: also in the forest and very few people – Guandu Temple: there’s a quiet section at the back looking down on the temple where you could sit – Dharma Drum Mountain Nung Chan Monastery: some people like to sit by the large pool there and meditate You can find more info about all of these here: http://www.nickkembel.com/best-taipei-temples-taiwan/ I hope that helps!

Hi Nick Thank you for your truly fantastic coverage of Taiwan! I’m in New Zealand, looking well ahead for a trip for my birthday next October, but obviously pending sorting out all this Covid mess. Hopefully both Taiwan’s and NZ’s borders will be open by then (and hopefully Taiwan will still be safe to visit, not disrupted by military activities…). Is there perhaps any reliable reference as to the progress with regards the Covid and border opening situations? Where can we look to monitor progress and the rules about travel (pre-dep tests, tests on arrival, quarantine on arrival, border opening dates, which countries’ visitors will be allowed, etc.)? I thought two weeks would be enough time, but no way! Will need three weeks! Hopefully all of it actually traveling, not stuck in an isolation facility. Take care

Hey Brian, the closest to what you describe is the Taiwan Center for Disease Control website. But it’s not the best resource…there are lots of updates that won’t affect you, the English is sometimes bad/confusing, and the current restrictions are not clearly explained. When Taiwan starts opening up, it is going to be big news. I would suggest checking into the main Taiwan news sites once in a while and check the travel sections. Also please join my Facebook group “Taiwan Travel Planning”. We have over 1000 members highly anticipating these changes, so there will be posts and discussions the moment these changes are announced. Best of luck, and for next October, I would be optimistic!

Hey, great article and site. Just wanted to see if I was missing something but it looks like you can book the Eastern main line trains over a month in advance now: http://www.railway.gov.tw .

This is something I’ll have to look deeper into, as the TRA guidelines still stay 28 days. Thank you!

Hey there! Thanks for the details, it’s really informative and it indeed helped me so much with the planning. Just a quick question – Do you recommend going to Jiufen and Shifen on a weekday like Mon/Tues instead of the weekend – will the shops be closed? Since it’s more crowded on the weekends.

Some other visitors have reported that the shops around Shifen station (where you can usually buy sky lanterns, snacks, etc) are mostly closed on Monday. If you only want to see the waterfall, though, this is not a big deal. As for Jiufen, it will be quite a bit quieter on Monday or Tuesday, and some shops take a break, but most should still be open.

So glad I stumbled upon your blog. Is wonderfully helpful for planning. As a fellow blogger I am definitely inspired to write better itineraries! Anyway, I only have a week sadly. I want to spend day 1-3 in Taipei as you suggest and day 4/5 Haulien Torako Gorge. Would spending days 6/7 in Taichung be feasible? Would this work as a not too hectic 7 day trip? Wondering about transport from Haulien to Taichung. Thank you so much.

Thanks so much Cherene! And yes, this sounds totally doable. Although looking at the map, it may seem like it should be easy to cross the island directly from Hualien to Taichung, this high mountain highway has no public transportation and is very difficult to drive because the road is frequently damaged by landslides and closed due to reconstruction work. So the best/fastest way is to get the train back to Taipei (express ones are only 2 hours but essential to book well in advance, while others take 3-4 hours) then the High Speed Rail to Taichung (1 hr). Hope you enjoy your trip!

Thank you Nick for your generous sharing. Am planning to visit the southern part of Taiwan this winter. Your itinerary kept going back to Taipei, any chance of moving forth from say, Alishan onwards without returning to Taipei first and are they private drivers to book instead of the public bus?

My itineraries are not set in stone. Feel free to modify them as you wish. Once you create a draft itinerary, please feel free to share it in my Facebook group “Taiwan travel planning” and we can give you feedback on it there! For drivers, I have a whole article on this site covering how to find a private driver and my personal recommended drivers, so please search “drivers” on my website to find it.

Hello Nick,

Really love your detailed explanation.

This is my first time at Kaoshing. I am in dilemma about whether to stay in KLA B&B or Hotel Yam Lagom for two nights. I will be traveling during mid Oct to Kaohsiung. Or should I stay near Kaoshiung Main Station?

Also, deciding to stay in Beauty Hotels Taipei – Hotel B6 or Diary of Ximen Hotel II-Liu Fu Branch. These two are hotels in Taipei near to Ximending.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Chose KLA for more of a hostel vibe. It’s quite small, no sign outside that I remember, and there’s a small shared room/kitchen space where you could meet people (but definitely not a party hostel or anything). Yam Lagom is more like a typical hotel. The highlight here would be that some upper floors have views. Both are in a convenient enough location for exploring this part of Kaohsiung, like Pier 2 and the ferry to Cijin Island. But if you stay near Kaohsiung Station, that will be more convenient for arriving in and departing from the city. Sorry I’m not familiar with the Ximending ones!

Thanx for all the detail, Nick. Looking at your “cultural” tour — is there a reason for the city order as you have it? Wondering if it has to do with train schedules, or some other logic?

I chose it like this to make a clockwise tour around Taiwan. Somehow that feels more natural to me, although some people have commented that they feel the other way (counterclockwise) feels more natural to them. However, I do like how this one allows you to go directly back to Taoyuan Airport at the end instead, so you don’t need to go to Taipei twice, making it more efficient. You could do the same thing in reverse, of course, but most people tend to go to Taipei first, then around the island, so if you did this in a counter-clockwise way, you’d have to pass through Taipei twice on your trip.

Hello Nick. First i just want to say your blog is really helpful for me arranging itinerary and what to see in Taiwan and how effectively arranging our schedule. I have also sent my request to join your facebook group but request still pending. anyway would like to share my draft here and hopefully i can get some comments from you or others. A little about myself, we’re traveling group of 4, with my wife and 2 kids (12 yrs old and 6 yrs old). we’ll be traveling in December 2023.

20 dec : Arrival evening, stay in Taipei 21 dec : city tour (101, cks, etc) 22 dec : jiufen, shifen, yehliu 23 dec : transfer to Yilan, do hotspring and stay in Yilan 24 dec : Yilan – Toroko Gorge, stay in Toroko 25 dec : Toroko – Hehuanshan – Cingjing Farm – Sun Moon Lake, stay in Sun Moon Lake 26 dec : Sun Moon Lake activity, afternoon transfer to Alishan, stay in Alishan Hotel 27 dec : Alishan activity, afternoon transfer to Kaohshiung, stay in Kaohshiung 28 dec : Kaohshiung – Taichung, stay in Taichung 29 dec : Taichung city tour 30 dec : Taichung – Taipei 31 dec : free 1 jan : fly back home

Sorry about the slow reply on this. Were you able to join my group and did you ask the question there? If not, please send me a message directly via my FB account Spiritual Travels

WeI like your post very much we plan to travel for 3 + weeks in tiwan in October’ november we would like to see the nature and fill the calthecher as well as taking some traditional art workshop in clay and ceramics work, paper work, gold work, waby saby idea’s and other oriental art skills (not cligraphy and tee ceremony ) and as well we wont some day’s in a health and hot spring resort in nature. We can not rush since we are 74 years old and i have some problems to walk and climb a lot. we wont to take the time To absorve the atmosphere the nature and different culture’s this is the main reasone for our trip We are looking to get recommendations from you Thanks

We are seniors that consider traveling to Taiwan during oct-nov period this year. My wife is a ceramic artist. We wish to add visits to artists places or villages during your 3 weeks tour idea. Are there places you can point out?

Besides the several art galleries in Taipei, you could also visit Treasure Hill Artists Village (see my “things to do in Taipei” article for description). Yingge Pottery Street and Yingge Ceramics Museum are great (see my “Yingge” article). Just a 30-minute trai ride from Taipei. And if you don’t mind to get off the beaten track, we once stayed at a guesthouse run by a potter, called “Yanzitao Pottery & Coffee B&B” in Nanzhuang area, Miaoli. Read my “Lion’s Head Mountain” article for the details.

Hello, I’m beginning to plan my itinerary for my 3 week trip end of October and your site is definitely super useful, thank you for all the work (especially on tea!). I would have a maybe unusual general question for you about hostels: I’m used not to book anything in advance except the first stop (that would be Taipei) AND not having a smartphone when traveling (so not booking at all even during the trip). Do you think I can do in Taiwan as I do in other countries i.e. just showing at the hostel not too late in the day and check if I like it and if there are beds available? I only used to have the Lonely planet guide book to do that but now, I generally add before departure some additional booking.com / agoda adresses on the LP map to get more up to date possibilities. What do you think? By the way, do you see any situations where not having a smartphone would be an issue? Thank you. Cheers.

That’s how I used to travel too (I miss those days!) But taiwan today is not very friendly to this approach. In some famous (like Alishan or Sun Moon Lake), every single hotel sells out for weeks in advance, especially on weekends, long weekends, holidays, or cherry blossom season. In big cities, it is more possible to show up and find something, but you may end up with crappier choices, or more expensive choices than you hoped, or you might spend hours wandering around trying to find something. In most cities, the area around the main train station is the best place to look for last-minute budget rooms. Basically, you can probably do this for big cities, you won’t be able to for famous tourist places, and be especially carefully with any weekends or holidays during your trip. Also note that some hostels and even hotels nowadays have self check-in, so for those, it would be impossible to just show up, because they may not even have staff on site. Taiwan is a country that loves advance bookings, doing things online, cashless payments, etc, and COVID and amplified this. Situations when smartphone is useful: checking upcoming bus times, not getting lost, booking train tickets, communicating with hotels (most hotels will want to communicate with guests via LINE app), finding out about coming typhoons and associated highway closures or stay-at-home orders), registering for YouBike, making restaurant reservations, emergency calls, online check in for flights, buying discounted tickets for things on Klook, just to name a few. I mean you could still survive, but the conveniences it adds nowadays are endless.

Hello, thanks for the answers. You’re about to convince me to break my oath of smartphone free journeying (and also because it was not so easy last year in Korea) at least for the hostels booking, which is really very annoying when it goes wrong as you rightly say. For the rest, I guess I can cope (which forces me to interact with people most of the time). I’d have to buy a basic smartphone then, because mine is almost dead and does not allow proper web browsing! Still, in this case, as my exact itinerary is not final (the usual “if a I like/dislike a place, I want to be free to adapt the agenda” thing), I would book one or two days in advance. But are you really saying that for Alishan, Taroko and SML, this is not possible and you really have to book weeks in advance? In this case, there’s no flexibility possible whatsoever and I should book right away from my PC! I’ll be there between end of October and mid-November. Btw, I’ll try to join your FB group to discuss my theoritical itinerary soon (I’m struggling to write it down by lack of time and difficulties to know what to include, except at least 7 days in Taipei). Thank you.

Sorry about my slow reply, you may already be in Taiwan! What did you decide in the end? And yes, it’s common for all hotels at Alishan to sell out. Hualien and SML have more it’s less likely to happen, but I did hear of people not being able to find a room at SML on a really busy long weekend.

Thanks for this post! Our group used some suggestions for our trip to Taiwan that we just got back from a few days ago.

Just wanted to quickly drop a note about one of the places you suggested.

We went to Huang’s Oyster Omelet shop inside the hat shop and it tasted amazing. The man who owns the shop is SO sweet and lovely.

However, we got TERRIBLE food poisoning from eating (presumably) the grilled oysters. We highly suspect it’s from this shop as one member who didn’t join us for this one meal did not get food poisoning and oysters are known to be risky. We had also eaten the omelets but it’s more likely the grilled oysters that caused it. Just a warning to other travelers!!

Hi, I don’t recommend any oyster omelet shops in this article. Could you please clarify which city it was in or which article I recommended it is in? I have more than 100 articles about Taiwan so it’s hard to know which one you are talking about.

Hello (and thank you for all the quality work done here, especially on tea), I already posted a similar message but as I can’t see it, I’ll try to rewrite it. Sorry if I missed something. I’m preparing a 3 weeks trip in Taiwan for the end of October and I am a little worried about my usual way of traveling i.e. not having a smartphone and not booking accomodation in advance except the first town (whe arriving into a new city, I just visit the hostels spotted on the Lonley planet or on the net while preparing the trip). Do you think it’s an issue ? Also, do you see any other reason (apart from the hostels booking) why it could be an issue not having a smartphone in Taiwan? Thank you. Cheers. Julien

Sorry that I missed this message earlier! I assume you are already in Taiwan, so let us know how it goes if you see this!

Hello again, Another topic : the guidebook. With one piece of information for fellow travellers and one question. – the information: I always use the LP when possible, and I just got it from an English-speaking library. I was very happy of this (it has just been published and was not available elsewhere) until I began to read: there’s almost nothing left of what was useful in the LP guidebooks i.e. the practical, detailed information: less restaurants and hotels listed, with no directions, no phone numbers and no prices (and some of them don’t even appear on the maps), only a few maps with too big a scale, no “getting there and away” section (no time tables distances, prices), no opening times and prices for the sights (museums, etc.), no classification between regular and major sights. Less readable maps with no mention of tourist offices, banks, stations, , etc. This is a complete disaster! But there are a lot of colored pictures, so… I’m under the impression of reading a magazine you can find in the planes. I used 4 different guidebooks brands during my travelling history and this is by far the worst thing I have seen. – and the question: I saw on another page that you recommended LP (previous edition obviously) and Bradt. I don’t know Bradt guidebooks. Which one would you recommend between the two (older LP or latest Bradt) for getting useful, practical information? Thank you.

Hey Julien, that new LP does sound terrible! Honestly, for many years ago, I only use LP for my very initial trip planning, like for the general country understanding, maps, and to make a very general outline of where I want to go in that country and around how long I’ll need. After that, for more detailed planning, it’s all Google, blogs, and GoogleMaps. Things chance so quickly. By the time an LP author researches, writes, then LP publishes, usually already a year or more has passed. The info is unavoidably outdated from the date it is published. Maybe that’s why they don’t even bother with so many details anymore, as all those things change so quickly. I recommend Bradt because it’s written by local travel expert Steven Crook who has been in Taiwan for 20+ years. But the same issue (about things changing) will apply. You can also join my Facebook group Taiwan Travel Planning for even more current information than blogs. For example, in the last few months the highway is damaged in Taroko Gorge and only open 5 times per day. You won’t find this information in any blogs and certainly not in any guidebooks.

thank you so much for this wonderful blog! It’s such a great source of knowledge. I have no idea what I would do without it. I am currently planning my first trip to Taiwan in January. I am a female solo traveler and would like to avoid driving therefore I would really on public transport (trains and buses) or organised mini tours (although I am trying to avoid those as I’m quite fit and independent explorer and those usually bring tones of frustration on my end). I am trying to have a sense check – do you think this trip is realistic and also will I get the most out of it? I am of course planning to see some of the main sights but also always happy to explore less common destinations.

day 0 (late night) – landing in Taipei 1- 3 (full days) – Taipei 4 (taking of from Taipei) – 5 – Hualien & Taroko Gorge 6 – Lion’s Head Mountain & Miaoli (hotsprings) 7 – 9 Taichung (with a day trip to SunMoon Lake if possible) 9 – 8 pm / flight back

Would it be realistic only relying on buses and trains?

Thank you so much in advance!

The itinerary overall sounds great and not too rushed! For Taipei to Hualien train, try to book it early (up to 28 days in advance) because they often sell out. Hualien to Zhunan direct train, then bus to Lion’s Head Mountain. Unfortunately there’s no bus to Tai’an hot spring in Miaoli. You could book a private transfer on Tripool if you can accept the cost.

Hello, Thank you very much for the information, we are thinking of doing the three-week itinerary, but we have our arrival flight in Kaohsiung, how do you recommend I reorganize the itinerary? Thank you very much

It’s really just a matter of shifting around my recommended route. It doesn’t really matter whether you go in a clockwise or counter-clockwise route around Taiwan – some seem prefer one or the other. For me, going from Kaohsiung, somehow it feels more natural to go up the west coast first – nice, shorter rides, more cities, to Taipei, then return to Kaohsiung via the more natural east coast.

Hi, I’m planning an adventure using your 21-day itinerary as a guide (thanks for sharing your wisdom!). I was thinking of throwing in a surprise horse riding experience for my travelling buddy, who will have to endure all the cycling I will likely throw her way. I asked a Taiwanese friend about horse riding there and she wasn’t…enthused XD Do you have any opinion regarding horse riding experience providers in Taiwan? (The service I found was at Kenting south beach) kind regards Nina

Hi Nina, I don’t have any personal experience with riding horses in Taiwan, or even talked to anyone who has. So I’m afraid I can’t comment on that. Best of luck, and hope your friend enjoys it!

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A Super Detailed Taipei & Taiwan Itinerary for 5 Days {2024}

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (for which I am deeply grateful) at no additional cost to you.

Searching for the perfect 5 days in Taiwan itinerary? In this post, a local travel expert who has lived in Taiwan for over a decade tells us how to plan the best 5-day Taipei and Taiwan itinerary. Read on!

Welcome to Taiwan , one of the most compelling, rewarding, and welcoming countries in East Asia ! Taiwan may look small on the map, but it has loads to offer for every kind of traveler, from foodies & budding historians to lovers of art and the great outdoors.

To be completely honest, five days in Taiwan is not enough. But if that’s what you’ve got, this article will prove to be an invaluable resource for making the absolute best of the time you do have in the country.

This Taiwan 5 day itinerary will begin with two sight-packed days in the capital, Taipei , followed by a choice of several day trips from the city. Next up, you’ll head down to Taichung City, Central Taiwan’s art & food-focused city, before finishing up at visually stunning Sun Moon Lake. 

Note: If you don’t have time to read this full itinerary or prefer that your trip be planned for you, consider booking this 5-day guided tour of Taiwan instead. The tour includes visits to top destinations like Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kenting, Taitung, the East Coast, Taroko, and more. Accommodations are provided at 5-star hotels throughout the journey.

If you prefer to adventure on your own, read on for the perfect 5 days in Taiwan itinerary!

Things to Know Before You Go To Taiwan

With only five days in Taiwan, you’ll want to plan your Taiwan trip to a tee in order to make maximum use of what little time you have.

You won’t want to waste half a day figuring out what to do, where to go next, where to eat, and so on!

Let’s begin with some tips for planning five unforgettable days in Taiwan! 

When to Visit Taiwan

First, you’ll want to choose the right season to visit. Taiwan doesn’t have a distinct high or low season, so the best time for you to visit Taiwan is really going to depend on your interests and favorite kind of weather.

Winter has milder weather and is better for hot springs and flower viewing (hello cherry blossoms!), but Taipei in winter can be damp, chilly, and gray.

Summer is extremely hot and humid, by contrast, plus there’s a chance of encountering a typhoon.

Autumn and spring are probably the best times to visit, but you may want to avoid the mini rain season which usually comes in late May and early June, and typhoons can strike as late as October.

Getting Around Taiwan

As soon as you arrive at the Taoyuan International Airport, you can purchase an EasyCard at the airport’s MRT station.

This is the card all locals use to swipe onto the Taipei MRT, city buses in major cities across Taiwan, and short train rides between cities that don’t require seat reservations.

It’s faster than paying each time, and the fares are discounted.

Next, you can hop on the Airport MRT, which will get you to Taipei Main Station in 35 to 50 minutes, from where you can walk, take a taxi, or connect to another MRT line to reach your hotel.

During your stay in Taipei, you can use the MRT to get everywhere described in this itinerary. By the time you leave Taipei, you’ll seriously be in love with the MRT!

If you ever decide to take a taxi, you’ll find they are everywhere and are relatively cheap. The drivers mostly speak a little English, but there may be cases in which you’ll need to show them an address in Mandarin, so it’s best to have that ready.

If you follow this itinerary, you’ll also have a few transportation choices for getting out of Taipei. I’ll mention exactly how to do that in the relevant sections below.

In Taichung, you’ll rely more on buses. They’re totally free for short rides if you swipe with your EasyCard!     

The Perfect Taiwan 5 Day Itinerary

5 days in taiwan itinerary day 1: exploring taipei.

Good morning Taipei! On day one, it’s time to knock off some of the city’s top attractions.

For breakfast, you’ve got to try a local Taiwanese-style breakfast shop.

They’re literally everywhere, but if you want to seek out a particularly famous one, try Yonghe Soy Milk King near Da’An Park, or Yonghe Soy Milk in Taipei.

Go for steamed buns, scallion pancakes with egg & cheese, or flaky shao bing . But you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!

Pro Tip: If you are a foodie, I suggest taking this Private Street Food Tour with locals which covers food culture and history all in one place. Sample up to 10 street food dishes and Taiwanese specialties + you get to receive personalized recommendations on where to eat in the city.

Next, early birds should visit one of the city’s many temples, which tend to be frequently by elderly worshippers in the early morning. Longshan Temple is Taipei’s most famous.

There you can witness a serene chanting ceremony at 6 a.m. (or again at 8 a.m.) Each one lasts nearly an hour, and visitors are always welcome to explore the temple even while the ceremony is taking place.

Other temples worth checking out include Xingtian Temple, which is incense-free and known for its fortune tellers in an underpass below the main road, and Taipei Tianhou Temple in Ximending, which is sandwiched between two buildings and easy to miss!

Later in the morning, visit Chiang Ka-Shek Memorial Hall, the city’s most impressive historical site.

There you’ll find an enormous square flanked by the National Concert Hall and National Theater, both classical Chinese-style buildings , the beautiful Liberty Square Arch, and the impressive blue & white memorial building itself.

Prefer a guided tour of the city? This classic landmarks day tour is a must-do!

Next, walk (or ride the MRT two stops) to Ximending for lunch. This is Taipei’s coolest neighborhood; some people call it the Harajuku of Taipei for its Japanese-like atmosphere.

It’s also home to Taipei’s largest LGBTQ+ district, which centers on a collection of outdoor bars beside the historic Red House, a former Japanese market & theater.

Stroll the pedestrian-only streets to check out the cute shops, open-air tattoo parlors, and claw-machine arcades.

Take your pick from local street food, Japanese & Korean cuisine , or visit a poo-themed Modern Toilet restaurant.

Tip: If you’d like to experience Taiwanese cuisine after dark, I suggest taking this night tour that will satisfy your appetite. You can then stroll around the lively Raohe Street Night Market, walk across Rainbow Bridge, and see the famous Songshan Ciyou Temple nearby.

In the afternoon, head to Huashan 1914 Creative Park. This former sake distillery dates to the days when Taiwan was a Japanese colony.

Today it is an arts complex featuring rotating exhibits & events, a few cafés & restaurants, cool graffiti, and the perfect lawn for a picnic.

Next up, make your way to Taipei 101 , the country’s most iconic attraction. The 510-meter bamboo stalk-shaped skyscraper was the tallest in the world for six years.

To visit the observation deck, you’ll probably need to wait in line for 15-60 minutes, then you’ll be whisked to the 89 th floor in the world’s fastest elevator.

If you want to avoid the line, purchase this skip-the-line ticket for the observatory in advance.

The 360-degree view from up there is of course mesmerizing. Also don’t miss the huge stabilizing ball in the middle, which prevents the building from toppling in earthquakes, as well as the small outdoor viewing deck on the 91 st floor.

After visiting Taipei 101, walk or ride the MRT one stop to Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) station. From there it’s a short walk to the trail which leads up the eponymous mountain.

In less than 30 minutes of uphill stairs, you’ll be afforded the best view that Taipei City has to offer, with Taipei 101 towering right in front of you. The trail is very popular, especially at sunset, but there’s always room for one more.

Finally, it’s time to eat! After descending the mountain, take your choice from one of Taipei’s legendary night markets. Tonghua Night Market is within walking distance.

The other most famous ones include Shilin Night Market (the largest and most popular among tourists), Raohe (a favorite among locals), and Ningxia (great for oyster omelets, sweet potato balls, and shaved ice desserts).

Need more ideas? Check out our article on the top things to do in Taipei !

5 Days in Taiwan Day 2: Exploring Taipei Part 2

Now that you’ve covered the best of Taipei’s famous attractions , it’s time to get a little more off-the-beaten-path on day two.

For breakfast, you’ll likely be itching to get back into a local breakfast shop to try more items on offer.

Continue on by visiting two more impressive temples: Confucius Temple and its neighboring Dalongdong Bao’An Temple.

The former is completely different than typical Taiwanese temples; its design is simple and its large gardens are serene.

The latter is a gorgeous example of traditional design, with super intricate roof carvings; many believe it’s Taipei’s best.

Next, history lovers could try strolling Dihua Street, Taipei’s oldest street, which features still-running Chinese medicinal shops, teahouses, temples, and restaurants that date back to Taipei’s earliest days.

You can get there from Bao’An Temple on foot, by backtracking a little on the MRT, or by taking a short taxi ride (I’d go for the latter).

Dihua Street stretches from near Daqiaotou MRT station in the north to near Beimen MRT station in the south.

If you make it to the far southern end, make sure to see Beimen (North Gate) itself, the only remaining Old Taipei city wall gate that has been restored to its exact former look.

For lunch, head to Addiction Aquatic Development. The name sounds weird, but it’s an insanely cool high-end seafood market housed in what used to be a traditional fish market.

After peering at the largest crabs in the world (Japanese spider crabs) and other sea creatures in the many water tanks, enter the upscale grocery store where you can buy insanely fresh & delicious take-away trays of sashimi, or splurge on the stand-up sushi & oyster bar.

The closest MRT is Xingtian Temple, from where it’s a 15-minute walk.

Filled with sushi, it’s now time for a more relaxing afternoon activity: visiting Taipei’s only Japanese hot spring village.

Connect to the red line and take it for 30 minutes north to Beitou station. From there, connect to the one-stop pink line, which literally goes uphill and smells like hot springs.

If you prefer to go on a guided tour with an expert, we suggest booking this one right here , which takes you to the Beitou Hotsprings, Yangmingshan Volcano, and other noteworthy stops.

Beitou is a lovely neighborhood at the base of Yangmingshan, a dormant volcano.

It has touristy bits, such as the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (still worth a visit!), the outdoor Beitou Public Hot Spring (the cheapest hot spring bathing option; mixed-sex and bathing suits required) in Hot Spring Park, and Beitou Thermal Valley (a huge steaming hot spring).

You can also get off the beaten track by visiting the Japanese-built Puji Temple or the impressive Beitou Museum. You can walk (slightly uphill) for about 20 minutes to get to the latter, or ride bus 230 or S25.

There are also over a dozen hot spring hotels to choose from for a private soak, ranging from the oldest Japanese bathhouse (Longnice Hot Spring or 瀧乃湯) to ultra fancy & expensive options like Gaia Hotel. Heads up: most are nude only and sex-segregated.

While in town, don’t miss the hot spring ramen! There are two shops offering it: Man Lai Hot Spring Ramen (滿来温泉拉麵) near Xinbeitou MRT station, and Mankewu Taiwanese Style Ramen (滿客屋台式拉麵) near Puji Temple.

Finally, if you still have time, you can ride the MRT further north to Danshui and stroll along the riverside promenade. From there you can also take a bus or river ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf to see the sunset.

Alternatively, return to Taipei and have dinner at whichever night markets you missed on day 1.

For a non-touristy night market that serves amazing foods, visit Nanjichang Night Market. The Michelin-rated stinky tofu at Stinky Boss in the market is amazing!

5 Day Taiwan Itinerary Day 3: Day Trip from Taipei

After thoroughly covering Taipei on your first two days, it’s time to get out of the city!

Choosing a day trip from Taipei is not going to be easy, as there are just so many possibilities. I’m going to give you four different options!

1. The most popular day trip from Taipei

The most popular day trip from Taipei includes some or all of the following: Jiufen, Houtong, Shifen Waterfall, Yehliu, & Keelung. You may be able to squeeze them all in if you get an early start!

To begin, swipe your Easy Card to board a local train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang. From there, take the bus to Jiufen, a former gold mining boomtown built on the slope of a mountain.

Explore the atmospheric staircases, shops, & teahouses. Next, return to Ruifang and catch a train to Houtong, Taiwan’s famous “Cat Village”.

After that, catch the Pingxi Small Train to Shifen station for Shifen Waterfall, the widest waterfall in Taiwan.

Return to Ruifang, then take a local train to Keelung. If you have enough time, you can take a return bus to Yeliu Geopark, a coastal landscape with bizarre rock formations.

Otherwise, just stay in Keelung to eat at Keelung Night Market, one of the best night markets in Taiwan.

From there, it’s a 45-minute train ride back to Taipei. You can swipe your EasyCard for all the rides on this day trip.

Tip: If you prefer leaving the planning to the experts, I recommend this organized guided tour which takes you to top attractions like Yehliu Geological Park, Jiufen, and Pingxi. Having a knowledgeable local guide handle logistics allows you to simply focus on experiencing the best of northern Taiwan.

2. Off-the-beaten track

Culture enthusiasts can head southwest of Taipei to Sanxia, a district of New Taipei City famous for its restored Old Street and the incredibly beautiful Sanxia Temple (Zushi Temple).

You can get there by taking numerous local buses, depending on where you’re coming from in Taipei.

Next, hop in a taxi to the neighboring district of Yingge, the largest pottery center in Taiwan. Stroll the Yingge Old Street and its dozens of ceramics shops, try your hand at pottery making, or walk into historic kilns.

Don’t miss the impressive New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum! It’s only 30 minutes back to Taipei by train.

For people interested in hiking, there are several amazing day hikes within easy reach of Taipei.

One of the best is the Caoling Historic Trail, which includes impressive coastal bluffs, and blooming silvergrass in November.

Another good one is Teapot Mountain, in which you can climb into a rocky peak that looks like a teapot.

It starts at Jinguashi Gold Ecological Village, which is near Jiufen (see #1 above) and is also worth visiting.

Yet another is Sandiaoling, which includes three waterfalls, one of which you can climb into a rocky overhang behind.

This one is near Houtong and Shifen (see #1), so it could also be combined with some of the places mentioned in #1.

4. Hot Springs

If you’re visiting in winter, you may want to try even more hot springs than Beitou in Taipei City. Moreover, the ones outside of Taipei City are generally cheaper.

The two best options within easy reach of Taipei are Wulai and Jiaoxi.

Wulai is an aboriginal village south of Taipei City. It has a market street with lots of yummy aboriginal food (try the mountain boar or bamboo tubes stuffed with sticky rice).

There are some free riverside hot spring pools that are rather decaying, or several private options to choose from (mostly private hot tub rooms with river views).

Alternatively, Jiaoxi Hot Spring in Yilan County is only an hour away by bus or local train. It has excellent spas with multi-colored hot spring waters, hot tubs with massage jets, and more.

Chuang Tang is one of the best, while Art Spa Hotel even has a tall hot water slide.

The town also has a hot spring park where you can drink local craft beer while you soak your feet, a few waterfall hikes.

5 days in Taiwan Itinerary Day 4: A Day in Taichung

On day four, it’s time to pack your bags and relocate to Taichung City, the largest city in Central Taiwan.

To maximize your time, you can hop on the High-Speed Rail (HSR), which only takes an hour and doesn’t even require a reservation; just buy a non-reserved ticket from one of the machines at the station and get on the train cars 10-12.

You can also ride the cheaper regular train (TRA), which takes two hours. You can try to reserve a seat, but if it’s fully booked, you’ll need to stand or sit on the floor between cars (many people do this).

One plus of the HSR is that it will get you closer to your first stop, Rainbow Village. From the station, grab a taxi or take bus #617; so long as your luggage isn’t too big, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Rainbow Village is one of Taiwan’s quirkiest attractions. Here a retired soldier painted his entire home in wild colors to save it from destruction. You may even meet the elderly man (“Rainbow Grandpa”) while you’re there!

Next, head into the city center to leave your luggage and/or check into your hotel.

After that, make your way to Chun Shui Tang, the supposed birthplace of pearl milk tea (bubble tea/boba)! They’ve also got decent food on offer.

Your tour of the city center can also include stops at Natural Way Six Arts Cultural Center (a beautifully restored Japanese martial arts hall), Painted Animation Lane, and Cultural Heritage Park.

For dinner, there’s no choice better than Feng Chia Night Market, the largest and best night market in Taichung.

Taiwan Itinerary Day 5: Sun Moon Lake

For the final stop on your Taiwan five day itinerary, you’re going to visit one of Taiwan’s most beautiful landscapes: Sun Moon Lake .

From Gancheng Station, Taichung Station, Daqing Station, or the Taichung High Speed Rail Station, you can catch the Sun Moon Lake shuttle bus, which takes around 90 minutes.

You’ll need to pay in cash for these tickets, or you can book them at any 7-Eleven iBon machine. It’s unusual for them to sell out.

Note: There is a cool tour from Taipei City that lets you explore Nantou and then spend time at the scenic Sun Moon Lake. You get to take in the lake’s mountainside vistas and visit landmarks in the region like Yidashao Wharf and Xuanguang Temple.

You’ll arrive at Shuishe, the main tourist village on the lake. From there, hop on the round-the-lake bus to the huge Wenwu Temple, which has the most stunning views looking down on the lake.

Continue on to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway for more unbeatable views, and finally Ita Thao, an aboriginal village with an all-day market street offering the best food at Sun Moon Lake.

To return to Shuishe, take the bus back or a scenic boat rides across the lake. Buses back to Taichung leave roughly hourly, and the last one departs at 7:25 p.m.

Return to Taichung Station for the regular train back to Taipei, or the High Speed Rail Station for the fastest option.

If you want to head directly to Taoyuan International Airport, get off at Taoyuan Station and take the 10-minute shuttle bus.

Another Favorite Read: The Best Things to Do in Kaohsiung

In conclusion

Well, that sums up my whirlwind 5-day Taiwan itinerary. I hope you’ve got more than enough ideas for planning an unforgettable trip.

Trust me, after this, you’ll want to come back to Taiwan again as soon as possible!

This is a post by guest contributor, Nick Kembel.

Author’s Bio: Nick Kembel has lived in Taiwan for over 11 years and is the author of Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner . He blogs about Taiwan at nickkembel.com and offers free Taiwan travel planning advice in this group .

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8D Taiwan Itinerary: Insider’s Guide to Hidden Adventures from Taipei to Kaohsiung via THSR

First published: 9 Nov 2017

From trendy shopping districts to vibrant streets lined with mouth-watering local delicacies, I thought I’d seen and experienced all Taiwan could offer. While these parts of Taiwan are still enjoyable (even after being back for the seventh time), boy was I wrong about how much I knew.

In this eight-day Taiwan Itinerary, not only will we cover some of the best, most well-known sights along the west coast of Taiwan (Taipei to Kaohsiung), we’ve also thrown in a couple of off-the-beaten-path experiences that will definitely re-ignite your interest in Taiwan whether it’s your second or seventh time.

Pre-trip Essentials

SIM Card: ~S$21 for 10 days unlimited data or purchase an eSIM (from ~S$10.60 for 5 days, 1GB/day) if you have a compatible device — no physical card is required!

Airport to City Transport: From Taoyuan International Airport, you can take the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) to Taipei Main Station in 20 minutes. But if your flight arrives late at night when the train services have halted, the car transfer service (~S$47) is the next best option. Not only does it bring you to your doorstep in comfort, it’s also cheaper than regular taxis and operates 24/7.

Psst. From now till 31 May 2024, enjoy a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promo on the THSR pass when you book via Klook!

Intercity Transport:  For fuss-free travelling through different cities in Taiwan, the THSR pass is essential. We purchased the 5-Day Joint Train Standard Pass which includes unlimited use of the THSR on any 2 days + unlimited use of the Taiwan Railway (TR) for five consecutive days.

For transport within cities like Taipei or Kaohsiung, you will need the  EasyCard 悠遊卡 or iPass 一卡通 , which can be purchased   from convenience stores.

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off all items * with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15). Apply the promo code at checkout. One-time use only. (* – see list of excluded activities )

Travel Insurance: With all the extreme activities and eating you’ll be doing in this itinerary, it’s important to get a policy in case of anything that arises during or after the trip. Don’t forget to ensure that your travel insurance includes Covid-19 coverage too!

Check Flights to Taipei

We excluded flights from our budget since it varies depending on the season and airline. Check flight prices for your dates of travel .

Despite being a metropolitan city, there are still many things you can eat and do at relatively low prices.

Breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk (阜杭豆漿)

First up, eat like a local. Get up early (and we mean, REALLY early) for breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk . Its unique salty soybean curd melts in your mouth and makes the perfect breakfast combi with youtiao 油条 (fried dough sticks). Queues can get really long (and we mean, REALLY long) but it moves along quite quickly.

Address : Level 2, No. 108, Zhongxiao East Road, Section 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan [台北市中正區忠孝東路一段108號2樓] Opening hours : 05:30AM – 12:30PM, closed on Mon Cost: ~NT$25-60

Zen out at Maokong 猫空

Maokong used to be the biggest tea growing area in Taipei and is now a popular place for tea culture. The premium Oolong variety, Tie Guan Yin 鐵觀音, is still being produced at Maokong.

Photo credit: 4travel.jp

Spend a relaxing afternoon in Maokong sipping tea while overlooking the lush tea plantation fields. Get to the top via a gondola service from Taipei Zoo.

Directions: MRT Wenhu Line (Brown Line) 文湖線 to Taipei Zoo → follow signs leading to Gondola → 3 stops to Maokong Stn. Gondola fee: NT$120/trip (EasyCard holders entitled to 20% discount on weekdays, or enjoy a discounted rate with the Klook Pass Taipei starting from ~S$23 for 2 attractions)

The icon of Taiwan, Taipei 101 stands out kinda like a sore thumb in the day being the only tall building around the area. But come nightfall, the 101-storeyed building lights up and sure is a beautiful sight to look at against the dark sky.

Did you know? The building is lit up according to the colours of the rainbow each night of the week. Mon , Tue , Wed , Thu , Fri , Sat , and Sun .

Can you tell which day of the week this was taken?

*Pro-tip: Pre-book your admission ticket via Klook (from ~S$26) to skip the queue at the ticketing counter! You can enter directly with the QR code on your voucher.

Accommodation: Meander Taipei Hostel from NT$580/night

Read also: 4D3N Taipei Itinerary for more local finds in and around Taipei

D2: Day Trip to Jiufen 九份 & Shifen 十分

How to get there:  Take a bus (Bus 965) which travels from Banqiao and stops at Jiufen Old Street. Or alternatively, take a private city transfer instead.

Located just outside of Taipei City, Jiufen and Shifen are popular day-trips for its extremely scenic views and great food; probably why I keep coming back too.

Problem is, it can take a while to get there via public transport. During our trip, we took a shuttle bus service (which has since then been discontinued). The bus picked us from Ximen and we arrived in Shifen within an hour. Ultra-convenient!

If you’re looking for convenience and want to arrive there quickly, hiring a private car transfer is what you may need. Some day tours also like this one will just require you to meet at the Taipei Main Station, and they’ll guide you along Jiufen and Shifen. The choice is yours!

Shifen has been popularised in recent years and many specially visit the quaint old town to light up sky lanterns on the old (and still functioning!) rail tracks.

Write your wishes on the paper lanterns and light them up, sending your wishes to the heavens.

Besides lighting up the sky lanterns, another charm of Shifen I love is the old-school vibes. Buy a glass-bottled marble soda to feel really transported back in time!

A-Mei Tea House, the inspiration behind Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning Spirited Away.

Jiufen seems like an unassuming laid-back town amongst the mountainous regions, but on closer inspection, it’s really an energetic and bustling food paradise filled with endless surprises from beginning till end.

When the stall owner is as unforgettable as the yummy Taiwanese sausage she’s selling.

The tour lasts around eight hours and you can either pick the morning slot, which leaves at 9:30AM, or the afternoon slot, which leaves at 1:30PM.

After the eating spree in Jiufen , head back to Taipei and explore the fast-paced and everchanging Ximending.

Streets of Ximending. Photo credit: Wikipedia

If Taipei 101 is the icon of metropolitan Taipei, then Ximending can be considered the cultural icon of Taiwan. Popular among the youth and tourists, the bustling streets of Ximending hosts not only apparel shops, but also eateries, cinemas, and scores and scores of budget hotels.

Dinner at San Wei Dining Hall 三味食堂

These fist-sized salmon nigiri rolls attract hordes of sushi lovers daily, and queue-time may take up to an hour! Sushi and sashimi plates range from NT$70–580 (~S$3–26).

Address : 116, Guiyang St Sec 2, Taipei City [台北市貴陽街二段116號] Opening Hours: 11:20AM – 2:30PM, 5:10PM – 10PM (Last orders 9:30PM). Closed first two Mondays & last two Sundays of every month

For more awesome possum local finds in Taipei, check out our 4D3N Taipei Itinerary .

D3: Taichung (via the THSR)

The easiest and fastest way to get from Taipei to Taichung is via the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) — within an hour for NT$700 (single ticket). As we’d pre-purchased the 5-Day Joint Train Pass (THSR+TRA) before our trip, we had to activate the pass at the THSR ticketing counter at Taipei Main Station.

Do note that when activating the 5-Day Joint Pass, the THSR staff will require you to choose the two dates you want to take the THSR. This is so that they can make seat reservations for you on the THSR.

The journey southwards from Taipei to Taichung took approx. 50 mins for us. However, there are various trains with different timings and stops, so yours might take a little longer. Refer to THSR’s official website for detailed train timings.

Arrival in Taichung

Since we’ll be covering quite a few places within Taichung (also note that Taichung has no MRT system), we rented a car for convenience. We rented a simple sedan car online and collected the car from Taichung THSR station upon arrival. Easy breezy.

Photo credit: Cavin Teo

Yizhong Street 一中街 is a shopping street in Taichung not unlike the usual night markets of Taiwan. However, some shops are open from as early as 10AM in the morning. Prices of food and things are slightly cheaper in Taichung as compared to Taipei, so guilt-free eating and shopping can begin here!

After an afternoon in Yizhong Street, we drove to Nantou 南投, where our accommodation for the night is at, ready to welcome the next day we packed with adventures.

Our cosy bedroom for the night at a local homestay

Accommodation: Stay with the locals at a rustic Airbnb from ~S$23 per night

Read also: Taipei Day Trip: Jiufen & Shifen

D4: Endless Adventures Among the Most Stunning Sceneries in Taichung/Nantou

Standup paddleboarding (sup) 立槳體驗.

Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 is one of Taiwan’s largest freshwater lakes, and also arguably the most beautiful natural attraction. We got up super early so as to reach Sun Moon Lake by 5:30AM for our sunrise Standup Paddleboarding experience.

The waters of Sun Moon Lake are very calm, first-timers like me will have no problems learning how to control the paddleboard.

Our jovial instructor even brought along the famous Nantou Jinpen “Ah Mah” Braised Tea Egg 金盤阿嬤茶葉蛋 and bottled Black Tea 紅茶 for us to have during breakfast. When else can one have breakfast on a paddleboard on a lake with superb views! Coach OA even doubled as a photographer and sent us our standup paddleboarding photos after the activity.

Price: From ~S$66/pax (3 hours) . A similar SUP activity in Singapore would cost ~S$100. Location: Sun Moon Lake

Brunch at Itashao 伊達邵

Small sausage in big sausage 大腸包小腸, a Taiwanese snack.

Thereafter, we headed to the nearby Itashao 伊達邵 (Ita Thao) for some locally-loved Taiwanese snacks. Taiwanese sausage 香腸, braised pork bun 豆干扣肉總匯刈包, and millet mochi 小米麻糬 were some local snacks we couldn’t resist not buying.

Taiwanese braised pork bun 刈包 .

We could understand why these snacks 小吃 are so well-loved by locals and tourists, because not only are they big in portion with generous fillings, they are very reasonably priced too!

Millet mochi on stick 小米麻糬 .

Brunch settled, munching from the beginning to the end of Itashao 😂

Paragliding 飛行傘

Around Nantou, you can also try paragliding ! We met some paragliders who even brought their own paragliding gears along with them from Hong Kong.

While in the air, we were blown away by Puli ‘s superb views. Mountains, lakes, and acres and acres of vast green lands that seem endless. Breathtaking indeed! No wonder Puli is a popular spot for paragliding.

Our paragliding operator was excellent, even repeating flight twice was for one of us when the first flight time was too short.

Price: ~S$127/pax  (Min. 10 mins flight time guaranteed + video footage provided) Location:  Puli, Hu-Toushan in Nantou county of Taiwan (虎頭山)

Cingjing Farm 清境農場

It’s another hour drive to our third and last destination of the day: CingJing Farm . Free-roaming woolly sheep grace pass visitors nonchalantly, granting lots of selfie opportunities with them!

Location: No. 170, Renhe Road, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, 546 [南投縣仁愛鄉仁和路170號] Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM Entrance fee: NT$160/pax (Mon – Fri) , NT$200 (Sat – Sun)

Night falls, but that’s when Taichung becomes even more energetic and alive! We headed to Taichung’s most famous night market, Feng Chia Night Market 逢甲夜市 for dinner.

It’s insane how many times we had to stop and reach for our wallets just stepping into the market for ten minutes. All my senses were being attacked! It was involuntary and uncontrollable, and we succumbed to all the awesome-smelling/looking/tasting foods.

Location: Wenhua Road, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 407 [台中市西屯區文華路] Opening hours: 4PM – 2AM (Tue – Sun), 4PM – 1AM (Mon)

Read also: The Ultimate Taiwan Food Guide

D5: Exploring the Locals’ Taichung

After a day of nonstop activities in Nantou, we focused on Taichung City the next day. First up, we headed to Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村 .

Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村

How many silly interns do you spot? 😂

Rainbow Village is a cluster of small houses painted in the wildest, most colourful motifs. Do be there earlier as it will get crowded later on in the day.

Address: No.56, Chun’an Road, Nantun District , Taichung, Taiwan [春安路56巷] Entrance fee: Free Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM

*Pro-tip: Travelling on public buses in Taichung is the way to go! Any rides below 10km are FREE.

Second Market 臺中第二市場

Located just a 15min walk away from the Taichung Railway Station, we had lunch at Second Market 臺中第二市場 , an old market the locals frequent.

This old market is one that’s easily missed if not for the creeping long line that stretches out from the market to the main road. We were curious to see what locals are so patiently waiting for, so we joined the crowd.

Surprisingly, the queue moves really fast, but the line is always that long because people keep coming! Everyone was apparently queuing up for a cup of Iced Black Milk Tea.

We were also informed by our friendly cab driver that the braised minced pork rice 肉燥飯 is the best in Taichung, of course, we had to try it as well.

The famous minced braised pork rice in Taichung’s Second Market

Address: No. 87, Section 2, Sanmin Road, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400 [台中市中區三民路二段87號] Opening Hours: 7AM – 8PM (Closed on Mon)

I’m Talato 我是塔拉朵，愛台灣的義式冰淇淋

Although it was already autumn when we visited Taiwan in October, the sun was still pretty unforgiving and it felt no different from all-year-summer Singapore. A quick search on desserts in Taichung brought us to I’m Talato , an ice cream parlour all decked in pink. We couldn’t resist going in for some ice cream to cool down.

No visit to I’m Talato is complete without a check-in pic at their iconic bed of ice-cream. There, my lifelong dream to live in a pool of ice cream, fulfilled.

Address: No. 451, Yingcai Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403  [台中市西區英才路451號] Opening hours: 11:30AM – 7:30PM

Gaomei Wetlands 高美濕地

A lesser-known gem in Taichung, Gaomei Wetlands 高美濕地 is a sunset paradise for avid photographers. Rows of windmills line the beach and cast perfect silhouettes against the setting sun. Everything becomes even more breathtaking when the sea acts as a giant mirror reflecting all above the horizon.

Sunset timings vary throughout the year, but our advice is to be at Gaomei at least an hour earlier to walk around when there’s still sufficient sunlight.

Address: Meidi Street, Qingshui District, Taichung City, Taiwan 436

*Pro-tip: If you are planning to visit Rainbow Village and Gaomei Wetlands on the same day, choose a weekend to do so, as there’s a Bus Service #655 that operates only on weekends between these two places.

After Gaomei Wetlands, we boarded the last bus back to Taichung Train Station where we began the next leg of our journey: Tainan . If Taichung and Nantou showed us how we could play in Taiwan, Tainan would show us the cultural sides of Taiwan.

We chose the Taiwan Rail, the older train system, to get from Taichung to Tainan. It was a slow ride taking about 3 hours, but it didn’t matter as long as we got to our destination before the last check-in time.

Accommodation: MyDeer Backpacker Hostel , from ~S$35 per night

D6: Tainan on Two Wheels!

We started our day in Tainan with some morning exercise — cycling. The hostel we stayed at has three bicycles available for guests to use, and we decided to make use of them, as Tainan’s streets are relatively easy to navigate with places of interest situated not far from one another.

Anping Tree House 安平樹屋

The first pit stop we made was the Anping Tree House 安平樹屋 , a dilapidated warehouse of the ’40s that has since been consumed by a huge Banyan tree. A must-see for those who are into urban exploration!

Entrance fee: NT$50 Opening hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM Address: No.108, Gubao St, Anping District, Tainan City [台南市安平區古堡街108號]

*Pro-tip: If you are planning to visit three or more of the below attractions, getting the Tainan City (4+1) Monument Pass at NT$150 is a better deal. Passes can be purchased from ticketing counters found in any of the below:

– Anping Tree House 安平樹屋 – Chihkan Tower 赤崁樓 – Anping Fort 安平古堡 – Eternal Golden Castle 億載金城 – 1661 Taiwan Warship Museum 1661臺灣船園區

Tianhou Temple 安平開臺天后宮

After exploring the Tree House, we continued exploring the Old Streets of Anping, which are kept alive by the constant stream of visitors — many of whom are there to pay the famous   Tianhou Temple 安平開臺天后宮 around the corner a visit.

Anping Old Street

Dayou Xingyi Noodle Shop 大佑興意麵店 is an ordinary noodle stall selling what locals love, the “古早味” (gǔ zǎo wèi), or “tastes of yesteryears”. A bowl dry-tossed noodles with assorted braised meats make a simple yet hearty lunch.

Along the crowded Old Street, we also spotted a small coffee pushcart stall that had a unique coffee-brewing apparatus. Upon asking, we learnt that it’s the Vacuum Coffee Maker 虹吸式咖啡 , also known as Syphon Coffee . We couldn’t resist and bought ourselves a bottle of coffee and milk tea.

Quan Mei Movie Theatre 全美戲院

Check out the hand-painted movie posters!

Thereafter, we continued cycling eastwards towards the city centre where we chanced upon the coolest movie theatre. If Tainan is known for her vintagey vibes, then Quan Mei Movie Theatre 全美戲院 is the epitome of all things vintage. Large hand-painted movie posters decorate the building’s facade, and what’s particularly fascinating is that the posters are those of recent movies!

We understood from locals that the movie theatre only shows reruns. Check out Quan Mei’s website to see what’s showing!

Cost: NT$140/pax Opening Hours: 12:30PM – 11PM (weekdays), 10:30AM – 11PM (weekends) Address: No. 187, Section 2, Yongfu Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 ［台南市永福路二段187號］

When in Tainan, be sure to visit Blueprint Culture & Creative Park 藍晒圖文創園區 .

Blueprint Culture & Creative Park 藍晒圖文創園區

Formerly a Japanese Government Dormitory ( gasp , that’s how old it is!), it has been reimagined, refurbished, and re-introduced to visitors as the new cultural playground of Tainan.

Ice cream smoothie from Our Bar at Blueprint Culture & Creative Park

Within the blue walls, there are indie shops and cafes started up by locals, displaying and selling local crafts and reinvented local delicacies.

Address: Ln. 689, Sec. 1, Ximen Rd., West Central District, Tainan City 700, Taiwan [台南市中西區西門路一段689巷］ Opening hours: 2PM – 9PM (Closed on Tue) Entrance fee: Free

Read also: 7 Underrated Things to Do in Tainan

Tainan showed us a side of Taiwan that foreign visitors know less of: the cultural, rustic, yet homey and flavourful one. Before long, it’s time we left Tainan for the second-most populous city of Taiwan after Taipei: Kaohsiung.

Again, we took the Taiwan Railway for this leg of the journey utilising our rail pass . Within an hour, we found ourselves in Kaohsiung, with our growling stomachs calling out to be filled. From Kaohsiung Train Station, we took the local MRT to Kaohsiung Arena Station.

In Kaohsiung, there are a couple of night markets, but the one we decided to head to was Ruifeng Night Market . It’s only a 5-minute walk from the Kaohsiung Arena Train station. Do note that night markets in Kaohsiung do not open every night, unlike those in Taipei.

Ruifeng Night Market 瑞豐夜市

Bird’s eye view of Rui Feng Night Market, Kaohsiung

Giant Takoyaki balls at Rui Feng Night Market

That night, we checked in to the hostel we looked forward to the most, Single Inn because there’re hot tubs for guests!

Communal (same-sex) bath area in Single Inn Hostel.

Accommodation: Single Inn from ~S$19 per night

D7: Finding the Artistic Side of Kaohsiung

We started our day with breakfast at a fast-food chain. And nope, before you diss us for not being adventurous eaters overseas, we’d like to introduce Dandan Hamburger 丹丹漢堡 to you.

Dandan Hamburger 丹丹漢堡

Western fast-food chain with a local Taiwanese twist .

Opened in 1984, Dandan Hamburger is the pride of Kaohsiung’s locals. This burger chain specialises in Western-Taiwanese fusion food and can only be found in the southern cities — Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung.

Address: No. 224, Qixian 2nd Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 801 [高雄市前金區七賢二路224號] Opening hours: 6AM – 9:30PM

Pier-2 Art Center 駁二藝術特區

Next, we explored a repurposed warehouse site that’s now used as an event venue for local artists to showcase their artworks, the Pier-2 Art Center .

Kaohsiung surprised us with the vibrant arts scene it quietly harbours.

Address: No.1, Dayong Rd., Yancheng Dist., Kaohsiung City 803, Taiwan [鹽埕區大勇路1號] Opening Hours: 10AM c 6PM (Mon – Thu), 10AM – 8PM (Fri – Sun & PH)

Read more about Pier-2 Art Centre in our 7 Things to Do in Kaohsiung guide.

Dome of Light 光之穹頂

At the Formosa MRT station 捷運美麗島站 , there’s the Dome of Light 光之穹頂 , the largest glass work in the world, designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.

There are short light shows daily at 11AM, 3PM, and 8PM. As the Dome of Light is not within the paid premises of the train station, it’s literally free entertainment you should take note of in Kaohsiung 😉

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 龍虎塔

Next up, we headed to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 龍虎塔 . Folklore has it that walking through the dragon’s mouth and then exiting through the tiger’s will bring good luck and fortune.

Address: Liantan Rd., Zuoying Dist. , Kaohsiung, Taiwan [ 高雄市左營區蓮潭路與勝利路交叉口旁] Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM Entrance fee: Free (on a free-will donation basis)

Read also: Top 7 things to Do in and around Kaohsiung — Gateway to Taiwan’s laid back South

Before nightfall, we packed our belongings and boarded the Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus from Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR Station, towards our next destination — Pingtung 屏東 !

Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus Ticket

We booked our bus passes from Klook beforehand, and collected them from the bus pass counter at Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR. We recommend that you get both the Express Bus Return Pass and the Kenting Shuttle Bus Pass for convenience.

Kenting Shuttle Bus ticket

After a smooth and comfortable 1hr 35 min ride, followed by a hitch (’cause we missed the other transfer bus), we reached our accommodation for the night — National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) 國立海洋生物博物館 .

Yes, you read those two words right. Our “accommodation” for the night in Pingtung was an “aquarium”! 😁

First up, here’s how you can get to the aquarium if you are travelling via the Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus (without needing to hitch a ride like a hobo on the road):

Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR →(Kenting Express Bus)→ NMMBA Transfer Stn →(Kenting Shuttle Bus from across the road)→ Marine Biology Museum

Important timings to take note: – Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus from Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR: 8:30AM – 7:10PM (at 15–30min intervals. Refer to detailed timetable .) – Kenting Shuttle Bus from NMMBA Transfer Stn: 8:54AM to 3:54PM (at 30min intervals), with one last bus at 5:54PM (Refer to detailed timetable )

Upon arrival, visitors will be shown around the aquarium, staff areas, and out-of-bounds premises to day guests. Through this programme, we learnt more about how marine animals were being taken care of in aquariums, the different kinds of corals, anemones, and sea organisms. We even got to feed fish while we were here!

Dinner is provided in the aquarium sleepover package

Dinner, supper, and breakfast are also included in the sleepover package . The communal washrooms are clean and there are big lockers for guests to store their personal belongings.

Although we thought that this programme suits younger children, you’ll definitely still enjoy this if you’re a marine lover as well!

This extraordinary experience of sleeping amongst fish and other marine animals is probably the closest anyone can get to being a mermaid.

Address: 2 Houwan Rd. Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan [屏東縣車城鄉後灣村後灣路2號] Sleepover duration: 4PM – 10:30AM, the following day Regular opening hours: 9AM – 5:30PM daily Price: ~S$118/pax

*We did not include the aquarium sleepover in the budget as we feel that it’s an optional activity. Admission tickets are also available from ~S$18/pax for standard entry, or at a discounted rate with the Klook Pass Taipei (from ~S$23 for 2 attractions).

D8: Fun Under the Sun in Kenting

Watersports at nanwan.

Photo credit: Klook

After our first ever aquarium sleepover, we continued our journey southwards to Kenting. We boarded the Kenting Shuttle Bus from Marine Biology Museum 海洋生物博物館 stop just outside the aquarium and alighted at the Nanwan 南灣 stop for some water sports at the beach .

There are up to eight watersports available at Nanwan. This includes the banana boat, the flying bed, and jetskiing.

Cost: ~S$17 for the 2-in-1 Watersports Package Address: 154 Nanwan Road, Nanwan (South Bay), Hengchun, Pingtung County [屏東縣恆春鎮南灣里南灣路154號] Operating hours: 8AM – 6PM (be there at 3PM latest)

Kenting National Park

As we chose only two activities from eight, we finished watersports relatively quickly. But that’s all good because that means we have more time to explore Kenting. After a quick rinse, we boarded the shuttle bus again to our next destination: Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 . Alight at Kenting stop.

Long Keng Cliff at Kenting

Kenting National Park is situated at the southernmost tip of Taiwan, famous for her stunning coastlines. Travelling on a scooter bike is perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to explore Kenting if you are not staying overnight, like us. It’s not difficult to spot scooter bike rental shops here.

We rented our battery-operated scooter bikes from Kenting Starry Sky — Space Capsule Hotel for NT$700 per bike. We even managed to deposit our heavy baggage at Starry Night Capsule Hotel, a relief for us all as there are no luggage deposit areas or lockers available in the Kenting area 😅

From the starting point at Kenting stop, a bike ride upwards to Eluanbi Lighthouse will take approximately one hour.

The southernmost point of Taiwan

Scenic spots along the way: – Sail Rock, or a.k.a “Richard Nixon’s Submerged Head” 船帆石 – Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻燈塔 (Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 4PM; Admission: NT$40) – Taiwan Southernmost Point 台灣最南點 – Longpan Park 龍磐公園 – the southernmost point of Taiwan – Sail Rock, or a.k.a “Richard Nixon’s Submerged Head” 船帆石 – Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻燈塔 (Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 4PM; Admission: NT$40) – Taiwan Southernmost Point 台灣最南點 – Longpan Park 龍磐公園

*Pro-tip: Do not be shy to ask shop owners if they allow bags storage for a couple of hours while you head out to explore Kenting National Park. Of course, it will be a lot easier if you ask the scooter rental shops you rent the bikes from.

Scooter bike rental/recommended accommodation: Kenting Starry Sky — Space Capsule Hotel , from S$44 per night

After the fun and carefree time we had biking around Kenting, it was time to get back to Kaohsiung then Taipei. First, we got onto the Express bus back to Kaohsiung (refer to bus timetable ). It’s a 2-hour bus ride back to Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR Station, the best time to take forty winks.

Then, take the northwards HSR from Zuoying to Taipei HSR Station.

And with that, we conclude our 8-day roundabout Taiwan trip. We hope we’ve shown that it’s not difficult nor expensive to travel and experience the lesser-known gems of Taiwan.

Budget Breakdown for 8 Days

Planning to visit many attractions? Get a Klook Pass to get a discount, up to 41%!

Transport: S$250 Accommodation: S$141 Activities: S$216 Food: $100 SIM Card: $13.50 Total: S$720.50 ( excl. flights )

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off all items * with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15). Apply the promo code at checkout. One-time use only. (* – see list of excluded activities )

Kickstart your adventures to Taiwan now! We’ve got what you need: – 4D3N Taipei Itinerary – Ultimate Food Guide: All Around Taiwan – Taipei Day Trip: Jiufen & Shifen – Underrated Things to do in Tainan – Food Guide: Shilin Night Market

Click here to check flights from Singapore to Taipei !

This article was brought to you by  Klook . 

Follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  YouTube , and Telegram  for more travel updates!

  A post shared by The Travel Intern (@thetravelintern) on Nov 6, 2017 at 7:10pm PST

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26 comments.

Hi, may i know which paragliding operator did you use in Puli? Planning to try out in a few weeks time. Did you book in advance? Thanks!

Here’s the operator we used. Very professional! https://www.klook.com/activity/703-nantou-paragliding-taichung/?aid=312

Love all your useful tips. Thank you!

Hello, is it possible to travel around Taichung, Nantou, and GaoMei Wetland without renting a car? Perhaps through public transportation or cabs?

Hi Charles, you can but there are limited timings. We went with a car rental because we wanted to be at the stand up boarding place very early. No busses run at that time and we didn’t want to incur a hefty taxi charge.

Wow! What a trip you’ve got here in Taiwan.=) Though I am curious, what’s your favorite city out of all?

Love them all!

Hi dear! Do you know if we can get to Hua Lien easily from Nantou/Tai Chung? 🙂 Thank you!

Hi Audrey, I think most trains will have to go back towards Taipei area before looping over to Hua Lien due to the mountains in the centre of Taiwan. If you want to go direct, your best bet is to either self drive or take a very expensive private car/cab.

Thank you for the informative entry, I could use this next time <3 I'm also an aspiring travel blogger and I often read your blog.. Keep inspiring people like me. 🙂 Love lots! – http://www.annebelo.com

All the best!

Hi! I’ll be visiting Taiwan for 10 days somewhere around the end of November. I’m planning to go for Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien. How do you think the flow should go? Should I visit from the northern side to the southern side? Or what else do you suggest? Other than that, how many days do you suggest on visiting each area I mentioned earlier (Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien)? Sorry for asking so much; I’m not quite a planner. Thanks in advance.

P.S. There’ll be two of us, so I guess buses and MRT are the best options for transport since that we have a budget.

Hi Alexandra, why not follow our plan and route?

Sorry to ask, where does the kenting express bus from Zuoying to Kenting ends at?

The last stop of the Kenting Express Bus is near Little Bay Beach 小灣沙灘 of Kenting.

The Kenting Express Bus route is as follows: Zuoying HSR 高鐵左營站 → Dapeng Bay 大鵬灣 → Fangliao 臺鐵枋寮站 → Checheng 車城 → South Baoli 南保力 → Hengchun Transfer Stn 恆春轉運站 → Nanwan 南灣 → Kenting 小灣(墾丁)

Hope this helps! 🙂 -Edelyn

Hi, What camera did you use? Planning to visit Taiwan Next Year.

Hi Niko! We used various cameras during this trip, from semi-pros to GoPro to mobile phones! Taiwan is beautiful no matter which device you capture moments on. We hope you’ll have a great time in Taiwan! 🙂 -Edelyn

it so nice to see the introduction about Taiwan.

Hi i really like your itinerary in taichung. Could you advise which car rental you have engage? And anyone that drives you around to all the places?

Hi Khoon, we rented our car from Chailease Car Rental (you can make your rental online: https://www.rentalcar.com.tw/ ) and picked up the car from Taichung THSR Station. It’s just a car rental so you’ll need an international driving license to drive in Taiwan.

Alternatively, you can book a private car charter service online: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/8325-private-sightseeing-car-charter-for-central-taiwan-taichung/?aid=312 Thank you!

HI, how easy it is to find parking for all those places of attractions? Like the markets etc. Thanks.

Hi Amelia, as far as we can remember, there are big open-space carparks near both Fengchia and Ruifeng night markets. The other attractions do have parking spaces nearby too, but you might have to walk around Tainan’s Anping Old Street as the alleys are tight and crowded!

Hi do you know of other operators for the stand up paddling activity in sun moon lake?

I follow your link to klook but they are unavailable for booking at all

Hi Audemars, Seems like the operator we went to is sold out for now! Here are other SUP activities around Taiwan if you don’t mind other areas other than Sun Moon Lake: Yilan Hualien 1 Hualien 2 Hualien 3 Taipei Taipei Shenao Taipei Fulong Beach Taipei Yehliu Thank you!

I am planning to Taiwan with kids in Dec. Any best itinerary for travelling with kids? What’s the accommodations would u recommend?

Hi Care! We do general itineraries that are suitable for older children to active adults. Unfortunately we don’t have any in Taiwan (so far) for young children!

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Practical travel guides with less fluff

• 💰 My 2024 Taiwan Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown

Taiwan, an island country known for night markets and metro-accessible hiking trails, can be visited with a budget of $45 to $90 a day.

My one-week trip to Taiwan cost a total of $1,956 . In this post, I share:

• 💰 Expected travel costs
• 💡 Budgeting tips
• 💵 How much cash to bring
• ✈️ My trip’s costs by category

Planning a trip? Here’s  what to know about Taiwan .

• Is Taiwan Expensive?
• How Much Is a Trip?
• About My Trip
• Cost Breakdown
• Daily Budget: $102
• Flight: $1,240
• Accommodation: $243
• Transportation: $84
• Entertainment: $224
• Withdrawing Cash
• How Much Cash To Bring
• Cash-Only Places
• Tipping Etiquette

Taiwan Trip Planner

Is taiwan expensive to travel to.

Taiwan is a semi-affordable destination in Asia. It has affordable public transportation and a cheap street food scene, but it also has moderate accommodation prices, and guided tours there can add up.

Taiwan is less budget-friendly than nearby countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. However, it’s more affordable than popular places like Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

💰 Trip Daily Budget for Destinations in Asia

For comparison, I visited these countries in Asia within a year of visiting Taiwan, and here’s how much I spent per day at each one:

*My Cambodia daily budget is high because I splurged on accommodation.

See all my daily budget for each destination I’ve visited .

How Much Is a Trip to Taiwan?

This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.

🎒 Budget Traveler – Taiwan Trip Cost

A budget traveler can expect to spend approximately $45 per day or $225 for five days of travel in Taiwan, excluding flights.

Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:

Traveling Taiwan on a Budget

To travel to Taiwan on a budget, here are some things you’ll need to do:

• 🏠 Accommodation – For the cheapest option in big cities like Taipei, stay at a  dorm-style hostel for as low as $15 a night . In popular cities outside of Taipei, including Kaohsiung, Hualien, and Tainan, you can find hostels for as low as $10 per night .
• 🚇 Transportation – Save money by riding the country’s excellent public transportation. In Taipei, metro rides can cost less than $1 per ride. Train tickets between cities can be as low as $15 one-way (e.g., a train ticket from Taipei to Hualien or a bus ticket from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake).
• 🍜 Food – You can save significantly on food in Taiwan by eating at the numerous night markets. Plenty of cheap eats cost less than $5 per meal.
• ⛰️ Entertainment – Skip the guided tours and prioritize Taiwan’s many indoor and outdoor attractions that are completely free .
• ☀️ Travel Season – For the best deals on accommodations, travel to Taiwan during the low season, which runs from January to February. These are the coldest months of the year, with temperatures dipping into the mid-50s °F.

💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Taiwan Trip Cost

A mid-range budget traveler like myself can expect to spend approximately $90 per day or $450 for five days of travel in Taiwan, excluding flights. I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.

About My Taiwan Trip

To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:

• Taipei : 4 days
• Jiufen : 1 day
• Hualien : 2 days
• ✌️ Group traveler – I traveled with one other person, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing.
• ☀️ Low season – I visited in October and November, which is considered the low season.

Taiwan tends to be popular year-round, but the peak season is from May to September .

• 💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
• 🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.
• 💵 US dollars – All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars, converted from Taiwan’s local currency, the New Taiwan Dollar.

The exchange rate was $1 USD = 32 NT at the time of writing.

Total Cost for a Taiwan Trip: $1,956

My one-week trip to Taiwan cost a total of $1,956 , including flights.

See the highlights of my trip in this  Taiwan itinerary .

💰 Cost Breakdown for Taiwan

🗓️ daily budget in taiwan: $102.

My Taiwan trip cost $102 per day , excluding my round-trip flights from and to the United States.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about $90 per day in Taiwan. This generally means not staying in a hostel or luxury hotel, eating at some $$$ restaurants and many $ night markets, and being willing to pay for an Uber, but mostly taking Taiwan’s public transportation.

✈️ Flight Cost to Taiwan: $1,240

My round-trip flight from the East Coast of the United States to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was $1,240 .

A round-trip flight between the US and Taiwan that costs under $750 is considered cheap; international flights typically cost over $850. 

🏠 Accommodation Cost in Taiwan: $243

My average cost of accommodation in Taiwan was $35 per night. I was able to split accommodations with one other person at all times.

Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:

Accommodations in Taiwan are relatively affordable. It’s worth researching where to stay as I found that for less than $50 a night , you can get vastly different experiences (e.g., room service vs. not, tourist vs. residential area).

🍜 Food Cost in Taiwan: $165

My average cost of food in Taiwan was $24 per day.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about $20 per day on food in Taiwan.

Cheapest Meals in Taiwan

Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:

Taiwan is known for its delicious, affordable food. You can easily spend  less than $10 per meal  at a night market or local restaurant. When visiting a night market, remember to bring cash . I share some of my favorite restaurants and night markets here .

Most Expensive Meals in Taiwan

Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:

If you are unfamiliar with Taiwan’s local eats, you can take a highly-rated private street food tour to discover delicious spots .

🚇 Transportation Cost in Taiwan: $84

My average cost of transportation in Taiwan was $12 per day.

Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:

Taipei’s public transportation is excellent. If you plan to ride the MRT frequently, like I did, I recommend getting an EasyCard despite the 100 NT (roughly $3) non-refundable fee. At the end of your trip, you can refund any remaining balance.

Despite the busy streets, Taipei’s infrastructure is very cyclist-friendly . I saw visitors taking a Taipei biking tour that looked like a great experience, and I wished I had done it.

⛰️ Entertainment Cost in Taiwan: $224

My average cost of entertainment in Taiwan was $32 per day. This total includes a 5% to 15% tip at certain places.

A typical mid-range traveler in Taiwan can expect to spend about  $25 a day on entertainment.

Costs of Activities and Attractions in Taiwan

Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:

You can take a guided tour of some of Taipei’s top attractions to learn more about the country’s history and culture .

Free Things To Do in Taiwan

Taiwan is known for its natural beauty, so there are many free outdoor activities and attractions available.

Here are the attractions and activities I did in Taiwan that were free:

• Hike up Elephant Mountain for amazing views of Taipei.
• Visit Lungshan Temple , a beautiful, 300-year-old temple.
• Check out Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall  and the beautiful surrounding park.
• Explore Yehliu Geopark , which is known for its unique rock formations.

See other great free things to do in Taiwan .

Do You Need Cash in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s economy is largely based on cash transactions , especially in non-tourist areas, so bring some cash. I frequently needed to use cash when I visited.

Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Taiwan.

💵 1. Withdraw cash in New Taiwan Dollars.

Taiwan’s currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT or NT$), and the  US dollar is not widely accepted.

ATMs are  readily available  in many tourist places in Taiwan, but if your debit card doesn’t reimburse your ATM fees, you’ll want to withdraw a higher amount less frequently to save on fees.

🏧 2. Carry about $20 to $30 worth of cash per day in Taiwan.

On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Taiwan will need  at least $20 i n cash  to cover food, transportation, and attractions. A daily cash expense breakdown can look like this:

• $10 at night markets, cafes and restaurants
• $5 for tipping and entrance fees
• $5 for transportation

On my Taiwan trip, I spent a total of $115 (about $16 per day) in cash . Here’s a breakdown of how I used my cash:

I keep my cash in my crossbody bag , but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing , carry it in a hidden money belt instead.

💵 3. Several places in Taiwan are cash-only.

Based on my experience, the following places in Taiwan tend to be cash-only:

• Public transportation – Surprisingly, none of the MRT kiosks take credit cards.
• Dining – All night markets and most restaurants were cash-only. Only bigger and more established places took credit cards (e.g., Din Tai Fung, Chia Te).
• Tours – All tour guides had to be tipped with cash.
• Spas and other service providers – All three haircut and spa places I visited were cash-only.

💰 4. Tipping is not customary in Taiwan.

Tipping is not widely customary in Taiwan. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:

• Dining – Several nicer restaurants will add a 10% service charge for dine-in.
• Tours – Tour guides and some service workers (e.g., haircutters, masseuses) will accept and appreciate tips, so bring cash for them.

See other essential travel tips for Taiwan before visiting.

To make your travel planning easier , download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.

The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free .

If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below.

Taiwan Travel Guides

• 🇹🇼 Planning a Trip to Taiwan: 11 Practical Things To Know
• 🧋 Taiwan Guide: 5-7 Day Itinerary + 20 Great Things To Do
• 🏮 Jiufen Day Trip From Taipei: 9 Great Things To Do + Itinerary
• 🍃 How to Plan a Taroko Gorge Day Trip from Taipei

Lists by Lukiih is Readers-Supported

If you find my travel tips helpful, say thanks with a bubble tea 🧋!

Thank you so much! Planning a last minute travel to Taiwan and this was super helpful with the recent cost breakdown and details. The pictures are great too! Glad you had a great time, now I’m also looking forward to Taiwan!

Hey SK, glad to hear this was helpful. Enjoy Taiwan; I loved it!

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Taiwan is paying tourists to visit—here's what you need to know

Many countries continue to struggle to bring back tourism on the scale that it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Places like Hong Kong and regions in Italy have turned to offering free travel and even free houses to encourage people to visit and to help boost their economies.

The latest place on that list is Taiwan. The government is offering tourists 5,000 New Taiwan dollars (about $163 USD) per traveler or NT$20,000 (about $653 USD) for up to 90,000 tour groups.

According to The Points Guy , Chang Shi-chung, the director-general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said the money would be sent via a digital tourist card to ensure the funds go directly to Taiwan's tourism. Travelers will be able to use the cards for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses.

Taiwan is focusing on attracting more visitors from places like Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, Europe, and the U.S.

According to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau , it saw under 900,000 visitors in 2022 compared to a record 11.8 million international tourists in 2019 .

It's still unclear when and how Taiwan will start distributing the digital tourist cards, as the government hasn't yet released its plan.

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Love Exploring

Taiwan's Most Beautiful Sights, From Beaches to Temples

Posted: July 5, 2023 | Last updated: November 29, 2023

Beauty spot

Love River, Kaohsiung

Neidong National Forest, New Taipei City

Fengjia Night Market, Taichung

Daxi Flower Ocean Farm Ranch, Taoyuan

Zhaori Hot Springs, Green Island

Zhaori Hot Springs is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world – the other two are on Kyushu Island, Japan and in Sicily, Italy. Zhaori’s ideal water temperature simmers between 140°F to 158°F (60 ° C-70 ° C) and is fed by seawater and underground water heated by the volcanic lava on the island (Green Island is home to an active volcano). This seafront spa has three open-air pools and indoor options, but it’s worth heading here early to watch the sunrise which will undoubtedly set you up for the day. Regardless of when you visit, enjoy the views looking out towards the sea. 

Lukang Tianhou Temple, Changhua

Dedicated to the sea goddess Matsu (or Mazu), Lukang Tianhou Temple is an architectural beauty. This Grade 3 Historic Site features impressive detailing such as dragon pillars, roof bracketing and stone-carved windows. There’s also a statue of Matsu that was brought from Meizhou in Fujian (mainland China) during the Kangxi period between 1661-1722. Situated in the Lugang Township of Changhua, it’s without a doubt the area’s most popular temple.

Take a look at the world’s most beautiful temples

Chaojing Park, Keelung

Chaojing Park has a real rags-to-riches story – or should that be trash to riches? This 10,800-square-foot (1,000sqm) space was previously a landfill site but was rebuilt by the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology into the ecological haven visitors can enjoy today. There are bikeways, a fishing village and landscape sculptures with plenty of scenic spots in between. One of the most famed sculptures is a display of giant ‘sweeping’ or ‘flying’ brooms – perhaps a metaphor for the environmental clean-up the museum has achieved in the area.

Remains of Longteng Bridge, Miaoli County

The remains of Longteng Bridge are a strong reminder of the power of Mother Nature. When the bridge was first built in 1905, the workers used glutinous rice instead of cement to hold the bricks together. An earthquake in 1935 damaged the 164-foot-high (50m) bridge beyond repair and a second steel replacement was built beside it. The latter was then damaged too by a second earthquake in 1999. Still, at least there’s a silver lining: today it’s a popular tourist sight and wedding photography hot spot.

Fenqihu Scenic Area, Chiayi County

Train-lovers and nostalgia-fiends will enjoy this stop-off point on the idyllic Forest Railway Line. Fenqihu is evocative of the early 20th century when the railway was completed. Once a stop-off point for timber loggers, today the village centers around its old-fashioned street selling local foods, wooden clogs and other nostalgic souvenirs. Another nod to its yesteryear feel is its bento boxes – lunchboxes packed with an assortment of foodstuffs which were served to the workers – and this is the main reason most passengers stop off here.

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Cijin Island (or Qijin Island), Kaohsiung

It’s seafood galore on Cijin Island, just a short ferry ride from Kaohsiung’s harborfront. Head down Miaocian Road (aka Seafood Street) for the main selection of stalls and restaurants selling fish and seafood caught fresh each morning: take your pick of pink shrimp, small silver fish and brown-shelled clams displayed on beds of white ice. The island is also home to modern art installations that are worth photographing, as well as a very old temple and a black-sand beach. You may find yourself hoping to miss the last ferry back to the mainland… 

Penghu basalt, Penghu

It might not sound particularly thrilling, but Penghu’s basalt columns are one of the most striking natural sights in Taiwan. The Penghu archipelago is made up of 90 islands which mostly consist of basalt (or lava rock), so it’s no wonder Penghu is otherwise known as the Home of Basalt. The best one to see is the Daguoye column in Xiyu Township, where centuries of seawater and sea breezes have eroded the site into the unique structure that stands today. It looks even more impressive after a spout of heavy rainfall. 

Pinglin, New Taipei City

Jing Zhai Jiao Tile Paved Salt Fields, Tainan

Tainan has been a major supplier of premium sea salt for over 300 years with the Jing Zhai Jiao Tile Paved Salt Fields being the oldest in the Beimen district. While the site has since stopped producing salt, it stills operates as a thriving tourist spot where art resembling mosaics is made from the salt tiles. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan – be sure to visit this coastal site at sunset to capture a photograph like no other. 

Check out these incredible landscapes you won’t believe exist

Dulan Beach, Taitung

The stretch of coast between Dulan Beach and Jinzun Harbour is a surfer’s paradise. Dulan Beach is ideal for beginners while a little further along Jinzun Beach hosts the Taiwan Open of Surfing. In Dulan – a 15-minute walk from the beach – there’s a clutch of hipster galleries, noodle restaurants and hostels. Dulan Beach Road is the most self-explanatory route to follow where you’ll pass through farmland and orchards before you hit the coast with its pretty wildflowers and electric blue waters. 

Lotus Lake, Kaohsiung

Lotus Lake in Zuoying District is home to a number of breathtaking sights. There are the vivid Autumn and Spring pavilions which are dedicated to the God of War and Goddess of Mercy and a little further along are the equally garish Dragon and Tiger pagodas. The entrance into the pagodas is through the dragon’s mouth and the exit is out through the tiger’s mouth. This is seen to symbolize turning bad fortune into good. It’s best to visit Lotus Lake in the late afternoon as the sun begins to set against the water.

Taiping Suspension Bridge, Chiayi County

Afraid of heights? Then steer clear of Taiping Suspension Bridge. At 3,281 feet (1,000m) above sea level, this is the highest scenic bridge in Taiwan, spanning 922 feet (281m) between Taipingshan and Guishan. As you take in one of the most scenic spots in Taiwan, enjoy the birds-eye views of the Chiayi-Tainan Plain and the Taiwan Strait, as well as the iconic 36 hairpin road bends of Meishan. The best time to visit is in the evenings (6-10pm) when the bridge lights up a different color each day of the week. 

Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Taroko Gorge is what Hualien County is pretty much best known for. This natural wonder is located in Taroko National Park and was named after the indigenous Truku tribe. Its marble cliffs are carpeted in subtropical forests with emerald-colored rivers winding their way through. There are hundreds of bird and butterfly species that live in the crags and, thanks to its vast size, more than enough places to find a spot of quiet – the 1.24-mile-long (2km) Lushui Trail is a highlight.

Pier-2, Kaohsiung

Koxinga Shrine, Tainan

Tainan was the capital of Taiwan until the late 19th century, so undoubtedly there’s a lot of history in this former first city. After the Dutch colonized Taiwan in the 16th century, many Chinese people settled here, before the Dutch were expelled by Ming loyalist Koxinga. Today he’s honored at the Koxinga Shrine, which is designed in a traditional Fujian style – the only of its kind in Taiwan. Check out the adjacent Koxinga Museum for its exhibition about the history and local culture of Taiwan with day-to-day artifacts on display.

Nanwan, Pingtung County

Over in Hengun Township in Pingtung County is Nanwan, a beach that’s as popular as it is dreamy. Its spreads of pristine sand make it prime sunbathing and beach volleyball territory while manageable waves allow a range of watersports such as surfing, canoeing and jet skiing. In terms of when to visit, it gets pretty busy at weekends but if that’s your only option, stick to the quieter northern section of the beach, as the southern section gets rammed with watersports operators. 

These are the strangest things that have washed up on beaches

Ruifang, New Taipei City

Ruifang is a quirky little district. This was one of two places where tea was first introduced to Taiwan in the 18th century (the other was in Wenshan District, Taipei). It was also formerly home to three gold-mining towns: Shuinandong, Jinguashi and Jiufen, but today it’s better known for its laid-back, old-world feel. There are loads of cats too, which has earned it the charming moniker as Cat Village. Ruifang is also a popular stop-off point on the east coast line railway from New Taipei City down to Taitung.

Turtle Island, Yilan County

Off the east coast of Taiwan lies Guishan Island, a marine-protected site home to Taiwan’s only active volcano – the last eruption was in the 19th century. Surrounded by milky white waters, Turtle Island borrows its name from its vivid green, bumpy shape. The quirky island is also home to Guiwei Lake which is half-freshwater and half-saltwater – still, crabs manage to thrive in these unique waters. It's best to plan a visit in advance.

Da’an Forest Park, Taipei

Kenting Street, Pingtung County

While Kenting is a great seaside destination by day, come evening it reinvents itself with its night market along the main road, Kenting Street. Crowds cling to the streetside where bright tropical fruits, plump white dumplings, skewered seafood items and more are sold from competing market stalls. There’s also a number of international snacks and dishes too, from Italian to Indian. The best way to enjoy it all? Buy a few different foods, take a seat outside and feel the cool sea breeze wash over you as you capture the essence of Kenting. 

Wenwu Temple, Nantou County

Wenwu Temple sits on the northern shore of Sun Moon Lake and from the top affords blissful views overlooking the lake. The design follows a northern Chinese palace style with its imposing structure consisting of three individual halls. Two of the three are dedicated to gods while the third (the rear hall) is dedicated to Confucius. There are 366 steps that lead from the road up to the temple which are lined with wind chimes that perform a blessing function. The number represents the 365 days in the year with an extra day for the leap year. 

Alishan, Chiayi County

In the mist-covered mountains of Chiayi County lies Alishan, a tea plantation at an impressive altitude of 6,562 feet (2,000m) that produces floral-flavored Alishan oolong tea. The best time to visit is in the spring and fall months, when the tea is usually harvested. It’s also part of the delightful Alishan Forest Railway, where visitors board a bright-red locomotive that starts at Chiayi and zigzags its way up to Alishan. Whether you choose to ride the train or not, the picturesque landscape makes for a great photograph – both of the train itself or the views from it.

Thermal Valley, Taipei

Thermal Valley, situated on the northern fringes of Taipei, is one of the most breathtaking sights in Taiwan. Its steaming, turquoise waters give an ethereal feel but visitors should certainly take heed of its ‘Death Valley’ nickname. The waters are a sizzling 212 ° F (100 ° C) and the Beitou rocks – which can only be found in Taiwan and Japan – contain a radioactive element of radium. It’s best to stick to the wooden walkway that lines the valley, visit one of the public hot springs and admire the surrounding foliage.

Gaomei Wetlands, Taichung

South of Taichung City lies the Gaomei Wetlands with its 18 wind turbines that loom over the some 1,500-acre site. The best views are from the curving wooden boardwalk, or to truly connect with the site, wade through the ankle-deep waters. The wetlands sit at the mouth of the Dajia River and is home to a diverse ecology, with some 155 bird species living here including plovers, egrets, sandpipers and more. 

Yushan/Jade Mountain, Nantou County

Walk among the clouds at Jade Mountain (or Yushan), Taiwan’s highest peak at 13,000 feet (3,962m) above sea level. Hikers can follow a well-maintained trail that weaves through thickets of bamboo and cedar trees. The hike can be covered in two days with an overnight stay at Paiyun Lodge and it’s certainly worth the early start on the second morning to watch a captivating sunrise like no other. There’s all the more reason to celebrate when you see the marker stone at the top. 

Discover the secrets of the world’s most beautiful mountains

Pine Garden, Hualien County

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Taiwan reassesses tourism goals amid cross-strait travel challenges

Taiwan reevaluates tourism goals due to cross-strait challenges, may adjust target to 10 million if china maintains tourist ban..

Taiwan is reassessing its tourism goals in light of challenges in cross-strait travel, with Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui expressing concerns over a potential shortfall of 2 million foreign visitor arrivals this year, Central News Agency (CNA) reported. Chou indicated that if China persists in its ban on group tourist visits to Taiwan, the tourism target may need to be adjusted downward to 10 million. Full recovery to pre- COVID-19 levels of 12 million visitors is not expected until 2025, according to Chou's remarks to reporters.

Taiwan has urged China to exhibit "goodwill" in both tourism and political spheres, hinting that such gestures could prompt Taiwan to reconsider its own ban on tour groups traveling to China, which was slated to lift in June, according to CNA. Last month, Taiwan reversed its decision to lift the three-year ban on group tourists bound for China, citing hostility from Beijing and the lack of Chinese tourist groups visiting Taiwan. (Also read: Akasa Air begins international flights: Mumbai-Doha route inaugurated, more destinations planned )

Despite the setbacks, Taiwan has seen a significant recovery in tourism, with nearly 1.9 million visitors recorded as of March 15, representing an 85 percent rebound compared to the same pre-pandemic period in 2019. Notably, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau remain the top destinations for visitors to Taiwan.

Chou also announced plans to expand the Taiwan Pass, originally designed for foreign visitors, to include local tourists. This pass, priced at New Taiwan dollar 2,500 (USD80), offers three days of unlimited travel on the country's high-speed rail network, selected metro lines, and tour bus services. Additionally, cruise liner services will be incorporated into the pass. The pass is slated for launch on June 1, although the final price has yet to be determined, according to Chou, CNA reported.

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