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6 Top Attractions of North Taiwan | Taiwan Travel Guide

Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Christine Kaaloa

Before I went to Taiwan, I saw a Taiwan travel brochure of the striking natural sights of North Taiwan ( Northeastern to be exact) and I knew I had to visit. I’m sucker for landscapes with wow -factor. 

Table of Contents: 6 Top Attractions of North Taiwan | Taiwan Travel Guide

• 1.1 1. Bitou Cape
• 1.2 2. Nanya Rock Formations
• 1.3 3. Yin & Yang Sea
• 1.4 4. The Gold  Museum in Jinguashi
• 1.5 5. The Golden Waterfall
• 1.6 6. Juifen
• 2.1 Budget Tours
• 2.2 Trains & Buses
• 3.1 What would you recommend as top attractions of North Taiwan?
• 3.2 Watch my “How I travel Taiwan” YouTube playlist

6 Top Attractions of North Taiwan

Who knew Taiwan could have so many beautiful wonders?  If you were planning a trip there, here’s a short travel guide on Taiwan and the six top attractions of Northern Taiwan.

Unfortunately it was a rainy and windy day when I went, but I didn’t let that hold me back.

1. Bitou Cape

 Bitou means “nose tip” and is named so because  Bitou Cape sits at the Northern most part of Taiwan. I wish the sun were out because this was a really gorgeous seascape. Nearby is the Beitou fishing village and a very ornate temple dedicated to the Sea God named Maju.

2. Nanya Rock Formations

Not far up are the Nanya Rock Formations . The site is unmissable as the rocks are all sea eroded and create interesting and alien formations. The shapes are all the effect of wind, rain, ocean, storm slapping against the sandstone rocks.

3. Yin & Yang Sea

Next to the main line highway is the beautiful two-toned Yin and Yang Sea.   Two different colors.  It’s the result of the pollution, ironically. This is due to the copper mines up above in the neighboring village.  In the past, pollution or the run-off of metals, ran into the ocean and kind of oxidized the sea. Even though the copper plant is no longer you know working, the sea is still two colors.

4. The Gold  Museum in Jinguashi

The town of Jinguashi is known as the gold-mining town. So  visiting the New Taipei City Gold Museum was a must.  They used to mine copper and gold in this area. There’s a tunnel and a gold panning activity you can indulge in. Or you can just roam the large estate and browse the museum’s exhibitions of Jinguashi gold history and some of its rare gold artwork. The Jinguashi mining history can get a little dark as it’s said that over 1100 POWS were brought during WWII from Southeast Asia to work in the mines and do the jobs that the Taiwanese and Japanese didn’t want to do.

The museum grounds overlooks the  Cyuanji Temple (勸濟堂), where a 25 ton gold painted copper statue of the god Guan Gong sits overseeing the town of Jinguashi.

Hours: 9:30a-5p weekdays; 9:30a – 6p weekends/holidays.  Closed first Monday of every month, Chinese New Years, Chinese New Year’s Eve.  Admission & 40 minute Guided Tours: Free  

5. The Golden Waterfall

Not too far from Jinguashi is the Golden waterfall, created by natural rainfall. Absolutely breath-taking, isn’t it?  The water from this rainfall runs into the yin yang sea helping it to have colors that are two toned.

Juifen is a traditional folk village and an absolute must on the tourist stop. It’s a traditional Taiwanese village that’s grown popular due to its wealth of Taiwanese foods and interesting snacks. This is a haven for serious foodies.  The winding and crowded streets are dotted with food vendors, shops and restaurants. Some shops pass out food samples while others prepare food before your eyes. It’s hard to keep your tongue in your mouth and money in your wallet.  (The only reason I was able to do so was because I forgot a large sum of my money back at my friend’s apartment.)

The town has some crafts work and artisans as well. It houses an old theater and an odd museum and Sculptor Wu’s Ghost Mask Museum. It’s said that the sculptor of the latter, crafted his masks from bad dreams. I guess that’s one way of expelling one’s ghost demons.

But overall, Juifen is a Taiwanese snackers delight. From ice cream sandwiches, peanut ice cream burritos, flour noodles and jerkies, it’s got something for every tastebud.

 Getting Around

Sightseeing Northeastern Taiwan makes a great day or overnight trip. You can take a day tour or if you want to do a self-guided tour, you can take a train or bus from Taipei to Jinguashi. Then either continue with the bus or hire a taxi to take you around. All of these sites are relatively close to each other give or take 15 minutes.

Budget Tours

Truthfully, this trip can be undertaken only partially by bus, so to see all of these point (and possibly more) the best bet is to either take a Juifen  & Northeast Coast day tour or take a taxi or private car to Juifen . Although I normally opt for public transportation,  I found a day trip can be equally inexpensive in Taiwan and I’d like get to see additional sites I really wanted to see, like Bitou Cape and Nanya Rock Formations. So I took a budget tour through a Taiwanese company   (Best Travel International (02)8973-2973 ) . It was recommended through a  Taiwan Tourism brochure. Cost:  $1,000 NT for 8 hours.  Truthfully, I didn’t feel like battling the elements with all my equipment and the weather that week was already soggy. I traveled in a minivan with Chinese tourists. The bus driver was the tour guide; he only spoke Chinese. I got an English iPad with the sights loaded in video and written form, so I could read up on each sight before I got there. It wasn’t a perfect situation, but it got me to the spots I needed.

Payment felt a little shady initially. It’s all conducted via WeChat app , including payment using a credit card. No emailing.   I had to look at the brochure a lot to double-check if it was really written by the Taiwan Tourism Board.

My better suggestion is to check out the tours below:

Trains & Buses

From Taipei to Jinguashi or Juifen: 

By Train from Taipei to Jinguashi: Take the Eastern Main Line from Taipei towards Yilan, Hualian direction and change at Ruifang for the bus #1062 or #788.. Head to Jinguashi from Keelung Bus Company at Wellcome Supermarket opposite of the station during weekdays.  For weekends and holidays, take bus #1062, 788 or 825 at the Land Office next tot he Police Station at Jinguashi.

By Bus from Taipei to Juifen:   Take bus #1062 at Exit 1 of Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Statino via Juifen (and get off at Jinguashi along the way).

The bus between Jinguashi and Juifen:  Bus #788

Book your Taiwan trip tickets in advance. I used 12GoAsia to book transportation for my Thailand trip.

Accommodations

If you didn’t want to wrestle with day trip schedules and stress, tourist sometimes opt to stay in Juifen. Here’s some accommodation options here .

What would you recommend as top attractions of North Taiwan?

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Northern Taiwan

• 2 Cities and towns
• 3 Other destinations
• 4 Understand
• 6 Get around

Northern Taiwan , as its name suggests, is the northmost region of Taiwan . It is the political and financial centre of Taiwan. It is also the country's main hub of technological development. Though it is not as scenic as the other regions of Taiwan, it is the most frequently visited region by travellers. The country's capital, Taipei , is also located here.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities and towns [ edit ]

• 25.0375 121.5625 1 Taipei – The political and economic centre of Taipei. This is the most common destination for tourists.
• 24.663889 121.068056 2 Beipu – A smaller historic town in Hsinchu County with a strong Hakka character.
• 24.83333 121 3 Chupei – The administrative capital of Hsinchu County.
• 24.804722 120.971389 4 Hsinchu – The centre of Taiwan's high-tech industry.
• 25.12825 121.7419 5 Keelung – The main port city for the north of Taiwan.
• 25.011111 121.445833 6 New Taipei – A basket of all the smaller satellite towns that surround Taipei City which were combined into one administrative district.
• 24.991278 121.314328 7 Taoyuan – A more local city which houses Taiwan's major international airport. Not so much for tourists to see and most people move swiftly on to Taipei.
• 24.956 121.355 8 Yingge – A small town south of Taipei which has an abundance of pottery workshops.
• 24.612833 121.296222 9 Zhenxibao (鎮西堡) – A village in the mountains with peach farms and giant cypress trees.

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 25.1775 121.5475 1 Yangmingshan National Park – The mountainous area north of Taipei City.
• 24.414722 121.287222 2 Shei-pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) – A beautiful park spanning a mountain range.
• 24.5776 121.3326 3 Smangus (司馬庫斯) – A remote area inhabited by an aboriginal tribe and famous for its ancient cypress trees.
• 24.736611 121.091578 10 Chutung ( Zhudong ) – A small, somewhat run-down town that boasts mountain views.
• 25.107 121.843 11 Jiufen – A quaint little hillside town that has a very unique character.
• 25.116667 121.85 12 Jinguashi – A small scenic town in the mountains that was once famous for gold mining.
• 24.705833 121.181111 13 Neiwan – In vogue with city dwellers, and hiking trails into the Valentine Valley.
• 24.3458 121.308 14 Wuling Farm

Understand [ edit ]

Get in [ edit ].

The main international gateway to Taiwan is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in, obviously, Taoyuan. Taipei Shongshan Airport is another option for domestic and regional flights, especially for people coming in from Eastern Taiwan and the PRC.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) is the main link to the rest to Central and Southern Taiwan , with stops in the major cities. Other rail services can be better for getting to and/or from less well known areas, or for saving money.

Get around [ edit ]

THSR and regular trains serve the region with a comprehensive network.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

Eat [ edit ]

Drink [ edit ], go next [ edit ].

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"Northern Taiwan" refers to the following seven counties and cities: Taipei City, New Taipei City, Keelung City, Yilan County, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City. You may enjoy a bird's-eye-view of the capital from Taipei 101, the Taiwan's tallest building, go to National Palace Museum for appreciating historic objects, or take a walk on old streets in Jiufen, Tamsui, Yingge and Sanxia to immerse in old-time charm.

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Things to do on Taiwan’s North Coast

An Insider’s Guide to New Taipei City – North Coast Districts

The North Coast of New Taipei is known for its dramatic landscapes, geological wonders, coastal cliffs, fine sand beaches, and, of course, being a hot spot for ocean recreation. 

The beautiful Northern Coastal Highway (Provincial Highway No. 2) runs the length of the North Coast from New Taipei to Yilan and offers enough unbeatable views for an entire day. As it travels along the coast, the highway passes countless attractions including: numerous coastal rock formations, a handful of pristine white sandy beaches (some more secluded than others), quaint fishing ports, and several easy-to-moderate hiking trails.    

The North Coast of Taiwan can be done as a day trip, and it can be combined with a trip through the Ruifang District just a little bit inland. Depending on your time constraints we offer North Coast day tours and North Coast half-day tours , both of which include a stop at the famous mountain town of Jiufen. 

Continue reading for a list of the best beaches, seaside rock formations and watersports destinations (including snorkeling, diving and stand-up paddleboarding) on the North Coast.

For a more in-depth experience, please contact us with a list of your must-visit destinations and allow us to craft a customized private tour of New Taipei for you.

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• Destinations
• Asia pacific
• Northern taiwan

Northern Taiwan travel guide

Northern Taiwan is the upper terminus of the soaring central mountains that bisect the long, narrow island. Highlights here range from the country's capital, Taipei, to the peaks and trails of Yangmingshan National Park.

Taipei is Taiwan’s largest city , its capital, and its economic and cultural heart. The sights and traffic in Taipei monopolize most of a traveler’s time in northern Taiwan, but traveling beyond the city will offer another side of life on the island. Close to the capital can be found a surprising mix of attractions, from displays of aboriginal culture and fascinating cave temples to a ceramics town filled with kilns and shops.

Northern Taiwan's attractions

The nearby port of Tamsui is home to a fort and other remnants of the island’s modern colonial history, superb seafood dining, the timeless rhythms of an old port, boardwalk strolling, riverside bicycling, and silky red sunsets.

Yangmingshan National Park is often referred to as metropolitan Taipei’s "backyard garden," a place of endless natural adventure that offers a network of hiking trails, steaming fumaroles, hot springs, birdwatching, and landscaped gardens. 

The north coast is characterized by bathing beaches, unusual rock formations, and the occasional temple and museum, while its only city is home to possibly the best night market in Taiwan. 

The nostalgic town of Jiufen is just the start of the attractions along the northeast coast, an area with impressive waterfalls, fine beaches, hot springs, and peaceful countryside. 

Places to visit in Northern Taiwan

Taipei, the taiwanese capital.

The booming, vibrant capital is a cosmopolitan city that nevertheless remains steeped in native Taiwanese, Chinese, and Japanese cultural elements – a compelling combination for visitors. Read more...

Yangmingshan National Park's hills and hot springs 

www.ymsnp.gov.tw

The Yangmingshan National Park takes up the upper section of the Yangmingshan massif and includes its crowning Yangming Park, along with Datun Nature Park and a host of other natural features. Yangmingshan is far more than just a pleasant park with landscaped walks sitting at the summits of Taipei’s most famous nearby peaks, and it’s worth making the time to visit it. 

Comprising the westernmost peaks of the Datun Mountain Range, Yangmingshan came into existence through volcanic activity around 2 million years ago. The lingering evidence of the mountains’ volcanic origins is one of the chief draws for Taipei residents today, especially in winter, when they flock to Yangmingshan’s many hot-spring resorts.

Jiufen for nostalgia and teahouses

Jiufen is an arts and crafts mountain retreat overlooking the sea that began life as a gold-rush town. The town first captured urban Taiwan’s attention when it was featured in a television advertisement in the 1980s. Moviemakers also had their eye on the place, with its picturesque laddered streets and antique homes, at around the same time. 

Today, the chief attraction is its narrow streets lined with teahouses, souvenir shops, and snack sellers. A popular retreat for artists, it is also a good place to buy pottery.

Wulai, for learning about tribal minorities

Wulai is popular for its Atayal aboriginal performances and hot springs. Wulai Aboriginal Culture Village has performances of the traditional songs and symbolic dances of the Atayal and other tribes four times a day. Traditional tribal arts and crafts, wild mountain mushrooms, Taiwan-grown Chinese herbs, and souvenirs are available in stores, and restaurants offer exotic fare like snake and freshwater eel and, intermittently, wild boar and deer. 

A cable car carries visitors from the indigenous-theme tourist section across the gorge and by spectacular Wulai Waterfall (Wulai Pubu) to a plateau and Yun Hsien Resort, which has additional ethnic performances, a pond for rowing and fishing, a small amusement and exercise park, and more. During the winter, Wulai is favored for its outdoor hot springs. 

Jinguashi's gold mines

In a narrow valley opening to the sea just behind Jiufen, on Mt Keelung’s south side, is sleepy Jinguashi. The Gold Ecological Park (Huangjin Bowuyuanqu), a history buff’s delight, has sites spread along the valley, which is filled with closed-down mines first opened long ago by the Japanese.

Visitors take in old Japanese-built heritage buildings, including renovated wood-built dormitory residences for high-level staff and the Crown Prince Chalet, built in 1922 for a visit by future Emperor Hirohito. A mine-tunnel experience is offered in Benshan Fifth Tunnel, and visitors can touch the world’s largest gold nugget in the Gold Building museum, as well as enjoy a gold-panning experience. Vestiges of the infamous World War II Kinkaseki POW camp, where Allied soldiers were forced to work the mines, can also be seen.

From Taipei 101 tower views to Taiwanese street food at the Shilin Night Market, discover the highlights of Taipei...

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Taiwan remains largely undiscovered and seriously underrated by Western travellers, but those that make it here are in for a real treat. In the 1990s Taiwan became the first true Chinese democracy, developing a sense of civil society bewildering to its giant neighbour across the Taiwan Strait. Since then, popular culture has blossomed on the island, an eclectic mix of Chinese, Western, Japanese and indigenous influences. It has sensational food, traditional Chinese and aboriginal festivals and exuberant temples, yet the biggest surprise is Taiwan’s hinterland: think towering mountains, eight national parks, a selection of alluring offshore islands and numerous hot-spring resorts.

Where to go in Taiwan

Betel nut beauty, hot springs, tailor-made travel itineraries for taiwan, created by local experts.

11 days  / from 1950 USD

Nature's adventure in Taiwan

Taiwan was formerly known as Ilha Formosa - "beautiful island" and it's easy to see why: lush rivers, tropical forest, and imposing sea cliffs, this itinerary focuses on Taiwan's nature. Start in cosmopolitan Taipei before heading to Taroko National Park, coastal Hualien and finally Sun Moon Lake.

11 days  / from 2541 USD

Treasures of Taiwan

Explore Taiwan's diverse culture and fascinating landscapes in this itinerary covering the whole island. Starting in Taipei you will move on to Sun Moon Lake before heading to Alishan. Discover monasteries and national parks on the Southwest coast before heading back to Taipei.

5 days  / from 1100 USD

The Essentials of Taiwan

Looking for a compact Taiwan itinerary? Look no further. In just under a week, this itinerary allows you to explore Taipei and nearby national parks. Expect waterfalls, panoramic walking trails and thermal springs, all while enjoying the amazing food scene, a blend of Chinese & Japanese cuisines.

Taiwan’s perception problem stems in part from its astonishing economic success. The Taiwan Miracle , the island’s transformation into one of the world’s richest countries in less than fifty years, created images of endless manufacturing plants and overcrowded cities. The long struggle to establish a distinct political and cultural identity in the shadow of its big brother on the mainland hasn’t helped – for years its rulers insisted that Taiwan was the “real China”. Not any more: Taiwan has preserved much of the civilization and many of the traditions lost on the mainland, but while its political future remains uncertain, Taiwan has developed a dynamic culture all of its own.

One of the most endearing things about the island is the overwhelming friendliness of its people – Taiwan is one of the most welcoming countries in the world, and you are bound to encounter numerous acts of generosity or kindness throughout your travels, whether it’s a taxi driver rounding down a fare, a stranger helping with directions or a family providing a bed for the night. Eating in Taiwan comes a close second, with a vast array of Chinese food and local delicacies on offer. Travelling around the island is relatively straightforward, though the lack of English can make things a challenge at times, particularly as most timetables tend to be displayed solely in Chinese. Taiwan is a relatively rich country compared to China or southeast Asia, but prices are generally lower than in most other developed nations, and the willingness of almost everyone you meet to help means it’s almost impossible to get stuck.

Most visits to Taiwan begin in Taipei, the capital and largest city, home to Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum and some of the island’s best restaurants, bars and night markets. It’s also surrounded by a host of worthy day-trips including the cable car to the teahouses of Maokong, the hot springs at Beitou and the volcanic peaks of Yangmingshan National Park. The storm-battered North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area is a short ride away, as is the wonderful night market in Keelung, the intriguing Pingxi Branch Line Railway and picturesque Shifen Falls. Nearby, the old mining towns of Jinguashi and Jiufen are deservedly popular for their historic streets and teahouses, while the Northeast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area contains some of the most rugged coastline on the island. Southwest of Taipei, Hsinchu makes an excellent base for trips to Hakka country, the primary home of Taiwan’s small but influential Hakka minority, while Shei-Pa National Park provides an opportunity to tackle some of Taiwan’s largest and most memorable peaks. Nearby, Taian Hot Springs is perhaps the island’s most alluring hot-spring resort.

Central Taiwan is home to some spectacular scenery, though it pays to spend a couple of days in vibrant Taichung, renowned for its teahouses and lively nightlife. Not far from the city, Changhua is noted principally for its Great Buddha Statue, and atmospheric Lugang is celebrated for its craftsmen and classical architecture. East of Taichung, picture-perfect Sun Moon Lake makes a fitting introduction to Taiwan’s mighty central ranges, a place for languid lakeside walks and gorgeous views. Just outside Puli, to the north of the lake, Chung Tai Chan Monastery is a man-made wonder, a remarkable blend of modern architecture and Zen Buddhism. Heading south, Chiayi provides a staging post for the cool valleys and Tsou villages of the Alishan National Scenic Area. Beyond this lies Yushan National Park and the scintillating hike up Taiwan’s highest mountain, commanding awe-inspiring, cloud-capped vistas.

South Taiwan is the most traditional part of the island, with Tainan making the obvious introduction to the region, a modern city crammed with historic sights, particularly temples, complemented by superb food. Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second city and an earthy counterweight to Taipei, its smattering of sights enhanced by a growing number of parks, outdoor cafés and bars. Nearby is the elegant monastery at Foguangshan, while the dramatic Southern Cross-Island Highway heads east across the mountains to Taitung, slicing through the northern end of Maolin National Scenic Area, rich in Paiwan and Rukai culture. The southern tip of Taiwan is dominated by Kenting National Park, with its popular beaches and surf spots.

The east coast is a world apart, isolated from the rest of Taiwan until very recently and still home to the greatest concentration of its indigenous tribes. Most visitors make for Taroko National Park, with spectacular Taroko Gorge at its heart, in parts an incredibly narrow gap between lofty walls of stone. Hualien is the largest settlement on the east coast and makes the ideal gateway to Taroko, with plenty of opportunities to buy its famous marble, tasty dumplings and sweet-filled rice cakes. From here there are two routes south: the East Rift Valley is noted for its hot springs and rafting on the Xiuguluan River, while the coastal road twists past isolated beaches and Ami villages. Both end up at the laid-back town of Taitung, location of the National Museum of Prehistory and base for trips to Ludao (Green Island) with its exceptional outdoor springs.

Taiwan’s offshore islands have their own distinctive cultures and histories. Penghu, in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, is an archipelago of magnificent beaches, old temples and crumbling fishing villages, a haven for windsurfing and other watersports. Just off the coast of China’s Fujian province, the Matsu Islands provide a rare taster of traditional northern Fujian culture, as well as Taiwan’s recent military history. The theme is continued on Kinmen, literally within sight of the now booming mainland city of Xiamen and rapidly remodelling itself as an open-air museum.

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Discover more places in Taiwan

• Taipei and around Travel Guide
• The Taiwan Strait Islands Travel Guide

Betel nut , the seed of the Betel Palm ( Areca catechu ), has almost iconic status in Taiwan, where chewing it is often viewed as stereotypically Hoklo or Taiwanese behaviour. It’s also big business: some estimates claim the industry nets annual revenue of around NT$20bn. In Taiwan it’s particularly popular with truck drivers, who prefer its stimulating effects to coffee: the nut is wrapped in areca leaf, topped with slaked lime paste and chewed without swallowing. Its most celebrated by-product is the betel nut beauty ( bīnláng xīshī ), scantily clad girls hired to sell the nuts from glass-encased booths on roadsides all over the island. More ominously, betel nut is a known carcinogen : Taiwan has one of the highest rates of mouth and throat cancer in Asia, primarily as a result of chewing the nut.

With over 150 locations scattered all over the island, Taiwan has the world’s second highest concentration of hot springs after Japan – many were developed commercially during the Japanese occupation and offer the same quality, scenery and therapeutic effects at a fraction of the cost. Many of the most famous springs are piped directly into hotel rooms and spa pools, where you can sample the waters via public baths or private tubs, but there are still places, usually in the mountains, where springs gush naturally from rocks or rivers and can be experienced for free. It’s important to acquaint yourself with hot-spring etiquette before having a dip: unless the pools are mixed sex, you’re expected to be naked, and you should shower before getting in.

Travel advice for Taiwan

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Taiwan

• Eating and drinking in Taiwan
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Taiwan
• Culture and Etiquette in Taiwan
• How to get to Taiwan
• Getting around Taiwan: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Taiwan for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Taiwan

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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.

Note: Taroko Gorge is expected to remain closed for one year after the April 2024 Hualien Earthquake. You can see visit the region, though – here’s my list of things to do in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge .

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 .

2024 Update: Taroko Gorge is expected to remain closed for 1 year following the 2024 Hualien Earthquake. See my guide to other things to do in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge .

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!

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46 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!

Really relied on your info to plan 8 day trip with a kid. Super helpful. As you have said, sun moon was way too crowded due to holidays as was Yehliu Geopark. Our highlights were – dolphins by Turtle island, Yangmingshan, buffaloes at Qingtiangang Grassland, Zhang Mei Ama’s farm, Neidong National Forest (mini train and a gondola) and lastly HSU’s Noodle (combined with Thousand island lake). There’s so much more to see though. Shame about Taroko National Park – we were on our way there when the earthquake hit. Hopefully they recover ! Thanks again.

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Asia , Outdoor Guides , Taiwan · June 28, 2020

North Coast Taiwan: A Fulfilling Taipei Day Trip

North coast Taiwan is jam-packed with hidden gems, cute seaside villages, and some of the most beautiful places in  Taiwan . The best part, you don’t have to venture far to escape the crowds of Taipei and find beautiful waterfalls, rice terraces, stunning hiking trails, and great food! 

In this Taipei day trip guide, I’ll cover 4 Taipei hidden gems, which you probably didn’t even know existed! I’v e also included some tips to help you plan the perfect Taipei one day trip and discover the best of Taiwan north coast.

Ready to discover the best things to do on Taiwan’s north coast and see some of the most beautiful places near Taipei? Let’s go!

Disclaimer: This post probably contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links, I might receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Things to know before visiting the North Coast of Taiwan

Before visiting these hidden gems on the northern coast of Taiwan, read my  Taipei first timer’s guide .

For more ideas on what to do in Taipei, also read my  5 days travel itinerary , best day trips guide  and check out these   fun things to do . 

Here are a few tips to help you plan your north coast Taiwan tour: 

• Taiwan has a subtropical climate. Expect pleasant temperatures during spring (March-May) and autumn (Sept-Nov) . W inter (Dec-Feb) is cold but bearable, and summer (Jun-Aug) is hot and humid. 
• If you’re visiting any of these Taipei hidden gems during summer, make sure to stay hydrated. It’s also a good idea to pack sunscreen , a hat, a travel umbrella , and bug spray when hiking in Taiwan. 
• Since most of these places covered in this Taipei one day trip are quite hard to reach, planning is vital. If you do not have your own set of wheels, the best way to access these Taipei hidden gems is on a Taipei day tour or even a private tour. By joining a tour, you’ll get a chance to experience the north coast’s beauty without having to plan out a trip.

In a rush? Pin this Taipei day trip guide for later.

Taipei One Day Trip: Hidden Gems of North Coast Taiwan

Qingshan falls.

Kick-off your Taiwan tour with a visit to one of the most beautiful waterfalls near Taipei – Qingshan Waterfall! This 30m-high waterfall is neatly tucked away in Yangmingshan National Park and located n ear Shimen District in New Taipei City. 

While it is quite a trek to get to this secret waterfall, you’ll be completely immersed in nature. The trail runs under a thick jungle canopy, which really helps if you’re visiting during summer. Along the way, you’ll need to scramble over rocks and rugged terrain. Nonetheless, there are plenty of places to take a breather, dip your toes in the river stream, and enjoy the tranquility and breathtaking views. 

Hiking Qingshan Falls Trail shouldn’t take m ore than 40 minutes to complete . And, once you reach the waterfall, the effort will be totally worth it!

Since Qingsgan Falls is a lesser-known Taipei waterfall, it’s a great place to get away from the c rowds . Make sure to read my super detailed  Qingshan Falls guide  for more tips. I’ve included lots of information — from what to pack, how to get there, and much more. Oh, and travel tip — don’t forget your swimsuit! 

Shimen Rice Terraces

While most travelers to Shimen head out to see Laomei Green Reef during April and May, few visitors know about the breathtaking Shimen Rice Terraces a short drive from here. 

The terrace dates back nearly 100 years and was hand-built by local farmers using volcanic rocks from the area. It’s a great place to take photos of lush rice paddies and the mountains create a beautiful backdrop. 

Jinshan Old Street

Jinshan Old Street (formerly known as Jinbaoli Old Street) is full of history and some of the best eats on Taiwan’s north coast. As one of the last remaining old streets from the Qing Dynasty, it has a rich history dating back over 300 years.

Today, Jinshan Old street is still a bustling place and draws crowds from near and far. It’s a great place to take a gentle stroll, marvel at the architecture, pop by temples, and of course, sample the fantastic street food.

Jinshan Old Street is famous for its tasty local snacks, fresh produce, and seafood. There are lots to try, so come hungry! Some of the most popular snacks to try include Jinbaoli duck meat, one-bite pastries, and s weet potatoes. That said, no visit to Jinshan Old Street would be complete without sampling taro cakes, pickled goods, handmade egg rolls, and caramelized yams.

Despite only being a few hundred meters long, one could easily spend 1-2 hours here, sampling different local dishes, taking photos, and watching people come and go.

Nanzilin Hiking Trail

If you’re looking for breathtaking views of mountains and sea, it doesn’t get much better than the Nanzilin Hiking Trail. Located next to the tiny fishing village, Nanya, the Nanzilin Hiking Trail is a short hike, but a tough one. It’s a popular spot among sunrise and sunset chasers and undoubtedly one of the most stunning walks along the north coast of Taiwan. 

The trail is less than 1km long, but since it’s a steep climb, expect to break a sweat. First, you’ll need to climb several flights of wooden stairs. Once you reach the end of the staircase, the trail mostly consists of stones and a dirt path. From here, the trail continues uphill. There’s not much shade along the way, so don’t forget to bring a hat, umbrella, and water! 

There is a cute pavilion half-way up the trail where you can take a breather and marvel at the panoramic views below. Continuing from here, it’s the final push to reach the mountain top. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a bird’s-eye view of Nanya fishing village, Bitou Cape, Teapot Mountain, and Keelung Mountain. The vistas are mind-blowing – but judge for yourself by the photos included! 

Tackling this trail is best done in the early morning or late in the afternoon. If you happen to visit during autumn or winter, y ou’ll get to see beautiful fields of silver grass swaying in the wind.  

To find the trailhead make your way along the small road that runs past Nanxin Temple. There are clear signs in English and Chinese guiding the way, so don’t worry about getting lost. 

North Coast Taiwan Hidden Gems Conclusion

Whether you’re a local or just landed, Taiwan’s north coast is full of hidden treasures. While these are only a few of Taipei’s hidden gems, I hope this guide w ill come in handy when planning out your Taipei day trip.

That wraps up this Taipei day trip to the north coast of Taiwan. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below. 

Liked this guide on hidden gems along the Taiwan north coast? Maybe your friends will too. Share it with them here.

Disclosure:  Even though I visited these Taipei hidden gems with  Justaiwantour , all thoughts and opinions are my own. For more details on Taiwan tour packages, check out their website . 

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Best Trips from Taipei: Guide to Taiwan’s Northeast Coast

If you have visited Taiwan, you probably have spent a number of days in Taipei City and enjoyed a few day trips to popular places like Jiufen, Jinguashi, and Pingxi. Other than these three well-trodden destinations, there are more to discover outside the city.

This guide introduces secret spots in Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area 東北角暨宜蘭海岸國家風景區 that are usually not in the radar of international travellers. Find out how you can plan day or even multi-day trips to explore the northeast coast of Taiwan and experience fun outdoors activities like scuba diving and hiking. Bookmark this guide for your next trip to Taiwan!

Table of Contents

Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area

Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area is located in the northeast region of Taiwan. Just a short trip from Taipei City, you will enter this massive area that starts from the Nanya District in New Taipei City and follows the coastline and mountains to the southern cape in Suao Township.  

Here you will enjoy spectacular views of dynamic mountains, cliffs and unique landforms crafted by nature along the coastlines. While Jiufen, Jinguashi, and Pingxi railway line are hotspots in the scenic area, there are many other attractions to tempt you to slow down and spend more time exploring the region. Check out this guide for a list of recommended spots and activities for your next trip to Taiwan!

How to get to the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area?

Transportation

Train : Take any north line train heading for Yilan, Hualien, or Taitung and get off at the local train stations like Fulong, Toucheng or even Suao stations.

Bus : There are a number of bus services you can take.

a.   Kuo-kuang Bus : The Taipei-Luodong Line (about 1 hour 40 minutes each way). The bus rides are comfortable and convenient. I took the bus back to Taipei after I ended my day trip in Luodong night market.

b.   Taiwan Tourist Shuttle: There are two bus routes that you can take to visit various locations. Check out Green 19 Yilan and Northeast Coast route and 856 Gold Fulong shuttle bus. If you like more convenience, you can book shared private bus transfer this like on Klook .

Car : If you like to do a self-drive trip, you will enjoy the freedom of exploring the vast area. Highway 7 (the North Cross-Island Highaway) is very scenic while Freeway 5 is the quickest way to drive from northwest Taiwan to Yilan County. Check out Klook car rental deals here ! Get 10% with this code US10NEW.

Scooter : You can also rent scooters and drive around the area. Check out Klook scooter rental deals here !

Where to visit in the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area?

Old caoling loop line bicycle path.

For cycling and history enthusiasts, experience riding the Old Caoling bicycle trail 舊草嶺隧道 on a day trip from Taipei. After a short train ride from Taipei, you will arrive in Fulong train station. Rent a bicycle from the bicycle shops near the train station and pedal towards the Old Caoling tunnel to start your 20-km bicycle tour.

The Old Caoling Tunnel was built in 1924 during the Japanese colonial period and it was the longest railway tunnel in Taiwan at the time of construction. The tunnel used to connect Fulong and Shichang and it crossed New Taipei City and Yilan County.

It is thrilling to cycle through the 2,167 metres tunnel and imagine that trains used to rumble through the same railway tracks many years ago. After a nostalgic ride through the tunnel, you can continue the rest of the cycling trail that will bring you along picturesque coastlines and through fishing villages. Your relaxing ride will end back in Fulong train station. Here’s some useful maps!

If you like to exercise more, you can head northwards and ride to Fulong beach and on the Longmen-Yanliao bikeway.

Fulong Beach and Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival

Fulong Beach (福隆海水浴場) is nicknamed “gold coast of Taiwan” for its sandy shores. When the weather is warm in summer, locals flock to the beach for marine activities like sailing, kayaking, surfing and even seaside yoga.

Every year, the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival (福隆沙雕藝術季) is held here over a few months. Sand artists from all over the world create awe-sinspiring sand sculptures based on the theme. There are many fun activities at the festival for all ages.

Nanya Rocks

In the most northernmost part of the scenic area, you can access the Nanya Geological Hiking Trail and see the Nanya rocks (南雅奇石). The area is well known for its unique landscape, natural rock formations and sea-eroded shores crafted by the forces of nature.

The majestic rock sculptures decorating the coastlines have been given adorable names like Ice Cream Rock, Bamboo Shoot Rock, and Fur Seal Rock by the locals. This hidden spot offers breath taking views away from the crowds that usually flock to Yehliu Geopark.

Soak in the grandeur of nature during your hike. Photo taking tip: The sunrise and sunset here are incredible!

Turtle Island

Turtle Island 龜山島 is a volcanic island that looks like a cute turtle resting in the ocean. Ferries in Wushi Harbor 烏石漁港 in Toucheng bring visitors to this island. The island is protected for its wealth of ecological resources and all visitors must apply for permission to visit the island and be accompanied by professional guides.

This small but mighty island has active hot springs, cliffs, caves, and many more natural resources for an educational tour. Climb about 1,700 steps to the 401 lookout point to enjoy panoramic scenery of the landscape and surrounding ocean.

If you encounter the right weather conditions, you can see sulphur smoke on the island and some interesting phenomena that the locals have described as “divine turtle puts on a hat”, “turtle faces the sunrise” and even “smart turtle wags its tail”.

If you visit in the months from April to September, you can join whale and dolphin-watching tours and meet different species of dolphins and whales swimming near the island.

How to get to Turtle Island?

You have to apply for permission in advance to visit the island and the easiest way is to book a guided tour with tour operators who are licensed to take tourists the island or via travel website that lists these tours (like Klook where you can book Turtle Island tour like this ). Sometimes hotels in the area can help you to book a tour or you can book directly with tour operators in Taiwan. Most tours include ferry rides to and back from the island, guided tour around the island, and whale/dolphin watching activities.

The starting tour of the tour is from Wushi Harbor 烏石漁港 to take the ferry to the island. Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area provides more information on how to get to Wushi Harbor.

Check out this informative video guide to the island!

I am quite new to the Northeast Coast area so I am so happy to invite two friends who are based in Bitou Cape Fishing Village to share travel itineraries for first-time visitors who are interested in outdoor activities.

Itinerary by Grace Yu, Ocean Love Dive Club

Introducing Grace Yu! She is a diving instructor and the founder of Ocean Love Dive Club 海洋樂潛水俱樂部 that organizes diving courses and tours. She also runs the cute B1 seaside café in Bitou Cape Fishing Village .

Grace has recommended a 2 days and 1 night travel light trip to explore the best of the Northeast area using transportation like train and bus.  

Day 1: Taipei to Northeast Coast

Morning : Arrive at Bitou Village for snorkelling or scuba diving. Check out the Ocean Love Dive Club tours you can join!

Afternoon : Local seafood lunch and Bitou Cape Hiking Trail

Evening : Catch Taiwan Tourist Shuttle ( Route 856 at 4.25pm) to Jiufen. Enjoy sunset and dinner at Jiufen Old Street. Overnight at Jiufen.

I highly recommend spending a night at Jiufen as it is very magical with its “Spirited Away” ambience when the day trippers leave in the late afternoon. You have the old town to yourself for sunset, night stroll, and sunrise!

Morning : Breakfast at Jiufen and take bus to Fulong station. Enjoy relaxing time at Fulong Beach or try outdoor activities like SUP (stand-up paddling)! Check out Fanatic for their SUP rental and tours!

Afternoon : Lunch at local restaurant. Rent a bicycle and experience the Old Caoling Loop Line Bicycle Path

Evening : Head to Luodong Night Market for more food or catch a direct train from Fulong station back to Taipei

Itinerary by Kelly Khiew, The Bivy Taiwan

Introducing Kelly Khiew! A Singaporean rock climbing guide and instructor, Kelly with her partner Qx has set up The Bivy Taiwan , the first climbers’ hostel in Bitou Cape Fishing Village since 2015. They are trained and certified by AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) and run safe and fun rock climbing guided trips and classes.

The story of Kelly and Qx is truly inspiring. They have turned their passion into career! Read their journey in this article !

Kelly has recommended energising outdoor activities that you can enjoy and spend more days in the northeast coast.

1. Rock climbing at Dragon Caves, Longdong (龍洞)

Dragon Caves is the biggest and best rock climbing spot in Taiwan. Imagine scaling the rocks with the Pacific Ocean behind you!

The Szuling sandstone covering the mountains is one of the most ancient and hardest rocks on the northeast coast. The activity is suitable for beginners with no experience and advanced rock climbers too.

2. Ridge hiking

The northeast coastline is covered by mountains and ridges and boasts many stunning hiking trails. Here’s the popular trails you can try!

a.     Bitou Cape Hiking Trail (also recommended in Grace’s travel itinerary): 3.5km (1-2 hours)

b.     Nanzilin Hiking Trail (where you can see the Nanya rocks): 990m (1-2 hours)

c.     Teapot Mountain (Jinguashi): 6.5km (5-6 hours)

d.     Caoling Historic Trail (Fulong): 10km (3-4 hours)

If you plan to visit Taiwan’s northeast coast, please visit Bitou Cape Fishing Village and participate in the outdoor activities organized by these two trail-blazing female entrepreneurs Grace and Kelly!

Travel webinar

This article is a supplement to the virtual travel session “Experience nature and outdoor at Taiwan’s Northeast Coast” organized by Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Singapore . It is a special collaboration between whywendywrites , Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area  東北角暨宜蘭海岸國家風景區, Ocean Love Dive Club 海洋樂潛水俱樂部, and The Bivy Taiwan . Watch the video here !

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Why Taiwan Is A Perfect Location For An Epic Road Trip With Mountains, Rainforests, & Hot Springs

Quick links, why taiwan is perfect for mountainous road trips, what to know about renting a moped in taiwan, getting around taiwan by public transportation.

Taiwan is a lush tropical island paradise. When the Portuguese landed there hundreds of years ago, they called it "Formosa" or 'beautiful'. It doesn't take very long exploring the island before travelers understand why it earned itself the name Formosa. Today Taiwan is little visited by Western travelers who tend to head to Japan in East Asia or Bali and Thailand in Southeast Asia.

Much like the north of Thailand around Chiang Mai , Taiwan is perfect for road-tripping on a motorbike. Take two weeks to complete the circuit around Taiwan , and then take the time to explore the mountainous interior and discover why it is one of the most beautiful places in East Asia. The mountains and forests, with the excellent alpine roads, make Taiwan one of the best places for a road trip (especially with motorbikes or mopeds).

The western coastal plain of Taiwan is densely populated, with many major cities stretching along the coast. But the east coast is sparsely populated, and in the interior of the island, there are mostly just village settlements and small towns. Many of these small towns in Taiwan are very scenic - but the real beauty is the mountains, forests, and lakes themselves.

• Drives On The: Right
• Road Condition: Well Maintained

The mountains in Taiwan rise to over 3,000 meters (9,000 feet) and are often shrouded in clouds. The roads often all the way to the tops of these mountains in places. It is possible to drive from tropical and humid coastal cities to the cool and misty mountain peaks in just a couple of hours. One of the top destinations to drive to in the interior of the island is Mount Hehuanshan (where the road rises to around 3,300 meters or 10,000 feet).

Taiwan is very wet, so always be prepared for rain in the mountains

The roads are well maintained in Taiwan, and most people drive responsibly. There are a number of popular routes, but adventurous travelers look at the map and see steep winding roads and explore them too.

The mountains are some of the main attractions for the Taiwanese, and there is typically a range of attractions along the roads leading to the tops of the mountains. There are farms (that for the Taiwanese may be exotic as they are not tropical), waterfalls, hiking trails, skywalks, restaurants, B&Bs, extravagant accommodation options, remote Buddhist temples, and more.

Taiwan is full of hot water springs as well. They are found all over the island. Perhaps the most famous destination for hot springs in Taiwan is the hot spring resort town of Beitou, just out of Taipei. But there are plenty of other destinations as well, including near the mountain town of Puli in the center of the island.

Related: 10 Things To Do In Taipei City: Complete Guide To Taiwan's Cultural Capital

One option is to rent a car and explore Taiwan. Another option is to rent motorbikes (mopeds or scooters). It is required to have an international driver's license to drive in Taiwan, and it should state include riding small motorbikes (mopeds). But that being said, most motorbike/moped rental companies in Taiwan do not care too much and will rent to foreigners regardless (although foreigners typically need to pay a premium for the bikes relative to the locals).

• International Driver's License: Required (Typically Not Enforced by Rental Companies)
• Rental Fees: Typically $10-20 Per Day
• Where: By Train & Bus Stations

Moped rental fees vary by outlet around the island but typically range from $10 to $20 per day.

It is not necessary to rent a moped from Taipei (although that is very much an option). There are plenty of moped rentals all around the country, and they are normally located directly outside the bus station or train station.

Related: Taipei Travel Guide: What First-Time Travelers Shouldn't Miss

It is possible to get to any point in Taiwan in one day by public transportation (public transportation is very convenient, fast, affordable, and efficient). Seemingly every corner of Taiwan is knit together by buses and trains. This means that visitors can easily rent a new moped at every destination.

The first thing visitors should do in Taiwan is buy an EasyCard. The EasyCard is what is used for public transportation in the cities, for the intercity buses, and for most regional and local trains (although tickets for high-speed and fast trains are normally booked separately). Traveling around Taiwan doesn't need to be expensive ; done properly, it can be quite affordable.

English is hit and miss in Taiwan (especially outside of the capital Taipei) but the Taiwanese are extremely welcoming of Western tourists into their country and are very happy to help out.

Visitors can take guided tours to discover Taiwan , although Taiwan is extremely easy to explore on a self-guided tour.

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How to get around in Taiwan

Oct 26, 2023 • 8 min read

If you plan on traveling all over Taiwan, be prepared to use a mix of train, high-speed rail, ferry and bus © kitzcorner / Getty Images

All cities and the majority of tourist sites in Taiwan are connected by a web of safe, efficient and affordable transport.

That said, there are far more options to go up and down the island than across because of the Central Mountain Range running down the middle like a spine. If you plan on traveling all over Taiwan, be prepared to use a mix of train, high-speed rail, ferry and bus.

Steps are being taken to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road, most notably through the Blueprint for Net-Zero Emissions in 2050. Currently, only 8% of city and intercity buses are electric, but the government has vowed to introduce 1000 electric buses annually from 2023 while removing up to 11,000 diesel vehicles by 2030, with the target that all buses will run on electricity by 2030. The majority of taxis are not electric, but operators are also receiving incentives to go green. 

Take the conventional train to the east coast 

Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has an extensive system running along both the east and west coasts, connecting all major cities. There are no services into the Central Mountains, except tourism branch lines. Trains are comfortable, safe and reliable, with few delays. 

TRA has several types of train. Zìqiáng 自強  (also Tze-chiang) express trains are fast and more expensive. All classes of Ziqiang train are priced the same for the same journey, even though, for example, the Puyuma is the fastest. Taroko Express 太魯閣 (Tàilǔgé) is a special tilting train under the Ziqiang class that takes you from Taipei to Hualien in two hours. Another tilting train under the Ziqiang class, Puyuma Express 普悠瑪 is TRA's fastest train at 150km/h (93mph). It is named after Taiwan’s Puyuma people.

Tickets can be reserved 28 days in advance online (two more days if reserving on a Friday) or on an ibon kiosk (Chinese only), found in convenience stores and at train stations. You’ll need your passport. Early reservations are strongly advised for fast trains, especially on weekends or holidays. The hottest tickets are snapped up within minutes of release for booking at midnight. 

However, most fares belong to the Jǔguāng 莒光 (also Chu-kuang) and Fùxīng 復興 (also Fu-hsing) classes. They're comfortable, slower than Ziqiang and faster than local trains. The fare is about 20% to 40% cheaper than Zìqiang. The cheap and slow Local Train (區間車; Qūjiānchē) covers short-to-medium distances and stops at all stations. There is no reserved seating.

Use the high-speed rail to save north-south travel time

Zipping between Taipei and Kaohsiung (Zuoying station) in as fast as 90 minutes, the bullet service on  Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) operates a single line along the west corridor that makes stops at 12 stations, including all major cities. Tickets are a little less than double the price of a standard train, but it takes less than half the time. Business fares are about 50% higher.

In general, there are at least three trains per hour. All stations have visitor information centers with English-speaking staff to help with bus transfers, hotel bookings and car rentals.

You can buy high-speed rail tickets up to 29 days in advance. It is advisable to book ahead if you are traveling on a weekend or holiday. Early bird discounts of 10% to 35% apply when reserving a ride on non-peak-time trains five to 29 days in advance. There are tiny discounts for non-reserved tickets, which are sold only on the day of the ride. 

You can reserve through the bilingual app TEXpress and pay electronically or in person, either at a convenience store or the HSR station. You can also reserve on the HSR website and pay at any HSR station or convenience store before the deadline for payment. Alternatively, you can reserve at a convenience store or directly at an HSR station. You'll need your passport number to make reservations.

Enjoy the scenery on a sightseeing train

Besides the TRA and HSR, a handful of small-gauge branch lines are maintained for tourism purposes. Most of these are logging lines constructed by Japanese colonialists and feature vintage trains and restored Japanese-era stations.

The highly popular Alishan Forest Railway  runs from Chiayi to the mountain resort of Alishan, though the final leg is still under repairs after being damaged in a typhoon. Day-trippers from Taipei like to town-hop along the Pingxi Line. The Jiji Line passes by a former logging village with a wood museum and a large kiln.

Stretch your budget by taking an intercity bus

There's a far-reaching network of intercity buses from Taipei to Kenting National Park and across the north as far as Yilan. Service from the west coast to the east coast is limited to a few buses a day, from Taichung across to Hualien and Kaohsiung to Taitung. Service is also limited within the east area (from Hualien to Taitung). On the west coast, there are very frequent departures (some 24-hour operations), with midweek and late-evening discounts. Most companies serve the same west coast routes. The main transit points are Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. 

Taiwan’s long-distance buses are reliable, comfortable and cheap. Some companies offer large, cozy reclining seats. Buses are heavily air-conditioned, so pack a blanket or warm clothes. Reservations are advisable on weekends and holidays. The easiest way to buy a ticket is either from the bus station itself or from a convenience store. Most bus companies have a ticket office and stop near the main train station. Two of the biggest companies are Kuo Kuang and UBus . 

Taiwan has a wide network of rural buses, but daily departures are few and far between, except to major tourist destinations. In most cases, you're better off taking the tourist shuttle buses.

Visit Sun Moon Lake on a tourist shuttle

Taiwan has an excellent system of small shuttle buses with well-planned routes that connect major and minor tourist attractions to TRA and HSR stations in 20 cities and counties, including three offshore islands. The buses usually leave hourly on weekdays and half-hourly on weekends. At the time of writing, buses are less frequent than before, but this is expected to change when tourism picks up. 

Experience Taroko Gorge on two wheels

Long-distance and recreational cycling is huge in Taiwan and quite a lot of routes, especially in scenic tourist areas, have designated cycle lanes. The east coast is especially popular and gorgeous to cycle, so there are plenty of bike-rental places;  you can also bring your bike on public transport and can carry a foldable bike (packed in a bag or case) on the HSR. For conventional TRA trains, there is more than one way to board with a bike . You'll have no problems bringing bicycles into the country.

The cyclist’s main enemies are bus drivers and motorcyclists. Note some stretches of the east-coast highway are considered treacherous. Also, keep in mind that cyclists are banned from national highways (國道) and expressways (快速道路) but allowed on provincial highways (省道), as well as county and city highways (縣道/市道).

Rent a car and chauffeur to save time 

Having your own vehicle, either a car or a scooter, is particularly useful on the east coast, the offshore islands and in mountain areas. You will need an International Driver's Permit to drive in Taiwan. And unless you have a Taiwan scooter license, scooter rental agencies often require that your international driver's license has a motorcycle or scooter endorsement. 

By the standards of many countries, driving in Taiwan can be chaotic and dangerous. It is not advisable to drive in cities or medium-sized towns until you're familiar with the conditions. Parking is challenging in the big cities but especially frustrating in Taipei. Road signage is bilingual.

It is better to charter a car to take you sightseeing. The driver will stop at major attractions to let you take pictures and walk around, or you can work out an itinerary with them. 

Check the weather before booking a sailing to Lanyu Island

There are regular ferry routes to Penghu , Lanyu, and Green Island (and between Lanyu and Green Island as well) in summer, and to Little Liuqiu Island year-round. Sailings to Green Island, Lanyu and Matsu are subject to weather conditions, however. Expect cancellations in bad weather and winter schedules to change frequently. There is no ferry service to Kinmen, but you can fly from Taipei or Kaohsiung. 

Save air travel for trips to the outer islands

The excellent train network renders domestic air travel, except to the outer islands, a bit pointless. Domestic flights from Taipei leave from Songshan Airport and not Taoyuan. Flights to outlying islands are often canceled because of bad weather, especially in the east.

Accessible transportation

Taiwan’s train systems have made some steps towards accessibility in recent years. Almost all metro stations have elevators equipped with braille buttons, speakers, intercom and handrails. There are also waiting areas for wheelchair passengers and tactile tiles installed on platforms and near stairs. The HSR and TRA have elevators and barrier-free seating in designated carriages. All three systems have staff to help disabled passengers should they need it.

Buses are slightly less convenient. Only a fraction of intercity buses are barrier-free, although within big cities like Kaohsiung and Taipei, bus drivers will let down a ramp for elderly passengers or wheelchair users. Once on board, there’s priority seating and wheelchair parking space. You can contact the Taiwan Access for All Association for assistance. 

Service dogs are allowed on board system-wide. For more online resources for accessible travel, visit Lonely Planet's Accessible Travel Portal .

Pay for public transit with an EasyCard 

EasyCard is Taiwan’s contactless smart card that you use to pay for your ride on the metro and city buses. The card itself costs NT$100 and you can top up at any metro station or convenience store.  

EasyCard can be used on some intercity buses and taxis, plus the majority of TRA trains. Exceptions to the latter include the Puyuma Express, the Taroko Express and tourism trains. Passengers paying with the EasyCard get 10% off for train journeys under 70km (43 miles).

This article was first published Nov 23, 2022 and updated Oct 26, 2023.

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