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Spotlight: Taiwan’s Outlying Islands

Lanyu and Lyudao and Kinmen—oh my!

The Ultimate Guide to Taiwan’s Outlying Islands   The Truth About Penghu   Why You Should Visit Kinmen   Lanyu vs. Lyudao   Where Taiwan Ends   Taiwan in Miniature  

Spotlight: Offshore

Taiwan’s outlying islands

Guide to Taiwan’s Outlying Islands   The Truth About Penghu   Why You Should Visit Kinmen   Lanyu vs. Lyudao   Where Taiwan Ends   Taiwan in Miniature  

On the hunt for inspiration—or just information—for your next trip to Taiwan? My name is Robert Schrader, and you’ve arrived in the right place. I’m a veteran Taiwan traveler with half a dozen years under my belt—and I’m delighted you’re here.

Feel at home in Taiwan’s cozy capital

See the famous Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

Take a delicious journey back in time

Whether you need tips on top Taiwan destinations, Taiwan trip ideas or travel advice about topics like Taiwan SIM cards and trains in Taiwan, my Taiwan travel blog is where you need to be. I’ve circled the island dozens of times—I’ve lived in Taipei for over a year!—and my posts combine the wisdom I’ve gained with insightful, informative personal anecdotes.

Enjoy a Whirlwind Week in Taiwan

Taiwan proves that big adventure comes in small packages—so small, in fact, that you can see everything in a week if you budget your time right. After a couple of nights in Taipei, rent a car and drive clockwise along the island’s wild east coast, ending in the southern metropolis of Kaohsiung before heading back north via the futuristic high-speed rail line.

A Whirlwind Week

Taiwan proves that big adventure comes in small packages—you can see everything in a week if you budget your time right. After two nights in Taipei, drive along the wild east coast, ending in Kaohsiung.

Taroko Gorge

Hike through enchanting grottos to forlorn shrines

Visit the home of high-mountain Oolong tea

Bask on Taiwan’s most beautiful beaches

Taiwan is a place I always think I know completely—then I get on a train or bus to somewhere seemingly random, and I’m blown away. As you’ll see browsing through my Taiwan travel blog posts, this capacity for spontaneous adventure is precisely what makes Taiwan such a joy to discover. In fact, I love it so much I decided to move here!

See All of Taiwan

If there’s one word I could use to describe Taiwan, it would be “harmony.” Taiwan’s cities are a pastiche of East-meets-West cosmopolitanism, while the larger culture perfectly mixed stoic Japanese traditions with wilder elements that might be more at home in Southeast Asia. To say nothing of the food—I could write a Taiwan blog just about that!

See Authentic Taiwan in Just Two Weeks

The longer you devote to Taiwan, the more authentically you can experience its culture. Whether you sip delicate oolong tea amid the emerald fields of Alishan, embark on exciting hikes from rough-and-tumble Hualien or discover history in the former capital city of Tainan, Taiwan is definitely worth a deep dive.

Taste Authentic Taiwan

The longer you devote to Taiwan, the more authentically you can experience its culture. Sip delicate oolong tea atop the emerald peaks of Alishan, or discover history in the former capital city of Tainan—Taiwan is definitely worth a deep dive.

Enjoying Taiwan is easy, but planning a trip to Taiwan can be a nightmare. Commission a custom Taiwan itinerary—and let me sweat the details. Get a personalized video consultation, detailed day-by-day itinerary and more!

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Your One-Stop Spot for all Things Taiwan

by Taiwan travel expert Nick Kembel

THE ULTIMATE TAIWAN TRAVEL BLOG

Planning a trip to Taiwan? Or just want to know more about it?

I have personally lived in Taiwan for over a decade , published a book about Taiwan, and done exhaustive, on-the-ground research for every article on this site.

I also write at nickkembel.com and moderate the free Taiwan Travel Planning group .

Click anywhere on the below map to explore destinations across Taiwan!

Featured articles, 12+ extremely useful mandarin phrases for traveling in taiwan, longshan temple: how to pray for love at taipei’s top temple, 20+ fun souvenirs from taiwan (and where to buy them), our 20 favorite things to do in taiwan with our kids, shizhuo’s stunning bamboo forests, tea farms, sunsets, and hikes, how to visit hehuanshan for epic sunrises, hiking, and snow, how to rent a youbike in taiwan (with or without sim/easycard), how to stuff yourself silly at raohe night market in taipei, how to get a taiwan sim card at the airport when you arrive, using easycard in taiwan: everything you need to know, a travel guide to taipei, taiwan’s tantalizing capital, getting from taoyuan airport to taipei (or taipei to taoyuan airport), latest articles.

Chocolate, Cycling, and Boat Burning in Donggang, Taiwan

Shida Night Market: Still Worth Visiting? Read to Find Out!

Our Experience Visiting a Meerkat Cafe in Taipei (so cute!)

The Matsu Islands of Taiwan: A Detailed Visitor’s Guide

Eating Poo at Modern Toilet Restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan

What to Eat at Ningxia Night Market in Taipei (with map!)

I’m Nick and I’m obsessed with Taiwan!

That’s right, I’m a Taiwanophile. I first moved to Taiwan in 2008, married a Taiwanese, and my kids were born and raised in Taiwan. I can never get enough of exploring this magnificent country.

I’ve written about Taiwan for National Geographic, CNN, numerous travel magazines, and in my book, Taiwan in the Eyes of a Foreigner . But you’ll find my best content here, on Taiwan Obsessed!

ULTIMATE 1 Week Taiwan Itinerary | PERFECT Taiwan Itinerary!

Categories Asia , Itinerary , Taiwan

How much of Taiwan can you see in 1 week in Taiwan? Quite a lot actually! With only 1 week in Taiwan, I managed to see the capital city of Taipei , go hiking in a National Park and visit Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, a hugely underrated city in my opinion.

I was really happy with my Taiwan itinerary on my Taiwan Backpacking Trip and I fell in love with this country, if you have longer I do recommend spending 2 weeks in Taiwan , or even one month in Taiwan as there are just so many places to visit in Taiwan and on this small island, but if you have one week in Taiwan, that’s’ fine!

1 Week Taiwan Itinerary

Here is my Taiwan Travel Blog detailing my Taiwan one week itinerary with what to do in Taiwan , things to do in Taiwan and recommendations for you if you have just 1 week in Taiwan.

Find What You're Looking For Easily Here:

Day 1- Arrive in Taipei

From day one in Taipei, I recommend you get an Easy Card which is used on all transport in Taipei and in Taiwan which is so, well, easy! Be sure to get an Easy Card at the start of your trip in a metro station or pick an Easy Card up in the airport via this service .

Book a Private Pick Up from Taoyuan Airport to your Hotel in Taipei here.

Things to do in Taipei:

Night Markets are one of the most popular things to do in Taiwan so this is a great first introduction!

I went to Raohe Night Market because it was closest to my hostel, it’s a really famous Taipei Night Market so I recommend this for your first taste of Taiwan and Taipei!

Where to Stay in Taipei ?

If you’re thinking about where to stay in Taiwan . Taiwan has so many hotels and hostels to choose from throughout the country.

In Taipei, I stayed at Star Hostel Taipei East for 3 nights. It’s in a really good location in the Eastern Side of City and a beautifully decorated hostel with dorm rooms and private rooms. Lovely staff and good Taiwanese Breakfast included.

Search for Star Hostel East Taipei on Booking.com or Hostelworld

Alternatively, search for more hostels and hotels in Taipei here!

FIRST TIMERS GUIDE TO TAIWAN

I’ve been to Taiwan twice. I love the country so much! I have written lots of posts to help you visit Taiwan, start with my 8 Helpful Tips For Planning a Trip to Taiwan from Start to Finish and the Best Places to Visit in Taiwan !

TAIWAN SIM CARD The best way to stay connected in Taiwan is to buy this EasyCard & Sim Card package deal in advance . You’ll need an EasyCard to get around on transport in Taiwan anyway and at the same time you can get a Taiwan Sim Card with 4G and pick them up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport when you land!

GETTING AROUND TAIWAN

The Metro within cities in Taiwan is really great, easy to use and so safe. You’ll need an EasyCard which you top up with credit to use the metro and buses. To get around Taiwan, I loved travelling by train . As a tourist, we can’t use the direct Taiwan train booking system. Instead you can go to a train station a few days before and purchase your ticket, or book online in advance using 12GO Asia !

Day 2- Explore Taipei’s Attractions

To see as much of Taipei as possible on this 1 Week Taiwan itinerary , the Taipei Fun Pass is a good product to purchase so you have unlimited access to 16 of Taipei’s top attractions! 

Buy the Taipei Fun Pass here and pick it up at Taipei Main Station when you arrive!

To help with your Taipei itinerary , I suggest using the MRT to get around Taipei and to go to the following Taipei attractions. These places to see in Taipei flow well in terms of how the City and Metro are laid out which is why I recommend this route to you too.

• Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park
• Longshan Temple
• Knife Massage in Taipei City Mall
• Taipei Expo Park
• National Palace Museum
• Shilin Night Market

If you want to do a tour around Taipei, have a look at these options:

To help you plan your trip around Taiwan, have a look at all of my Taiwan Blog Posts here!

Day 3- Day Trip from Taipei

As well as having many City Attractions in Taipei , there are lots of Taipei day trips to be done and lots to see on the outskirts of the City along with a bit of nature so this is a great way to spend day 2 in Taipei and to make sure you see the best with 1 week in Taiwan.

The best time to visit the Taipei 101 is first and early in the morning to avoid the queues. All of these attractions are in the same Eastern area of the City too so they are easy to visit in one day in Taipei:

• Elephant Mountain
• Cable Car to Maokong
• Maokong Walk

Another Night Market or Dinner in a Taipei Restaurant like Din Tai Fung which is a popular place to get Dumplings in Taipei!

Related Post: 3 Day Taipei Itinerary.

Day 4- Train from Taipei to Hualien & Explore Hualien

I caught the 10:00 am-12:30 train from Taipei to Hualien on my Taiwan itinerary.

I purchased my train ticket at Taipei Main Train Station during my first full day in Taipei to ensure I got a ticket, however, you can now book trains in Taiwan using 12GO Asia ! I recommend you book a train ticket in advance too especially if travelling on a weekend around Taiwan.

If you’d rather go down the East Coast to Taichung and Tainan, rather than the West Coast on your 1 Week Taiwan Itinerary, read my 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary here to find out how to do this!

Things to do in Hualien

I got Lunch in Hualien when I arrived, there are many cafes and restaurants in Hualien.

Hualien has a huge Coastline so later on, I had a walk down to the Coast, the weather wasn’t on my side so I didn’t see much but going to the beach is a popular thing to do in Hualien, so is hiring a bike to explore the Hualien Coastline.

Hualien Food Markets starts at abut 6:00 pm by the Coast and it’s a really good food Night Market, in fact I preferred it to the Taipei markets I went to as it’s so well set out with lots of food options!

Where to Stay in Hualien ?

Hualien is set up for tourism with many hotels and hostels. The best location to stay in Hualien is by the train station as it’s much more convenient.

I stayed at World Inn Hostel for 2 nights and really liked it. The staff are so friendly and gave me tips for my Hualien itinerary and Taroko National Park. Their dorm rooms have been thoroughly thought about and the private rooms are really comfy, I really recommend it!

Search for World Inn on Booking.com or Hostelworld .

Alternatively, search for more hostels and hotels in Hualien and Taroko National Park here!

Day 5- Taroko National Park Day Trip from Hualien

Taroko National Park is the reason why I visited Hualien on my 1 Week Taiwan itinerary. It’s the most popular National Park in Taiwan and if you like nature and going on walks you’ll like this too.

How to see Taroko National Park?

I took the public bus from Hualien into Taroko National Park and jumped on and off it between walks around the park.

To see the full details of my day trip to Taroko National Park solo, have a read of this post .

If you are a confident moped driver, a moped is a great way to explore the Coastline and the National Park.

If you are a keen hiker there are some great hikes but some require permits so it’s best to look into this in advance.

If you would rather take an organised day trip around Taroko National Park which will enable you to see more and definitely see Taroko Gorge these are the tours I recommend which you can book online in advance:

Small Group Tour of Taroko Gorge, Quingshui Cliff and Qixingtan

Classic Taroko National Park Full Day Tour

Taroko Gorge Tour from Hualien

• Here are More of My Must Read Taiwan Posts To Help Plan Your Trip in Taiwan:
• The BEST Places to Visit in Taiwan!
• A 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary!  
• How to Travel Taiwan on a Budget!
• All my Taiwan City Guides including Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Taroko Gorge.

Day 6- Train from Hualien to Kaohsiung

I got the 8:23am-13:08 train from Hualien to Kaohsiung on my 1 Week Taiwan itinerary , and I had to change in Taitung.

The first train was a (Hello Kitty themed) high-speed train and the second a normal older train. I had 8 minutes to change trains but the trains were on the same platform so it was fine! I purchased this train ticket the day before at Hualien Train Station which I recommend doing, especially on a weekend in Taiwan.

Things to do in Kaohsiung:

I arrived and had a little walk around Kaohsiung to start my Kaohsiung itinerary , got some lunch and chilled in my hostel until later where I headed to a night market in Kaohsiung.

There are 2 famous and popular tourist night markets in Kaohsiung, I went to Liouhe Night Market which is the smaller one and it was a good introduction to the City.

• Related Kaohsiung Posts:
• Things To Do in Kaohsiung!
• 2-3 Day Kaohsiung Itinerary!
• Best Night Markets in Kaohsiung!
• How to See the Famous Lotus Pond & Temples in Kaohsiung!

Where to stay in Kaohsiung ?

I stayed at FlyInn Hostel for 3 nights. It’s in a great location, has really friendly staff and is very clean. The private double room was perfect for me as a solo traveller, they have single private rooms too and good dorm rooms.

Search for FlyInn Hostel on Booking.com or Hostelworld .

Alternatively, search for more hostels and hotels in Kaohsiung here!

Trains are the best way to get around Taiwan. You can’t book trains online via Taiwan’s train system but you can book them online using 12GO Asia, the top transport booking platform in Asia. Search for your trains here!

Day 7- Full Day Exploring Kaohsiung

Although Kaohsiung is not one of the most popular cities to visit in Taiwan there’s actually a good amount of things to do in Kaohsiung and I really enjoyed the City. I read a blog post before going which said it’s an underrated Taiwan City and I agree! It was a great way to end my Taiwan itinerary.

For more information on the best Kaohsiung attractions , have a read of this Kaohsiung blog post but in short, here’s how I recommend you spend one day in Kaohsiung.

• Taiwanese Breakfast at Xing Long Ju
• Pier 2 Art Centre
• Ferry to Cijin Island and Explore island on foot or bike.
• Lotus Pond and Dragon Tiger Pagoda
• Kaohsiung Night Market

If you’d like a tour around Kaohsiung to see all the best local spots, have a look at this Kaohsiung Day Tour !

TAIWAN ITINERARY HELP

Here are my top Taiwan itinerary posts to help your plan your trip:

• 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 1 week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 18 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan!
• How to Plan a Trip to Taiwan!

TAIWAN ON A BUDGET

Taiwan isn’t the cheapest country but it’s not the most expensive either and can be travelled on a reasonable budget. Here’s my post on the cost of travel in Taiwan and how to travel Taiwan on a budget !

Leave Taiwan

I actually had a second full day in Kaohsiung and I flew from Kaohsiung Airport which is why I ended my Taiwan Backpacking Trip there but if you have a flight from Taipei you can get a fast train back to Taipei from Kaohsiung very easily. Book trains in Taiwan on 12GO Asia here!

If you do fly from Taipei and you have an extra day, you could visit the popular City of Taichung on your way back North.

I found it much cheaper and quicker to fly from Kaohsiung Airport to Japan, which is where I went next than Taipei Airport to Japan so I’d suggest searching some flight options on Skyscanner like I did to find to get the best and cheapest flight out of Taiwan as Taipei may not be the cheapest!

7 Days in Taiwan was not enough and is not enough by any means.

Like I said at the start I could have easily have spent 2 weeks in Taiwan and 3 weeks in Taiwan if I was travelling slower, it’s such a great country with so much to see and Taiwan is so easy to get around. The locals are friendly and it’s not that expensive making it a great Country to Backpack in Asia that’s a little bit different to the usual places people backpack to!

 I hope this Taiwan Itinerary helps you plan your Taiwan Trip and Taiwan Holiday!

• For more of my Taiwan Blog Posts see:
• All OF MY TAIWAN BLOG POSTS.
• 16 Places to Visit in Taiwan | Tourist Spots!
• How Expensive is it to Visit Taiwan?
• A Vegetarian Guide to Taiwan’s Night Markets.

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Wednesday 14th of April 2021

One of my favorite country to visit! I love Taiwan! It's a beautiful country. The night markets, landscape, views and the people are all amazing! I can't wait to go back in Taiwan.

Saturday 6th of April 2019

Taroko National Park looks beautiful! There’s so much great info in this post! I’d love to walk along the coast and hang at a little cafe!

TheWanderingQuinn

Thank you. I really wanted to give the info I wanted to find and I’d love to head back to the coast and do the same :)

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

by Aileen Adalid Itineraries , Taiwan 109 comments

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

What are the top tours to do in Taiwan?

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

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

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

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

Top photo by: Shutterstock

Table of Contents

Taiwan Travel Guide

» quick travel planning.

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

– – –

» Best Time to Visit

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

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

» Getting in to Taiwan

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

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

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

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

» Visa for Taiwan

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

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

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

» Where to Stay (Taiwan Accommodations)

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

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

» Taiwan Currency

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

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

» Cost of Travel in Taiwan

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

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

» How to Get Around Taiwan

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

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

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

To date, it has 3 options:

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

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

» Staying Connected in Taiwan

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

» Safety in Taiwan

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

• HOW TO: Find the right travel insurance for you

» Helpful Mandarin Phrases

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

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

• RELATED READ: Best translation apps for travel

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

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

Other F.A.Q.

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

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

 Please check their  latest travel advisories  page for more details.

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

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

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

Taiwan Itinerary Guide

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

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

IMPORTANT NOTE:

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

Taipei Exploration

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

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

◘◘ ★ Taipei 101

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

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

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

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

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

◘◘ Elephant Mountain

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

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

◘◘ ★ National Palace Museum

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

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

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

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

◘◘ Presidential Building

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

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

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

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

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

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

◘◘ National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

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

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

◘◘ Martyrs’ Shrine

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

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

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

◘◘ Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

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

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

◘◘ ★ Maokong Gondola

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

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

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

◘◘ ★ Mengjia Longshan Temple

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

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

Night Markets

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

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

◘◘ ★ Raohe Street Night Market

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

» READ: Taiwan Street Food in Raohe Street Night Market

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

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

◘◘ Huahsi (or Huaxi) Night Market

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

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

◘◘ Shilin Night Market

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

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

◘◘ Tonghua Night Market

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

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

Taipei Meals

◘◘ LUNCH: Eatogether Xinyi Restaurant

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

◘◘ DINNER: Any of the night markets

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

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

Discover North of Taiwan

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

◘◘ Day tour to Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen

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

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

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

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

◘◘ Ximending Youth Shopping District

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

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

◘◘ Din Tai Fung Restaurant

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

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

◘◘ Other options for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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

BOOKING: Taipei restaurants

Nature Exploration

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

◘◘ Day tour to Alishan National Scenic Area

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

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

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

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

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

◘◘ Explore the rest of Taipei

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

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

Other Taiwan Itinerary Activities

◘◘ Taipei Activities

Double Decker Bus Tour Sightseeing bus pass for a day.

Taipei Pub Crawl The heart of Taipei nightlife!

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

◘◘ Family Fun

Leofoo Village Theme Park Amusement park & safari.

E-Da Theme Park Aegean Sea inspired theme park.

National Aquarium Large museum and aquarium.

Suzuka Circuit Park Circuit rides amusement park.

Yehliu Ocean World Taiwan’s first ocean park.

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

◘◘ Day Trips

Taroko Gorge Taiwan’s most scenic destination.

Thousand Island Lake & Plantation Stunning landscapes and tea culture.

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

Yangmingshan & Hot Springs Mountain escape & healing springs.

Sun Moon Lake Famous scenic lake.

Hualien Whale Watching Witness dolphins & whales.

Sun Link & Lotus Forest Scenic mountain lake.

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

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

Taichung Paragliding 10-15 minute paragliding flight over Nantou.

Tung Blossom Day Trip Taiwan’s renowned tung blossoms.

Taiping Mountain Tour Famous Taiwanese national park.

◘◘ Food & Restaurants

Chia Te Souvenir Award-winning pineapple cakes.

Sugar & Spice Nougat Taiwan’s famous French Nougat.

Zeng Noodles Popular instant noodles of Taiwan.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle Authentic Taiwanese noodles.

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

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

Taiwan Beef Noodles Famous bowl of savory beef noodles.

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

Lovelycocoa Exquisite raw chocolate quality.

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

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

OneZo Milk Tea Get your fill of authentic boba tea!

Fu Hang Dou Jiang Top authentic Taiwanese breakfast meals!

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

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

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

◘◘ Water Fun

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

Hsiukuluan River Rafting Paddle through Hualien’s wild rapids!

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

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

Yilan Waiao Surfing The best surfing destination in Northern Taiwan!

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

Explore other TOP destinations in Taiwan

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

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

Booking Essentials

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

The Best Tours in Taipei?

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

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

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

Enjoy and do let me know how your trip goes!

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

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

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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 (see my Donggang guide ). 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. See my Fenqihu guide and Shizhuo guide for planning your visit.

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).

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 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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48 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.

Hi, I will be in Taiwan this October. I spent 3 days in Taipei. And I would like to visit Hualien, Taroko and Sun Moon Lake. But I understand from your itinaries that it is not possible to go by public transport from Hualien to Sun Moon Lake. Google Maps indicate that I first have to go back to Taipei. Is that correct?

Please note, Taroko Gorge is still closed from the severe damage in the Arp 2024 earthquake and not expect to even start reopening until the end of this year.

Yes, the fastest way would be express train from Hualien to Taipei (2 hrs), HSR to Taichung (1 hr), and bus to SML (1.5 hours). When Taroko Gorge is open, then it’s possible to drive a car through the gorge and across Taiwan to SML. This is a long, slow, and very winding high mountain drive, even before the earthquake, so even though it looks closer on the map, it could still take even longer than going via Taipei. Now, because Taroko is closed to tourists, it’s not even possible.

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17 Things to See and Do in Taiwan

I lived in Taiwan for a few months as an English teacher. I loved my time there and have always felt the country was really under-appreciated. Carrie Kellenberger is an expat who has been living in Taiwan for ten years. She runs My Several Worlds and in this guest post she lists out all the amazing things you should see and do there!

Every country in Asia is beautiful, but Taiwan is special for many reasons. The people are warm and hospitable, it’s incredibly budget-friendly , and, according to the UN’s yearly World Happiness Report, Taiwan consistently ranks as one of the happiest places in East Asia .

While it might be a small island, you would be amazed at the never-ending variety of sights and fun things to do here. With over a hundred mountain peaks above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), over a hundred hot springs scattered around the island, both golden and black-sand beaches, nine national parks, world-class museums, glittering skyscrapers, stunning temples, and a huge number of night markets that are second to none, Taiwan has something that everyone can enjoy.

Here’s my list of the best things to do Taiwan to help you plan your trip and make the most of your visit!

Table of Contents

1. Eat, Eat Eat (Especially at the Night Markets)!

2. experience taiwanese tea culture, 3. check out the northern coastline, 4. hit the beaches, 5. soak in the hot springs, 6. go island hopping, 7. visit tainan, taiwan’s oldest city, 8. see old taiwan, 9. get off the beaten track on orchid island and green island, 10. explore the mountains, 11. go hiking in taroko national park, 12. head east, 13. witness some chaos, 14. see tianhou temple, 15. explore fo guang shan monastery, 16. visit a taiwanese aboriginal village, 17. take part in the pingxi lantern festival.

There are over 30 night markets in Taipei , New Taipei, and Keelung (and over 70 night markets across Taiwan). My personal favorites are Shilin, Keelung, and Raohe Street in Taipei.

Don’t miss eating xiao long bao, also known as soup dumplings, a favorite staple food here. They are made out of a thin pastry folded into a type of bag that is then stuffed full with a meat-and-vegetable mixture and a tiny amount of soup, then garnished with raw ginger and soy sauce. Biting into one of these is a flavor explosion in your mouth.

If you’d like to really dive deep into the different sides of Taiwanese cuisine, take a guided food tour . On this food tour, you’ll first dine at the Michelin-starred Din Tai Fung (famous for their xiao long bao) and then experience a night market, all with a local guide.  

The Taiwanese also have their own type of tea ceremony that takes elements from both Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies while adding their own cultural flair. Here, tea ceremonies are less focused on the rules and more about bringing people together.

Jiufen, Jwu Jiu Teahouse, and Pinglin are some of the best places to visit if you want to sample tea and learn more about how it’s made. You can also ride the Maokong Gondola up a mountain to a secluded teahouse where you can take in the amazing views while enjoying some tea.  

Guided tours are also available . The benefit to these tours is that you’ll have someone explain what you’re seeing. Signage isn’t great. If you can, I would definitely recommend a guided tour.  

Beaches may not be the first thing that you think of when Taiwan comes to mind. But with almost 1,000 miles of coastline (it is an island after all!), a great beach is never that far away.

Each region of the country offers something different. For example, the north is best known for its golden and black-sand beaches, while Kenting on the southern tip of the island offers a lively beachside nightlife. White Sand Bay is the most popular and a great place to soak up the sun, swim, snorkel, or even go diving (just keep an eye out for jellyfish!). Other great beaches are South Bay and Little Bali Bay.  

As part of the Taipei metro area, Beitou is easily reachable by metro. Prices start at 60 TWD per person for a soak in Beitou Public Hot Spring, making it a very affordable choice for anyone looking for some R&R. If you’d like to splash out, there are plenty of more upscale hotels and resorts too.  

The beautiful islands of Penghu just off Taiwan’s western coastline comprise the biggest archipelago and are especially well known for their golden beaches. All of the islands are distinct, and you can take a boat that will drop you off at one island for a few hours and then take you to the next one, so you can literally go from snorkeling to observing sea turtles to wandering through traditional villages made out of coral in a single day.  

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

Additionally, you’ll be able to see historical military sites like underground tunnels and bunkers hidden in the countryside, and visit insightful museums to learn more about the unique history of the islands. The region is also known as being the producer of Taiwan’s famous gaoliang (kaoliang) grain alcohol, made from fermented sorghum.  

Located just off the southeastern coast, these lush islands are a treat to visit. Here you’ll find hiking, swimming, and diving. The best way to explore these islands is by renting a scooter so that you can get further off the beaten path and have an adventure exploring at your own pace.

Green Island has amazing saltwater hot springs — one of only three such hot springs in the world! Orchid Island is home to the indigenous Tao people, Taiwan’s most isolated indigenous tribe. They’re best-known for their traditional hand-carved wooden canoes and underground homes.  

If you want to stretch your legs, climb to the summit of beautiful Jade Mountain and watch the sunrise (it takes two days to hike). This beautiful peak is almost 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, giving it sweeping views in every direction.

Wuling Peak on Hehuan Mountain, around 3,275 meters (10,745 feet) above sea level, is another good hike for anyone looking to spend more time outdoors. But what really makes this place special is that the peak is so high, you can look down into a sea of clouds below!  

Ready for another city break? This national park covers 92,000 hectares (360 square miles) and offers visitors a chance to hike the numerous trails through mountainous terrain and dramatic gorges. You can stop to dip your feet in swiftly flowing mountain rivers and to marvel at the shrines and temples.

You can visit the park solo (which, if you’re staying in the nearby town, is easy to do) or as part of a full-day tour from Taipei . If you’re tight on time, the guided tour is the best option because it comes with transportation and a guide. Admission to the park is free.  

To really enjoy Taiwan’s majestic beauty, don’t forget Taiwan’s eastern coastline like most international visitors do! The east coast highway has some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world, from plunging sea cliffs and splashing surf to beaches, nature reserves, and rural towns a world away from the big city.

For maximum flexibility, Taiwan’s East Coast is best explored on a road trip, though there are buses that go down the coast. There is also a train line that hugs the coast a bit when heading south from Taipei, though it then veers inland.  

The center of the neighborhood is the Red House, a well-known cultural landmark and marketplace where local artisans sell their wares. The massive outdoor plaza behind it is the epicenter of the city’s LGBTQ scene and is surrounded by many different welcoming bars and shops.

Give yourself bonus points for checking out all the super cool street art; you won’t find it on the main thoroughfares, but if you venture onto some of the smaller side streets, you’ll soon find yourself in a world of brightly decorated alleys and lanes.  

While you’re in Ximending, it’s worth stopping by one of the oldest temples in the city, Tianhou (also known as the Ximending Mazu Temple, after the in-house deity Mazu, goddess of the sea). Around since 1746, it’s one of three major temples in Taiwan from the Qing period. It’s located on a main thoroughfare but it’s very easy to miss the entrance.

Stepping through the entrance to this beautiful Taoist temple filled with mythological creatures, smoky incense, lucky goldfish, and people paying respect to the gods is truly a surreal experience. You’d never know this quiet oasis is in one of the busiest areas of Taipei !  

One of the central features of the complex is the Buddha Museum, which houses tooth relics of the Buddha himself along with various shrines, galleries, exhibitions, vegetarian restaurants, and even a Starbucks (really). Behind the museum lies the Great Path of Buddhahood, a broad pathway flanked by eight identical pagodas, leading up to the 108-meter-high golden Big Buddha.

I’ve been to many temples and monasteries in my lifetime, but this one takes the cake.  

If you can’t make it to Orchid Island (see above), there are plenty of other places to learn about indigenous Taiwanese tribes. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village near Sun Moon Lake is the most popular destination. It’s the largest outdoor museum in the country and is half cultural village, half amusement park. Each of the nine small villages in the park represent and are run by a different tribe. In each, you can watch cultural performances and see how a variety of traditional crafts are made.  

One of the coolest events in Taiwan, the Pingxi Lantern Festival involves releasing hundreds of paper lanterns into the sky. (Many newlyweds also include this meaningful tradition as a part of their wedding celebration.) If you don’t want to brave the crowds, you can easily purchase a lantern and light one on any of Taiwan’s beaches. This is one of the biggest events in all of Taiwan so be sure to get tickets in advance to avoid the ticket lines.

Taiwan is very environmentally friendly, so make sure you go with the eco-friendly paper lantern options that disintegrate, leaving no residue, and don’t cause fires. The company My Taiwan Tour also currently offers biodegradable paper lantern tours in Shifen.

There are many things about Taiwan that make it an incredible place to live; it’s easy to take some of those things for granted once you’ve been here for a while. I frequently hear that people think Taiwan is very Westernized, and while I agree that it is to some extent, there are still plenty of authentic Taiwanese experiences to be had!

Taiwan is and continues to be an unexpected travel destination that continues to delight visitors to this day. There is no place like it!

Canadian expat Carrie Kellenberger has been living in Asia since 2003. She moved to Taiwan in 2006 and became a permanent resident in 2012. She loves entertaining guests and travelers to Taiwan. You can read about her adventures and life there at her blog, My Several Worlds .

Book Your Trip to Taiwan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner . They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. Two of my favorite places to stay are:

• Formosa 101
• Meander Taipei

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are mine alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.

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A Comprehensive Taiwan Travel Guide and Itinerary for First Timers

Taiwan is a compact but extremely rewarding travel destination. This East Asian island country will tempt you with its welcoming people, track record for safety, convenient transportation, unbeatable street food, stunning natural scenery, and outdoors activities. If you’re in the early stages of planning your Taiwan trip, you’ll uncover a wealth of information in this Taiwan Travel Guide, including when to go and for how long, how to plan your trip, the top attractions, the ideal itinerary, plus more tips and FAQs.

This article was written by Nick Kembel , who has been living in and traveling around Taiwan for over a decade. He’s written a book about Taiwan, manages two websites about the country, and moderates the Taiwan Travel Planning Group on Facebook.

Taiwan Trip Planner and Guide

When is the best time to visit taiwan, how many days do you need for taiwan, how to plan your trip to taiwan, around taipei, taroko gorge.

Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan Travel Itinerary

Will i need cash in taiwan how much, what’s easycard, which kind of transportation should i take and when should i book it , is taiwan suitable for vegetarians, share this:.

Pin this Taiwan Trip Planner and Travel Guide to plan for your Trip to Taiwan

If you want the perfect combination of good weather and small crowds in Taiwan, choose March, April, October, or November.

May and June are the rainy season in Taiwan. Summer (July to September) is uncomfortably hot and humid, not to mention that your travel plans may be ruined by a typhoon.

December is the most popular month of the year for tourism in Taiwan, mainly because visitors from nearby Asian countries flock there for Christmas events, New Year’s Eve fireworks, and because they want to experience cooler weather for their winter holidays.

Winter (January to March) is a little cold in Taipei and the north, but the south of Taiwan remains tropical year-round. It’s a good time for hot springs and cherry blossom viewing.

However, avoid visiting during Lunar New Year, when everything closes, flight prices skyrocket, and all trains and hotels will be fully booked. But consider visiting for the Lantern Festival (15 th day of the lunar year), one of the most impressive traditional celebrations in the country.

Red Paper Lanterns in Taiwan | Photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash

Many visitors only book one week or less for Taiwan. This is not nearly enough. With this amount of time, you’ll probably only be able to visit Taipei plus one or two other places. I’s not enough to do a full loop around the country.

In order to travel in a circle around Taiwan and visit all the main attractions along the way, two weeks is the ideal amount of time. If you can extend it to three weeks, that will be even better. Then you’ll be less rushed and you can even include some more off-the-beaten-track stops.

But two weeks is a decent chunk of time to work with, and I’ll introduce the perfect Taiwan two-week itinerary in this Taiwan Travel Guide.

Taiwan is not an ideal country for just showing up and figuring it out as you go. It’s a crowded country with millions of locals who also like to travel around on weekends and holidays, not to mention the 10 million+ tourists who show up every year.

It is common for all the hotels to sell out at destinations in Taiwan. This is especially true for Alishan , the country’s most popular mountain resort, and one of the Best Places to visit in Taiwan . The hotels there are limited and sometimes all the rooms sell out weeks in advance. This is especially true for weekends, holidays, and cherry blossom season (mid-March to early-April in Alishan).

This can also happen at Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge , but only at the busiest times of the year (long weekends and Lunar New Year holiday). And for December, the busiest month for international tourism in Taiwan, I’ve even heard of travellers having difficulty finding rooms in major cities like Taipei.

RaoHe Night Market, Taipei | Photo by Clement Souchet on Unsplash

The main lesson here in this Taiwan Travel Guide and Itinerary is: book your Taiwan hotels in advance! Personally, I usually start making my itinerary and looking at hotels about six months before my trip. However, I sometimes don’t actually book them until about 2-3 months before. Unfortunately, some hotels in Taiwan, especially smaller ones, tend to not release their rooms until 2-3 months in advance. This can be a little pesky when you’re hoping to secure a room at a famous location like Alishan.

As for trains, that is a whole different story. Figuring out which trains to take around the country is going to be one of the more complicated parts of your trip. Because there’s so much to say about that, I’ll cover it in the FAQs section below.

But for now, suffice to say that you can buy regular (TRA) train or High Speed Rail (HSR) tickets 28 days in advance (or 29 days in advance for Saturday trips and 29 days for Sunday trips). The tickets for a new day are released at precisely midnight (Taiwan time – you’ll need to figure out what time that is in your country).

These are important details, because some popular train routes and dates in Taiwan can sell out within minutes of being released. For others, you don’t even need to book them – you can buy tickets or swipe an EasyCard (a reloadable smart card for transportation in Taiwan) just before boarding.

There are a few other things you may want to book before arriving in Taiwan. These include a Taiwan SIM card , entrance to popular attractions in Taiwan , and a Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . All of these can be booked on Klook . You can also buy them when you get there, but then you’ll need to use more cash.

Last but not least, if you plan to visit any famous upscale restaurants like those with Michelin stars, you may need to reserve them several months in advance.

PS – Useful Travel Resources to use while heading to Taiwan to tick off these Best Things to do in Taiwan as shared in this Taiwan Travel Guide and Itinerary  – 

• Book your Rental Car in Taiwan on Discover Cars and RentalCars.com
• Book the best Taiwan Tours at Klook
• Book your Accommodation in Taiwan on Agoda or Booking.com
• Get an eSIM by Airalo to stay connected and Save on Roaming Fees
• Sign up for a Priority Pass before flying to Taiwan, to enjoy premium Airport Lounge Access.
• Sign up for a Travel Insurance to enjoy a hassle free road trip vacation in Taiwan.

Top Attractions in Taiwan

Longshan Temple | Taipei

For most visitors, their journey starts and ends in the capital city, Taipei. Some of the top highlights include the Observatory at Taipei 101 (once the tallest building in the world), Maokong Gondola (a glass-bottomed gondola with views of the city and tea farms), Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (one of the city’s most impressive landmarks, dedicated to a former dictator), and Beitou Hot Springs .

Of course you also can’t miss the city’s famous night markets, where hundreds of food stalls dish out mouth-watering delicacies every night of the year. The city’s five biggest ones are Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, Ningxia Night Market , Tonghua Night Market , and Nanjichang Night Market , but there are many small ones, too. The city also has a huge range of hotels, from excellent hostels to some of Taiwan’s top luxury hotels .

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Jiufen Old Street | Photo by Danielle Hoang on Unsplash

Some of the country’s most famous attractions are within a few hours of Taipei. The most popular attractions among them are Shifen Old Street (where tourists write wishes on paper lanterns then send them up to the sky), Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen Old Street (an old mining town with traditional teahouses), and Yehliu Geopark (with interesting shaped rock formations on the coast. Another popular day trip is Yangmingshan National Park , an active volcano right next to the city.

Taroko Gorge – The Grand Canyon of Taiwan

The “Grand Canyon of Taiwan” is the most famous natural attraction in Taiwan. This deep, dramatic gorge features stunning hikes, impossibly perched shrines, thrilling suspension bridges, and roaring waterfalls. Taroko Gorge is the top sight in Hualien county on wild east coast of Taiwan.

Cycling in Chishang in Taitung County

Remote Taitung county sits in the quiet, primarily rural southeastern corner of Taiwan. This is the land of epic bicycle paths through rice paddies, taking it easy, and meeting local Taiwanese aboriginal peoples. The county also boasts two incredible islands, Green Island (great for scuba diving and with a unique saltwater hot spring) and Orchid Island (home to the country’s most isolated aboriginal tribe).

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Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

Kaohsiung is the largest city in Southern Taiwan and country’s largest port. It features some of the country’s more grandiose attractions, including Fo Guang Shan (Taiwan’s largest Buddhist monastery and tallest Buddha statue), Lotus Pond (a manmade lake surrounded by temples, including the ever-popular Dragon and Tiger Pagodas), and the best street art in the country – graffiti is legal here! From Kaohsiung, you can also make side trips to Xiaoliuqiu island for snorkelling with giant sea turtles or Kenting National Park for some of the  best beaches in Taiwan.

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A traditional temple in Tainan

The ancient capital of Taiwan , Tainan is rich in historical architecture. Come here to see some of the oldest and most important temples, forts, and Japanese-era architecture in the country. Locals consider Tainan the culinary capital of Taiwan , too, so there are plenty of good eats to be had.

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Towering trees in Alishan – Taiwan’s Most Famous Mountain Resort

Alishan is Taiwan’s most famous mountain resort . Sitting at 2200 meters above sea level, the area features towering ancient cypress trees, sunrises over a sea of clouds, and the chance to ride on the cute red train cars of a former logging line, the Alishan Forest Railway . The region is also known for Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea , Taiwan’s most famous tea.

Here we have the largest and most enticing lake in Taiwan . This tourist hot spot boasts a wealth of activities, from boat rides across the lake and epic views from Sun Moon Lake Ropeway to fantastic cycling and temples overlooking the lake. In February, visitors flock to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village , an aboriginal theme park, when thousands of cherry blossoms bloom. In September, thousands of locals do a mass swim across the lake, the only time of the year that swimming is allowed.

Lanterns in Taichung

The largest city in Central Taiwan is a haven for foodies with a sweet tooth, with the likes of Miyahara (over-the-top ice creams in a Harry Potter-like setting), Taiwan Sun Cake Museum (honouring a local cake that was invented in the city) and Chun Shui Tang Siwei Original Store (the supposed birthplace of pearl milk tea). Taichung is also a convenient base for venturing to attractions outside of the city like Rainbow Village (a traditional house painted in vibrant colours by a former Chinese soldier), Gaomei Wetlands (for amazing sunsets on the coast), and Zhongshe Flower Market (for seas of various flowers).

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Days 1 and 2: Spend these days overcoming jetlag and exploring the many sights, activities, and night markets in Taipei.

Day 3: Use this day to make a day trip from Taipei . The most popular option is a day trip to the east, including an eclectic mix of stops like Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall, Houtong Cat Village, Yehliu Geopark, and finishing at Keelung Night Market before returning to the city.

Day 4: Travel to Hualien , check in to a hotel, and explore Dongdamen Night Market .

Day 5: Full day tour of Taroko Gorge , including stops at Qingshui Cliffs (some dramatic coastal bluffs) and Qixingtan Beach (a pretty pebble beach). 

Day 6: Cycling among the rice paddies in Chishang , the most picturesque town in Taitung county.

Days 7-8: Explore the main sights of Kaohsiung on day 7 then do a day trip to snorkel with sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu island on day 8.

Day 9: Catch the train + bus to Alishan and do some hiking before sunset.

Day 10: Wake up super early for the famous Alishan sunrise, then do a little more hiking before check-out time. Catch the afternoon bus to Sun Moon Lake.

Day 11: Explore Sun Moon lake by bike, gondola, bus, and/or boat.

Days 12 and 13: Tour the main sights in Taichung city on day 12, then make a day trip to Rainbow Village, Zhongshe Flower Market, Gaomei Wetlands, Lihpao Discovery Land, and/or Lukang (a very traditional old town) on Day 13. Make sure not miss Feng Chia Night Market, one of the largest in Taiwan.

Day 14: Return to Taipei or go directly from Taichung to Taoyuan International Airport for flying out.

Some common Taiwan FAQs

Typical travellers will spend TWD 1000 to 2000 per person per day in Taiwan. This is not counting hotels.

Taiwan is still very much a cash-loving society. Although you can use EasyCard and credit cards for some things (international credit cards only sometimes seem to work), you’ll still need cash for most things. Even if you book all your hotels on platforms like Booking, most budget and some mid-range hotels will still expect cash payment on arrival.

Luckily, there are ATMs everywhere in Taiwan, so you can withdraw money as you go. They allow you to take out quite a lot at once, so make sure to check your bank’s upper withdrawal limit before you go. If you’re bringing foreign cash, exchange it at the airport. There’s only a small fee per transaction, and it’s much more convenient than going to banks in the city. Banks don’t carry certain currencies, too.

Most people in Taiwan use a very handy reloadable smart card called EasyCard . You can buy one for TWD 100 at any convenience store or MRT station, including the Airport MRT for getting from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei ).

EasyCard – Taiwan

On top of the non-refundable 100 deposit, you can load as much money as you want onto the card. You’ll use this a lot in Taipei for riding the MRT to explore the city. You can also use it to pay for local buses, trains (for example on day trips from Taipei), to pay for items at convenience stores, and some taxis take it.

If you follow the above itinerary, here are some tips:

• In Taipei, you’ll mainly ride the MRT. Just load some money onto an EasyCard for swiping into and out from the stations. You can also use EasyCard for the Airport MRT.
• When you do day trips from Taipei, you’ll mostly be riding local trains. Those don’t have seat numbers, can’t be booked, and you can just swipe EasyCard to board them.
• For Taipei to Hualien, the express train (2 hrs) is extremely popular and often sells out. Try to book this on the official TRA site 28-30 days in advance. If the express train sells out, you’ll have to ride a slower one (3 to 4 hours).
• From Hualien to Chishang and Chishang to Kaohsiung, it’s the same as above. Trains on the west coast are more limited, so book early.
• To travel from Kaohsiung to Alishan, ride train (no booking needed if you choose a local one, only 1 hour) from Kaohsiung Station to Chiayi Station. From Chiayi, take the bus (swipe EasyCard ) to Alishan (2 hours).
• There’s only one bus per day from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake, departing 1 PM and arriving 4 PM, swipe EasyCard .
• The bus from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung takes 90 minutes. Again you can swipe EasyCard .
• For Taichung to Taipei (or to Taoyuan for transferring to the Airport MRT), try taking a ride on the super-fast High Speed Rail. These tickets can be booked in advance on the official HSR site for an early bird discount or on the spot (non-reserved ticket) right before boarded. Non-reserved section is cars 10-12, but a seat is not guaranteed.

Yes, Taiwan is a vegetarian-friendly country. There are hundreds of vegetarian restaurants in Taipei and around the country. Most traditional Taiwanese vegetarian food is also vegan. Many vegetarian restaurants have the character for vegetarian (素) prominently displayed. You can easily find them by searching on GoogleMaps or using websites like HappyCow.

Some Final Taiwan Travel Tips

• English is limited in Taiwan, so I recommend preparing a translation app like GoogleTranslate or Papago. These can be used to scan signs/menus or even translate conversations as you try to communicate with locals.
• Taiwanese are very polite and generally love foreigners. Young people tend to be shy, but most people will help if you need it.
• When it comes to local etiquette, don’t make any noise (even talking should be a whisper) on buses & trains, the dark blue MRT seats are for the needy, stand only on the right side of escalators, and wave at buses if you want them to stop to pick you up.
• Pay restaurant bills at the front of the restaurant before leaving, and there’s generally no tipping in Taiwan.
• Taiwan is an extremely tolerant country and the only place in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal.
• Dress as you wish, but don’t go barefoot or wear beach attire unless you’re at the beach.
• Unlike Japan, tattoos are fine for hot springs but you may need to wear a swimming hat.

And if you are wondering, Where to stay in Taiwan? All you have to do is, fill in your dates, the destination and click on the search button in the box below, and save upto 50% on the Best Hotels and Resorts in Taiwan.

Don’t forget to Pin this Taiwan Travel Guide featuring the Best Things to do in Taiwan along with a 14 Day Taiwan Travel Itinerary , which will help you plan for your Trip to Taiwan.

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12 Days In Taiwan Travel Guide – Itinerary To Explore The Entire Island

Last Updated August 21, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Itineraries » 12 Days In Taiwan Travel Guide – Itinerary To Explore The Entire Island

Taiwan is known by many names but perhaps the most memorable one is Formosa .  Now that sounds a bit odd but it was in fact coined by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century.  Ilha Formosa   directly translates to “Beautiful Island” and they sure got it right.

This 12 day Taiwan itinerary (just short of two weeks) follows our journey around the entire island and is geared towards those that have the curiosity of a tiger and the adventurous courage of a dragon. 

Now I will say this is a trip that requires a bit of stamina to keep up but for the limited time we were there, we’re so glad we were able to see and do all the things we did. That said, feel free to mix and match as you craft own trip as I know many of you might be looking for a Taiwan 7 day itinerary. 

In This Article

Best time to visit, how to fly to taiwan, where to stay, how to get around, do i need a visa, wifi, data, and must download apps, luggage storage solution, what to prepare, day 1 – hit the ground running in taipei, day 2 – spirited away, day 3 – winding up in alishan, day 4 – the almost sunrise, day 5 – artsy urban kaohsiung, day 7 – fly with the wind, day 9 – taroko tribe in the mountains, day 10 – why shakadang is my new favourite word, day 11 – zen, heat and fishing, day 12 – mad dash for pineapple pastry, where to stay in taiwan, taiwan itinerary final thoughts, read more about asia, travel resources for your next trip, 12 day taiwan itinerary pre-trip guide.

Taiwan currency is the New Taiwan Dollar ($NT).  TWD is also another symbol that is used.

• Mental math for North Americans:  To convert things quickly in your head, cut one zero and we divided by 3.  This brings it closer to USD.  For CAD, you just “add a little”.
• Quick reference print outs:  Our currency exchange cheat sheet  is pretty handy.
• App: For iOS users, Iwe recommend the free app xCurrency .

Taiwan uses the exact same electrical standard as North America:  110V/60Hz AC.

Taiwan goes through a full four seasons however they are less pronounced and they lean towards the humid subtropical climate.  It’s all personal preference but the best time to go would be either in late spring (April to May) or autumn (November) for a great blend of comfortable temperatures and smaller crowds.  Also keep in mind that temperatures will vary depending on where you are in the country which means it’ll be much warmer in the south vs. Taipei vs. in the mountains.

• Spring (March – May): Very mild and pleasant where only long sleeve is required [Average 15ºC to 27ºC]
• Summer (June – September):  Very hot and humid with chances of rain as well.  Keep in mind that this is typhoon season as well [Average 24ºC to 31ºC]
• Autumn (October – November): Begins to cool down but is still very comfortable [Average 18ºC to 30ºC]
• Winter (December – February):  Jacket season where it can get foggy due to northeasterly winds from Siberia [Average 13ºC to 19ºC]

Flights to Taiwan will vary drastically depending on where you’re flying from.  If you’re coming from Asia, there are a number of low cost carriers to choose from including AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Scoot.  For the rest of the world, the two big national airlines to look out for are China Airlines (SkyTeam) and EVA Air (Star Alliance).

The primary international airport is Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and for most international travellers, that is where you will want to land.  What you may not realize though is that there are alternative airports that you can use to jump to different parts of the country or directly fly into.  The two other international airports can be found at Kaohsiung (KHH) and Taichung (RMQ).  Another popular airport that you might want to try to search if you’re coming from other parts of Asia is Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei (TSA).

I had the opportunity to fly EVA Air both direct from Vancouver and Toronto and had a fabulous experience with them.  Including a quirky interpretive dance safety video, pre-boarding complimentary tea, some of the best food I’ve had on the plane, and great service.

There are so many choices for hotels in Taiwan that range from budget to mid-range and luxury.  In Taipei, you’ll find the big international brands but across the country, don’t be afraid to book local branded properties.  In this 12 day itinerary, you’ll see that we’ve chosen reasonably priced 4 star properties that all managed to impress.

Since you’ll be on the move quite a bit on this itinerary, homestays traditionally may not be a good option but if you can find one that only requires a minimum of 2 nights, you could swing it.

For where to stay in Taipei , make sure to read the neighbourhood guide to find out the best properties you can stay at.

For the whole island, look on Booking.com for the best prices.

Unless you’re travelling to one of the smaller islands of Taiwan (i.e. Penghu or Xiao Liu Qiu), your best bet is to take advantage of the excellent land transportation options that are available.

The best way to cover large distances along the west coast of the island is the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR/HSR) which is equivalent to Japan’s bullet train.  At a top speed of 300 km/h, you can get from Taipei to Kaohsiung in just over 1.5 hours.  In cities and towns that aren’t covered by THSR/HSR, there are traditional trains covered by the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA).

In the big cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung, you have an extensive and efficient subway network which is also called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system.

There are always buses  to fall back on. In the cities, I’d recommend using them only if you know the route and schedule.  That being said, if you’re going to be doing places like Alishan, Kenting, and Taitung, you’re going to need to familiarize yourself with what’s called the  Taiwan Tourist Shuttle .  These are buses created in coordination with the tourism bureau to make it easier for travellers to get to popular sightseeing destinations.  They’re typically more conveniently marked with English which makes things easier.

Taxis are easy to hail in the big cities and if not you can always get your hotel to call one for you.  Expect this to be your most expensive mode of transportation.

Scooters are often the preferred way of getting around in places like Kenting not to mention the most fun.  Roads aren’t crazy hectic like in Thailand so it’s quite safe.  What you need to know though is that they require local motorcycle licenses to drive motorized scooters.  Electric scooters are much easier to rent as long as you’ve done it before.  If you haven’t, they might reject you or you’ll be required to do a small lesson like we did.  If you continue reading the itinerary portion of this guide, you’ll learn why you really need one to get around.

Car rentals are another way to get around that often doesn’t get much attention.  Make sure you book in advance and do your research in advanced as English will be at a minimum when engaging with car rental companies and driving directions.  Make sure you have your international drivers license.

Lastly, I’d like to mention private drivers as this is another popular way to see the country.  These are typically taxi drivers that have their own side business.  I never had a chance to book one but did run across a cabbie that told us about his services and read about quite a number of them on TripAdvisor forums .  The beauty of this is that you can create your own itinerary and do it in the comfort of a private vehicle, skipping complicated commutes, and saving time as well.  It may be hard to find English-speaking drivers but I’m sure they’re out there.  This is best used for day trips such as up to Yehliu Geopark, Danshui, Jiufen, etc.

 Tips: 

• What’s confusing in Taiwan is that there are multiple types of contactless cards (EasyCard, icash 2.0, and iPass).  I’m not going to pretend to be able to explain differences between them but the one that you want to get is EasyCard as it’s the most widely accepted around the country for most local transit (MRT and buses) and stores.  You can buy them at MRT stations but convenient stores like 7-11 and Family Mart sell them too.  Warning:  7-11 will try to sell you on their icash cards but make sure you get EasyCard (don’t make the same mistake that I made).  The beauty of the EasyCard is that all credit can be refunded at MRT stations whereas it is not easy/impossible with the other cards.
• In Taipei, there is also something called the Taipei Pass that you can consider where you can get unlimited rides for the number of days that you purchase.  Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it as the EasyCard is just more hassle free and keeps things flexible.
• Uber is available but isn’t worth it if your ride is less than $NT 35 or if surge pricing is on but on longer rides they can be marginally cheaper.  They’re operating in a restricted mode in Taipei only where cars can only drive for Uber if the car is rented from a specific company.  You’ll also find that most regular cabs don’t take rechargeable cards nor credit cards so expect to pay cash.
• While Google is pretty good at providing schedules and directions for public transportation especially in Taipei, I’d recommend getting a local to help you when possible especially when it comes to buses.

There are a number of visa regulations that depend on your nationality.  For most of you, the good news here is that you will most likely be visa exempt or you’ll be able to purchase a visa on arrival, eVisa, or an Online Travel Authorization Certificate.  Your best is to get most up-to-date information on visas for Taiwan .

If you’re coming from one of the 60 countries that don’t require a visa, you’re in luck.  As a Canadian, all I needed was a passport that was not expiring in the next 6 months, and I was granted a 90 day stay by the customs official after landing at the airport.  I didn’t have to visit the visa on arrival desk or anything – just walk right to the customs counters.

The most important question is whether you should get a SIM card or a personal hotspot.  This comes down to whether you’ll be making calls or not and the answer will most likely be that all you care about is data.  If that is the case, you’re going to want to pick up a personal hotspot (pocket wifi) .   Taiwan’s rates are so cheap for unlimited use and the great thing about it is that you can share wifi with everyone in your group.

I reserved my device from a Chinese site called APTG that rents out WiFun and as unlimited data usage for $NT 100 per day (~$3.36 USD).  What I like about them is that you can actually get them to deliver it to your hotel ($NT 180 fee).  You just might need someone local to help you out.

If that’s a little complicated, there are also device rental shops right outside of arrivals at TPE.  The one I remember seeing is Unite Traveler (find them here ).

Before you leave home, here are a few apps that you should download to make your life on the road easier.

• TP Metro – Lightweight app by rGuide that has a map of the Taipei MTR for quick reference.
• Skype – This will be even more critical if you’re going with the personal hotspot option.  The few times we had to make calls, having credit with Skype definitely came in handy.
• Google Maps – The offline feature of Google Maps is helpful as a backup if the wifi dies (dead zone or out of battery).

One of the things I love about Asia and Taiwan in particular is how good they are with their luggage storage options.  This is super handy when you’ve got that awkward in between time from the point you check out into your hotel in the morning and you have to catch a train or bus to somewhere else but still want to explore without lugging it around.  That’s when those lockers really come in handy.

The traditional solution – The standard way to do this is to go to find a locker in a train station where there are usually large clusters of multi-sized lockers.  They’re not expensive and for instance Zuoying in Kaohsiung only cost $NT 50 for 3 hours.  You just have to remember to have cash on hand.  The challenge though is that if you’re not near the obvious places for lockers, it’s a bit of challenge to figure out where you can go.  The other thing to consider is size.  There’s no way of knowing whether the large lockers are available and what if you need somewhere to store something in a fridge?

The Airbnb of lockers – That’s where Lalalocker comes in.  Instead of hunting an elusive locker, all you have to do is check their platform to see what lockers are available in your area.  All you have to do is book your locker, show up, drop off your stuff, and pick it up when you need it.  It’s all part of the share economy where you’ll find locker locations anywhere from restaurants, stores, and hotels.  It’s completely safe, and the price is a flat rate of $NT 150 for large luggage and $NT 70 for small luggage for the whole day.

Store your stuff with Lalalocker

Going Awesome Places has an exclusive offer with Lalalocker. Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save $NT 30 per booking.

Book your storage locker

This really depends on what time of year you’re planning your Taiwan itinerary and I won’t list out everything we brought but I would recommend you read my previous packing lists for trips to Ireland , South Africa , Ethiopia , and Peru .

For Taiwan specifically, here are a few must-haves that you’ll want to pack and things to consider to make your life easier on the road:

• Power bank – A high capacity power bank such as Anker’s 20,100 mAh , is a must-have in my mind considering the fact that your phone will be your lifeline for on-the-fly translations, maps, transit, and last-minute searches.  The personal hotspot devices drain battery like crazy so you’ll need to charge them halfway through the day.
• Waterproof jacket – You never know when it’s going to rain and I sure was glad to have something like the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket and Pants with you.
• Booking your train tickets ahead of time – It was truly a blessing for us to have MyTaiwanTour help with reserving of all the main trains that could be booked based on our itinerary.

The 12 day Taiwan itinerary

This is how our 12 days looked like during our trip to Taiwan.  With this day by day breakdown, you’ll get a clear picture of everything that we did and all the spots that we hit up.  Where I can, I also provide personal travel tips (signified by ) so look out for those.

Between the energy of the dynamic urban cities, bustling of the famed night markets, colourful culture, fascinating history, incredibly friendly people, and dramatic landscapes, you’ll be amazed at just how much awesome can be packed in this island.

Interactive Map

The perfect way to start your trip and get over your jetlag is to arrive in the heart of Taiwan and start wandering.  Go and take in Taipei’s iconic landmarks, feed your hunger at the bustling night markets, and jump right into the colourful culture.

With limited number of days in Taipei, you’ll want to make it count and pick the places that interest you to help decide what you’d like to focus on.  You won’t be able to do everything but remember that you’ll have the rest of your trip to make up for it.

For me, since I had been to Taipei before, my focus was on places I hadn’t been to which meant cutting out a lot of the highlights that other guides will take you to (i.e. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, and Longshan Temple).  What you’ll see below are all the places we managed to hit up in the first day before there was nothing left in the tank.  The focus for the day was primarily food and also getting set up with things like the pocket wifi and EasyCard.

★  Elephant Mountain

The views from Elephant Mountain or Xiangshan are arguable the best in the city and very easy to get to as long as you have it mapped out ahead of time.  The path to it will seem a little obscure but once you come out of the subway, you’ll no doubt see other tourists making their way there.

The hike itself isn’t particularly long but I would recommend preparing yourself for some serious stair-master.  The ascent is a sheer 20 minute climb but thankfully there are lots of places to stop, benches to rest, and great views from the forest.

Elephant Mountain is but one of the peaks in a collection of trails that make up the Four Beasts Mountains.  That said, if you’re like me and primarily interested in that epic shot of downtown Taipei, just focus on hiking straight up until you reach the Six Giant Rocks to get those iconic photos of you on the rock.  There’s also big platform below the final steps up that is great for views.

TIPS: Sunset is the best time to go as you get the insane explosion of colours if the weather cooperates and past sunset you get the night skyline as well.

WHERE TO EAT

★ LUNCH: Yongkang Beef Noodle It would be a mistake not to try Taiwan’s famous beef noodle soup.  When I arrived, there was a modest line outside the restaurant but turnover is relatively quick here and I was seated within 10 minutes.  I ordered the non-spicy version of the beef noodles and spare ribs, both of which were PHENOMENAL.  The beef was perfectly cooked in juiciness and fat.  The noodles had also just the right amount of bounce.  #believethehype

★ SNACK: Smoothie House You can’t miss this when you walk along the famed Yongkang street.  This big yellow building at the corner is home to the mango shaved ice that CNN made famous (or at least that’s what the signs tell me).  I ordered the mango shaved ice and it was oh-so heavenly.  The shavings from the block of mango ice fluff onto a mountain which translates to a wonderfully light and melt-in-your-mouth taste that you can only equate to eating fresh snow off the ground.  If that wasn’t enough mango, you get real mangoes drizzled with mango sauce and then panna cotta to top it off.

TIPS: There’s not a whole lot of seating on the ground floor but what isn’t obvious is that there’s inside seating upstairs.

★ DINNER: Jing Mei Market In search of something a little bit more local and off-the-beaten-path, I was recommended to this night market in the southern part of Taipei.  I wanted a night market that wasn’t packed with tourists and I wanted to see where real locals ate.  I found it in this night market.  The streets weren’t overcrowded here, the food especially the octopus, fried sweet potato balls, sponge cake, and oyster omelette were all very good and noticeably cheaper than what you’d find in Shilin night market.  It’s not a large market but I quite enjoyed that it wasn’t overwhelming.

WHERE TO STAY

★  The Sonnien Hotel  (2 nights)

We couldn’t have asked for a better hotel to start the trip.  Modern, clean, and the most fluffy of beds, it was just the right size and conveniently located.

Walking distance to Yongkang Street and equidistant from Daan Park station on the Red line and Zhongxiao Xinsheng on the Blue/Yellow line, we had no trouble getting to everywhere we wanted to go our first two nights in Taipei.

The buffet breakfast included with our stay was also fabulous with everything from hot dishes like noodles, stir-friend vegetables, dim sum, salad, congee, and miso soup.  It was so good that I often regretted eating so much because there was so much other food to eat throughout the day!

TIPS: If you arrive super early in the morning like we did, I actually booked an extra night’s hotel so we wouldn’t be forced to hit the road right away.  Instead, the room was ready for us and I was able to take a nap.

CHECK RATES

Save money on your trip to Taiwan

I travelled through Taiwan primarily through the help of a local company on the ground called MyTaiwanTour .  They were the ones that booked my train tickets and hotels which made my life so much easier . They are an operator based out of Taipei and specialize in custom-tailored solutions and English-based packaged tours around Taiwan.  I highly recommend them!

Save 5% on tours with MyTaiwanTour by using code  WILL19.

After a day getting your fill of a few of Taipei’s highlights, it’s time to shake things up and head north.  What’s there you ask?  If you’ve ever wanted to launch your own sky lantern, explore the remains of a Japanese gold mine, and walk through streets that inspired Miyazaki’s classic “Spirited Away”, you’re in for a treat.  And yes, you get to do ALL of that in a day.

  A post shared by Will ✈🌐 GoingAwesomePlaces (@goingawesomeplaces) on Dec 5, 2017 at 2:58pm PST

★ Jiufen and Pingxi Day Tour with MyTaiwanTour

One of the things I love about Taiwan is that it isn’t very hard to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and get a big dose of charm, history, and culture in the northern towns.  Choosing MyTaiwanTour was a no-brainer as they made it really easy to book online and is the English speaking tour that we were looking for.

In our spacious van, our group of 7 spent the day exploring these spots:

• Jinguashi Mines :  Coming into Taiwan, I had little knowledge of its Japanese occupation past and this was my introduction to what is fascinating history.  Front and centre in the Shuinandong area are the remains of a very serious mining operation as you get to see from afar and close up the abandoned buildings, funicular, tunnels, and land-based smoke stacks.
• Golden Waterfalls :  Located just a bit further up from the mines, watch the water tumble down what really does look like a gold-laden waterfall.
• Jiufen :  Once a prosperous gold mining town, Jiufen is now a popular tourist destination known for being the inspiration of Myazaki’s “Spirited Away”.  Spend just a few minutes here and you can see why it has that enchanted quality to it.  Adorned with strings of red lanterns, old tea houses, and streets lined with delicious local treats, we were let loose here for lunch.  My only regret is that it we easily could’ve spent more time getting lost in its maze of alleyways.
• Shifen Old Street in Pingxi : If you’ve ever wanted to get the FULL experience of building a giant sky lantern from scratch, write your own wishes, and launch them to the heavens, consider your dreams fulfilled.  What makes this even more picture perfect is that you get to do this in a small town while standing in between live running train track.

We came out of the tour with a better appreciation for Taiwan’s history, our tummies filled, and our wishes delivered.  I would highly recommend this day trip as it’s one that would be very difficult to do on your own and I very much enjoyed the service of our guide and driver, Summer and Tom.

★ LUNCH: Jiufen Sure, Jiufen does get insanely packed with tourists, but we we didn’t let it bother us too much because we were hungry hippos on a mission.  Our guide, Summer, gave us a few tips on what to look out for and then we were unleashed!

Here is what we picked up along the way ( for our favs):

• Stinky tofu
•  Sweet glutinous balls
• Mochi on a stick
• A-Zhu peanut ice cream roll (九份阿珠雪在燒)
• Taiwanese meatball

Total damage?  $325 TWD which is equivalent to a $11 USD lunch for two.  DEAL!

★ DINNER: Shilin Night Market

This is perhaps Taiwan’s most famous and largest night market and with its grid of streets lined with a variety of traditional, western, and local cuisines and merchandise.  It’s very much a choose-your-adventure kind of experience where you’ll start off in one corner of the market and slowly make your way to the other side.  Just make sure to come with an empty stomach.

MyTaiwanTour was kind enough to give us the option for drop-off after our day trip and mentioned Shilin Night Market as an option.  We jumped on the opportunity because it is a bit of a distance from the Taiwan core and you really can’t say no.

TIPS:  Make sure to try fried pork buns, bubble tea, wild boar sausage, and octopus.  Beyond food, I highly recommend dropping a few coins on any one of the claw game booths, try your hand at one of the carnival games and the underground floor that is part of the covered section of Shilin.

Alishan is one of Taiwan’s most visited national park and for good reason.  Located way up above the clouds, it’s here that you’ll find the most magnificent terrain of giant red cypress trees that are more than 2,000 years old, Rivendell-like hiking trails, and trains from a different era.  This region is also well-known for its tea because it is grown at such high altitude.

The tricky thing about Alishan though is that it’s quite the journey to get there and one that isn’t necessarily the most clear when it comes to English instructions.  When constructing your itinerary, you’ll also quickly realize that you easily need to account for 2 days to make it work.  As a result, this day is dedicated to getting to Alishan which is quite the adventure on its own.

HOW TO GET THERE

There’s so much information about this that it really deserves its own dedicated article so make sure you read the full guide on everything you need to know about Alishan .

Since we elected to take the bus up to Alishan, we could have easily bypassed the small town of Fenqihu but I’m sure glad we didn’t.

Fenqihu is an old town that used to be a legitimate refuelling stop for the trains heading their way up to Alishan for what used to be a lumbering operation.   Today, it is mainly a rest stop for travellers that want to see the fascinating railway museum, the old street which features food specialities, similar to that of Jiufen, and most importantly their famous ‘Fenqihu bento box’.

TIPS:  There are lockers at the train station for $NT 30 for 3 hours which is perfect for your refuelling stop.

★ Sunset from Alishan House

Psst…I’ll let you in on a secret.  The sunsets from Alishan House are just incredible.  Now I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but whether you stay there or not, I would recommend sneaking inside and going up to the 8th floor observation deck .  If you’re lucky, you’ll see the sea of cloud that Alishan is known for.

I ended up showing up here towards the end of the sunrise because I wasn’t sure if the rain would dissipate but when I got there it did.  I had a mind-blowing 20 minutes filming a timelapse of the waves of clouds climbing the mountainside.

★ LUNCH: Fenqihu Bento Box Place

There’s probably a more proper name for this place but when you get to Fengqihu, everyone will know what you’re talking about and if not, just follow the posters of the bento box to a 7/11 along the main street.  You can either take a bento box to go for $NT 100 or eat in for $NT 120 for the authentic metal container experience.

The epitome of Taiwanese comfort food, it comes with a bed of rice with a pork chop, drumstick, tea egg, and a mix of fresh and preserved vegetables.  It was the perfect lunch, so much so that we started with one and ended up with two for the both of us.  If you decide to eat in, you can also have their mushroom and bamboo shoot soup.

TIPS:  If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, you can buy a metal bento containers for $NT 300 (includes the meal).  We were thinking about picking one up but they couldn’t confirm whether it was oven safe or not.

★ DINNER: Room Service at Alishan House

The truth is we were exhausted by the time we got to our hotel and it just seemed like too much work to take a shuttle back down to the train station where there were a number of local restaurants.  The restaurant at the hotel was also a little expensive for our tastes since it was a buffet ($NT 900 if I remember correctly).

If you’re curious, we ended up ordering fried rice and noodles from Alishan House’s room service but if we had a little bit more energy, I’m sure we could’ve had a better meal at the entrance to the park and near the visitor centre.

★ Alishan House

I’m not sure if I’d recommend staying anywhere else if you come to Alishan.  It’s one of the few properties that is inside the Alishan Forest Recreation Area and is most definitely the nicest.  For quite a reasonable nightly rate, you get a number of bonuses and conveniences that more than make up for the cost.

• Massive room that you can tell was recently renovated, has a huge bathroom, and complete with fireplace and balcony
• Hiking trails in the park start right from the hotel which means you don’t need to purchase additional train tickets from the Alishan station to Zhaoping station
• Complimentary shuttle service to and from the train station
• Convenience of purchasing sunrise train ticket from the front desk
• Willing to hold bags for you as you explore the next day
• The most decadent of breakfast buffets
• The observation deck is just awesome

A nice bonus is that each room comes with a single-serving of the region’s famous Alishan tea.

They say there are 5 wonder of Alishan but the most well-known of them all and the one that everyone goes crazy for is the sunrise.  There’s good reason for it as it’s apparently ranked #16 in sunrises around the world.  Now where that list comes from, I have no idea, but I heard it from the crazy local guy shouting to the crowd of sunrisers so it’s gotta be real right?

Now I can’t promise that you’ll see a sunrise there but what I can promise you is that the forest trails in the rest of recreational area are quite the magical experience especially when you get that moment by yourself and you feel that you can hear every pin drop.  Whether you’re watching the train run through what seems like an ancient track, you’re feeling puny standing beside giant trees that are actually ancient, or you feel like you’re in a scene lifted from the ancient forest of Mirkwood of the Woodland Realm 🤓.

Now what are the rest of the wonders of Alishan?  There’s the sunset, forest train, forest trains and cloud sea.  What I love about Alishan is that it’s not overwhelmingly large and with one day, you can easily see all the wonders and not feel like you missed out on anything else.

HOW TO GET TO THERE

For a detailed account of how the sunrise works, how to get back down to Chiayi, make sure you read the full Alishan Guide .

★ Alishan Sunrise

I have no doubt that when you can actually see a sunrise, the view is quite glorious.  We weren’t quite lucky enough due to the time of the year but that’s kind of how it goes!  That said, I do consider ourselves lucky that it wasn’t a total wash when it came to the views as the sky opened a few times and we also saw the forming and flowing of clouds in the valley beneath us.

The sunrise itself isn’t on any peak called Alishan but in fact an adjacent mountain called Chusan.  That is why you have to take a separate train from Alishan to Chusan station so you can rise up to an elevation of 2407 meters to look at the surrounding mountain range.

If you get hungry up there, there are a line of stalls that open specifically for the sunrise.  The food may not be very good but it’ll help tide things over until breakfast.

TIPS:   The sunrise position changes throughout the year.  In the winter time, the sun comes up towards to the right side and in the summer, it’s more towards the left side so pick a spot accordingly.

TIPS:   Tripods are allowed but just note that you’ll be jockeying with other people for space so be careful.  Also, you’ll notice that there’s a single tree near the middle and beyond the fence that will make it challenging how you want to frame your shot (to have the tree in your shot or not).  I started with a wide angle lens but eventually went for a longer lens to capture the detail in the clouds.  Just be prepared to adapt to the changing weather conditions.

★ Alishan Forest Trails

Beyond the sunrise, there’s a magical network of trails in the National Forest Recreation Area to be discovered where ancient trees stand tall and a narrow-gauge train runs through.  You’ll catch yourself wanting to take photos from every angle here as it’s photogenic everywhere you walk through.

For the full details of how we broke down our day between sunrise and hiking the Alishan forest trails, make sure to read Everything You Need To Know About Alishan .

In retrospect, coming to Taiwan in December and during low season worked out quite well for us in that it never felt like there were an immense number of people which was one of my biggest worries in reading about everyone else’s experiences.  The train ride up to Chusan wasn’t ridiculously packed, the trails were never lined with tourists, and the buses to and from the park were never full.  Now if you came during high season, I’m sure the experience would be a little different.

What we missed:  Giant Tree of Mt. Shuishan and extended hiking trails like the one up to Tashan

Besides the breakfast at Alishan House, we didn’t actually end up having a proper meal the rest of the day.  We just had a bunch of snacks that we had accumulated from the trip so far and things we picked up at 7-11 or Sushi Express takeout we grabbed at the Chiayi THSR station.

By the time we got to our hotel in Kaohsiung, we were both too lazy and tired to head back out.

★ Hoya Resort Hotel

This is a practically brand new hotel in Kaohsiung which was a nice surprise because the room was modernly decorated, very spacious, clean, and comfortable.  It’s also neighbour to the Kaisyuan and Jin-Zuan Night Market which is key because the truth is that it’s a little bit far from the centre of the city.  Just note that Kaisyuan is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Jin-Zuan is only open on the weekend.

I usually don’t complain too much about location but once you’re off the subway, there’s quite a long walk without a true sidewalk to get to the hotel or you have to hail a cab which isn’t very convenient.  As a result, we didn’t end up going back out the night we arrived.  My recommendation would be to find a hotel closer to the Zuoying THSR station or Formosa Boulevard Station (where you’ll find Dome of Light) to avoid the long commute especially if you’er only staying the one night.

The southern city of Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second-largest city is nothing like its bigger brother and that’s what makes it such a worthy destination.  Where Taipei feels packed in, aging, and sprawling, you immediate feel that there’s so much more breathing room here with its wider streets and modern urban landscapes of skyscrapers, airy cafes, gentrified spaces, bicycle lanes, and ferris wheels on the tops of malls.  There are less people rushing around, less cars on the road, and fewer people to be seen.

The biggest surprise of all was perhaps the vision the city had in converting a once-thriving industrial port into a hub of art, design, and entertainment.  With its graffiti, art installations, galleries, trendy cafes, and boutiques, it’s the perfect place to wander.  We kept making more and more discoveries here that what was supposed to be an hour-long stop turned out to be our whole afternoon.

This is your only day to explore the city before catching a shuttle bus down to Kenting so make the most of it!

★ Tiger and Dragon Pagodas

Feel down on your luck and looking for a way to turn things around?  Look no further than this beautiful twin pagoda.

Run into the dragon’s mouth and out of the tiger’s mouth, said no one…ever!  This little superstition has had locals and tourists alike running through to reverse one’s fortune for centuries.  Now whether you believe in luck or not, you’ll still be impressed with the extraordinary detail of the largest paper mache dragon and tiger you’ll ever see.

Climb up one of the pagodas to get a great view of Lotus Lake and the number of other pavilions that line the shore.

TIPS:   This is surprisingly difficult to get to mainly because it’s not on the subway line.  To save time, I would suggest taking the cab there.  We ended up commuting it and learned through a bit of trial and error that from Zuoying THSR station that you have to take the TRA train one stop south to Zuoying Station (I know, not confusing at all).  This is where the kindness of locals came in .

★ Pier 2 Art District

No one would’ve guessed that abandoned warehouses in Kaohsiung’s harbour would be the perfect spot for a quirky arts hub.  What they’ve done is truly remarkable by bringing in local artists to completely revitalize an area to become a fresh urban space to spark commerce, tourism, and creativity.

Get your camera ready and strike a pose because you’re going to have a ball roaming through the vibrant spirit of my favourite spot in the city.

TIPS:   If you keep going further down on Pier 2, eventually you’ll find SunnyHills which is a famous pineapple pastry shop in Taiwan.  Go inside and you’ll be offered tea and a sample of their cake.  It’s all free!

★ Dome of Light

Located in the Formosa Boulevard Station, the main interchange stop on the MRT, this glorious display of coloured glass is something that will make anyone stop and stare for those passing through.  What’s impressive about it is the scale of the public installation and how it feels like it belongs more in a Las Vegas casino than a subway station.  When you come here, make sure to see if you can spot the four themes of Water, Earth, Light, and Fire.

What we missed:  Cijin Island, Love River, and Ruifong Night Market 

WHERE TO EAT ★ LUNCH: Gang Yuan Beef Noodles

You can’t have enough beef noodles.  That is a fact.  Being in a new city, we wanted to try another favourite and were not disappointed. As far as beef noodles go, the noodles are perfectly cooked with the right amount of bounce, and the beef, a remarkable balance of fat, juicy, and tenderness.  Now if I were a judge, I’d say Yongkang Beef Noodle has the slight edge for the soup base and impossibly tender pieces of beef.

The menu is pretty easy to understand here as there aren’t many choices and as a bonus, since they do get many international visitors, they also have an English menu right up at the counter.

★ SNACK:  buonopops

If you’re looking for Instagrammable ice cream, this is the place but when it comes to how it actually tasted, I don’t know if I’d be able to recommend it.

★ DINNER:  A-Fei Restaurant

By the time we reached Kenting, it was quite late and so it was perfect that our hotel for the night also had its own restaurant downstairs.  This was in fact the first time on our trip we had a sit-down dinner.

We ordered fresh seafood paired with stir-fried vegetables, rice, and beer with live music in the background which made for the perfect end to our day.  A-Fei even came by to say hello and chat which was a nice welcoming touch.

Luckily, getting to Kenting is pretty straightforward.  When you’re at the Zuoying THSR station, look for a special booth that sells shuttle bus tickets to Kenting on your way down to metro station.  The good thing about this shuttle is that it is quite frequent (practically every 30 minutes from 8:30AM to 7:10PM).

There are two ways you can pay.

• Discounted roundtrip tickets – $NT 600 which has an open ended return date
• Pay with EasyCard – This is already discounted but you’d have to pay the amount of fare required for each leg you make.

If you’re desperate or missed the last bus, there is always the sketchy local people standing at the bus stop offering people direct rides to Kenting.

TIPS:   The roundtrip ticket is a pretty solid deal and definitely cheaper than paying through EasyCard.  The only downside is that you can’t use your EasyCard credit to pay.

TIPS:   If you have a luggage situation for your day trip exploring Kaohsiung, you can either leave your luggage at your hotel if it’s central enough or you can use the super convenient luggage lockers at the Zuoying THSR station.  It only costs $NT 50 for 3 hours (little more than $1.50 USD).

★ A-Fei Surf Inn (2 nights)

This was probably our big surprise hotel stay of the entire trip and I say that in a good way.  Locals and travellers make their way to Kenting because they want to do one of three things:  surf, beach, and party.  A-Fei ticks off all of those boxes.

We were kind of dropped into this world of A-Fei that pretty much offers everything you would want or need.  Want to go surfing?  He’s got the gear, the transportation, and instructors.  Want to go to the beach?  Nanwan Beach is right across the street.  Want to eat?  Breakfast is covered, and they’ve got fresh seafood cooked to order for lunch and dinner.  Want to party?  They have live music every night and a super friendly owner in A-Fei himself that loves hanging out with his customers.

I haven’t even mentioned our room yet which is uniquely decorated with an eclectic yet appropriate mix of memorabilia from west coast surfing USA, wood carvings from Bali, and decor reminiscent of Hawaii.  It’s a distinct hotel room that gives homage to the great surfing capitals of the world and has a chill vibe that made us feel at home.

Table of Contents

>> Day 6 – The Surf Challenge <<

Kenting occupies the most southern part of Taiwan and is the country’s very own beach vacation destination with long stretches of sand, big waves, turquoise waters, rugged high cliffs, and low hilly terraces.  Locals and travellers alike come to Kenting to escape and experience the outdoors in a carefree way.  With the humidity and temperatures up a notch, there’s plenty of activities to do.

For us, it was the first time we were able to shed our rain jackets and long sleeves and were able to trade them in for shorts and flip flops – a much welcome change to our fast-paced schedule.  In Kenting, we made the best of it with our mix of water and land-based fun.

★ Surfing with A-Fei Surfing

Staying at A-Fei’s was intentional in that we knew we wanted to go surfing in Taiwan at some point in time.  Kenting is the perfect place to do it we learned in the winter as the wind was coming in from a northeasterly direction which meant that Taitung would be too strong, leaving Kenting more favourable for beginners.

We let A-Fei and his team know that we wanted to surf the night before and we were pretty much all set to go after breakfast the next morning.  Practically everyone staying at A-Fei’s was surfing so we all got together at 9AM, grabbed our gear (rashgaurd, boots, wetsuit and board), and proceeded to load up a classic Volkswagen T40 hippie van.

Since the waves weren’t looking great across the street at Nanwan Beach, A-Fei decided that we would attempt the beach at Jialeshui which is also where he has his other surf shop and guesthouse (Nanu).  We got dressed at the Nanu shop and went down to the beach.

We had grand visions of riding surf like pros in Kenting but as we got down to the beach and received instructions for where we needed to paddle to, it quickly became apparent that we were in way over our heads.  With a no-fear mentality, we still jumped into the water with our boards and made it out to where we needed to be but the waves were simply too large for us and we floundered like poor helpless fish.  The paddle back to shore was even more difficult as the waves were pushing us into the rocky shore as we tried to maneuver around.  I ended up being smacked on the head with my board and my wife in the shin.

Overall, I thought the surfing operation was run quite smoothly end to end where as a group we got transport to the beach, had a place to store our clothes at the Nanu shop, could rinse off, and be driven back to Nanwan.  From the beach, I could see that the others were able to rock some serious surf.  You just kind of needed to know what you were doing.

Cost:  $NT 700 for gear rental (board, booties, and wetsuit)

TIPS:   If you’re a beginner like us but have done a few lessons already, let them know that you want to do the beginner surf or tag along one of the introductory lessons.  This way you only have to pay for rental but still be within sights of an introduction instructor.

★ Scooter Adventures

The best part about Kenting isn’t necessarily any specific beaches or sights but it’s the chance to live like a local and drive the most popular form of transportation.  You see scooters all over Taiwan but in the big city it’s a little overwhelming so when you get the chance to do it in the tropical south, you have to jump on the opportunity.

What we soon learned though is:

• Beyond the fun factor, you kind of need a scooter in Kenting because there isn’t much of public transit there
• It’s not very easy to rent a scooter as a foreigner – gas powered scooters require a special Taiwan license and battery powered scooters require experience

A-Fei suggested a nearby scooter shop which we visited but when they asked if we had ridden a scooter.  I replied honestly “no”.  Initially, they said it would be too dangerous for us but then called his boss and said that he would give us a lesson in their other store.

We got picked up and driven to their main store.  The lesson itself was pretty simple but I’m glad that they spent the time to teach me how to drive it, do things like make turns on streets, and what not to do.  They even watched me drive up and down the street.  Once we got the go-ahead, we signed some basic papers and we were on our way.

At this point it was already past 3PM so she charged us half a day’s rental for $NT 500 including the discount since we were guests of A-Fei’s.  The nice part is that they said we could return it anytime in the night since they live upstairs and that they’d be able to give us a ride back to our hotel.

We didn’t have too much time to explore all of Kenting on a scooter but did manage to hit up Sail Rock and Eluanbi Lighthouse before turning back around to do the night market.

TIPS:   Kenting is honestly hard to enjoy without a scooter or your own transportation simply because there isn’t much in the way of frequent-enough public transit.  Without a scooter, you’re more or less stuck in whatever part of town you’re in.

What we missed:  If we had more time, we would have loved to have done a full loop around Kenting and make more stops along the way.  ATV-ing was another popular Kenting activity that would’ve been fun to do.  

★ LUNCH: A-Fei Restaurant

A-Fei convinced us to have lunch at his restaurant downstairs which actually worked out quite well since our room is right above the restaurant.  Throughout the morning, he was telling us about his awesome pork and lamb dishes so we couldn’t refuse.

A-Fei hustles hard but he wasn’t kidding about how fresh and tasty his food is.  If you’re staying at A-Fei’s, it’s definitely a good idea to have at least one main meal there.

★ DINNER:  Kenting Night Market

There’s no livelier place in Kenting than the night market along the main downtown drag.  What’s incredible about it is that it’s the main artery through the town with regular car traffic passing back and forth but amidst it all are portable carts that get rolled in and massive crowds fill in once the sun goes down.

As far as the food goes, it’s a lot of the standard fare that you’re going to expect to see at any night market.  We had an assortment of pastry, fresh coconut, green onion cake, “sausage in a sausage”, bubble tea, and ice cream to round out our meal for the night.  There wasn’t anything unique per-say but it was a fun way to cap off our day and having our finger on the pulse of the town.

Continuing along the coastline, arrive in the city of Taitung.  On the onset, it may not feel remarkable as a destination on its own but stay a few days and you’ll slowly be able to unravel adventure, ecological, cultural and culinary gems that have led to it being dubbed as “garden of Taiwan”.

After a half day commute from Kenting to Taitung, we settle into our hotel for the night but the biggest surprise was to come.  I had read that paragliding was a popular activity in the region.  Having been yearning to do it for years now, I knew that I had to pounce on this opportunity.  With a contact I found online, we called to find out what the situation was.  Through my broken Mandarin, I learned that the winds were starting to change and that if we wanted to do it, it had to be that day.  We immediately packed our things and hauled ass out of there.

The paragliding experience was a dream come true for us.  Soaring through the sky with our feet dangling over the expansive farmland below and surrounded by the vastness of mountains and valleys, my fear of heights was immediately dashed.  The crazy thing is that I got to do it twice too.

Getting to Taitung

From Kenting, you have to take the shuttle bus back towards Kaohsiung but get off a little earlier in a place called Fangliao.  It’s here where you catch the local train that will take you straight into Taitung.

Getting to Luye Gaotai

Waiting for the tourist shuttle bus would have taken too long and so we got our hotel to hail a cab for us.  It cost us $NT 700 (~$24 USD) but we managed to get to paragliding spot by 3PM.

Getting Back to Taitung From Luye Gaotai

This was a bit of an unexpected adventure for us.  We knew from our printed bus schedules that there was one last tourist shuttle bus at 5:10PM.  We started our way down when we learned that there was a cheaper way back to Taitung via a train from Luye.  We got to the train station at 5:27PM but we soon learned that we had to wait until 6:40PM which gave us time to grab a spontaneous dinner with our new Taiwanese friend.  In retrospect we should’ve just stayed on the bus because we would’ve gotten back in the city by 6:30PM.

★ Soaring Paragliding (翱翔飛行傘)

The two places I knew we could do paragliding in Taiwan was near Taitung and Hualien.  With two days in Taitung, I knew that this was the best spot to do it and it worked out fabulously for us.  Perched up on a giant hillside, Luye Gaotai is the perfect place for paragliding with its cliff that overlooks a chessboard of farmland.

For the full experience, read more about it .

Cost: 

• $NT 2500 for a minimum 10 minutes or $1800 for 5 minutes ($60 – $84 USD)
• $NT 400 to rent an action cam (GoPro extendable stick free to rent if you bring your own device)
• Phone:  Mr. Chen +886-956 377 533
• Website:   Facebook Page

TIPS:   If you look online, you will no doubt find activity aggregators selling packages for paragliding but the truth is, there’s only one operator in the Luye Gaotai area and it’s Soaring Paragliding.  Also advisable to call a day before you get to Taitung to find out what the weather conditions are like.  It helps to speak Mandarin but with how friendly they are there, I’m sure you’ll be fine with English.

TIPS:   Make sure to bring your passport for registration purposes.

★ DINNER: Fried Chicken and Tofu

Another on-the-fly meal we had as a result of our transit improvising.  With the help of our local friend that we met along the way, he pointed out a popular fried chicken spot along the main street of Luye which turned out to be quite amazing.  The chicken was fried to perfection in that Taiwanese popcorn chicken flavour tossed with salt and pepper.  Equally as incredible was the fried tofu which was probably an even more of a surprise of the night.

★ MATA Indigenous Cultural Resort

I honestly have mixed feelings about this “resort”.  In seeing the name of the property, you’d expect that they’d have a full-fledged indigenous cultural experience available for guests but upon arrival, all we got from the receptionist was a feeling of “there might be a performance tonight…maybe?”

The property itself is beautifully built with a giant replica of a wooden boat used by one of the tribes and other various artifacts on display.  Outside, there’s also a large field that I can only presume is used as a stage for performances but perhaps it’s only used during high season or if there are large tour groups.

On one hand, I loved the hotel for its clean and spacious room, and amazing breakfast but couldn’t help feel shafted that we got absolutely no culture other than the visuals and CD that was played in the lobby.

TIPS:   Bike rentals are free for 3 hours but if you want to take it out for longer just let them know.  If they’re not busy, it shouldn’t be an issue.

>> Day 8 – Ridin’ in Taitung <<

Taitung is truly a remarkable stop along the journey around Taiwan as it faces the sea, is set against mountains and is rich in aboriginal heritage.  In fact, the city and its surroundings boasts the most prehistoric sites in Taiwan, which means there are many natural offerings and cultural centres that explore the long history of indigenous people.

While we would have liked to have visited one of these cultural centres, our schedule and timing meant that it wasn’t possible.  As a result, we decided to take our free bike rentals from the hotel and explore the city on two wheels.  This turned out to be a lot of fun, being able to leisurely weave through public spaces, parks, and the downtown area.  The best part of the day turned out to be the food.

TIPS:   Cultural centres are closed on Mondays so if you hope to visit them, schedule around this.

★ Taitung  Forest Park & Seashore Park

These two parks are perfectly designed for the bicycle.  With its expansive network, you’re free to wind through the park and experience Taitung’s laid back lifestyle and clean ocean air.  The most surprising parts here are certainly the undeveloped rocky seashore which has quite the unique view, an enormous man-made lake that is popular for swimmers and rowers, and birds nest-like lookout platform.

Entrance fee:  $NT 30 for the Forest Park

TIPS:   If your hotel doesn’t have bike rentals, the forest park has bikes for rent for $NT 100 for 3 hours.

★ Old Taitung Railway Station

In the centre of the city is the old train station that used to run through.  It’s an open-air museum/art village with the remains of an old train that you can climb into, and a repair terminal complete with the remains of signal lights.  In the surrounding space, you’ll also see the development of new art spaces that are just in the final stages of building.

What we missed:  Sights along the East Coast Line: Xiauyeliu Scenic Area(小野柳), Jialulan(加路蘭) Donghe Steamed Buns(東河包子), Amis Folk Center(阿美民俗中心), and Sanxiantai(三仙台遊憩區).  

★ LUNCH:  Rong Shu Xia Rice Noodles (榕樹下米苔目)

This restaurant is highly recommended in Taitung and with good reason.  Along one of the main drags of the city, this place is hard to miss with its long lines that wind out from the restaurant.  What makes this place special is its rice noodles which have the thickness of udon and freshness of hand-pulled noodles.  They’re also special in that they’re very short and in an elongated teardrop shape.

The ordering process is a bit different than what you might be used to but essentially while in line, you have to fill out a piece of paper.  You also need to have a table number by the time you order so if you can, get your partner to grab a seat somewhere first.  Drinks are also pre-made so after you order you grab them from the person working by the refrigerator.  Sounds complicated I know but you’ll figure it out eventually.  They also have English menus so ask for that if you don’t get one right away.

Other must-try items are the local pork with vegetables (side dishes behind the glass display) and the pineapple iced tea.

★ SNACK:  Chen’s Mochi

If there’s a king of mochi, I think I’ve found it.  Look through the glass window and watch the mochi masters knead fresh sticky rice flour and roll them into balls to the eventual final product.  They serve up the most delicious of sticky rice desserts with my favourite fillings including black sesame, peanut, and red bean.

TIPS:   If you miss Chen’s in Taitung, don’t worry because there’s always Hualien which is also well-known for mochi.

★ DINNER:  Dongdamen Night Market

This was perhaps the most disappointing of night markets.  Ironically it was probably the most organized, with the night market on a dedicated plot of land, wide streets, and permanent stalls.  To me, it lacked the grunginess of night markets, character, and a little bit of the chaos.   We also showed up late in the night which meant the streets weren’t very busy.  Personally, I think I prefer large crowds at night markets because it also means there’s quick turnover of food and nothing sits for too long.

Where we actually wanted to go was  Dai’s Dumpling but when we got there, it was closed for the holidays.

★ Azure Hotel

The check-in process was very smooth, and the room was 4 to 5-star calibre.  What made this hotel a great to place to stay was the fact that it is on the main street that runs through Hualien which means everything is walking distance.  And then there’s the breakfast buffet which is as good as any other that you’ll see in Taiwan except it also has its own DIY noodle bar – the cherry on top!

Since we knew we were going to do a two day hike through Taroko, we spent the evening re-organizing our packs to only carry the essentials.  For everything else, we stuffed another backpack to leave behind.  The hotel was great in allowing us store this bag for an extra night.

TIPS:   To get to the hotel from the train station, there’s no easy way with the bus so hop on a cab once you arrive in Hualien.

Taroko, in the local Truku aboriginal language, means “magnificent and beautiful”.  When you set your eyes on mountainous landscape, bio-diverse vegetation, turquoise rivers, and marble-walled canyons, you’ll see why this is one of Asia’s top scenic wonder.

There are magic places in the world.  This is one of them.

While many travellers take one of the stream of tour buses that come through the main gate and jam all the sights in a day, we wanted to do something a little more unconventional. Everyone’s seen photos of the 18km stretch of Taroko Gorge that make it to postcards but few have seen it from the point of view of the indigenous tribes that still live in the tranquility of the mountains.  With our 2 day trek up to the villages of Datong and Dali, there was the promise of us being able to dig deep into local culture and take in a slice off nature that travellers rarely ever see.

★ 2-Day Guided Hiking Tour 

If your goal in Taroko National Park is to hike through challenging terrain, interact with indigenous tribe members, and take in incredible mountain scenery way above the clouds, this is the activity for you. It is by no means easy, so my word of caution is that if you want to do this trek, you need to be physically fit and have some experience with long hikes with long portions of uphill and downhill.

The hike doesn’t have a specific name that you can look for but what it is a chaining of several trails that ultimately take you up to the villages of Dali and Datong before you descend back down to the end of the Shakadang Trail.

Your first day in Taroko consists stair climbing along Dekalung Trail, a visit to Dali Village, before meandering through the side of the mountain along an old logging road.  All of this leads to the arrival of a B&B built by a local Truku tribe member, named Dadao.  With diminishing sunlight, you’ll be able to look out into the nearby mountain peaks, mystical clouds, and Datong village below.

After settling in and showering (yes there is running water!), your host cooks a fabulous dinner.

My favourite part was sitting around of the campfire and having simple conversation with the guide translating for us while sipping on a cup of hot tea and listening to the crackle of the firewood.

Hiking Trails:  Dekalung Trail -> Dali Trail ->  Shakadang Logging Road

• This tour was booked through MyTaiwanTour and the details are as follows:
• Hiking permits
• Transportation (pick up and drop off)
• 1 night accommodation at the tribe B&B
• Dinner and breakfast
• Travel insurance

Cost:  

• 1 person: $NT 22,600
• 2 people total: $NT 24,800
• 3 people total: $NT 27,000
• 4 people total: $NT 28,700

TIPS:  Your guide picks you up and will park at the national park overnight.  This means that you don’t actually need to store your bags at your hotel.

★ LUNCH:  7-11 Food

Before heading into Taroko National Park, we made a stop at a 7-Eleven and picked up additional supplies for our trek.  We stocked up on water and also a few onigiri (Japanese rice triangles) which is perfect hiking food.  Plus we had extra mochis from Chen’s.

★ DINNER:  Cooked by Ah-Ma 

I don’t know if we were just ridiculously hungry but our 7-course meal hit all the right spots.  With fresh supplies brought from the city, Ah-ma cooked an assortment of salmon, chicken, fresh vegetables, tofu, and soup that was clearly too much for the 4 of us.  What amazed me was how she was able to cook such delicious dishes even with the limited amount of supplies, equipment, and appliances.

★ Truku Tribe B&B

Considering you’re high up in the mountains and away from civilization, it’s a marvel that a house of concrete, wood, and corrugated metal sheets could even exist.  I had pretty low expectations of the B&B before coming but was surprised to learn that they had running water, hot water tank, a proper toilet, electricity for lights, and propane for cooking.  To top that, the dorm rooms are fashioned similar to Japanese ryokans with clean laminate flooring, sliding doors and furnished with mats, blankets, and pillows.  Sure it’s not a 4-star hotel but more important to me was the hospitality of the host and that surprised us with the luxury of shower and toilets.challenging

To temper your expectations, you have to understand that the B&B is a structure built by Dadao himself for the express purpose of being able to host hikers.  This means that this isn’t a representation of what a real village home is like.  The other thing is that this home is perched high up in the mountains away from any other villagers so you’re also not going to be amongst a community of Truku families.

This day is about contrasts.  The views you get at the top of the mountain dramatically change as you make your way back down to the blue-green Shakadang river which is filled with large perfectly-round boulders, and jagged walls of marble.

You’ll feel pretty gross by the end of it all but when you finally get back to Taipei, that shower you take will be the best thing ever.

★ 2-Day Guided Hiking Tour

The second day of hiking is possibly even more challenging than the first because a section of the hike takes you through a trail that has typhoon damage.  On top of the on and off rain, and muddy conditions we had, there are a number of natural and man-made obstacles you’ll need to ninja through.  None of it is particularly dangerous but you’ll want to make sure you watch your step.  I came out of it with my legs completely shot and feeling wobbly every time I stopped for a break.

The best part of the day was when we finally made it to the Shakadang Trail after 3.5 hours of downhill punishment.  I remember holding up my arms in the air and shouting “WE DID IT!!!” in relief.

Along this famous trail is where we got our first glimpse of the beauty that Taroko National Park is known for – naturally carved out canyons where turquoise water pass through rock overhangs and multi-coloured marble boulders.  Along the way, there’s also a small Truku tribe market place where we devoured the best sausage of the entire trip.

Highlights of what you’ll see:

• Liwu mountain peak with views of the ocean on the other side
• Datong Village
• Dramatically changing scenery as you make your way down
• Shakadang Trail

Hiking Trails:  Datong Village Trail -> Tongli Trail -> Trail down to Sanjianwu -> Shakadang Trail

TIPS:   The mountain is always 2-3 degrees cooler than at ground level so make sure you prepare your layers when packing for a trek like this one.  You also never know when you might get hit with rain so you’ll also want to pack the appropriate waterproof gear which at a minimum should include a jacket, waterproof shoes, and rain cover for your bag.

★ Ximending Youth Shopping District

With its abundance of bright lights, shops lining the maze of streets, trendy shopping, and a nightlife, it’s no wonder that it’s been called the “Harajuku” of Taipei.  Unlike a traditional night market, there’s more than food here which makes it a great place to wander.

★ BREAKFAST:  Tribe Breakfast

Ah-Ma cooked another great meal for us that was way more food than we could finish.  It was all the energy we needed to last until dinner as we had quite the catchup we needed to do on our way down.

★ SNACK:  Shakadang Trail Sausage

Whether you do the Shakadang Trail on your own or as part of a trek, you MUST stop at this stall for these home-made sausages.  With a magical mix of ginger, honey and who knows what else, you won’t find this anywhere else in Taiwan.

★ DINNER:  Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle

This shop is impossible to miss with its large crowds of tourists either slurping away or queueing in anticipation.  The good news is that the lines move very quickly as they efficiently fill up bowl after bowl.  What makes them special is that they make a unique style of rice noodle that is completely different from the ones we had in Taitung.  Extremely thin and flat, these noodles are similar to some of the noodles you find in Vietnamese Pho but in a thick and somewhat gelatinous soup base.  Mixed in the broth are diced bits of pork intestines which may turn some off but is honestly as indistinguishable as tendon or tripe in pho.

Taking the train back to Taipei turned out to be a bit more of an adventure than we expected mainly because we took way too long to get back down and we missed our originally booked train.

The way the drama played out is our original train was supposed to be at 4:30PM but by the time we left Taroko National Park, it was already 3:45PM.  Rushing to the Hualien train station, our guide tried to get our tickets switched to a later train but were told that we could either swap them for a slower train that would arrive late in the evening.  Otherwise, if we wanted anything earlier, we would have to forfeit these tickets and get them ourselves.  Not wanting to get into Taipei so late especially considering how long of a day we’ve had already, we made the no-brainer decision to buy new train tickets for $NT 340 per person ($11 USD).

★ WESTGATE Hotel (2 nights)

We couldn’t have asked for a better hotel in Taipei.  Located right at the doorstep of Ximending and seconds away from the subway, it was overly convenient to get around the city and at the end of the day, we could always come back to the hotel and get our fill of more food and snacks before heading home.

Upon entering the hotel, you immediately notice that the boutique and modern lobby is both welcoming and luxurious.  From the check-in to check-out the staff were extremely courteous and friendly, willing to help at every turn.  What I loved about the property is how one-of-a-kind artwork can be found all over including my favourite sculpture of two boys free falling off Taipei 101 with their suitcase in hand.

The rooms themselves are spacious and a modern open concept where we felt immediately at home after a weary day of travel.  The bathroom is elegant and clean while the bedroom is cozy, and beds overly comfortable.

For breakfast, expect to be tempted with plenty of tasty Asian and Western foods, and great service from the wait staff.

With one final full day in Taiwan, there are a lot of options open to you but if your preference is to take it easy and end on a relaxing note with a dash of excitement, pull off an unconventional day trip that combines the best of what Taipei has to offer.

Wulai is a mountainous district south of Taipei.  It’s known for its old street, hot springs, natural sights, and the area’s indigenous Atayal people.  It’s an easy day trip from Taipei that gets you out of the city and into a place that is very walkable, easy to explore, and not too crowded.

If there are other things that you want to check out, treat this as a free day.  There are a lot of choices here so if you’re looking for a few ideas, here’s what we were also contemplating:

• Hiking Teapot Mountain
• Beitou Hot Springs (i.e. SweetMe Hotspring Resort)
• Hiking Yangmingshan
• Yehliu Geopark
• Danshui/Tamsui Old Street
• Maokong Gondola
• Everything else in Taipei you might not have seen such as the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek  Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, other night markets

★ Tai Chi at Muzha Zhongshun Temple (木柵忠順廟保儀大夫)

Every morning, there are temples all over Taipei where the local community gets together to practice Tai Chi.   Instead of paying for lessons, why not join one of these sessions and try your best not to embarrass yourself while at the same time, learn how hard it is.  What looks like a moving form of yoga and meditation is actually a fluid art of motion with its ying-yang balance of dance and martial arts while all in slow motion.

Now it will be pretty daunting to jump into one of these sessions if you don’t know anyone but thankfully we had someone like Joshua from MyTaiwanTour to introduce us and give us permission to film the experience.  Comfortably at the back of the group, we did our best to imitate the experienced Tai Chi-ers, occasionally tripping on my own feet and stopping to stare at the combination of pushing and parrying.

A little bit about Joshua Samuel Brown

Joshua is someone I was extremely grateful for during my travels in Taiwan.  He was instrumental in providing tips on local spots to explore in the country and we were also lucky enough to have him show us around a few spots you might’ve seen from the Taiwan in 12 Days YouTube series .  Joshua is the former Editor-in-Chief at MyTaiwanTour , acclaimed author of the upcoming Formosa Moon, co-author of numerous Lonely Planets, all-around expert in Taiwan, and just a great guy.  Make sure to read the Joshua Samuel Brown blog which has a true local’s perspective of the country and much more!

With how friendly the Taiwanese are, you can easily find a local temple to visit and find out whether they’d welcome a drop-in student.

Schedule:  Everyday at 8:30AM – 10AM

★ Wulai Old Street

The old street of Wulai is a short distance but packs in quite a number of things.  If you enjoy street food, left and right you’ll find a ton of different shops that sell snacks, drinks and cooked food.  You’ll also find several independent shops specializing in clothing, art, foods, and crafts.

Another interesting fact about Wulai is that it’s the closest accessible aboriginal village from Taipei which makes it a great place to learn about the fascinating culture and people of the Atayal tribe with the Wulai Atayal Museum.

Don’t forget to walk around and outside of the street to find attractions such as Wulai Falls and Yunxian Playground.

★ Yen Town Hot Springs

Along the old street of Wulai, you’ll find this hidden gem and the perfect hot springs for my wife and I.  Many hot springs in Taiwan are of the onsen (Japanese hot springs) variety where male and females are split, and are nude.  Understanding that this may not be comfortable for everyone, it is actually a challenge to find hot springs that are couple friendly, aren’t crowded, and have clean facilities.

All you need to bring with you to Yen Town is your swimwear, a shower cap and you’re all set.  In this intimate and beautifully set hot spring, you’ll find a rejuvenating set of pools that vary from ice cold to 40C+.  To mix things up, you’ll also find an open air room temperature swimming pool, intense pulsating showers, and lane of rounded pebbles for feet therapy.

Price:  $NT 400 per person

TIPS:   Yes you read that right, in Taiwan it is mandatory to wear head caps to cover your hair.  Yen Town expect for you to have your own.  This means you can either purchase one or come prepared with basic shower caps from the hotel.

TIPS:   A custom that is strictly enforced here for sanitary reasons is to rinse your feet with the water from the pool before entering.

The convenience of WESTGATE Hotel meant that we had to take advantage of it with our daily walk around to see what fun boutique shops we could find and other treats we could buy.

★ LUNCH:  Local Aboriginal Restaurant on Wulai Old Street (烏來小吃店)

There isn’t exactly an English name for this restaurant so I’ve included the Chinese name which you’ll see in the sign.  It’s actually right across from the Wulai Atayal Museum.  This is a restaurant cooked by aboriginal locals and is a chance to try a variety of dishes that are hard to find elsewhere.

Not knowing what was good there, we tried an assortment of fish, vegetables, soup, pork, and rice that turned out to be quite good.  The highlight was definitely the rice cooked in bamboo and the fried fish.

★ DINNER:  Aquatic Addiction Development

Aquatic Addiction Development (AAD) is quickly becoming a must-see place for seafood-loving foodies.  Carved out of the Taiwan Fish Market, this is a brand new and modern type of market that has a little bit for everyone.  Near the entrance you have what looks like a wholesale area with tanks filled with fresh catches.  From there, you step into the main section of AAD which is a cross between a really up-scale supermarket and sit down sushi and seafood bar.  Upstairs, there’s a hotpot restaurant and then you have the entire outdoor wing of the market which has more food, another restaurant, and additional seating.

We ended up ordering a tray of salmon sashimi, scallops and Calpis for $NT 590 ($20 USD).

TIPS:   You’d think a market like this accepted credit card but it doesn’t.  Make sure to bring enough cash.

★ DINNER:  Prawn Fishing (全佳樂釣蝦場) You can’t leave without doing the favourite past-time of Taiwanese.  Indoor shrimp fishing has become a popular form of entertainment, transforming something that is still an important industry into sport.  Huddling around a smoke-filled room centred around a shallow pool, serious pros and wannabe anglers wait patiently for bobbing buoys.  Beneath the depths of the bubbling water are large prawns waiting to steal your bait.

Okay, I admit it’s probably not for everyone but for something that you won’t find anywhere else in the world, you just have to experience it for yourself.

This is how it works.  You essentially purchase fishing game time and starts at 1 hour and goes up to 3 hours.  Dried shrimp bait and custom fishing rods are provided and the rest is up to you to catch as many as you can in the time you paid for.  When you’re done, the shop owner cooks the prawns on a skewer dusted with salt.

It’s a bit of a test of patience that Anthony Bourdain clearly didn’t have much of in Season 2 of The Layover .  Don’t expect your tummies to get filled here but the satisfaction of catching anything at all is something to rejoice here.  In the hour we were there, we caught 6 but the owner felt pity for us so he topped it up to 10.

Address:   台北市中山區錦州街190號

Cost:  Starts at $NT 300 for an hour

TIPS:   HAH got none for ya.  Good luck!

Getting to Wulai

Take the MRT all the way to the Xindian Station (last stop on Green Line 3) and find Bus Stop B located along Beiyi Road (北宜路一段).  Wait for bus 849 bound for Wulai and all you have to do is get off at the last stop.

Depending on when your flight leaves, you may or may not have time to squeeze in one last bit of Taiwanese goodness before you go.  The best souvenir to bring home for friends and family in my opinion is pineapple pastry since it’s something that just isn’t as good outside of Taiwan.

You’re probably wondering, well can’t you get pineapple pastry at any Asian supermarket?  Yes, that’s true but all of these are packed with preservatives and as a result contain smaller traces of pineapple.  The real stuff from Taiwan is made with fresh ingredients and will only last 2-4 weeks before expiring.  That’s why I recommend buying these squares of sweet goodness on your last day so you have a chance to pass it along to friends and family.

TIPS:   Remember to get your tax refund before you go through security/customs.  At the primary international terminal (T2), go down one level from departures and you’ll find it.  SunnyHills is also on this floor.

★ Chia Te Bakery

Perhaps the most famous pineapple pastry bakery in town and while they make a variety of Chinese bakery goods, people from all over the world come here for one and one thing only – pineapple pastry.  These are made in the traditional style where these square-sized desserts are filled with mildly sweet and moist strings of pineapple and surrounded by a soft, buttery crust.  There is only one store and they’ve been open since 1975.

★ SunnyHills

You’d think one bakery was enough but you really have to try the modern, and some say, better take on pineapple pastry.  SunnyHills is everything that Chia Te isn’t.  Where Chia Te is reminiscent of your typical no-nonsense Chinese bakery with bright lights, shelving with product, and queue for the cashier, SunnyHills is a much more refined, contemporary experience where it is more of a tea house than it is a bakery.

When you enter one of their stores, you’re greeted with friendly service staff and even before promoting any product, they get you seated.  This is when they serve you a complimentary cup of tea and one of their products.  This gives you a chance to use all of your senses to appreciate their food.  When you’re ready, you go up to the counter and place your order.  You’ll most likely be buying pineapple pastry and when you do, it comes in a beautiful packaged box and a recyclable linen bag.  Like I said, it’s very much an experience.

Focusing in on the pineapple cake itself, what makes it different from Chia Te is in its shape which is rectangular, the density of the crust, and the filling a bit more tangy.  Some say it’s more fresh than the competition but I think it’s all in your taste preferences.

TIPS:   If you qualify for tax refund, the staff will let you know and they have a separate desk to help you with the filling out of the form.  Officially, I believe purchases over $NT 3000 are eligible for tax refund but we were able to get it with a purchase of $NT 2680.  This is good for a 5% VAT tax rebate at the airport.

TIPS:   If you don’t care for the in-store experience of SunnyHills, note that there is a storefront at the airport.  The difference is that at the airport, they only stock the box of 10 and not the box of 16.

★ LUNCH:  Din Tai Fung (Original Xinyi Location)

It would be almost embarrassing to leave Taiwan without going to their internationally-famous Ding Tai Fung.  Known for their great-tasting xiao long bao (soup dumplings), it’s the kind of perfection that I haven’t been able to find replicated anywhere else and that includes Shanghai where it is known to have originated from.

If you come early enough  (10:20AM in our case), you’ll be able to get a table pretty quickly.  Otherwise, expect to take a number and wait awhile.

★ SNACK:  Ice Galaxy

There were a whole bunch of other dessert spots that we wanted to hit up in Taiwan but with literally 15 minutes left before our airport pick up, I ran over to the closest shaved ice restaurant in Ximending which turned out to be Ice Galaxy.  They’re not famous per say but it still lived up to my expectations for shaved snow packed with mango.

If we had more time we would have liked to have visited Roji Shaved Ice or Bingzan.

Here is the compilation of everywhere that I stayed on my trip and would highly recommend

SONNIEN HOTEL

Conveniently located hotel where I stayed at the beginning of my trip to Taiwan.  This was a super clean and spacious property that included a fabulous breakfast as well.  Couldn’t have asked for more.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

WESTGATE HOTEL

Right next to Ximending in Taipei, this is equally a great hotel to stay at in Taipei.  Sonnien Hotel was already pretty modern but WESTGATE takes it up a notch.  They have an amazing breakfast as well.

ALISHAN HOUSE

The nicest property in Alishan for sure, we were given this extravagant double king-sized bed complete with balcony and fireplace.  It’s also located in the best spot to do your hike around Alishan.

HOYA RESORT HOTEL

One of the newer properties in Kaohsiung.  While it was extremely comfortable and spacious here including a smashing breakfast, I did find that it was a bit further from the action that I would’ve liked.  That said, it is right next to a night market!

A-FEI HOTEL

Some call it a hostel but it’s really a hotel right by Nanwan Beach in Kenting.  You’ll typically find the owner, A-Fei, who is a blast to be around.  This is the perfect place for surfing as well since they have their own lessons and gear rental.

MATA INDIGENOUS CULTURAL RESORT

Quite the unique property that focuses on Taitung’s heritage of indigenous cultures.  The rooms are nice but the star feature are the displays and shows that they offer.  They have a great breakfast and they offer free bike rentals.

AZURE HOTEL

Centrally located hotel in the city of Hualien.  Loved their breakfast as they had their own noodle bar.  The room was quite modern, comfortable, spacious, and clean as well.

TAROKO NATIONAL PARK

TAROKO MOUNTAIN HIKING HOMESTAY

Not exactly something you can book off the cuff but if you work with a company like MyTaiwanTour, they can put together a custom trip to trek up to the mountains of Taroko and stay with someone like Ah-Ma!

MyTaiwanTour

Taiwan may be a small country, but it’s big on heart, is guaranteed to fill your tummies with delight, and will surprise you over and over again with its amazing activities and attractions.

As I mentioned in the beginning, this guide is really only meant to be a starting point for your planning.  As a trip planner myself, I’ve always found that it’s way easier to see what someone else has done and go from there.  Feel free to make changes to it and tweak it to your liking based on what you’re interests are and your travel style.

Enjoy and do let us know how your trip goes!

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Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts . Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key ).

Tours: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

• HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks.
• RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
• SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
• Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
• InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

This trip was sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Association but all opinions are my own because I had one amazing time there and I seriously need to share this with the world!

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About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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Ultimate Taiwan Itinerary For 2 Weeks – Cities, Nature & Food

Table of Contents

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Looking for a Taiwan itinerary that includes cities, street art, hiking, food markets and culture? Whether you’re browsing for a potential future trip or already have it booked, I’m extremely jealous. My 2 weeks in Taiwan were spectacular: full of hiking, eating and culture. In fact, Taiwan was favourite new destination of 2019 and it had South Korea, Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic to compete with. Not only is Taiwan colourful, friendly and extremely beautiful, but it’s also very affordable. Oh, and Taiwanese food is to die for! In this guide, I’m going to share my Taiwan itinerary including the best destinations around the island. I’ll tell you what to see, do and eat in each place and share my transport tips for getting around, as well as general Taiwan tips and inspo.

Check out my other 2 week Asia itineraries to Malaysia , Vietnam , Bali and South Korea .

Planning your Taiwan itinerary

As you can see from the map, the majority of the popular locations are on the coast. For that reason, I’d recommend travelling around Taiwan in a circular direction . I flew into and out of Taipei, visiting the attractions on the east coast first, reaching Kaohsiung (Taiwan’s second-biggest city) in the south midway through my trip, and finally seeing the west coast attractions en route back to Taipei. Another option is starting in Taipei and leaving from Kaohsiung, or vice versa.

TAIWAN ESSENTIALS Accommodation  – Booking.com / Hostelworld Getting around – car hire / bus / train ( 12Go ) Activities: GetYourGuide / Viator Guidebook: Lonely Planet Taiwan Staying connected: Taiwan e-SIM card / Asia e-SIM (inc Taiwan)

How long to spend in Taiwan?

With two major cities, several historic smaller cities, beaches and hiking opportunities aplenty, I’d suggest spending 2 weeks in Taiwan to see a bit of everything. If you have less time, it’s probably better to base in Taiwan then Kaohsiung and take day trips to the other destinations mentioned.

2 week Taiwan itinerary overview

• Days 1-5 – Taipei 
• Days 6-7 – Hualien and Taroko National Park
• Days 8-9 – Kaohsiung
• Dys 10-11 – Kenting National Park OR Tainan
• Days 12-14 – Taichung.

How to get around Taiwan

When spending 2 weeks in Taiwan, you’ll probably wonder how to get around. Taiwan is a relatively small island and, thanks to the speedy rail network , it’s easy to move about. Unlike other Asian countries where gruelling night buses are the norm, you’ll never spend more than a few hours in transit. Train is the best way to get around during your Taiwan itinerary. They’re modern, clean and efficient. You can book regular trains on the Taiwan Railways website but personally I could never get it to accept my payment card. While you can usually turn up at the train station on the day and get a seat, you’ll want to be careful during peak periods and weekends. To avoid disappointment, book your tickets the day before at the train station. High-Speed Trains in Taiwan are more expensive but faster. Unlike regular trains, these can easily be booked online using 12Go , my favourite website for Asia travel.

As of 2024, Klook also have 30% discount voucher on fast trains!

How to get around cities

Metro: the MRT is the best way to get around Taipei. There are 6 lines servicing 83 stops. Journeys cost between 20 and 65 NT$, payable by cash or card at ticket machines. You’ll receive a blue token to access the barriers. Alternatively, you can get multi-day Taiwan metro passes or an EasyCard to reduce the hassle of buying a ticket each time. 

Bus: this is another convenient way to explore Taiwanese cities especially outside of Taipei where there’s no Metro system. 

Taxi: these are readily available in Taiwanese cities and not overly expensive, although certainly more than public transport. You can go to an ibon machine in any 7-11 store to order one. 

Tip – get an EasyCard before you begin your Taiwan itinerary. You’ll get a discount on MRT, bus and ferry journeys plus you can pre-load credit to save time on buying individual tickets. Buy yours now to pick up at the airport.

Stay connected with a Taiwan SIM card

Especially as a solo traveller in Taiwan , you may want to stay connected. I recommend an Airalo e-SIM that you can download to connect as soon as you land. Browse packages from 7-30 days from $4.50 or, if you’re visiting other countries on your trip, check out Airalo’s Asialink card covering 18 countries including Taiwan.

Days 1-5: Taipei

Does five days in one city sound excessive? Trust me, you’re going to need it if you want to see Taipei to its fullest and explore the surrounding area. There are some awesome day trips so it’s worth basing there for a good few nights. If you’re tight on time, I’d recommend tours with GetYourGuide or Viator as you can visit several places during one day. The same places will take multiple days to explore via public transport.

Where to stay in Taipei

• Hostel: For a top-rated hostel in Taipei centre, it doesn’t get much better than Flip Flop Hostel Garden. This spacious hostel is filled with natural light and includes a shared lounge, sun terrace, tour desk and kitchenette. Check availability from $21 .
• Budget hotel: for a clean and conveniently located budget hotel in the heart of Taipei, stay at Iff In. Rooms come with daily housekeeping, coffee makers, a desk and a TV.  Check availability from US$45 .
• Mid-range: Just 5 minutes from Taipei Main Station and the Artist Village, K Hotel Tianjin features air-conditioned rooms, a 24-hour front desk, delicious breakfast, and facilities for disabled guests. Check availability from US$72 .
• Splash-out: With a fabulous outdoor pool, lounge area, fitness centre, terrace, bar, and restaurant, the views alone make a stay at Hilton Taipei Sinban worth it. Each modern room has a city view and includes an abundant buffet breakfast. Check availability from US$222 .

Read next: 3 and 5 day Taipei itinerary for first-timers

Taipei is such a colourful and diverse city. I didn’t have huge expectations simply because it’s not as well known as other Asian capitals like Seoul and Bangkok . However, I ended up liking it as much if not more. Exploring the gaming arcades and quirky cafes of Ximending couldn’t be more different to hiking in Yangmingshan National Park and visiting old-fashioned Jiufen Village. In Taiwan , the modern and traditional meet perfectly. Foodies will also be impressed by the number of night markets, authentic Taiwanese restaurants and modern, hipster cafes. I could easily imagine living in Taipei and not running out of things to do.

Getting to Taipei

Fly into Taoyuan International Airport . I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights.

From the airport to the city, catch the Taoyuan Airport MRT (6am-11pm) to Taipei Main Station on the purple Jichang Line (40 minutes) for NT$160. Alternatively, take the 1968 or 1962 bus for NT$120 (up to 1 hour 20 minutes) or the 1819 night bus.

This is how I would recommend spending the first 5 days of your Taiwan itinerary…

Day 1 – explore Taipei

• Take a free walking tour with Tour Me Away to learn about Taiwan’s rich history. Before this informative tour, I had no idea that Taiwan had been ruled by China, Japan and briefly Holland.
• Wander quirky Ximending neighbourhood often called the Harajuku of Taiwan , alive with street performers, boutiques, street food and neon billboards. It feels quirky and high-tech all at once.
• Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Longshan Temple , two of Taipei’s most famous temples. Longshan Temple is a traditional folk temple where you’ll see locals at worship.
• Eat at Huaxi Night Market for dinner, also known as Snake Alley after the famous dish served there. If you don’t fancy trying reptile, there are plenty of other tasty Taiwanese street foods to sample instead!
• Head up Taipei 101 for cityscape views. Entrance is NT$ 600 ($20) so a little steep. To reduce queuing, get a ticket in advance .
• If you’d rather save your money, head for a free skyline view by hiking Elephant Mountain for sunset . This isn’t a hard hike however it’s very busy and crowded at this time of day.

Day 2 – Jiufen Village

Visit Jiufen Village , an iconic village dating back to the gold mining days of Japanese rule. Not only is the quaint village fun to explore with a fantastic food market, but it’s surrounded by mountains and beautiful countryside not far from the coast. If you have time, explore the surroundings including Jinguashi known for its geopark and shrine , or hike up Teapot Mountain if you’re feeling energetic. Factor in lunch at Jiufen Market; I can personally vouch for the bubble tea, peanut ice cream rolls and taro ball dessert. It’s easy to take a day trip to Jiufen by bus from Taipei from NT$90 each way, book a private transfer for US$30 or opt for a guided tour visiting Jiufen and the northeast coast highlights inc Jinguashi (great for meeting other travellers and learning from your local guide).

Alternative option – take a guided tour visiting Jiufen, Pingxi and Yehliu Geopark (below, days 3 and 5) for just US$35. Although you’ll have limited time in each place, you’ll free up two days to do extra things such as visit Tainan city later in this Taiwan itinerary. Another variation is to visit both Jiufen and the Pinxi Line (inc Houtong & Shifen) during one day by public transport rather than spreading them across two days.

Read next: my Taipei to Jiufen and Shifen day trip

Day 3 – Pingxi Line

An adventure along the Pingxi Line is recommended while spending 2 weeks in Taiwan. The penultimate stop is Shifen , a village set along a railway line where people release colourful lanterns and make wishes. Take a walk or e-bike ride to Shifen Waterfall . On the way to Shifen, you can stop at Houtong Cat Village which is exactly what it says on the tin: a village where cats rule the roost! Afterwards, you can continue further to Pingxi Village . Make it back to Taipei in time for sunset and hike Elephant Mountain or check out another food market.

Related activity: Pingxi sky lantern & Shifen Waterfall tour from Taipei

Day 4 – Yangmingshan & Beitou

Get lost in nature at Yangmingshan National Park north of Taipei by hiring a car or taking a day tour . Highlights of the park include exploring Qingtiangang grasslands, Lenshuikeng Hot Spring and climbing Mt Datun. To relax on the way home, swing by Beitou Hot Springs on the outskirts of Taipei. Relax in the hot pools, learn about the region’s history at the neighbouring museum and marvel at the Thermal Valley. When back in Taipei, stop for dinner at Shilin Night Market . This is a modern and vibey night market where you can try everything from noodles to bubble tea and the national dish of stinky tofu (I’m not a fan).

Day 5 – Yehliu Geopark

Take a half-day trip to Yehliu Geopark , an amazing area of natural geology where the rock formations look like something from a different planet.

There are lots of fun rock sculptures including one named The Queen’s Head due to its resemblance to a women’s side profile wearing a crown. It’s easy to catch a bus to Yehliu or take a day tour . In the afternoon or evening, you could catch a 2-hour train to Hualien. Since the journeys are so short in Taiwan, it makes sense to save yourself a day and travel after sightseeing.

Food experiences in Taipei

The food in Taipei is fantastic and there are so many affordable, world-class food markets like Raohe , Shilin , Linjiang and Jingmei . If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are countless food experiences run by local guides. Here are a few of the best:

• Private food tasting with 10 tastings ($70)
• Night food tour with famous Din Tai Fung xiao long bao dumplings ($50)
• Cooking class: xiao long bao, beef noodle soup & bubble tea ($65)

Read next: the best Taiwanese foods to try

Day 6-7: Hualian & Taroko National Park

To experience Taiwan’s nature, you need to add Taroko National Park to your Taiwan itinerary. Before my trip, I had no idea it was so beautiful and untouched. Now when I think of the most naturally beautiful places in Asia, one of the first places that comes to my mind is Taiwan. There’s nowhere to stay in Taroko National Park so I would suggest spending two nights in Hualien city with a day to go hiking in the middle.

Where to stay in Hualien

• Hostel: For a convenient base right beside the train station and the bus stop for Taroko, you can’t do better than the On My Way Hostel. The staff are so kind and friendly (even walking me to the train station with a hostel umbrella when it was raining) and host evening movie nights in the common area. Check availability from US$15 .
• Budget hotel: Most air-conditioned rooms at Fly House have a sea view and balcony. This cosy homestay is just moments away from the beach and Dongdamen Night Market. Check availability from US$36 .
• Mid-range:  Each spotless room at Near B&B has a city or mountain view. The homestay is spacious and conveniently located, with a shared lounge and kitchen. Check availability from US$60 .
• Splash-out: Hualien isn’t known for its luxury hotels, but you’ll find space to unwind in a deluxe room with a garden, river and mountain view at Happiness is Coming. The property has a barbecue, sun terrace, and bike rental available. Check availability from US$163 .

In a rush? Take a guided day trip to Taroko from Taipei rather than staying overnight

Getting to Hualien

Take a Taiwan Railways train in 2-3 hours from Taipei Main Station. There’s no fast train yet but watch this space. Tickets cost between NT$250 and 500. For a cheaper, slower way to travel (3.5 hours), you can also take a bus from Nangang Bus Station.

Day 6 – Taroko Gorge

Head off hiking in Taroko National Park. It’s easy to catch a shuttle bus from Hualien into the park and back. Alternatively, you could drive or take an organised day tour with a guide . Add an extra day if you’re a big hiking fan. I spent one day hiking in the park which was enough for me but I spoke to a guy who’d spent more than a week travelling to Taroko each day for hiking!

Read next? my guide to visiting Taroko National Park

For the evening you can head to Dongdamen Market which is a lively night market in Hualien. It’s enormous with several alleyways of stalls serving everything from noodles to sushi to stinky tofu. The highlight was a Taiwanese delicacy called coffin toast. This is a deep-fried sandwich stuffed with meaty curry. It was delicious and, better yet, the prices were super low, probably due to the lack of foreign tourists.

Day 7 – travel day

Your longest travel journey during this 2 week itinerary in Taiwan will be from Hualien down south. It takes 6 hours by train to Kaohsiung or 8 hours to Kenting on the bottom tip of the island. Pack a good book and spend the day soaking up Taiwan’s impressive scenery.

Days 8-9: Kaohsiung

For such an awesome city, Kaohsiung is relatively unknown. That’s generally the case with much of Taiwan but I can’t imagine it staying that way for long. Kaohsiung was one of my favourite places during my 2 weeks in Taiwan. The second-largest city in Taiwan will impress art and culture lovers with its vibrant pagodas, quirky outdoor galleries and colourful street art.

Where to stay in Kaohsiung

• Hostel: I enjoyed my stay at Dreamwell Hostel . Not only are there comfy double rooms if you don’t fancy a dorm, there are also language exchange evenings that help you get to know the locals. Check availability from US$12 .
• Budget hotel: The Cloud Hotel is an excellent option in the city centre for simple but elegant accommodation with a buffet breakfast. Air-conditioned rooms include a TV and minibar. Check availability from US$36 . 
• Mid-range: For a centrally located 4* hotel which doesn’t break the bank, Harbour 10 Hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, fitness centre, modern rooms, and restaurant with a delicious breakfast. Check availability from US$68 .
• Splash-out: Book a stylish room with a view at Silks Club. This 5* hotel features an infinity pool, gourmet restaurant, SPA and wellness centre, and a gym with a dedicated personal trainer. Rooms include a capsule coffee machine, motorised electric curtains and luxurious bedding. Check availability from US$235 .

Read next: Things to do in Kaohsiung

Getting to Kaohsiung 

Arrive into Kaohsiung Main Station via Taiwan Railways or Zuoying Station by High-Speed Railway train. If you’re travelling on a budget, there are also buses which are slower and cheaper than the train. As of 2023, Klook are offering 30% off HS trains from Kaohsiung; grab your voucher here .

Day 8 – Kaohsiung

Spend a day exploring the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas which, unsurprisingly, are a set of two twin pagodas, one shaped like a dragon and one like a tiger. For good luck, you must enter via the dragon’s mouth and exit through the tiger’s. You can also climb to the top of the pagoda and look out over the peaceful lily pad lake.

If you have time during your Taiwan itinerary, another option in Kaohsiung is visiting Fo Guang Shan Temple and Buddha Museum . This Buddhist cultural centre and museum is 30km from Kaohsiung and takes 45 minutes to reach by bus. The 36-metre Buddha statue at the centre is one of the largest in Taiwan. Don’t miss Ruifeng Night Market one evening while visiting Kaohsiung. This atmospheric street market is visited by young Taiwanese people as well as whole families. Here I tried scallion pancakes, seafood takoyaki balls and waffles.

Day 9 – Cijin Island

Spend the morning visiting Cijin Island which is connected to Kaohsiung by boat and bridge. I caught the bus there as it was cheaper and quicker, then caught the ferry home. Cijin Island is best known for the Rainbow Church , a colourful art installation that’s become popular on Instagram. Nearby are a few other installations like the giant shell beside the Cijin Shell Museum.

Pier 2 Art Center : The benefit of catching the ferry back to the mainland is that you’ll arrive near Pier 2 Art Center, one of the most colourful places in Kaohsiung. Unlike most galleries, the art isn’t on the walls but all through the streets. Grab a map at the tourist office then spend a couple of hours wandering the neighbourhood where you’ll see giant modern art sculptures as well as urban murals and hidden details. Linya Street Art Village : Stop here before the end of the day. Again, this isn’t a specific location but a whole neighbourhood full of art. Even if you’re not a street art fan, it’s very impressive. Catch the orange metro line to Weiwuying Station  and you’ll find the art as soon as you exit.

Alternative option – combine your preferred Kaohsiung attractions into 1 day and visit Tainan , the ancient capital, on day 9.

Days 10-11: Kenting National Park

Beautiful beaches in Taiwan? This really is the island that has everything. In Kenting National Park you can expect palm trees, sunshine and sea views. If you’re in need of some beach chills during your 2 week Taiwan itinerary, this is the place. The best place to stay in Kenting National Park is Hengchun which is a pleasant town with four well-preserved city gates. However, it’s more of a place to stay while exploring the national park. As well as scenic lakes, you can relax on one of the many beautiful beaches in Kenting. After a day of exploring, have dinner at Hengchun Night Market. Of course it wouldn’t be Taiwan without a night market!

Getting to Kenting

Most travellers come from Kaohsiung on the Kenting Express bus. Board it from Kaohsiung Main Station (where regular trains arrive) or Zuoying Station (where the High-Speed Railway arrives). If coming from Hualien , get off the train after 4 hours in Fangliao rather than staying on ’til Kaohsiung. Walk a block to the bus station and catch a 1-hour bus to Kenting. Buses take 2-3 hours and leave every 30 minutes. 

Alternative day 10-11 – Tainan

Taiwan’s oldest city is full of cultural treasures dating back to its days as the Qing dynasty capital from 1683–1887. Temples and fortresses – most of which can be seen during a day – make it worth a visit.

Where to stay in Tainan

• Budget hotel: At Home In Tainan, guests love the bright and clean interior, cute indoor plants, friendly host, and convenient location just moments from Tainan Central. There is a shared lounge and kitchen onsite. Check availability from US$34 .
• Mid-range: If you’re looking for a 4* hotel, Fushin Hotel Tainan includes a restaurant, fitness centre, 24-hour front desk, and top-rated breakfast. Rooms have a city view, TV, desk, sofa and complimentary toiletries. Check availability from US$78 .
• Splash-out: Located in downtown Tainan, Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel is a 5* hotel with two swimming pools, a fitness centre, a sauna, a hot tub, and four different food and bar options ranging from cosy to elegant. Choose your own pillow before winding down in a spacious room with Asian-inspired decor. Check availability from US$129 .

Things to do in Tainan include :

• Marvel at Amping Treehouse near the small, historic town of Anping. This abandoned warehouse overgrown with banyan tree roots will remind you of Angkor Wat! Nearby, soak up views from Anping Fort.
• Visit Luermen Mazu Temple – this shrine dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea holds great significance to Taiwanese people, dating back 300 years. It can be reached by train from Tainan South Station. Free entry.
• Seek out quirky shops, street art and sculptures at Blueprint Creative Park . This is a fun and colourful stop.

Note – if you spent 3 days in Taipei rather than 5, you may be able to squeeze in Kenting AND Tainan.

Getting to Tainan

Catch a 1-hour Taiwan Railways train from Kaohsiung Main Station to Tainan Railway Station or a High-Speed Trains in just 15 minutes(!) from Kaohsiung Zuoying. Book on 12go or use Klook’s 30% discount voucher .

Day 12-13: Taichung

My final stop during 2 weeks in Taiwan was Taichung, an awesome city on the west coast of Taiwan, around 3 hours from Taipei. The colourful Rainbow Village has put it on the map but there are a couple of other things to do including day trips to scenic Sun Moon Lake. If you like Instagrammable spots, Taichung is well worth adding to your Taiwan itinerary. Even if you don’t, Taichung is worth a quick visit.

Where to stay in Taichung

• Hostel: For cosy private pods and a stylish bistro area to relax in, I would recommend Getcha Hostel & Bistro . If you don’t want bistro food, it’s near to one of the city’s biggest and most atmospheric night markets, Yizhong Street Market, as well as the bus stop to the Rainbow Village. Check availability from US$12 .
• Budget hotel: Conveniently located within walking distance to the downtown train station, stays at Sparrow Hotel also include room service and a helpful 24-hour front desk. Rooms have air-con, complimentary toiletries, a TV, and a refrigerator. Check availability from US$32 .
• Mid-range: Just 0.8km from Taichung Train Station, Holiday Inn Express Taichung Park is a comfortable and contemporary hotel featuring a fitness centre and 24-hour front desk. The onsite restaurant serves local cuisines and a buffet breakfast. Modern rooms highlight the views over Taichung Park with floor-to-ceiling windows. Check availability from US$69 .
• Splash-out: For a stylish 5* hotel in the centre of Taichung, you won’t find better than Le Méridien Taichung. The hotel offers a 24-hour gym, bar, onsite ATM and tour desk. Guests love the comfortable dining space at breakfast, executive lounge, huge windows with an excellent view, and modern design. Check availability from US$222 .

Day 12 – Rainbow Village

Explore the Rainbow Village of Taichung . Rather than an intended urban art gallery like those in Kaohsiung, this wasn’t invented as a photo opportunity but by a local man trying to see his home from demolition. The heartwarming story of the Rainbow Grandpa will tell you all you need to know about Taiwanese people. He began drawing on walls of the village after demolition was planned, hoping to cheer up local children. Some local artists heard his story and helped decorate the village with colourful murals which eventually ended up saving the village. If you’re very lucky, you might visit the Rainbow Grandpa as he still lives nearby!

This should take half a day so why not head into town afterwards and sample local food and the original bubble tea cafe? Check out my guide to the best food in Taichung which includes Instagrammable ice creams at Miyahara. For the rest of the day, you can wander the shops and parks of Taichung before the day at Yizhong Street Market . Here I tried stinky tofu and, while I never will again, I loved this busy and bustling market.

Getting to Taichung

Taichung Station serves Taiwan Rail services while Taichung HSR station serves High-Speed trains. Whether you’re coming from Tainan, Kaohsiung or Taipei, it’s easy to catch a train to Taichung. Book on 12go if getting the High-Speed train.

Day 13 – Sun Moon Lake

Take a day trip to Sun Moon Lake to end your Taiwan itinerary. I had to miss this due to terrible weather but it looks gorgeous. It takes 2 hours each way to get to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei so I would recommend setting off as early as possible so you can spend a whole day there. You can board the Sun Moon Lake Shuttle Boat and explore the island at the heart of the lake. You can also swoop over it upon a cableway or admire the scenery by cycling around the 12km bike path running around the lake.

Day 14: Head back to Taipei and fly away!

Leaving was a sad day for me because I’d had the best 2 weeks in T aiwan. The greenery and natural beauty of this little island blew me away, as did the quirky, colourful cities and the friendly people. I know I’ll be back someday to eat more dumplings and take more photos of the colourful street art.

Best season to visit Taiwan 

Spring and autumn (March-April and October-November) are great times for your Taiwan itinerary with pleasant weather and little rain.

Summer (June-August) is hot and humid while rainy season from May-September sees strong showers. However, Taiwan is a year-round destination and, even though I visited in May, I managed to avoid rain for the most part or at least plan my activities around it.

Winter (December-February) may be low season but it’s never freezing so you can take advantage of the cheaper prices and lack of crowds. Just pack warm clothes.

Tips for visiting Taiwan

• It can be a tough country for vegetarians but look out for cheap & cheerful buffet restaurants where you can fill your plate with veggies. 
• Although tap water is technically ok to drink, it’s better to be safe. Bring a reusable water bottle that you can replenish with filtered water at your accommodation.
• Many younger people and those working in tourism speak English. However, there will be times when no one does… So have the Google translate app to hand or pack a Mandarin dictionary .
• Read all my Taiwan travel tips !

Is Taiwan worth visiting?

Absolutely! Taiwan is worth visiting for the nature, hiking, cool cities, colourful temples, vibrant night markets and xiao long bao (soup dumplings) to name just a few things. It’s one of my favourite places I’ve travelled and I’d certainly recommend visiting sooner rather than later.

How much to budget for 2 weeks in Taiwan?

Taiwan is certainly an affordable destination. Accommodation is more expensive than other Asian destinations like Taiwan and Vietnam but cheaper than South Korea and Japan. Luckily, transport and food is VERY affordable; on a parr with Southeast Asia. You can get a fantastic meal for a couple of dollars especially if you eat at night markets!

Read next: complete guide to Taiwan budget travel

During two weeks in Taiwan I spent $400 USD or $30 USD a day! This was a hostel, street food and public transport budget so increase it to stay in hotels, eat at nice restaurants and take taxis.  Average prices:

• Accommodation: hostels dorms from US$15, hostel private rooms from US$35, hotel rooms from US$40
• Food and drink: street food meals for around US$2.50, sit-down restaurant meals for US$5, bubble tea & coffees for US$2.50
• Public transport journeys : 20-80 NT$ ($1) for Metro journeys, 15 NT$ (50 cents) for bus journeys, 300-700 NT$ ($10-25) for inter-country train journeys. 

Taiwan essentials

• Copy of Lonely Planet Taiwan
• A Lonely Planet Mandarin phrasebook
• A power bank to keep your devices alive
• Sustainability: stainless steel reusable water bottle to reduce the use of plastic bottles
• Alternatively, a filtering water bottle that allows you to safely drink tap water.

Thanks for reading Taiwan itinerary

Check out some of my other Taiwan posts:

• 17 Taiwan tips for travellers
• Solo female travel in Taiwan
• Complete Taiwan budget guide & spending tips
• How to spend 5 days in Taipei
• The best Taiwanese foods to try
• Things to do in Jiufen and Shifen
• How to visit the Rainbow Village, Taichung
• How to get to Yehliu Geopark from Taipei
• Taichung food guide
• 10 fun facts about Taiwan

See you next time for more adventures,

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TAIWAN QUICK LINKS Getting there – it’s easy to arrive by flight. I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates. To stay connected, buy an e-SIM with Airalo and use data as normal. Browse their Korea SIM packages . In my opinion, Lonely Planet offer the best guidebooks. Get the latest Lonely Planet Taiwan . Car hire – I recommend RentalCars.com for car hire in Taiwan and around the world. For Taiwan High Speed Trains , use 12Go . The search feature allows you to compare prices and durations. I use Booking.com for accommodation. They have the best range of hotels and self-catering apartments, plus you can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld . To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters , a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets. For activities, I use GetYourGuide and Viator as they both have a huge range of affordable tours. Need travel insurance ? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote . For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing . Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and tips!

Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

3 thoughts on “ Ultimate Taiwan Itinerary For 2 Weeks – Cities, Nature & Food ”

This sounds like a fab itinerary! The day at Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou Hot Springs sounds especially awesome, but I would love all those hikes and natural areas.

I already wanted to visit to Taiwan for the food, but it sounds like there is sooo much more that I would love!

I really want to visit Taiwan one day. It wasn’t on the top of my list (I really wanted to check out more of Europe) but your images definitely just moved it up A LOT. It looks gorgeous there.

Taiwan seems to be an awesome country. It has everything: beautiful cities, awesome nature and even great street art. Thank you for great tips and tempting itinerary.

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8D Taiwan Itinerary: Insider’s Guide to Hidden Adventures from Taipei to Kaohsiung via THSR

First published: 9 Nov 2017

From trendy shopping districts to vibrant streets lined with mouth-watering local delicacies, I thought I’d seen and experienced all Taiwan could offer. While these parts of Taiwan are still enjoyable (even after being back for the seventh time), boy was I wrong about how much I knew.

In this eight-day Taiwan Itinerary, not only will we cover some of the best, most well-known sights along the west coast of Taiwan (Taipei to Kaohsiung), we’ve also thrown in a couple of off-the-beaten-path experiences that will definitely re-ignite your interest in Taiwan whether it’s your second or seventh time.

Pre-trip Essentials

SIM Card: ~S$21 for 10 days unlimited data or purchase an eSIM (from ~S$10.60 for 5 days, 1GB/day) if you have a compatible device — no physical card is required!

Airport to City Transport: From Taoyuan International Airport, you can take the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) to Taipei Main Station in 20 minutes. But if your flight arrives late at night when the train services have halted, the car transfer service (~S$47) is the next best option. Not only does it bring you to your doorstep in comfort, it’s also cheaper than regular taxis and operates 24/7.

Psst. From now till 31 May 2024, enjoy a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promo on the THSR pass when you book via Klook!

Intercity Transport:  For fuss-free travelling through different cities in Taiwan, the THSR pass is essential. We purchased the 5-Day Joint Train Standard Pass which includes unlimited use of the THSR on any 2 days + unlimited use of the Taiwan Railway (TR) for five consecutive days.

For transport within cities like Taipei or Kaohsiung, you will need the  EasyCard 悠遊卡 or iPass 一卡通 , which can be purchased   from convenience stores.

*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF Klook activities for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!

Travel Insurance: With all the extreme activities and eating you’ll be doing in this itinerary, it’s important to get a policy in case of anything that arises during or after the trip. Don’t forget to ensure that your travel insurance includes Covid-19 coverage too!

Check Flights to Taipei

We excluded flights from our budget since it varies depending on the season and airline. Check flight prices for your dates of travel .

Despite being a metropolitan city, there are still many things you can eat and do at relatively low prices.

Breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk (阜杭豆漿)

First up, eat like a local. Get up early (and we mean, REALLY early) for breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk . Its unique salty soybean curd melts in your mouth and makes the perfect breakfast combi with youtiao 油条 (fried dough sticks). Queues can get really long (and we mean, REALLY long) but it moves along quite quickly.

Address : Level 2, No. 108, Zhongxiao East Road, Section 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan [台北市中正區忠孝東路一段108號2樓] Opening hours : 05:30AM – 12:30PM, closed on Mon Cost: ~NT$25-60

Zen out at Maokong 猫空

Maokong used to be the biggest tea growing area in Taipei and is now a popular place for tea culture. The premium Oolong variety, Tie Guan Yin 鐵觀音, is still being produced at Maokong.

Photo credit: 4travel.jp

Spend a relaxing afternoon in Maokong sipping tea while overlooking the lush tea plantation fields. Get to the top via a gondola service from Taipei Zoo.

Directions: MRT Wenhu Line (Brown Line) 文湖線 to Taipei Zoo → follow signs leading to Gondola → 3 stops to Maokong Stn. Gondola fee: NT$120/trip (EasyCard holders entitled to 20% discount on weekdays, or enjoy a discounted rate with the Klook Pass Taipei starting from ~S$23 for 2 attractions)

The icon of Taiwan, Taipei 101 stands out kinda like a sore thumb in the day being the only tall building around the area. But come nightfall, the 101-storeyed building lights up and sure is a beautiful sight to look at against the dark sky.

Did you know? The building is lit up according to the colours of the rainbow each night of the week. Mon , Tue , Wed , Thu , Fri , Sat , and Sun .

Can you tell which day of the week this was taken?

*Pro-tip: Pre-book your admission ticket via Klook (from ~S$26) to skip the queue at the ticketing counter! You can enter directly with the QR code on your voucher.

Accommodation: Meander Taipei Hostel from NT$580/night

Read also: 4D3N Taipei Itinerary for more local finds in and around Taipei

D2: Day Trip to Jiufen 九份 & Shifen 十分

How to get there:  Take a bus (Bus 965) which travels from Banqiao and stops at Jiufen Old Street. Or alternatively, take a private city transfer instead.

Located just outside of Taipei City, Jiufen and Shifen are popular day-trips for its extremely scenic views and great food; probably why I keep coming back too.

Problem is, it can take a while to get there via public transport. During our trip, we took a shuttle bus service (which has since then been discontinued). The bus picked us from Ximen and we arrived in Shifen within an hour. Ultra-convenient!

If you’re looking for convenience and want to arrive there quickly, hiring a private car transfer is what you may need. Some day tours also like this one will just require you to meet at the Taipei Main Station, and they’ll guide you along Jiufen and Shifen. The choice is yours!

Shifen has been popularised in recent years and many specially visit the quaint old town to light up sky lanterns on the old (and still functioning!) rail tracks.

Write your wishes on the paper lanterns and light them up, sending your wishes to the heavens.

Besides lighting up the sky lanterns, another charm of Shifen I love is the old-school vibes. Buy a glass-bottled marble soda to feel really transported back in time!

A-Mei Tea House, the inspiration behind Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning Spirited Away.

Jiufen seems like an unassuming laid-back town amongst the mountainous regions, but on closer inspection, it’s really an energetic and bustling food paradise filled with endless surprises from beginning till end.

When the stall owner is as unforgettable as the yummy Taiwanese sausage she’s selling.

The tour lasts around eight hours and you can either pick the morning slot, which leaves at 9:30AM, or the afternoon slot, which leaves at 1:30PM.

After the eating spree in Jiufen , head back to Taipei and explore the fast-paced and everchanging Ximending.

Streets of Ximending. Photo credit: Wikipedia

If Taipei 101 is the icon of metropolitan Taipei, then Ximending can be considered the cultural icon of Taiwan. Popular among the youth and tourists, the bustling streets of Ximending hosts not only apparel shops, but also eateries, cinemas, and scores and scores of budget hotels.

Dinner at San Wei Dining Hall 三味食堂

These fist-sized salmon nigiri rolls attract hordes of sushi lovers daily, and queue-time may take up to an hour! Sushi and sashimi plates range from NT$70–580 (~S$3–26).

Address : 116, Guiyang St Sec 2, Taipei City [台北市貴陽街二段116號] Opening Hours: 11:20AM – 2:30PM, 5:10PM – 10PM (Last orders 9:30PM). Closed first two Mondays & last two Sundays of every month

For more awesome possum local finds in Taipei, check out our 4D3N Taipei Itinerary .

D3: Taichung (via the THSR)

The easiest and fastest way to get from Taipei to Taichung is via the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) — within an hour for NT$700 (single ticket). As we’d pre-purchased the 5-Day Joint Train Pass (THSR+TRA) before our trip, we had to activate the pass at the THSR ticketing counter at Taipei Main Station.

Do note that when activating the 5-Day Joint Pass, the THSR staff will require you to choose the two dates you want to take the THSR. This is so that they can make seat reservations for you on the THSR.

The journey southwards from Taipei to Taichung took approx. 50 mins for us. However, there are various trains with different timings and stops, so yours might take a little longer. Refer to THSR’s official website for detailed train timings.

Arrival in Taichung

Since we’ll be covering quite a few places within Taichung (also note that Taichung has no MRT system), we rented a car for convenience. We rented a simple sedan car online and collected the car from Taichung THSR station upon arrival. Easy breezy.

Photo credit: Cavin Teo

Yizhong Street 一中街 is a shopping street in Taichung not unlike the usual night markets of Taiwan. However, some shops are open from as early as 10AM in the morning. Prices of food and things are slightly cheaper in Taichung as compared to Taipei, so guilt-free eating and shopping can begin here!

After an afternoon in Yizhong Street, we drove to Nantou 南投, where our accommodation for the night is at, ready to welcome the next day we packed with adventures.

Our cosy bedroom for the night at a local homestay

Accommodation: Stay with the locals at a rustic Airbnb from ~S$23 per night

Read also: Taipei Day Trip: Jiufen & Shifen

D4: Endless Adventures Among the Most Stunning Sceneries in Taichung/Nantou

Standup paddleboarding (sup) 立槳體驗.

Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 is one of Taiwan’s largest freshwater lakes, and also arguably the most beautiful natural attraction. We got up super early so as to reach Sun Moon Lake by 5:30AM for our sunrise Standup Paddleboarding experience.

The waters of Sun Moon Lake are very calm, first-timers like me will have no problems learning how to control the paddleboard.

Our jovial instructor even brought along the famous Nantou Jinpen “Ah Mah” Braised Tea Egg 金盤阿嬤茶葉蛋 and bottled Black Tea 紅茶 for us to have during breakfast. When else can one have breakfast on a paddleboard on a lake with superb views! Coach OA even doubled as a photographer and sent us our standup paddleboarding photos after the activity.

Price: From ~S$66/pax (3 hours) . A similar SUP activity in Singapore would cost ~S$100. Location: Sun Moon Lake

Brunch at Itashao 伊達邵

Small sausage in big sausage 大腸包小腸, a Taiwanese snack.

Thereafter, we headed to the nearby Itashao 伊達邵 (Ita Thao) for some locally-loved Taiwanese snacks. Taiwanese sausage 香腸, braised pork bun 豆干扣肉總匯刈包, and millet mochi 小米麻糬 were some local snacks we couldn’t resist not buying.

Taiwanese braised pork bun 刈包 .

We could understand why these snacks 小吃 are so well-loved by locals and tourists, because not only are they big in portion with generous fillings, they are very reasonably priced too!

Millet mochi on stick 小米麻糬 .

Brunch settled, munching from the beginning to the end of Itashao 😂

Paragliding 飛行傘

Around Nantou, you can also try paragliding ! We met some paragliders who even brought their own paragliding gears along with them from Hong Kong.

While in the air, we were blown away by Puli ‘s superb views. Mountains, lakes, and acres and acres of vast green lands that seem endless. Breathtaking indeed! No wonder Puli is a popular spot for paragliding.

Our paragliding operator was excellent, even repeating flight twice was for one of us when the first flight time was too short.

Price: ~S$127/pax  (Min. 10 mins flight time guaranteed + video footage provided) Location:  Puli, Hu-Toushan in Nantou county of Taiwan (虎頭山)

Cingjing Farm 清境農場

It’s another hour drive to our third and last destination of the day: CingJing Farm . Free-roaming woolly sheep grace pass visitors nonchalantly, granting lots of selfie opportunities with them!

Location: No. 170, Renhe Road, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, 546 [南投縣仁愛鄉仁和路170號] Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM Entrance fee: NT$160/pax (Mon – Fri) , NT$200 (Sat – Sun)

Night falls, but that’s when Taichung becomes even more energetic and alive! We headed to Taichung’s most famous night market, Feng Chia Night Market 逢甲夜市 for dinner.

It’s insane how many times we had to stop and reach for our wallets just stepping into the market for ten minutes. All my senses were being attacked! It was involuntary and uncontrollable, and we succumbed to all the awesome-smelling/looking/tasting foods.

Location: Wenhua Road, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 407 [台中市西屯區文華路] Opening hours: 4PM – 2AM (Tue – Sun), 4PM – 1AM (Mon)

Read also: The Ultimate Taiwan Food Guide

D5: Exploring the Locals’ Taichung

After a day of nonstop activities in Nantou, we focused on Taichung City the next day. First up, we headed to Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村 .

Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村

How many silly interns do you spot? 😂

Rainbow Village is a cluster of small houses painted in the wildest, most colourful motifs. Do be there earlier as it will get crowded later on in the day.

Address: No.56, Chun’an Road, Nantun District , Taichung, Taiwan [春安路56巷] Entrance fee: Free Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM

*Pro-tip: Travelling on public buses in Taichung is the way to go! Any rides below 10km are FREE.

Second Market 臺中第二市場

Located just a 15min walk away from the Taichung Railway Station, we had lunch at Second Market 臺中第二市場 , an old market the locals frequent.

This old market is one that’s easily missed if not for the creeping long line that stretches out from the market to the main road. We were curious to see what locals are so patiently waiting for, so we joined the crowd.

Surprisingly, the queue moves really fast, but the line is always that long because people keep coming! Everyone was apparently queuing up for a cup of Iced Black Milk Tea.

We were also informed by our friendly cab driver that the braised minced pork rice 肉燥飯 is the best in Taichung, of course, we had to try it as well.

The famous minced braised pork rice in Taichung’s Second Market

Address: No. 87, Section 2, Sanmin Road, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400 [台中市中區三民路二段87號] Opening Hours: 7AM – 8PM (Closed on Mon)

I’m Talato 我是塔拉朵，愛台灣的義式冰淇淋

Although it was already autumn when we visited Taiwan in October, the sun was still pretty unforgiving and it felt no different from all-year-summer Singapore. A quick search on desserts in Taichung brought us to I’m Talato , an ice cream parlour all decked in pink. We couldn’t resist going in for some ice cream to cool down.

No visit to I’m Talato is complete without a check-in pic at their iconic bed of ice-cream. There, my lifelong dream to live in a pool of ice cream, fulfilled.

Address: No. 451, Yingcai Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403  [台中市西區英才路451號] Opening hours: 11:30AM – 7:30PM

Gaomei Wetlands 高美濕地

A lesser-known gem in Taichung, Gaomei Wetlands 高美濕地 is a sunset paradise for avid photographers. Rows of windmills line the beach and cast perfect silhouettes against the setting sun. Everything becomes even more breathtaking when the sea acts as a giant mirror reflecting all above the horizon.

Sunset timings vary throughout the year, but our advice is to be at Gaomei at least an hour earlier to walk around when there’s still sufficient sunlight.

Address: Meidi Street, Qingshui District, Taichung City, Taiwan 436

*Pro-tip: If you are planning to visit Rainbow Village and Gaomei Wetlands on the same day, choose a weekend to do so, as there’s a Bus Service #655 that operates only on weekends between these two places.

After Gaomei Wetlands, we boarded the last bus back to Taichung Train Station where we began the next leg of our journey: Tainan . If Taichung and Nantou showed us how we could play in Taiwan, Tainan would show us the cultural sides of Taiwan.

We chose the Taiwan Rail, the older train system, to get from Taichung to Tainan. It was a slow ride taking about 3 hours, but it didn’t matter as long as we got to our destination before the last check-in time.

Accommodation: MyDeer Backpacker Hostel , from ~S$35 per night

D6: Tainan on Two Wheels!

We started our day in Tainan with some morning exercise — cycling. The hostel we stayed at has three bicycles available for guests to use, and we decided to make use of them, as Tainan’s streets are relatively easy to navigate with places of interest situated not far from one another.

Anping Tree House 安平樹屋

The first pit stop we made was the Anping Tree House 安平樹屋 , a dilapidated warehouse of the ’40s that has since been consumed by a huge Banyan tree. A must-see for those who are into urban exploration!

Entrance fee: NT$50 Opening hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM Address: No.108, Gubao St, Anping District, Tainan City [台南市安平區古堡街108號]

*Pro-tip: If you are planning to visit three or more of the below attractions, getting the Tainan City (4+1) Monument Pass at NT$150 is a better deal. Passes can be purchased from ticketing counters found in any of the below:

– Anping Tree House 安平樹屋 – Chihkan Tower 赤崁樓 – Anping Fort 安平古堡 – Eternal Golden Castle 億載金城 – 1661 Taiwan Warship Museum 1661臺灣船園區

Tianhou Temple 安平開臺天后宮

After exploring the Tree House, we continued exploring the Old Streets of Anping, which are kept alive by the constant stream of visitors — many of whom are there to pay the famous   Tianhou Temple 安平開臺天后宮 around the corner a visit.

Anping Old Street

Dayou Xingyi Noodle Shop 大佑興意麵店 is an ordinary noodle stall selling what locals love, the “古早味” (gǔ zǎo wèi), or “tastes of yesteryears”. A bowl dry-tossed noodles with assorted braised meats make a simple yet hearty lunch.

Along the crowded Old Street, we also spotted a small coffee pushcart stall that had a unique coffee-brewing apparatus. Upon asking, we learnt that it’s the Vacuum Coffee Maker 虹吸式咖啡 , also known as Syphon Coffee . We couldn’t resist and bought ourselves a bottle of coffee and milk tea.

Quan Mei Movie Theatre 全美戲院

Check out the hand-painted movie posters!

Thereafter, we continued cycling eastwards towards the city centre where we chanced upon the coolest movie theatre. If Tainan is known for her vintagey vibes, then Quan Mei Movie Theatre 全美戲院 is the epitome of all things vintage. Large hand-painted movie posters decorate the building’s facade, and what’s particularly fascinating is that the posters are those of recent movies!

We understood from locals that the movie theatre only shows reruns. Check out Quan Mei’s website to see what’s showing!

Cost: NT$140/pax Opening Hours: 12:30PM – 11PM (weekdays), 10:30AM – 11PM (weekends) Address: No. 187, Section 2, Yongfu Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 ［台南市永福路二段187號］

When in Tainan, be sure to visit Blueprint Culture & Creative Park 藍晒圖文創園區 .

Blueprint Culture & Creative Park 藍晒圖文創園區

Formerly a Japanese Government Dormitory ( gasp , that’s how old it is!), it has been reimagined, refurbished, and re-introduced to visitors as the new cultural playground of Tainan.

Ice cream smoothie from Our Bar at Blueprint Culture & Creative Park

Within the blue walls, there are indie shops and cafes started up by locals, displaying and selling local crafts and reinvented local delicacies.

Address: Ln. 689, Sec. 1, Ximen Rd., West Central District, Tainan City 700, Taiwan [台南市中西區西門路一段689巷］ Opening hours: 2PM – 9PM (Closed on Tue) Entrance fee: Free

Read also: 7 Underrated Things to Do in Tainan

Tainan showed us a side of Taiwan that foreign visitors know less of: the cultural, rustic, yet homey and flavourful one. Before long, it’s time we left Tainan for the second-most populous city of Taiwan after Taipei: Kaohsiung.

Again, we took the Taiwan Railway for this leg of the journey utilising our rail pass . Within an hour, we found ourselves in Kaohsiung, with our growling stomachs calling out to be filled. From Kaohsiung Train Station, we took the local MRT to Kaohsiung Arena Station.

In Kaohsiung, there are a couple of night markets, but the one we decided to head to was Ruifeng Night Market . It’s only a 5-minute walk from the Kaohsiung Arena Train station. Do note that night markets in Kaohsiung do not open every night, unlike those in Taipei.

Ruifeng Night Market 瑞豐夜市

Bird’s eye view of Rui Feng Night Market, Kaohsiung

Giant Takoyaki balls at Rui Feng Night Market

That night, we checked in to the hostel we looked forward to the most, Single Inn because there’re hot tubs for guests!

Communal (same-sex) bath area in Single Inn Hostel.

Accommodation: Single Inn from ~S$19 per night

D7: Finding the Artistic Side of Kaohsiung

We started our day with breakfast at a fast-food chain. And nope, before you diss us for not being adventurous eaters overseas, we’d like to introduce Dandan Hamburger 丹丹漢堡 to you.

Dandan Hamburger 丹丹漢堡

Western fast-food chain with a local Taiwanese twist .

Opened in 1984, Dandan Hamburger is the pride of Kaohsiung’s locals. This burger chain specialises in Western-Taiwanese fusion food and can only be found in the southern cities — Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung.

Address: No. 224, Qixian 2nd Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 801 [高雄市前金區七賢二路224號] Opening hours: 6AM – 9:30PM

Pier-2 Art Center 駁二藝術特區

Next, we explored a repurposed warehouse site that’s now used as an event venue for local artists to showcase their artworks, the Pier-2 Art Center .

Kaohsiung surprised us with the vibrant arts scene it quietly harbours.

Address: No.1, Dayong Rd., Yancheng Dist., Kaohsiung City 803, Taiwan [鹽埕區大勇路1號] Opening Hours: 10AM c 6PM (Mon – Thu), 10AM – 8PM (Fri – Sun & PH)

Read more about Pier-2 Art Centre in our 7 Things to Do in Kaohsiung guide.

Dome of Light 光之穹頂

At the Formosa MRT station 捷運美麗島站 , there’s the Dome of Light 光之穹頂 , the largest glass work in the world, designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.

There are short light shows daily at 11AM, 3PM, and 8PM. As the Dome of Light is not within the paid premises of the train station, it’s literally free entertainment you should take note of in Kaohsiung 😉

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 龍虎塔

Next up, we headed to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 龍虎塔 . Folklore has it that walking through the dragon’s mouth and then exiting through the tiger’s will bring good luck and fortune.

Address: Liantan Rd., Zuoying Dist. , Kaohsiung, Taiwan [ 高雄市左營區蓮潭路與勝利路交叉口旁] Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM Entrance fee: Free (on a free-will donation basis)

Read also: Top 7 things to Do in and around Kaohsiung — Gateway to Taiwan’s laid back South

Before nightfall, we packed our belongings and boarded the Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus from Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR Station, towards our next destination — Pingtung 屏東 !

Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus Ticket

We booked our bus passes from Klook beforehand, and collected them from the bus pass counter at Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR. We recommend that you get both the Express Bus Return Pass and the Kenting Shuttle Bus Pass for convenience.

Kenting Shuttle Bus ticket

After a smooth and comfortable 1hr 35 min ride, followed by a hitch (’cause we missed the other transfer bus), we reached our accommodation for the night — National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) 國立海洋生物博物館 .

Yes, you read those two words right. Our “accommodation” for the night in Pingtung was an “aquarium”! 😁

First up, here’s how you can get to the aquarium if you are travelling via the Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus (without needing to hitch a ride like a hobo on the road):

Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR →(Kenting Express Bus)→ NMMBA Transfer Stn →(Kenting Shuttle Bus from across the road)→ Marine Biology Museum

Important timings to take note: – Kaohsiung – Kenting Express Bus from Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR: 8:30AM – 7:10PM (at 15–30min intervals. Refer to detailed timetable .) – Kenting Shuttle Bus from NMMBA Transfer Stn: 8:54AM to 3:54PM (at 30min intervals), with one last bus at 5:54PM (Refer to detailed timetable )

Upon arrival, visitors will be shown around the aquarium, staff areas, and out-of-bounds premises to day guests. Through this programme, we learnt more about how marine animals were being taken care of in aquariums, the different kinds of corals, anemones, and sea organisms. We even got to feed fish while we were here!

Dinner is provided in the aquarium sleepover package

Dinner, supper, and breakfast are also included in the sleepover package . The communal washrooms are clean and there are big lockers for guests to store their personal belongings.

Although we thought that this programme suits younger children, you’ll definitely still enjoy this if you’re a marine lover as well!

This extraordinary experience of sleeping amongst fish and other marine animals is probably the closest anyone can get to being a mermaid.

Address: 2 Houwan Rd. Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan [屏東縣車城鄉後灣村後灣路2號] Sleepover duration: 4PM – 10:30AM, the following day Regular opening hours: 9AM – 5:30PM daily Price: ~S$118/pax

*We did not include the aquarium sleepover in the budget as we feel that it’s an optional activity. Admission tickets are also available from ~S$18/pax for standard entry, or at a discounted rate with the Klook Pass Taipei (from ~S$23 for 2 attractions).

D8: Fun Under the Sun in Kenting

Watersports at nanwan.

Photo credit: Klook

After our first ever aquarium sleepover, we continued our journey southwards to Kenting. We boarded the Kenting Shuttle Bus from Marine Biology Museum 海洋生物博物館 stop just outside the aquarium and alighted at the Nanwan 南灣 stop for some water sports at the beach .

There are up to eight watersports available at Nanwan. This includes the banana boat, the flying bed, and jetskiing.

Cost: ~S$17 for the 2-in-1 Watersports Package Address: 154 Nanwan Road, Nanwan (South Bay), Hengchun, Pingtung County [屏東縣恆春鎮南灣里南灣路154號] Operating hours: 8AM – 6PM (be there at 3PM latest)

Kenting National Park

As we chose only two activities from eight, we finished watersports relatively quickly. But that’s all good because that means we have more time to explore Kenting. After a quick rinse, we boarded the shuttle bus again to our next destination: Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 . Alight at Kenting stop.

Long Keng Cliff at Kenting

Kenting National Park is situated at the southernmost tip of Taiwan, famous for her stunning coastlines. Travelling on a scooter bike is perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to explore Kenting if you are not staying overnight, like us. It’s not difficult to spot scooter bike rental shops here.

We rented our battery-operated scooter bikes from Kenting Starry Sky — Space Capsule Hotel for NT$700 per bike. We even managed to deposit our heavy baggage at Starry Night Capsule Hotel, a relief for us all as there are no luggage deposit areas or lockers available in the Kenting area 😅

From the starting point at Kenting stop, a bike ride upwards to Eluanbi Lighthouse will take approximately one hour.

The southernmost point of Taiwan

Scenic spots along the way: – Sail Rock, or a.k.a “Richard Nixon’s Submerged Head” 船帆石 – Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻燈塔 (Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 4PM; Admission: NT$40) – Taiwan Southernmost Point 台灣最南點 – Longpan Park 龍磐公園 – the southernmost point of Taiwan – Sail Rock, or a.k.a “Richard Nixon’s Submerged Head” 船帆石 – Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻燈塔 (Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 4PM; Admission: NT$40) – Taiwan Southernmost Point 台灣最南點 – Longpan Park 龍磐公園

*Pro-tip: Do not be shy to ask shop owners if they allow bags storage for a couple of hours while you head out to explore Kenting National Park. Of course, it will be a lot easier if you ask the scooter rental shops you rent the bikes from.

Scooter bike rental/recommended accommodation: Kenting Starry Sky — Space Capsule Hotel , from S$44 per night

After the fun and carefree time we had biking around Kenting, it was time to get back to Kaohsiung then Taipei. First, we got onto the Express bus back to Kaohsiung (refer to bus timetable ). It’s a 2-hour bus ride back to Kaohsiung (Zuoying) HSR Station, the best time to take forty winks.

Then, take the northwards HSR from Zuoying to Taipei HSR Station.

And with that, we conclude our 8-day roundabout Taiwan trip. We hope we’ve shown that it’s not difficult nor expensive to travel and experience the lesser-known gems of Taiwan.

Budget Breakdown for 8 Days

Planning to visit many attractions? Get a Klook Pass to get a discount, up to 41%!

Transport: S$250 Accommodation: S$141 Activities: S$216 Food: $100 SIM Card: $13.50 Total: S$720.50 ( excl. flights )

Kickstart your adventures to Taiwan now! We’ve got what you need: – 4D3N Taipei Itinerary – Ultimate Food Guide: All Around Taiwan – Taipei Day Trip: Jiufen & Shifen – Underrated Things to do in Tainan – Food Guide: Shilin Night Market

Click here to check flights from Singapore to Taipei !

This article was brought to you by  Klook . 

Follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  YouTube , and Telegram  for more travel updates!

  A post shared by The Travel Intern (@thetravelintern) on Nov 6, 2017 at 7:10pm PST

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26 comments.

Hi, may i know which paragliding operator did you use in Puli? Planning to try out in a few weeks time. Did you book in advance? Thanks!

Here’s the operator we used. Very professional! https://www.klook.com/activity/703-nantou-paragliding-taichung/?aid=312

Love all your useful tips. Thank you!

Hello, is it possible to travel around Taichung, Nantou, and GaoMei Wetland without renting a car? Perhaps through public transportation or cabs?

Hi Charles, you can but there are limited timings. We went with a car rental because we wanted to be at the stand up boarding place very early. No busses run at that time and we didn’t want to incur a hefty taxi charge.

Wow! What a trip you’ve got here in Taiwan.=) Though I am curious, what’s your favorite city out of all?

Love them all!

Hi dear! Do you know if we can get to Hua Lien easily from Nantou/Tai Chung? 🙂 Thank you!

Hi Audrey, I think most trains will have to go back towards Taipei area before looping over to Hua Lien due to the mountains in the centre of Taiwan. If you want to go direct, your best bet is to either self drive or take a very expensive private car/cab.

Thank you for the informative entry, I could use this next time <3 I'm also an aspiring travel blogger and I often read your blog.. Keep inspiring people like me. 🙂 Love lots! – http://www.annebelo.com

All the best!

Hi! I’ll be visiting Taiwan for 10 days somewhere around the end of November. I’m planning to go for Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien. How do you think the flow should go? Should I visit from the northern side to the southern side? Or what else do you suggest? Other than that, how many days do you suggest on visiting each area I mentioned earlier (Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien)? Sorry for asking so much; I’m not quite a planner. Thanks in advance.

P.S. There’ll be two of us, so I guess buses and MRT are the best options for transport since that we have a budget.

Hi Alexandra, why not follow our plan and route?

Sorry to ask, where does the kenting express bus from Zuoying to Kenting ends at?

The last stop of the Kenting Express Bus is near Little Bay Beach 小灣沙灘 of Kenting.

The Kenting Express Bus route is as follows: Zuoying HSR 高鐵左營站 → Dapeng Bay 大鵬灣 → Fangliao 臺鐵枋寮站 → Checheng 車城 → South Baoli 南保力 → Hengchun Transfer Stn 恆春轉運站 → Nanwan 南灣 → Kenting 小灣(墾丁)

Hope this helps! 🙂 -Edelyn

Hi, What camera did you use? Planning to visit Taiwan Next Year.

Hi Niko! We used various cameras during this trip, from semi-pros to GoPro to mobile phones! Taiwan is beautiful no matter which device you capture moments on. We hope you’ll have a great time in Taiwan! 🙂 -Edelyn

it so nice to see the introduction about Taiwan.

Hi i really like your itinerary in taichung. Could you advise which car rental you have engage? And anyone that drives you around to all the places?

Hi Khoon, we rented our car from Chailease Car Rental (you can make your rental online: https://www.rentalcar.com.tw/ ) and picked up the car from Taichung THSR Station. It’s just a car rental so you’ll need an international driving license to drive in Taiwan.

Alternatively, you can book a private car charter service online: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/8325-private-sightseeing-car-charter-for-central-taiwan-taichung/?aid=312 Thank you!

HI, how easy it is to find parking for all those places of attractions? Like the markets etc. Thanks.

Hi Amelia, as far as we can remember, there are big open-space carparks near both Fengchia and Ruifeng night markets. The other attractions do have parking spaces nearby too, but you might have to walk around Tainan’s Anping Old Street as the alleys are tight and crowded!

Hi do you know of other operators for the stand up paddling activity in sun moon lake?

I follow your link to klook but they are unavailable for booking at all

Hi Audemars, Seems like the operator we went to is sold out for now! Here are other SUP activities around Taiwan if you don’t mind other areas other than Sun Moon Lake: Yilan Hualien 1 Hualien 2 Hualien 3 Taipei Taipei Shenao Taipei Fulong Beach Taipei Yehliu Thank you!

I am planning to Taiwan with kids in Dec. Any best itinerary for travelling with kids? What’s the accommodations would u recommend?

Hi Care! We do general itineraries that are suitable for older children to active adults. Unfortunately we don’t have any in Taiwan (so far) for young children!

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The Perfect Taiwan Itinerary And Complete Taiwan Travel Guide

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 5, 2024

Categories Taiwan

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

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

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

Taiwan itinerary

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

Itinerary for Taiwan and Taiwan travel map

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

Click here for the interactive map

The ultimate Taiwan itinerary

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

Important things to know when planning a trip to Taiwan

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

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

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

Taiwan travel tips

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

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

Buy an EasyCard

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

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

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

Pick up a Wifi router at the airport

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

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

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

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

Be prepared to use Google Translate a lot

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

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

Our Taiwan trip: facts and figures

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

Where to find great budget accommodation in Taiwan

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

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

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

How to spend a month in Taiwan

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

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

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

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

Day 1 – 3: Kaohsiung

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

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

My recommended activities for Kaohsiung are:

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

Book your Kaohsiung accommodation: 85 Good Time Hotel

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

Day 4 – 6: Kenting National Park

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

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

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

Some of the best places to visit in Kenting are:

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

Book your Kenting accommodation: Light Blue Bed & Breakfast

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

Day 7 – 9: Tainan

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

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

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

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

Book your Tainan accommodation: Tie Dao Hotel

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

Day 10 – 11: Taichung

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

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

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

Book your Taichung accommodation: Modern Inn

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

Day 12 – 13: Sun Moon Lake

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

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

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

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

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

Book your Sun Moon Lake accommodation: Itathao Motel

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

Day 14 – 19: Taipei (part I)

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

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

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

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

Admire the view from the iconic Taipei 101

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

Explore the National Palace Museum

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

Hike the Elephant Mountain trail

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

Visit Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

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

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

Eat your way around Shilin Night Market 

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

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

Take a day trip to Maokong

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

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

Book your Taipei accommodation: Comma Boutique Hotel

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

Day 20 – 23: Hualien and the Taroko Gorge

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

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

Some of the best things to do around Hualien are:

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

Book your Hualien accommodation: Honey B Trip B&B

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

Day 24-29: Taipei (part II)

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

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

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

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

Taiwan itinerary 5 days.

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

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

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

Taiwan itinerary 7 days

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

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

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

Taiwan itinerary 10 days

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

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

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

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

Taiwan 2 week itinerary

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

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

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

Taiwan 3 week itinerary

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

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

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

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

Planning a trip to Taiwan: in conclusion

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

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

This post was updated in November 2022.

ViaTravelers

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

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

Monday 4th of October 2021

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

Monday 18th of January 2021

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

Sunday 24th of January 2021

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

Sunday 3rd of January 2021

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

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Hi May Twu,

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

Stay safe and thanks again! Lotte

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

Hi. Thanks for the very informative itinerary!

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

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

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

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

Saturday 24th of February 2018

Thank you, Taiwan is amazing indeed:-)

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2024 taipei taiwan travel guide blog with diy itinerary, things to do, tourist spots, tips and budget for first-timers.

Traveling to Taiwan for the first time this 2024? Let this Comprehensive Taipei Taiwan Travel Guide Blog 2024 with Sample DIY Taiwan Itinerary (pdf), list of top things to do in Taipei, and breakdown of expenses help you plan your trip. Best of all, Filipinos can enter Taiwan Visa-Free! Read on this post to learn more!

Updated 2024 first-timer's travel guide blog to taipei, taiwan, if you're looking for a trip to taiwan package from the philippines , this is not a packaged tour. but i could help you plan your trip diy (do-it-yourself) style. now, let’s get started., quick facts about taipei taiwan.

• Currency - New Taiwan Dollar (NTD / NT$)
• Language - Mandarin Chinese. Learn a few Mandarin words and phrases before traveling to Taiwan.
• Weather - 4 Seasons (Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall)
• Electricity - 110 Volts at 60 Hertz (uses Type A socket with 2 flat pins and type B socket with 2 flat pins and an extra prong for grounding)
• Time Zone: - UTC+08:00

Visa Requirements to enter Taiwan

Requirements for visa-free entry to visit taiwan for filipinos.

• An ordinary/regular passport with remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry (Diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment);
• A return ticket or a ticket for the traveller's next destination and a visa for that destination if it is required;
• No criminal record in Taiwan;
• A proof of accommodation (hotel) booking or host/sponsor's contact information /or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting etc.
• Sufficient travel funds.

Taiwan Quarantine Rules

• For all foreign travelers arriving in Taiwan, you must undergo a 3-day quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel and a 4-day self-initiated epidemic prevention following the end of quarantine.
• By October 13, 2022, Taiwan government eyes to end COVID-19 quarantine.
• Taiwan COVID-19 Quarantine Rules are continuously changing. Restrictions implemented for arriving travelers can change quickly. Please check regularly the updated quarantine rules in the destinations you're travelling to and transiting through before you travel.

Cheap Flights to Taipei Taiwan

How to Get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City?

Taoyuan airport mrt, private car transfer, taiwan weather, when is the best time to visit taiwan, how many days to spend in taiwan, taiwan time zone, useful mandarin words and phrases.

• Hello - Nĭ hăo (sounds like Nee how)
• Thank You - Xièxiè (sounds like Shieh-shieh)
• Good morning - Zǎo (sounds like Zhow)
• Goodnight - Wǎn'ān (sound like One-un)
• I don't understand - Tīng bù dǒng (sound like teeng boo dong)
• How much? - Duō shǎo qián (sounds like dwo shaow chyen?)
• Excuse Me / Pardon / Sorry - Bù hǎo yìsi (sounds like boo haow eeh si)
• Where is…? - Zài nǎli (sounds like dzaiy nah lee)
• I want to go to… - Wǒ yào qù… (sounds like wo yaow chyoo)
• Restroom - Cèsuǒ (sounds like Tse soo-oh)

Where to Exchange Taiwan Currency?

Pocket Wifi Rental and Data SIM in Taipei

Pocket wifi rental in taiwan, taiwan data sim card.

How to Get around Taipei?

Taipei transport fun pass, taipei unlimited fun pass.

• Taipei 101 Observatory

National Palace Museum

• Main Building of Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence
• Miramar Entertainment Park Ferris Wheel
• Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
• Tamsui Historical Museum
• Tamsui to Fisherman’s Wharf roundtrip ticket

Gold Museum

• Yeliu Geopark

Juming Museum

• Sky Lantern Police Station Electric Sky Lantern ticket
• National Museum of Marine Science & Technology

5-DAY JOINT TRAIN PASS (THSR+TR)

Maokong gondola.

Where to Stay in Taipei?

SLEEPBOX HOSTEL XIMEN

• Mixed Dormitory - PHP 926.00 per person
• Female Dormitory for 8 - PHP 927.00 per person
• Standard Double Room, 1 Double Bed - PHP 1,806.00 for 2 persons

ANGELS' HOSTEL - TAIPEI XIMEN

• Shared Male Dormitory - PHP 512.00 per person
• Shared Female Dormitory - PHP 512.00 per person
• Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm (1 Double Bed) - PHP 1,617.00 for 2 persons

GRAND HYATT TAIPEI

INN CUBE XIMEN

• Room Selected By Hotel, Shared Bathroom - PHP 1,001.00 for 1 person
• Room, Shared Bathroom (Bunk Bed) - PHP 1,717.00 for 2 persons
• Double Room, Shared Bathroom - PHP 1,860.00 for 2 persons

SHILIN HOME TAIPEI

• Double Room - PHP 2,957.00 for 2 persons
• Twin Room - PHP 2,957.00 for 2 persons
• Triple Room - PHP 3,827.00 for 3 persons
• Quadruple Room - PHP 4,697.00 for 4 persons

CITY INN HOTEL PLUS XIMEN

• Standard Room - PHP 3,858.00 for 2 persons
• Elite Double - PHP 4,328.00 for 2 persons
• Twin Room - PHP 5,034.00 for 2 persons
• Deluxe Room - PHP 5,034.00 for 2 persons
• Triple Room - PHP 6,672.00 for 3 persons
• Family Room - PHP 7,562.00 for 4 persons

ART INN HOSTEL XIMEN TAIPEI

• Twin Room - PHP 1,500.00 for 2 persons
• Standard Quadruple Room - PHP 4,000.00 for 4 persons
• Family Room - PHP 5,387.00 for 6 persons

TOP-RATED HOTELS IN TAIPEI

Here are the popular and highly-regarded hotels in taipei, taiwan with excellent ratings from previous guests. you can save as much as 50% discount on published room rates when you book in advance., other hotels & hostels in taipei, here are the other popular and top-rated hotels in taipei, taiwan. book now to save as much as 50% off on your hotel bookings.

• Hotel Papa Whale - See rates and room availability
• San Want Hotel - See rates and room availability
• New Riverside Suites - See rates and room availability
• Hotel Midtown Richardson - See rates and room availability
• Sato Castle Motel - See rates and room availability
• Westgate Hotel - See rates and room availability
• Amba Taipei Ximending - See rates and room availability
• CitizenM Taipei North Gate - See rates and room availability
• Fortune Hiya Taipei - See rates and room availability
• Just Sleep Hotel Ximending - See rates and room availability

THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI + TOURIST SPOTS & ATTRACTIONS

Taipei 101 and Observatory

Travel tip:.

Elephant Mountain

Martyrs' Shrine

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

• Memorial Hall - 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM, daily
• Memorial Parl - 05:00 AM - 12:00 MN, daily

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Hop on hop off bus ticket prices:.

• 4 Hour Pass - PHP 454.00
• 1 Day Pass - PHP 1,059.00

Longshan Temple

Bopiliao Historical Block

Shilin Night Market

Miramar Entertainment Park

Dadaocheng District

Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence

Ximending Shopping District

And just outside Taipei...

Side trips and day tours from taipei.

Shifen Waterfalls

Pingxi Old Street

Jiufen Old Village

Nanya Rock Formations

Ying Yang Sea

Yehliu Geopark

Top Best Things to do in Taipei, Taiwan

Visit the taipei 101 observatory.

• Taipei 101 is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist attractions and most photographed landmarks. This is one of the reasons why I've been wanting to visit Taiwan is to see and climb the famed Taipei 101 . Read more here.

Climb Elephant Mountain and Enjoy the Best View of Taipei

• If you're wondering where to get the best view of the city and of Taipei 101 , I highly suggest that you climb the Elephant Mountain . It requires a hike to the stairs to get to the viewpoint where you will be greeted with an amazing view of Taipei City and the towering Taipei 101 dominating the city's skyline. The best time to visit is during the late afternoon to catch the sunset. Read more here.

Eat, Shop, and Wander at the Best Night Markets in Taipei

• Food trip and shopping are two of the best ways to enjoy a visit to Taiwan. Forget about bars and night clubs. The night markets are the best places to visit at night when in Taiwan! The night market is a Taiwanese cultural tradition that you should experience when visiting Taiwan. Eat, shop, stroll, and immerse yourself with the night market culture as you share the experience with the Taipei locals and tourists visiting Taiwan. Read more here.

Taipei City Double Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour

• This tour is a Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour to some of the major tourist spots and attractions in Taipei. Composed of 23 bus stops and 2 routes, it gives you the convenience of taking the bus that goes to the different interesting sites in Taipei. With this tour, you can choose to hop off at any stop for sightseeing, and hop back on when the next bus on the schedule arrives. Read more here.
• Jiufen Village and Northeast Coast Tour in New Taipei City, Taiwan
• This northeast coast tour in New Taipei City will bring you to some scenic spots in Taiwan, such as the Bitou Cape, Nanya Rock Formations, and Ying Yang Sea. The highlight of this tour is the visit to Jiufen Village which is an old mining town that is now a popular tourist destination near Taipei City. Located in the mountain area of Ruifang District in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Jiufen Village is a quaint village with rich history and culture to tell. Read more here.

Shifen Waterfalls, Pingxi Old Street, and Keelung Miaokou Market

• This tour will bring you to Shifen Waterfalls which is located within a beautiful forested mountainside in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. It is popular tourist destination that is about 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan. Also not to be missed is the Pingxi Old Street which is located near a train station that is rich in culture and history to tell. You could end your tour with a visit to Keelung Miaokou Street where you could explore the different shops and food stalls in the area. Read more here.

Pineapple Cake Making Workshop in Taipei

• Don’t miss this workshop that will let you to experience the handmade process of pineapple shortcake making when visiting Taiwan. Located in Shilin District , The Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry is a pastry culture and making museum in Taipei, Taiwan. Read more here.

The Shu's Pottery DIY Workshop

• Learning pottery making for the very first time is such an awesome and memorable experience. There's no better way to learn it than from the guidance of experts and from a place rich in history. This is recommended for your group of friends, family, and even kids. Read more here.

Soap Making Workshop at TeaSoap since 1957

• This activity will surely bring out the creativity in you. It's an ideal activity and new things to do in Taiwan that the family, group of friends, and kids of all ages will surely love and enjoy. Read more here.

Blue Dye Making Workshop at The Can

• This traditional Taiwanese cloth dyeing technique can still be found in Sanxia District in New Taipei City. Because of the abundance of the dye plant called "Da Jing" in the area, Sanxia became the center of the cloth dyeing industry of Northern Taiwan during the late Qing dynasty. To keep the tradition alive, locals have set up dyeing workshops along the old streets of Sanxia to let other people learn and appreciate the art of Blue Dye . Read more here.

Best Food and Must-eats in Taipei

Din Tai Fung

Meat boss hot pot in taipei, buffet options.

• Eatogether in Taiwan
• Chao Guo Shabu in Banqiao Station
• Cafe83 at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station
• Mantanghung Spicy Hot Pot at Taipei City Hall Station
• Jing He Jia at Fuzhong Station

Other Tours and Experiences in Taiwan

A Day at Sun Moon Lake

Yangmingshan National Park & Hot Springs Tour

Taiwan's Northern Coast

Fo Guang Shan and Cheng Ching Lake

Wuling Farm Day Tour from Taipei

Sightseeing Carpool Between Taipei and Hualien (via Jiufen)

Gaomei Wetland & Rainbow Military Community

Leofoo Village Theme Park

Thousand Island Lake & Pinglin Tea Plantation

Taroko Gorge, Swallow Grotto, & Seven Star Lake Day Tour

Qingshui Cliff Sea Kayaking in Hualien

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and Shifen Shuttle Bus from Ximen

Sample 5 days and 4 nights taipei diy itinerary.

• Arrival in Taiwan
• Check-in at the Hotel
• City tour via Hop on Hop off sightseeing bus tour
• Dinner and Taipei at Night Tour
• Back at the hotel/hostel
• Morning walk in Taipei, go to Bopiliao Historical Block
• Jiufen Village and Northeast Coast Tour
• Jingmei Night Market Tour and Dinner
• Half day Explore Taipei City Tour
• Visit Taipei 101 Observatory
• Climb Elephant Mountain
• Dinner at Tonghua Night Market
• Join the FREE Taipei Walking Tour Historic Route
• Explore Bopiliao Historical Block
• Shop for pasalubong
• Walk around Ximending Shopping District
• Dinner at Shilin Night Market
• Prepare for departure
• Check out of the hotel
• Flight back to Manila

Taipei Trip Budget and Expenses

List of basic expenses.

• Accommodation: PHP 1,000 - 5,000 per night
• Food: PHP 500 - 800 per day
• Transportation: PHP 300 - 400 per day
• Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket - PHP 859 per person
• Half-day Explore Taipei City Tour - PHP 1,704 per person (includes entrance ticket to the National Palace Museum)
• Taipei at Night Tour - PHP 2,324 per person (includes dinner at Din Tai Fung )
• Jingmei Night Market Tour - PHP 842 per person (includes tasting 12 local snacks)
• Taipei Sightseeing Hop on Hop off Bus Tour
• 4 Hour Pass - PHP 454.00 per person
• 1 Day Pass - PHP 1,059.00 per person
• Jiufen Village and Northeast Coast Tour: PHP 2,014 per person
• 4G Pocket WiFi Rental: PHP 133 per day
• Airport Transfers: PHP 1,390 per way good for 4 persons

Sample Expenses for 14,000 PHP Budget

• Train to Taipei - 272.00
• Hostel (1st night) - 512.00
• One day Bus Tour via Klook - 1,059
• Food Expenses - 300.00
• Dinner and Taipei at Night Tour via Klook - 2,324
• TOTAL - 4,467
• Hostel (2nd night) - 512.00
• Jiufen Tour - 2,014.00
• Jingmei Night Market Tour via Klook - 842.00
• Transportation - 60.00
• TOTAL - 3,728
• Hostel (3rd night) - 512.00
• Explore Taipei via Klook - 1,704
• Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket via Klook - 859.00
• Elephant Mountain - Free
• Transportation - 100.00
• Food Expenses - 500.00
• TOTAL - 3,675.00
• Hostel - 512.00
• TOTAL - 1,112.00
• Train to Taoyuan Airport - 272.00
• TOTAL - 772.00

GRAND TOTAL = 14,086.00 per person

• Round trip airfare Manila-Taipei-Manila
• NAIA terminal fee and travel tax
• Budget for pasalubong and tips
• Food expense for snacks

You can download a PDF copy of this Taiwan DIY Itinerary Travel Guide, HERE .

Sample 3 Days 2 Nights (3D2N) Itinerary for 8,000 Pesos

Day 1 - gold museum, jiufen and miramar entertainment park.

• 06:00 - Arrival in Taipei. Take the Airport Express to Taipei Main Station
• 07:30 - Leave bags at the hotel/hostel
• 08:00 - Have Breakfast at JSP Ximen
• 08:10 - Eat breakfast at JSP Ximen
• 08:40 - Walk to Ximen Bus Stop Station
• 09:00 - Take the city bus number 965 to Gold Museum
• 10:10 - Gold Museum Tour
• 11:50 - Lunch
• 12:30 - Gather and head to Jiufen by taking bus 965
• 13:00 - Explore Jiufen Old Street
• 14:30 - Gather and take bus 965 to Taipei
• 15:30 - Arrive at Taipei's Beimen MRT Station
• 15:45 - Take the MRT Green line and alight at Nanjing Fuxing
• 16:00 - Transfer the MRT brown line and take the train to Jiannan Rd. Station
• 16:30 - Go to Miramar Entertainment Park, ride the Ferris Wheel
• 18:30 - Dinner
• 20:00 - Head back to Ximen by taking the MRT Brown Line from Jiannan Rd. Station to Nanjing Fuxing
• 20:30 - Transfer to MRT Green Line to Ximen Station
• 21:00 - Back at the hotel/hostel

Day 2 - National Palace Museum, Shilin Residence, Dadaocheng, and Taipei 101

• 07:00 - Breakfast
• 08:00 - Take the MRT to Shilin Station and transfer to the Bus Red 30 (R30) which will take you directly to the National Palace Museum.
• 09:10 - Arrive at National Palace Museum, explore
• 10:50 - Gather at the exit and take the bus Bus Red 30 (R30) and head to Main Building of Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence
• 11:10 - Tour of Main Building of Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence
• 13:00 - Lunch
• 14:00 - Take the MRT to Daqiaotou Station. Take exit 1 and walk towards Dadaocheng district
• 15:00 - Arrive at Dadaocheng district
• 15:45 - Explore the district of Dadaocheng
• 18:00 - Dinner
• 19:00 - Walk back to Daqiaotou Station
• 19:30 - Take MRT from Daqiaotou Station to Dongmen Station and transfer to red line to Taipei101/World Trade Center Station.
• 20:00 - Arrive at Taipei 101 and visit Shou Xing Fang for souvenir shopping
• 20:30 - Go up to Taipei 101 Observatory
• 22:00 - Take the MRT back to Ximen Station
• 22:30 - Back at hotel/hostel

Day 3 - Yehliu Geopark and Juming Museum

• 06:00 - Leave bags at the hotel/hostel
• 06:30 - Breakfast
• 07:00 - Take the MRT from Ximen to Taipei Main Station then transfer the MRT Red Line to Tamsui Station
• 08:30 - Arrive at Tamsui Station. Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service 862 to Yehliu Geopark
• 10:00 - Arrive at Yehliu Geopark, explore
• 12:00 - Lunch
• 13:00 - Depart for Juming Museum by taking Bus 862
• 13:30 - Tour Juming Museum
• 15:30 - Gather at the entrance of Juming Museum
• 15:45 - Take the Bus 862 back to Tamsui Station
• 17:00 - Arrive at Tamsui Station. Take the MRT Red Line to Taipei Main Station then transfer to Ximen Station via the Blue Line.
• 17:40 - Arrive at Ximen Station/Taipei Main Station and Go to the hotel to pick-up bags
• 18:00 - Take the Airport Express Train to Taoyuan Airport
• 19:00 - Arrive at Taoyuan Airport. Check-in for your flight.
• You will be staying in a hostel for 1,000 pesos per night.
• Your food expenses is 800 pesos per day.
• You'll be taking the Airport Express Train from and to the Airport for 544 pesos round trip.
• You will be using a 3-day Unlimited Taipei Fun Pass worth 3,243 pesos. You can buy Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass here .

Breakdown of Expenses:

• 3 days Unlimited Taipei Fun Pass - PHP 3,243
• Hostel for 2 nights - PHP 2,000
• Food for 3 days - PHP 2,400
• Round trip Airport Express Train - PHP 544

TOTAL - PHP 8,187 per person

Taiwan travel blogs.

• Sample Taiwan Itineraries for 3, 4, 5 Days Tour
• 10 Free Things to Do in Taipei + Tourist and Attractions
• Taipei Taiwan Night Markets: Est, Shot and Explore!
• 3 Awesome Ways to Explore and Discover Taipei, Taiwan
• Taipei 101 & Elephant Mountain (Best Views of Taipei + Travel Tips)
• Top Best Budget Hotels and Hostels in Taipei, Taiwan
• The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Taipei using the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass
• Sample 2 Days Nantou, Taiwan Itinerary using the Nantou Fun Pass

I hope this COMPREHENSIVE TAIPEI TAIWAN TRAVEL GUIDE BLOG for First-timers help you in planning a memorable Taiwan Adventure! Enjoy and have fun in Taiwan!

Follow my adventures on youtube @pinoyadventurista, 10 comments :.

Hi my husband is working in taiwan for almost 4 years and i will visit him this may 2018...in this case do i still need to show in the immigration a hotel accommodation or is it enough to show to them the address where my husband is staying as my proof of accommodation?

Great to know this TAIWAN VISA-FREE ACCESS for Filipinos is extended until July 31, 2019! I'm planning a trip soon, this Taipei Budget Travel Guide with sample DIY Itinerary is very helpful. This First-Timer's Travel Guide to Taipei, Taiwan is such a big help especially for first-timer like me.

Indeed, there are so many THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI. I used this as my travel guide. Get to Know the City on a Hop On Hop Off Tour. Get a Killer View of Taipei from the Taipei 101 Observatory. Eat Your Way Through Shilin and Raohe Night Markets. Get Artsy at a Museum or Creative Park. Go on a Free Walking Tour. Feel Tiny at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Planning a trip to Taiwan sometime soon? This is a comprehensive DIY itinerary travel guide that covers attractions and activities every first timer’s should not miss.

yong iti's mo is "for your eyes only" we cant even print it. enable mo naman yan para ma print ng readers and followers

yong iti portion mo is "for your eyes only" we cant even print it. enable mo naman yan para ma print ng readers and followers, i mean not the whole post

Hi. Me and my brother are planning to travel to Taiwan next month. It will my first time while second trip for my brother because he's already been to SG last year. Question, cos i'll be really on a tight budget for this trip like everything will be budgeted. Im just afraid that i'll be checked regarding my financial capability. Well, im actually employed for two years already but i dont have that "show money" thing. Is it okay? Thank you so much.

Hi, paano po kapag sa apartment ng bf/gf ka magtitigil for the rest of your vacation? Okay lang po bang sabihin na you'll be staying at your boyfriend's or girlfriend's place?

I love how detailed you are when explaining everything! Thank you for this! Excited to visit Taiwan again!

Thank you for this guide! Super detailed and helpful! God bless 🙏

thank you for this is very helpful. can i ask if how much money needed for my bank to not get offloaded if i want to travel i taiwan.

Looking for Budget Travel Guide Blogs, Hotel Reviews, and Sample DIY Itineraries? Welcome to Pinoy Adventurista, "Your Next Ultimate Adventure Starts Here!" Pinoy Adventurista is one of the Top Travel Blogs in the Philippines and the World. In 2013, he visited all the 81 provinces in the Philippines.

Taiwan Travel Guide

Looking for an in-depth Taiwan travel guide ?

Then you’re in the right place!

Taiwan is a small country in East Asia that, despite its size, packs in plenty of adventures for travelers.

The destination is known for its bustling capital city Taipei, as well as its incredible natural beauty in areas like Taroko National Park and Sun Moon Lake .

Keep reading to dive into resources from Jessie on a Journey as well as its sister site Epicure & Culture that will help you with planning a trip to Taiwan.

Note: This guide to Taiwan travel contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Use this Taiwan travel map to begin planning your trip!

Click here for an interactive version of the above map.

Best Places To Visit In Taiwan

Learn about the top places to visit in Taiwan .

Active Exploring In Taiwan’s Taroko National Park

Cycling Sun Moon Lake In Taiwan

Hiking In Taiwan’s Dramatic Yehliu Geopark

13 Best Hiking Trails In Taiwan You Shouldn’t Miss

Taiwan Travel Advice

Use these Taiwan travel tips to plan the perfect trip.

How To Have A Quirky Stay At Hi-Lai Plaza Hotel’s Hello Kitty Room

Unusual Excursions: Traveler’s Guide To Quirky Taiwan

Solo Travel In Taiwan: How To Have An Amazing Trip On Your Own

Taiwan Food Trip

Explore the country on a virtual Taiwan food tour with these travel resources.

Unusual Discoveries In A Taiwanese Fish Market

Asia Travel Tips

This Asia travel advice can help you plan the perfect trip.

24 Best Places For Solo Travel In Asia

Top Taiwan Tours

Check out these fun tours in Taiwan from my affiliate partner, Viator:

• Sun Moon Lake 1-Day Leisure Tour from Taipei
• Zhuilu Old Trail From Hualien: The Best One Day Hike in Taiwan
• Xiao Long Bao & Beef Noodles Cooking Class (incl. Traditional Market Visit) in Taipei

Taiwan Hotels

Click here to browse hotels in Taiwan!

Prefer self-contained stays? 

Click here to check out unique local rentals!  

You can also use this map to search for local stays:

Renting A Car In Taiwan

Need a rental car for your Taiwan trip?

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

Taiwan Travel Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a Taiwan tour. When visiting Taiwan — or any other country in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.

In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your Taiwan itinerary.

Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Taiwan Travel Guide FAQ

Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling Taiwan .

Q: Is Taiwan safe to travel?

Taiwan is a safe place to travel. Violent crime is very rare, although tourists should always be vigilant towards pickpocketing and theft.

Q: Is it safe to travel to Taiwan alone?

Yes, solo travel in Taiwan is very safe! In fact, Taiwan is easy to get around, and locals tend to be friendly and helpful. It’s one of the best solo travel destinations in Asia .

Q: Which is the best month to visit Taiwan?

The months of September, October, and November are the best time to visit Taiwan. The weather is pleasant and there are fewer crowds.

Q: Is Taiwan cheap for travel?

Taiwan is not exactly a cheap destination for travel, especially when compared with other Asia trip destinations, but it is possible to travel here on a budget.

Budget travelers can expect to spend around $50 a day in Taiwan, while mid-range travelers should budget around $100 a day.

Q: Do I need a visa to enter Taiwan?

Citizens of many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, do not need a visa to visit Taiwan.

It’s recommended to view your country’s Taiwan International Travel Information page for the most up-to-date information on entry and exit requirements. You can also contact the Taiwan Embassy.

Q: What are some great Taiwan tourist places?

When visiting Taiwan, don’t miss Taipei (including the incredible night markets!), Sun Moon Lake , Kaohsiung, the Guanyinshuan National Scenic Area , the Kinmen Islands, and Taroko National Park , just to name a few local destinations.

Taiwan is just a short hour-and-a-half flight to Hong Kong and a two-and-a-half hour flight to South Korea for further exploration in Asia!

Q: What is the local currency in Taiwan?

The local currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar.

What would you add to this Taiwan travel guide?

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Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

The Perfect 3-Day Taipei Itinerary (2024 Updated Travel Guide)

October 14, 2023 by Bino 2 Comments

Taipei has long been an attractive travel destination for travelers from neighboring countries. While it has never really established itself in the backpackers’ trail, the city attracts plenty of midrange and high-end tourists looking to sample the local street food, shop in the night markets, soak in the hot springs and interact with the highly hospitable locals. Personally, Taipei is a feel-good place. I don’t go there expecting to see some mind-boggling sights. Like Tokyo , I go there time and time again for the wonderful ambiance.

If you are heading down south, also check out this Kaohsiung and Tainan itinerary .

Here is a well-balanced itinerary for Taipei that you can do in 3-days. It offers a fine mix between sights, eating and shopping and also has a few off-the-beaten path attractions thrown in.

Tip: If you are heading down to the other cities, check out this current promotion with Klook where Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets are available on a 20% off basis. Valid for Non-Taiwan residents only. Book your Taiwan HSR tickets here

chiang kai shek memorial hall

Day 1 – Quintessential Taipei

Tip: If you are landing in Taoyuan International Airport and wish to buy a local sim card for data needs, the airport does sell these but the queue tends to be quite long (not to mention it can get quite long at immigration as well). A way to circumvent this is by buying your sim card beforehand and just collect at the airport. I usually pre-order the sim card here to avoid the queues and the package also comes with a ticket for the airport train to Taipei.

national palace museum taipei by gary todd

The National Palace Museum (tickets available for the museum here ) is the farthest among Taipei’s attractions so might as well start here in order to devote the rest of your time in the city. When the Kuomintang fled from Mainland China and transferred their seat of power in Taipei, they brought with them plenty of treasured artifacts. These are now stored in the National Palace Museum. This is one of the – if not the – best places to see Chinese art. Good thing about this museum is that it opens at 8:30AM so you can have a relatively early start here. Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily except Monday

artwork inside moca taipei by harry li

I am not really a museum type of person but I do recommend heading over to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Taipei to see plenty of quirky art pieces. Honestly, this is one of the museums that I genuinely enjoyed and won’t hesitate to return to. Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00 daily except Monday / Nearest MRT: Taipei Main Station

Tip: Buses run aplenty in Taipei and is the best mode of public transport for those who want to minimize walking to their destination. It’s also the cheapest with fares at TWD 15 per ride. Do note that drivers don’t provide change and for some reason, some buses require payment upon boarding while others require payment upon alighting. You can easily tell these buses apart through the sign board on top of the driver seat. 上 means you pay upon boarding while 下 means you pay when you get off.

Stop over at Jinfeng Braised Pork Rice (#10, Section 1, Roosevelt Road) for lunch. There’s often a long queue here for the rice topped with braised pork. I personally do not enjoy it due to all the fat but many people rave about it. Opening hours: 11:00 to 1:00 daily / Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station

jinfeng braised pork rice

the gate to the chiang kai shek memorial hall

Make your way to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall which is just a short walk from Jinfeng. The place is best visited in the afternoon since the façade faces the west. Before the Taipei 101 was built, this structure served as the city’s most iconic structure. While there, make sure to check out the changing of the guard ceremony which happens every hour on the hour. Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00 / Admission: Free / Nearest MRT: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station

longshan temple

From here, it’s a short bus ride to Longshan Temple , one of the most popular temples in Taipei and a great example of classical Taiwanese architecture. It also offers a good peek at local religious life. Two blocks away from the temple is the historic Bopiliao Walking Street where you can relive the olden days with Taisho (colonial Japanese) era architecture and try your hand at age-old crafts. Opening hours for Longshan Temple: 6:00 to 22:00 / Admission: Free / Nearest MRT: Long Shan Temple Station

red house ximending

Depending on your pace, it’d be late afternoon by this time – just right to witness the lights turning on at the buzzing Ximending shopping area. This is equivalent to Taipei’s high street and you can find all sorts of brands here as well as several shops selling traditional delicacies and tea. The Red House is a symbol of the area and inside you can find plenty of independent stalls run by enterprising locals. If this is your first time in Taipei, you need to check out Ximending. Alternatively, you can also check out this handy guide on Taipei for first timers . Nearest MRT: Ximen Station

While you will find plenty of restaurants in Ximending, I recommend skipping these and heading straight to Ningxia Night Market instead. You can either take a short cab ride or walk the 2km stretch. Taipei is famous for its night markets with each having its own specialty. Ningxia Night Market is well-known for food and people from all over the world come here to eat oyster omelette and mochi. While there are a couple of stores selling these items here, the place you should try for oyster omelette is: 圓環邊蚵仔煎 (Roundabout Oyster Omelette) and for mochi, it’s: 林記燒麻糬 Nearest MRT: Shuanglian Station or Zhongshan Station

Day 2 – Excursion to Yehliu and Jiufen

yehliu geopark by bill so

Start early in the morning and take bus 1815 to Yehliu GeoPark . The journey takes about 1.5 hours and depending on the weather and the crowd, you’ll find plenty of rocks jutting from the ground like mushrooms. It’s a pretty sight except when it gets too crowded. Avoid the weekends if you can. Alternatively, take the train to Pingxi and launch a sky lantern .

Take another bus to Jiufen , an old seaside mining town that has developed into a tourist attraction filled with teahouses, cafes and souvenir shops. It’s a charming place to simply wander around or to spend an hour or two holed up in one of the teahouses. For history buffs, there are also museums showcasing the town’s mining heritage. Alternatively, you can also take a 3-in-1 day tour   from Taipei Main Station which brings you to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen and back within a day. This option saves you the commuting time and the need to find directions. You can find out more information for the combined tour here .

taipei 101 as seen from shangri-la far eastern plaza hotel taipei

Try to leave Jiufen by around 3 to 3:30pm and head back to Taipei via Bus #1062. Make your way to the Elephant Mountain Trail , a viewpoint that you climb in order to see sweeping views of Taipei 101 during sunset. Alternatively, you can also head up to the observatory of Taipei 101 itself (discounted tickets for Taipei 101 here ). In my opinion, this iconic building is better appreciated from afar.

For a truly special dinner experience, head to RAW (301 Lequn 3rd Road), the restaurant of one-Michelin starred chef, Andre Chiang. The cuisine is a fusion of Taiwanese and French cuisines. It gets booked out easily and online reservations are required.

raohe night market

End your day at the Raohe Night Market located at the other side of the river. This night market packs in a plethora of eats as well as ready-to-wear apparel. Nearest MRT: Songshan Station

Day 3 – Modern and Hipster Taipei

After two whirlwinds days exploring the city’s main attractions and also doing a day trip to Yehliu and Jiufen , your third day can be spent just chilling and exploring the more hipster side of the city. Taipei offers plenty for shopaholics out there and some up-and-coming neighborhoods offer a great counterpoint to characterless shopping malls.

fujin street in taipei

Start your day with some coffee from Fujin Tree 353 Cafe in Fujin Street – probably the most hipster area in Taipei. You’ll find plenty of quirky restaurants and boutiques with equally quirky people patronizing them. Even if you are not looking to buy anything, Fujin Street is also a great place for a stroll, being one of the rare tree-lined streets in the city. Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00, daily

huashan 1914 creative park by travel oriented

Continuing on with quirky things, head over to Huashan 1914 Creative Park . What used to be a winery has been converted into a creative space attracting writers, moviemakers and even painters. There is always an exhibition going on in here which is worth checking out. You’ll also find a lot of local crafts and independent stores within the vicinity. Do note that the park is actually quite spread out and you’ll find the stores and exhibition areas in different buildings within the complex. It may not be an ideal place to visit whenever it’s raining. For tech geeks, you can continue on to Guanghua Digital Plaza for all your IT needs. Taiwan is a major manufacturer of computers and hardware. Opening hours: 11:00 to 21:00, daily / Nearest MRT: Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station

daan forest park mrt station

Pause for lunch at the famous Lin Dong Fang (#274, Section 2, Bade Road) for some delicious beef noodles before continuing on to Daan Forest Park for some r&r. The namesake metro station – Daan Forest Park – is an attraction in itself with curved glass curtain walls and plenty of art installations. Two metro stops away is the Kishu An Forest of Literature where you’ll be transported to another world with its Japanese style bungalow. Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday (until 21:00 on Friday and Saturday)

matcha canele at heiankyo in taipei

While you are in the general vicinity, check out Heiankyo (165 Shida Road, open 12:30PM to 8:00PM except Tuesdays) for some traditional and modern matcha-based desserts. My personal favorites are the matcha canele (the first time I’ve seen one) and the rich and flavorful match ice cream. The venue is highly authentic, replete with a mini Japanese rock garden outside and interiors mimicking a traditional tea house.

koo chen fu national library at national taiwan university

Even those who have no interest in reading will probably be awed by the interiors of the Koo Chen Fu National Library (inside the National Taiwan University). Designed by Japanese architect, Toyo Ito, the reading room is made up of over 88 white columns that creates something like a forest out of minimalism. Admission is free but do note the library closes slightly earlier, at 5PM, during Saturdays and it’s closed on Sundays.

old buildings in dihua street by adam jones

Spend the late afternoon at Dihua Street , a colonial era part of town that has been rejuvenated with plenty of traditional shops. You’ll find Chinese medicine stores interspersing with cafes, antique shops as well as the odd art studio. Opening hours: 10:00 to 22:30, daily / Nearest MRT: Shuanglian Station

End the day at Shilin Night Market , undoubtedly Taipei’s biggest and most well-known night market. The place is known for local delights such as stinky tofu as well as oyster mee sua so make sure to come with an empty stomach. Opening hours: 15:00 to 1:00, daily / Nearest MRT: Jiantan Station

Getting to Taipei from Taoyuan International Airport

• Available 24 hours. Taxis cost roughly TWD 1,000  to 1200 from the airport to the city center. Alternatively, you can book pre-arranged rides here at around 15 to 20% cheaper than taxis. If there are 3 to 4 persons in your group, this option is recommended over public transport or the MRT.
• The relatively new Taoyuan Airport MRT gets you from the airport to Taipei Main Station in roughly 37 minutes. The price is TWD 230 per person. You can buy tickets online at a hefty discount.
• You can also take one of several airport buses that stop in Taipei’s main station. In case you’re arriving in Taipei past midnight and don’t wish to spend on taxis, take the #1819 Kuo Kuang bus. It costs TWD 125.

Travel Tips for Taipei

• Best time to visit Taipei: It is between October to March when the days are relatively cool. Even during the “depth of winter” in January, temperatures rarely fall below 10 degrees celsius. Summer is between June to September and it can get really hot and humid in the city. That being said, summer is the best time to visit the city if you wish to see the city with sunshine. This is especially helpful if you wish to climb Elephant Mountain for instance and witness a nice sunset blanketing the city. Taipei is notoriously known for its prolonged cloud cover. It’s one of the least sunniest capitals in the world!
• Travel Insurance: In these uncertain times, it may be wise to get travel insurance before traveling to Taiwan. If you reside in Singapore, check out Starr Travelead , one of the cheapest travel insurance. They have a promotion that comes with S$10 cash rebate that helps to cover the insurance cost. 
• Changing Money in Taipei: If you come from Singapore and are armed with Singapore Dollars, you might find the rates in DBS (the local Taipei branch) quite competitive. For folks from elsewhere who are bringing in USD, you can change money in the airport. The spread is slightly less than 1%. In the city, it is advisable to change money at large banks such as Bank of Taiwan.
• Transport Passes: If you foresee yourself taking buses and the subway in Taipei, it is advisable to purchase their local transport pass – the Easycard . You get 20% discount for public transport rides in Taipei. It also works in Kaohsiung’s public transport system as well as for supermarket, convenience store and other places. At the end of your trip, you can refund any unused amount with a mere TWD 20 service charge. 

Where to stay in Taipei

citizenm taipei hotel

Taipei has a plethora of accommodation options but the city is most well-known for its boutique hotels – some of which have “branches” throughout the capital. I personally enjoyed staying at citizenM Taipei Northgate with its high-tech rooms and beds situated just next to the window with panoramic views of the city. The property is also 5 minutes walk to the airport MRT station and 15 minutes walk to Ximending. Alternatively, the amba Taipei Zhongshan will attract those who are into a clean, all-white and minimalist theme. You can also check out more Taipei hotels HERE  to compare for the best prices.

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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February 23, 2018 at 12:45 am

Great post Bino. I agree that Taipei is a feel-good place. I visited for the first time last month on an independent trip with a friend. I went to Huashan 1914 Creative Park on a cold and rainy day expecting it to be indoors. Ha ha! Ended up spending most of my time watching a movie in the SPOT cinema. It was interesting reading about your suggested itinerary. I wrote my own version of a 2-day itinerary on my blog!

September 3, 2019 at 3:01 pm

SIR BINO, YOUR TAIPEI TOUR WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. GOT LOTS OF IDEAS. AM SURE YOUR WRITE UPS ON TAIPEI WILL HELP OUR SEPT. 2019 TRIP TO TAIPEI MEMORABLE MORE POWER TO YOU. GOD LOVES US ALL. THANK YOU.

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Taiwan blog — The fullest Taiwan travel guide first-timers

Taiwan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, always is a favorite destination of many tourists. Visiting Taiwan, you can immerse yourself in the fresh air of the highlands such as Yangmingshan, Alishan,… Discover the old streets, the ancient villages, the traditional culture, the new cities with the unique buildings, history and culture through many times in Taipei , Jiufen , Shifen, Neiwan , Tainan, Taichung or Kaohsiung . Whether you love any types of travel experience: exploring nature with many national parks: Taroko, Yehliu, Alishan…, exploring Chinese cuisine, exploring Chinese’s traditional history and culture, or simply looking to see the development of modern cities, Taiwan will always be where you find what you expected.

• Visiting Neiwan Old Street & tasting Lei Cha tea of Hakka people in a rainy day
• Taiwan fall foliage forecast 2024 — When & 9+ best place to see autumn leaves in Taiwan
• Visit Din Tai Fung Taipei Original (Din Tai Fung Xinyi) — Tasting the best dimsum at the best dimsum restaurant in the world
• Alishan travel blog — The fullest Alishan travel guide for first-timers
• Jiufen travel blog — Jiufen day trip from Taipei: How to spend 1 perfect day in Jiufen?

Follow the Living Nomads to explore Taiwan’s self-sufficient travel experience from A to Z and prepare your journey in the right way and fully through our Taiwan blog (Taiwan travel blog) — The fullest Taiwan travel guide blog for a budget trip to Taiwan for the first-timers below.

So, is Taiwan worth visiting, how to visit Taiwan, what to do in Taiwan and how to plan a budget trip to Taiwan for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Taiwan travel blog (Taiwan blog) with the fullest Taiwan travel guide (guide to Taiwan, Taiwan tourist guide, Taiwan city guide, Taiwan guide) from how to get to Taiwan, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Taiwan to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Taiwan blog: When to visit Taiwan?

Taiwan is in the subtropical climate, with a high temperature range, high humidity, and the climate is divided into four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. So, when is the best time to visit Taiwan?

Spring: Beginning in February and lasting until April. Around this time, Taiwan has a dry but fresh climate with spring flowers in full bloom. If you traveling to Taiwan in this time is also the beginning of the new year, so you will also be admired and participate in many traditional festivals early this year.

Summer: The season of sea breezes, seafood and night markets. From May to the end of August, Taiwan begins to receive the sea breeze to cool the sultry summer, this is also the time to harvest seafood. If you choose the summer is the time to travel to this country, you will be subjected to intense heat due to the very high temperature and humidity. Therefore, you need to have good health and equipped with enough equipment to cope with the hot weather.

Autumn: The season of fall foliage, autumn leaves. The fall’s Taiwan starts from September to November, which is considered to be the most beautiful season in this land. The weather is quite cool, sunshine, standing between the space the dream of the yellow of Ginkgo leaves, the bright red of Maple leaves will make visitors the feeling of time to stop. So, that is the best time to visit Taiwan.

Winter: The Children’s season: The temperature of Taiwan falls down quite low, with snow falling everywhere but not too harsh. When the snow stops falling is really a paradise for visitors.

Taiwan travel guide blog: Taiwan travel cost (or trip cost)

Transportation cost in taiwan.

To reach the island nation of Taiwan you can choose direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi to Taiwan. The cost for a round-trip ticket is NT$10,504.64 – NT$13,130.80 (direct flight). If you accept to fly in transit, or pre-book the tickets at least 4 – 6 months, the cost will be cheaper, about NT$6,565.40 to NT$10,504.64, depending on your choice to visit Taiwan on low or peak season.

After arriving at Taipei International Airport, you can choose to go by bus to get to Taipei downtown. Just find the sign boards or ask direct the airport staffs, you can find the bus to Taipei center. The price for this trip is about NT$30 and about 15 minutes there will be a trip. If you want to move between terminal 1 and 2, you can choose skytrain. You can also go to the city center by taxi, but we advise you should not choose because the price is quite high, about NT$1000 – NT$1200.

To getting around the city you can have more options: MRT, bus, tram, high speed rail, taxi, … Each means of transport has its own advantages and disadvantages, however, convenient and cheapest: There are buses and MRT. Read more:  HSR Taiwan travel guide — Everything you need to know about Taiwan High Speed Rail HSR .

Accommodation cost

The main areas of Taiwan are Taipei , Taichung , Kaohsiung, Hualien . Depending on your budget and what you expect to experience, you can choose the right accommodation. Taiwan has a full range of options, ranging from five-star and luxury hotels to guesthouses, homestays and dorm rooms for group together. The average price for a mid-range room is between NT$500 and NT$600, if you are lucky you will be able to find a discounted room for about NT$400.

Cost of eating out

Compared to accommodation, the cost of eating is not too expensive. An average meal is about NT$60 – NT$100. One of the foods that you can not miss when visiting to Taiwan is beef noodles, dim sum (about NT$80 – NT$100, depending on restaurant you choice). Along with Taiwanese milk tea ( Taiwanese bubble tea ), the world famous drink, you can try regular milk tea, pearl milk tea and 1001 kinds of milk tea with full flavors for about NT$60 per cup.

Cost of Visa

Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, you must apply for a visa when traveling in Taiwan. It will be simpler if you have been to the United States, Canada, the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the European Schengen visas (including permanent residence cards) will be exempt from visa. The stay of 30 days, with condition you have to registration online for approval (To apply an E-Visa, please click here ), Once approved, you will be able to check-in on board and entry into Taiwan.

Otherwise, you will have to prepare about $5000 to prove finances. In addition, you must pay a visa fee of $50 for cases taken after 5 working days, $75 for cases taken after 2 working days. Note that this fee is required to be in USD.

In Taiwan you will be using WIFI for free, most places also have WIFI. However, Taiwan travel experience is that you should buy a Sim 4G at the airport to communicate. You can buy 4G Sim Card as soon as you arrive at the airport. There are many types of 4G Sim: 1 day pass, 3 days pass, 5 days pass, 7 days pass … with very cheap price (range NT$300 – NT$500). Depending on your number of days in Taiwan that you should buy to have unlimited bandwidth throughout the days in Taiwan. Any types of SIM Card also have at least a few dozen NT$ for the call, so depending on your purpose (call or surfing internet that should choose).

• Carry your passport (have portrait photo) and Visa to buy SIM Card
• When the sim card is installed, check your SIM Card’s services before leaving.
• Sim has trouble, calling the 928 operator of Chunghwa Telecom.
• SIM is only available to guests aged 20 years and over.

Taiwan blog: Some useful tips for saving budget when traveling in Taiwan

Choose your hotel near the night market

The hotels near the night market area are normally cheaper. These places also have the advantage of many foods, just out of the hotel you will see food, on the evening, if you want to walk the night market also do not need to go far. Moreover, it’s easy to find the way, just ask the taxi driver to go to the market. However, you also have to notice that many places are not as in the illustration on photos, so when you check the hotel you have to carefully read the reviews of visitors.

Purchase an Easy Card

According to Taiwan self-sufficient travel experience (our Taiwan travel guide blog) as soon as you arriving in Taiwan, you have to buy Easy Card. This card can be purchased at the information counter at the Taipei Main Station when you take the bus from the airport to here. The deposit in the card is NT$100, and the minimum deposit is NT$600. This card can be used to pay for MRT, bus, high speed railway (HSR) and some supermarkets like 7/11. You can recharge your card by filling machines in the Taipei station’s areas. This card, if left over, will be returned to you at the train station information desk.

Pre-booking tickets for sightseeings, tours, activities

The main language of Taiwan is Chinese, so to avoid possible problems due to language barriers, you should pre-booking online for tickets for sightseeings, tours, and activities. This gives you time to thoroughly research your itinerary, tickets price, as well as finding for cheap options.

Taiwan bog: Taiwan experiences — Top things to do, best places to visit, top tourist attractions and activities in Taiwan you should not miss

Taipei capital.

Inner city attractions

Taipei 101: Located in the center of Taipei City, the Taipei 101 building has been recognized as the tallest building in the world. This record was broken only after the Burj Khalifa building became the tallest building in 2010. Taipei 101 is Taiwan’s pride and iconic of this island. Visiting to Taipei without checking in to Taipei 101 was a mistake, because standing on the 89th floor observation deck of the building, the whole of Taipei suddenly is shrinked through a lens. Go to Taipei 101 you can admire the stunning scenery, drink coffee or have breakfast with famous dim sum dish.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: The white walls and buildings with blue tile roofs are Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, the famous Taiwanese ruler and leader. Not only is the place where visitors come to pay their homage, this complex area is also a popular tourist attraction, beautiful famous scenery in Taipei .

Shilin Night Market: Taipei’s largest night market, not only the most popular night market for locals, but also an attractive destination for foreign visitors. Shilin is famous for its wide variety of traditional Taiwanese dishes as well as fashionable clothing. Feel the excitement of the Shilin Night Market in Taipei !

Yangmingshan National Park: Yangmingshan is one of the largest national parks in Taiwan. Visitors from four directions often come here for walks, hiking, enjoy fresh air, bathing in mineral hot springs and watching peach, cherry blossoms bloom. The Peach blossom season is from March to April will creates a beautifully bright pink color.

Taipei National Palace Museum: The advantage of this museum is that it is located in the center of Taipei City, which is very convenient for you to visit after visiting such places as Chiang Kai-shek Temple, Sun Yat-sen Temple or Taipei 101 Tower. It’s home for more than 700,000 antiques from the Bronze Age to the crockery, pottery and fine crafts of the last feudal dynasty – the Qing Dynasty. Come here you will feel like stray into the world of China’s millennial history. Admission: from NT$160 for adult.

Ximending: The most popular entertainment, bustling and famous area in Taiwan with many fashion and cosmetic brands: Adidas, Puma, Converse, Nike, The faceshop, Nature Republic … with thousands of dishes such as rice cakes, braised pork, beef noodles, fried buns, bubble tea,…

Longshan Temple of Manka: The temple is ancient, solemn and very sacred. To enter the temple you also have to go through three decorative doors in succession, the outermost is the waterfall, wood and stone carvings, inside is the worship area.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park: Similar Zone 9 or Baan Kang Wat area in Chiang Mai, this is a village / art park for young people with cinemas, exhibits, cafes or super cool shops. Come here, remember to take some photos, walk around.

National University of Taiwan: National University of Taiwan, extremely large with lots of trees, shade, old buildings or school campus. Right the outside of the school is bustling shopping, remember to try Chan’s milk tea.

Taipei Zoo: Asia’s largest zoo, like the Phu Quoc Safari or the zoo in Chiang Mai, Bangkok.

Maokong Gondola: This is the cable car up Mt. Maokong with its unique glass-bottomed cabana, from here you can admire the tea hills, temples and mountain peaks in Taipei. Cable runs every day except Monday, remember go to early to avoid queuing. You can take MRT Wenhu Line to Taipei Zoo and go to the cable car station nearby, Maokong is the last station.

Taipei outside attractions

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