Travel to Taiwan is underrated, and the island in the East China Sea is relatively unknown. Here are the best places to visit in Taiwan to see it differently.
Underrated and rarely spoken about, travelling in Taiwan was put on the radar after I met a woman during my travels who was born and raised in the capital city of Taipei before moving to the USA with her family in her teens. She’s spent years telling me incredible stories of her home town and the culture she left behind.
Her many memories brought to life the little-known island south of Japan and Korea, east of Hong Kong and north of the Philippines. While there is a huge debate surrounding independence from China vs. China ‘controlling’ Taiwan, Taiwanese people (despite many being hereditary Chinese mainlanders) shout about their independence and their differences. It’s almost a final frontier in the East Asia travel circuit.
A stunning mountainous plain filled with thick forests, national parks and turquoise blue streamlined hiking trails, and surrounded by a multitude of towns and cities, Taiwan is an outdoor lover’s paradise as well as a culture enthusiast’s canvas. Here’s where to visit in Taiwan on a loop around the country’s most scenic spots.
Places to Visit in Taiwan – The Little Known Island with Big Attraction.
Travel to Taiwan
Getting around Taipei is easy thanks to its extensive rail network, especially its high-speed lines. The Taiwan High Speed Rail runs along the west coast, connecting Taipei to major cities like Taichung and Tainan. Taiwan Rail loops the entire country’s coastline, taking in more towns and cities, so you can continue your journey from the west to the east coast from Tainan down to the more southern Kaohsiung and beyond or take a clockwise route from Taipai in the north to Yulin and Hualien.
I booked high-speed rail tickets online and picked them up at Taipei Main Station before onward travel – you typically have to pick them up in person and provide the confirmation code and proof of ID. The Taiwan rail website is a little more tricky to navigate, although booking directly at the station in the city you are in can be more helpful. Or you can use a booking platform like 12GoAsia for ease of use.
Start in Taipei
While there’s more to Taiwan than just its capital city, many only give the spreading metropolis a couple of days of exploration, and it needs more.
Taipei Heritage Sites
Much of the main heritage sites are clustered in the west of Taipei, spreading around and from the busy entertainment district of Ximen.
Step inside one of the city’s oldest sacred Buddhist spaces at the Longshan Temple, or walk through the vast space of the white-marble monument Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and its public-square entrance piece Liberty Square Arch. The nearby 2-28 Peace commemorates the political protesters killed on 28th February 1947. The two heritage red brick structures are the ancient Qing Dynasty-era street-set Bopiliao Historic Block, a former commercial space turned arts and culture, and the octagonal Red Brick House from 1908, reviving its former market life with two floors of artisan design stalls.
The heritage area of the Datong District is north of Taipei’s Main train station, with an avenue of old brick trading houses, Chinese tea and herbal shops, and a cluster of revered temples like the Taoist Xia Hai City God Temple. A little further beyond is the National Taiwan Museum with artefacts detailing the country’s colonial-built layers.
In the eastern swathe of the capital you’ll find the soaring bamboo shoot designed 508m high Taipei 101 observation tower and the cable car to the neighbouring heights of Elephant Mountain.
Every evening, it’s worth navigating a new night market to taste the local staples, including braised pork with rice, scallion pancakes, Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings, Taiwanese fried chicken, and stinky tofu (if you dare). There are dozens, although the biggest and most well-known are Shilin, Ningxia and Raohe.
Book: Taipei 101 Priority Pass tickets | Historical City Tour with National Palace Museum Ticket | Vintage Taiepi Walking Tour in Datong District | Taipei Lunch and Dinner Food Tours | Taipei Sightseeing Cycling Tour
Taiwan National Palace Museum, Taipei.
Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Liberty Square Arch.
Taipei 101 Building.
City views from the Taipei 101 Building.
Ningxia Night Market, Taipei.
Shilin Night Market, Taipei.
Tamsui District – New Taipei
For those wanting to explore further, my two favourite places in the city exist right at both ends of the Metro line. I stayed in the northernmost area of Taipei, on the red metro line, 45 minutes from the centre in an area called Tamsui (formally Tamshui /Danshui) – a once-bustling port town occupied at various times by the Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Han Chinese.
It’s a hilly town full of renovated colonial buildings and former residences, the site of the Spanish Fort San Domingo, beautifully landscaped Alethia University and narrow streets brimming with street food and market stalls. I grabbed a map that outlined all the historical buildings, hired a bike for the day, leisurely perused the town, and then hopped on a ferry over to the seacoast town of Bali.
Tamsui Old Street, Taipei.
Stilt houses along the Tamsui River in New Taipei.
Former Oxford College of Alethia University in Tamsui.
Grand Chapel Aletheia University, Tamsui.
Ferry from Tamsui to Bali.
View from the seacoast town of Bali to Tamsui.
Bali Park New in New Taipei.
Sundown in Bali district, Taipei.
Xindian District – South If you have time to get to further reaches of the outer city, take the last stop on the metro line, south of the city, to Xindian station. Here, you’ll find Bitan Park, another walking and cycling route that lines the Xindian River, flanked by green encased mountains and a huge cable suspension bridge.
Taipei Pingxi District for the Railway Towns
You might notice while in Taipei that the city sits in a green bowl wrapped by mountainous, otherwise known as the Taipei Basin. It means nature is either at the end of a metro line in the denser woodland or waterside outer districts, and it all makes for an easy day trip to see another side of the metropolis. The most classic of these trips is to the elevated towns of Ruifang, Jiufen, Shifen and Pingxi – former Japanese colonial-era mining towns now known for their connecting railways and picturesque timewarp Old Streets.
The easiest route is from Ruifang Station, which is around one hour by rail from Taipei. Ride the historical rail to Jiufen in the west, whose stone alleyways, step-back-to-tradition teahouses and old-time character will keep you strolling for hours. Head back to Ruifang and take the track south on the Pinxi Line to the petite Shifen, where old wooden houses line the rails. The best lookout, though, is from its 128-meter-long Jingan suspension bridge, combined with a light nature trail to the forest-tucked Shifen Falls. On the way, you can stop at Houtong for its Cat Village, though my tip is to make time after Shifen and get to the last stations, Pingxi and Jingtong, for more Old Street wanders.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival occurs in this district in early February and gets crowded. It’s a beautiful ceremony of people making wishes and letting their lanterns fly off into the sky into the evening. Over the years, it became a ticketed event, requiring a bit of pre-planning if you wish to take part; however, spectating is free.
BOOK: Pingxi, Jiufen, and Yehliu rock formations guided tour (day trip from Taipei).
Jiufen Old Street
Shifen Suspension Bridge
Pingxi Old Street
Heritage Jingtong Train Station
Tainan – Taiwan’s Oldest City
If you have limited time in Taiwan and want to combine another city with Taipei, then the southwestern coastal city of Tainan is where you should head. The oldest city and the first capital of Taiwan melds a 400-year-old historical timeline from Dutch colony to Imperial Chinese rule, found amongst its cluster of shrines, temples and colonial-era buildings in Tainan city and with the beautiful, cobbled stone district of Anping with its harbour front, old set-stone streets and banyan tree root ‘Tree House’.
READ MORE: Things to Do in Tainan – See Taiwan’s Oldest City Differently
The Luermen Matsu Temple in Tainan’s Annan District.
Fort Zeelandia Museum, Anping.
Visiting the Anping Tree House.
Taichung – For the Iconic Sun Moon Lake
North of Tainan is the huge yet nondescript industrial city of Taichung. With little to do here aside from the science museum, many bypass the city, using it only as a stopping point to reach Sun Moon Lake without rushing or leaving on early transport links.
The misty sky-lined Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of fresh water in the whole of Taiwan and a government-controlled National Scenic Area. Spend a full day here a nature-bound trip filled with scenic boat trips, mini-hikes, long walks and cycle routes encased by more mountains. When you see past the crowds, the views from up high are incredible. This i
READ MORE: Visiting Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan
The gondola view over Sun Moon Lake.
Hualien – The Gateway to Taroko Gorge
Hualien is think with vegetation and low-lying mountains, a teaser gateway to the famed Taroko National Park. One of the most popular and scenic treks is the Shakadong Trail—a rock-cut path that follows a bubbling blue river dotted with smooth boulders in a spectrum of grey and silver, flowing alongside marbled canyons that mirror the trail route.
Hualien city coastline.
Lush landscapes of Hualien.
Shakadong Trail, Taroko Gorge.
Visiting Taiwan’s famed Taroko National Park.
Gorge valley landscapes of Taroko National Park.
Is Taiwan Worth Visiting?
Absolutely, but while two weeks in Taiwan is ample time to see the major cities and natural attractions, to get a wider sense of the country’s offering, I don’t think it’s long enough. Especially if you want to spend more than two days in Taipei (I could easily spend a week in the capital). With a central island route that takes you through mountainous hikes, historical trails, Recreation Areas and winding highways, in addition to other coastal towns calling for exploration, including Lukang, Kaohsiung, Sanyi, Mataian and Yulin, this is a small country with a lot of highlights. It warrants more than a quick visit, and you’ll want to be prepared.
Where To Stay in Taiwan
My top picks for budget to mid-range stays and local experiences in Taiwan.
Taipei – Ximen Area
Meander Taipei Hostel – A low-sky, modern hostel on the fringes of the Ximen district, with a rooftop hangout and kitchen lounge area. Double rooms are not spacious, but when you are mostly out and about, does that matter? Prices per night are cheaper during the week.
Amba Taipei Ximending – A mid-range hotel with colour-popping room accessories and furniture. Has a homely library-vinyl cafe, bar and restaurant area.
Triple Tiger Inn – Triple Tiger is uber-budget compared to other properties in the Ximen area, but its family-run atmosphere, plus its being tucked away in a local grid-street neighbourhood, altogether reminded me of my backpacking days.
Taipei- Datong Heritage Area
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station – A modern, minimalist, white and wood panel decked, plant-filled hostel with dorms and privates in the lower area of the historic Datong District.
We Come Hostel – Another top Datong location with soft industrial-style common rooms, monochrome dorms and colour-drenched private rooms.
OrigInn Space – This vintage-retro-styled hotel in a historic building is next to Dihua Street. The only downside is that some rooms have shared bathrooms.
Tainan – West Central District
IsShoNi House – A beautiful, contemporary homestay in Tainan where every design detail has been added with thought. It is a homely space with a lovely private host owner, friendly staff and a cool cafe and coffee hangout.
Taichung
Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung – A sleek, contemporary, rustic-nordic hostel with private rooms and dorms in the centre of Taichung. A perfect base for a trip to Sun Moon Lake.
Hualien
You Worth Inn – Small, industrial-style hotel with exposed walls, monochrome hues, vintage furniture, and potted plants. It’s close to the train station for easy access to the Taroko Gorge area.
Sleeping Boot Hostel – A small, no-thrills but homely and locally-run hostel with dorms and privates. In the middle of town near key transport links.
Stay in locally run guesthouses and meet Taiwanese locals.
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