Places to Visit in Taiwan – Small Island, Big Attraction

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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.

A couple walks down a busy market street in Taiwan, shielded from the sun by a large silver umbrella. The street is lined with multi-story buildings adorned with vibrant, traditional Chinese signage and market stalls under colorful awnings.

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.

While an easy place to travel independently, with its great infrastructure network and tourism-friendly set-up, if you prefer an organised adventure, you can search and book Taiwan group trips and itineraries here, and choose from Intrepid and G Adventures to locally run companies.

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

A grand, white archway gate with multiple white pillars topped with decorative caps and a green and orange tiled roof, leading to the National Palace Museum in Taipei sits behind it within lush greenery. People are walking across the paved plaza in the foreground toward the museum.

Taiwan National Palace Museum, Taipei.

Slightly elevated view looking down from the stairs of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan into the expansive Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan. The square is flanked with manicured gardens on either side, and bookended by orange-roof, traditional Chinese style buildings.

Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall with the National Concert Hall on the left and the National Theater on the right.

A large, white, traditional Chinese-style archway with motif carvings and a blue-tiled roof at the entrance to Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan. The main memorial building, in the same design, is visible in the distance through the central arch.

Liberty Square Arch.

A woman in a white tank top and polka-dot shorts stands in a paved plaza, smiling with her hands on her hips. In the background, the lotus-style Taipei 101 skyscraper towers over green trees against a bright, overcast sky.

Taipei 101 Building.

Elevated views over the densely packed Taipei city from the heights of its 101 observation deck, under a hazy, overcast sky. A long, straight main road stretches from the foreground into the distance, cutting through a tight grid of multi-story buildings and skyscrapers.

City views from the Taipei 101 Building.

Brightly lit stalls at a Night Market Taipei, Taiwan with yellow and white signs featuring Chinese characters line a narrow, paved walkway. A female vendor in a striped shirt works at stall on the right serves a seated customer, while customers walk through the market.

Ningxia Night Market, Taipei.

Taiwanese locals shopping at accessory and merchandise stalls at a Night Market in Taipei. On the right, a large display features rows of colourful character-themed drawstring bags, including popular cartoon figures like Mickey Mouse and Elmo. A blue neon sign for "Laking" hangs overhead, while other stalls are visible in the background.

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.

A scenic view of the Tamsui Old Street waterfront in Taiwan, featuring a stone-paved promenade lined with buildings and trees on the left. Stone steps lead down to a rocky shoreline at low tide, with the Tamsui River extending toward a modern city skyline and distant green hills under a clear blue sky.

Tamsui Old Street, Taipei.

A row of dilapidated stilt houses on a muddy riverbank at low tide in Tamsui, Taiwan on a sunny day. Four traditional fishing boats are beached on the dark mud in the foreground, with lush green trees and modern city buildings visible in the background.

Stilt houses along the Tamsui River in New Taipei.

External view of the historic red-brick Oxford College building in Tamsui, Taiwan, featuring a fusion of Western and traditional Chinese architecture. In the foreground, a small stone bridge crosses a small pond surrounded by rocks and green plants, while people stroll along the courtyard.

Former Oxford College of Alethia University in Tamsui.

An exterior view of the Grand Chapel (Presbyterian Church) on the Aletheia University campus in Tamsui, Taiwan with red-brick and stone facades, Gothic-style arch doors and windows and symmetrical towers. In the foreground, a manicured garden with low green hedges and paved walking paths leads toward the entrance.

Grand Chapel Aletheia University, Tamsui.

A person in boots uses a tool on a rocky shoreline at low tide next to a large triple decker passenger ferry at a dock in Taipei. In the background, the calm Tamsui River stretches toward a large green mountain under a clear, bright sky.

Ferry from Tamsui to Bali.

View of the Bali sea coast in New Taipei City, Taiwan at low tide. In the foreground, several traditional, colourful fishing boats are beached on the dark, damp sand of the riverbank. In the background, the calm Tamsui River stretches toward a dense urban skyline of multi-story buildings and skyscrapers under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

View from the seacoast town of Bali to Tamsui.

People walk along the Bali Left Bank Park pedestrian path in New Taipei City, Taiwan, a promenade lined with green hedges and trees, and tall light poles. In the background, a large green mountain rises behind a cityscape of modern buildings under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

Bali Left Bank Park in New Taipei.

A paved bike path in New Taipai with a central dashed yellow line and a parallel wooden boardwalk is lined with manicured green hedges and tall light poles. In the background, a couple walks along the boardwalk, a red rickshaw travels down the path, and a white, sail-like canopy rises above the green.

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

A small group of people at the end of a long, dark-metal suspension bridge with tall wire-mesh railings that spans a wide, shallow river. On the left bank, weathered buildings stand among dense green trees. In the background, lush, misty mountains rise under a heavy, overcast sky.

Shifen Suspension Bridge

Pingxi Old Street

A vibrant orange train covered in murals waiting at a wet and timeworn platform at Jingtong Station in Taiwan, to a backdrop of lush green trees.

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

Wide-angle shot of the Luermen Tianhou Temple in Tainan, Taiwan, showing its intricate, multi-tiered red-tiled roofs adorned with colourful, carved dragon and deity sculptures, wood and grey stone-carved pillars, and a large, traditional stone lion statue guarding the entrance. A row of parked motorbikes sits in the paved courtyard and in the forground, a woman dressed in pink can be seen riding away.

The Luermen Matsu Temple in Tainan’s Annan District.

A man walks on chequered paving stones towards a weathered, white-washed colonial-style building with two symmetrical red-brick staircase at Fort Zeelandia, Tainan.

Fort Zeelandia Museum, Anping.

Two people stand on a black metal elevated walkway and staircase inside the Anping Tree House in Tainan, Taiwan, surrounded by massive roots and branches of banyan trees that have overtaken the interior of this building.

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.

READ MORE: Visiting Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan

A red gondola of the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway descends over a lush, green-covered mountain in Taiwan. Two other cable cars, one yellow and one blue, are visible further down, heading toward a lower station near the water's edge. In the background, the vast Sun Moon Lake stretches out under a misty sky, bordered by rolling green hills and a small lakeside town.

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.

A woman in a white top and bright pink shorts sits on a wooden boardwalk, looking out toward a coastal road lined with palm trees and multi-story buildings under a clear, bright sky. In the far distance, a denser urban skyline is visible.

Hualien city coastline.

A tall, ornate Taoist temple with multi-tiered red-and-orange tiled roofs and decorated with intricate, colourful sculptures of dragons and traditional deities, rises above a lush screen of palm trees and tropical greenery. In the distance are mist-covered mountains under a bright blue sky.

Lush landscapes of Hualien.

A wide view of a flat and narrow path with a black railings carved directly into the side of a massive marble cliff, next to a shallow bed of crystal blue waters and grey river stones and backed by a wall of lush green.

Shakadong Trail in Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

A woman in a blue tank top and black leggings stands on the gravel-covered Shakadang Trail in Taroko National Park, Taiwan. She is smiling and gesturing with one hand toward the stunning turquoise-blue Shakadang River flowing alongside the trail and the wall of steep, lush green.

Visiting Taiwan’s famed Taroko National Park.

Wide view of a low turquoise river flowing over silver boulders through a deep forested gorge in Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

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.

A large, diverse group of people, including men, women, and two children, smile and pose for a group photo during an outdoor evening gathering in Taiwan.

Stay in locally run guesthouses and meet Taiwanese locals.

Comments

Lawrence says

29 September 2019 at 4:21 pm

Visit some of the Islands, like Green Island, Xiao LiuQiu Island, Penghu Islands etc. They are not overcrowded and you can see colorful fish and giant turtles if you go snorkelling.

chris says

24 February 2015 at 7:52 am

I am planning a Taiwan trip in the future (with a bike and surfboard) and your piece here is appreciated. If you added prices for common costs it would really give people a sense of budget and expectations. just a suggestion…otherwise, great stuff – thanks!

Amanda @ Adventures All Around says

16 December 2013 at 9:31 pm

This is one of those places I have yet to travel to, and you’ve certainly helped to inspire me! I look forward to hearing more about it when you head back again for more adventures 🙂

- Becki says
  
  17 December 2013 at 10:55 pm
  
  I hope more people go and experience the beauty of Taiwan!
  
D Haldar says

3 December 2013 at 3:07 am

Wow, Taiwan looks like a really cool place to visit….its well within my budget, next time I plan a trip Taiwan is going to on the top of my list 🙂

- Becki says
  
  3 December 2013 at 3:01 pm
  
  I’m glad you think that because it really is! And it’s not an expensive place to travel on either. Hope you make it there soon!
  
Kasha says

2 December 2013 at 12:17 pm

Taiwan sounds and looks like a beautiful place! I know what you mean about unfinished business; there are some countries that I NEED to go back to, as I feel like I barely scratched the surface of discovering them.

Your photos are gorgeous 🙂

- Becki says
  
  2 December 2013 at 12:32 pm
  
  I’m half trapped between thinking the ‘unfinished business’ feeling is frustrating and also exciting. But Taiwan has so much drawing me back! Where do you want to return to? Hope Taiwan is now on your list? 🙂
  
Jessica Wray says

1 December 2013 at 4:25 pm

I LOVED Taiwan myself. It was such a great country to visit. I was only there 10 days, and there were a few spots I missed. I loved the gorge, and we visited after a typhoon as well. There were a few landslides making a few areas inaccessible and the water in the river was muddy from the sediments shifting rather than the bright blue. Regardless, I loved it and had so much fun scootering around the curvy roads!

I hope to go back as too!

- Becki says
  
  1 December 2013 at 10:06 pm
  
  I need to get back on a scooter. I had a small accident in Cambodia and haven’t got on one since. Although, it’s a good good Taiwan has amazing cycling routes! There’s so much more to explore – very exciting – will be like stepping back into a new country again.
  
Gary says

1 December 2013 at 1:28 am

Interesting read.
When you go back make sure you spend some time in the centre as well. The typhoon wiped out roads, bridges and the railway up to ALiShan
As soon as they get the rail line going we’ll be back as well.

- Becki says
  
  1 December 2013 at 1:41 am
  
  The centre is certainly on the list, as mentioned in my conclusion – I can’t wait to get back and explore more! 🙂 How long did you spend there?
  
  - Gary says
    
    1 December 2013 at 9:52 am
    
    Not long enough. A few weeks to travel a full lap of the island with stops at a few of the major spots. Taroko Gorge was a highlight as was Ali Shan. Waiting on the narrow gauge rail way up to Ali Shan and will be back again then. Also stayed at the Sleepy Boot hostel. Recommend it as well.