Independent travel guide
Taiwan, from city to coast
Mountain railways, lantern-lit alleys, hot springs and the best late-night food in Asia. Plan your trip with clear maps, city guides and ready-made itineraries.
Independent guides · Practical and up to date
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Start here
Places worth crossing the island for
From the capital's night markets to the marble gorge on the east coast — pick a base and build outwards.
Northern Taiwan
Taipei
Skyscrapers, temples and the best late-night food in Asia.
Northeast Coast
Jiufen & the Northeast
Lantern-lit alleys above the sea, waterfalls and a wild rocky coast.
Central Taiwan
Taichung
Sunset wetlands, painted villages and the island's biggest night market.
Central Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake
Misty peaks, lakeside temples and the island's prettiest bike ride.
Southern Taiwan
Tainan
Taiwan's oldest city, and its most delicious.
Southern Taiwan
Kaohsiung
Harbour light, art warehouses and temple dragons by the water.
Eastern Taiwan
Hualien
Marble gorges, Pacific cliffs and the slow rhythm of the east coast.
Southern Taiwan
Kenting
Turquoise coves, coral reefs and the island's southern tip.
Ready-made plans
How long do you have?
A day, a weekend, a full week. Take a plan as it is or bend it to your own pace.
1 day
Classic
Taipei
Taipei in one day
Temples, dumplings, a skyline hike and the city after dark.
2 days
Classic
Taipei
Two days: Taipei & Jiufen
A city day, then lanterns in the mountains.
3 days
Classic
Taipei & Taichung
Three days: Taipei, Taichung & Sun Moon Lake
From the capital to the lake, by high-speed rail.
The classic route
One week around the island
The full loop: cities, gorge, coast and the tropical south.
Find your way
The whole island, on one map
Every destination and attraction in the guide, with filters for the kind of place you are looking for.
Open the full mapBefore you go
The practical bits
When to come, how to get around, what to eat and how to travel well.
When to go
Spring and autumn are mild and clear. Summer is hot, humid and typhoon season; winter is cool in the north.
Getting around
High-speed rail links the west coast; local trains and buses reach the east. An EasyCard covers almost everything.
Eat & drink
Night markets, beef noodles, dumplings and tea. Vegetarian food is easy to find and excellent.
Money & costs
The New Taiwan dollar is king. Cards work in hotels and malls, but night markets still run on cash.