Itineraries · 3 days
Three days: Taipei, Taichung & Sun Moon Lake
From the capital to the lake, by high-speed rail.
Classic
3 days · Taipei & Taichung
Numbers follow the order of the trip. Open a destination for the full guide.
Day by day
The plan
This is a well-paced introduction to the west side of the island, with a mix of city, coast and mountains.
The third day can be reversed if you prefer to sleep at the lake and return to Taipei the following morning.
Day 1
Taipei highlights
A compact city day built around temples, old streets and the skyline. Keep the evening flexible for food.
Longshan Temple
Begin with incense and chanting at the city's most atmospheric temple.
Ximending & the Red House
A walk through Taipei's neon shopping district and the restored Red House market.
Lunch in Xinyi
Head to the sleek Xinyi district for dumplings or a bowl of beef noodles below Taipei 101.
Taipei 101 observatory
Ride up for the view, then walk through the surrounding department stores and parks.
Xiangshan sunset
The classic ridge hike for the best view of the tower and the city lights.
Shilin Night Market
Dinner is a graze through the stalls: fried chicken, oyster omelette, shaved ice.
Day 2
High-speed rail to Taichung
Take an early train south, then split the day between the city's creative spots and the coast at sunset.
HSR to Taichung
The journey from Taipei takes about 50 minutes. Drop your bags at the hotel and take the shuttle into the city.
Rainbow Village
A short taxi ride to the painted veterans' village, then back towards the centre.
Lunch & Miyahara
Eat in the old downtown, then queue for ice cream in the restored eye clinic.
National Taichung Theater
Explore Toyo Ito's cave-like building and its rooftop garden.
Gaomei Wetlands
Head to the coast for the sunset boardwalk and wind turbines. Check the tide before you go.
Fengjia Night Market
Finish at Taiwan's biggest night market, a short taxi from Gaomei.
Day 3
Sun Moon Lake
A full day on the lake: cycle the quieter shore in the morning, then take a boat and visit the temples.
Bus to Shuishe
Buses leave Taichung HSR station for the lake in the morning; the journey takes about 1.5 hours.
Cycle the lake loop
Rent a bike or e-bike in Shuishe and ride the waterfront path towards Xiangshan. Stop at the visitor centre for coffee.
Lunch in Ita Thao
Take the ferry across the lake and eat Thao-style street food by the pier.
Wenwu Temple
A short bus ride north for the grand lakeside temple and its panoramic terrace.
Sunset by the water
Return to Shuishe for the last light over the lake, then take the evening bus back to Taichung or Taipei.
More itineraries
More itineraries
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
Tainan & Kaohsiung
Three days in the south: Tainan & Kaohsiung
Old streets, harbour light and the best food on the island.