Itineraries on TaiwanJourney

Taipei in one day

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

If you have only 24 hours, resist the urge to see everything. This route gives you the old city, the museum and the skyline without rushing between distant neighbourhoods.

For a slower version, drop the museum and add a long lunch in Dadaocheng.

Two days: Taipei & Jiufen

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two days is enough for a real taste of both Taipei and the northeast. The pace is moderate, with one early start and two evenings outdoors.

If you have a third day, add Beitou’s hot springs or a day trip to Yehliu and the coast.

Three days: Taipei, Taichung & Sun Moon Lake

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Three days in the south: Tainan & Kaohsiung

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is a gentle three-day route with time to eat, linger and change plans. It works equally well as the southern half of a longer trip.

If you have an extra day, add the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum or continue south to Kenting.

One week around the island

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This loop covers the island’s greatest hits without feeling rushed. The longest travel day is Hualien to Kenting; every other leg is under three hours.

Swap the order if you are travelling in winter and want to chase the sun: start in the south and finish in Taipei.

Taipei by bike: riverside parks to Tamsui

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is the easiest way to see a different side of Taipei: no traffic, wide river views and a string of small parks, temples and old riverside settlements.

The route is flat enough for almost anyone, but the afternoon headwind on the way north can be strong. Start early, keep the distance flexible and let the ferry do the hardest part.

Sun Moon Lake by bike: a two-day loop

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The lake is only 30 kilometres around, but the hills and the stops make it a full day. Splitting the loop over two days leaves time for temples, villages and the water itself.

Taipei hiking weekend: ridges, tea hills and the coast

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This weekend pairs two very different landscapes: the volcanic plateau and hot springs north of the city, then the sharp ridges and old mining towns of the northeast coast.

Both days involve real trails, but no technical climbing. Good shoes, water and a flexible plan matter more than fitness.

Taroko Gorge on foot: three days of trails

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Taroko is not a single hike but a whole valley of trails. This route keeps the big permit hike in the middle and uses easier river walks on either side, so tired legs still get a good day.

A food weekend: Taipei to Tainan

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Taipei and Tainan are the two poles of Taiwanese food: the capital is fast, experimental and open late, while Tainan is slower, sweeter and deeply traditional.

This route is deliberately gentle. The only fixed points are the trains; everything else can move around them.

Tainan in one day: temples, lanes and snacks

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A compact day in Taiwan’s old capital: Chihkan Tower, Shennong Street, Anping’s lanes and a night-market dinner.

The old capital at walking pace. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kaohsiung in two days: harbour, art and islands

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Harbour walks, Pier-2 art, Cijin Island by ferry and the temples and night markets of Taiwan’s southern port.

A port city with an easygoing edge. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taichung in one day: art, markets and the wetlands

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A day of contrasts in central Taiwan: the National Theater, Rainbow Village, Gaomei Wetlands at sunset and Fengjia Night Market.

City art, a painted village and a sunset over the sea. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hualien in one day: Taroko Gorge and the Pacific

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A day trip from Hualien into Taroko Gorge, with river trails, marble cliffs and sunset at Qixingtan Beach.

Marble, river water and the open Pacific. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kenting in two days: beaches, cliffs and night market

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A relaxed weekend at Taiwan’s southern tip: Nanwan Beach, Eluanbi Lighthouse, Longpan Park and Kenting Night Market.

Sun, sea and the island’s southern edge. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

West coast by rail: Taipei to Kaohsiung in four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A four-day rail journey through Taiwan’s western cities: Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, with time for food and old streets.

Four cities, one train line, a lot of snacks. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

East coast by rail: Taipei, Hualien and Taroko

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A three-day rail trip along Taiwan’s east coast, with Taroko trails, Qixingtan Beach and the slow road back to Taipei.

The scenic side of the island. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

North coast by scooter: Keelung, Jiufen and Bitou

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two days on a scooter along Taiwan’s northeast coast: fishing harbours, teahouses, sea cliffs and the lanterns of Jiufen.

Wind, salt and a scooter helmet. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hot springs and old towns: Beitou, Wulai and Jiaoxi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two slow days of hot springs, mountain villages and tea houses around Taipei and Yilan.

Steam, tea and a slower pace. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan with kids: a week from Taipei to Kenting

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A family-friendly week with temples, trains, beaches and night markets, paced for shorter legs and early dinners.

A week of easy adventures for younger travellers. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Night markets in three cities: Taipei, Taichung and Tainan

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A three-night eating route through Taiwan’s best night markets, with daytime walks to balance the snacks.

Three cities after dark. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan for photographers: five days of light and texture

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A five-day route for early starts and late light: Taipei’s skyline, the northeast coast, Taroko and the beaches of Kenting.

Chase the light from city to coast. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Cycling the East Rift Valley: Hualien to Taitung

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days on quiet country roads through rice paddies, hot-spring villages and the mountains of Taiwan’s east.

The island’s quietest long ride. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kaohsiung by bike: the harbour and Cijin Island

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A flat one-day ride on Kaohsiung’s harbour paths, the Cijin ferry, lighthouse and seafood streets.

Harbour air and an island on two wheels. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kenting by bike: coastal roads and hidden bays

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A two-day ride around Kenting’s coast, with quiet bays, lighthouse views and a night-market finish.

Tropical roads at an easy pace. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hualien by bike: the coast road to Qixingtan

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two days of easy coastal cycling north of Hualien, with pebble beaches, cliffs and a sunrise over the Pacific.

Sea views and empty back roads. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Yangmingshan in a day: volcanic trails above Taipei

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A one-day hike through Yangmingshan’s grasslands, fumaroles and hot springs, with an easy return to the city.

A volcano, a hot spring and the city below. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kenting on foot: trails, cliffs and the southern cape

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A hiking day at Taiwan’s southern tip: coastal trails, Eluanbi Lighthouse and the grasslands of Longpan.

Walk to the edge of the island. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Maokong tea hills: a hike above Taipei

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A half-day hike through tea plantations and forest trails, finishing with a gondola ride and a pot of oolong.

Tea fields, ridge views and a gondola down. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hiking the east coast: Hualien, Qingshui and the sea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Three days of coastal and gorge trails around Hualien, from Qingshui Cliff to the old trails above the Pacific.

Cliffs, tunnels and the long blue horizon. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taipei and the north coast in four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days between Taipei, Jiufen, Shifen and the sea cliffs of the northeast coast, with time for temples and night markets.

City, coast and lanterns in one slow loop. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Tainan and Kaohsiung in four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days between the old capital and the southern port: temples, snack streets, Cijin Island and the harbour lights.

Old streets and sea air in the south. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan by train in five days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A five-day rail route from Taipei to Hualien, Tainan and Kaohsiung, with the coast, old towns and night markets along the way.

Five days, four cities, one railway. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Food and temples: five days in western Taiwan

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days of temples, old towns and market food in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung, linked by high-speed rail.

A slow eating tour of the west coast. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan in a week: Taipei, lakes and the south

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A classic seven-day route through Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan and Kenting, with trains, temples, night markets and beaches.

The island in one balanced week. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Tamsui and Bali by bike: a river day

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A flat one-day ride from Taipei to Tamsui and across the river to Bali, with old streets, a ferry and an estuary sunset.

A river ride to the sea. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hualien to Taitung: three days on the coast road

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Three days of coastal cycling from Hualien to Taitung, with fishing villages, sea cliffs, rice fields and hot springs.

The long blue east coast. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Sun Moon Lake and Puli by bike: three days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Three days of lake paths and country roads around Sun Moon Lake and Puli, with tea farms, temples and hot springs.

Lake, tea and quiet back roads. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kaohsiung to Tainan by bike: three days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A flat three-day ride between Kaohsiung and Tainan, with harbour paths, fishing villages, temples and snack streets.

A southern ride between two old cities. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taipei to Hualien by bike: four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days from Taipei to Hualien on quiet river and coast roads, with a train through the mountains and a finish by the Pacific.

From the city to the sea, slowly. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

East Rift Valley and coast by bike: four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days linking the East Rift Valley with the Pacific coast, through rice fields, hot springs and small fishing villages.

Valley and sea in one ride. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan’s west coast by bike: five days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days from Taichung to Kaohsiung on the west coast, with old towns, temples, fishing villages and night markets.

The quieter side of the west coast. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

East coast by bike: five days from Hualien

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days of coastal cycling from Hualien, with sea cliffs, fishing harbours, hot springs and a return by train.

Five days of Pacific views. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Central mountains by bike: five days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days of hilly cycling around Taichung, Sun Moon Lake and Puli, with tea farms, temples and mountain views.

Climbs, tea and lake roads. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan island loop by bike: seven days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A seven-day cycling loop around Taiwan, linking Taipei, the west coast, Kenting and the east coast with trains for the hardest sections.

The big island ride, with a little help from the train. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Southern Taiwan by bike: a seven-day coast week

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A week of easy cycling in southern Taiwan, based around Tainan, Kaohsiung and Kenting, with beaches, temples and seafood.

A warm, flat week by the sea. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Family cycling week: Taipei, lakes and Taichung

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A gentle seven-day cycling week for families, with riverside paths, the Sun Moon Lake loop and short train hops.

Easy rides, short days and plenty of snacks. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taroko short hikes: two days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two days of easy Taroko trails, from Shakadang and Baiyang to the Swallow Grotto and the coast at Qixingtan.

The gorge without the big climb. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Kenting hiking weekend: trails and the cape

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A two-day hiking weekend at Taiwan’s southern tip, with Sheding, Eluanbi, Longpan and a night market finish.

Coastal trails and grassland sunsets. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

North coast hiking: Taipei, Jiufen and the sea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Three days of city ridges and coastal trails, from Elephant Mountain and Yangmingshan to Teapot Mountain and Jiufen.

Ridges, tea hills and the northeast coast. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Northern Taiwan trails: four days

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days of hiking around Taipei and the northeast coast, with Yangmingshan, the Teapot Mountain ridge, Bitou Cape and Jiufen.

Four days of ridges and sea air. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taroko in depth: four days of trails

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days in Taroko National Park, with river trails, the Zhuilu Old Trail, Lushui and the coast at Qixingtan.

The gorge at walking pace. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Southern trails: four days from Kenting to Kaohsiung

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Four days of coastal and low-mountain trails in Kenting and Kaohsiung, with beaches, temples and harbour walks.

Warm trails and sea views. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Taiwan’s great trails: five days north to south

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days linking Taipei’s ridges, Taroko and Kenting’s coastal trails, with trains between the big landscapes.

City ridges, marble walls and the southern cape. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

East coast hiking: five days from Hualien

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days of coastal and gorge trails around Hualien, with Qingshui Cliff, Taroko, Lushui and the Pacific.

Cliffs, rivers and the long blue horizon. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Central Taiwan trails: five days around Taichung

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Five days of low-mountain trails, tea country and lake walks around Taichung and Sun Moon Lake.

Tea hills, forests and lake paths. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Hiking week: north to south Taiwan

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A seven-day hiking week from Taipei’s ridges to Taroko and Kenting, with trains between the trails and a rest day by the sea.

Seven days, three landscapes. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Mountain trails week: Taiwan’s green interior

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A seven-day hiking week through Yangmingshan, the tea hills around Sun Moon Lake and the Taroko trails, with slow travel between them.

A week of forests, tea and marble. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.

Coastal hiking week: Taiwan’s east and south

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Seven days of coastal trails from the northeast coast to Hualien and Kenting, with cliffs, fishing villages and beaches.

A week with the sea always nearby. This route is a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.