Itineraries · 4 days
West coast by rail: Taipei to Kaohsiung in four days
Four cities, one train line, a lot of snacks.
Classic
4 days · Taipei to Kaohsiung
Numbers follow the order of the trip. Open a destination for the full guide.
Day by day
The plan
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.
Day 1
Taipei: old streets and night markets
Start in the capital with a compact day around Dadaocheng, the old town and a night market.
Dihua Street
Tea shops, dried goods and restored shophouses in the old merchant district.
Dadaocheng
Beef noodles
A Taipei classic for lunch.
Zhongshan
Longshan Temple
Incense, carving and a lively temple courtyard.
Wanhua
Ningxia Night Market
A compact market with oyster omelette and fried taro balls.
Datong
Day 2
Taichung: art and the wetlands
Take a morning high-speed train and spend the day between the city and the coast.
National Taichung Theater
A striking modern building and a good coffee stop.
Xitun
Lunch in the West District
Local noodles or a modern Taiwanese restaurant.
West District
Rainbow Village
A quick, colourful detour.
Nantun
Gaomei Wetlands
Sunset over the mudflats and wind turbines.
Qingshui
Day 3
Tainan: the old capital
A slower day of temples, lanes and snacks in Tainan.
Chihkan Tower
Start with the fort and its red pavilions.
Central Tainan
Shennong Street
Coffee, old houses and a very photogenic lane.
Central Tainan
Danzai noodles
A small bowl of the city’s signature noodles.
Central Tainan
Anping Fort and Tree House
History and banyan roots by the harbour.
Anping
Garden Night Market
Only on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; otherwise eat in the old town.
Tainan
Day 4
Kaohsiung: harbour and farewell
Finish in Kaohsiung with the harbour, Cijin and a last night market.
Pier-2 Art Center
Waterfront galleries and public art.
Yancheng
Ferry to Cijin
Cross the harbour and walk the island.
Cijin
Seafood lunch
Fresh seafood near the market.
Cijin
Weiwuying
The huge arts centre and its open plazas.
Fengshan
Liuhe Night Market
One last market before the train or flight home.
Liuhe
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