15 Best Things to Do in Taiwan to Suit Every Traveler

If Taiwan isn’t already on your radar, get ready to add it to your bucket list. This relatively small East Asian island country is surprisingly loaded with fun things to do for all types of travelers.

Whether you’re looking for thermal hot springs, stunning natural landscapes, high mountains to climb, abundant street food, traditional culture, cherry blossom viewing, or top-notch shopping, Taiwan has got it all.

In this article, we’ll explore Taiwan’s most appealing and unmissable experiences with all the info you need to make them your next adventure.

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When to Visit

The time of year you visit Taiwan is going to have a big impact on what kind of activities you’ll be enjoying there. December is the peak month for tourism in Taiwan. Cold weather, Christmas events, and New Year’s Eve fireworks set off from the sides of Taipei 101 bring in masses of tourists from some nearby Asian countries.

January and February are the coldest months in Taipei and the north of Taiwan, while the tropical south remains warm year-round. It’s even possible to see snow in the Central Mountain Range. Come at this time to experience the country’s many hot springs and to see cherry blossoms. However, avoid the Lunar New Year, when almost everything shuts down, and all the country’s hotels and trains are booked.

Spring is lovely, but avoid May to early June, when it rains a lot. Summers in Taiwan are oppressively hot, and sometimes there are destructive typhoons, so this is the low season. Fall is perhaps the loveliest time of year, with a low chance of rain, mild weather, and relatively low crowds.

How Long to Visit and Best Itinerary

Don’t be fooled by Taiwan’s small size – there’s so much to see and do here. Most visitors regret not adding more days after they book and start planning their trip.

In order to do a full circuit around Taiwan, seeing all the top sights along the way, I recommend a minimum of two weeks. If you only book one week or less, then you will most likely just be staying in the capital, Taipei City, and perhaps doing a few day trips or overnight trips from there.

After flying into Taoyuan International Airport, most visitors start in Taipei City. Spend a few days exploring the city’s top attractions and famous night markets, then allot one or two more days for day trips from the city.

Next, hop on a train (TRA or Taiwan Railways Administration – these are the regular trains that run a full loop around the country) to Hualien on the stunning east coast of Taiwan. Make sure to book this train early (up to 28 days in advance), as it often sells out.

After spending a full day visiting Taroko Gorge, move on to Taitung, a rural county in the southeast. Hop on a bike to explore the rice paddies and raw natural beauty of the area.

Continue by train to the more developed west coast, with a possible detour down to the beaches of Kenting or to go snorkeling with sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu island. Then, visit Kaohsiung, the largest city in southern Taiwan, for a few days.

Next, visit Tainan, which is rich in history, as it was the original capital. Move on to Chiayi, from where you’ll make a detour by train or bus up to the high mountains to visit Alishan, famous for its sunrises and oolong tea. Proceed by bus to Sun Moon Lake for a night or two, and finally onward to Taichung City, your last stop, before hopping on the High-Speed Rail (HSR, Taiwan’s version of the Bullet Train) back to Taoyuan to get to the airport.

Other Tips for Planning Your Trip

• Big crowds are common in Taiwan. Some of the most crowded places include night markets, MRTs and trains at peak hours, popular attractions like Jiufen Old Street, and major events like NYE fireworks or Lantern Festival mass lantern releases.
• Having said that, Taiwanese are very polite and respectful, and the country is incredibly safe, so you don’t have to worry about pickpocketing.
• Taiwan is not the best for “going with the flow”. It is very common for popular train routes and hotels to sell out weeks in advance. Therefore, you’re probably going to do a fair bit of planning and advance booking before your trip.
• Buy a SIM card and an EasyCard when you arrive at the airport. The SIM will help you always find the way and communicate with your hotels via the LINE app. The EasyCard is a reloadable smart card that you will use to swipe on all MRTs, local buses, and non-reserved train rides in the country. It can also be used to pay for attractions, shops, and taxi rides.
• Overall, cash is still king in Taiwan. You’ll need cash to pay for almost all street food, small restaurants, and even many hotels in Taiwan. Credit cards are only accepted at higher-end hotels. Some foreign credit cards don’t always work in Taiwan.
• The easiest way to get cash is to withdraw from ATMs using your home bank card. You can also exchange money at the airport – the rate is the same as in the city. There are not many currency exchange booths in the city like in other countries – you’ll have to go to the bank.

Top Things to Do in Taiwan

Now, let’s get down to it! Here are the best things to do in Taiwan, moving roughly in the order of the travel itinerary proposed above.

Ascend the Country’s Most Famous Landmark

Taipei 101 is Taiwan’s most famous and recognizable structure. From 2004 to 2009, this bamboo-shaped skyscraper was the tallest building in the world! To this day, it is the world’s tallest certified “green” building and has one of the world’s fastest elevators.

Visit Taipei 101’s Observatory, which is on the 89^th to 91^st floors, with the option to pay more to visit the 101^st floor or even stand on the building’s roof. Don’t miss the 660-ton mass damper hanging in the middle – this helps to prevent the building from falling during earthquakes.

Next, head to the B1 Food Court or connecting Taipei 101 Mall for some serious shopping. Several other upscale department stores are nearby, all connected by pedestrian walkways. If you prefer nature, hike up Elephant Mountain nearby for the best view of the city, especially at sunset.

Feast to Your Heart’s Content in Local Night Markets

Taiwan is famous for its night markets, which revolve mostly around food. Unsurprisingly, the capital city has some of the country’s best.

Shilin Night Market is widely considered Taiwan’s largest and most famous night market, but it also attracts the most tourists. Raohe Night Market is a close second in terms of popularity, and many serious foodies prefer it.

Other tempting options include Ningxia Night Market, Tonghua Night Market, and Nanjichang Night Market. Keelung Night Market is another very popular one just an hour outside of the city. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Try to visit between 5 and 7 PM, before they get too crowded.

Bathe Your Stress Away in Thermal Hot Springs

Taiwan lies on the Ring of Fire and has one of the highest concentrations of hot springs in the world. There are many options, from luxury spa resorts to old-school wooden bathhouses to wild springs you have to hike to.

You can take the MRT right to Beitou Hot Springs in Taipei City. The Japanese first developed the hot spring village when they colonized Taiwan (1895 to 1945). Alternatively, take a day trip to Jiaoxi in Yilan for a wider variety of bathing options or Wulai, an aboriginal village with hot springs.

Of course, there will be other hot spring options along your route, but the above are the easiest to get to. Also consider Ruisui in Hualien, Zhiben in Taitung, Zhaori on Green Island, Baolai in Kaohsiung, Guanziling in Tainan, Tai’an in Miaoli, or Guandu in Taichung – all of those will take a little more time and planning to get to.

Explore Taiwan’s Famous Old Streets

In Taiwan, an “Old Street” is typically a lane of heritage buildings that have been carefully restored. Visitors flock to these old streets to buy snacks and get a feel for times past.

There are several very popular old streets within easy day-tripping distance of Taipei. Jiufen Old Street and Shifen Old Street are the most popular among tourists – Jiufen, in particular, gets crazy packed.

Other local ones around Taipei and across the country include Shenkeng Old Street, Sanxia Old Street, Pingxi Old Street, Tamsui Old Street (New Taipei City), Daxi Old Street (Taoyuan), Neiwan Old Street (Hsinchu), Nanzhuang Old Street (Miaoli), Lukang Old Street (Changhua), Anping Old Street (Tainan), and Qishan Old Street (Kaohsiung).

Marvel at Taroko Gorge in Hualien

Taiwan’s most popular natural attraction, Taroko Gorge, is a must-visit. The “Grand Canyon of Taiwan” is a steep, dramatic gorge with a narrow highway running right through it.

Most visitors stay overnight in Hualien City or Xincheng (a small town closer to the gorge entrance) so they can spend a whole day touring the gorge. A typical tour includes half a dozen or so stops, including suspension bridges, short hikes, shrines, and waterfalls.

Most day tours will also include a few stops outside the gorge, such as a viewpoint of the coastal Qingshui Cliffs and a beautiful pebble beach called Qixingtan.

Cycle through the Rice Paddies in Taitung

Taitung County in the southeast is Taiwan’s most rural and laid-back area. There are several small towns you could overnight in here, but I recommend Chishang, which is the perfect place for cycling in rice paddies.

The small village took off as a cycling destination after a famous and very handsome Taiwanese-Japanese actor starred in a Taiwanese airline commercial filmed here. The tree he rides his bike to in the commercial is now a tourist hot spot.

Handsome actor aside, Chishang offers a stunning backdrop for cycling. You’ll be surrounded by rice paddies with quaint rural scenes and gorgeous mountains all around.

Hit the Beach in Kenting or an Offshore Island

At some point in your Taiwan trip, you may want to actually relax. Fortunately, you’ll have several options in the tropical south of Taiwan.

Most people gravitate to Kenting National Park, which occupies the southern tip of Taiwan. This is the country’s beach resort capital, but you’ll find more small B&Bs across from the half dozen main beaches there than actual resorts.

Another option is to hop on a ferry or short flight to one of Taiwan’s offshore islands. These are some of my personal favorite places in Taiwan, but they also require additional planning. Options include Green Island and Orchid Island off the southeast coast, Xiaoliuqiu off the southwest coast, and Penghu off the west coast. Avoid winter, when they get very windy and many things close.

Admire the Arts and Huge Temples in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is the largest city in the south and the country’s largest port. Here, you’ll find a totally different vibe than Taipei – a little more laid back and less crowded – and the country’s best street art. Visit Pier 2 on the harbor for some especially cool artworks – many are lit up in the evening.

Don’t miss Lotus Pond, a small lake surrounded by temples and huge statues of gods. Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are the most well-known. Kaohsiung’s other top cultural attraction is Fo Guang Shan, Taiwan’s grandest Buddhist Monastery.

Some theme parks, seafood harbors, night markets, and a visit to Cijin Island just off the Kaohsiung port are a few more ways to enjoy this awesome city.

Uncover the Nation’s History in Tainan

Tainan is Taiwan’s original capital city and retains a super authentic Taiwanese vibe. You can easily spend a full day touring the many historic temples (Confucius, Grand Matsu, Temple of Five Concubines, and many more), the Dutch-built Anping Fort, and the unique Anping Treehouse.

Tainan also has some of the country’s best museums, including the Tainan Art Museum, Chimei Museum, and the National Museum of Taiwan History. In neighboring Chiayi City, you can also find the new Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum (the country’s largest and most famous museum – the original branch is in Taipei).

Foray into the Central Mountain Range

Two-thirds of Taiwan consists of high mountains. It is said to have the highest concentration of mountains of any island in the world. In other words, don’t miss them!

The country’s most popular mountain resort is Alishan. It is a magnet for tourists who come to ride the iconic Alishan Forest Railway to a sunrise viewpoint. Taiwan’s most famous teas are also grown in the area – spend a night in a guesthouse run by a tea farmer in Shizhuo, which also has great sunrises and sunsets, minus the tourist crowds of Alishan.

Another popular high mountain option is Hehuanshan. Most visitors spend the night at Cingjing Farm, a high-altitude leisure farm, then do a morning sunrise tour to Hehauanshan. The highest navigable pass in Asia is here. In winter, it’s the easiest place to see snow in Taiwan.

Explore the Country’s Largest Lake

Sun Moon Lake is another major attraction in Taiwan. Some say it’s overrated, but there’s no denying that it’s very pretty when the weather is right.

Some popular ways to experience the lake are by riding a boat between its two main villages, viewing the lake from Wenwu Temple or Ci’en Pagoda, or riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.

Tea is also grown in this area (try Antique Assam Tea Farm or Hohocha), while thousands of cherry blossom trees bloom in February at Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.

Do Some Serious Snacking in Taichung

Taichung is the largest city in Central Taiwan and the gateway to places like Sun Moon Lake, Cingjing Farm, and Hehuanshan.

The city itself is also famous for its food. Bubble tea (aka pear milk tea) was supposedly invented here at Chun Shui Tang Siwei Original Store, which is still open today. Sun cakes were also a Taichung creation. Learn about and taste them at Sun Cake Museum.

Nearby, Miyahara is a famous ice cream shop that resembles a Harry Pottery film setting. At night, Feng Chia Night Market is one of the country’s largest and most famous night markets, rivaling Shilin Night Market in Taipei.

Gaze at Seas of Flowers

Taichung is the flower capital of Taiwan. If you happen to be there in November/December, watch for the very impressive Xinshe Flower Festival. Meanwhile, Zhongshe Flower Market also has seas of various flowers year-round.

Cherry blossom viewing is the hottest flowing viewing activity in Taiwan. The season starts in late January around Taipei (Wulai, Yangminshan, CKS Memorial Hall). February is the best month across the country, including Tianyuan Temple, Sun Moon Lake, Cingjing Farm, Wuling Farm, and Baoshan Park. In March, there’s a second display at Tianyuan Temple, as well as the higher mountain areas such as Alishan, which come to an end in early April.

Other major flower seasons to watch out for include calla lilies and hydrangeas at Yangmingshan National Park (March to June), Shilin Tulip Festival (February), tiger lilies at Liushishishan in Taitung (July and August), and Shilin Chrysanthemum Festival (November to December).

Go Fruit Picking

DIY fruit picking at fruit farms is another popular activity in Taiwan. From December to April, you can pick strawberries in the hills above Taipei (Neihu district), Miaoli (Dahu township), or Taichung (Tanzi district). Farms often include kid-friendly activities like jam-making or selling other products made from strawberries.

In winter, other options are orange and persimmon picking, which can be done at farms in rural parts of Hsinchu and Taichung. Hsinchu also has some farms where you can see picturesque racks of thousands of persimmons drying in the sun.

Take the Kids to Theme Parks, Aquariums, and Leisure Farms

Taiwan boasts a plethora of kid-friendly attractions, making it one of the best places to visit in Asia with kids.

In terms of theme parks, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park is convenient and cheap but very busy on weekends. Leofoo Village (day trip from Taipei), Lihpao Discovery Land (Taichung), and E-Da Theme Park (Kaoshiung) are some of the country’s largest.

The brand new Xpark Aquarium in Taoyuan is excellent and conveniently located on the way to/from the international airport. Kenting Aquarium is the country’s largest, but it’s older and harder to get to. You can even have a sleepover at either one.

Leisure Farms are also very popular in Taiwan. These are places where city folk can get a taste of farm life with DIY activities and chances to interact with animals. Some of the most popular ones include Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm (Yilan), Cingjing Farm (Nantou), and Flying Cow Ranch (Miaoli).

Pack Your Bags and Go!

Well, have I convinced you to start planning a trip to Taiwan? Hopefully, the answer is yes! Taiwan is easily one of the most rewarding destinations in Asia. I’ve seen so many visitors report falling in love with the country and its welcoming people. As soon as they leave, they already start thinking about when they can come back again!

Nick Kembel

Taiwan Obsessed | + posts

Nick Kembel lived in Taiwan for over a decade. He published a book about the country there, wrote for travel magazines, married a local, and had two kids. Now he’s back home in Canada, but he still obsesses about Taiwan on his website, TaiwanObsessed.

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