10 Days in Taiwan
In March 2023, we headed to Taiwan for a 10 day adventure before continuing on to South Korea. We didn't know a lot about Taiwan before travelling there, but enjoyed the variation of large cities and the vibrant natural landscape. The island isn't huge, so it's quite easy to get around by train (tip- get an Easy Card on arrival for easy use of public transport all over Taiwan, just be careful which long distance trains you use it on). One of the major highlights was the food- we thought we would enjoy South Korean food more, but the Taiwanese dishes actually won us over.
Taiwan might be considered a "riskier" travel destination for some people, but we never felt unsafe during our time there. It was interesting to speak to locals about their views on how Taiwan considers itself separate to China. We were happy to see Taiwan without any issues, but on April 8, three days after we flew to South Korea, China launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, indicating that the political climate could still change at any point.
We didn't make it everywhere (mostly we missed the far southwest of the island), but covered a lot of ground. Below are our top 10 places we visited, with a special mention for the food dishes we enjoyed most.
Taiwan might be considered a "riskier" travel destination for some people, but we never felt unsafe during our time there. It was interesting to speak to locals about their views on how Taiwan considers itself separate to China. We were happy to see Taiwan without any issues, but on April 8, three days after we flew to South Korea, China launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, indicating that the political climate could still change at any point.
We didn't make it everywhere (mostly we missed the far southwest of the island), but covered a lot of ground. Below are our top 10 places we visited, with a special mention for the food dishes we enjoyed most.
#10- Taichung
Located on the mid-west coast of Taiwan, we added Taichung to the itinerary because of the nearby Rainbow Village . Unfortunately, when we got there the village was closed for repairs and we couldn't see it.
Nonetheless, Taichung was still a nice city to visit, but nothing overly stood out aside from a small, painted animation lane and a park with a giant goat lantern/statue. If you need to transfer down the west coast, Taichung offers a good option for an overnight stay, along with the standard offerings of most Taiwanese cities- a few temples, night markets, and city parks (plus a coin operated laundromat, which we took advantage of since it was towards the end of our 10 day trip and we were travelling with only carry on bags). |
#9- Sun Moon Lake
With an elevation of 748m, and located at the centre of Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake is the only natural large lake in Taiwan (but it's current shape and depth have been augmented by man, when a dam was built there in 1931). The name comes from the island at the middle of the lake (now mostly submerged), once said to have split the lake into two distinct sections; one of which resembled a sun while the other a moon.
The lake is a popular weekend destination for locals, with a bike path circuit around the west side. Be sure to stop along the way at Longfeng Temple. You can also take a boat ride across the lake from Shuishe Pier to Xuanguang Temple, and then hike the 560m trail to Xuan Zang Temple. |
#8- Hualien
Located on the east of Taiwan, Hualien is the starting point for most people visiting Taroko National Park, but the city is worth a visit itself. If you're travelling to Hualien from the north, be sure to stop at Qingshui Cliff, where the 800m coastal cliffs tower over beautiful, blue water.
There is a lot to see and do in Hualien, and it is easily accessible by foot (as long as you're up for walking quite a bit). The architecture of the Martyrs' Shrine is quite impressive, and it offers a good view back towards the city. From there you can wander into the many trails of Meilunshan Park. In the evening, head to Dongdamen Night Market, where you can try many of the local foods. This is where we first tried Coffin Bread (a thick piece of hallowed out toast, filled with different meats). Food highlight: Eat delicious (and cheap!) steamed buns and dumplings on a plastic chair on the sidewalk at Dumpling House on Zhongshan Road. |
#7- Fenqihu
Fenqihu is a small railway town, usually visited on the same day as Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. It is a bit touristy, but the old street offers a view of how Taiwan might have been years ago, before the highway was built to connect Alishan Forest.
Food highlight: Fenchihu lunchbox- back when you could only travel to Alishan by train, when the train came into the station, vendors would yell out “Bento, Bento” and carry thousands of freshly made lunchboxes into the train compartments to satisfy hungry travellers. These lunch boxes are still available today in the Fenchihu Hotel. |
#6- Tainan
Located on the southwest of Taiwan, Tainan is a larger city that took us a couple days to fully explore.
In the city centre, wander through Snail Alley and see how many snails you can count, visit one (or many) of the local temples, and climb the stairs to the rooftop of
Hayashi Department Store (the oldest department store in Taiwan). Blueprint Culture & Creative Park is a creative hub, full of art installations and small stalls, located inside an old Judicial Dormitory.
To the west of the city, head towards the coast and check out Fort Zeelandia (Anping Old Fort) and the Anping Tree House. The Fort was built in 1624 by the Dutch East India Company. The tree house is a former warehouse that has been taken over by living banyan roots and branches.
Food highlight: A simple bowl of noodle soup from Small Park Danzai Noodles
In the city centre, wander through Snail Alley and see how many snails you can count, visit one (or many) of the local temples, and climb the stairs to the rooftop of
Hayashi Department Store (the oldest department store in Taiwan). Blueprint Culture & Creative Park is a creative hub, full of art installations and small stalls, located inside an old Judicial Dormitory.
To the west of the city, head towards the coast and check out Fort Zeelandia (Anping Old Fort) and the Anping Tree House. The Fort was built in 1624 by the Dutch East India Company. The tree house is a former warehouse that has been taken over by living banyan roots and branches.
Food highlight: A simple bowl of noodle soup from Small Park Danzai Noodles
#5- Yehliu Geopark
An easy day trip northeast from Taipei, this Geopark is a great escape from the city. The coastal region of the Yehliu peninsula is mainly made up of sedimentary rocks, which have been worn away over time, leaving an interesting coastline and rock formations.
Tourists line up for a photo with the Queen's Head rock formation, but the further you walk out the peninsula, the less people you will find. Food highlight: Try the local catch at one of the many seafood restaurants surrounding the fishing harbour (head outside the main tourist carpark area at the Geopark). |
#4- Chiayi
Chiayi is the main city gateway to the Alishan Forest area. An Alishan Express train runs from the city's train station to Fenqihu and Shizilu, or you can access the are by car.
There are many interesting structures to explore in Chiayi, including the Song of the Forest- a large dome installation made of wooden railway ties, located near the historic railway park and Hinoki Village-30 buildings built during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Chiayi Cheng Huang Temple is one of the oldest and prominent temples in the region, founded in 1715. Chiayi is also home to many culinary delights. Turkey rice originates here, as well as fish head stew. Walk past the circle fountain on Wenhua Road to find the large Night Market in the evening. Food highlight: Fish head stew at Smart Fish |
#3- Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
Alishan National Forest is a must see, natural attraction of Taiwan. With it's oldest tree dating back 3,000 years, the forest is full of beautiful and sacred trees.
We were lucky to catch the tail end of cherry blossom season, and some of the trees were still in full bloom. Other highlights include the Three Generations Tree- with three generations of trees growing ontop of each other, Xianglin Giant Tree, a 45m tall, 2,300-year-old Taiwan red cypress with a trunk circumference of 12.3m, and the Giant Trees Boardwalk. |
#2- Taipei
Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is full of old temples, modern new buildings, and incredible places to eat. You will need a few days here to even scratch the surface of all there is to do.
The Taipei 101 Tower is a good place to start on a clear day to get your bearings from above. The main temples include Longshan, Qingshan, Qingshui and Bao'an. The National Palace Museum is also a treasure trove for those interested in art and artifacts. One of the main squares of the city is surrounding on all sides with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, National Concert Hall, National Theatre and Liberty Square Arch. A short walk from there, you will find the Presidential Office Building. There are also more night markets than you'll know what to do with. Some favourites were Guangzhou Street Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, and Meng Xia Night Market. Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market is also a good option for a lovely night view of the city from the riverbank. Food highlight: Liu Shandong Beef Noodles- amazing beef noodle soup in a small alleyway shop |
#1- Taroko National Park
Located on the east coast of Taiwan, Taroko National Park is a must visit. The Park covers an area of 92,000 hectares and includes 27 mountain peaks over 3,000m. Taroko is an easy day trip by car from Hualien, but if you want to use the bus route you might need a couple days.
The Tunnel of Nine Turns was originally part of the cross-island highway, but was turned into a trail when the highway was updated. Some other highlights include the Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto, and Shakadang Trail. Food highlight: Enjoy an traditional aboriginal meal at Taroko Village Hotel |
Questions about travelling in Taiwan? Email us and we will be happy to help!