Things to Do in Taiwan: Best Experiences and Travel Tips

Last Updated: 02/Nov/2026

Looking for things to do in Taiwan? Start with Taipei’s night markets, Taipei 101, and a day trip like Jiufen. Then add one region outside the capital, such as Tainan for food or Sun Moon Lake for scenery. Taiwan is easy to love and easy to overpack, so this guide helps you choose.

You will learn which experiences fit your time, how the regions differ, and where trips often go wrong. You will also find sample plans for 3, 5, 7, and 10 to 14 days.

Best Things to Do in Taiwan at a Glance

Pick two or three regions for a short trip. The table shows what each experience offers and who enjoys it most.

Time estimates here are rough. Your pace, the weather, and the crowds will change them.

Explore Taipei’s Most Popular Attractions

Taipei is the capital and a practical starting point for many first-time visitors. Its sights sit close together, so you can group them by neighborhood.

Visit Taipei 101 and Elephant Mountain

Taipei 101 is the tower that defines the city skyline. Its design is often linked to bamboo and traditional Chinese symbolism. The observatory elevator travels up to 1,010 meters per minute. The ride from the fifth floor to the 89th-floor observatory takes about 37 seconds, according to the tower’s official information.

Check which viewing areas are open before you buy a ticket. Access to the outdoor area can change.

Elephant Mountain is a free option. A short, steep stone staircase leads to a lookout with a direct view of Taipei 101. Many people climb it near sunset. Bring water and wear shoes with good grip.

Explore Temples, Museums, and Old Neighborhoods

Longshan Temple is an active place of worship. Locals pray and burn incense here. Dress modestly, speak quietly, and follow any signs posted at the entrance.

The National Palace Museum holds a major collection of Chinese art and artifacts. This includes jade, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings. Many visitors spend several hours inside. Check the museum’s official visitor page for hours, because special openings can differ from the usual schedule.

Ximending is a pedestrian district with shops, street performers, and bright signs. Dadaocheng and Dihua Street feel older. You can walk past historic storefronts, then stop at a modern coffee shop or tea seller.

Choose a Taipei Night Market

Night markets open in the evening, but hours vary by market. Check the one you plan to visit. Here is how three popular choices differ, based on the official tourism guide and traveler guides.

Raohe is a good first pick for most people. Weekend evenings get busy at all three.

Sample a Taipei Plan

Take Day Trips From Taipei

Each day trip offers something different. Choose by interest, not by popularity.

Jiufen and Shifen

Jiufen is a historic mountainside village with narrow, lantern-lit stairs. Some visitors link its look to the film Spirited Away. No official link has been confirmed, so treat that as a fan connection only.

Weekends bring big crowds. One traveler on a Reddit trip-planning thread said the town feels calmer later in the evening. If crowds bother you, go early or late, or pick another stop.

Shifen sits in a valley where the Pingxi railway runs close to Old Street. Visitors can release sky lanterns through local operators. Weather and local safety rules apply. A short walk leads to Shifen Waterfall.

Yehliu, Beitou, Wulai, and Yangmingshan

Yehliu Geopark is a coastal area where erosion has shaped rock into mushroom shapes and the famous Queen’s Head. Lines may form at the Queen’s Head. Follow park staff instructions.

Beitou is a volcanic valley within Taipei city limits. It is known for sulfur hot springs and public bathhouses. Wulai has hot springs, a waterfall, and the Wulai Scenic Train. Check train service before you go. Yangmingshan offers volcanic scenery, steam vents, hot springs, and trails. Conditions vary by area and season.

Experience Taiwan’s Mountains, Lakes, and East Coast

These areas are beautiful but take longer to reach. Mountains also separate the east and west coasts, so a trip across the island takes more time than the map suggests.

Check Current Access Before Visiting Taroko

Taroko Gorge is a marble canyon shaped by the Liwu River, uplift, and erosion. Earthquakes and heavy rain have damaged parts of the park, so access changes often.

The national park publishes its own notices. A recent park notice about mountain routes said reopening dates for Mt. Qingshui and Zhuilu Old Road would be announced later. Independent travel sites also report that several well-known gorge trails remain closed. These are different parts of the park, so one open area does not mean another is open.

Before you plan, check three things on the park’s official site: the specific trail, the road, and any transport you need. Do not book around one attraction until you confirm it is open.

Cycle or Cruise Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake sits in the central mountains. Its name is commonly explained by the lake’s two shapes, which resemble the sun and a crescent moon. You can bike parts of the lakeside path. Sightseeing boats link several piers. Confirm routes and times on the day, because schedules can change.

Plan an Alishan Visit

Alishan is a high mountain area known for old cypress trees and misty mornings. Visitors can sometimes ride the Alishan Forest Railway’s Zhushan line toward a sunrise viewpoint. Service depends on the timetable, weather, and railway operations.

An overnight stay often makes sunrise easier, especially if you start from Taipei. Check the official railway timetable before you plan around it.

Choose Between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan

Pick Sun Moon Lake if you want an easy, scenic loop with water and mild activity. Pick Alishan if you want forest walks and a sunrise. If you only have a week, choosing one is more realistic than doing both.

Discover Hualien, Taitung, and the East Rift Valley

The east offers wide valleys, rice fields, hot springs, and quiet coastal roads. It also has many Indigenous communities. Look for experiences led by the community itself. Find out which community or cultural group runs the activity before you book.

Explore Taiwanese Food, Tea, and Temple Culture

Eat Beyond the Night Markets

Taiwanese breakfast is a good place to start. Look for egg pancakes, soy milk, and steamed buns. Beef noodle soup is a popular lunch. In Tainan, try regional dishes like shrimp rice and milkfish soup. Vegetarian travelers can find vegetarian buffets and temple-run eateries.

Visit Tea Houses or Tea Farms

Taiwan is known for oolong teas. Examples include high-mountain oolong, Dong Ding, Baozhong, and Oriental Beauty.

A city tea house is easy and short. The Maokong gondola takes you up the hills near Taipei for tea with a view. A tea-growing area like Pinglin or Alishan takes more time, but you see the farms. Methods vary by producer.

Visit Temples Respectfully

Temples are active places of worship. Follow posted signs first, because rules differ from temple to temple. Dress modestly and avoid interrupting people who are praying. If you light incense, watch what others do and follow along.

Choose Community-Led Cultural Experiences

Taiwan is home to many Indigenous peoples, each with its own languages, weaving, and music. Choose cultural centers, museums, and tours run by the communities themselves. Skip shows that treat traditions as simple tourist props.

Explore Southern Taiwan and the Offshore Islands

Tainan for History and Food

Tainan is often called Taiwan’s oldest city and an important historical capital. It is known for its temples, old alleys, and food. Spend a day around Anping Fort, old merchant houses, and the Anping Tree House. If food is your main interest, give Tainan an extra night instead of adding another mountain stop.

Taichung for Cafés and Art

Taichung is a central city with art districts, wide streets, and independent coffee shops. Visitors often stop at the National Taichung Theater or Rainbow Village. Check each site’s current visiting details first. Taichung works well as a break between Taipei and the south.

Kaohsiung for Harbor Views and Art

Kaohsiung is a southern port city with a modern waterfront. The Pier-2 Art Center uses former brick warehouses for galleries, workshops, and murals. A short ferry ride takes you to Cijin, which offers beaches, seafood, cycling, and harbor views.

Kenting and the Offshore Islands

Kenting National Park has beaches and tropical coastal scenery. Green Island, Xiaoliuqiu, and Penghu are popular for diving and snorkeling. Water conditions and visibility change with the season and weather. Islands also need extra transport, so treat them as separate trips.

Choose Taiwan Activities by Travel Style

Plan a Taiwan Itinerary by Trip Length

Every move between cities costs half a day or more once you add packing, transfers, and check-in. Fewer stops make a better trip.

Three Days

Stay in Taipei. Spend day one in Ximending, Longshan Temple, and Raohe Night Market. Use day two for Jiufen and Shifen. Save day three for Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum.

Five Days

Spend three days in Taipei and nearby. Then take the High Speed Rail (THSR), which serves the western corridor, to Taichung. From there, continue to Sun Moon Lake, or go on to Tainan for an overnight stay. Pick one.

Seven Days

Two routes work, but both involve several moves.

• Highlights route: Taipei (3 days), Sun Moon Lake (1), Alishan (1), Kaohsiung (2). This is ambitious. If it feels rushed, drop Alishan or Sun Moon Lake.
• Food-and-culture route: Taipei (3 days), Taichung (1), Tainan (2), Kaohsiung (1). This has fewer long transfers.

Ten to Fourteen Days

Two weeks allows a wider loop, but a full circuit can still feel rushed. A possible order is Taipei, the east coast to Hualien and Taitung, Kenting, then Tainan and Kaohsiung, with Alishan at the end. You do not need to include every stop.

Practical Taiwan Travel Tips

• Transit cards: EasyCard is sold at many MRT stations and convenience stores. It works on Taipei Metro and many buses. Confirm the card type and where it is accepted, especially for regional rail.
• Trains: THSR is fast between major western cities. Use regular Taiwan Railway trains for local stops and east-coast travel. Check timetables for your exact route.
• Money: Large hotels and chain stores often accept cards. Travelers on Reddit report that cash is useful at small vendors and markets. Carry some New Taiwan dollars.
• Weather: Summer can bring heat, heavy rain, and typhoons. Check Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration and park or road notices before mountain trips.
• Phone service: Get a tourist SIM or portable Wi-Fi at the airport for maps and translation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Too many stops. Taipei, Hualien, Alishan, and Kenting in one week means most of your time is spent in transit.
• Treating the east coast as a quick side trip. Mountains separate east from west, so travel takes longer.
• Assuming Taroko is open. Verify the exact trail and road first.
• Visiting Jiufen at midday. Go early or later in the day.
• Skipping cash. Many small vendors may not take cards.

Verdict: Where to Start

For a first trip, build around Taipei and add one region. Choose Tainan for food, Sun Moon Lake or Alishan for mountain views, or Hualien if you can plan around Taroko’s current access. This guide is based on official sources and traveler discussions. It does not claim first-hand testing, and attraction details can change, so confirm hours and access before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Taiwan for first-time visitors?

Start with Taipei’s night markets, Taipei 101, and a day trip such as Jiufen. Add one region outside the capital so you see more than the city. A mix of city and nature gives a well-rounded first trip.

How many days do you need in Taiwan?

Seven days can work for a focused trip. The best route depends on your interests and how often you want to change hotels. Travelers in planning threads often warn against packing in too many destinations.

What are the best things to do in Taipei?

Visit Taipei 101, climb Elephant Mountain, see Longshan Temple, and explore the National Palace Museum. Spend an evening at a night market such as Raohe. Walk Ximending or Dihua Street for city atmosphere.

Is Jiufen worth visiting if you dislike crowds?

It can be busy, especially on weekends. Some travelers say it is calmer later in the evening. If you want something quieter, consider Beitou or Yangmingshan instead.

Is Taroko Gorge open?

Access depends on the trail, the road, and the day. Park notices have listed some routes as still waiting for reopening dates. Check Taroko National Park’s official notices right before you go.

Do you need cash in Taiwan?

Carry some. Big stores and hotels often take cards, but small vendors and night markets may not. EasyCard is useful for transit and some stores, but it is not the same as a credit card.

Can you travel around Taiwan by train?

Yes. THSR serves the western corridor. Taiwan Railway and other transport serve many regional and east-coast destinations. Check timetables for your route.

How do you choose between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan?

Choose Sun Moon Lake for an easy lake loop with biking or boats. Choose Alishan for forest walks and a possible sunrise. Doing both in a short trip adds a lot of travel time.

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