Taiwan is an absolute gem of a country to explore. It’s a totally stunning island nation that’s got a little bit of something for every type of traveller to experience. If you’re into cities, you’ve got some totally vibrant cities like Taipei and the historic capital Tainan. Not only that, there is a huge swash of totally unspoilt mountain ranges, national parks, and beautiful coastlines with some of the best beaches in the region.
Oh, and let’s not forget how easy it is to travel around Taiwan. The high-speed rail system is amazing. Trains are punctual, clean, and super fast, and we found this the best way to get between urban centres while travelling in Taiwan.
It’s also super easy to rent a car, even if the roads can be busy in cities like Taipei! Truth be told, I’d probably recommend sticking to the MRT (metro system) and cabs or Uber in bigger cities. A car can be more of a hassle, and the public transport system is a dream. Oh yeah, make sure to remember: absolutely no eating or drinking whilst riding the MRT. It’s fine on the High-Speed Railway—but not the MRT.
You’ll have the easiest time getting around Taiwan! So, to help you get the most out of your visit to Taiwan, we’re sharing the best places in Taiwan to visit once you arrive. This way, you can focus all your energy on having fun, without being bogged down in the planning stages once you’re there.
1.) Tainan
Tainan is the old capital of Taiwan and one city you can’t miss when visiting Taiwan. It’s a high-speed train ride from Taipei and a foodie city filled with night markets, restaurants and cool cafes you can’t miss.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time in Tainan, one of those cities that gets under your skin.
From the incredibly tasty night markets, temples and mangrove tunnels – it’s a place you can’t miss when visiting the best places in Taiwan to visit.
So, to help you get the most out of your time in Tainan, we’ve jotted down all the top places you need to visit in Tainan when you visit. Tainan is amazing! You’re going to have the best time.
Read more: Best things to do in Tainan
2.) Alishan Forest
The Alishan forest is one of my favourite (and unspoilt) areas of Taiwan to visit. It’s stunning and situated in the high mountains of Taiwan, which rise about 2,900 meters.
Now, if you’re planning on going, book a transfer or tour that will drop you off near or around the Alishan Township. From here, you can follow a heap of different trails, explore the boardwalk or watch the sunrise with the sea of clouds below you.
If the latter is your jam, book the pre-sunrise train (around 20 minutes) that takes you to the sunrise spot. It’s beautiful on a clear day, though always be prepared for inclement weather in the mountains of Taiwan.
Also, a final note: hotel choices in the Alishan Forest area are more basic than in Taipei. There is much less choice—accommodations are clean but not always on the higher end if you’re used to the Grand Hotel or Regent Hotel in Taipei (for instance).
You can book tickets for the train here.
3.) Formosensis Train
Departing from the Alishan Township area of Taiwan, the Formosensis Train (bookable here) is a newly renovated cedar-clad train that takes you around the Alishan forest on a half-day trip. The journey is gorgeous and a great way to explore the wider rural area, with a few stops in small towns.
We absolutely loved our train ride, and it’s up there as one of the best things to do in Taiwan that you can’t miss. Make sure to plan well in advance – these tickets can be booked quickly.
Read more: Best things to do in Taipei
4.) Taipei
If you’re visiting Taiwan from an international destination, then it’s most likely that you will land in the capital city of Taipei. It’s well worth spending at least 2 days here in Taipei, especially as there is so much to see, do, and eat in the city.
From the incredible Taipei Night Markets to some of the best speakeasies and bars in the city, Taipei has everything you could want from a city break.
So, to help you get the most out of your visit to Taipei, we’ve created a dedicated post on all the best things to do in Taipei when you visit. Our post deep-dives into all the spots you can’t miss on your visit and gives you a full run-down of where to see and experience during your stay.
Taipei is such an exciting city in Taiwan. You’ll love it.
Read more: Best things to do in Taipei
5.) Beaches in Taiwan
Taiwan might not immediately come to mind, but it has some of the best beaches in the region, and you can’t miss them while exploring the country.
Now, in my opinion, some of the best are on the lesser-developed east coast of Taiwan or the island of Penghu, which is a short plane ride away (or ferry ride from Kaohsiung) on the main island of Taiwan.
At Kenting Baishawan (Google Maps link), you’ll notice how clean and pristine the coastline is. Like, it looks untouched, and the water is so nice and warm. Also, don’t forget about Dongao Beach (Google Maps link) and Fulong (Google Maps link) beaches, too. They are stunning areas to slow down and enjoy the pristine coastline of Taiwan itself.
As always, make sure to pack plenty of SPF. The sun is very strong in Taiwan, especially on a clear day.
Oh, and don’t forget about Yehliu Geopark, too. It’s beautiful, especially around Oyster Rock, Queen’s Head and Fairy’s Shoe.
6.) Taiwan tea plantation
Tea is king in Taiwan! Black tea, oolong tea, you name it, Taiwan has it! Not only is tea drunk abundantly in Taiwan, but there are also many tea plantations you can visit across the country.
We found it easiest to visit some tea plantations on the drive up to the Alishan Forest area (high in the mountains). Most of the tea plantations we visited were away from the coastline and on elevated ground with slightly less intense temperatures.
We loved visiting the Lin Yuan Tea Factory (Google Maps link), about a 45-minute drive west of Alishan Township.
Here, we participated in a tea ceremony, where we tried some local black tea and even got to try picking some tea leaves. The whole area is stunning, and it’s easily one of the best places in Taiwan to visit as you venture higher into the mountains.
7.) Jiufen Old Street
Around a 50-minute drive from the centre of Taipei (or a 90-minute public transport ride), Jiufen Old Street is well worth visiting if you’re in the northeast of Taiwan.
Once here, you can explore the tiny streets and alleyways that make the hilly Jiufen area special. As you explore on foot, you’ll visit so many little foodie stalls, shops and cafes along the way.
We always recommend visiting in the late afternoon. This way, you’ll get to Jiufen transform from day to night and see the iconic neon lights that make this area so iconic.
To make things easier, book this Juifen tour that will take you from Taipei, right to the heart of Jiufen. It makes it all so easy and is the perfect way to explore if you’re short on time. Just be sure to book this tour in advance; tickets sell out fast at peak times.
8.) Sicao Green Tunnel and Sicao Dazhong Temple
While in Tainan, we took a short trip to the nearby Sicao Green Tunnel and Sicao Dashing Temple. The Sicao Green Tunnel is a short, 25-minute ride through the mangrove waterways that crisscross this area around Tainan.
In my opinion, the green tunnel itself isn’t one of the most iconic spots to visit, but it’s really easy to include on a trip to Tainan—especially if you’re in the city for a fair few days. Tours aren’t expensive, and they’re pretty relaxed. One note is that there are no tours in English.
Afterwards, visit the Sicao Dazhong Temple, which is a one-minute stroll from the Sicao Green Tunnel.
Visits take around 45 minutes and are easily included (but not essential) when visiting the wider Tainan area of Taiwan.
9.) Taichung
Almost midway down the west side of Taiwan, Taihchung is another city to visit while exploring the island. Although it doesn’t have the draw of Tainan or Taipei, it’s still worth visiting for a day trip or even a chilled half-day trip down the west coast of Taiwan.
Once here, pop into the National Taichung Theatre for some of the seasonal performances throughout the year. As always, make a note that performances aren’t in English.
Also, make sure to visit the National Twain Museum of Fine Art and the National Museum of Natural Science, both within Taichung. There is a small entry fee, but it is not worth it.
In the evening, head to the Yizhong Street Night Market (Google Maps link), which is well worth spending a few hours eating, drinking, and chilling! The whole vibe is so friendly, and we loved the shaved mango ice we had here.
10.) Yuyupas Cultural Park
Yuyupas Cultural Park (Google Maps link) is easy to visit if you’re already heading into the mountains or the forest around Alishan Township.
Now, you might wonder what makes it one of the best places in Taiwan to visit? Well, Taiwan isn’t just one unified culture. Many ethnic groups make up this island country, and the Yuyupas Cultural Park is where you can learn more about their history and culture in Taiwan.
Once here, you’ll see performances by varying cultural groups that showcase Taiwan’s long history and heritage.
Just remember, no performances are in English. However, it’s still worth visiting as part of a guided tour or to learn more about Taiwan’s deep cultural heritage. Visits take around 90 minutes.
Read more: Best things to do in Taipei
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