taipei best day trips

Home » Travel Guides » Taiwan » 15 Best Day Trips from Taipei

15 Best Day Trips from Taipei

Taipei is the sprawling, urban heartland of Taiwan, a city of intriguing Taiwanese culture, where modern and ancient customs and architecture fuse together in the light of a welcoming, local atmosphere that leaves international visitors looking to stay for longer and to uncover more of the mysteries of this eclectic destination.

Taipei’s location gives visitors staying in the city unprecedented access to a multitude of beautiful locations which are all just a day trip away, and if you ever tire of the city’s streets, then there are countless national parks and epic, natural locations to visit.

Just a short journey outside the city will bring you to the scenic vistas of the northern coastline, while on the edge of the suburbs are natural hot springs, quaint regional towns and traditional villages.

There are wide lakes, deep gorges and excellent hiking opportunities wherever you turn.

There are countless day trip opportunities from Taipei, but here are our favourites.

Jiufen was once an old Japanese mining town, built as an industrial centre during the late 19th century.

The mine has long since closed, and today, rather than the sooty, industrial town you may be imagining, Jiufen is, in fact, a quaint array of winding alleyways and colourful streets that reflect the vibrant Taiwanese culture.

It’s not far from Taipei, and offers a small town escape from the big city, while at the same time giving visitors a journey through the history of Jiufen, from Japanese colonisation to modern-day tourism.

There are beautiful sea views, rolling hills and an abundance of tea houses and small shops to explore.

Recommended tour: Juifen and Pingxi Day Tour

2. Beitou Hot Springs

The Beitou Hot Springs are found in the suburbs of Taipei and make for a relaxing day trip away from the city centre.

The Hot Springs are close enough to be accessible by the city’s public transport system, located close to an MRT station in the outskirts of Taipei.

This is a lovely green oasis in the urban confines of the city limits, and there are several bathing houses that channel water from natural hot springs.

The best one to visit is the Millenium Bath House, where there are several open-air bathing pools.

The Thermal Valley also needs to be visited, as this incredible hot spring is the source of the water in the bathing houses, although at this stage in its journey, the water is much too hot for bathing.

3. Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark is found near the coastal town of Yehliu to the north of Taipei, and it’s a spectacular place to spend the day.

This is a really beautiful area and a fine demonstration of the nature that’s waiting to be discovered so close to the capital.

The park is known for being the site of some really unusual geological rock formations, which are quite unlike anything else found anywhere else in the world.

The park extends for almost 2 kilometres from the mainland into the ocean, and along the length of it are strange and weirdly beautiful rocks, cliffs and other natural features.

Recommended tour : Private Full-Day Northern Taiwan Tour by Car from Taipei

4. Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park is one of Taiwan’s most loved areas of natural beauty.

The park is found to the north of Taipei, and as with much of the surrounding beauty, it’s just a short ride away from the city and easily accessible on public transport.

The close proximity to the city though, shouldn’t faze you, as this is an unbelievably spectacular place to see.

There is a multitude of hiking trails that work their way through the scenery and over the peaks and old volcanos that make up the landscape.

There are hot springs, cherry blossoms and much more to waiting to be seen at Yangmingshan National Park.

Suggested tour : Taipei Sunrise Excursion: Yangmingshan National Park

5. Jinguashi

Jinguashi is found close to the old mining town of Jiufen and has an equally intriguing history as an industrial centre set up by the Japanese.

It’s not quite as busy or as big as nearby Jiufen but offers an equally vibrant array of local history and culture.

It’s in spectacular surroundings too, and one of the best things to do here is to take on the Teapot Mountain hike, a trail which leads up to a nearby mountain peak from where you can enjoy vast vistas across the coast and the green landscapes that stretch endlessly into the distance.

Tamsui is a small town on the northern coastline of Taiwan that makes for a wonderful day trip from the city.

It’s not far at all, and Tamsui offers visitors a look at coastal life on the island, with a bustling old harbour and ramshackle streets that have stood here for generations.

Stop for some seafood, and stay for the sunset, because it’s said by locals that a sunset here, in the perfect position on the coast, is the best sunset that can be enjoyed in Taiwan.

Wulai is found in the mountains near Taipei, and it offers an intriguing look at Taiwan’s indigenous culture, much of which has over the years been unfortunately displaced by colonizers and mainland Chinese.

Wulai is home to a large group of Taiwan’s true locals and it’s a great place to learn more about this understated aspect of Taiwan’s history.

There are many shops and restaurants with an indigenous flair, while many visitors also travel here from the city to experience the cool mountain climes and the many natural hot springs.

Situated on the coast to the southeast of Taipei is Yilan, bordered on one side by rugged mountains and on the other by the open ocean.

It’s a stunning location and there is much to do here.

Explore the streets of Yilan City, visit the local markets, and as with everywhere in Taiwan, soak in the hot springs and baths.

Trek out to the countryside in search of the powerful Wufengchi Waterfall or take on one of the numerous hiking trails into the mountains.

9. Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake has the distinction of being Taiwan’s largest lake.

This beautiful area is found in the rolling hills of central Taiwan, and it makes for a long day trip from Taipei, but one you won’t regret.

There are hiking trails around the perimeter and into the mountains, while it’s easy to catch a ride on the ferries that travel across the water from one end to the next.

Included in : Best of Taiwan 5-Day Tour

10. Thousand Island Lake

A little closer to Taipei, the Thousand Island Lake is an equally unique and attractive destination to visit.

This isn’t really a lake, as such, but more a scenic panorama of the beautiful, turquoise waters of the river, which flow through a maze of inlets more reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord than a Taiwanese lake.

It’s a glorious sight, and the surrounding area is home to many tea plantations which can also be visited at the same time for a taste of culture and a refreshing drink.

11. Taroko Gorge

To the southeast of Taipei is Taroko Gorge, a spectacular natural sight that stretches for almost 20 kilometres through rugged landscapes.

The gorge is protected as a national park because it’s quite unlike anywhere else in Taiwan.

The gorge stretches to the coast from the inland mountains, and there is a vast array of forests, hills and cliffs to be explored in an ever-changing environment.

There are some great hikes, including many which traverse the river that flows through the canyon on breathtaking, but slightly nerve-wracking suspension bridges high above the water.

Pingxi is another rural Taiwanese town that owes its origins to heavy industry.

The coal here in the countryside was exploited by the Japanese, but in recent years, Pingxi has seen a real resurgence as a tourist destination.

While you will find coal museums here explaining this integral part of the town’s history, the real reason to visit now is to walk the old streets, to pop into little tea houses and cafes and to generally enjoy the rural ambience.

In the area, you can enjoy some great waterfalls too, including the dramatic Shifen falls, where a cascade of water flows over the wide rock face into a pool below.

Puli is a charming town in the mountains of central Taiwan, and the perfect place to visit to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.

It’s a quiet city and a place that is well known for being the home of the Chung Tai Chan Monastery, where modern culture meets with ancient Buddhist traditions in an unusual setting.

There are many other temples here to visit too, and nearby there are of course plenty of hikes through the spectacular scenery of this mountainous region.

Lukang has long been an important trading hub on the west coast of Taiwan.

Overlooking the strategic Strait of Taiwan, the mainland is never too far away, and through its history it has seen many colonizers and trading powers landing in its natural harbour.

Although it is not as important as it used to be, it’s a great little town to visit to experience the many multicultural influences that have over the years shaped both Lukang and the rest of wider Taiwan.

15. Keelung City

Keelung City is a big coastal destination on the northeast coast of Taiwan, and not far from Taipei.

It’s not hugely popular with tourists and day-trippers because most people just presume that is simply an industrial harbour city.

Actually, there is a lot to do here, and there are plenty of night markets serving up great seafood and Taiwanese specialities, as well as several historic forts, museums and plenty of hikes.

15 Best Day Trips from Taipei:

• Beitou Hot Springs
• Yehliu Geopark
• Yangmingshan National Park
• Sun Moon Lake
• Thousand Island Lake
• Taroko Gorge
• Keelung City

The 7 best day trips from Taipei

Oct 26, 2023 • 11 min read

Admiring the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor is just one way to spend time on a day trip from Taipei © Panuwat Dangsungnoen / Shutterstock

Within the dense forests that encircle the colorful Taiwanese capital, the beauty of rural Taiwan awaits, made accessible by Taipei ’s ultra-efficient public transport system.

Along with a full spectrum of green spaces, cultural heritage abounds, from the steep alleyways of Jiufen Old Street to the old-world Pingxi railway. Read on to discover our favorite day trips from Taipei.

1. Hike all day long in Yangmingshan

Best for fresh air and views

The sheer number and range of hiking opportunities near Taipei will leave you breathless, as will the area's countless parks and reserves. Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most accessible natural preserves, lording over Taipei City with lush peaks coated in silver grass and an extensive network of trails winding through meadows and pastures.

There are 10 hikable peaks at Yangmingshan and if you have 11 hours to spare, you could try climbing them all in one day. For a more relaxing day, try for just one or two peaks – perhaps Mt Qixing’s main and east peaks – followed by a meeting with water buffalo on the Qingtiangang Grassland, geothermal encounters at the Xiaoyoukeng geological park or lily picking at Zhuzihu (possible from February to May). Beitou Hot Springs is another nearby attraction and its steaming baths are all the more appealing after a full day of hiking.

There are several ways to climb 1120m (3675ft) Mt Qixing – the meandering 2.4km (1.5-mile) Miaopu trail starting near Yangmingshan Visitor Center follows a stone-paved path, with signs in Mandarin and English; signs along the route highlight other attractions such as Menghuan Pond and the Lengshuikeng natural springs, allowing you to extend your trip depending on energy levels.

How to get to Yangmingshan : To reach the visitor center, hop on shuttle bus 260 from Shimin Boulevard behind Taipei Main Station and alight at Yangmingshan Bus Terminal (30NTD/US$1, one hour).

From the bus terminal, walk back to the main road and head uphill; look for a sign on your right marking the path to the visitor center. Pick up a detailed map here (or get human advice!) to locate any trails you wish to try. After completing your hike, the 108 bus can drop you back at the visitor center to catch the 260 bus returning to Taipei City.

2. Enjoy quirky old mining towns and waterfalls on the Pingxi Line

Best for railway nostalgia

Originally constructed to connect a series of coal mining towns during the Japanese occupation, the charming Pingxi railway line is less than an hour from Taipei. This 12km (7.5-mile) single-track railway runs parallel to the Keelung River and stops at a number of slow-moving villages that are rich with mining heritage, spectacular natural attractions – and cats!

Houtong Cat Village will win you over early on, so pause for some quality time with the dozens of docile kitties that sunbathe on the steps and corrugated roofs around the village. You can also visit the coal mining museum (and ride a handcar into the tunnels), followed by a coffee in a cutesy cat-themed cafe while you wait for the next scheduled train – they usually run every hour.

Sandiaoling and Shifen are two competing waterfalls on the Pingxi Line; the former is worth visiting for forested hiking trails leading to swimmable pools; the latter is considered the best option for mindblowing views. The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail is a half-day trip in itself, linking the Hegu and Motian cascades and Pipa Cave via a suspension bridge and nature trail. The 40m (131ft) Shifen Waterfall is considered Taiwan’s most scenic cascade and it has the added bonus of an adjacent "old street" of vintage houses.

The penultimate stop is Pingxi, the mining town that gave the railway its name, known for its nostalgic old street and Sky Lantern Festival, held every February, when nearly 100,000 visitors paint their wishes onto paper lanterns and release them into the night sky. At the final stop of Jingtong, you can stroll along tracks lined with souvenir stalls, stands serving sizzling Taiwanese sausages, and heritage buildings.

Concerns about the environmental impacts of sky lanterns are on the rise, with many counties in Taiwan banning them entirely. Releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi is legal as long as visitors follow a few rules established by the city’s government . If you choose to participate, there are a few ways you can minimize your environmental impact, such as collecting and recycling debris at Sky Lantern Shell Recycling Stops throughout the city.

How to board the Pingxi Line: The Pingxi Line is an easy day trip from Taipei and it's easy to extend the trip with an overnight stay in wildly popular Jiufen village. Taiwan Railway (TRA) trains to Ruifang Station run from Taipei Main Station (from 50NTD/US$1.70, one hour), at which point you can transfer easily to the Pingxi Line.

A day ticket for unlimited travel on the Pingxi Line costs only 80NTD (US$2.75), making it one of the all-time best cheap trips from Taipei. On weekends, the small train can get quite packed, especially when returning to Ruifang at the end of the day. Consider coming on a weekday or start early to avoid the worst crowds.

3. Get hot and steamy in Wulai District

Best for hot springs and hikes

One of the top romantic getaways near Taipei, Wulai District gets its name from the Atayal word for the hot springs for which this Indigenous town is renowned. Despite some commercialization, Wulai retains a certain authenticity – the mountain valley is cut off from the rest of Taiwan and exists in harmony with the verdant mountains surrounding it.

Most people who come here stay overnight at a Wulai hot springs resort, some of which are bookable by the hour for day-trippers. It's also possible to bathe in hot springs for free next to the Wulai River, allowing you to save your money for a visit to the Wulai Atayal Museum, a tram ride or the gondola trip to the Yunshien Amusement Park. Along the way, pick up Atayal snacks such as wild boar, stuffed bamboo tubes and millet wine.

Travelers wishing to get off the beaten park have myriad options, including heading beyond the red Nanshi suspension bridge on looping hiking trails towards Wulai Falls or climbing straight up Big Knife Mountain. Rambling along the rocky Laka Trail or hiking through the emerald-hued Mini Gorge is particularly rewarding. River tracing (like canyoning), swimming and camping are more options for outdoor fun.

How to reach Wulai: The simplest route to Wulai from Taipei is to board the 1601 bus from Xindian MRT Station (40NTD/US$1.40, 30 minutes). Taxi drivers wait around the metro station looking to ferry tourists to Wulai for a fair rate, so if the bus is full, consider teaming up with other travelers and sharing the ride.

4. Bathe in a forest glade at Manyueyuan National Forest

Best for rural serenity

Japan – Taiwan’s close neighbor – may have coined the term shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), but this custom can also be enjoyed in the dense forests surrounding Taipei. About 55km (34 miles) from the Taiwanese capital in Sanxia District, Manyueyuan National Forest is one of the closest places to Taipei for an arboreal bathing session and it's famous for its waterfalls set in woodland along a subtropical creek, with lots of potential bathing spots.

Day trippers to Manyueyuan can tackle a 10km (6.2-mile) loop trail that crosses over Beichatian Mountain, passing through ancient stands of forest. Alternatively, you can follow a flat, paved trail along the Dabao River for possible sightings of Formosan rock macaques and crested eagles perched upon the branches above the path.

For an extended weekend trip from Taipei, consider adding on more forest bathing at Dongyanshan Forest , staying overnight at a heritage guesthouse in Sanxia or Yingge.

How to get to Manyueyuan: The most convenient way to reach the forest is to drive; alternatively, consider a guided tour or taxi pool with a group of fellow travelers using services such as  Tripool and Parkbus .

With more time to spare, ride the metro to Banqiao TRA Station, taking the 702 or 812 bus to Sanxia Stop 1, followed by the less frequent 807 to the Manyueyuan parking lot.

5. Satisfy your seafood cravings at Keelung Harbor

Best for foodies

People who ask if Keelung is worth visiting clearly haven’t heard about this port city’s reputation for succulent and affordable seafood. There are plenty of cultural highlights, too – the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor and a prominent 25m (82ft) statue of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, standing amid the temples of Zhongzheng Park.

At Heping Island Park, sea views and curious rock formations make the walking trails a joy to explore. The primary reason to visit Keelung, however, is Miaokou Night Market , which boasts some 200 food stalls covering several blocks in the vicinity of Dianji Temple.

Try fresh seafood fried, roasted, steamed, raw or paired harmoniously with thick crab soup and glutinous rice. Other recommended snacks include tempura, pork knuckle and  dianbiancuo soup – a Keelung specialty made with scrapings of rice flour batter, served with shrimp, pork and cabbage.

How to get to Keelung: Simply hop on a northbound train from Taipei Main Station and travel to reach Keelung Station (40NTD/US$1.30, 40 minutes).

6. Taste pouchong tea in Pinglin

Best for tea lovers

Tea lovers can take a day trip to savor the delicate taste of pouchong tea on the plantations and old streets of Pinglin, a district central to Taiwan’s century-old tea trade. Pinglin is just over one hour from Taipei by train; the picturesque Thousand Island Lake also lies in the area and it's a must-see if you have enough time.

Start your day with breakfast on Pinglin Old Street, where every snack comes infused with local leaves. Tea eggs are a convenience store staple across Taiwan, but in Pinglin, they switch black tea for pouchong in the steeping process, making for a lighter taste. The Liang Xin bun store distinguishes its steam buns from the pack with natural coloring and tea infusions; they cost 10NTD (US$0.35) each.

Rent a bicycle and follow the river along the Beishixi Bikeway through landscapes of terraced tea fields. The Pinglin Tea Museum lies within easy reach for insights into the history of the tea trade and the manufacturing process. For an open-air alternative, visit a working farm such as Tea Town Osmanthus or the Green Light Farm to see tea harvesting in spring or enjoy tea tasting all year round.

You might smell your last stop on approach. Famed for 100 years of the Taiwanese delicacy stinky tofu, Shiding Old Street might not be every foreigner’s first choice for a snack stop, but the old-school atmosphere is worth the time, with stone walkways and stilt houses suspended haphazardly over the riverbed. Stores here also sell more accessible tofu snacks, including tofu pudding and tofu tiramisu.

How to reach Pinglin: Pinglin lies just 30km (18.6 miles) outside of Taipei, but the winding mountain roads make the journey feel longer. The Green 12 bus runs to Pinglin via the  Feitsui reservoir, but the 923 bus is the only direct bus route to Pinglin. It runs from Xindian MRT station to Pinglin Old Street via Shiding (30NTD/US$1, one hour).

7. Throw pots on Yingge Ceramics Street

Best for fun craft shopping

If you’re looking for a pot to brew your freshly acquired pouchong tea, the town of Yingge will be happy to help. October is the best month to visit Taiwan’s pottery and ceramics capital, as local businesses get fired up for the Yingge Ceramics Festival and performances take over the streets.

Anyone interested in ceramics or ancient Chinese arts will enjoy pottering around town at any time of year. Visitors can learn about the colonial history that shaped the ceramics trade at the Yingge Ceramics Museum (80NTD/US$2.75). The Yingge Ceramics Mall also has multiple traders selling crockery, traditional tea sets and decorative pieces under one roof.

To try your hand at sculpting, glazing and firing your own pottery, book a two-hour class at one of the ceramics studios in the area (such as Shu’s Pottery ) for around 300NTD (US$10) per person. Otherwise, several kilns on Chongqing Street offer a glimpse of the traditional firing methods used to produce Yingge ceramics.

Having found a decent tea set, enjoy upscale tea and small plates at the Tea Day restaurant, adding on a visit to the nearby town of Sanxia to admire more red-brick architecture and traditional knick-knacks. The central Qingshui Zushi Temple is a living museum of Chinese history and folk art, hosting a controversial animal sacrifice on the sixth day of the lunar calendar.

How to get to Yingge: Yingge lies about 30 minutes southwest of Taipei, but you can also get here via a leisurely hour-long cycle along the riverside bikeway; there's a YouBike station adjacent to the old street in Yingge. Alternatively, you can take a Taiwan Railway train directly to Yingge Station from Taipei Main Station.

This article was first published May 2022 and updated October 2023

Explore related stories

Oct 21, 2023 • 7 min read

From high-altitude routes and adventurous day hikes to scenic coastal paths and historic walking trails, these are Taiwan's best hikes.

Oct 20, 2023 • 13 min read

Oct 18, 2023 • 7 min read

Oct 15, 2023 • 6 min read

Oct 12, 2023 • 6 min read

Jan 13, 2023 • 7 min read

Jul 20, 2022 • 6 min read

May 5, 2022 • 5 min read

Nov 24, 2020 • 2 min read

Jun 5, 2020 • 2 min read

Asia , Outdoor Guides , Taiwan · November 14, 2018

15 Epic Day Trips From Taipei You Can’t Miss

The outskirts of Taipei is absolutely littered with fascinating places to visit and fun things to do. If you want to get out of the city to explore all its beautiful corners and see a bit more of Taiwan, then this list of 15 epic day trips from Taipei is for you! 

In this guide, you’ll discover the very best Taipei day trips – from must-visit places to Taipei’s best hidden gems! Even if you don’t have time to see them all, this guide will give you a good idea of where to spend some time away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Here are 15 of the ABSOLUTE best Taipei day trips! 

Disclaimer: This post probably contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links, I might receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Taipei Day Trip Essentials

Before we dive into this epic list of day tours from Taipei, read these handy guides to understand Taiwan’s vibrant capital city better:

• Taipei itinerary
• First-timer’s guide to Taipei
• Taipei nightlife guide  
• Solo travelers guide to Taipei

Along with the tips included above, here are a few more tricks and essentials to make your Taipei day trip itinerary all the easier. 

• If you’d like to stay overnight in any of these places, you can find some  great hotel deals  here. 
• Grab an  Easy Card  (a tap-and-go transport card) so that you can save time and money on public transport.
• You’ll find top-up machines in every single convenience store and all bus and train stations. 
• If you plan on doing lots of touristy things, grab a  Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass , which covers unlimited rides on MRT lines, city buses, and five tourist shuttle routes.
• Since some of these day trips need a bit more travel time, book a  private car charter  to explore these gems at your own pace. 
• Grab this  3-day unlimited HSR pass  if you’re going to travel down the west coast.
• Download  Google Maps,   Google Translate,  and the  Uber  app beforehand for fuss-free travel. Also read my guide on the best travel apps for Taiwan for more handy tips.
• If you’re visiting one of the hiking spots on this list, it’s best to wear comfortable non-slip shoes. 
• Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen, and refillable water bottle! 

Day Trips From Taipei < 1.5 hrs from the city

• Best Taipei day trip for foodies & photographers

Nestled on the hilltops of northeastern Taiwan, Jiufen (九份) is hands-down one of the prettiest (and most romantic) places in all of Taiwan! 

With jaw-dropping mountain and ocean views, lantern-filled alleys, quaint tea houses, antique shops, and an eclectic foodie scene, Jiufen is an unmissable destination that definitely deserves a spot on your list of day trips from Taipei! 

There are many awesome things to do in Jiufen, but most day-trippers only visit for one thing: the FOOD! Jiufen has an incredible food scene. All along its Old Street (九份老街), you can sample some of Taiwan’s very best street food. Some must-try classics include peanut ice cream crepes, fish balls, glutinous rice cakes, and taro balls. 

If you get tired of stuffing your face, duck into one of the charming teahouses where you can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony. Most Jiufen teahouses offer incredible views, and you’ll find the best views (and atmosphere) at  Jioufen Teahouse  and Amei Teahouse.

Jiufen is a great place to spend a whole day eating, browsing, and taking photos! If you’re looking to do something a bit more adventurous nearby, hike up Keelung Mountain or Teapot Mountain. A bit further afield, you can also  climb Longdong Rock .

Insider’s Tips:  Jiufen is a popular tourist spot among locals and international visitors, so it gets crowded quickly. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to time your visit during the week.

• How to get there:  Jiufen can be reached in several ways, and I’ve written an entire guide highlighting  how to get from Taipei to Jiufen . Take a train to Ruifang Station and then catch a Keelung Transit Bus to the village (coming every 15 minutes). You can also book a  private transfer  or join this  Shifen, Jiufen & Yehliu day tour  if you don’t like public transport. 

Shifen Waterfall

• Perfect for nature seekers, waterfall chasers, and photographers. 

If you want to spend a day surrounded by stunning natural scenery, then Shifen (十分) is the best Taipei day trip for you. 

Shifen is a tiny village home to the widest waterfall in Taiwan – Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布). The stunning 40m wide waterfall is a real gem and a huge must on any Taiwan travel itinerary . You’ll find stacks of vantage points offering a bird’s-eye view over the falls, and you could easily spend hours admiring the gushing cascades.

Back in town, release a sky lantern right on the train tracks which run through Shifen, snack on delicious street food, or stroll along the winding streets to really experience the town’s old-world charm and learn more about Taiwan’s former coal mining industry. Along the way, you’ll also find tons of quirky souvenirs shops where you can pick up anything from sky lantern paraphernalia to Chinese trinkets and more! 

• Getting there:  Read my detailed guide on  getting from Taipei to Shifen , which includes loads of transport tips and what to do in Shifen. Grab any northbound train (except Keelung) towards Ruifang Station at Taipei Main Station. Then transfer to Taiwan’s historic  Pingxi Line . Alternatively, join this  fun Shifen, Jiufen & Yehliu tour  or take a  private transfer  to get there stress-free. 

For more ideas, this guide on  visiting Shifen  will also come in handy. 

Houtong Cat Village

• Perfect for cat lovers, photographers, and nature seekers

Houtong Cat Village   (猴硐貓村) is a beautiful little village hidden in the hills of Ruifang District, New Taipei. It is definitely one of the lesser-known Taipei day trips on this list, so if you’re looking to get off the beaten path (and like cats), add this tour to your list. 

Back in the day, Houtong was one of Taiwan’s most prominent coal-mining villages with more than 6000 residents. Unfortunately, as the coal ran out, so too did people. Today, Houtong is no longer known for its coal mining efforts but for something entirely different – cats! 

You’ll find most of the cats lounging around the winding walkways running along the hilltop. They’re super friendly and adorable, but make sure to stick to the village’s rules! Along the way, you’ll also encounter cute cafes, tea houses, and quirky souvenir shops selling an array of kitty knick-knacks. If you’re looking for street food, you’ll find oodles of vendors in the Old Street (猴硐老街) near the train tracks. History buffs can head to the Houtong Coal Mining Ecological Park (猴硐煤礦博物園區遊客服務中心). Here you can learn more about the town’s history and even take a fun ride through the mine’s tunnels!  

• Getting there:  From Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train (except Keelung) towards Ruifang Station (瑞芳車站). Then transfer to a local train (and travel one more stop) or take bus 808 to Houtong. The Su Ao bound train is the  only  direct to Houtong from Taipei Main Station, but trains aren’t as frequent. 

Yehliu Geopark

• Best day trip from Taipei for photographers and treasure hunters

One of the coolest day trips from Taipei is Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園) – a massive geopark, located along the shores of Taiwan’s north coast .

Yehliu is home to some of the most incredible rock formations in Taiwan. These formations were formed by years and years of sea and wind erosion, and you’ll find all kinds of weird and wonderful shapes resembling everything from mushrooms, honeycombs, a Queen’s Head, and even a Dragon’s head here! If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll find a bunch of eateries near the Geopark’s entrance.

Yehliu is a great place to feel the sea breeze on your skin, test your imagination, and practice your photo skills! Since Yehliu is a popular tourist spot over weekends, come during the week if your schedule is flexible. It’s also a good idea to  grab an admission ticket  online in advance to skip the queues. Further afield, drop by the Twin Candlestick Islets – yet another stunning rock formation along this rugged coastline.

• How to get to Yehliu from Taipei:  Take bus 1815 (bound for Jinshan Youth Activity Center) at  Kuo-Kuang Bus Taipei Terminal , near Taipei Main Station. Buses depart every 20 minutes and cost roughly  NT$100 . Alternatively, join this  Shifen, Jiufen & Yehliu day tour  for a hassle-free journey.

• Best Taipei day trip for hot spring lovers, nature seekers, and adventurous eaters

Wulai  (烏來) is a small aboriginal village just 40 minutes away from Taipei City. Home to the Atayal tribe, steamy natural springs, a stunning waterfall, and an old street filled with unique aboriginal delicacies, Wulai is a popular day trip among nature lovers, hot spring bathers, and foodies alike. 

What really makes this village such a great side trip option is the sheer amount of things to do here! And you’ll quickly see that Wulai is so much more than just another place to soak in a hot spring! The Old Street (烏來老街) is the best place to try local specialties such as millet wine, mountain vegetables, wild boar sausages with maqaw, spring-cooked eggs, and bamboo-tube rice. Come hungry because you won’t find these dishes anywhere else in Taiwan! 

After you’ve filled your belly, follow the Lover’s Trail or hop in the cute  Wulai Scenic Train  to Wulai’s epic 80-m tall waterfall – Wulai Falls (烏來瀑布)! Weather permitting, you can also take a cable car ride to see the waterfall from above. A little further afield, you’ll also find many hiking trails where you can immerse yourself in nature. 

Back in town, book yourself into a hot spring hotel for a relaxing soak.  Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort  is one of the best hot spring hotels in Wulai and has beautiful rooms with private baths. 

• Getting there:  Catch Bus 849, near Xindian MRT Station on Beixin Road (departing every 10-15 minutes). The ride takes about 45 minutes and costs  NT$15  for a single ride.

Danshui (Tamsui)

• The best Taipei day tour for sunset chasers, photographers, and seafood aficionados

One of the easiest day trips from Taipei is the lovely seaside town of Danshui (淡水). Known for its amazing sunsets, tasty seafood, fun street performers, and historic fort, Danshiu is a great place to spend a lazy day soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. 

Start your day trip exploring the Tamsui Old Street (淡水老街), where you’ll find souvenir shops, temples, and lots of street food! Don’t eat too much, though, because you’re definitely going to want to try all the seafood at the waterfront. 

Then head to the waterfront lined with dozens of vendors selling fresh seafood and offering magnificent views over the Danshui River. For a change of pace, hop on a boat to Bali island (八里區). The small island lies across the bank, and is a cool place to rent a bike, eat more street food, or just enjoy the views. Here’s a great guide on  biking around Guandu, Danshui, and Bali .

If you don’t like boats, continue along the promenade because there’s more to see further afield. One attraction you shouldn’t miss is Lover’s Bridge (情人橋). Here you can get the best view over the river, sea, and city! Come at golden hour for epic photo ops.

If you’re sick of street food, pop into  Red House Cafe  – a lovely rooftop terrace restaurant with beautiful views and great food. The gorgeous  Tianyuan Temple , a 10-minute taxi ride from the wharf, is another must-visit tourist spot, especially if you’re visiting during cherry blossom season . 

• How to Get to Danshui:  From Taipei Main Station, take the Taipei MRT Red Line to the last stop (Tamsui). The ride takes about 40 minutes and costs  NT$50 .

Beitou Hot Spring

• Perfect for hot spring bathers and nature seekers 

A short MRT ride from Taipei Main Station, you’ll find Taiwan’s mecca of steamy hot springs – Beitou. Thanks to its proximity to the capital city, Beitou is a super popular day trip from Taipei, and there’s always a bunch of people here. Known for its steamy public pools with healing powers and fancy hot spring hotels, Beitou is a really cool place that definitely deserves a spot on your day trips list! 

Besides soaking in the springs, make a point of visiting Beitou Thermal Valley (地熱谷), aka Hell Valley. If you can handle the stench of the sulfur, it’s the perfect spot to get a close-up look at piping hot thermal springs. In fact, the water temperature can reach up to 80-100℃! You’ll find many vendors nearby selling hard-boiled eggs that were cooked in these hot waters! 

Further afield, the Beitou Hot Springs Museum (北投溫泉博物館), Ketagalan Culture Center (凱達格蘭文化館) and the Xinbeitou Historic Station (新北投車站) are other popular places to visit. 

• Getting to Beitou:  Take the red MRT line to Xinbeitou Station from anywhere in Taipei. 

Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) is another  hot spring and hiking paradise  just north of Taipei City. There are loads of Yangmingshan day tours on offer, and  this one  even stops in Beitou. 

Qingshan Waterfall

• Perfect day trip from Taipei for waterfall chasers, hikers, and off-the-beaten-path travelers

There are dozens of beautiful waterfalls near Taipei, and Qingshan Waterfall (青山瀑布) is one you don’t want to miss! 

This stunning 30-meter high waterfall is tucked away in the northern corners of Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) and is only accessible by car. Once you’re at the trailhead, it’s a relatively intense 1.5km hike to the waterfall, but the effort will be worth it because this place is absolutely stunning! 

The waterfall is nestled in a lush forest filled with towering trees, moss-covered boulders, and gentle streams. Since Qingshan Waterfall is still much of a hidden gem, you can easily have the entire place all to yourself (especially if you visit during the week). The best part, the waterfall pool is safe to swim in, so don’t forget your swimsuit! 

• Getting there:  There is no public transport here, so you’ll need your own set of wheels to reach this gem. Alternatively, take a 2.5 hr bus ride on bus #867 from Tamsui Station to Shuntian Shengmu Temple (順天聖母廟). Then walk 1.6 km to the trailhead. (See on  Google maps  here). 

Yingge District 

• Best Taipei day tour for art hunters and DIY fans

Yingge (鶯歌區) is undeniably the king of all things ceramic in Taiwan. This cute little town just south of Taipei City is home to dozens of art studios, galleries, and over 800 shops selling all kinds of ceramic art, pottery, and porcelain items. While most stores specialize in mass-produced pottery items, you’ll also be able to find the real stuff here with a bit of effort! Just be prepared for the astronomical prices! 

Yingge Old Street (鶯歌陶瓷老街) is where all the action is, and it’s a great place to stroll around, shop, pop into a quaint teahouse and join a DIY pottery class to channel your inner artist! Along Chongqing street, you can even walk (or rather squeeze) through a historic tunnel kiln built in the 60s. Further afield, pottery fanatics can pop into the Yingge Ceramics Museum (新北市立鶯歌陶瓷博物館) to learn more about the history of ceramics and check out all the cool exhibitions. 

• Getting to Yingge:  Take a local Taiwan Railways train (Fuxing/ Shuttle) from Taipei Main Station to Yingge station. The ride takes 38 minutes and costs  NT$38 . From the station, it’s a short walk to the Old Street and the Ceramics Museum. Signs point the way. 

• Best for city dwellers, Instagram chasers, art lovers, and foodies

Located on Taiwan’s west coast, Taiwan’s second-largest city, Taichung (台中市), is yet another great Taipei day tour option. The city is easily accessible from Taipei by HSR in just over an hour. 

There’s so much to do in this vibrant city that you could easily spend up to three days in Taichung and never be bored. Some of the highlights include visiting Rainbow Village (the city’s most Instagrammable spot), browsing the cool exhibitions at the National Art Museum (國立臺灣美術館), devouring the sweet treats at Miyahara (宮原眼科), and joining a DIY Bubble Tea class. Of course, there are loads more to do in Taichung! And if you want to get off the tourist track, this list of epic places near Taichung is just what you need.

• Getting to Taichung:  Take a southbound HSR train from Taipei Main Station to Taichung HSR Station. From there, the city is accessible by MRT, taxi, bus, or scooter rental if you prefer to have your freedom. For more transport tips, also read my guide on getting to Taichung from Taipei .

Keelung City

• Best for foodies, culture vultures, and history buffs. 

If you’re looking for a quick day trip from Taipei filled with history and amazing food, you’ve got to get yourself to Keelung (基隆). 

Keelung is a beautiful port city in the northern corners of Taiwan. It is located less than 1 hour away from Taipei, and it’s super easy to reach via public transport.

While Keelung’s biggest attraction is undoubtedly its Miaokou Night Market, there are many great things to do in Keelung . Start your day by exploring Heping Island Park (和平島公園), a huge geopark filled with incredible seaside views, easy trails, and interesting rock formations. Then hop in a taxi to one of the most Instagrammable places in Taiwan, Zhengbin Fishing Harbor (正濱漁港). Here you’ll find dozens of colorful shophouses lining a sleepy fishing harbor and plenty of photo ops.

Further afield, make a point of visiting Zhongzheng Park (基隆中正公園). This huge religious park is home to several beautiful temples and an enormous statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. You’ll also get the best view over the city from here, so don’t forget your camera! 

If you still have time, head out to Dawulun Beach for a swim or check out a few of the cool forts in the city (there are several). And many of them date back to the 17th century. Whatever you do, don’t miss Miaokou Night Market (基隆廟口夜市)! Come hungry, because there are lots to try!

• Getting there:  Take any local TRA to Keelung City from Taipei Main Station. Trains come every 15-20 minutes, and the journey takes 45 minutes. Alternatively, hop on Kuo-Kuang Bus 1813, departing from Taipei Main Station. The ride takes 50 minutes.

Day Trips from Taipei > 1.5hrs from the city

Laomei green reef.

• Perfect for ocean lovers and off-the-beaten-path travelers

If you happen to visit Taiwan during spring, then you should definitely make a point of visiting Laomei Green Reef (老梅綠石槽). 

Laomei Green Reef is a 700-m long rocky reef located in a tiny town in Shimen District, just on the outskirts of Taipei. The reef’s ditches and trenches were formed thousands of years ago when lava crept down from a volcanic eruption. But what really makes this reef so special is that the entire reef is covered in vibrant green algae for a limited time each year. Since this phenomenon can only be witnessed briefly, planning your visit to Laomei is essential. The best time to see the reef blanketed in algae is from March to May. This is usually before the summer heat kicks in. The reef is only visible during low tide, so make sure to check the tide schedule beforehand. 

Laomei is a great day trip from Taipei to witness something really special! It’s a cool place to gawk at the reef, wander along the beach, and take photos. If you can (and tides permitting), come at golden hour for the most incredible setting imaginable!  

Just a heads up:  The reef is a protected area, so please don’t walk on it. In fact, you can get a steep fine if caught doing so! 

• Getting there:  Take bus 863 or 862 from Tamsui Bus Station (right next to the Tamsui MRT Station). Get off at the Mingde Village 1 stop. Tickets cost  NT$45 , and buses depart every 20-30 minutes. 

Baishawan Beach 

• Perfect for beachgoers and thrill-seekers 

There are several cool beaches near Taipei, but if you’re looking for white powdery sand, chilled vibes, and epic sea views, then Baishawan is your best bet. 

Baishawan Beach (白沙灣遊憩區) is not too far from Laomei Green Reef. Therefore, you can easily combine these two Taipei scenic spots in one trip. Buses between the two areas are frequent and reliable. If you feel like walking, there’s a nice little hiking trail with epic coastal views from Laomei Green Reef via the Fuguijiao Lighthouse (富貴角燈塔) to Fuji Fishing Harbor (富基漁港). From here, it’s approximately another 2.4km to Baishawan. 

Baishawan Beach is a very laidback place, perfect for swimming and basking in the sun. You can also rent a paddleboard, grab an ice-cold beer, or just chill on the beach. Don’t miss the fish & chips at Dazzlers when visiting this stunning Taiwan beach ! 

• Getting to Baishawan: Take bus 863 or 862 from Tamsui Bus Station and get off at Baishawan Beach. The ride takes just under 1 hour and costs NT$45 .

Taroko Gorge

• Best for hikers and nature seekers

If you want to really get acquainted with Taiwan’s natural scenery, there’s no better place than Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園).

Taroko Gorge is a beautiful 19-km canyon filled with epic caves, stunning waterfalls, sacred shrines, and some of the best hiking trails in Taiwan . The central highway, which was carved out from the rock face, snakes through the canyon, making it super easy to explore this natural wonder of Taiwan. 

There are loads of points of interest here, but some must-hit stops include the Eternal Spring Shrine (長春祠), Swallow Grotto (燕子口步道), and the Baiyang Waterfall (白楊瀑布). While it’s worth spending a couple of days at Taroko National Park, it is possible to visit Taiwan’s stunning marble canyon on a day trip from Taipei. It will be a whirlwind tour but doable if you  join this Taroko tour with round-trip flights. 

• Perfect for street art hunters, city dwellers, and photographers

Taipei and Kaohsiung are at the complete opposite ends of the island. Thankfully, Taiwan has an excellent transport network! In less than 2 hours, you can be right in the thick of Taiwan’s uber-cool harbor city! 

Kaohsiung (高雄市) is Taiwan’s largest port city and the 3 rd biggest city on the island. It’s a fantastic place to spend a few days , but a day trip from Taipei will have to do if time is limited. 

Kaohsiung is unlike any other city in Taiwan, and it’s got a great vibe. Some must-dos include checking out the cool art installations at Art Pier 2 (駁二藝術特區), walking through the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔), taking a romantic cruise on the Love River (愛河), and stuffing your face with as much seafood as you possibly can! If you’re a foodie, don’t miss Liuhe Night Market (六合夜市) for an epic Taiwanese night market experience!

• Getting to Kaohsiung:  Take any southbound HSR train from Taipei Main Station to Zouying Station. The ride takes less than 2 hours and costs NT$1490. Reach the city center via MRT, bus, or taxi.  For more tips, read my guide on how to get to Kaohsiung .

Best Taipei Day Trips in Conclusion

There are  way   more  than 15 Taipei side trips, but this list will hopefully provide a great starting point! Have you visited any of these cool places near Taipei? Feel free to share your favorite Taipei day trips, top tips, and anything in between in the comments below! 

If you enjoyed these day trips from Taipei ideas, please share them with your friends.

join the club

You’ll also love.

November 15, 2018 at

Wow, thanks for these awesome tips. Although capital cities, just like Taipei, have it all, it’s fun to explore less populated cities and countrysides. Love your pics!

November 19, 2018 at

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Urska. I couldn’t agree more. I love big cities, too…but, when exploring the outskirts you can experience the culture and people so much more..

September 16, 2022 at

Hello, I’m from Taiwan, and I just happened to help my Vietnamese friends to find some articles about Taiwan. I’m very happy to see your introduction to Taiwan. I hope that I will have the opportunity to travel again in the future.

December 21, 2022 at

This article is very informative. Excited to revisit Taiwan next year

August 1, 2023 at

Looking forward to touring Taipei following your guide. Thank you for the detailed descriptions & directions

December 5, 2023 at

Very informative and a big help to us planning our Taiwan Travel. thank you!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.

17 Best Islands in Asia You Cannot Miss

Trending now.

Follow @ Hoponworld

Travel guides

• Travel Guides
• Itineraries
• City Guides
• Beach Guides
• Outdoor Guides
• Tips & Inspo

Get exclusive access to detailed travel guides & tips!

Work with me

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Hoponworld · Theme by 17th Avenue

updated on June 24, 2023

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

40 Day Trips from Taipei You Can’t Miss

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

While 40 Taipei day trips may seem excessive, I swear to you that all of them are awesome!

Whether you want to go hiking, hit the beach, soak in some of Taiwan’s incredible hot springs , see cherry blossoms , go on a Taiwanese food tour, or explore historic Japanese-era villages, or visit totally off the beaten track places around Taipei , there is definitely a perfect day trip from Taipei for you!

This goes to show why Taipei is such a desirable place to live. It has even been chosen as the #1 city in the world for expats more than once, and many people, myself included, come for a year and end up staying for 10+. You never run out of ways to spend your weekends when living in Taipei !

I have personally done each of these day trips from Taipei, many of them several times. For some of these spots, it is possible to combine two or more of them into one day-trip, which I’ll be sure to point out. Many of these day trips will be in New Taipei City , the sprawling city which totally surrounded Taipei. See my New Taipei City guide .

I’ve organized these days trips into sections covering north of Taipei, east of Taipei, and then south of Taipei. In the east section, you’ll find my directions for planning the most popular day trip from Taipei , which usually includes several of the following: Yehliu Geopark, Houtong Cat Village, Jiufen Old Street, Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, Shifen Waterfall, and Keelung Night Market. I’ll tell you how to do it all on your own, by public transportation!

Related resources: 

• Taiwan travel tips for planning your trip
• Where to stay in Taipei
• What to do in Taipei in 2 days / 3 days / 4 days / 5 days
• The best time to visit Taipei
• How plan a 1 to 3-week trip around Taiwan
• How to plan a trip around Taiwan with kids

Tips for Saving Money on Your Taipei Day Trip Parkbus Taiwan is a service that simplifies making day trips out of Taipei. They do regular excursions to hard-to-reach spots for hiking and other activities. Use my discount code “Spiritual10” at checkout for a 10% discount. Some very popular and budget-friendly guided day-tours are available on Klook, such as this one , this one , and this one . To get a TW$100 discount on any of these tours, sign up for Klook first using this link . For several day trips below, you swipe the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass to get there. See my guide to the pass here . If you don’t get that, just use an EasyCard like most people do. Here’s how EasyCard works . If you end up staying overnight in any of these places, you can find the best hotel deals here .

Table of Contents

Taipei Day Trips to the North

Some of Taipei’s best day trip possibilities lie to the north of the Taiwanese capital.

I’ll start with Beitou Hot Spring (technically part of Taipei City) and volcanic Yangming Mountain (Yangmingshan), then cover the north coast of Taiwan roughly in a clockwise manner.

Beitou Hot Spring Village

Beitou Hot Spring (北投溫泉) is the only spot on this list of best day trips from Taipei that is actually in Taipei City. So why include it?

Well, despite being MRT accessible, the steaming thermal springs and natural scenery of Beitou make it feel like it’s a million miles away from the city. You could easily spend a day here, so it really does feel like a day trip from the Taipei city center.

A day at Beitou can include soaking your feet in thermal water at the park, sampling hot spring noodles, exploring the Japanese-era architecture of Beitou Hot Spring Museum and Beitou Museum , and marveling at Beitou Geothermal Valley .

Hot spring choices range from colonial-era bathhouses to luxurious modern resorts. Millennium Hot Springs is the main public hot spring, while Spring City Resort is the best family-friendly option.

For my detailed recommendations, see my guide to Beitou Hot Spring and more ideas for things to do in winter in Taipei .

Getting from Taipei to Beitou: The Beitou hot spring village is located in front of Xinbeitou MRT station. Take the red MRT line north to Beitou then transfer to the tiny, 2-stop pink line to Xinbeitou. All of the main sights are within walking distance of the MRT.

Beitou is also the starting point of the Beitou-Zhuzihu Tourist Shuttle Bus (小9 or “small 9”), which connects Beitou to various points in Yangmingshan (#2 below). The shuttle bus is included if you have a Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass or you can swipe an EasyCard .

Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan (陽明山) is the closest national park to Taipei (it spreads from Taipei City to New Taipei City). Yangming Mountain is actually a massif containing several peaks, the highest of which is Seven Star Mountain (Qixingshan or 七星山, 1120m), a dormant volcano.

Yangminshan National Park covers over 100 km2, so it comes as no surprise that the park abounds in day trip possibilities.

Some of the biggest draws include cherry blossom at Flower Clock and calla lily viewing at Zhuzihu in early spring, the warm hot springs of Lengshuikeng , buffalo spotting at Qingtiangang Grassland , the luxurious Yangmingshan Tienlai Hot Spring Resort (which is actually located outside of the national park, on the back side of the mountain, near Jinshan village on the coast), and the steaming fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng .

Find all the info in my guide to Yangmingshan National Park .

Getting to Yangmingshan: It’s a little complicated due to multiple roads and bus routes into the park. I cover it all in my guide to getting from Taipei to Yangmingshan .

If you want to see many parts of Yangmingshan in one day, consider hiring a driver for the day .

Tamsui & Fisherman’s Wharf

Tamsui District (淡水區, also spelled Danshui), New Taipei City, is furthest north you can venture on the Taipei City MRT. Step off the MRT and you’ll find yourself on a lovely riverside promenade. Fresh seafood and people watching galore make this one of Taipei’s favorite easy getaways for tourists and locals alike.

Rent a bike and follow the riverside trail south to Hongshulin Mangroves and Guandu Temple (one of the Taipei’s best temples , and oldest!) Alternatively, swipe your EasyCard or Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass and board a river ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭), which only takes about 10 minutes.

The picturesque harbor is one of the most romantic places in Taipei to watch the sunset, especially from aptly named Lover’s Bridge . Read my detailed guide to Tamsui and Fisherman’s Wharf here .

Getting from Taipei to Tamsui: Simply hop on the red MRT line and head to Tamsui station, the terminal stop in the north. For Fisherman’s Wharf, ferries depart from the Tamsui promenade or you can hop on bus 紅26 (red 26), 836 or 857 from in front of the MRT station.

There’s also a new LRT from Hongshulin station (one stop before Tamsui on the red MRT line) to Lover’s Bridge.

North Coast Beaches

One of the many, many reasons to love Taipei is that it is so easy to get to the beach when the season arrives. And even though most locals only go in summer in Taiwan , spring and autumn in Northern Taiwan are usually warm enough, too!

The closest beach to Taipei is Qianshuiwan (淺水灣), only 30 minutes from Danshui by bus. Choose a spot on the long stretch of golden sand, or watch the sunset from a patio at one of the numerous restaurants or bars that line the beach.

Ride the bus 10 minutes further to reach Baishawan (白沙灣), another popular choice that has fewer restaurants and more of a surfer feel to it (though for a true surfing beach, head to Wai Ao, #26 below.

To read more about these and other beaches in the north of Taiwan, see my detailed guide to Taipei’s best beaches and other beautiful beaches around Taiwan .

Getting from Taipei to Qianshuiwan and Baishawan: From Danshui MRT, hop on bus 860, 861, 862, or 863, or the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716), which is included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Get off at Qianshuiwan (大崛/淺水灣) or Baishawan (北觀風景區管理處/白沙灣) stops.

Fuguijiao Lighthouse & Laomei Green Reef

A few minutes’ drive past Baishawan Beach on the North Coast, Fuguijiao (Cape Fugui) is the northernmost point in Taiwan, demarcated by a small lighthouse.

Fuji Fishing Harbor (富基漁港) on the western side of the cape is the place to go for seafood restaurants. Meanwhile, local photographers flock to Laomei Green Reef (老梅綠石槽) on the eastern side of the cape. There a layer of green algae coats rows of coastal rocks in spring, making for stunning photos.

Getting from Taipei to Fuguijiao Lighthouse & Laomei Green Reef: Take any of the buses mentioned for #4, including the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716), which is free with the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass ).

G et off at Fuji Harbor (富基漁港) or Fuguijiao Lighthouse/Laomei Reef (富貴角燈塔/老梅綠石槽) stop.

Temples in the Northern Hills

There are three notable temples in the hills north of Taipei that are each worth a day trip from Taipei. If you’ve got your own wheels, rent a car , or hire a driver , you could even see all three in one day. To read more about these and many other temples in the north of Taiwan, see my list of the 30 best temples in Taipei .

The first is Wuji Tianyuan Temple (淡水無極天元宮). This large, round temple building is reminiscent of the Altar of Heaven in Beijing. But the real reason to come here is for what are arguable the most impressive cherry blossom scenes in all of Taiwan (see photo above) in February and March .

Second (and lesser known) Yuan Dao Guanyin Temple (緣道觀音廟) is a serene, expansive temples grounds that is not going to be a secret for much longer thanks to the recent completion of the world’s largest statue of Thousand-Armed Guayin on site.

Last but not least, Fufudingshan Shell and Coral Temple (富福頂山寺) is a temple in which every surface is built or decorated with shells and corals. It’s really a sight to behold.

Getting from Taipei to the northern temples: For Tianyuan Temple, take bus 875 or F103 from Danshui MRT station for about 30 minutes.

For Yuandao Guanyin Temple, a free shuttle operates from Hongshulin MRT and takes about 20 minutes.

Fufudingshan Shell and Coral Temple is the most difficult to get to. You’ll need to take the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716, included on an Unlimited Fun Pass ) or any other bus to Sanzhi stop (三芝遊客中心 / 名人文物館), then transfer to bus F132, which runs Monday to Friday only, and get off at Er Ping Ding (二坪頂) stop.

Juming Museum

In the hills above Jinshan (see #8 below) on the northeast coast, Juming Museum (朱銘美術館) is an open-air art gallery devoted to Ju Ming , a famous Taiwanese sculptor.

Ju Ming himself designed the grounds and donated 2000 of his own pieces. The artworks are displayed throughout an expansive grassland, surrounded by mountains and with occasional glimpses of the Pacific Ocean below. There is also a large, indoor library and exhibition space on site (see image below).

Entrance to the museum is NTD350, or free if you have a Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (to 5 p.m. November to April ) and closed on Mondays.

Getting from Taipei to Juming Museum: Juming Museum is a stop on the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716), which is included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Jinshan Hot Spring

Jinshan Hot Spring (金山溫泉) is one of the many hot spring villages in the greater Taipei area, and is located on the northeast coast. The town itself features the usual collection of hot spring hotels and spas.

For something really special, though, you’ll want to follow Yangjin Highway (陽金公路 2甲), which heads from Jinshan uphill over Yangmingshan (see #2 above) and all the way to Taipei.

Only a few minutes’ drive up this winding, scenic highway from Jinshan will bring you to Yangmingshan Resort/Calla Young Garden Resort (陽明山水温泉会館金山温泉会館推薦), a hot spring resort with one of the most beautiful views we’ve ever enjoyed from a hot spring.

Natural hot spring lovers will prefer Bayan Hot Spring (see photo above), which I think is the most beautiful wild hot spring that is easy to reach from Taipei. Note that Bayan has been illegal to visit for many years (enforcement was on and off), but recently it seems to be actually closed for good.

Getting from Taipei to Jinshan: There are three stops in Jinshan on the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716), which is included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

You can also take Kuo-Kuang (國光) bus 1815 from Taipei, which takes about 90 minutes. You can board the bus at Songjiang Nanjing MRT, Nanjing Fuxing MRT, Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT, or Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT and swipe with an EasyCard . This bus (and all other buses with 4-digits) are not included on the Unlimited Fun Pass.

The 20-minute trail to Bayan wild hot spring begins beside Bayan Hot Spring Resort (八煙溫泉會館), but be warned that the hot spring is technically off-limits, and police show up periodically to clear out the crowds.

Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei for visiting tourists. The long, thin cape sticks way out into the sea and features dozens of bizarre rock formations. The most famous is Queen’s Head (女王頭), which has become a symbol of Taiwan.

Despite the tourist crowds and long aisle of seafood-focused food stalls you are forced to walk through, Yehliu is a gorgeous coastal park that you should see at least once if you spend any amount of time in Taiwan. You can book your ticket online in advance to save a little time, and Yehliu Geopark is free for Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass holders.

Few tourists to Yehliu realize that Guihou Fish Market , one of the best seafood markets in the greater Taipei area, is just around the corner from Yehliu. Guihou features numerous fresh seafood restaurants facing the harbor, as well as a more traditional seafood market where you can point at what you want and they’ll fry it up for you.

This excellent day tour includes Yehliu and 3 other very popular day trip spots (Jiufen, Shifen, and Golden Waterfall).

Getting there: Yehliu and Guihou Fishing Harbor are the final stops on the Crown Northern Coastline line shuttle bus (#716) from Danshui MRT. Get the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass to ride free.

You can also take KuoKuang (國光) bus 1815 (the same bus for Jinshan, #8 above) from Taipei Bus Station. The ride takes about 90 minutes. Continue on to Jinshan (#8) after you visit, or take one of several buses from Yehliu to Keelung, famous for its night market (see #13 below).

Wanli UFO Village

Another photographer’s magnet on the northern coast of Taiwan is the bizarre UFO village on Wanli beach (萬里海水浴場), another of the best beaches within easy reach of Taipei .

This collection of UFO-like pod house ruins dates back to an experimental housing project in the 1980s. The only thing we’re all wondering is why someone doesn’t fix these things up and transform them into the awesomest hotel in northern Taiwan…

If you have a bit of energy you could even walk from Yehliu (#9) to Wanli. You can find the UFO village at the northern end of the beach.

Getting there: Take the train from Taipei to Keelung (about 40 minutes) then transfer to bus 789, 790, or 862. Get off at Wanli stop (萬里, about 30 minutes). Alternatively, take bus 1815 (the same bus as Jinshan and Yehliu) and get off at Green Bay (翡翠灣) stop.

Taipei Day Trips to the East

Heading east on a day trip from Taipei, you’ve got a few options on the outskirts of the city, followed by Keelung City on the coast.

Next up is a collection of extremely popular day trips on the Pingxi train line (#14 to #18), as well as Jiufen and Jinguashi (#19 and #20), probably the single most popular day trip from Taipei.

Several of these sights can be combined into one day trip if you plan it well. See the orange box below for the most popular route. The easiest way to do this is with this day tour , but it won’t hit all of the stops.

The Most Popular Day Trip from Taipei An extremely popular Taipei day trip is to combine some of the following spots: Yehliu Geopark, Houtong Cat Village, Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall, and Keelung Night Market. In my Taiwan Travel Planning group , people ask me how to do this ALL THE TIME. So, here’s how: – Start early! Ride the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang station. Change to the Pingxi line and ride it to Shifen station for visiting Shifen Waterfall (opens 9 AM). – Ride the train from Shifen back to Houtong for Houtong Cat Village. If you don’t have time for this or want to skip it, just ride back to Ruifang instead (next step). – Ride the train to Ruifang station, exit station, cross road, and walk 1 block to the left to the bus stop. Catch the bus (10 min) to Jiufen Old Street. Most shops open at 10-11 AM. – Optional side trip: ride the same bus past Jiufen to visit Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park and Golden Waterfall. – Catch bus 788 going downhill from Jiufen Old Street to Keelung (50 min). – Optional side trip: Catch a bus from Keelung to Yehliu Geopark (45 min). Note that it closes at 5 PM. – Catch a bus from Yehliu back to Keelung for visiting Keelung Night Market. – Local train from Keelung back to Taipei.

Shenkeng Stinky Tofu Village

Shenkeng (深坑) is a small district of New Taipei City southeast of Taipei City. The name is practically synonymous with Taiwan’s most infamous night market snack: stinky tofu. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it; if you can get past the smell, stinky tofu is surprisingly delicious, and virtually all Taiwanese love it.

You can try stinky tofu in any night market in Taiwan, but Shenkeng Old Street is the country’s epicenter of stinky tofu. Almost every food stall and restaurant on the picturesque old street is devoted to stinky tofu in one form or another. See my self-guided food tour of Shenkeng to navigate your way around.

All the different types are available here, from deep fried cubes served with pickled vegetables to huge hunks stewed in spicy soup. They’ve even got tofu ice cream, fermented tofu, and more. Most stalls and restaurants are open from around noon until 8 p.m., and weekends can get extremely crowded.

To learn about the history of stinky tofu and other Taiwanese foods, check out this excellent book .

Getting to Shenkeng: From Muzha MRT station, cross the street and take bus #660, 666, or 819 for about 15 minutes to Shenkeng stop. You can also take the Muzha Pingxi Shuttle Bus from Muzha station (#795, included on Taipei Unlimited Pass ), which continues on to Shifen and Pingxi.

Shiding: Hiking & Homemade Noodles

Just to the east of Shenkeng is Shiding district (石碇區), a remote, hilly region with a few sights worthy of off-the-beaten-track day trips from Taipei.

For hiking enthusiasts, Huangdidian Trail (皇帝殿山登山步道, pictured above) is one of the most rewarding hikes in the greater Taipei area , featuring an exhilarating mountaintop ridge with spectacular views.

If you’ve got your own wheels, then Shiding Hsu Family Hand Pulled Noodles (石碇許家手工麵線) makes for an offbeat day trip from Taipei. With a bit of luck, this family-run noodle warehouse’s courtyard will be filled with racks of hand-pulled noodles drying in the sun when you arrive. Local families or students can sometimes be seen trying their hand at making the noodles, which is good fun to watch. You can also take a DIY noodle making class there.

If you’re driving to the Shiding Handmade Noodle Factory or taking the bus to the Huangdidian hike, you can stop at Shiding Old Street (石碇老街), a small but picturesque old street beside a creek, along the way.

Getting to Shiding: To get to Huangdidian hike, take bus 666 from Muzha MRT to Huangdidian (皇帝殿) stop, the last one. Confirm with the driver when you board, because not all 666 buses go to Huangdidian. It takes about 45 minutes. You’ll need your own transportation to get to the noodle factory.

Keelung City (基隆市) is Northern Taiwan’s largest port. The city is easily reached from Taipei. It is often overlooked by tourists but makes for a great day trip from Taipei. Here’s my detailed guide to Keelung’s main attractions .

Keelung’s biggest claim to fame is its feasting paradise, Miaokou Night Market (see my guides to Miaokou Night Market and other night markets around Taipei ). The markets runs all afternoon and evening, and specializes in seafood. It is my personal favorite night market in all of Taiwan.

Another spot worth checking out in Keelung is Zhongzheng Park (基隆中正公園), which occupies a large hill overlooking the port. At the peak you’ll find an old-fashioned children’s amusement area complete with Buddhist statues, including a 25-meter white Kuanyin that you can climb up into. Nearby, oversized Zhupu Altar (主普壇) is a center of Ghost Festival activities in summer.

For further exploration, consider a trip to Heping Island (NTD80 or free with Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass ), which is connected to the mainland by a bridge, or remote Keelung Islet , which was reopened in summer of 2019 after being closed for five years. You can also visit Heping Park on this day trip from Taipei .

Getting from Taipei to Keelung: Frequent trains depart from Taipei Main Station to Keelung (40 minutes). Keelung Night Market is a 10-minute walk from the train station. Zhongzheng park is another 10 minutes on foot from there, or a short taxi ride if you don’t want to walk up the hill.

You can also take the Coastal Keelung Shuttle Bus (T99, free with Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass ) from Keelung Station to Keelung Night Market, Zhongzheng Park (you’ll still need to walk up the hill from the bus stop), Heping Island Port, and Bisha Recreational Port, where ferries depart to Keelung Island. All Keelung city buses (except for ones with 4-digit numbers) are also included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass.

Shen’ao Rail Bike

East of Keelung city on the coast, Shen’ao Rail Bike is a fun new attraction. Here, you can ride a small bike car along a decommissioned railway track between Badouzi (a very beautiful coastal railway station) and Shen’ao station.

Most visitors take the bus from Keelung to Badouzi, or ride the Pingxi small train from Ruifang (access to Jiufen Old Street) or Shifen to Badouzi. Around Badouzi, you can visit the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology.

To ride the rail bike one way or return, you need to make an advance booking online here . The minimum age to ride is 3, and two people must ride per car. There are only two seats and each person must cycle.

In the past, people used to walk from Shen’ao Station to Elephant Trunk Rock (深澳岬角), a rock formation that looks very much like an elephant head and trunk, dipping down some 30 meters to the sea. During a storm in December 2023, the whole trunk fell into the sea, so this attraction no longer exists.

If you’re into hiking, you can also combine your visit with a hike to Mt. Shen’ao .

Better yet (because it gets even closer) take the Coastal Keelung Shuttle Bus (T99) from Keelung and get off at Badouzi or Shenai station.The Shuttle bus is included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . The shuttle bus passes Badouzi, the new first stop on the Pingxi railway, before getting to Shen’Ao .

The Pingxi Train Line The Pingxi Railway Line is a small-gauge railway that provides access to a number of the most popular day trips from Taipei. Most people take a bus or train from Taipei to Ruifang Station, then transfer onto the Pingxi Line there. From Ruifang, the train veers inland toward Shifen and Pingxi. More recently, two more stops were added going in the opposite direction from Ruifang, with the new terminal end being Badouzi Station (near Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock, #14 above). Here’s the order of stops on the Pingxi Railway: Badouzi, Haikeguan, Ruifang (where buses depart for Jiufen and Jinguashi and for Taipei), Houtong, Sandiaoling, Shifen, Dahua, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jingtong. The Pingxi train line is not included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . You can swipe on with your EasyCard , but it’s cheaper to buy an unlimited one-day Pingxi Line pass at Ruifang Station for NTD80 if you plan to make a few stops. If you want to use your Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass to get to the area, you can ride the Muzha Pingxi shuttle bus (795) from Muzha MRT to Shenkeng, Shifen, and Pingxi for free. Shifen and Pingxi are also the location of the famous Sky Lantern Mass Release events during the Lantern Festival .

Houtong Cat Village

The first stop after Ruifang on the Pingxi Line is Houtong, also known as Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村). This tiny village is a former mining town turned cat-themed village. Local villages started taking in abandoned cats around 2008 and the idea took off. See my Houtong Cat Village guide for all the details.

After arriving, you can cross a tunnel over the railway (if you look closely, the tunnel is shaped like a cat). You’ll find snoozing feelines before you get to the other size. Besides a handful of cat-themed souvenir shops and cafés, the main thing to do here is walk around and pet all the cats.

Cat lovers should also check out my guide to the best cat cafes in Taipei !

Getting from Taipei to Houtong Cat Village: Both local trains direct from Taipei and the Pingxi line pass through Houtong, making it an easy stop on your day trip from Taipei.

Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail

The next stop after Houtong (both on the Pingxi line and the regular train line before it heads in a different direction than the Pingxi line) is tiny Sandiaoling. Few people get off here, but when they do, it’s usually to hike the Sandiaoling Trail (三貂嶺步道).

The Sandiaoling Waterfall trail is one my favorite hikes around Taipei. It’s not difficult (I took my two toddlers on it), highly scenic, and you have the option to continue further for a more difficult hike.

The hike we usually do is to the first waterfall viewpoint ( Hegu Waterfall or 合谷瀑布) and to a second waterfall ( Motian Falls or 摩天瀑布). Motian waterfall features a cave behind it that you can climb up into for a surreal experience (see me in the picture above).

After Motian Falls the trail becomes more challenging, with a vertical ladder, reaching Pipa Cave Waterfall (枇杷洞瀑布). From there, trails lead to either Houtong or Dahua Staion on the Pingxi Line. We usually just hike to Motian Falls and then return to Sandiaoling station, which takes a couple hours or less.

Getting to Sandiaoling: Sandiaoling is on both the regular train line direct from Taipei and the Pingxi small train line.

Shifen Waterfall and Sky Lanterns

Along with Jiufen (#19), Shifen is probably the most popular day trip from Taipei, and the two are easily combined

See my detailed article on getting from Taipei to Jiufen and Shifen waterfall for all the details and other transportation options.

Shifen is famous for Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), the widest (and many say most beautiful) waterfall in Taiwan.

There is an NTD100 entrance fee to see the falls, and you’ll need to walk about 15 minutes to get to it from Shifen station.

If you’re looking for a less touristy waterfall experience, try Sandiaoling (#16 above) or head two stops past Shifen to Lingjiao for Lingjiao Waterfall (嶺腳瀑布), which you can jump off of if you are brave enough.

Many popular day trip deals include Shifen, such as this one , this one , or this one .

The second reason Shifen has become so popular is because of the train station itself. On this highly atmospheric section of tracks, vendors and food stalls line either side so close that they nearly get hit by the trains when they pass through.

Shifen station has become the de facto place to set off sky lanterns throughout the year (while the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival takes place only once per year, during Lantern Festival 2 weeks after Lunar New Year , usually in February or March , two stops away at Pingxi Station, #18). See more info in my guide to Taiwan’s holidays and festivals .

Releasing a sky lantern from the train tracks at Shifen has become one of the top experiences for numerous visitors to Taiwan, but please note that local hiking and environmental groups have spoken out against this harmful practice.

If you are really into sky lanterns, you may also want to visit the Sky Lantern Police Station at Jingtong, the final stop on the Pingxi railway line. The police station is shaped like a sky lantern and lit up with 200,000 LED lights. You can also enter the building to see it from the inside for NTD150, or free with the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Getting from Taipei to Shifen: There’s a lot of info here, so please see my detailed guide to getting to Shifen waterfall and Jiufen .

Pingxi Crags

Pingxi Station on the railway line named after it is most famous as the site of the annual Pingxi Lantern Festival on the 14th day of the Lunar New Year. However, hikers looking for a serious thrill can head here for the Pingxi Crags hike .

The hike involves ascending three insanely vertical crags that pierce the sky. It isn’t terribly difficult, but it’s terrying if you look down!

Getting to the Pingxi Crags: Take the train from Taipei to Ruifang then transfer to the Pingxi line. Get off at Pingxi Station, walk through the village and cross a bridge to the highway, then follow signs to “Xiao Zi Shan Hiking Trail” (孝子山步道).

You can also get to Pingxi by riding the Muzha Pingxi shuttle bus (795) from Muzha MRT, which is included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

If I had to guess what the single most popular day trip from Taipei is, I would say that it is Jiufen. The mountaintop village is a former gold mining town. In its heyday during Taiwan’s gold rush in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was a huge collection of homes built practically on top of each other.

The mine was later closed and the city went into decline. In the early 2000s it became the new tourist hot spot after a retro film was made there and a (false) rumor began that Miyazaki’s Spirited Away was inspired by the village.

Today’s Jiufen is as atmospheric as it gets, with red lantern-lined staircases snaking up through the village. It’s mega touristy, but its charm is undeniable. You can also sip on tea at iconic Amei teahouse while taking in the magnificent view.

See my guide to the Jiufen here .

Jiufen is included on many day trip tours, such as this one and this one .

Getting to Jiufen: I’ve got so much information about this that I’ve written a whole post on how to get to Jiufen from Taipei or Shifen Waterfall .

Jiufen is on the Gold Fulong Shuttle Bus line (#856), included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park

Only 10 minutes past Jiufen on the bus, Jinsguashi (金瓜石) is definitely worth adding on to your Jiufen trip. This old gold mining facility has been transformed into the Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park.

You can book your admission ticket online here , and the entrance fee is covered by the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Go to Jinguashi to learn about gold mining, touch a huge piece of gold, and even eat ice cream with real gold flakes in it. The views are also incredible, and if you’ve got the time and energy, the park is also the starting point of an excellent hike to Teapot Mountain .

Don’t miss the Golden Waterfall , which is a little ways from the park but worth the side trip. If you only want to see Golden Waterfall, it is included on this excellent shuttle bus deal that also includes Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen.

For more information on all of the above, see my guide to Jiufen and Jinguashi .

Getting to Jinguashi: Take any bus to Jiufen and continue another 10 minutes to Jinguashi Golde Museum stop (金瓜石(黃金博物館)). The bus goes one more stop after this before turning around to head back to Jiufen, Ruifang and/or Taipei.

Jinguashi and Golden Waterfall are also on the Gold Fulong Shuttle Bus line (#856), included on the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Bitoujiao and Longdong

Bitoujiao (鼻頭角) is the second easternmost point in Taiwan. At the tip of the cape rests a picturesque lighthouse, with an even more picturesque path leading to it called Bitoujiao Trail (鼻頭角步道). So beautiful is this path that it has even been called the “Great Wall of Taiwan”.

For an even greater adventure, try hiking the Bitoujiao Cape Trail (鼻頭角稜谷步道), which includes the lighthouse. Budget 2-3 hours for the hike.

Nearby Longdong (龍洞 or Dragon Caves) is northern Taiwan’s adventure sports capital. Activities on offer at this rocky cape include the best scuba diving, rock climbing, and cliff diving in Northern Taiwan.

For cliff diving, you can just show up and do it like we did in the above photo (but exercise extreme caution; the waves can be really rough here). For scuba diving or rock climbing you’ll want to book something before you arrive.

Getting from Taipei to Bitoujiao and Longdong: For Bitoujiao, take the regular train to Ruifang then transfer to the Gold Fulong Beach tourist shuttle bus (#856), which is covered by the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . Get off at Bitou (鼻頭), from where it’s a 25-minute walk.

To reach Longdong, stay on the same bus past Bitoujiao and get off at Longdonggang (Longdong Harbor or龍洞港) stop. Walk to the waterfront, turn right, and follow the road along the cape. When the road ends, continue walking along the rocks around the cape to find the main rock climbing and cliff diving areas.

Fulong Beach

Fulong is arguably Northern Taiwan’s best and most popular beach (see more info in my guide to Northern Taiwan’s best beaches here ). What makes is special is how the beach occupies a thin peninsula that sticks out into the sea, separated from the mainland by the Shuang River. Crossing the bridge over to the beach is a special experience.

Fulong is also known for Hohaiyan Rock Festival , a free music festival that is held on the beach every summer, as well as the ultra impressive Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival (see my kids in photo above), usually held from summer to fall.

Note that there is a NTD100 entry fee for the beach ($10 for kids), which includes the use of showers and changing rooms. If you don’t want to pay, head to the free beach at Fulong, which is in front of the Fulong Seaside Park.

When in town, don’t miss the chance to try a Fulong Bento Box (福隆便當), the most famous lunchbox in all of Taiwan. Fullon chain’s Fulong Hotel is a great, family-friendly hotel suitable for a weekend getaway.

Getting from Taipei to Fulong Beach: Trains from Taipei to Fulong take approximately 60-90 minutes and depart regularly throughout the day.

Alternatively, Fulong is the final stop on the Gold Fulong Tourist Shuttle Bus (#856), free with a Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass , which beans you could also potentially visit Jiufen, Golden Waterfall, or Longdong on the same day.

Caoling Historic Trail

Lonely Planet Taiwan once said, “If you can only do one hike in Taiwan, make it this one.” That is a pretty bold statement, as there are so many incredible hikes in Taiwan, but there’s no denying that the Caoling Historic Trail (草嶺古道) is a spectacular one. The hike takes 3-4 hours to complete, and you can start or finish your hike at Fulong Beach (#22).

The trail was built in 1807 and was once the only route between Danshui and Yilan . The main features of the trail are awesome sea views and slopes covered in silvergrass in November in Taiwan , when it becomes very crowded.

For a more intense hike that includes incredible coastal bluffs and grazing buffalo, you can add the lesser-known Taoyuan Valley Trail (桃源谷步道) to the end of your hike, making for a full day of hiking.

Getting from Taipei to Caoling Historic Trail: You can either start the trail from Fulong on one side, or Dali (a stop on the local train line) on the other side. If you continue on to Taoyuan Valley, you will come out around Daxi train station.

Taipei Day Trips to the South

My recommended day trips from Taipei to the south begin right next to Shenkeng (#11) and Shiding (#12), but I had to draw a line between east and south somewhere!

We begin with Pinglin and Wulai districts of New Taipei City, then head to Yilan County on the east coast of Taiwan , and finally to destinations much further south.

Are you a tea geek, or want to learn more about Taiwan’s unique tea culture ? Then head directly to Pinglin. This district of New Taipei City is home to one of the world’s largest tea museums, and is famous for its delicately melon-flavored Baozhong tea.

Start in Pinglin village, where you can spend some time in Pinglin Tea Museum . Next, hop on a bike and cycle the Beishi Creek Fish Watching Trail (北勢溪觀魚步道) past picturesque tea fields. Before heading back to Taipei, dine at one of several tea-themed restaurants, which specialize in all manner of tea-infused dishes, or check out the town’s little Old Street.

For something really special, head to Shiding Bagua Tea Plantation (石碇八卦茶園), an incredibly beautiful terraced tea plantation with Fei-ts’ui (Feicui) Reservoir in the background (see photo above). The Thousand-Island Lake (千島湖) viewpoint is also nearby.

Getting from Taipei to Pinglin: Take bus 923 or Green 12 from Xindian MRT station in Taipei. The buses run roughly every hour.

Shiding Bagua Tea Plantation and Thousand-Island Lake viewpoint are not easy to get to. If you get off at the right stop on the Xindian to Pinglin bus, you can walk down to them. Alternatively, join this tea-focused day tour from Taipei and don’t worry about how to get there.

Wulai Hot Spring Village

Directly south of Taipei, Wulai district (烏來區), New Taipei City is yet another area that offers an eclectic mix of activities to enjoy on a day trip from Taipei, including hot springs, river tracing, a great day market, and aboriginal culture. See here for my full guide to Wulai District .

In fact, Wulai is the closest aboriginal village to Taipei, home to the Atayal (Taiya) people, famous for their facial tattooing. Arriving at Wulai, you can first peek into the free Wulai Aboriginal Museum before exploring Wulai Old Street , with its countless aboriginal snacks and millet wine ( xiaomijiu or 小米酒).

Next, cross the river and take your pick of the numerous private hot spring facilities (what’s left of the free ones along the river are no longer worth visiting). From there you can either walk or ride the small train to Wulai Falls , the highest in Northern Taiwan at 80 meters. There’s a cable car to the top of the falls, and this is also a great spot to see cherry blossoms in spring.

For those interested in river tracing, one of the best routes in northern Taiwan is found at Jiajiuliao Stream (加九寮溪). It includes an awesome rock waterslide that can’t be missed (yep, that’s me in the photo above!) Make sure to bring appropriate river tracing gear and never go alone.

Getting to Wulai: Bus 849 from Xindian MRT station leaves about once every 15 minutes and takes 45 minutes to reach Wulai Old Street.

For Jiajiuliao Stream stream, get off at Chenggong (成功) stop, walk down the hill and across Jiajiuliao Suspension Bridge. The trail to the river begins a few minutes past the road on the left. You’ll want to walk a ways up the trail before getting into the river.

Wai Ao Beach, Yilan

If you’d like to check out the surf scene in Taiwan, Wai Ao (外澳) in Yilan County is the best place in northern Taiwan (in the south of Taiwan, head to Dulan ).

Wai Ao is a little further away then other Taipei beaches, but if you make the journey, you won’t regret it. The scenery here and view looking out at Turtle Island (Guishan Island or 龜山島) is just a taste of what lies further to the south around Taroko Gorge (#29).

The waves aren’t too wild at Wai Ao, so it’s a great place to learn how to surf. You can rent a board nearby from the shops facing the beach.

Getting from Taipei to Wai Ao: The local train from Taipei to Wai Ao takes about 2 hours. From tiny Wai Ao station, walk to the water and head to the right side of the beach for the surfing area.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs, Yilan

Visiting Jiaoxi (Jiaosi or 礁溪) is my personal favorite of all the things to do in Yilan , and one of the best hot spring towns that is easily accessible from Taipei. Compared to Beitou in Taipei City, it is cheaper and has better choices for public (mixed sex) springs and for kids. Read my detailed guide to Jiaoxi Hot Spring here .

I’ve been to Jiaoxi at least a dozen times, and we almost always go to the same two hot spring spas: Chuan Tang Spa ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) or Art Spa Hotel ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). There are other better places to stay in Jiaoxi, but these have the best hot spring facilities.

Both of them have dozens of different tubs, some with relaxing scents and colorful water. They also have scented steamrooms, play areas for young kids, and Art Spa Hotel even has a tall hot water slide (best for older kids only).

Jiaoxi also has a great easy hiking trail to Wufengqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布), a short taxi ride from town, or the longer and lesser-known (but more beautiful) hike to Yuemeikeng Falls (月眉坑瀑布, pictured above).

Another awesome thing to do in Jiaoxi is eat Japanese food while soaking your feet in hot water, or drink local craft beer (there’s even a green algae one) in Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園).

Getting from Taipei to Jiaoxi: While the train from Taipei to Jiaoxi is more reliable, the bus that departs from the indoor bus terminal at Taipei City Hall MRT is often faster (so long as the traffic isn’t too bad) and unlike the train, you are guaranteed a seat.

Kavalan Distillery, Yilan

Did you know that Taiwan makes some of the best whiskeys in the world? Kavalan Distillery, located in Yilan County , has won gold medals at the World Whiskies Awards for several years running.

Tours of the facility are free, including a whiskey sample at the end. You’ll just have to find your way there! The tours are in Mandarin, but you can contact them to arrange an English tour in advance.

A more interesting option is to make your own bottle of whiskey on this English guided tour . If you’d like to do this but without the tour from Taipei, you can also book it by contacting Kavalan directly. They sometimes take a while to reply.

If you’re in the area and also like beer, don’t miss Jim & Dad’s Brewing Company , which do excellent brews made unique with local, seasonal ingredients.

Getting from Taipei to Kavalan Distillery: If you don’t have your own wheels, your best bet would be to take the bus or train to Yilan station and then hop in a cab (about 20 minutes).

Taroko Gorge, Hualien

You’d have to be a little bit crazy to do this, but it’s possible to do a day trip to Taroko Gorge from Taipei. Taroko Gorge is Taiwan’s premier scenic attraction. You can see my guide to Taroko Gorge here and my guide to other amazing things to do in Hualien County .

It is pretty normal to visit Taroko Gorge in one long day if you’re staying in the area, but adding a 2 to 3-hour train ride EACH WAY from Taipei makes it an extremely long day.

Still, it can be done! If you don’t want to figure out the logistics on your own (and risk the chance of not getting train tickets, arranging transport to Taroko Gorge after you arrive, etc.), this day tour from Taipei has transportation included.

Alternatively, you can forget about trying to get train tickets, and just fly from Taipei to Hualien , then start your Taroko tour from there.

Getting from Taipei to Taroko Gorge: See my guide to Taroko Gorge for all the details.

Lion’s Head Mountain

Hopping from the east coast over to the west coast of Taiwan, Lion’s Head Mountain (Shitoushan or 獅頭山) will appeal to those looking to get off the beaten track and have a little adventure getting there. See my guide to Lion’s Head Mountain here .

Lion’s Head Mountain is a small mountain covered in Buddhist and Taoist cave temples connected by a network of hiking trails. The mountain straddles Hsinchu and Miaoli counties.

Nearby Nanzhuang has an atmospheric Old Street in Hakka country.

Getting from Taipei to Lion’s Head Mountain: Plan for a long day getting there and back, which can include a fantastic scooter ride or a few buses. See all the details in my full guide to Lion’s Head Mountain linked above.

Miaoli County

Miaoli County (苗栗縣) is the kind of place you go after you’ve been everywhere else in Taiwan, and it becomes your new favorite.

Internationally recognized for its “slow living, slow travel” towns, Miaoli is a predominantly Hakka county. It’s best to have your own wheels to explore its various attractions, but if you are determined, you can visit most of them by public transport as well, even as day trips from Taipei.

Some of the most popular attractions in Miaoli include strawberry picking at Dahu (see photo of my daughter above), Tai’An hot spring , Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum , Remains of Longteng Bridge , and Flying Cow Ranch .

Getting from Taipei to Miaoli: Regular trains, buses, and the high speed rail provide access to Miaoli, but you’ll have to look up transportation for each sight on consult my guide to Miaoli .

Taichung & Sun Moon Lake

Taichung (台中) is Taiwan’s second largest city by population (after New Taipei City), and is becoming an increasingly popular destination for visitors thanks to its unique museums, great dining choices, and art-oriented attractions.

Only two hours by train/bus, or one hour on the high speed rail from Taipei, it is perfectly feasible to do a day trip to Taichung from Taipei.

Some of the top sights in Taichung include Rainbow Village , 921 Earthquake Museum , Feng Chia Night Market , and more. See my guide to Taichung for more details.

If you end up staying longer in Taichung, also see my articles on how to plan a Taichung itinerary and the best day trips from Taichung .

Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) is one of Taiwan’s most famous attractions. It’s actually in Nantou County, but most people get there from Taichung. Although it’s best to stay overnight at Sun Moon Lake, it can be done as a day trip from Taichung , and if you really want to squeeze it in, as a day trip from Taipei.

See my full guide to Sun Moon Lake , as well as my article on the best Sun Moon Lake tours , whether to get the Sun Moon Lake Pass , and Sun Moon Lake tea .

Getting from Taipei to Taichung and Sun Moon Lake: Regular buses and trains connect Taipei to Taichung station. Taichung’s High Speed Rail station is a little out of the town center, but can be convenient for reaching certain attractions.

The shuttle bus from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake takes around 90 minutes, while Kuo-Kuang bus 1833 travels several times per day from Taipei Bus Station directly to Sun Moon Lake (about 4 hours).

Alishan (阿里山) is Taiwan’s most popular mountain resort. It is famous for its high mountain teas, the Alishan Forest Railway, ancient trees, and sunrises over seas of clouds. See my detailed guide to Alishan and surrounding areas .

Like Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake, it is a little crazy to do Alishan as a day trip from Taipei, but it is certainly possible. All you have to do is start really early, and consult my detailed guide to getting from Taipei to Alishan .

One problem with this is that it will be impossible to see the sunrise without spending the night at Alishan. But one solution is that you can take an overnight bus from Taipei to Alishan, which gets there early enough to catch the sunrise.

Getting from Taipei to Alishan: See my detailed Alishan transportation guide for all the juicy details. Here’s the link for the overnight bus from Taipei to Alishan , which departs Taipei Bus Station once per week on Friday evening only and takes about 6 hours.

Taipei Day Trips to the West

Heading west on a day trip from Taipei, culture lovers are going to find the most possibilities, from fascinating temples to pottery towns, while going a little further will bring you to fishing harbors and natural attractions, not to mention Northern Taiwan’s most famous amusement park.

At the last stop, we will come full circle at Bali on the Northwest coast, across the river from Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Danshui.

Banqiao and Xinzhuang

These two dense suburbs of New Taipei City are looked over by most tourists. However, having lived in Banqiao (板橋) for five years and Xinzhuang (新莊) for six years, I think they are worth visiting for anyone who’s got a little more time in Taiwan or wants to get off the beaten track!

Banqiao is the seat of the New Taipei City government, and feels as developed as Taipei. If you happen to be in town during Christmas, don’t miss Christmasland , the over-the-top Christmas lights display at Banqiao Station Plaza. Other notable sights in Banqiao include the Lin Family Mansion (entrance fee covered by Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass ), Nanya Night Market , and 435 Art District .

When I first moved to Xinzhuang to live with my wife’s family, there was no MRT access, so it really felt far away from (and more traditional than) Taipei. The yellow branch of the MRT opened it up a little, but it still has a crustier edge to it.

One reason to make the journey would be to visit Xinzhuang Temple Street (pictured above), a street with a handful of temples that predate even some of the oldest in Taipei. In the evening, the street is closed off to traffic and becomes a night market. See more details in my guide to the best night markets around Taipei .

Near Xinzhuang Temle Street, picturesque, pedestrian only Crescent Bridge (新月橋) connects Xinzhuang to Banqiao a few steps away from 435 Art District, meaning you can easily visit both districts in one day.

Getting from Taipei to Banqiao and Xinzhuang: Banqiao station is on the blue MRT line and also has a train and HSR station. Xinzhuang is on the yellow line and takes slightly longer to reach from the city center.

Going further west into New Taipei city, Sanxia district (Sansia, Sanhsia or 三峽) is famous for Sanxia Old Street , a beautifully restored street of red brick buildings.

Besides exploring the Old Street and doing some serious snacking, you can’t miss Qingshui Zushi Temple (清水祖師廟), one of the most beautiful temples in Northern Taiwan .

It makes sense to combine a trip to Sanxia with Yingge, which is a short taxi ride away.

Sanxia District is also home to what is perhaps the most notorious hike in the greater Taipei area: Wuliaojian Trail (五寮尖). The hike features heartstopping terrain such as rope ladders straddling vertical cliffs, mountain-top ridges, and more.

No equipment or expertise is needed beyond basic trekking experience, but this is definitely a thrilling hike that adventure lovers (like my happy little crew of friends above) can’t miss!

Getting from Taipei to Sanxia: There are numerous buses to Sanxia depending on where you are coming from in Taipei. Use GoogleMaps for this one! Taxis from Sanxia to Yingge only take about 10 minutes.

Yingge Pottery Street

Sanxia’s neighbor, Yingge (鶯歌) is Taiwan’s undisputed center of pottery. The Yinngge Old Street (also known as Yingge Ceramics Street) has literally hundreds of shops and studios devoted to pottery and ceramics. See my guide to Yingge Pottery Street here .

You can find anything here, from cheap functional ware and tea sets to stunning artwork. The Yingge Ceramics Museum (新北市立鶯歌陶瓷博物館) is one of the best museums in Taiwan, and there are a few historic kilns in town that you can enter.

Getting from Taipei to Yingge: Regular trains from Taipei to Yingge take 20-35 minutes and depart frequently. If you’ve got the energy, you can also hire a bike at the Xinzhuang side of Crescent Bridge (see #34) and cycle to Yingge in about 30 minutes.

Daxi District, Taoyuan

Taoyuan, known mainly to outsiders for the Taoyuan International Airport, is almost totally ignored by international visitors. It isn’t all just urban sprawl though; there are certainly some attractions that are worth the day trip from Taipei, and parts of Taoyuan are known for their Hakka culture (see my Taoyuan city guide for more info).

Daxi district (大溪區, not to be confused with Daxi village on the east coast, see #23) has a handful of such attractions. Start with Daxi Old Street , which is especially known for its dried tofu (豆乾). Hakka dishes can also be sampled there.

Next, Cihu Mausoleum (慈湖陵寝) is one of the country’s most bizarre museums. Near the mausoleum where Chiang Kai-shek, the former ruler of Taiwan, is interred, hundreds of old Chiang Kai-shek statues from all over Taiwan have been placed in an expansive field.

Shimen Reservoir (石門水庫) is yet another great sight in the area. Along with Feicui Reservoir in Pinglin (#24), the reservoir provides water to millions of people in Taipei and Northern Taiwan. The reservoir is quite beautiful, and many locals like to visit after heavy rains to see water shooting out from certain spots in the dam.

Longtan District (龍潭) is yet another place worth visiting, where you can check out Window on World Theme Park (小人國主題樂園), the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame (棒球名人堂), biking trails around Longtan Lake, and the many seafood restaurants on Fish Street (活魚街). Thank you to a reader who lives in Longtan for making these last few suggestions!

Last but not least, the Xiao Wulai Waterfall and Sky Walk (小烏來瀑布/小烏來天空步道, photo above with my son) nearby is worth the trip if you’ve got your own wheels. It’s in Taoyuan’s Fuxing district, but near the above-mentioned sights in Daxi District.

Getting from Taipei to Daxi: It’s tough but possible to fit the first three sights into one day-trip from Taipei by public transportation.

For Daxi Old Street, take the regular train from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan then transfer to bus 5096 to Daxi. Alternatively, take the MRT to Yongning Station then hop on bus 710, which takes 30-40 min to reach Daxi Old Street.

From Daxi, you can get to Cihu Mausoleum and Shimen Reservoir on Zhongli Bus 501 (you’ll need to head in different directions from Daxi for each one). The bus only runs about once per hour.

Leofoo Village Amusement Park

Leofoo Village (Liufu Cun or 六福村) in Hsinchu County is possibly the most popular amusement parks in Taiwan , and definitely the easiest one to get to from Taipei.

What began as a wildlife safari has now expanded to include four themed areas with 60+ rides, a large water park, and Leofoo Resort ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), a hotel with rooms overlooking giraffes and other large animals. Besides the safari train still in operation, the park has one of only 300 white tigers in the world.

Make sure to buy your Leofoo Village theme park ticket online for a huge discount, or this deal that includes the shuttle bus from Taipei .

Getting from Taipei to Leofoo Village: This deal includes entrance ticket plus transportation from Taipei Main Station and Ximending, or this one includes entrance and the shuttle bus from Jingan, Songshan Airport, or Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT).

Yong An Fishing Harbor

Seafood lovers looking for another totally off-the-beaten-track day trip from Taipei can head to YongAn Fishing Harbor (永安漁港) on the coast of Taoyuan.

Like so many other fishing markets in Taiwan, you will be greeted with seemingly unlimited seafood choices, any of which you can purchase and have prepared for you at numerous restaurants on site.

There’s also a lovely pier and colorful (if a little run down) pedestrian bridge. But the real beauty of this spot is that I can almost guarantee you will be the only foreign visitor when you go.

Getting to Yong An Fishing Harbor: The downside is that it’s not super easy to get here by public transportation. Start by taking the regular train from Taipei to Zhongli in Taoyuan, then board Taoyuan bus 505 to Yong An Harbor.

Congratulations if you’ve read this far! For the final entry, we are going not to Bali—not the tropical island in Indonesia, but Bali district (八里區), New Taipei City, Taiwan.

While just about every tourist in Taiwan has Danshui (#3) on their radar, few realize that there is a similar promenade on the other side of the river, called Bali Old Street (八里渡船頭老街). There you’ll find all kinds of delicious treats and great views, minus the foreign tourists (but still lots of local ones).

Bali is dominated by Guanyin Mountain (觀音山), part of the same massif as Yangming Mountain (#2) across the river. The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology is also located in Bali and the entrance fee is covered by the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass .

Getting from Taipei to Bali: The easiest way is to start your day at Danshui, then take one of the regular ferries across the river. You can even swipe your EasyCard or to board the ferry.

Well, you deserve a pat on the back if you’ve read all the way to here. I’d love to hear what your favorite day trips from Taipei are, so please comment below if I missed your favorite one!

Related Posts

7 thoughts on “40 Day Trips from Taipei You Can’t Miss”

We’re planning a trip to Taipei and we’re super excited.

We want to do a day trip to Yehliu, Shifen and Juifen. We’re considering hiring a driver since we’d love to see Juifen at night.

Another option we’re considering is using the Unlimited Fun Pass to get to these spots during the day and then at night say 6 or 7pm take a taxi back to Taipei. Would it be possible to get a taxi in Juifen at night? Or do things die down quite a bit as the sun sets?

Hey Ruan, thanks for your message and questions! One good thing to note is that the sun goes down quite early in Taiwan (usually 5:30 or so), and things tend to stay very alive in the evening. 100% safe as well! Jiufen is busiest during the day, but it’s such a popular place that there can still be quite a few people after dark. One option you didn’t mention is taking the bus back from Jiufen after dark, either from Jiufen to Ruifang for the train, or the bus all the way back to Taipei. The buses run late, and this is certain a doable option. Hiring a driver for the day is a decent way to hit all three spots in a day and not have to worry about catching buses, if you don’t mind the cost. If you decide to grab a cab from Jiufen at the end of the day, I’m pretty certain they will be easy to find even around that time. It would be a little pricey if you caught it all the way back to Taipei, but I can also understand the feeling of just wanting to sit in a quiet car at the end of a long day.

Hello, thanks to some new bus routes(actually they have operated for more than two years) now it’s super easy to get to Daxi and some other places in Taoyuan City. First, you take MRT to Dingpu on blue line, it takes about 20 minutes from Taipei Main Station, after that, you take bus no.710 and you will arrive at the old Street in 30 to 40 minutes. As you can see on the map, MRT Dingpu station is just next to a Interchange of Freeway no.3. Therefore, several new bus routes started services these days and made Dingpu station like a little hub for passengers who want to go to Taoyuan city. Bus no.709 for Longtan/Pingzhen District, 710 for Daxi, 712 to Longtan as well, 713/715 to different parts of Bade District. Also, I have to correct that Daxi is not a typical Hakka area. Although Taoyuan City is famous for Hakka culture. However the Hakka people mainly live in southern Taoyuan. Taoyuan City actually divided into three parts when it comes to ethnic groups. Northern Taoyuan(Hoklo/Hokkien/Minnan): Taoyuan, Bade, Guishan, Luzhu, Daxi, Dayuan, Southern Taoyuan(Hakka): Zhongli, Pingzhen, Yangmei, Longtan, Guanyin, Xinwu and lots of aboriginals live in Fuxing. Hence, I would say Daxi is a place for dried Tofu(really tasty!) instead of Hakka cuisine. It doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy Hakka dishes there but there are better places for that in my opinion. And again, the phenomenon shows how diverse and complicated the small island Taiwan is. I live in Longtan, where Taoyuan Hakka Culture Hall located, as well as several bike paths near Longtan Lake, Window on China, Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame and a part of Shihmen Reservoir. People often have fish dishes when they visit the reservoir and we even have a street called “fish street(活魚街)” because there are so many restaurants on the street! Longtan really has to be on the list and I could write a introduction for my hometown if you think it can be on the list, too.

Thank you so much for this useful local information! I have added some of your suggestions to the article, so hopefully more visitors will be inspired to visit Taoyuan! Sorry about my slow response here, and thanks again!

Sorry, it should be Yongning Station, not Dingpu. What I really wanted to say is take a MRT train head for Dingpu and get off at Yongning Station.

Great blog – super helpful!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

• Work with Me
• Start a Blog
• Yearly Roundups
• 101 in 1001 Goals
• how to start a travel blog
• tips for new bloggers
• write me a guest post!
• Work With Me

A Passion and A Passport

Proving Travel is Possible with a Full-Time 9-5

10+ Perfect Day Trips from Taipei

last Updated: January 13, 2022 Taipei Taiwan

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Headed to Taiwan and looking to spend a few days outta the busy city?!  Well keep on reading my adventurous friend, because I’ve rounded up the best day trips from Taipei. After reading this article, you’ll wanna add a few extra days to your Taipei itinerary , I can promise you that!

You might think Taipei has everything you could possibly want – there’s food (think pineapple cake and xiao long bao, yum), culture, and plenty of scenic views (don’t miss a hike up Elephant Mountain), but there’s actually a lot more outside the capital city of Taiwan. Although Taipei is a great starting point and makes a fantastic base for your trip when visiting Taiwan, you’d be missing out on a whole lot of the country if you spend your entire time here!

Fortunately, there are a number of amazing day trips from Taipei, and being only a couple hours outside of the city, you’d be silly not to check them out. From eating your way through the best Taiwanese street food in Keelung to surfing on a black sand beach in Yilan (you heard me right!), to discovering some of the best hikes in Yangmingshan and exploring the history and culture of Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan, there’s a lot to offer and something for everyone on these Taipei day trips.

You might even feel like you’ve been transported to another country entirely after putting some of these trips on your itinerary. The hardest part will be deciding which ones to take if you’re short on time! The good news is, you really can’t go wrong with any of these, and I can personally vouch that all of them are worth a visit.

Psst: this is a guest post by Melissa over at Wit and Folly ! She’s actually lived in Taiwan (and took plenty of day trips from Taipei over the course of her stay), so is waaaay more qualified to write this post than I am! And lucky us – she’s just as wordy as I always seem to be, so there’s tons of valuable info in here for us (I’ll surely be using her tips next time I visit the country!).

And now, without further ado – the very best day trips from Taipei, best explored on your own or on a guided tour if you prefer to let someone else cover logistics and transportation (more details below).

Before we get into the specific Taipei day trips, it’s important to note that many of these day trips from Taipei can be arranged via private driver! This takes away the hassle of figuring out the possible stresses of the day, and lets you fully enjoy the experience instead. On this private charter , you can decide on 5 scenic spots near Taipei to visit – transportation and logistics taken care of! 

Best Day Trips from Taipei (as suggested by a local) :

1. beitou hot springs.

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 8 miles / 13km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT : 40 minutes
• How to get there : Take the Red MRT Line from any station in Taipei and ride to Beitou Station. Transfer at Beitou Station for the Pink MRT Line one stop and get off at Xinbeitou Station. Follow signs for Beitou Hot Springs. Or just sign up for this tour and get whisked away to the hot springs in no time.
• Activities you can’t miss: Soaking in one of the many hot springs available here, checking out Thermal Valley, and learning more about the Taiwanese hot spring culture with a visit to Beitou Hot Springs Museum

Did you know that one of the quintessential pastimes of Taiwanese locals is spending the afternoon soaking in hot springs? I always make it a point to head straight to Beitou after landing in Taipei to relax and unwind after the long plane journey, and I highly recommend it to you as well!

Beitou Hot Springs can be conveniently visited by taking the red line on the MRT to Beitou Station, and then transferring one stop to XinBeitou Station on the pink line. Although only less than an hour from Taipei Main Station, the Beitou Hot Springs area will feel as if you’ve stumbled upon a quaint, mountainous resort town that’s entirely secluded from the rest of the city. Besides spending a day soaking in the hot springs, there’s actually a lot of other great attractions here too.

One of the most famous attractions and landmark sights in Beitou Hot Springs is the Thermal Valley (also known as Hell Valley). As its name suggests, this volcanic crater is filled with boiling hot, sulfuric hot spring water that smells a bit like rotten eggs. And fun fact – back in the day, locals would actually come here to boil eggs to eat for breakfast! Although that’s no longer allowed due to safety reasons, it’s still a cool place to see and learn more about the hot spring culture in the area.

Another great stop to learn more about the history of the hot springs is at the Beitou Hot Springs Museum. The museum, which is free to visit, was actually the first original public hot spring bath in Beitou. It’s quite fascinating to walk through the museum and imagine what it might have been like to bathe in the hot springs here back in the day!

When you visit Beitou Hot Springs, you might be overwhelmed by the number of hot spring bath choices available, which range from the super cheap public baths that all the locals love, to the luxurious 5 star resorts when you really want to treat yo’self. For more details on the different types of hot springs available and in depth information on visiting Beitou Hot Springs in general, then check out the article here for more information on things to do in Beitou and the best hot springs to visit!

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 13 miles / 21 km
• Travel time using Taipei MRT : About 40 minutes
• How to get there: Take the Red MRT Line from any station in Taipei and ride it all the way to the end – depart at Tamsui stop
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Head to Fort San Domingo, take a ferry ride across the Tamsui River, & watch the sunset while snacking on seafood at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf by Lovers Bridge. Later, stuff your belly and try to win yourself a stuffed Pikachu at the Tamsui Night Market.
• Special Foods to Try: To experience Tamsui like a true local, try Ah Gei (fried tofu stuffed with green bean noodles), fish balls, and iron eggs.

What’s better than a night market full of delicious food, fun carnival games, and the chance to eat a bowl of fishball soup while watching a beautiful sunset? There’s really nothing that tops it (and trust me when I say fish ball soup is way better than it sounds)!

Tamsui is one of the most popular and easiest day trips you can make from the center of Taipei. All you have to do to get to this relaxing riverside city is to hop on the Red MRT Line from any location in the city and ride it until the end. It’s about a 40 minute ride from Taipei Main Station and just under an hour if you start your trip from Taipei 101.

Begin your trip with a little bit of history at Fort San Domingo. The original fort was built by the Spanish in 1628 when they occupied Northern Taiwan, but the red stone fort that you see now was actually built by the Dutch in 1744 after they won a war against the Spanish.

Next up, take a short ferry ride (round trip ferry ride is only TWD 45 or about $1.50 USD) across Tamsui River to Bali Old Street, where you can explore the local shops and have some appetizers before the real feasting begins at night! You can also rent a bike and take a leisurely ride along the many bike paths on this side of the river.

Right before dusk, head back to Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets you can find around Taipei before ending your day at the epic Tamsui Night Market! Try your hand at some of the carnival games while snacking on some local cuisine. Even if it doesn’t look the most appetizing, you really have to try the fish ball soup and Ah Gei (fried tofu stuffed with green bean noodles) at the night market. My boyfriend’s family in Taiwan swears by this stuff, and it’s what Tamsui is known for!

3. JIUFEN (JIOUFEN)

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 24 miles / 38km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT: 1.5 hours
• How to get there: Take the MRT Blue line to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Exit 1, then take bus 1062 to Jiufen Old Street Station. This guided tour of Jiufen and the northeastern coast is the pefect day.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Seeing all the lanterns light up Jiufen Old Street and getting tea at the famous A-Mei Teahouse.
• Special Foods to Try: EVERYTHING. But seriously, Jiufen is known for its distinct Taiwanese snacks, so try as much as your stomach can handle! My favorites are the Coffee Nougat Cookies, A-zhu Peanut Ice Cream Rolls, and Taro Ball Soup!

One of the most popular day trips from Taipei will take you back into a nostalgic past of narrow little alleyways lined with stalls and old traditional teahouses. If you’re a fan of Miyazaki films like me, or you just love trying new and delicious foods (NOM), then you’ll understand what makes Jiufen such a popular destination to visit.

Jiufen used to be a prosperous gold mining town set in the Northeast mountains of Taiwan, and its maze of tiny alleyways packed with teahouses and glowing red lanterns literally transports you into Miyazaki’s world of Spirited Away. (Although Mr.Miyazaki himself has denied that his movie was inspired by the town of Jiufen… the red lantern-lined streets and old multi-story teahouse, especially at night, look eerily similar to the ghost village of Spirited Away! You’ll have to see for yourself when you get to Jiufen, of course, but I think the similarities are way more than coincidence).

It can get quite crowded during the day (like, imagine standing elbow to elbow with many strangers on the narrow streets), but come back out at night, and you’ll really feel like you’re caught between the line of realism and fantasy. Most of the stores and food stalls close at 7pm, so that’s when the tour buses and tourists head back. While strolling through the narrow lanes after dusk, I could almost imagine No Name peeking behind one of the corners.

Although Jiufen is quite a small town, it’s one of those places where you could end up spending hours just wandering around and exploring every little alleway. The number of food stalls is astounding, and as Jiufen is known for some of the best and most unique Taiwanese snacks, come with an empty stomach and an open mind! 

I’d also recommend getting afternoon tea at one of the many teahouses. A-Mei Teahouse, a picturesque multi-story building that looks like it came straight out of Spirited Away, is undeniably the most popular spot. With a prime location just off the main Jiufen Old Street and perched atop a hill, it offers beautiful sweeping views of the mountains and ocean along the horizon. If you’d rather drink your tea in peace without the crowds though, there are many other options around. But if you just have to live out your Spirited Away dream (no judgment here, I totally did), then I’d recommend booking in advance via A-Mei Teahouse Fast Track .

Other good options on your Jiufen day trip include learning more about Jiufen’s history as an old mining town with a visit to the Jiufen Gold Ore Museum, or if you’re more into nature, then take a hike up Keelung Mountain for stunning panoramic views of the city below.

4. KEELUNG NIGHT MARKET

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 16 miles / 26km 
• Travel time by bus: about 50 minutes 
• How to get there: the easiest way is by the Kuo-Kuang Coach bus from Taipei Main Station and is TWD 55 ($1.80 USD) one way. Once you’re at Taipei Main Station, take exit 3 and follow the signs for Taipei Bus Station.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: the Keelung Night Market
• Special Foods to Try: My favorites here are the stewed pork knuckle with shrimp chowder and the pao-pao ice!

Not far from Jiufen is the port city of Keelung, known for the Keelung Miaokou Night market. This night market is considered by many Taiwanese to be the best one on the entire island, and for a society that is obsessed with night markets, that definitely means something!

The Keelung Night Market is so famous and highly regarded because of the care that each vendor takes with preparing their food. Most of them have worked at the same stall for many generations which allows them to perfect their recipes over and over again. Just think about it like eating a home cooked meal from Grandma!

The best part is that like any night market in Taiwan, the food here is incredibly cheap, so you can try as many dishes as you want! Some of the most popular dishes include:

• Stall #5: Crab thick soup with a side of sticky rice
• Stall #6: Rice noodle soup with seafood side dishes
• Stall #8: Stir fried swordfish rice
• Stall #22: Stewed pork knuckle with shrimp chowder
• Stall #41: Chenji pao-pao ice

(Here is the full list in case you want to look at the other places too)

Even though the night market is the main attraction, there are still a lot of things to do in the area. If you make an entire day out of your visit,  it’s also worth checking out Keelung Zhenbin Fishing Port for its colorful buildings and the scenic oceanside Chaojing Park.

Many people like to visit Keelung Night Market for dinner after exploring Jiufen. Since transportation is a little trickier, especially with how busy Jiufen can get, I recommend joining a tour.

5. SHIFEN and PINGXI

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 22 miles / 35km
• Travel time by bus: 1.5 hours
• How to get there by train: Take the 4154 towards Su Ao and transfer at Badu Station for the 4710 towards Jingtong. Get off at Shifen Station. From Shifen Station to Pingxi Station, take the same 4710 towards Jingtong and alight at Pingxi Station.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Shifen Waterfall – one of the most scenic waterfalls in Taiwan, and lighting up paper lanterns in Pingxi to release into the sky
• Special Foods to Try: LiouGe BBQ Stuffed Wings

Like Jiufen, Shifen is another small mining town and a great day trip from Taipei with old world charm and the added bonus of a beautiful waterfall only 20 minutes away by foot. The railway line from the train you take actually runs right through Shifen Old Street with little shops on both sides of the tracks, giving the town an even more enclosed and intimate feel.

It’s quite an interesting feeling being able to run across the tracks right in the middle of town. You’ll find numerous stalls selling souvenirs, crafts, and of course, food. If you’re feeling hungry, definitely try LiouGe’s BBQ Stuffed Wings, which are tender, deboned chicken wings stuffed with rice, and slathered with a delicious homemade bbq sauce. (I’m salivating right now just thinking of them!)

Once you’ve explored enough of Shifen Old Street, head over to Shifen Waterfall, which is a  20 minute walk from the train station. With the lush foliage all around, the cascading falls are truly a picturesque sight to behold. There are also several viewing platforms all around the falls for you to capture plenty of stunning photos.

You’ll also notice that there are many shops selling sky lanterns in Shifen with people writing personal messages on the lanterns’ sides and taking them to the tracks to release them into the sky. Although you can light and release lanterns here in Shifen, I recommend getting back on the train and stopping at Pingxi just 10 minutes away, where it’s often less crowded to set your sky lantern into the air.

If you’re lucky enough to be here around Chinese New Year, then you’ll be in for a real treat when massive crowds of people gather together in Pingxi to release their lanterns simultaneously in celebration of the new year. This Sky Lantern Festival is truly a magical sight to behold, with thousands of lanterns lighting up the night sky, all inscribed with personal messages and prayers in hopes that their wishes will reach the heavens. What better way to end your evening?

6. SANDIAOLING WATERFALL TRAIL

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 25 miles / 40 km
• Travel time by train: about 1 hour 
• How to get there: the easiest way is to take the local train from Taipei Main Station to Suao (Yilan County) and get off at Sandiaoling Station. Once you are at Taipei Main Station, follow the signs to TRA ticketing to buy local train tickets. The staff are all very friendly so you can just tell them where you want to go. Keep in mind there is 1 train that leaves every hour.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: bird watching for the Formosan Blue Magpie and the views of Motian and Pipa-Dong Falls from up close.

This is my favorite day trip hike to go on, and I try to do it every time I’m in Taipei. Just a short train ride from Taipei, you will be transported to a sleepy town with a lush tree canopy, little to no tourists, and a chance to see the beautiful Formosan Blue Magpie (the bird of Taiwan) flying gracefully. You’ll also see three beautiful waterfalls on the hike, making it well worth the effort! 

The hike itself is a combination of stairs, hiking trails, and a couple of steep climbing sections (don’t worry, there are ropes on the side to hold onto!). Most people should be able to complete it without any difficulty, and if you are afraid of heights or don’t want to keep climbing up, you can always turn around. It can get pretty muddy, though, so make sure to wear a good quality pair of hiking shoes or at least shoes you don’t care about.

The three waterfalls you will see on the hike are Hegu Falls, Motian Falls, and Pipa-Dong Falls. If it’s hot out and you want to cool off, you can actually get very close to Motian and Pipa-Dong Falls. Just be careful, though! The first time that I went here with my friends, one of them accidently slipped on a rock and fell into the water! It was November, so he was pretty cold the rest of the trip.

Shifen and Pingxi are just a few train stops away, so you can stop by before heading back to Taipei if you have time.

7. HOUTONG CAT VILLAGE

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 24 miles / 39km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT: about 50 minutes
• How to get there: Take the Yilan line all the way down to Houtong. A one way ticket is 50 TWD ($1.70 USD), and there’s usually a train every half hour during the day, with the last train back to Taipei at 9pm.
• Activities you can’t miss: Seeing how many cats you can spot throughout the village!

Full Disclosure: I love cats. If it wasn’t for meeting Tom, I’d probably have grown up to be one of those crazy cat lady types. If you also have an affinity for cats and are happy just being surrounded by them, then a day trip to Houtong Cat Village would be purrfect for you.

This former coal mining village is located in the hills of northern Taiwan alongside the Keelung River. The village was all but abandoned back in the 90’s when the mining pit closed, but one lady in 2008 helped revive it when she started posting photos of the villagers looking after stray cats. Her photos caught the attention of visitors, volunteers who came to help, and the addition of more cats; two years later, the former mining town was able to completely transform itself into a total cat village.

Once you step off the train at Houtong, you’ll immediately know you’ve made it to the right place. Walk across the black covered “cat bridge”, and you’ll be welcomed by cats of all colors, shapes and sizes, some spread out lazily on the sidewalks, others napping on rooftops or loafing atop cottage balconies. It’d be good to mention that these cats are strays and therefore still wild animals, but they’ve become so used to all the human attention and food by the villagers that most don’t even bat an eye when you approach them.

After you’ve had your fair share of selfies with your new feline friends, you can head over to one of the many cat-themed cafes for a bite to eat. Make sure to stop by one of the souvenir shops to take home some cat-inspired gifts back as well. They have everything under the sun, ranging from cat mugs to cat socks, and even cat-shaped pineapple cakes!

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 191 miles / 308km
• Travel Time using HSR (high speed rail) Train: 1 hr 45 mins
• How to get there: The easiest and quickest way is via HSR train from Taipei Main Station. It’s 1350 TWD (or $45 USD) for a one way ticket.
• Activities you can’t miss: The hauntingly beautiful Angping Treehouse, the historical significance of Angping Fort (Fort Zeelandia), food on Angping Old Street (Yangping Street), and explore one of the creative parks (Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park and Ten Drum Rende Creative Park)
• Special Foods to Try: As the unofficial food capital of Taiwan and “the city of Snacks”, there are so many authentic dishes to try, from Danzai Mian (minced meat noodles), Milkfish Soup, Guancai Bun (Coffin Bread), Rouzao Fan (minced pork over rice), Mua Gui (glutinous rice cake with pork), and of course, an original bubble tea.

As the oldest and 5th largest city in Taiwan, Tainan might just be one of Taiwan’s best hidden gems. Taking the high speed rail from Taipei makes the journey to Tainan just under two hours, and the city’s attractions are all relatively close to each other, making it an easy and fantastic day trip from Taipei.

The first thing you’ll notice about Tainan is that it has a slower-paced and more laid back vibe compared to Taipei, and its charming old-school streets offer a glimpse into a city steeped with rich history. Tainan holds a lot of historical significance too, having been Taiwan’s capital for 200 years under the Koxinga and Qing Dynasty rule. 

Start your day with a visit to Angping Treehouse, one of the most popular attractions in Tainan, and for good reason. You’ll feel as if you’ve been transported into a fairytale world totally separate from the rest of the city. What once was an old abandoned warehouse has now been completely overtaken by a huge Banyan Tree, with its roots criss crossing and completely covering the floors, walls and roof of the building. It’s pretty amazing to wander through this literal treehouse, and I was completely awe-struck by the sheer size and power that nature can command.

Near Angping Treehouse is Angping Fort, formerly known as Fort Zeelandia. If you’re interested in the past history of the Dutch colonisation of Taiwan, then definitely check out the remnants of the fortress and museum to learn more about the important historical events and Dutch influence during their occupation in the 1600s. After that, head over to Angping Old Street to grab an original bubble tea in the city that started the worldwide craze, as well as try other authentic Taiwanese snacks that originated from here.

If you’re overwhelmed by the number of food options, I suggest starting with Guancai Ban (Coffin Bread- sorta like an Asian version of chicken pot pie), Oyster Pancake, and Rouzao Fan (an addictive yet simple dish of minced pork over rice). Then if you’re feeling a little more bold, go for the Fish Head Soup and Mua Gui (a gelatinized rice cake with pickled veggies and and pork, drizzled with sweet chili sauce and thick soy sauce on top)!

Other notable activities in Tainan include the Ten Drum Rende Creative Park where a traditional Taiko Drumming Show is the star of the show, and the Tainan Flower Market – not actually a market that sells flowers, but one of Taiwan’s biggest and most famous night markets. It’s only open three days a week (Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday), but if you’re able to plan your day trip when it’s open, it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss!

• Distance from Taipei Bus Station: 88 miles / 55 km
• Travel time by bus: About 1.5 hours
• How to get there: The easiest way is by coach bus from Taipei Bus Station to Yilan Station. From Taipei Main Station, take exit 1 for Taipei Bus Station. Round trip ticket costs 280 TWD or a little under $10 USD.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Surfing or sunbathing at Wai’ao black sand beach and taking a tour of the world-famous Kavalan Whiskey distillery.
• Special Foods to Try: Since it’s an oceanside town, the seafood here is delicious. It’s also known for its scallion bao which is a bun filled scallion and pork bits. Yum!

Sometimes, all you want to do is chill on a beach and eat some amazing seafood away from annoying tourists and the hustle and bustle of the city. For that, Yilan is the perfect oasis and retreat for a little day trip getaway.

Yilan City is an oceanside town on the eastern coast of Taiwan, known for its relaxed surf vibe, delicious seafood, and world-famous Kavalan Whiskey that comes from this area. Since Yilan is a little harder to get to and navigate once in the city (at least compared to other day trip options around Taipei), it’s more off the beaten path and means you’ll see less tourists around.

Yilan has a variety of activities you can choose from. If you want a more relaxing day trip, head to Wai’ao black sand beach to get your tan on or do some surfing. By the beach, you will also find a huge selection of low-key, hipster coffee shops to relax in after your beach session,and cozy restaurants serving up amazing sashimi and seafood.

If you want a more cultural experience, head over to the modern architecture of the Lanyang Museum where you can learn about the history of the Yilan area and what makes the topography of the area so special. Afterwards, make a stop at the National Center for Performing Arts before tapping into your inner whiskey aficionado at Kavalan distillery where they produce the award-winning Kavalan Whiskey. 

Since it’s harder to get around Yilan, the best way to see everything that Yilan has to offer is to hire a driver from Taipei like this one .

10. YANGMINGSHAN NATIONAL PARK

• Distance from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station: 7.45 miles / 12 km
• Travel time by bus: About 1 hour 15 minutes because of the mountain roads
• How to get there: the easiest way is to take bus #260 from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station or bus #S8 from Shipai Train Station to Yangmingshan Visitor Center
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Hike to the top of Mount Qixing and walk right next to a dormant volcano at Xiaoyoukeng

Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most popular destinations in all of Taiwan for tourists and local residents alike, and it’s easy to see why. There is a huge selection of lush hiking paths to explore, unique sites to see, (like dormant volcano Xiaoyoukeng where you can see smoking sulphur vents), and it’s not that far away from the city.

There are also seasonal festivals you can go to like the cherry blossom festival in spring and calla lily festival in early summer, so make sure to check the event calendar before you go!

The National Park is a lower elevation mountain range with the tallest point just over 3,500 feet. In the park, aside from the dormant volcano, you can also see mountain lakes, open grasslands, waterfalls, and so much more! After an adventure-filled day, you can also find a good selection of delicious local restaurants who use ingredients grown directly from the mountain, too.

There is a saying in Taiwan that the cabbage grown in the mountains tastes sweeter than cabbage grown anywhere else. This may or may not be true, but what it shows is the respect Taiwanese have for the mountains. So if you have a chance, definitely give the cabbage here a try!

The one downside of the park is public transportation. Since there is so much to do and each destination is located pretty far from each other, the easiest way to see as much as possible is to hire a private car like this one .

You may also want to think about joining a group tour to ensure you don’t miss out on any of your desired spots. A few recommended tours:

• Yangmingshan National Park Hiking Day Tour : If hiking through stunning volcanic landscapes and learning about the fascinating geothermal features of Taipei’s Tatum Volcanoes sounds like your perfect day, this tour will be right up your alley .
• Sunrise Excursion to Yangmingshan National Park : Don’t mind waking up at the crack of dawn? You’ll have the best view of the sunrise in Yangmingshan National Park! The tour also includes a visit to the natural sulfur scene, a wander in the Qingtiangang, and sampling the local breakfast!
• Yangmingshan National Park & Hot-Spring Tour : Kill two birds with one stone! Visit Yangmingshan National Park and enjoy a hot-spring treatment. Enjoy tranquil lakes and beautiful grass fields on this relaxing half-day trip . 

If you want to save some money, you can definitely explore the mountain using public transportation as well. Just take the bus from Taipei Main Station, Beitou Train Station, or Jiantan Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station and start your journey from there. Here is my favorite itinerary if it’s your first time visiting:

• Yangmingshan Visitors Center and Mount Qixing – a good place to get familiar with the park and you can hike up Mount Qixing, the highest point in the park.
• Xiaoyoukeng – where you can see sulfur vents and hike around a dormant volcano.
• Qingtiangang – an open grassland where you can see cows grazing.
• Lengshuikeng – end the trip with a cold water hot spring bath for your feet.

Bonus #11. SUN MOON LAKE

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 157 miles / 253km
• Travel time using HSR and bus: 50 minutes on HSR, then 1.5 – 2 hours on bus
• How to get there via public transportation: Take the HSR train from Taipei Station to Taichung Station. From there, transfer to Nantou Bus for Sun Moon Lake (or look for the sign to Sun Moon Lake bus station)
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Taking a bike ride along Xiangshan Bikeway for stunning views of the lake, hopping on a cruise around Sun Moon Lake, and visiting the food and shopping stalls at Ita Thao village. If you’re able to stay overnight, then wake up for a beautiful sunrise over the lake, visit the Wenwu Temple, hike up to Ci’en Pagoda, and experience the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.
• Special Foods to Try: Tea eggs at Xuanguang Pier and “President Fish” at Ita Thao Wharf

If crystal blue waters and an escape into nature is something you dream about, then a visit to Taiwan’s largest lake, Sun Moon Lake, is a must! Although I’d recommend staying at least one night in Sun Moon Lake, (the sunrises here on a clear day are magical and totally worth the early morning wake-up call), I know that an overnight stay is not always possible. In that case, if you’re short on time, it’s still definitely worth a day trip from Taipei, and tops my list as one of my favorite places to visit in Taiwan!

The easiest way to do a day trip to Sun Moon Lake is probably by joining a tour, like this one. That way, you won’t have to worry about transportation and can maximize your time at Sun Moon Lake. If you want more freedom over your activities though, then the most convenient way to get to Sun Moon Lake is by taking the HSR train from Taipei Station to Taichung Station, and then transferring to the Nantou Bus. As this is a popular trip, there will definitely be signs at Taichung for the correct bus to take to Sun Moon Lake.

Since Nantou Bus will drop you off at Shuishe Visitor Center, I’d recommend starting your day trip by renting a bike from one of the nearby shops and embarking on a cycling adventure around one of the world’s most scenic bike paths! The views are truly so stunning that I guarantee you won’t be able to help yourself but to stop and take numerous photos. You can continue along the bike path to Xiangshan Visitor Center, or even further if you’d like. If you only have a day though, I’d suggest turning back once you make it to the other visitor center so you can explore the other attractions on the lake!

You’ll notice that boats ferry between three piers – Shuishe, Xuanguang, and Ita Thao. Back at Shuishe Pier, you can start your lovely lake cruise and make a quick stop at Xuanguang Pier to try out Jin Men Ah Ma Cha Ye Dan (Famous Grandma’s Tea Braised Eggs). The legendary tea eggs are braised for hours, and the cute little grandma has been running her tea egg store for half a century!

Your last stop on the Sun Moon Lake day trip will be at Ita Thao Pier, where the aboriginal Thao people used to live. You can learn more about the history and culture of the tribe here, while also trying out some of the delicious local delicacies at the food stalls! I loved the Assam Milk Tea, but I’ve heard the famous aruzay fish (renamed to “President Fish ” due to it being a favorite dish of the late President Chiang Kai-Shek), is also a must try!

Which of these Taipei day trips will you be adding to your Taiwan itinerary?!

About the Author

Melissa Teng is a Seattle-based travel blogger and creative who is passionate about seeing as much of the world as possible while helping others do the same on her blog, Wit and Folly . Through her travel experiences, she’s realized the importance of authentic storytelling and believes that everyone has their own story to share. Through this lens, she hopes to inspire others to integrate exploring and adventure into their daily lives, to travel mindfully, and to pursue a life of bold creativity. And when she isn’t busy scheming her next trip, you can find her taking epic naps with her boyfriend’s Shih Tzu, Sushi.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also love...

Subscribe To The Newsletter

FOR TRAVEL INSPO   and   FUN

No spam, only fun!

Favorite Destinations

• About Jessica
• How to Plan a Trip
• Fave Travel Companies
• Shop My Faves

Destinations

• World Travel
• San Francisco
• Northern California
• Southern California
• Central Coast

6 Incredible Day Trips From Taipei You Have To Experience

02 mar 6 incredible day trips from taipei you have to experience.

Although exciting as Taipei City is on its own, the actual beauty of Taipei lies in its close proximity to a range of other amazing rugged, rural and magical places of natural beauty that exist in this country. Just beyond Taipei City, you’ll find countless national parks, wonderful thermal valleys and hot springs, wide lakes, spell bounding towns, traditional villages and other epic, natural locations.

Here is a list of some of our favourite Taipei day trips you have to experience.

In This Taipei Day Trip Guide:

• Jiufen: Get Spirited Away in Jiufen
• Shifen/Pingxi: Light Up the Sky at Pingxi
• Beitou: Get Your Steam On
• Yehliu Geopark: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
• Tamsui: For the Best Sunsets
• Wulai: Experience Aboriginal Culture
• Frequently Asked Questions about Taipei Day Trips

1. Jiufen: Get Spirited Away in Jiufen

This charming old Japanese mining town Jiufen, is made up of enchanting atmospheric alleyways and colourful streets that reflects the vibrancy of Taiwanese culture. This picturesque mountain town has amazing sea views, rolling hills and an abundance of small shops, eateries and old Chinese tea houses.

The focal point of Jiufen is Jishan/Jiufen Old Street. A narrow market strip that twists through the town. Snacks such as Taiwanese sausages, fish balls, peanut ice cream, glutinous rice cakes and Jiufen’s specialty. The squishy taro and sweet potato balls served hot in a sweet soup or cold over shaved ice, can be found on this strip. If the crowds get too much, take refuge in one of the many tea houses here. Notorious for being the inspiration behind Studio Ghibli’s animation film, “Spirited Away”, is the A-Mei Tea House.

Jiufen is also home to the picture-perfect Shengping Theatre, which is considered the first modern theatre in Taiwan. Other great sightseeing options nearby include Teapot Mountain (Chahushan), an invigorating hike that offers some stunning scenery on a clear day. The Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, Shifen Waterfalls and Keelung Mountain are also worth visiting.

Getting to Jiufen from Taipei – 1 hour

Jiufen can be accessed by public transport. Take Exit 1 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station and look out for bus #1062.

Alternatively, you can take the train to Ruifang Station and switch to bus #827 and #788.

The entrance to Jiufen Old Street will be found next to the 7-11 on the main highway to Keelung.

2. Shifen/Pingxi: Light Up the Sky at Pingxi

Pingxi is another rural Taiwanese town just next to Jiufen which makes it another perfect Taipei day trip option.

This town is famous for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, which is held around 8 February every year. Pingxi is special for its unique architecture and design as its main market area, Shifen Old Street, is built alongside the Pingxi line railway tracks, previously used to transport coal. Along here, you’ll find a multitude of souvenir shops and can also find some delicious Taiwanese snacks to munch on.

The most popular thing to do here, of course, is the lighting and releasing of lanterns. During the festival, there’s a mass ascension of glowing lanterns that cover the sky in a magical display of colour, absolutely mesmerising. The entire main street gets busy with an active night market selling all sorts of nick knacks and treats. If you can’t make it in time for the festival, that’s okay! The releasing of lanterns actually happens all year round. Vendors and shops sell a variety of paper lanterns that can be personalised with blessings or wishes for the coming year.

In this area, you can also enjoy some amazing waterfalls. Shifen is well known for the Shifen Waterfall, 40m tall, it creates a beautiful rainbow as it cascades into the lake. The waterfall is located about 30 minutes away from Shifen Old Street.

Getting to Pingxi from Taipei – 1.5 hours

Trains depart from Taipei Main Station hourly: Take a train to Ruifang Station and from there, transfer to the Pingxi Rail Line and get off at Shifen Station.

It is also very possible to do Jiufen and Shifen/Pingxi in one day. From Jiufen to Shifen: Take the Pingxi Small Railway to Ruifang Station and transfer to bus #788, #827 or #1062.

3. Beitou: Get Your Steam On

Soak your troubles away at the district of Beitou, which is home to some of the most popular hot springs in Taiwan. Beitou is a hot spring village and thermal valley within the mountains, located on the outskirts of Taipei. You can either spend a relaxing day here enjoying the hot springs and the views of the lovely surrounding hills or stay overnight at one of the amazing resorts.

Visiting the Thermal Valley is a must at Beitou. This incredible hot spring is the primary source of water in all the bathing houses in this area. Thermal valley earned itself the name of “Hell Valley” due to the endless steam that rises and continues to hover over the jade waters. You don’t want to dip your feet or hands in here though, as temperatures range between 80 to 100 degrees.

Other places worth a visit here are the Beitou Hot Springs Museum and Millennial Hot Springs, which is a public bath house with several open-air bathing pools.

Getting to Beitou from Taipei – 30 minutes

The Beitou District can be accessed by public transport. Take a train from Taipei Main Station and head north to Beitou MRT Station.

At Beitou MRT, transfer to the Xinbeitou line and get off at Xinbeitou MRT Station.

4. Yehliu Geopark: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

Experience Taiwan’s beautiful natural scenery by heading to Yehliu Geopark, which is found near the coastal town Yehliu north of Taipei. This is a beautiful area; a fine demonstration of what nature can create on its own.

Perfect for those craving a bit of sea air, the Yehliu Geopark is home to some unusual yet spectacular geological limestone rock formations, which are quite unlike anything else found anywhere else in the world. Look out for the iconic “Queen’s Head” as well as other remarkable formations like the Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe, Ginger Rocks, Elephant Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Kissing Rock, and Princess’ Head.

Nearby, you’ll also find the Yehliu Ocean World which is great for families and travellers of all ages, which features acrobatic performances by dolphins and sea lions as well as a 100m long under ocean tunnel. Yehliu Geopark is open 8-5pm every day and it costs 4 AUD to enter.

Getting to Yehliu Geopark from Taipei – 1.5 hours

The best way to get here is by taking the express bus service.

Go to Terminal A at Taipei main bus station, go to the KuoKang window and purchase a ticket for NT$96 to Yehliu Geopark.

5.Tamsui: For The Best Sunsets

For something a little more slow-paced, head over to Tamsui. This lovely seaside town sits at the mouth of Tamsui river and is only 40 minutes away from Taipei, making it a perfect day trip candidate.

Along the river boardwalk as well as the town’s famous Tamsui Old Street, you’ll find an array of souvenir shops, game stands, incredible street food and tasty Taiwanese treats. Be sure to get your hands on some “ah gei” (tofu fishcake filled with noodles) as well as some freshly made fishballs whilst you’re there.

As the day winds down, make your way to Fisherman’s Wharf by catching a ferry from Tamsui Old Street so you can witness one of Taipei’s most renowned and iconic sunsets. For others, you can head over to Lover’s Bridge just down Fisherman’s Wharf. A favourite spot for couples and tourists alike to capture amazing photographs against the setting sun.

Getting to Tamsui from Taipei – 40 minutes

From Taipei Main Station, take the Red Line and head north to Tamsui Station. Upon exiting the station, turn left to reach Tamsui Old Street and the waterfront.

For Fisherman’s Wharf, take red bus #26 just outside Tamsui Station.

6. Wulai: Experience Aboriginal Culture

Wulai is the perfect destination for a little bit of history and culture as it offers an intriguing look into the Taiwanese indigenous culture of the Atayal Tribe. When you get to the village, head over to Wulai Old Street. This is different from most other old streets in Taiwan as all the shops and restaurants have an indigenous flair to them. Here you’ll find lots of original aboriginal handcrafts and foods that are also tinged with indigenous influence, such as roasted wild boar, raw pickled pork, sticky rice cakes and river prawns.

Wulai however, is more famous for its scenery – riverside hot springs and mesmerising natural attractions like the brilliantly turquoise river, dense jungles, cliffs, and waterfalls which makes it a perfect day trip from Taipei for the more adventurous travellers. Wulai falls reigning 80m tall, is the largest of the waterfalls located within the Wulai Gorge. Walk 20 minutes from Wulai Old Street or take a ride on the Wulai Scenic Train to the base of the falls and view this magnificent waterfall plunging into the river.

You can also learn more about the indigenous Atayal people by checking out the Wulai Atayal Museum. Here you can witness them doing cultural performances like singing traditional songs.

Getting to Wulai from Taipei – 1 hour

Take the MRT from Taipei Main Station to Xindian Station. Then exit and turn right towards bus stop B located along Beiyi Road. Take bus #849 bound for Wulai.

Frequently Asked Questions on Taipei Day Trips

Is taking public transportation in taiwan difficult.

Public transportation in Taiwan is convenient and easy to use. The subway system in Taipei is especially efficient and user-friendly. Just be sure to buy a rechargeable EasyCard before you start using the trains and buses!

Can you do these day trips by yourself/without booking a tour?

Yes, you can certainly do these day trips out of Taipei by yourself without booking a tour. All are accessible via public transportation and are very popular Taipei day trip destinations. They have decent signage along the way and locals will know the destinations you’re talking about if you need to ask for help.

This list of Taiwan day trips not only offers a vibrant mix of tradition and culture, which is a lovely contrast to the busy streets of Taipei City, but it also allows you to see some of the most gorgeous natural landscapes that Taiwan has to show.

Pin this article for later!

Related Stories

TAIPEI GUIDE

Best Night Markets in Taipei

TRAVEL BEAUTY

A Guide To The Best Cleansers For Travel

PACKING TIPS

How To Pack Beauty Products Whilst Travelling

A travel & food blog

10 BEST Day Trips from Taipei City

Taiwan is one of the easiest countries to explore. Its capital Taipei is a modern landscape with not just interesting landmarks but also efficient public transport system, so you can easily get around and even go out on numerous day trips. With day trips, you’ll get to see the other side of Taiwan — including old villages and streets, mountains, plantations for tea and other local produce, and much more. Here we’ve listed the best day trips from Taipei City.

P.S. Don’t forget to read about our First-Timer’s Guide to Taiwan .

2. Pingxi Rail Line

3. beitou hot springs, 5. yangmingshan national park, 8. thousand island lake, 9. taroko george, 10. taichung, what to read next:.

Can you really say you’ve visited Taiwan without dropping by Jiufen? Jiufen is perhaps the most popular day trip from Taipei City. It rose to fame because many people believed it to be the inspiration for Miyazaki’s beloved animated film Spirited Away.

Please enable JavaScript

Jiufen was a mining town in the 19th century. Today, it’s made up of bustling alleyways with stalls selling souvenirs and delicious Taiwanese delicacies such as taro soup, fish ball soup, and pineapple cakes. You can also visit interesting landmarks such as the Amei Tea House. Moreover, Jiufen Old Street is located in a mountain area, so you can enjoy refreshing mountain & coastal views.

Jiufen is always crowded, so it’s best to go here on weekdays.

Jiufen is only 45 minutes away from Taipei City. It’s easy to get here: From Taipei Main Station, ride a train to Ruifang Station and then take a bus to Jiufen. From the bus station, you can walk uphill to Jiufen Old Street. Various tour agencies also offer day trips to Jiufen for reasonable rates.

By Caroline of CK Travels

The  Pingxi rail line  is a perfect day trip from Taipei with 8 stops to explore along the 8-mile long ‘verdant valley’ in the countryside. This train line is a single-track railroad that was previously used to transport coal and runs through many old quaint villages.

You probably won’t have time in one day to alight at every stop but you should be able to explore the main highlights of the area. We recommend visiting Houtong Cat Village — a gorgeous riverside town famous for its large population of cats and cat-themed cafes and shops. Next alight at Shifen to marvel at the waterfall then head over to Pingxi to release a paper lantern in the air for good fortune (or watch locals release them). End the day at  Jingtong Old Street — famous for its massive collection of wooden ‘bamboo wishes’. All of the towns have great street food options and plenty of souvenir shopping too.

To reach the start of the Pingxi line you need to head to Ruifang Station, which is located a 30-minute train journey from Taipei Main Station. Here you can purchase a Pingxi line pass for 80 NTD which allows you to hop on and hop off at any of the towns on the line.

By Rose of Where Goes Rose

One of the best day trips from Taipei is over to Beitou Hot Springs, a geothermal area created by ancient volcanoes that long-ago pushed the island of Taiwan out of the ocean. Once you’ve explored the skyscrapers and food markets of central Taipei, this unique location is the perfect place to unwind and soak up the mineral properties of the thermal baths. Even if you have just 3 days in Taipei, it’s recommendable to squeeze in this natural wonderland.

On arriving in Beitou, head to the Thermal Valley where boiling water bubbles in bright turquoise pools. This is not the spot for bathing due to the scorching temperatures and sulfuric smells of egg — however, it’s a must for taking photos and understanding the area. Then visit the Hot Springs Museum to learn about its history and how people have used the area throughout the ages.

Finally, make your way to the Public Hot Springs . This is a chance to bathe with the locals and observe them socializing with their neighbors. Bring your swimwear and leave your cameras behind as no photos are allowed inside the hot springs. Locals swear the bathes will cure any ailments you might be suffering from!

Beitou is easy to reach from Taipei City. It is only 45 minutes away. Head to Beitou Station. Then switched platforms to Xinbeitou line and ride to Xinbeitou Station.

Tamsui is a small town on the northern coast of Taiwan. You can visit it along with Beitou, since it won’t take you a full day to explore it.

Head to Tamsui Old Street, a riverside road with lively ambiance and food stalls selling tasty treats, such as its specialty a-gei (glass noodles and tofu) and various seafood. With satisfied tummies, hop on a ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf and stay at the Lover’s Bridge for the sunset.

To get here, simply ride the train to Tamsui Station. From Taipei Main Station, travel time is about 40 minutes.

By Kenny of KNCYX Journeying

Taipei has so many to see, do, and eat that I always go back for more. If you want to take a day off from the hustle and bustle and explore the nature, head to Yangmingshan National Park.  

Yangmingshan National Park is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan. The area is popular not only among locals but also tourists for its famous spots like sulfur deposits, fumaroles, and volcano, being the origin of the Beitou Hot Spring in Taipei.  

Spend a day in Zhuzihu in the flower farm, try local food in a restaurant – don’t forget to visit the Zhuzhihu Ponlai Rice Foundation Seed Field Story House and learn about Yangmingshan’s rice plantation history and development. 

What’s more, you are in for a treat in May because of the pleasant weather, with plenty of sunny days and not a lot of rain. It is also the season for calla lilies and hydrangea to blossom. Visit the Zhuzihu area where the local farmers open their farming villages to the public with a small fee. Apart from calla lilies, some farms will grow hydrangea and the vibrant colors of the flowers are simply exciting.

Yangmingshan National Park is Taipei city’s back garden; it is only about an hour drive from Taipei city and the natural wonders are suitable for visit all round.

Keelung is an incredible place to visit. It’s the second-largest seaport in the country, with rice culture and sceneries.

Plan your day trip according to your preferences. If you’re into adventurous trails, you can visit the Shen’Ao Rail Bike where you’ll see murals, tunnels, and mine pit ruins. Then hike for 2-3 hours in Bitoujiao Trail , which is also known as the little great wall. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing with the amazing coastal views in Chaojing Park .

If you want a more laid-back day trip, explore the fishing harbor and shipyard and then visit Heping Island, a coastal park with pool and ocean views. Alternatively, Keelung also has interesting caves and old houses you can visit in a day.

Whatever activities you’ve done for the day, don’t forget to stop by Keelung’s Miaoku Night Market for cheap and delicious dinner.

A lot of people visit Keelung after a half-day tour in Jiufen, but as elaborated above you can allot a whole day here as well.

From Taipei Main Station, take a local train to Keelung Station. Travel time is around 35 minutes.

Wulai is one of the easiest day trips from Taipei City. Wulan is a village located at the south of Taipei City. It’s often described as gentle and peaceful, surrounded by refreshing mountain views.

There are many things to do in Wulai to fill your day’s itinerary. Visit one of the natural hot springs located along the Nanshih River. These are free for public use. Alternatively, you can also check in a hot spring hotel to relax in a public pool or private room with a hot tub. Even if you’ve already been to Beitou, it’s still recommended to go here since it is less crowded.

You can also check out Wulai Waterfall and its surrounding cafes and shops. For the best views, ride the gondola which goes up the mountain.

For the adventurous, there are easy hiking trails along the river in Wulai.

Lastly, Wulai is famous for its food, including wild boar sausage, barbecued mochi, sticky rice, and more.

It’s easy to reach Wulai from Taipei City. Just take Bus 849 near Xindian Station. The ride takes about 45 minutes.

Thousand Island Lake is one of the most underrated destinations in Taiwan. It’s a perfect day trip for those who wish to escape the crowd for a relaxing getaway with scenic nature views.

Thousand Island Lake is located in Shiding District. It’s a man-made water reservoir. The area is made up of islets, which gives the impression of a “thousand islands”. Once you get to the lake area, stop by a cafe to enjoy fresh tea and other local snacks and explore the tea farms.

This will only take you half a day, so you can visit nearby places as well. Stop by Pinglin for lunch and tea ceremony and then Shiding Old Street or Shenkeng Old Street for anything tofu.

Due to lack of public transportation, it’s best to visit Thousand Island Lake by private car or tour. It’s about 1 hour from Taipei City.

By Elisa from World in Paris

If you are looking for an easy day trip from Taipei to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city, Taroko Gorge is the place to go. Taroko Gorge is the most beautiful national park in Taiwan, great for hiking and enjoying magnificent landscapes.

In Taroko, there are many hiking trails of different lengths and difficulties. Hikers may want to study all the hiking trails beforehand to avoid wasting time on site deciding what to do. Taroko’s most famous hike is  Shakadang Trail , which is 4.4 km long and mostly flat. Shakadang Trail is popular because of its beautiful landscapes and also because it is very close to the park’s headquarters and accessible even for those without a car.

Taroko Gorge is very easy to reach from Taipei by train. The train journey only takes 2.5 hours (one way) with a transfer in Xincheng. You can also decide to rent a car for the day and also visit other beautiful places on the way to Taroko from Taipei.

Taichung is a bit far from Taipei City, but it’s doable as a day trip. The most popular attraction here is the Sun Moon Lake , which is the biggest lake in Taiwan.

Spend the first half of the day exploring the surrounding areas on foot or on bike. You can visit flower farms, Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village, temples such as the Wenwu Temple, and various local businesses. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing in a boat tour, where you can appreciate the beautiful lake with the Central Mountain Range in the backdrop.

Alternatively, you can also do an alternative itinerary to see IG-worthy spots including the Green Fantasy Forest , Houli Flower Farm , and Rainbow Village .

Taichung is about 2-3.5 hours away from Taipei City. It’s accessible by bus depending on your destination, but to save time it’s best to rent a car or join a private tour for a day.

What other day trips from Taipei City do you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below!

Planning a trip to Taiwan? Here are important guides:

• First-Timers Guide to Taiwan
• 5 Days Itinerary in Taiwan
• One Day in Taipei City
• Best Day Trips from Taipei City
• What to Eat in Taipei City

Get discounts on your travels!

Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHERE

Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Taipei

Day trips from taipei.

• Taipei to Ruifang
• Taipei to Pingxi
• Taipei to Zhongzheng District
• Taipei to Datong
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Private Taroko Gorge National Park Day Tour

2. Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour

3. Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup

4. Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern

5. Taipei Private Car Charter Tour

6. Private Custom Taipei Airport Layover Tour

7. Private Yangmingshan Volcano Tour

8. Yamingshan Volcano, Beitou Thermal Valley, Danshui Private Tour

9. Full-Day Private Custom Yilan Tour from Taipei

10. Taipei Memory - 2 Days Tour

11. Yangmingshan and Beitou Day Tour with English Guide

12. Sweets to Streets: 6Hr Taipei Adventure with Pineapple Cake DIY

13. Private Hakka Discovery Day Tour from Taipei

14. Half Day Private Tour to Yangmingshan National Park and Yehliu Geopark

15. Private Day tour to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei

16. 1 day North Coast Yehliu Jiufen and Shifen Private Tour

17. Northern Taiwan and Taipei Countryside Full-Day Private Tour

18. Private 4-Day Eastern Taiwan Tour: Yilan Hualien Taitung

19. Private trip to Jiufen + Yehliu Geological Park

20. Full-Day Private Tour in Northern Taiwan

21. Taipei Touchdown: Make the Most of Your 6-Hour Layover

22. Thousand Island Lake & Pinglin Tea Tour with English Guide

23. Private 6 Day Tour in South Taiwan

24. Taipei Timeout: Private 8-Hour Layover Adventures

25. 1 Day Tour Northern Taiwan Coast Tour

26. Private Taipei Breakfast Culture and Cooking Class with Lunch Day Tour

27. Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery

28. ONE DAY Taipei Metro and Walk Tour (Min. 2 Pax)

29. Private 1-Day Tea Experience in Taipei

30. Private Keelung Island and Heping Island Park Day Tour from Taipei

What travelers are saying.

• Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei
• Private Taroko Gorge National Park Day Tour
• Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
• Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin Tea Plantation from Taipei
• Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour
• Justaiwantour Travel Services
• MyTaiwanTour Travel Services
• Topology Travel- Travel in Real Taiwan (Private Tour)
• Edison Travel Service
• Taiwan Pockets Day Tours
• Taiwan Adventure Outings

• Travel tips

14 Best Day Trips from Taipei for Solo Travellers

As much as I love exploring different neighbourhoods in Taipei, I also love getting out of the city and visiting many places outside of the capital city. During my last few trips to Taipei, I stayed within the city and took many day trips from Taipei.

And Taipei is an excellent home base for doing many day tours and excursions. Many destinations are reachable by public transportation, which is easy to use and affordable. Plus, they are reliable and safe.

In this post, I’ll show you all my favourite Taipei day trips. I thoroughly enjoyed these day trips and highly recommend them to anyone who wants to be adventurous and want to see places outside of Taipei.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost. Thank you for supporting this website. For more information, please read the disclosure for more info.

Taipei Day Trips: what you need to know

Before taking any Taipei day trips, look at my post on  everything you need to know before going to Taiwan . I included a lot of travel information, including how to get around Taiwan, how to get a Taiwan SIM Card and other travel tips.

Here are some additional travel tips that you might find helpful in your day trips from Taipei:

• Taipei and surrounding areas are safe for solo female travellers, even if you take public transportation alone.
• Purchase a rechargeable smartcard called EasyCard or iPass . Either card is good for taking public transportation all over Taiwan. You can get a rechargeable card at any major train station or convenience store in Taiwan.
• Pack a daypack with water, snacks and a mobile phone. Make sure to bring cash, as many rural places only accept cash as payment.
• Make sure to check the timetable for the last bus, subway, or train . You want to ensure you can return to Taipei and not be stranded somewhere.

14 Easy Day Trips from Taipei for Solo Travellers

There are many places to explore outside of Taipei, and many of these destinations can be reached within two hours by either local bus, long-distance buses, subway, express train or high-speed train.

Below I listed 14 Taipei day trips you can do alone. I included the highlights of the city and directions for getting there. Plus, I’ve listed them in the order of travel time (from the quickest to the longest).

Click on the hyperlink to take you directly to the specific section.

Taipei day trips under 1 hour

• Keelung City

Taipei day trips between 1 to 2 hours

• Fulong Beach
• Caoling Historic Trail

Day Trips out of Taipei: under 1 hour

Yingge is a pottery town located 26km southwest of Taipei. The town has a 200-year history of ceramic making and is the largest center for ceramic production in Taiwan . At its height, there were over 800 ceramic-related businesses around Yingge Old Street.

The town of Yingge is relatively small. This means including Sanxia on the same-day trip is possible because both cities are close. I highly recommend starting the day in Yingge first, then spending the afternoon in Sanxia (more info about Sanxia further down the post).

Here are some of the must-see while you are in Yingge:

• Yingge Old Street – stroll through the cobblestone pedestrian shopping street and see the old coal-fired kiln chimney
• Many local ceramic shops – check out some of the best art studios where you can make your own masterpiece or you can purchase unique pieces of pottery
• New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum – learn about ceramics making through three floors of exhibits
• Sanying Art Village – see outdoor art installations surrounding the New Taipei City Art Museum (which is currently under construction)
• Yingge Ceramics Riverside Park – see giant whimsical ceramic plates, spoons and cups on the green lawn

How to get to Yingge Old Street from Taipei : take a fast local TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Yingge Station. The train takes 23 minutes.

Beitou is one of the best towns to experience the hot spring culture in Taiwan because of its proximity to the capital city (only 12km north of Taipei) and the abundant activities you can do on a day trip.

If you have never had a hot spring experience, Beitou is a great place to start. Here is what you will see during a day in Beitou :

• Beitou Thermal Valley – see the emerald green hot spring water and sulphuric steam
• Beitou Park – wander around the first hot spring park in Taiwan and visit Beitou Hot Spring Museum
• Millennium Hot Spring – experience a local outdoor hot spring
• Free foot baths around Beitou – soak your tired feet in the warm hot spring water
• Sulphur Valley Recreation Area  – see sulphur pools around the hiking trail

How to get to Beitou from Taipei: take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line (red line) from Taipei Main Station to Beitou Station, then transfer to Xinbeitou Line to Xinbeitou Station. The subway ride takes 38 minutes.

Many people may not know about Tamsui (or Danshui ), but you should visit this laid-back waterfront city as it is only 20km north of Taipei.

And during a day trip to Tamsui, you can see many historic buildings occupied by the Spaniards, Dutch, English and Japanese. And don’t leave without trying some of the best local Taiwanese food that you can’t find anywhere else.

Here are some of the highlights of Tamsui:

• Tamsui Old Street – try unique local food like “A-gei” (dried tofu stuffed with glass noodles) and pick up great souvenirs from Taiwan
• Fuyou Temple and Longshan Temple – visit two well-known temples in the city of Tamsui
• Lover’s Bridge at Fisherman’s Wharf – walk across the white bridge that resembles the mast of a sailboat
• Fort San Domingo – visit a hilltop fortress that various countries have occupied
• Drop of Water Memorial Hall – see the memorial hall in a Japanese wooden house

How to get to Tamsui from Taipei: take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line (red line) from Taipei Main Station to Tamsui Station, the last stop on the red line. The subway ride takes 43 minutes.

4. Keelung City

Another popular Taipei day trip desitnation is Keelung City , a major port city in northern Taiwan. Many travellers travel from Taipei to Keelung because the city has many interesting things to do and is only 30km northwest of the capital city.

When you spend a day in Keelung, you can visit various ports, see historical parks with viewpoints, and capture many Instagrammable photos from different parts of the city. And best of all, you can try unique Taiwanese food at one of the best night markts in Taiwan.

So if you do go to Keelung, look for these attractions:

• Zhongzheng Park – see the 25m Keelung Guanyin Statue, the largest goddess statue in Southeast Asia
• Zhengbin Fishing Port – take photos of the famous multi-coloured houses
• Keelung Night Market – eat delicious local specialties from the food stalls with yellow lanterns
• Agenna Shipyard Relics – see the abandoned shipyard which is another great spot for photography
• Heping Island – hike the mountain trail along the coast and see marine caves and tidal pools

How to get to Keelung from Taipei : take the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Keelung Station. The train ride takes 47 minutes.

If you can only take one day trip from Taipei, then you must visit Jiufen . The quaint little village in the mountains is 40km east of Taipei and is made famous for the similarity to the village in the Japanese anime, Spirited Away.

When you spend a day in Jiufen, you can get lost in the maze of alleyways and stairs while searching for red lanterns. Plus, you can learn about tea ceremony at one of the teahouses and eat many delicious local food.

Here are some things to look for while you are in Jiufen:

• Jiufen Old Street – try many local food like taro ball soup and peanut ice cream roll on this winding alleyway
• A-Mei Teahouse – take photos of the picturesque teahouse
• Historic teahouses – enjoy a traditional tea experience at one of many teahouses in Jiufen
• Keelung Mountain – option to hike up the 600m tall mountain with views overlooking Taipei City and Keelung

How to get to Jiufen from Taipei : take bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station to Jiufen Old Street. The bus ride takes up to an hour. The bus ride takes about 1 hour. See my detailed instructions in my post on travelling to Jiufen from Taipei . 

Sanxia is a historical district located 26km southwest of Taipei and was known as the center for cloth dyeing and the production of Assam Indigo . Today, the area still attracts many visitors because of the well-preserved heritage houses and the intricate and complex temple.

As mentioned, it is possible to include Yingge on the same-day trip. Start the day in Yingge, then spend the afternoon in Sanxia.

While you are in Sanxia, here is what you can look forward to:

• Sanxia Old Street – see the red-brick baroque-style heritage houses that date back to the Japanese Era
• Qingshui Zushi Temple – see the intricately sculpted temple that was built in 1769
• Buffalo horn bread – try a croissant-shaped bread that comes in many flavours
• Sanxia Indigo Dyeing Park – learn about Sanxia’s original roots in indigo dyeing
• New Taipei City Hakka Museum – see exhibits on Hakka culture

How to get to Sanxia Old Street from Taipei : take the local train from Taipei Main Station to Yingge Station. Then take bus 702 to Wenhua Road. Sanxia Old Street is not far. The entire journey takes 1 hour.

7. Yilan City

Located 56km southwest of Taipei, Yilan City is one of the bigger cities in Yilan County where mountains and sea surround it.

The city was initially inhabited by the Kavalan tribe, which are Taiwanese indigenous people. Then the population was mixed with Han Chinese immigrants and Japanese people in the early 1900s. This is the reason why Yilan has a mix of culture, and there are plenty of buildings in Yilan that have their roots in the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese Colonial Era.

When you spend a day in Yilan, you can learn more about the city through these attractions:

• Yilan Cultural and Creative Park – learn about aboriginal culture at this new cultural park
• Memorial Hall of Founding of Yilan Administration – see the Japanese and Western architectural aesthetics at this historical building
• Yilan Distillery – see exhibits related to beer and wine
• Kavalan Distillery – try whiskeys in the tasting room at the only whiskey distillery in Taiwan
• Diu Diu Dang Forest Park – visit the small park with a steel-frame iron tree forest. If you visit on the weekend, there is a weekend market with vendors selling handicrafts

How to get to Yilan City from Taipei : the fastest way to get to Yilan is by taking Kamalan bus 1916A from Taipei Bus Station to Yilan Bus Station. The bus takes about an hour. Otherwise, take the express TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Yilan Station. The train takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.

8. Jinguashi

Most people have heard of Jiufen, but may not know anything about Jinguashi . It is a small town next to Jiufen, known for its goldmines in the late 19th century . Even though the gold rush has ended, there is still many historical relics from the mining days.

Besides learning about gold mining, several hiking trails and attractions are worth checking out. Here are some things to look for during your day in Jinguashi:

• Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park – visit the historical area and get an insightful look at the gold mining industry and the life of a miner
• Try a miner’s lunch box – I tried one at Gold Mine Crystal Cafeteria
• Gold Museum – visit the open-air museum and see former dormitories and processing plants for the Taiwan Metal Mining Corp
• Qitang Old Street – walk through the old neighbourhood with a rainbow staircase
• Baoshishan Lookout – walk to the end of a stairway and see Yingyang Sea
• Teapot Mountain Trail – hike up to 580m and see a rock that resembles a handleless teapot at the peak
• Golden Waterfall – see the cascading waterfall with a golden hue
• Jinguashi Shinto Shrine – see the Torii gates built during the Japanese era

How to get to Jinguashi from Taipei : take bus 1062 to Jiufen from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station. And take the bus to the last top at Chuen Ji Hall. The bus ride takes an hour. See my detailed instructions in my post on travelling to Jiufen from Taipei . 

Day Trips from Taipei: between 1 to 2 hours

1. taichung.

Taichung is Taiwan’s second-largest city and is 160km southwest of Taipei. Even though Taichung is quite far, the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) can take you there in 1.5 hours.

There are so many things to do in Taichung as the city is a major hub with modern landscapes and cultural landmarks . Plus, there are many places to explore outside the city where you should stay for more than one day.

However, if you are only looking to do a day trip to Taichung , here’s what you can see:

• Rainbow Village – see the famous colourful murals drawn by Rainbow Grandpa
• Paochueh Temple – visit a 7-storey golden laughing Buddha
• Miyahara – buy unique food souvenirs from a former ophthalmology clinic
• Chun Shui Tang – try the original pearl milk tea at the birthplace of the bubble tea
• Feng Chia Night Market – try many traditional Taiwanese foods at one of the best night markets in Taichung

How to get to Taichung from Taipei : the fastest way to get to Taichung is by taking the HSR train from Taipei Main Station to HSR Taichung Station. Then take the TRA train from Xinwuri Station to Taichung Station. The combined train journey takes 1 hour and 11 minutes. Or take the express TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Taichung Station. Taking the TRA train takes 1 hour 38 minutes.

2. Fulong Beach

Fulong is a popular beach resort town 55km east of the capital. Locals in Taipei love visiting Fulong Beach for its 3km golden sand beach and many water activities.

Besides enjoying the lovely beach, there are options to add to your day trip, including a hike on an ancient trail or cycle through the Old Caoling Railway Tunnel.

Here are some highlights when you visit Fulong Beach:

• Taiwanese lunch box – get a famous “biandang” (lunchbox) sold outside of Fulong Station
• Various water activities – windsurfing, kayaking and standup paddleboarding
• Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival – see 80+ giant sand sculptures from May to October
• Option to hike Caoling Historic Trail – the start of Caoling Historic Trail is just south of Fulong Station
• Rent a bicycle – cycle through the Old Caoling Railway Tunnel and around the eastern peninsula in Yilan County

How to get to Fulong Beach from Taipei: take the fast local TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Fulong Station. The express train can get you to Fulong Station in 1 hour 12 minutes.

Jiaoxi  is a rural township in the northern section of Yilan County on the east coast of Taiwan. The area is 50km southeast of Taipei and is in a fault zone with underground heat sources, making Jiaoxi the largest hot spring area in Taiwan .

Besides visiting the sodium bicarbonate hot springs in Jiaoxi , you can also trek several hiking trails and see waterfalls .

Here are some things to look for on your day trip to Jiaoxi:

• Tangweigou Hot Spring Park – have little fish nibble on your feet at the fish foot bath
• Free foot hot springs – soak your feet in one of the several free foot bathing pools around Jiaoxi
• Paoma Historic Trail – hike the trail that used to transport lumber and see panoramic views of Jiaoxi and Guishan Island
• Wufongci Waterfall – see a series of waterfalls when you hike up several flights of stairs
• Shengmu Hiking Trail – see the mountainous terrain of Jiaoxi countryside when you hike this 10km trail

How to get to Jiaoxi from Taipei: the fastest way to get to Jiaoxi is by taking the Kamalan bus 1915B from Taipei Bus Station to Jiaoxi Transfer Station. The bus ride is 1 hour 18 minutes. Otherwise, take the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Jiaoxi Station. The train ride takes 1.5 hours.

Shifen is a railroad town 35km east of Taipei known for its beautiful waterfalls and the famous lantern festival, Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival , on the 15th day of the lunar new year.

But you don’t need to wait until Chinese New Year to release a lantern in Shifen; you can do that anytime! Plus, you can explore several waterfalls, try local food and enjoy a day in nature.

Here are some highlights during a day trip to Shifen:

• Shifen Old Street – try local food and buy souvenirs on either side of the train tracks
• Release a sky lantern over the train tracks – one of the best activities in Shifen
• Yanjingdong Falls – see the first waterfall on the trail near Guanpu Suspension Bridge
• Shifen Waterfall – see the 40m high waterfall from one of several viewing platforms

How to get to Shifen from Taipei: take the local TRA train to Ruifang station. Transfer to another train bound for Pingxi, and get off at Shifen Station. The entire train ride takes 1 hour 44 minutes.

5. Caoling Historic Trail

Caoling Historic Trail is one of several ancient trails in northeastern Taiwan . The 8.5km trail crosses from Yilan County to New Taipei City, where you can see historical relics, sweeping mountain views and panoramic views of Taiwan’s east coast and Pacific Ocean .

The easy trail is 70km east of Taipei, and takes 3 hours to complete. This means you can include another destination like Fulong Beach or Bitoujiao Trail afterwards.

Here are some things to look for on your day hike on the Caoling Historic Trail:

• Panoramic views of east coast Taiwan and the Pacific Ocean – can be seen soon after you hike up the trail
• Tiger Inscription and Siong Jhen Man Yan Inscription – see two large boulders with inscriptions
• Silver grass covering the mountain – see a mountain full of miscanthus flowers dancing in the wind during fall and winter
• Option to hike Taoyuan Valley – see grazing buffalos and Mount Wankengtou

How to get to Caoling Historic Trail from Taipei: take the local TRA train to Dali Station. From Dali Station, follow the signs for the Caoling Trail. Then end your journey at Fulong Station and return home to Taipei. The train ride takes 1 hour 45 minutes.

6. Bitoujiou

Bitoujiao Trail   is an easy hiking trail on the mountain ridges of a major cape on the Northeastern coast of Taiwan. Most people visit the  Bitoujiao Scenic Area , 48km east of Taipei and hike this short trail to  see lush green mountains, rocky coast, and sparkling blue ocean water .

This is an excellent day trip from Taipei and Yilan County. Plus, it is possible to combine another destination in Northern Taiwan, like Jiufen or Caoling Historic Trail , on the day trip since you don’t need a full day to explore Bitoujiou.

Here are some things to look for on your day hike in Bitoujiou:

• Bitou Cape Trail – see panoramic views along the trail and viewing pagodas
• Tingtao Cafe with rainbow-coloured stairs – a colourful camouflaged cafe that was a former marine base
• Bitou Seashore Park – explore around the pagoda and rocky shore
• Bitou Fishing Harbour – see fishing boats and try a seaweed jelly drink

How to get to Bitoujiou from Taipei : take the express TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Fulong Station. Then walk two minutes to the Fulong bus stop on Xinglong Street and wait for bus 791. After about 30 minutes, alight at the Bitoujiao (Bitou Service Area) bus stop. The entire journey takes about 2 hours.

Want a fun way to get around small towns?  Learn how you can rent a scooter outside of Taipei

Which day trip from Taipei are you going to take?

I hope all of them because each of these day trips from Taipei is fun and different from one another. I really like these destinations because you can easily get there without renting a car. This is definitely a perk for a solo traveller!

Which day trip from Taipei do you like the most? Leave a comment below. Or, if you think other Taipei day trips should be part of the list, let me know as well.

Thank you for reading my post on Taipei day trips

You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan:

Introduction to Taiwan

• Things to know before visiting Taiwan  
• How and where to buy a Taiwan prepaid SIM card
• How to spend 3 weeks in Taiwan  
• 22 must-eat food in Taiwan  
• Top 10 must-try Taiwan 7-11 Food

Northern Taiwan posts

• Things to do alone in Taipei Taiwan
• Where to stay in Taipei for solo travellers
• Dadaocheng Taipei: what to do, buy and eat on Dihua Street  
• 9 Places to eat breakfast in Taipei  
• Top 21 food to try in Ximending in Taipei  
• A complete beginner’s guide to Beitou Hot Spring
• How to travel from Taipei to Jiufen  
• Bitoujiao Trail: short and easy hike from Taipei or Yilan
• Monka Hotel: affordable Taipei boutique hotel
• Kimpton Da’an Hotel: best luxury boutique hotel in Taipei

Like this post? Pin it on your Pinterest board!

queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I've been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!

Further Reading...

What to do in Sun Moon Lake Taiwan: 2-day Itinerary for Solo Travellers

Solo Travel Taipei: 20 Things to do in Taipei Alone

Hualien Food Guide: Where and What to Eat in Hualien, Taiwan

Aiesha Parker-Hicks

So glad to have found your wonderful space! I’m intrigued by Taiwan after a delicious experience at Joy in Los Angeles. I only speak english and was looking at an Airbnb in Toucheng Township. Any thoughts on that specific area? ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾

Hi Aiesha, Taiwanese food is so good! It is one of the reasons why I keep going back! Toucheng is a small town and you can see everything in 1 day. I was looking for Airbnb in Yilan and found the best ones in Toucheng. You can stay there and use it as a homebase and see other areas in Yilan and also places east of Taipei like Jiufen, Shifen, etc. As for language, I think its fine if you don’t speak mandarin. As long as you have googlemaps to navigate, translation app to order food, then that’s all you need. Most signs are in English. Hope this helps!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Where to Stay in Kyoto for First Time Traveller: Best Areas and Hotel Reviews

10 off the beaten path travel destinations for solo travellers, ms travel solo.

Best Time to Visit

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Guide

Best Taiwan Hotels

Top Things to Do in Taiwan

Best Beaches

Food to Try

Top Things to Do in Taipei

Best Museums

Best Restaurants

Nightlife Guide

Getting Around Taipei

Day Trips From Taipei

The 10 Best Day Trips From Taipei

Lauren is a freelance journalist who primarily writes about travel, food, and drinks. Her work has appeared in 100+ publications, including The Daily Meal , Cheapflights.com , KAYAK, Seeker , En Voyage (EVA Air’s inflight magazine), Time Out Beijing, Zagat, Newsweek International, Dorsia, Fodors, The Active Times, About.com, ThoughtCo , City Weekend, United Press International, and more.

Taiwan’s capital is packed with endless options for dining, exploring, and entertainment, but there are many day trips worth taking outside the city. From Wulai’s waterfalls and aboriginal culture to Jiaosi’s hot springs to Pingxi’s lanterns and charm, there is much to see and do just beyond Taipei’s city limits. 

All the day trips listed here are accessible via public transportation and can be completed in one day (although, once you arrive at any of these destinations, you may decide to stay for the night, which is relatively easy to do). Your biggest challenge? Deciding where to go first.

Alishan National Park: Awesome Sunrises and Instagram-worthy Scenery

Enduring shivering temperatures to watch the dawn break at Alishan National Park in the southern town of Chiayi is a quintessential Taiwanese experience. This isn’t a typical fiery sunrise, but one in which the pitch-black horizon, 6,561-plus feet above sea level, instantly erupts in rays of dramatic light that pierce a sea of fog and fluffy clouds. Blink and you’ll miss the spectacle. 

The sunrise is best viewed from Bihu Observation Deck, Eryanping Trail, and Duigaoyue Lookout, which are accessible via the Zhushan train line. Meanwhile, the equally enchanting sunset is best seen from Mount Erjian Trail, Eryanping Trail, Ciyun Temple, and Provincial Highway 18. To catch a glimpse of Alishan's famous sea of clouds, head to the Taiping Suspension Bridge, Eryanping Trail, or Ciyun Temple.

Getting There: Take the High Speed Train from Taipei to Chiayi HSR Station (90 minutes). Then, transfer from Chiayi HSR Station Exit 2 to the express bus BRT to Chiayi Train Station (about 25 minutes). From there, board the high-altitude Alishan Forest Railway, which winds its way through Alishan and stops at key lookout spots.

If you take the Alishan Forest Railway, you’ll need to plan in advance; tickets are only sold the day prior to departure, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the second floor of Alishan Station. Note that departure times change daily and the number of train passengers is limited.

Travel Tips: For two weeks each March or April, throngs of visitors flock here to see the sakura (Japanese cherry blossoms) in bloom. The best time to visit, especially during peak periods, is during the week when the crowds are fewer. The temperature changes dramatically from sunrise to day and day to sunset, so dress warmly in layers.

Jinguashi & Jiufen: Gold, Tea, and Sunsets

The former gold-mining town of Jinguashi and neighboring Jiufen are a retro respite from bustling Taipei. Visit Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, which offers a retrospective of the area’s history, from a Prisoner of War camp during the Japanese Occupation, to the epicenter of Taiwan’s brief gold rush, to an increasingly popular tourist spot after decades of dormancy. Carve out time to visit the Gold Museum, which has exhibits on the history of Jinguashi and a 485-pound gold brick. From here, visitors can opt to take an easy two-hour hike or a 10-minute bus ride to Jiufen.

If you opt for the hike, begin at Shanjian Road Tourist Trail, which offers stunning views and a moderate trek through a former Japanese POW mining camp. The scenic route ends at the top of Jishan Street in Jiufen. Meander the cobblestone road all the way down Mt. Jilong until it intersects with Shuchi Street, a laddered lane of 362 steps flanked by tea shops, cafés, and shops. Stop for a steaming pot of tea and admire the sunset; as the sun dips behind the mountains, red lanterns illuminate the street, creating a memorable nod to yesteryear that earned Jiufen the nickname “Little Shanghai.”

Getting There: Take a train (45 minutes) from Taipei Main Station to Rueifang and transfer to a bus headed for Jinguashi. When you get to Jinguashi, take a bus to Jiufen or hike along the Shanjian Road Tourist Trail.

Travel Tips: The museums are closed on Mondays. Gold Ecological Park has a gold panning experience, but it’s an extremely remote chance to pan more than gold dust or fools’ gold.

Pingxi & Shifen: Launch Lanterns and Get Lucky

The small village of Pingxi and its neighboring hamlet of Shifen have become synonymous with paper lanterns ever since its coal mines were shuttered at the end of the 20th century. While the Shifen Waterfall and Taiwan Coal Mining Museum are popular attractions, it's the lantern-making and launching that annually attracts thousands of visitors. Take time to stroll the shops along Shifen Old Street. While some shopkeepers will demonstrate how to make one, all of them sell colorful lanterns in which you write your wishes before launching yours into the sky.

Getting There: Take the East Line local train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station, then transfer to the Pingxi Line (one hour). Having once transported coal and miners, this small rail line transports tourists today using the same century-old track and switches along 8 miles of railway.

Travel Tip: During the annual Pingxi Sky Lantern Festiva l (in January or February, depending on the lunar calendar), there are special buses from Taipei to Pingxi. While most folks visit the village during the Lunar New Year, visitors can launch lanterns any day of the year.

Sun Moon Lake: Biking, Boating, and Beauty

Arguably the most romantic place in Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan is the country's largest freshwater lake. It gets its name thanks to an island in the center of the lake that separates it into two parts: one shaped like a crescent moon and the other like the sun. Located 2,454 feet above sea level, the alpine lake is best explored by boat and bike. Start with a boat tour before renting a bicycle to navigate the 2-mile Xiangshan Bike Trail that borders the lake. 

Getting There: Take the High Speed Train from Taipei Main Station and alight at Taichung HSR Station (one hour). From there, go to the first floor, Exit 5, and wait at the third platform for the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Sun Moon Lake. 

Travel Tip: Autumn brings the most visitors to Sun Moon Lake with festivals and events like the Sun Moon Lake International Fireworks Festival . Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring and fireflies are abundant in the summer.

Jiaosi: Coastal Hot Spring Escape

Located on the fan-shaped Lanyang Plain, Jiaosi is an idyllic township in Yilan on Taiwan’s northeast coast. The main draw here are the odorless sodium bicarbonate hot springs. Unlike the smelly sulfuric hot springs in Beitou and Wulai, the springs here are used to grow vegetables and produce mineral water, and the geothermal heat warms the groundwater that creates Jiaosi’s therapeutic soaks. Several luxury hotels offer hot springs, some en suite. 

Getting There: Take the Capital Bus from Taipei City Hall Bus Station or Kamalan Bus from opposite the Technology Building MRT station to Jiaosi (50 minutes). 

Travel Tips: Stay longer than a day to take a dolphin- or whale-watching tour and explore nearby Turtle Island, an active volcanic island and ecological park 5.5 miles from Taiwan’s coast. It's open to visitors from March to November; advance reservations are required. Other popular attractions in the area include the Lanyang Museum and black sand beach in Toucheng, and the National Center for Traditional Arts and Luodong Night Market in Loudong.

Taroko National Park: Treacherous Trails and a Massive Marble Gorge

Established in 1986, Taroko National Park boasts one of Taiwan’s most popular natural wonders: the Taroko Gorge, a 11.8-mile marble gorge. The 227,33-acre park is easily traversed via the Central Cross-Island Highway by car, bus, or scooter. Start with a park orientation at the Visitor Center, which features exhibition halls and offers maps.

Don’t miss walkable routes like:

• Swallow Grotto Trail: This 0 . 85-mile path features the famous Indian Head Rock formation.
• Tunnel of Nine Turns: The 1.18-mile tunnel route offers breathtaking views of the marble gorge, river, and limestone cliffs.
• Eternal Spring Shrine Trail: A loop trail that starts at the Central Cross-Island Highway Changchun Bridge and meanders past Miluo Cave and Changchun Shrine, devoted to the 226 men who died building the Central Cross-Island Highway. From there, you'll take a steep, Z-shaped trail known as the Stairway to Heaven; it leads to Guanyin Cave, Taroko Tower, and the Bell Tower, which affords a bird’s-eye view of the Liwu River. The trail ends at the Changuang Temple Arch Gate.
• Suspension Bridge: A vertigo-inducing suspension bridge leads to a steep and treacherous hike up the Zhuilu Cliffs, 1,640 feet above the Liwu River. The white-knuckle path takes you to Zhuilu Old Road. Access is limited; folks wishing to trek along the treacherous 6.4-mile route must apply for a park entry permit from Taroko National Park and a mountain entry permit from the Taroko National Park Police (03-862-1405).

Getting There: Take a train from Taipei to Xincheng (Taroko) Station (two to three hours). From there, buy a one-day Taroko shuttle bus ticket.

Travel Tip: Most visitors find it easiest to join an organized tour or rent a car or scooter. If you drive, be aware that from Suao to Hualien, the highway runs along precipitous cliffs. Watch out for rock falls, which are more frequent after typhoons and earthquakes.

Wulai: Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and Aboriginal Culture

Wulai is the northernmost settlement for Atayal, Taiwan’s second largest Aboriginal group who have called Wulai home for more than 7,000 years. Take in the splendor of Wulai Waterfall before strolling the Wulai Aboriginal Culture Village, where members of the Atayal tribe outfitted in traditional, red, two-piece argyle dresses sell woven handbags and clothing and perform song-and-dance shows. Get a bird’s-eye view of Wulai from the cable car that whisks travelers to the top of Wulai Waterfall.

Head back down the mountain to Wulai Street, an old road populated with the Wulai Atayal Museum ; souvenir shops selling pastel-colored mochi; and restaurants serving Atayal cuisine like mountain boar, zhútong fàn (rice steamed in bamboo tubes), and delicacies made of millet. End the day with a free soak in the Wulai hot springs off Wen Quan Road. 

Getting There: Take the Xindian MRT line to Xindian; then, transfer to bus 1601 or take a 20-minute taxi ride. Alternatively, take a specially-marked bus directly from Taipei Main Station or Xindian MRT station to Wulai. Buses stop at the edge of Wulai Village’s old street (30 minutes).

Travel Tips: Bring your bathing suit for the roadside hot springs. The area is unlit at night and the unmarked path is uneven, so it’s best to arrive before nightfall.

Yangmingshan National Park: Hikes, Nature, and Hot Springs

Hikers can follow in the footsteps of Chiang Kai-shek who crisscrossed Yangmingshan’s bucolic peaks and floral fields. Located above the Taipei basin, city slickers flock here for the fresh air and hiking. Each of Yangmingshan National Park’s 30 peaks afford panoramic views of the capital. Volcanic gasses that fuel the 18 hot spring areas are a reminder that this is technically an active volcano, although the last eruption was 300,000 years ago. 

There are a multitude of hikes in the 28,305 acres of Yangmingshan National Park. Get oriented at the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters and Visitor Center, which has displays on the park’s geology, flora, fauna, and maps. Hiking options include:

• The Bird Watching Trail: Glimpse more than 20 species of birds like the Taiwan blue magpie and the Formosan whistling thrush during this two-hour, mostly flat, forested hike. It begins at Erziping Recreation Area in the western part of Yangmingshan and ends at the camping area at Qixingshan. 
• Qixingshan Summit: The vigorous hike to the rock-strewn summit, northern Taiwan’s tallest peak at 3,674 feet, takes three to four hours. Start at Xiaoyoukeng on the mountain’s northwest side (take minibus 15 to the last stop).
• Butterfly Corridor: A family-friendly, 1.2-mile trail that begins on the outskirts of the 864-acre Datun Nature Park (a volcanic basin) and ends two hours later at Erziping Recreation Area. Butterflies flutter year-round but especially in May and June.  

After a day of hiking, take a dip in Lengshuikeng (cold water pit); the mildly alkaline water, containing iron oxide, is cool year-round. Or, soak in scalding hot springs at one of the bath houses dotted along Yang Jin Highway.

Getting There: Take the Taipei Metro to Shilin Station and then transfer to red bus 5. Or, take Bus 260 from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan. Bus 108 makes a loop around the center of the national park’s most popular attractions. 

Travel Tips: Weekdays are the ideal time to visit as it’s less crowded. Azaleas, the official flower of Taipei City, can be seen in February and March in the northwestern section of Yangmingshan.

Yehliu Geopark: Out-of-This-World Landscape

Located on a cape in Wanli in northern Taiwan, Yehliu Geopark looks like something out of a trip to Mars. Strong winds are what's behind the trippy formations of random yet familiar shapes: mushrooms, a drumstick, a candle, and a lion’s head. The most famous of the amber-hued volcanic rock and shale formations here is the one that resembles a queen’s head. The strong winds that batter the cape seemingly threaten to overturn this iconic piece.

Getting There: Hop on the Kuo-Kuang Company Bus 1815 (adjacent to Taipei Main Station) bound for Jinshan Youth Activity Center, and get off at Yehliu (45-60 minutes). Or, take the Jinshan-bound express bus from Tamshui station (near the Tamshui MRT station), and get off at the Yehliu stop. You can also take the express bus at National Taiwan University bound for Jinshan and exit at the Yehliu stop. 

Travel Tip: The park is divided into three areas, so save time to explore each one. It’s extremely windy: Dress accordingly.

Yingge: Admire Art and Make Your Own Pottery

Local artisans have been making pottery in Yingge for more than 200 years. Start at New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum ; Taiwan’s first museum dedicated to ceramics, it examines the development of the material in Taiwan through its permanent collection. After, stroll the pottery shops along Yingge Old Street where you can try your hand at making your own handicrafts.

Getting There: Take the local train from Taipei Main Station to Yingge Station (35 minutes).

Travel Tip: The New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum is closed on the first Monday of each month. Audio guides are available in English.

The Top 15 Things to Do in Taiwan

The 10 Best Beaches in Taiwan

Weather in Taiwan: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

The 11 Best Day Trips from New Orleans

The 11 Best Day Trips From Buffalo

Day Trips and Vacation Side Trips from San Francisco

The 9 Best Day Trips From Salt Lake City

The 28 Best Day Trips From Seattle

The Best Time to Visit Taiwan

The Best Day Trips From Lexington, Kentucky

Getting Around Taipei: Guide to Public Transportation

The 13 Best Day Trips from Boston

The 9 Best Beaches in Singapore

The Top 10 Museums to Visit in and Around Taipei

Yangmingshan National Park: The Complete Guide

The 15 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles

The 15 Best Day Trips From Taipei (2023)

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 23, 2023

Categories Taiwan

Taipei is a wonderful city, not only are there a ton of things to do within the city itself, there are also many amazing day trips from Taipei for a fun day out.

Secluded mountainous villages, beautiful beaches , historic sites, and National Parks are all within reach from Taipei.

Here you can read about 15 great Taipei day trip options, plus information about what to do and how to get there.

Day trips from Taipei

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Taipei day trips: map

Click here for the interactive map .

15 great options for a fun day trip from Taipei

Plan your Taiwan trip like a pro with these tools: ? Pick up an EasyCard for cashless payments and to use public transport. ? Book discounted tickets for Taiwan's high-speed rail. ? Stay connected with a  Taiwan Wifi router . ? Plan your journey with the  T aiwan Lonely Planet . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Klook or Get Your Guide . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Beitou is a district just north of Taipei and it strongly reminded me of Japan . This isn't surprising since this area was developed during the Japanese rule in Taiwan.

Beitou is an area with natural hot springs and thermal activity. In the village, there are many public and private hot springs where you can soak in the hot sulfurous water.

While this should definitely be one of your activities during your Beitou day trip, there are a lot of other things to do in Beitou as well.

Be sure to visit Thermal Valley (also known as Hell Valley), the most famous tourist attraction in Beitou. This beautiful steaming pool has a mesmerizing blue-green color and a temperature between 90-100°C.

At the Beitou Hot Springs Museum, you can learn about the Beitou hot spring culture and admire beautiful old photos of what the town looked like in the past.

Other places to visit in Beitou are the Plum Garden, Ketagalan Culture Center, and Beitou Park. Be sure to admire Beitou Library, it's a beautifully designed building.

You can enter as well, just keep in mind the library is actually in use so you'll have to be very quiet.

If you are also interested in exploring the surrounding Yangmingshan National Park, this one day tour is an excellent option .

How to get to Beitou

Beitou Hot Spring village is easily reached from Taipei city center by MRT. The Red Line (Tamsui–Xinyi) stops at Beitou Station, here you can change to Xinbeitou MRT station.

The ride from Taipei Main Station takes approximately 30 minutes and costs 35NT$.

EasyCard If you plan on using the MRT during your Taipei trip, which I highly recommend as it's a very convenient, fast, and cheap way to travel, the easiest way to pay for your MRT rides is with an EasyCard . This card can be used to pay for transportation, but also for cashless transactions at many convenience stores in Taiwan. Click here to buy an EasyCard online

Stay in Beitou

If you want to spend more time in Beitou, there are plenty of nice places to spend the night. Accommodation here isn't cheap, as Beitou is quite a popular place to visit near Taipei.

Check out the Aqua Bella Hotel or Beitou Hot Spring Resort for a comfortable stay.

Tamsui (Danshui) is a lovely seaside district north of Taipei, located at the outlet of the Tamsui River.

This is one of the best day trips Taipei has to offer, both due to its easy accessibility as well as the many worthwhile places to visit in Tamsui.

There are many historic sites in Tamsui, as it was occupied both by the Spanish as well as the Dutch in the 17th century. Worthwhile sights in Tamsui are:

• Yinshan Temple
• The Former British Consulate Residence
• Fort San Domingo (also known as Hongmao Castle)
• Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf and Lover's Bridge

An excellent way to end a Tamsui day trip is by watching the sunset. So grab a bite to eat at one of the many seafood restaurants before heading to the Lover's Bridge to see the sun setting into the Taiwan Strait.

How to get to Tamsui

Tamsui is easily reached from Taipei city center by MRT.

The Tamsui–Xinyi line ends at this MRT station so all you have to do is hop aboard the Red Line for a 38-minute ride to Tamsui Station (50NT$ from Taipei Main Station).

Maokong is a pretty village on the outskirts of Taipei, located on the top of a 400-meter-high ‘mountain'.

Offering splendid views over Taipei as well as many things to do, a Maokong day trip is a must when visiting Taiwan's beautiful capital.

Known for the cultivation of high-quality tea, it's not surprising there are many teahouses in the village. To learn more about the art of growing tea, visit the Tea Research and Promotion Centre.

If you really want to immerse yourself in Taipei's tea culture, consider taking this Tea Culture day tour .

There are several trails in the Maokong area, I recommend the short but steep hike to the Silver Stream Waterfall, also known as the Yinhe cave.

The beautiful Zhinan Temple was built in 1890 and is also worth a visit. Note the temple isn't located at the top of the hill but has a separate gondola stop. You can either visit on your way up or back down.

How to get to Maokong

To get to Maokong, take the MRT to Taipei Zoo (the last stop on the Wenhu Line). From Taipei Main Station this takes around 30 minutes, and the fare is 35NT$.

From Taipei Zoo MRT Station it's only a 500-meter walk to the Taipei Zoo Gondola Station, the gondola will take you to Maokong in 17-37 minutes (depending on the system speed).

Click here to buy your Maokong Gondola ticket online . You can also pay with your EasyCard .

Please note that the Maokong Gondola is closed on Mondays, however, you can also get to Maokong by bus.

Bus S10 leaves from Taipei Zoo MRT station and costs 15NT per person. While it's a very scenic drive, the road has many twists and turns so it may not be suitable for those with motion sickness.

Wulai is another excellent day trip in Taipei and was recommended to us by several locals.

If it hadn't been pouring we would have stayed the entire day. Despite the rain, we still loved Wulai. It's a charming village, the water has an amazing blue color and the forest is lush and green.

Wulai means ‘ hot spring water ‘ and there are several private hot springs facilities in the village. Check out the Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort for a luxurious stay and their famous hot spring experience.

One of the best things to do in Wulai is hiking to the impressive 80-meter-high Wulai Waterfall (pictured above on the left). The Wulai Falls are located about 1.5 kilometers from town and are beautiful in any season.

Those interested in longer hikes can check out the Jia Jiu Liao Trail (20 kilometers) or the Fu-Ba National Trail (18 kilometers).

Wulai is home to one of the largest indigenous tribes in Taiwan, the Atayal. In the Wulai Atayal Museum, you can learn more about their culture, way of life, and tradition of facial tattoos.

On Wulai Old Street you can spend quite a bit of time browsing through the many stalls offering aboriginal food and local produce, be sure to sample some of the snacks that are sold here!

How to get to Wulai

From Taipei Main Station the MRT takes about 25 minutes to Xindian Station, the last stop on the green line (30NT$).

Here you can catch bus 849 to Wulai (15NT$), the ride takes around 40 minutes and the scenery along the way is beautiful.

5. Juming Museum and Yehliu Geopark

Chloe from Chloe's Travelogue : when travelers look for day trip destinations from Taipei, Jinshan is rarely coming to their minds.

However, this rural district on the northern coast of Taiwan is a hidden gem that deserves more attention. Juming Museum and the more famous Yehliu Geopark are two attractions you can see in one day.

Juming Museum  is an 11-hectare art park secretly tucked in the lush greenery of Jinshan Mountain. It's home to the most extensive sculpture collection of world-renowned Taiwanese artist Juming.

The large outdoor sculpture park has various themed areas divided by the artist’s sculpture series.

Enjoy your uninterrupted peaceful moment in the uncrowded natural parkland while appreciating Juming’s artwork, including the most acclaimed Taichi Series.

After you visit the Juming Museum, swing by Yehliu Geopark. Yehliu is a fine example of Taiwan’s unique geological landscape and is only a 30-minute bus ride away from the Museum. 

The coastal park features unique rock formations that Mother Nature created with the Northeast monsoon and wave erosion.

Check out the iconic Queen’s Head (pictured above) and try to spot Fairy’s Shoe, Dragon Head, and other interesting shapes. These rocks continue to erode, so be sure to visit before they disappear!

Click here to buy your entrance ticket for Yehliu Geopark online.

How to get to Juming Museum and Yehliu Geopark

From Taipei to Juming Museum : from the Taipei Main Station bus terminal, take the KuoKang bus (1815) to the Jinshan District office stop. Here you can hop on the complimentary museum shuttle bus. 

From Juming Museum to Yehliu Geopark : take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle #862. To get back to Taipei Main Station from Yehliu, take bus 1815.

The bus stop can be found on the main road just outside the park entrance.

6. Wanli UFO Village

Helen from Differentville : if you love modern architecture, spooky mysteries, or urban exploring, you’re going to want to take a day trip to the Wanli UFO village, about a 90-minute bus ride from Taipei.

Here, located by the side of Wanli beach, is a collection of incredible houses that look like they’re about to take off for space any second.

Known as Futuro Houses, they were designed as ski lodges in the 1960s. Only a few hundred were ever made, and not many are left, so being able to go inside this village of abandoned homes is really quite special.

Except, you have to ask yourself why were they abandoned. No one really knows but rumors of curses and graveyards abound ( read more here ).

Remember, they are abandoned and some are rotten so you need to use caution when exploring. Watch your step and wear closed-toe shoes.

Also, some of the houses have now been taken over by families. If the home looks lived in, it probably is, so please don’t try to go inside.

There’s not much else to do around the houses and no facilities, so take drinks and snacks if you need them. You can also combine a trip to Wanli UFO village with a visit to Yehliu Geopark (#5) which is just up the road.  

How to get to Wanli UFO Village

As with day trip #5 to Juming Museum and Yehliu Geopark, you can take the 1815 bus (KuoKang) headed towards Jinshan Youth Activity Center from Taipei Main Station.

Stay on the bus until you reach the stop called Feicui Bay, get out here and follow the road toward the sea, you’ll soon spot the houses.

Here you can find more information about the KuoKang 1815 bus route .

Emily from Wander-Lush : if you’re looking for a slightly offbeat day trip from Taipei,  Keelung City  is brimming with history, heritage, and good food.

Keelung is less popular than other destinations on Taiwan’s northern coast, which makes it a great place to slip away from the crowds for a couple of hours.

Keelung is best known for its food scene and the colossal Keelung Miaokou Night Market. The market kicks off around midday and specializes in seafood (no surprise, given its location).

Unlike some other night markets in Taipei, Miaokou consists of small restaurants rather than stands. It’s great for a sit-down meal and for people-watching.

Keelung specialties include  Youfan  (sticky rice), crab soup, and  Shenji Paopao , a shaved iced dessert.

Another must-see in Keelung is Zhongzheng Park, a religious complex located in the hills above the city. It’s quite a climb (wear your sensible shoes), but the views from the top are worth it.

Inside the park, you’ll find a 25-meter-high statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and a beautiful temple.

Every year, the park plays host to the Ghost Festival, one of Taiwan’s biggest calendar events. Lantern parades and folk art performances that blend Taoist and Buddhist traditions are a highlight.

If you’re visiting Taipei in August or September, it’s a must-do.

Along Keelung harbor, there are many hidden treasures that allude to the city’s prosperous past, including Spanish and Dutch ruins.

Khóo Tsú-song Old Mansion, a decaying house in the hills, was built by a wealthy merchant and later abandoned, is a favorite spot for urbexing and offers more panoramic views.

How to get to Keelung

Located 40 minutes by bus from downtown Taipei, Keelung is a small port city located on a natural harbor.

It sits roughly halfway between Jiufen Old Street and Wanli. To get there, take the Fuxing Shuttle from Songshan Station.

Nicholas from Rambling Feet : Shifen (十分) is a tiny town that has a historic feel about it. The railway track runs right through the middle of the old street, with little shops flanking either side.

When a train isn't passing through, the track is filled with tourists either crossing from one side to the other or launching sky lanterns.

Many of the old street shops sell these lanterns for up to 200NT$. It is a ritual of sorts to paint one's wishes on a lantern, light it up, and let them float away into the sky.

Another must-do activity in Shifen involves a 30-minute hike to the Shifen waterfall. The path is paved and includes a suspension bridge.

There are many viewing points along the way and there are a couple of scenic spots close to the shops.

The waterfall is breathtaking to watch and the amount of spray it releases lives up to its ‘miniature Niagara Falls' moniker.

How to get to Shifen

Shifen can easily be combined with a trip to Jiufen (#10) and Heping Island Park. This can either be done independently or as part of an organized tour .

Another excellent option is this tour , which includes Yehliu Geopark (#5), Jiufen (#10), and Shifen (#8).

When visiting Shifen independently, you can travel from Taipei to Shifen by train or shuttle bus. From Taipei Main Station, take a train to Ruifang.

Here you can change to the Pingxi Railway Line (平溪線), Shifen is the 4th stop.

The other, very convenient option, is taking a tourist shuttle bus. The Muzha Pingxi Line stops at Shifen Visitors Center, you can pay for the bus with your EasyCard .

The Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass • The tourist shuttle bus to Shifen is also included in the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass . It's worth looking into this pass as it can save you a lot of time (no more queuing!) and money. • The Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass gives you free access to 25 top tourist attractions in Taipei, New Taipei City, and Keelung City as well as unlimited rides on the Taipei MRT, buses, and Taiwan Tourist Shuttles. Read more about the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass here .

9. Houtong Cat Village

Caroline from CK Travels : ‘Feline’ like a new adventure in Taiwan? Time to head to the  Houtong Cat Village , situated on the famous Pingxi rail line and one of the most unique day trips out of Taipei.

You know you are in for something quite different from the moment you arrive at the station, which has a pedestrian bridge shaped like a cat and is kitted out with cat-scratching posts.

There is even a huge plastic cat figurine with a station master's hat ‘guarding’ the entrance.

Houtong is a mountainside village approximately 40km from Taipei that is now a self-proclaimed ‘cat village’. It is easy to see why cats and kittens roam the streets and are cared for by the locals.

Some live with owners whilst some are strays but still have access to cat boxes and dens built by the village community.

As you’d expect, there are also lots of cat-related gift shops selling all manner of moggy merchandise.

You can also enjoy drinks in a cat cafe and several shops sell cat beer, we aren’t sure if it is meant for tourists or the cats themselves!

Houtong is a former mining town, so there are also other non-cat-themed attractions like a mini-mining train that goes through all sorts of tunnels (not really our thing but the tour groups seemed to like it).

How to get to Houtong Cat Village?

From Taipei Main Station you can take a train to Ruifang station. At Ruifang Station, transfer to the Pingxi Line. A day ticket from Ruifang Station is 100NT$ and Houtong Cat Village is the first stop.

Houtong itself isn’t huge so you could combine this day trip with a visit to Shifen (#8), Pingxi, and Jingtong (all along the same Pingxi train line).

Allan from Live Less Ordinary : rumor has it that Hayao Miyazaki drew inspiration for the Ghibli classic ‘Spirited' from the coastal hill town of Jiufen.

And it is hard not to draw comparisons from the steep stairs and alleys decorated with pretty lanterns, the Japanese Ryokans and bathhouses, and the fixation on eating and food.

Jiufen was known already for its gold rush times and for WWII when POWs were sent to work in the mines.

With everything the town has to offer, it's a fascinating (though admittedly touristy) destination to explore.

I recommend staying until darkness falls, that is when the village truly comes to life with beautiful lights and lanterns around Jiufen Old Street.

How to get to Jiufen

Jiufen can easily be done as a day tour from Taipei as there are both train and bus options to reach the somewhat remote coastal hilltown.

The easiest way to get to Juifen is to take a train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, the district where Jiufen is located, before hopping on a bus to the town itself. The journey takes around 90 minutes.

There is a direct bus from Juifen back to Taipei. You can find more details about traveling from Taipei to Jiufen here . Alternatively, you can join the aforementioned tour to Jiufen, Yehliu, and Shifen .

11. Fulong Beach

Those looking for a nice beach near Taipei instead of a cultural day trip can't go wrong with Fulong Beach. 

This 3km golden sand beach can be found in the popular resort town called Fulong in New Taipei City. At Fulong Beach you can go for a swim, spend the day kayaking or windsurfing or simply lie back and relax.

There is a small entrance fee for the beach (100NT$ for adults and 10NT$ for kids) and the beach is accessible all year.

The main event at Fulong Beach is the annual Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival, which is held between April and August. If you happen to travel to Taiwan during this festival, be sure to visit!

Both national, as well as international artists, come to Fulong to create impressive sand sculptures, some are several meters tall. Another fun event is the Hohaiyan Rock Festival which is held in July.

If you don't want to spend an entire day at the beach, consider hiking the nearby Caoling Historic Trail , a wonderful 8.5km trail that starts at Fulong Station and ends at Dali Station.

How to get to Fulong

There are two convenient options, you can either take a train to Fulong Station from Taipei Station, which will take between 60 and 90 minutes (depending on the type of train).

The beach is a 10-minute walk north of Fulong Station. 

Alternatively, you can take one of the five tourist shuttle buses, the Gold Fulong Shuttle Bus Line, which takes you to Fulong Visitor Center.

If you have the Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass , rides on this bus are free, otherwise, pay with your EasyCard .

12. Hsinchu

Thanh from The Daily Tourist : if you are looking for fun day tours from Taipei, you shouldn't miss Hsinchu, the oldest city in Northern Taiwan.

There are many amazing things to see and do in Hsinchu, here are some of the most popular ones.

One of the best places to visit in Hsinchu is Eighteen Peaks Mountain Park. This expansive lunar-shaped forest park was cultivated during the Japanese Colonial Era.

A popular spot for locals and travelers alike, Eighteen Peaks Mountain Park offers many recreational activities. Go for a hike, enjoy a picnic, or try to find all the 1-meter tall statues of Guanyin (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) scattered around the park.

One of the most beautiful places in Hsinchu is Ching-Tsao Lake, also known as Green Grass Lake.

There is an island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a lovely garden. You can access the island via the Yingyue Bridge.

The Hsinchu City God Temple or Chenghuang Temple is one of the most vibrant and colorful places in the entire city.

Many people from all over the country come to visit this temple and worship here. If you are lucky, you may even see a traditional Taiwanese opera being performed in the courtyard!

Next to the temple, there are several stalls right selling different kinds of Taiwanese street foods. Be sure to sample some of the yummy goodies sold here!

How to get to Hsinchu

From Taipei Main Station you can hop aboard the HSR train to Hsinchu HSR Station.

The train ride only takes around 30 minutes, however, at Hsinchu HSR Station you'll have to catch the free THSR shuttle bus to get to the city center (20-30 minutes, depending on traffic).

Click here to buy a discounted Taipei – Hsinchu HSR Ticket online.

13. Taichung

While a day trip from Taipei to Taichung may seem far, Taiwan's excellent public transport makes it a feasible option.

Taichung is Taiwan's second most populous city and you can easily spend a couple of days here. However, if you are limited in time, a Taipei to Taichung day trip is a good alternative.

Taichung offers a myriad of fun activities, you can admire colorful street art at Painted Animation Lane and Rainbow Village, stroll around Calligraphy Greenway or visit the CMP Block Museum of Arts.

Get an ice cream from the famous Miyahara store, the interior resembles Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies and has to be seen to be believed…

How to get to Taichung

Train (HSR):  Taichung is only an hour from Taipei by HSR (high-speed rail), a ticket costs 675NT$ for a non-reserved seat and 700NT$ for a reserved seat. You can buy a discounted HSR ticket online here .

Trains depart from Taipei Main Station, you’ll have to disembark at Wurih, which isn’t located in downtown Taichung.

From Wurih, either catch a bus (which can take another hour) or a taxi (20-30 minutes, depending on traffic) to get to the city center of Taichung. Bus : regular buses to Taiching depart from Taipei Bus Station (just north of Taipei Main Station), the journey takes around 2 hours and 50 minutes and a bus ticket is usually around 300NT$.

Buses arrive at Taichung Bus Terminal which is in the city center, making this a slightly longer but convenient way to travel to Taichung.

Organized tour : another excellent option is this Taichung day tour from Taipei , where you will visit several of the most popular sights in Taichung together with a knowledgeable tour guide.

Transportation is included and prices are very reasonable.

Click here to book a Taichung Classic Day Tour from Taipei

Stay in Taichung

If you want to spend more time in Taichung, there are many accommodation options suitable for any budget.

• Budget (less than €30): Modern Inn (check Agoda / Booking for availability)
• Mid-range (less than €100): Airline Inn Green Park Way (check Agoda / Booking for availability)
• Luxury (over €150): The Splendor Hotel Taichung (check Agoda / Booking for availability)

14. Taroko Gorge

I'll start by saying that I highly recommend spending more time on Taiwan's East coast. We spend a couple of days in Hualien and Taitung is a nice place to visit as well.

That being said, if you have limited time available, it's possible to take a day trip from Taipei to Taroko Gorge, just know it will be a very long day.

Taroko National Park is one of the top attractions in Taiwan and with good reason, it's absolutely stunning!

Some of the highlights in Taroko Gorge are the Swallows Grotto, the Shakadang Trail, and the Marble Bridge of Motherly Devotion.

Other points of interest are the Eternal Spring Shrine and the scenic town of Tienhsiang, which is a good place to have lunch.

Taroko Gorge was one of the highlights of our Taiwan trip and despite the (very) long trip from Taipei, I think the unique and beautiful natural scenery is worth the effort.

How to get to Taroko Gorge

The most convenient option to do a Taroko day trip from Taipei is an organized tour . From Taipei, it takes around 2.5-3 hours to get to Hualien by train.

With this Taroko Gorge Full-Day Tour, you'll be picked up from your hotel in Taipei and will travel to Hualian by train.

There, your guide will meet you and take you to Taroko National Park (where you will visit all the Taroko highlights mentioned above).

Your guide will drop you off at Hualien station where you can board a train back to Taipei.

Click here for more information about this Taipei – Taroko tour .

Stay in Hualien

If you have more time and want to spend the night in Hualien, Honey B Trip B&B was one of our favorite places to stay in Taiwan . Check the latest prices and availability on  Agoda  or  Booking .

15. Sun Moon Lake

As with Taroko Gorge and Taichung, I actually recommend spending more time at Sun Moon Lake, the largest lake in Taiwan, and one of the thirteen national scenic areas in Taiwan.

Sun Moon Lake offers beautiful scenery and has a rich indigenous culture. There are many things to see and do, some of the Sun Moon Lake highlights are:

• The Yuetan Bike Path : a 29 kilometers bike route that goes around Sun Moon Lake. You can also opt for a shorter section of approximately 12 kilometers.
• The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭:  from the Ropeway, you can enjoy stunning views over the lake and forested mountains.
• Wenwu Temple and Ci En Pagoda : these beautiful buildings‭ are highly worth a visit, both can be reached with the  Round-The-Lake-Bus .

How to get to Sun Moon Lake

You can travel to Taichung HRS Station from Taipei (about one hour) and catch a bus to Sun Moon Lake from the train station (1 hrs and 30 minutes).

However, to make to most of your limited time at Sun Moon Lake, I recommend joining a Sun Moon Lake Tour from Taipei . This Sun Moon Lake Classic Day Tour from Taipei includes transport (by minivan or HSR+car) and most of the activities mentioned above.

Book your Taipei – Sun Moon Lake tour .

Stay at Sun Moon Lake

If you plan to stay longer at Sun Moon Lake, I recommend the affordable and comfortable Itathao Hotel . Check the latest prices and availability on  Agoda or Booking .

Taipei day tour options: in conclusion

And that's 15 great options for everyone looking for the best day trip from Taipei. I wish you a wonderful time in and around Taipei!

If you have any questions about these day trips, leave a comment below or send me a message .

For more Taiwan travel inspiration, check out my Taiwan page .

• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Adventure + Outdoors
• Amusement Parks
• Backpacking Trips
• Boating + Cruises
• Budget Travel
• Bus + Train Travel
• Coasts + Islands
• Country Trips
• Fall Vacations
• Family Vacations
• Green Travel
• Heritage + History
• Honeymoons + Romance
• Inspiration + Guide
• Landmarks + Attractions
• LGBT Travel
• Markets + Bazaars
• National Parks + Reserves
• Nature + Wildlife
• Parks + Gardens
• Pets + Animals
• Photography
• Airlines + Airports
• Budgeting + Currency
• Business Travel
• Celebrity Travel
• Customs + Immigration
• Deals + Rewards
• Family Travel
• Hotels + Resorts
• Luggage + Packing Tips
• Offbeat News
• Photography Tips
• Responsible Travel
• Solo Travel
• Tech + Gear
• Travel Etiquette
• Travel Warnings
• Bars + Clubs
• Celebrity Chefs
• Restaurants + Cafés
• Wine + Vineyards
• Beach Hotels
• Boutique Hotels
• Hotel Openings
• Hotel Reviews
• Luxury Hotels
• Mountain + Ski Resorts
• Spa Resorts
• Vacation Rentals
• Asia Cruises
• European Cruises
• Festivals + Events
• Museums + Galleries
• Style + Design
• Travel’s Best
• Hotel with Agoda.com
• Hotel with Booking.com

Must eat in Georgetown — 10+ famous, must-eat & best street…

Must eat in Melaka — 10+ famous Malacca street food &…

What to do in Alishan? — 5 top attractions & best…

Hong Kong Soya sauce Chicken Rice and Noodles — The first…

Hong Kong food culture — Hong Kong cuisine tells the historical…

Melaka food blog — Experience Melaka delicacies, arrived at by Trishaw

All about tips in Nepal — How much to tip in…

Cambodia travel tips — 15+ what to know & things to…

When is the best time to visit Kyoto? — The best,…

When is the best time to visit Malaysia? — The best,…

Top hotels in Siem Reap — 8+ best places to stay…

Top hotels in shanghai — 15+ best hotels in Shanghai

Top hotels in Malacca — 10+ good & best hotels in…

Top places to stay in Bali — Top 10 best areas…

10 must-know things for your best first time European river cruise

Top 3 best luxury cruises in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Cherry blossom festival Korea 2024 — Top 5 cherry blossom festivals…

Ghibli museum blog — The fullest Ghibli museum guide for first-timers

Kyoto festival — Top 10 best events & most famous festivals…

National Palace Museum Taipei blog — What to see in National…

Japanese waterfall — Top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan in…

19+ most beautiful towns in Europe every tourist need to visit…

Georgia travel photos — 20+ captivating photos show Georgia is heaven…

Explore Damnoen Floating Market — The oldest floating market of Thailand

Visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town — One of the most charming ancient…

Mekong Delta travel blog — Beyond rivers of Southwestern Vietnam

14 reasons why you should travel when you are young

Shigaraki Tanuki – An animal symbol of good luck in Japan

Living in the charms of cave houses in Andalucia, Southern Spain

20+ jaw-dropping tiny homes around the world

Day trips out of taipei — top 8 best day trips from taipei you definitely should not miss.

Although the Taipei city enough power to keep you on a long vacation, you still have to take the trouble of “carrying your backpack and go” out the buildings, hard taxi People and motorbikes are crowded everywhere to experience other places in Taiwan. That is the reason why Living Nomads created the list of eight Taipei tourist attractions which many people can go on one day, coming from Taipei. Now, let’s discover best day trips from Taipei — 8 best places to visit near Taipei you definitely should not miss.

• Taipei itinerary 3 days — What to do in Taipei for 3 days?
• Must do in Taipei — Top 12 best places to visit & best things to do in Taipei
• Taipei itinerary 3 days — How to spend 3 days in Taipei perfectly but not for Lazies
• Where to shop in Taipei blog — 5 Cheap places to shop in Taipei & best shopping area in Taipei
• Taipei travel blog — The fullest Taipei city guide for first-timers

1. Taroko Gorge

One of the most beautiful landscapes of Taipei tourism is the marble cliffs of Taroko Gorge . You can get there by car, train, or even by the short flight. Taroko Gorge gives for guests the opportunity to experience hiking, biking, camping, river bank exploration, or strolling of the canyon to admire spectacular views of the Nine Turns Tunnel or Eternal Spring Temple. Read more:  Explore Taroko Gorge National Park — One of the most beautiful national parks in Taiwan.

2. Sun Moon Lake

Although many people come to visit Sun Moon Lake on a long day trip if you do not have time so you can go on one day. This is the largest water area in Taiwan – the home of one of the island’s indigenous tribes. Unlike other lakes in the world, Sun Moon Lake does not allow swim except for the annual tournament held during the Chinese New Year. Tourists come to this place to watch the birds, enjoy the circle round the circumference of the full moon, visit the temple and cruise on the water. You definitely do not miss the experience of boat trips to Lalu Island and enjoy the famous omelet. Read more:  Sun Moon Lake itinerary — Exploring Sun Moon Lake & Cingjing Farm for 1 day trip.

3. Danshui (Tamsui)

Danshui (or Tamsui) is a small city in the north of Taipei that has much unique shopping and great historical landmarks. The Fisherman’s Wharf is an ideal night-time attraction, particularly attracted with “Love Bridge” that will bring you beautiful angles for your “virtual life.” photos Do not forget to take a stroll along Tamsui Old Street and the river bank, visit Fort San, the Hongmao Castle which was built by Dutch in 1641.

Located at the northernmost tip of Taiwan’s island, Yehliu is an expanse of land about 1,700 meters off the ocean and formed by geological forces pushing Datun Mountain to the sea. It is home to Yehliu Geological Park, a beautiful sight on the list of most attractive natural wonders in the world. The scenery is eroded by rocks and geological points have the unique shape, named for good names as Queen’s Head, Dragon’s Head Rock, Honeycomb, Rocks, Ginger Rocks and Fairy Shoe.

The northeast coast of Taiwan Island is created by nature with many beautiful landscapes, and Yilan is one of the finest destinations for you to enjoy waterfalls, lakes, and other fascinating natural landscapes. Yilan has a unique terrain with only one direction overlooking the sea, the other three directions are mountainous. Surfing is a popular game here, although many residents of Taipei live in the mountains of this area.

Renowned for its hot springs and Aboriginal culture, you will take less than an hour to drive from Taipei. Living recommends that you should have planned to travel Taipei on weekends because of this is the time of Taipei residents escaping out of the city. Waterfall and hot spring are Wulai’s most attractive attractions, but the walking trails are very interesting for you to explore. And it would be a pity if you come back home without tasting some of the traditional Aboriginal dishes available along the main roads – especially bamboo rice and sweet potatoes.

It is called Taiwan’s ceramics paradise, Yingge is an attractive place in a short day trip from Taipei, and is the ideal destination if you are shopping and wanting to buy traditional Chinese ceramics. There is a museum of ceramics and some ceramics shops in the town, where you can try your hand at making ceramics products by yourself.

One of Yingge’s finest items is the traditional tea set and stone sculpture of the artist. There are many shops along the ceramic road sell everything from expensive price to the cheap items which are produced in the factory to the hand-made items, hand-crafted jars as much as a few thousand dollars.

8. Juifen (Chiufen)

Jiufen (Chiufen) , or Kowloon, it was located in the north of Taiwan, was a prosperous gold mining town until the 1950s. Instead of becoming a ruined city after the mining operation ended, residents of Taipei are still come here – a famous place with beautiful roads and rich teahouses. Take a walk along the Jiufen old town, enjoy a variety of local dishes, learn the Taiwanese tea culture and admire the region’s most famous mountain scenery. Read more: Visit Jifen – The most beloved destinations of Taiwan.

Read more:  Must eat food in Taipei — Top 24 best street food in Taipei & best places to eat them.

Do you want explore Taipei in a day? Refer to a tour: Explore Taipei City.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taipei you can refer to

• Taoyuan Airport Private Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Sedan Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• [SALE] Taoyuan Airport MRT Ticket & Exclusive Shopping Coupon
• Luxury Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Explore Taipei City
• Taipei Free Walking Tour Historic Route
• Taipei Double Decker Bus Tour
• Taipei Popular Sightseeing Private Car Charter : Jiufen, Pingxi, and North Coast (Chinese/English/Korean)
• Northeast Coast Scenic Day Tour
• Jiufen Shuttle Bus from Ximen
• Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen Day Tour with Korean and English Speaking Guides
• Taipei: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Shifen, and Golden Waterfall Day Tour
• EasyCard (TPE Airport Pick Up)
• Klook Pass Taipei (For international travelers)
• Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket
• Maokong Gondola Ticket
• Yeliou, Jinguashih, Juifen and Shihfen Join Day Tour
• Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass
• Taipei: Beitou and Yangmingshan One-Day Tour
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
• 4G SIM Card (TPE Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Far EasTone Telecom
• 4G WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from WiFiBB (Unlimited Data)
• 4G LTE WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Japan
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Consecutive Unlimited Pass (2 or 3 Days)
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you finding more top things to do in Taipei: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Taipei travel blog — The fullest Taipei city guide for a wonderful trip to Taipei for the first-timers.

Related articles

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Must eat in melaka — 10+ famous malacca street food & must try food in melaka, what to do in alishan — 5 top attractions & best things to do in alishan, taiwan, hong kong food culture — hong kong cuisine tells the historical story of the whole land.

Alishan travel blog — The fullest Alishan travel guide for first-timers

Gingtiangang Grassland Yangmingshan — The ultimate guide on how to go & top things to do

Tokyo best parks — 10+ best & most beautiful parks in tokyo

Yamanashi blog — The Yamanashi travel guide & top things to do in Yamanashi

Guide to Suzhou nightlife — 5+ what & best things to do in Suzhou at night

Editor picks.

Must eat in Georgetown — 10+ famous, must-eat & best street...

Must eat in Melaka — 10+ famous Malacca street food &...

What to do in Alishan? — 5 top attractions & best...

Popular posts.

What to buy in USA? — 17+ must buy in USA...

Must buy souvenir in Taiwan — Top 17+ most famous, cheap...

Must buy in Korea — Top 23 cheap, famous & best...

Popular category.

• Inspiration + Guide 1452
• Trip Inspiration 469
• Thailand 209
• Food + Drink 207
• Coasts + Islands 193
• South Korea 168
• Vietnam 166
• Travel Photos 144
• Work for Us
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

• ARCHITECTURE
• ARCHITECTURE GUIDES
• WINTER DESTINATIONS
• THE ISLANDS
• BOOKS ABOUT GREECE
• BOOKS ABOUT CHINA
• 3D PUZZLES OF FAMOUS BUILDINGS

The 5 Best Day Trips From Fantastic Taipei

To us, Taipei is the most fascinating city in Asia. In fact, we hope we can someday move to live there. Not only is it an ultra-modern city, but it is incredibly traditional and quiet at the same time. That said, and as much as we like hanging in the city, Taipei is the perfect place to base yourself and go on incredible day trips. Taiwan is not a big country, and its infrastructure is state of the art. Thus, it’s very easy to go to explore the best Taiwan has to offer on day trips. The following are the 5 we love the most. We are sure you will love them too!

The Best Day Trips From Taipei

Just a step from hip Taipei, you will find lush nature, traditional towns, culture, and unbelievable hot springs. What else could you ask for? Perfect transportation, professional service, and friendly people complete the feast. As beautiful as Taiwan is, it is people that stand out. If you get lost following our 5 best day trips from Taiwan, all you have to do is ask around. Please take note that we are not suggesting going to Kaohsiung , Tainan , or Taroko Gorge on a day trip. These places are so impressive, that they deserve at least spending a couple of days in each.

Beitou Hot Springs

The Beitou Hot Springs , north of Taipei, is the perfect place for a one day tour. In Beitou, you get the best Taiwan has to offer: nature, brilliant architecture, and culture. All of these while enjoying natural hot springs that come out of the river. Take note that you do not need to enter private hotels to enjoy the springs. The public ones are fantastic, inexpensive, authentic, and offer great views to the surrounding hills. They do get crowded though. No worries, since people in Taiwan are mega polite, you won’t have a single glitch. We got confused several times and laughed so hard when people helped us!

How to Get From Taipei to Beitou

You can go from Taipei to Beitou to enjoy the hot springs on a day trip and come back the same day. Metro trains go directly from Taipei Central Station to Beitou Station in 23 minutes. The trip there is an attraction in itself, so be sure to grab a window seat. Once in Beitou Station, connect to the Xinbeitou line. It is one station to Xinbeitou. You can also walk from Beitou Station to the springs in 15 minutes. Take Guangming Road as soon as you exit the station and walk across town. If you don’t wish to go on your own, we recommend this Beitou hot spring day trip that includes a visit to a volcano.

Beitou Itinerary

Once you exit Xinbeitou station, cross to Qixing Park. Check out Xinbeitou historic station in the park, it’s from 1916. Beitou hot springs are in adjacent Beitou Park (it’s the same park). The park itself is beautiful. Don’t rush and admire the Beitou Hot Spring Museum and the Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch in the park. Once done enjoying the baths, you have to go up the hill to the Sulfur Valley Recreation Area. It’s a 30-minute walk. Fantastic incredible views, nature, and more springs will reward your effort. Those of you into trekking will be in heaven. We recommend the Zhongzhengshan Trail, a block from Beitouquanyuan No.48 Park. You’ll find several temples and more incredible views.

Maokong Gondola and Hill

Taking the Maokong Gondola is a day trip that gets you out of the hassle of Taipei into the peace of Maokong Hill. This is the hill to the south of Taipei. The hill and surrounding area used to be tea central. Even now, local people come to Maokong to enjoy tea while admiring the best views of Taipei. Most people take the gondola after spending some time in Taipei’s Zoo. Since cages are not our thing, we are not into zoos. Thus, we skipped the zoo and enjoyed the gondola just the same. The Maokong gondola opens from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM if weather permit. You can check here the official website for the state of the gondola and exact opening hours.

How to Get From Taipei to Maokong

The fastest way to go from Taipei to Maokong is to take the Wenhu metro line to its last stop, Taipei Zoo. The Wenhu line crosses Taipei so, depending on where you are staying, you shouldn’t be far from one of its stations. In fact, this is the metro line that goes to the Songshan Airport! We took the metro from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station downtown and were in Maokong in less than an hour. The trip is mostly above the ground, so we enjoyed the views of the city. Once you exit the metro station, walk west for 5 minutes next to the road to the Gondola Station. For those of you that are not into cable cars, there is another way to go from Taipei to Maokong: Bus 51 leaves from the gondola station every 20 minutes and takes 50 minutes.

Maokong Gondola Itinerary

To go up the Maokong hill on a day trip, you have two gondola options: regular or with a glass floor. We took the Maokong glass gondola when we did our itinerary and loved seeing the trees from above. The ride to the last stop takes 10 minutes and is 10 USD return. Each paying adult is allowed 2 children under 6 for free. Seniors over 64 and children 6 to 12 pay half. You can go down to Zhinan Temple Station and walk 6 minutes to visit the impressive Taoist temple by the same name. Go back to the gondola and exit at the last station. You are in tea heaven now. Fantastic tea shops line road 38. Further down this road, you will find the Taipei Tea Promotion Center (a museum) and the famous Maokong potholes.

Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark is a natural beauty next to the sea and one of the top things to do in Taiwan . When we went there, it was raining and the sea was choppy. Though we got wet, we simply couldn’t stop walking about this impressive park. Yehliu is actually a 1.7 km cape formed when millenary geological forces pushed the mountains to the sea. This place is as old and as weird as it gets. It’s like being on a different planet! Locals call it Yehliu turtle because of its unique shape. There’s an aquarium with dolphins called Yehliu Geopark by the entrance too. However, and as you know, since we are not fans of torturing animals for our entertainment, we skipped it.

How to Get From Taipei to Yehliu

To go from Taipei to Yehliu, all you have to do is take a bus. The ride there is an attraction in itself, so be sure to grab a window seat. Go to Taipei’s City Hall Bus Station on 6 Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District. It’s next to the incredible National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. Since the station is pretty big, ask around for bus 1815 to Yehliu. The bus drops you at Yehliu’s pier, a 10-minute walk to the park’s entrance. There is another way how to get to Yehliu geopark if you don’t want to do so on your own. From Taipei, take this private tour along the northern coast. It offers incredible views and the chance to meet other fellow travelers.

Yehliu Geopark Itinerary

Considering Yehliu Geopark is fairly big, we advise you to follow this itinerary. The park has three areas. The closest to the entrance is where the rock formations that look like mushrooms are. Walkabout and search for two of the most famous ones: the candle and the ice cream. The second area is similar but narrower. Thus, water has eroded the rocks into the shape of elephants, peanuts, and fairy shoes. Here you have to look for the Queen and Dragon Head rocks. The final section is where the observation deck is, next to the cliffs. Rocks here are the most dramatic. Please be sure to follow the marked paths and instructions at all times. Finally, when done with the park, you can check nearby Yehliu Baoan Temple.

Jiufen Old Street

The Jiufen Old Street is the lifeline of Jiufen Town, northeast of Taipei. The area was gold central until 1971 when the mines closed. The town fell into oblivion until a couple of decades ago when a movie made the town famous. The entire town came back big time. Today, all kinds of shops line the main drag: Jiufen Old Street. Though you can still see some inns from the Japanese era, most buildings are retro Chinese. Jiufen Old Street is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei, especially during weekends. People from the big city come here to shop, drink tea, and admire the incredible views from up the hill.

How to Get From Taipei to Jiufen

The fastest way to go from Taipei to Jiufen is to take the train from Taipei Main Station to the Town of Rufiang. Trains stop at Banqiao, Wanhua, Songshan, and Nangang stations too. There are some 30 trains each day. The journey lasts 30 to 60 minutes depending on which train you take. Once in Rufiang, walk to the bus stop some 100 meters from the police station and take the bus that goes up to Jiufen Old Street. It’s a 10-minute ride. There are also two buses from Taipei to Jiufen. Bus 1062 departs from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station directly to Jiufen. Bus 965 leaves from Fuzhong MRT, Banqiao MRT, Wanhua Railway, Ximen MRT, and Beimen MRT stations. Since getting out of Taipei during rush hours can take forever, we recommend the train.

Jiufen Itinerary

Our Jiufen itinerary begins in Rufiang. Exit the station and walk to Rufiang’s Old Street, not as cool as Jiufeng, but kind of empty. Then, walk to the Jieshou Bridge to admire Keelung River. Once in Juifen, you have to explore its Old Street, adjacent isles, and stairs. Most tourists have tea at Amei Teahouse. Since it’s set on a cliff, it offers incredible views. You will recognize it because it’s quite crowded. No worries, there are plenty of great tea houses to choose from. Be sure not to miss Shengping Theater from 1934 on Qingbian Street. If you are into treks, go some 500 meters up the entrance of Jiufen Old Street and take Mount Keelung Trail. You can see Taipei 101 on clear days from the peak! The Jinguashi Gold Ecological Museum is 10 minutes from Jiufen and set in lush nature.

Lukang Old Street

From all of our day tours from Taipei, Lukang is the furthest away. Its history goes back to Dutch colonial times. Since they traded mainly deer skins, they named the port Lukang: Deer Harbour. During the 17 th Century, it was an important trading port of the Qing Dynasty. It remained pretty active during the Japanese invasion. Lukang’s historic heritage is impressive. The city boasts 200 temples, traditional houses, museums, tones of shops, and some of the best eateries in the country. Unlike Jiufen, the terrain is flat, so it is very easy to wander about. Most people rush through Taiwan and skip Lukang, making it the least visited day trip from Taipei. What a luxury!

How to Get From Taipei to Lukang

Going from Taipei to Lukang may not be as easy as going to the other day tours on our list, but it’s sure worth the extra effort. In fact, getting to Lukang is an adventure in itself! You should take the fast train from either Taipei Main Station or Banquiao Station to Taiwan High Speed Rail Taichung Station in the south of Taiwan. You should be there in 45 to 60 minutes. Once in the Station, you have to take the direct Shuttle Service to Lukang. Buses leave from the first floor, and the journey takes between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the bus line.

Lukang Itinerary

Begin your Lukang itinerary in Lukang Ai Gate on the main street. Look for the old Taiwanese mansions with carved doors and windows. As you will notice, red tiles cover the streets and red bricks, the walls. Bakeries and all types of eateries line the street. Go ahead and try the local cake Yu Jen Jai. Our favorite buildings are the Lukang Culture Center from 1928, the Lukang Kinmen Hall from 1805 (renovated in 1855 and 1905), and the Lukang Folk Arts Museum. The latter holds an impressive collection in two buildings: one from 1919, and the other from the 18 th Century. Regarding temples, you have to see Wen Wu, Mazu, Rimao, and Longshang temples.

Combining Two Half Day Trips From Taipei

The easiest option: maokong gondola and beitou.

If you don’t have much time, you can do half-day trips from Taipei combining two of the above. The easiest option is to go to Beitou and the Maokong Gondola the same day. We recommend going to Beitou first. Thus, you arrive in Maokong in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset. To go from Beitou to Maokong, take the Tansui-Xinyi line (red) to Daan Station. Here, board the Wenhu line (brown) to its last stop, Taipei Zoo. As mentioned above, it´s next to the gondola. It’s much easier than it sounds, and you get to cross all of Taipei.

More Complex Option: From Yehliu Geopark to Jiufen

A bit harder, but equally rewarding is to go from Yehliu Geopark to Jiufen on the same day. We believe it’s best to go to the Yehliu geopark in the morning. This way, you’ll be in Jiufen in the afternoon for the killer sunset. Take note that from Yehliu to Jiufen there are no direct buses. Instead, you have to take the bus to Keelung. It’s a beautiful ride that takes some 50 minutes. In Keelung, you have to take a train to Ruifang (30 minutes approximately). Finally, in Ruifang hop on the shuttle bus that takes you to Jiufen. Since this could be a little tricky, we suggest taking this private tour that includes both places. It’s a fantastic way to meet likeminded travelers.

Thank You Very Much Taiwan!

Our last two days in Taipei were very intense, amazing, and a bit stressful. Thanks to Patty from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau , first we went the unforgettable Yehliu Geopark. What an adventure! Since it was raining so hard, the place was quite dramatic. The next day we went to the mountain on the Maokong Gondola. We took the gondola with the transparent floor and had a splendid time seeing the trees from above! That same day, we took the metro all the way to Beitou and dipped in the public hot springs. Therefore, we strongly recommend you visit the Taiwan Tourism Bureau on 290 Zhongxiao East Road in Taipei. Be sure to ask about their different transportation packages, such as the Fun Pass . You will get tones of tips, great discounts, and Taiwanese service. Thank you so much!

Related posts

We wanted to visit three different beaches in the Philippines. El Nido with its impressive…

After a trip full of great natural wonders we were craving for some heritage, thus…

Some influential internet sites, like Wikipedia, claim that Chinese people consider Guangzhou to be cultureless…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

23 Best Day Trips from Taipei – Pingxi, Taroko Gorge …

Want to venture out of Taipei for a day? Need a break and you want to get away from the buzzing sound of a busy city? We have curated the best day trips from Taipei – a list of awesome places to visit. From stunning temples to amazing seaside towns, pick you next favorite destination.

Pingxi is a rural district in the New Taipei Municipality which surrounds Taipei. Located just 29 kilometers east of the capital, Pingxi is a quick and easy day trip from Taipei’s city center! Nowadays known for its yearly Sky Lantern Festival, its old mining days are now far behind.

As said before, if lucky enough to be in Pingxi during the first full moon of the Chinese Lunar New Year, experience the magical Sky Lantern Festival ! Indeed, during this yearly celebration, hundreds of thousands of colorful lanterns are launched into the sky. Originally a military tactic in the 3rd century, it’s now a symbol of joy and togetherness. 

Then visit the Jington Mining Industry Museum to discover more about the district’s mining days. Back in the days, the museum used to be the employee’s dormitory. Now, it hosts exhibitions and key objects from the district’s industrial era.

Car : 30 minutes Train (801) : 2 hours and 38 minutes  Bus (795) : 1 hour and 51 minutes

• Day trips to Pingxi

Jiufen is a mountain area in New Taipei City’s Ruifang District. The area used to be a gold mining area. Located 509km south of the capital, it’s one of those beautiful day trips from Taipei to discover another city!

The first thing to do in Jiufen is, of course, wander through its street markets and get a taste of its famous Taro meatballs! Nowadays known all over the country, they formerly come from Jiufen and as such, the best ones can be found there.

Also, visit the Kite Museum to see precisely why the city inspired Miyazaki for the iconic Spirited Away Movie. Finally, also visit the Gold Museum to learn more about the city’s history, from the Japanese colonization to the discovery of gold mines.

Car: 31 minutes Train (line 801): 1 hour and 20 minutes  Bus (line 1062): 1 hour and 26 minutes 

• Day trips to Jiufen and Pingxi

3. Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge is one of Taiwan’s nine national parks. It spans the municipality of Taichung as well as both Nantou and Hualien county. Located 154 kilometers southeast of Taipei, Taroko Gorge is one of those cool day trips from Taipei for nature lovers! 

There are many things to see in this impressive 19 kilometers long canyon. The park is mainly formed by metamorphic rocks (marble, gneiss, schists, etc…) and has remarkable relief, which makes it perfect for hiking and river tracing! With its peak being Located 3400 meters over sea level, the view should be stunning!

The Taroko Gorge also has over 200 butterfly species, 140 bird species, 30 mammal and reptile species as well as 15 fish species. Additionally, the climate is subtropical, which means that it can rain a lot. Dress accordingly and beware of land and rockslides, which can seriously be harmful. 

One of the park’s most famous sighting is the picturesque Eternal Spring Shine Memorial. It commemorates the death of the 212 veterans who died between 1956 and 1960 while constructing the area’s highway. Also, get to the Swallow Grotto, which offers a beautiful view of the river below. Finally, don’t miss the famous Jhuilu Old Trail. Only 35 inches wide in places, it’s advised to hike it with the help of a tour operator.

Car: 3 hours and 37 minutes Train (to Zuoying then Caoya Station): 2 hours and 35 minutes 

• Day trips to Taroko Gorge

4. Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu is a geopark in New Taipei City’s Wanli District. The name translates to “wild willow”. Known for its curious figures shaped by erosion, Yehliu is one of those intriguing day trips from Taipei. It’s located just 37 kilometers north of the capital.

The cape stretches along 1.7 kilometers and it was formed by thousand years of geological activity. There is plenty to see at the geopark! From the Queen’s Head but also the Princess Head to the Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe, Ginger Rocks, etc. nothing looks like there, and those weird rocks are sure to be diverting! It’s a must-see!

Car: 30 minutes Bus (1815 line): 1 hour and 26 minutes

• Day trips to Yehliu Geopark from Taipei

5. Taichung

Taichung is a municipality in Central Taiwan. It’s the island’s third-largest city right after Taipei and Kaohsiung. Located 168 kilometers southwest of Taiwan, Taichung can be a nice change of air and interesting day trip from Taipei.

Start your journey there by strolling down Taichung city streets. Just like in the rest of Taiwan, enjoy delicious street food there! Also, find gems of souvenirs in enchanting night markets. 

Then, stop by the magnificent Taichung Park. There, relax by the shade and admire the beautiful fauna and flora. Then head to the intriguing Rainbow Village where colourful artworks by former soldier Huang Yung-Fu are displayed on deserted houses. 

Finally, why not visit the world-renown National Museum of Natural Science? What makes it unique is that it fits seven different museums into one. Very well put, this museum has several sections for all different areas of science. Exhibitions, experiments, gardens, … it’s the perfect recreational day-trip from Taipei for children! 

Car: 1 hour and 43 minutes Train (via Xinwuri): 1 hour and 33 minutes Bus (via Taiwan Business Bank): 2 hours and 43 minutes 

• Day trips to Taichung

Tamsui is a seaside district in New Taipei City. Named after the river of the same name, it means “freshwater”. It’s both known for its beautiful sunsets and Native Taiwanese culture. Located just 25 kilometers away from the capital, it’s an easy day trip from Taipei.

Head to its famous riverside! Sit down by the river and enjoy the food at one of its seafood restaurants. Also, go for a cruise if the weather allows it. On the same page, it’s also possible to visit the Fisherman’s Wharf to stroll and get a taste of local culture.

Car: 23 minutes  Metro: 39 minutes 

Houtong is a village in the Ruifang District of New Taipei Municipality. Located just 39 kilometers east of Taipei’s city center, Houtong is known for being the famous cat village! 

Before being Taiwan’s top destination for cat lovers, Houtong used to be a coal-mining city. After the industry declined in the 90s, the population mostly emigrated elsewhere, prompting stray cats to take over the village!

It was in 2008 when locals organized themselves to offer cats a better life that the city became a tourist attraction. Aside from petting and feeding cute cats, the city nowadays is filled with restaurants, cafés and other places to chill and enjoy the city’s strange vibe. Houtong also is Keelung’s river starting point admiring large bodies of water is your thing!

Car: 32 minutes Train (801 line): 1 hour and 3 minutes Bus (1062 line): 1 hour and 44 minutes

Wulai is a small town in New Taipei City. It’s known for its relaxing hot springs and also its Aboriginal culture. It’s a highly popular destination for both locals and tourists as the scenery is dream-like. Located just 25 kilometers south of the capital, it’s one of that easy day trips from Taipei for those looking to chill.

Well, Wulai is the place to be if looking for bathing! It has numerous hot springs all surrounded by beautiful scenery that’ll leave anyone thinking they’re in a fairytale. Indeed, most of the hotels are located by the water. It’s like Venice, but more relaxing!

Don’t forget to taste local food as it’s so unique. Try the seasoned rice steamed in bamboo, its wild boar or even its sticky rice candy!

Car: 26 minutes Bus (849 line): 1 hour and 26 minutes

Miaoli is a city in Miaoli County. It’s known for having a relatively high percentage of Hakka people, China’s leading ethnic group. Located 120 kilometers southeast of the capital, Miaoli makes one of those exciting day trips from Taipei to discover one of the island’s many cultures.

Start your journey at the Miaoli Hakka Culture Park. There, learn these people’s rich history. Indeed, they’re descendants of the royal Han dynasty. Get to know their history, customs, food and traditional costumes. 

Then, let yourself be guided by the smell of flowers and head to the Zhong She Guanguang Flower Market! Indeed, the flowers bloom all year round in Miaoli, and a wide array of flower types are displayed! 

Finally, animal lovers can also visit the Flying Cow Ranch. Feed lambs, cows and other ducks! Learn how to make yoghurt and ice cream! Visit the butterfly garden! It’s a beautiful activity for children to get closer with nature and know exactly how food ends up on their plate.

Train: 47 minutes Car: 1 hour and 12 minutes Bus: 2 hours

• Day trips to Miaoli

10. Keelung

Keelung is a port city which borders the New Taipei City municipality. It’s mainly known for being Taiwan’s second-largest seaport after Kaohsiung. Located 25km southeast of the capital, Keelung is one of those quiet day trip from Taipei as the city isn’t much popular for tourists at all!

Start your visit by heading to the marvellous Zhuputan Temple! There’s a folk costume museum inside that can be visited to learn more about local culture. If the adventurous kind, also visit the Tsu-song Old Mansion which is an impressive abandoned house surrounded by nature. Then, of course, pass by its night market. More focused on seafood, you’ll be able to grab a bite to finish your day!

Car: 19 minutes  Train (801 line): 41 minutes  Bus (1802 line) : 34 minutes

Fulong is a town in the rural Gongliao District of the New Taipei Municipality. The city is most known for its beach, which is the ideal place to surf. Located 12km north of the capital’s city center, it’s one of those short yet beautiful day trips from Taipei.

Tourists coming to Fulong mainly take it as an opportunity to chill at Fulong Beach. If an adrenaline junkie, surf or rent a boat! The sand can be pretty hot during the summer season so bring a pair of shoes and an umbrella. Don’t worry: it’s possible to rent one and the prices there are meager! Also, the beach is famous for its impressive and beautiful sand statues. 

If tired of sunbathing after a few hours, head to Ling Jiou San! It’s a massive Buddhist monastery whose beauty will leave anyone absolutely speechless. It’s built right above Fulong’s cliffs so it’s unmissable!

Car: 49 minutes Train: 1 hour and 36 minutes Bus: 1 hour and 58 minutes

12. Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is a coastal municipality located south of Taiwan. It’s known as Taiwan’s largest seaport! Along with the capital and Taichung, Kaohsiung is one of Taiwan’s largest metropolis except it’s more laid-back. Located 352km south of the capital, Kaohsiung can be an exciting day trip from Taipei.

There are many things to do in Kaohsiung. Try your luck at the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas which are two unusual temples: enter them through a dragon and tiger’s mouth. Then make a stop at the Dome of Light, the whole world’s most extensive work of glass art. Finally, rent bikes and visit Cijin Island, which is known for its black sand beach and also the best seafood in all of the municipality!

Car: 3 hours and 36 minutes Train (via Guiren): 2 hours and 31 minutes   Bus: 5 hours and 10 minutes 

13. Qingjing

Qingjing is a farm in Nantou County’s Ren’ai Township. The farm prides itself on being a dreamy get-away from the urban buzzing atmosphere. Located 268 kilometers south of the capital, Qingjing is one of those ideal day trips from Taipei to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer.

There are many things to do in Qingjing farm besides interacting with animals. Of course, don’t miss out on petting and feeding farm animals, attending a sheep-shearing or horse-riding show!

However, the placement on the farm (which is located on a mountain) makes for beautiful scenery. Visit the Small Swiss Garden which is especially breath-taking at dawn when the mountain’s misty clouds come down and the fountains lit up as the suns finally sets. Also, hike down the eight themed trails among which the beautiful Sakura and Tea Garden Trail.

Car: 3 hours and 30 minutes Direct bus ride (available in touristic agencies): about 4 hours and 45 minutes

14. Ping-Lin Tea Industry Museum

Ping-Lin Tea Museum is a museum in New Taipei City’s Ping-Lin district. It’s one of the world’s largest tea museum. Indeed, the city of Ping-Lin is known worldwide for being one of the two producers of the delicious Pouchong tea. Located just 36 kilometers south of the capital’s city center, Ping-Lin Tea Museum is one of those perfect day trips from Taipei for tea aficionados!

Several exhibitions areas are showcasing the history of tea and its consumption in Taiwan. Enriching information about tea allows understanding East Asia’s culture and customs better. See a collection of objects related to tea and tea-making in the city of Ping-Lin. Additionally, there are seasonal exhibitions.

Car: 27 minutes Metro (to Muzha) + Bus (to Shihting) + Taxi: 1 hour 

15. Yangmingshan National Park

The Yangmingshan National Park is one of Taiwan’s nine national parks. Located right between the capital and the New Taipei municipality, the national park is one of those easy yet exciting day trips from Taipei.

There is plenty to see and do in the Yangmingshan National Park. Indeed, the park is renown for its beautiful cherry blossoms, relaxing hot springs, impressive sulfur blocks and fumarole, and, most importantly, the gigantic Seven Star Mountain! It’s only Taiwan’s tallest dormant volcano at 3,675 feet tall and it began erupting a mere 700,000 years ago!

Car: 23 minutes Bus (S15 line): 40 minutes

• Day trips to Yangmingshan National Park

16. Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is a lake located in Nantou County’s Yuchi Township. It’s Taiwan’s largest body of water. Its name derives from its shape; indeed while the east side looks like a sun, the west side resembles a moon. Located 261km south of Taipei, Sun Moon Lake is one of those refreshing day trips from Taipei.

To make the most of your time at Sun Moon Lake, book accommodation there. Indeed, bathing at the lake is forbidden. It’s mainly enjoyed as a place to unwind, gather your thoughts and reflect in a friendly and calm atmosphere. Take in the stunning scenery of the lake! If one of those spiritual people, then you’re most likely to fall in love with Sun Moon Lake.

Car: 2 hours and 35 minutes  Train (to Taichung) + Bus: 3 hours and 20 minutes Bus: 4 hours

• Day tours to Sun Moon Lake

Yilan is a county in northeastern of Taiwan. It’s known for being home to several wonders of Mother Nature. Yilan is perfect for people who like beautiful sceneries and therapeutical get-aways. Located just 52km southeast of Taipei, it’s one of those ideal day trips from Taipei to just relax!

Start with the Dongshan River Water Park! Ideal for children, it has several areas: The Ecological Conservation one, the Water Activities one, the Leisure Activities one, a Water Bus as well as an Outdoor Theater. Or head to the picturesque Jimmy Square where picture book’s characters leave their paper pages to mingle with us, humans!

If in dire need of a therapeutic moment, then why not try the Su’ao Cold Spring? It’s the only calcium bicarbonate in the whole of Taiwan! It’s the perfect place to cool down when it gets too hot and the water is believed to have benefits for joints and muscles.

If not a fan of cold springs, also try the hot version! Head to Jiaoxi Hot Spring whose warm spring pool will put anyone into a dreamy haze. Jiaoxi’s story is also pretty cool! The reason why the water is so hot is that ten thousand years ago, a volcano erupted, and magma stayed underground. When in contact with water, the latter instantly heats up!

Car: 46 minutes Bus: 1 hour and 10 minutes  Train: 2 hours and 21 minutes 

• Day trips to Yilan

Yingge is an urban district in New Taipei City. Located just 27km northeast of Taipei, right on the Dahan River, it’s one of those short yet interesting day trips from Taipei. Indeed, the district is most famous for its porcelain production.

Of course, you can’t go to Yingge without passing by its famed Ceramics Museum. Indeed, the area is renown all over Taiwan for producing the finest ceramics ever since high-quality clay deposits have been found in the early 19th century. Don’t forget to stroll down Old Street to find and buy the best pottery! That could become the most prized souvenir from your Taiwanese trip!

Car: 23 minutes Train (801 line): 28 minutes Bus (9102 line): 26 minutes

19. Hualien

Hualien is a county on Taiwan’s east coast. It’s known for being surrounded by nature. It’s also viewed as one of Taiwan’s most precious jewel as it’s located right between mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Located 162km southeast of the capital, Hualien is one of those day trips from Taipei for the adventurous kind.

We’ve already mentioned the fantastic Taroko Gorge which partly spans Hualien. The county has even more to offer! Indeed, start your trip with Qing Shui Cliffs which are located along a beautiful beach. It’s prohibited to swim there, but the sight alone suffices. Indeed, the water changes color: from navy blue to emerald to blue lagoon. 

Then head to Mukumugi Valley, one of nature’s best-kept secret. The valley is so precious that only 600 visitors are allowed daily. Swim in its crystal clear water and enjoy the culture of the aboriginals inhabiting the area by, for instance, tasting their food.

Finally, visit the Farglory Ocean Park, which mainly focuses on marine biology. With exhibitions as well as experiments that can be performed, it’s the best way to have fun while learning!

Car: 2 hours and 47 minutes  Train: 2 hours and 12 minutes

• Day trips to Hualien

20. Alishan

Alishan is a mountain township in Chiayi County. Most of the area is covered by the Alishan National Scenic Area which is considered one of Taiwan’s biggest attraction. Located 327km south of the capital, Alishan is one of those lengthy yet fulfilling day trips from Taipei.

Head to Alishan’s top attraction Jhushan. It’s a train from the town’s station that leads to the peak on Alishan’s east side. There, see a stunning sunrise over Yushan. There’s a platform nearby if not the athletic type, but it’s also possible to hike to the peak.

Then go to the Giant Trees Trail near Shermuh station. It’s always super pleasant to stroll down a forest and enjoy what nature has to offer the best, which is its stunning scenery. This one is particularly nice because millennium giant cypresses trees surround the area.

Finally, if in need of thrills, then maybe quench your adrenaline thirst with the Greater Tashan Trail. Its highest peak is at 2663 meters tall so bring comfortable hiking shoes. The area isn’t too touristy, so it’s the perfect spot for people who don’t like crowds!

Car: 4 hours Train (to Chiayi) + Bus: 5 hours Bus: 7 hours and 10 minutes

• Day trips to Alishan

21. Thousand Island Lake

Thousand Island Lake is located in New Taipei City’s Shiding district. It’s derived from Mainland China’s Qiando lake. The fact that it’s situated right in the middle of the area gives the impression that thousands of islands are scattered. Located 24km northeastern of Taipei, it’s one of those short and relaxing day trips from Taipei.

The lake is a hidden secret for tourists and locals alike. Indeed, lodged on mountains, it’s the perfect get-away from the crowded (and frankly polluted) streets of the capital. Because tea hills surround the area, enjoy a nice cuppa under the shade an umbrella (it gets hot in the summer!) and even learn how to make it.

Car: 37 minutes

Puli is an urban township in Nantou County. It’s known for its good weather, excellent wine and clean waters. Located 236km south of the capital, Puli is one of those strategic day trips from Taipei as it’s located near many other landmarks.

There are several things to do in Puli itself, though. Start, for instance, with the Chung-tai Shan Monastery. To make it short: it’s the tallest Buddhist monastery in the whole world with 33 stories. See it for yourself in order to fully take in how massive it is.

Also, visit the New Era Sculpture Park with its quite peculiar status. If an art aficionado, then definitely should check out this spot. The statues were created by local artists and the area act as a spa and hotel as well.

Finally, for another weird yet exciting experience, head to the Paper Dome. It’s a church building that was entirely built using paper tubes as its foundation. There’s a giant frog sculpture nearby which should appeal to children. Overall, the atmosphere is slightly surreal and should make for a great afternoon activity.

Car: 2 hours and 22 minutes Train (to Taichung) + Bus: 2 hours and 47 minutes Bus: 4 hours

• Day trips to Puli

23. Taitung

Taitung is a city in Taitung County. It’s a rural strip along Taiwan’s west coast. Located 331 kilometers southeast of the capital, it’s one of those ideal day trips from Taipei if you’re mainly looking for informal leisure activities.

There are many things to do around Taitung. Start with the National Museum of Prehistory. The museum is dedicated to the discovery of over 1,500 stone coffins and other artefacts belonging to the Aboriginal Peinan culture.

Then head to the Taoist Tianhou Temple. It’s an incredibly famous temple around the area, and it’s dedicated to the Chinese goddess of water Mazu. The exquisite ornaments will boggle your mind and make for incredible memories.

Finally, visit the Taitung Railway Art Village. Indeed, the city converted many buildings of the famous old railway station into a platform for local artists to showcase their artwork and get the recognition they deserve. If an art lover, then it might just be the right spot! 

Plane: 2 hours Car: 5 hours and 23 minute Train: 3 hours and 32 minute

• Day trips to Taitung

And that concludes our list of exciting day trips from Taipei! We hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Taiwan and make as many incredible memories as possible :-). 

• compare all day trips from Taipei

Best DayTrips From Taipei: Shifen, Jiufen, Keelung, & More

BY JARED DILLINGHAM

TRAVEL GUIDE: THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM TAIPEI

This is probably my favorite blog to write about Taiwan. My website’s name has the word “detours” in it for a reason: day trips are almost always the best parts of our travels.

Taipei’s metro area has a population of more than 10 million people, so day trips outside the city are “a must!” These are some of the best options, which are all in Northern Taiwan, to enjoy the fresh air, natural beauty, and local cultures.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The best, and most popular, day trips from Taipei include Shifen, Jiufen, Wulai, and Keelung. We’ll go through the options in detail below, whether you’re driving yourself, taking trains and buses, or hiring a driver.

Taipei DayTrip Tours

If you’re not into public transportation and don’t want to drive yourself, you can always take a tour from Taipei.

These are some of the best day trip options from Taipei to spots in Northern Taiwan:

➡️ Click Here: Tour of Shifen & Jiufen from Taipei

➡️ Click Here: Private Tour of Shifen & Jiufen

➡️ Click Here: Shifen Tour from Taipei

➡️ Click Here: Private Tour of Shifen from Taipei

➡️ Click Here: Full Day Tour of Northern Taiwan

➡️ Click Here: Private Charter from Taipei

➡️ Click Here: Tour Shifen & Jiufen from Keelung Cruise Port

Taipei DayTrip to Shifen, Taiwan

A day trip from Taipei to Shifen is easy and enjoyable. The small town is home to a famous waterfall, and a local tradition that involves launching giant lanterns into the sky.

The drive from Taipei to Shifen is about 22 miles, and in normal traffic it takes about 40 minutes.

An Uber or taxi from Taipei to Shifen will cost $35 to $40, which is incredibly inexpensive compared to what we’re used paying in the US!  

The Train from Taipei to Shifen

Taking the train from Taipei to Shifen is even more cost-effective, but it’ll take a bit longer than driving.

If you use Google Maps to choose your timing and route, you can commute from Taipei to Shifen in about an hour and 40 minutes.

In Taipei, head to the Songshan Station, and take a train to Ruifang. The train ride is about 45 minutes, and only $1.30!

From there, you’ll change trains to get to Shifen. The second train will take 25 minutes, and cost less than a dollar!

Just keep in mind: the second leg train runs less frequently, so check the timing on Google Maps.

Things to do in Shifen

Two main attractions lure tourists to Shifen: the waterfall, and the sky lanterns.

I’ll go over the lanterns first, since you’ll see them right from the train station in Shifen…. literally on the tracks.

It’s tradition in Shifen to write your wishes on big paper lanterns, and launch them over the town using hot air from a flame inside.

It’s about $7 or $8 to buy and launch a sky lantern in Shifen. People at the stores will give you ink and brushes to write your wishes on the lanterns’ sides. Then someone will help you launch them from the tracks.

As a side note, the practice is under scrutiny for environmental reasons. The lanterns don’t burn up, so some of the debris lands in the town and the nearby river.

As for the waterfall in Shifen, it’s the widest waterfall in Taiwan.  It’s almost 70 feet high and 130 feet wide, and part of the Keelung River.

The hike to the waterfall is pretty easy and flat. It’s less than two kilometers from the Old Street area to the waterfall.

You’ll cross two suspension bridges on a mostly-paved path, so the walk is good for seniors and children, too.

A few things to keep in mind about the Shifen Waterfall:

• It’s free!
• Drones are not allowed.
• The waterfall is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm
• If you don’t want to walk, you can take a taxi from the train station.

From the waterfall, you can head back to walk through Shifen’s Old Street area, which is lined with shops and restaurants and street food.

An Extended Option Close to Shifen

Since you’re already in the area, I’d recommend spending your time in Shifen, and then going up to the northern coast of Taiwan. It’s very close, and accessible by Uber or taxi.

Ask the driver to take you to the marina at the Shan’ao Fishing Port or Fanziao Park .  It’s home to fishing boats, equipped with big lanterns used for squid fishing at night.

Beyond the marina, you can hike to a really interesting rock beach.

It’s also where you can find a famous rock formation, known as Elephant Trunk Rock. Access is restricted these days, presumably due to people getting hurt while taking photos. Still, you can head over to check it out, and take photos with the other interesting rocks on Taiwan’s northern shore.

When you’re done here, an Uber or taxi driver will pick you up for the ride back to Riufang Train Station, so you can catch a train back to Taipei.

Taipei DayTrip to Jiufen, Taiwan

Jiufen is another great day trip option from Taipei. The town’s revitalized Old Street market is one of the most popular sites to see in this part of Taiwan.

Jiufen is just about an hour or so from Taiwan. The timing is similar, whether you take the bus all the way from Taipei, or use a combination of the train and bus.

I’ll go over both options below.

The Train from Taipei to Jiufen

Again, the price is unbelievably low. It’ll cost $10 or less to get from Taipei to Jiufen by train!

You’ll still have to take a car part of the way.

From Taipei’s Main Station, take a train to Ruifang, which should take around 40 minutes.

Outside the station, you’ll find taxis waiting. Otherwise, you can call an Uber. The cost will be about 205 TWD, or around $7 USD for the 10-minute drive from Ruifang up the mountain to Jiufen.

The Bus from Taipei to Jiufen

The bus is the most economical option to get from Taipei to Jiufen, and it’ll set you back a whole $3 (USD).

From Taipei’s Songshan Station, find Bus 1062. It’ll get you to Jiufen in about an hour.

Things to do in Jiufen

Jiufen was once an abandoned gold mining town. These days, its narrow, winding streets are lined with restaurants, shops, and teahouses.

You’ll find all kinds of Taiwanese food in Jiufen, from buns to fish to pineapple cake and noodles.

The streets are mostly closed to vehicles, so it’s very pedestrian-friendly.

Jiufen is known for its tea houses, and its most famous is probably the Amei Tea House .

Otherwise, you can enjoy a beer or coffee from a patio at one of the cliffside restaurants.

Jiufen is also home to several temples, including the Nine Fukuyama Palace, Jinquan Temple, Xiahai Temple, and Qingyun Temple.

Jiufen has been largely rebuilt and revived in the last 30 years. The mining town, first established in the 1890s, was abandoned in the 1970s.

In 1989, a director used it as the setting for the movie “A City of Sadness.” People saw the potential to turn the ghost town into a charming tourist attraction, which now makes a great day trip from Taipei!

Taipei DayTrip to Wulai, Taiwan

Wulai is south of Taipei, and is another great day-trip destination.

The trip is relatively easy to handle, and it should take just about an hour. You can choose to get there using a combination of the subway and bus system, or a taxi from Taipei.

The Train from Taipei to Wulai

There are no trains running from Taipei to Wulai, but you can take the subway, or MRT, at least part of the way. Head to the last stop on the Green Line, which is Xindian.

From Xindian Station, you’ll have to take the bus the rest of the way to Wulai.

The Bus from Taipei to Wulai

You’ll find Bus 849 outside the Xindian Station in Taipei. Line up with other people waiting to head toward Wulai.

The bus runs at least four times per hour, so you won’t be waiting long. Bring change to drop in the payment container as you board. It’s 15 TWD per person, or about 30 cents, to ride the bus from Taipei to Wulai.

This may be the least expensive day trip ever!

The ride will take as long as 45 minutes, depending on how many riders ask to be dropped off along the way. The bus will take you right to the main bus and taxi station along the river in Wulai.

Taking a Taxi or Uber from Taipei to Wulai

Taxis are a fixed price to Wulai. It’s $22 USD for a one-way trip from Xindian Station in Taipei.

It’ll be the same price for a ride home, and you can find a driver for your return trip at the bus station in Wulai.

Things to do in Wulai

It’s best to take a day trip to Wulai when it’s not raining, unless you’re heading specifically to one of the indoor hot spring spas.

Hot springs are the big draw for a lot of visitors to Wulai, even though you can no longer bathe in the natural springs or open-air pool.

Across the Nanshi River from Wulai’s Old Street, you can see the remnants of what used to be a large public pool, which was fed by water from the hot springs.

Flooding and rockslides from a typhoon in 2015 wrecked the pool, and it was never rebuilt. Instead, the water from the natural hot springs is now pumped into a variety of spas along the river.

You’ll find several along the Old Street, and also on the other side of the river, offering soaks in hot spring water baths. The cost varies, between 100 – 1200 TWD for an hour, which comes to about $5 – $40 USD for an hour.

Wulai’s waterfall is also a popular draw, even though you can’t really hike to its base.

You’ll take a one-mile walk up a paved road from Wulai’s bus station to the waterfall viewing area, where you’ll find patios at restaurants overlooking the falls.

Another option is to take the trolley or tram, known as the scenic train or log cart, to the waterfall area.

The trains are leftover from the old mining days. They run from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily, and cost about 50 TWD, which is less than $2 USD.

Wulai’s Old Street & Market

I wasn’t expecting to love Wulai’s Old Street as much as I did! It was probably my favorite part of the day trip from Taipei.

Wulai’s market is a short walk into town from the bus station.

You’ll find dozens of local vendors, chefs, and business owners selling food, crafts, and other goods.

Other things to check out in Wulai include the suspension bridge, which crosses the river right near the bus station, and the cable car over the waterfalls.

The gondola takes you up into the mountains, where you can walk through Taiwan’s first theme pack, called the Yun-Hsien Resort , or Yunxian Paradise.

The cost to ride Wulai’s cable car or gondola is 220 TWD, which about $7-8 USD.

Wulai is also known for its extensive cherry blossom season. A variety of species of cherry trees line the roads and hillsides, and they bloom intermittently through the spring.

Taipei DayTrip to Keelung City, Taiwan

Keelung City is a port and fishing city in Northern Taiwan, where cruise ships and cargo ships often dock. For cruise passengers looking for day trips from Keelung, here are a couple great options right from the port:

➡️ Click Here: Best Tour of Keelung & Taipei

➡️ Click Here: Taipei Tour from Keelung Port

While Keelung is an industrial city which brings in a lot of cargo, you can find unique gems in the area that make it worth visiting on a day trip from Taipei.

The Train from Taipei to Keelung

There are direct trains from Taipei Station to Keelung. They run frequently, and take about 45 minutes. The cost is 40 TWD, or about $1.30 for a one-way fare. It’s another great deal!

Things to do in Keelung

You can go shopping along the maritime plaza, which is walkable from the train station, and go check out Keelung’s well-known night market. It’s small, but thriving!

Keelung’s market opens in the afternoon, rather than the evening, and is home to dozens of street food vendors and restaurants, serving authentic local cuisine.

From this area, I would take a taxi or Uber to another draw, called the Zhengbin Port “Color Houses.” It’s a newly-developed touristy spot in Keelung.

The buildings are painted in bright colors, and have become popular with tourists, who line up across the water for photos of the buildings reflecting in the water.

They also house different restaurants on their bottom floors, which are enjoyable for a quick meal or drink on the dock.

From here, it’s a short walk over the bridge to Heping Island. It has trails and temples and interesting rock formations to check out. Plus they have an old historic shipyard, which is eerily pretty:

Between the two bridges over to Heping Island, it’s worth a walk by the local fish market.

It’s full of people buying and selling live fish, sharks, clams, urchins, and anything else the boats have brought in.

If you buy something from their tanks, you can take it to a restaurant next door (with big numbers: “35” on it) and they’ll apparently prepare it and cook it for you to eat.

Taipei DayTrip to Taroko National Park

Taroko National Park is a lengthy, but worthwhile day trip from Taipei. You’ll love the natural beauty, trails, and bright blue river water.

For a day trip to Taroko National Park, I’d definitely recommend a private driver, rather than going on your own.

There’s no parking at many of the trailheads, so a driver will eliminate any stress you’d encounter trying to figure out the logistics on your own.

The best option includes a hotel pickup in a private car, and a 2.5 hour drive to Taroko, which you can use to nap 😀

Jared’s Detours Recommended Tour:

Taroko National Park Private Driver

Trails in Taroko National Park

The trails in the park are largely paved and well-defined. They’re not overly challenging, and frankly provide more overlooks than access to the beautiful sites in Taroko.

The Shakadang Trail is an easy, well-maintained trail, which runs about 1.5 kilometers along the bright blue water in the Shakadang River gorge. 

It’s largely shaded, and you’ll find several seating areas along the way.

Shakadang is good for children and seniors, since it’s mostly flat with long stretches that are fully paved.  

The Swallow Grotto is another popular spot, which is really more of a walk on pavement above the gorge. You’re actually walking on what *was the main road through Taroko National Park.  After they built a tunnel and a new road, the original road turned into a hiking path.   

This is a prime example of why hiring a driver is the best way to go. There’s no parking for the Swallow Grotto. A driver can drop you off, and pick you up at the end.

The Buluowan Shanue Suspension Bridge crosses the Liwu River in Taroko National Park, 150 meters above the water.

Buluowan is the park’s highest and longest suspension bridge, and is a great stop for children, seniors, and also people with mobility issues.  There are no steps involved, so you’ll have easy access to the bridge for wheelchairs and strollers.

The Eternal Spring Shrine is in a beautiful setting, perched atop a stunning waterfall in Taroko National Park.

The shrine was built to honor the 225 workers who died building the highway running through the park in the 1950s. Their names are all on a stone monument at the beginning of the trail to the temple.

Food in Taroko National Park

The indigenous people of the area who still live in the park depend largely on tourism these days. Many of them work in restaurants and cafes in different parts of Taroko.

The biggest cluster of restaurants is at the Tianxiang Recreation Area, which is a little village within the national park. The families who run the restaurants live in the buildings behind them.

There’s also a 7-11 in Taroko National Park.  It’s kind of odd to see in this setting, but I was happy to find iced coffee inside!

Things to Keep in mind for a day trip to taroko:

• Bring Dramamine if you’re prone to motion sickness.
• Avoid visits in July and August (ideally)
• While you can buy water in the park, bring plenty of your own.
• Some trails are bound to be closed when you visit, due to rockslides, earthquakes, etc.

Another stop outside Taroko

The Qingshui Cliffs are part of Taroko National Park, even though they’re outside the park’s boundaries.

Rock cliffs drop into the bright blue waters of the Pacific Ocean on the northeastern shore of Taiwan.  They were formed by the collision between tectonic plates.

Again, you can’t really hike down to the beach here, but there are viewing platforms to admire the beauty!

Wrap: The Best Day Trips from Taipei

Aside from the culture and food and natural beauty of these different day trip destinations, I also love that they’re so easy to get to.

Don’t worry about not speaking the language! Whether you choose a tour option or choose to use the trains and buses, you’ll quickly learn how easy it is to navigate your own adventure from Taipei.

When’s the best time to visit?

Anytime but the summer!  

July and August are really too hot and too humid to be able to enjoy yourself outside. Fall and spring are most enjoyable, and pretty mild.

The day trip destinations vary in elevation, so the weather can be a bit different from Taipei’s. Make sure to check the radar each day before you venture out.

No matter which day trips you take from Taipei, leave early so you can arrive before the crowds!

Check out our other posts from Taiwan for more travel ideas:

Taroko Gorge National Park

Visit shifen, taiwan, visit wulai, taiwan, visit jiufen, taiwan, taipei at night: markets & more.

Red Around the World

Your friendly guide to national parks, road trips, and all things outdoors.

5 Of The Best Day Trips From Taipei

Table of Contents

There are affiliate links in here.  I get a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM TAIPEI?

Taipei is in the perfect location.  It’s centrally located in Northern Taiwan making it super easy to get to either coast.

These are some of the best day trips from Taipei to the surrounding cities and towns while you are based in the city.

Whether you want to hike, visit a night market, wander through old streets, or all three, there are tons of easy day trips from Taipei.

You can even do all three in one day if that’s all you have, it’s just deciding which that is the hard part.  If you’ve only got 5 days in Taiwan , this can help you narrow down what to do with your limited time.

Perfect day trips from Taipei

There are a lot of great places in northern Taiwan that make great Taipei day trips. I’ve set a lot of places up as combinations (like Tamsui and Beitou) but some you could easily spend a whole day in on their own (like Jiufen).

Tamsui and Beitou Taipei day trip

While these are still technically in Taipei , I’m still counting them as a day trip from Taipei.  These two can even be reached by MRT, on the same MRT line, which is why I kept them together. 

I would start at Beitou in the morning and go to Tamsui in the afternoon/evening.  Of course, it can be done in reverse, too.

In Beitou, make a stop at the Beitou Hot Springs.  If you’re on a budget, hit up the Millennium Hot Spring , the most popular hot spring in Beitou. 

If you want to splurge a little, stop into one of the private hot springs along the river (there’s actually one called Gorgeous Hot Spring Resort. ) 

While you’re here, don’t forget to stop at Thermal Valley to admire the steaming jade water.

Book a Beitou and Yangmingshan volcano tour here!

In Tamsui, make sure to check out the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf and the Lover’s Bridge.  This is a fun area to wander around near the water, to enjoy some ice cream, and to just do some people watching. 

Don’t forget to wander the Tamsui Old Street.  I wish I did this, but I didn’t even know it existed when I was there.  I didn’t know a whole lot about Tamsui, it was a last-minute (literally, the last day) trip.

You can hang out in Tamsui until sunset and watch it from the Wharf or Lover’s Bridge before heading to (or back to) the Old Street to have a little something to eat before heading back into Taipei. 

Or, you can head to one of the markets around Taipei to sample tons of treats for dinner.

Tips for visiting Tamsui and Beitou as a day trip from Taipei:

• Weather can change pretty drastically between Taipei and Tamsui, so I’d suggest bringing layers, at least in January. 
• Definitely, bring a daypack to carry anything you might need for the hot springs.  It will be easier for the rest of the day.
• Research hot springs before you go to Beitou and make sure you know the etiquette before going in, gender, clothing, all that.
• To get to both, just take the MRT red line to the end for Tamsui and almost the end for Beitou.
• If you’re going to the Beitou Hot Springs, take the MRT to Beitou station, then take the pink line one more stop to Xinbeitou.  The hot springs will be straight ahead on either side of the park when you leave the station.
• There is a beach nearby that you can take a bus to, but we couldn’t get the bus to stop, so I wish I could help more with this.
• Even if it’s super foggy, still go to the wharf.  It looks pretty cool in the fog.

Jiufen and Jinguashi Taipei day trip

These two would make the perfect day trip from Taipei together as they are only a ten-minute bus ride apart. 

You can do a little hiking, wander the old streets, eat everything, and drink some tea while watching the sunset over the coast.  If you can only do one day trip from Taipei, I would highly suggest this one.

Jiufen is a charming little town, sometimes called Taiwan’s Santorini, that may look familiar if you’ve seen Lost in Translation. 

It’s got a few temples and stellar views of the coast, but it’s known for it’s Old Street, where you can wander for hours trying local food and shopping for souvenirs.

Take a few hours to wander through the Old Street, admire the views, and even stop in a tea house or two.  The one in the picture on the right under here is wonderful. 

I actually went there twice.  I would go in the afternoon to see it in the daylight and as the sunsets into the night.  This is probably one of my favorite day trips in Taipei.

In Junguashi , you can wander around the town, check out it’s Old Street, head to the Gold Ecological Park to visit the Gold Museum and Benshan Fifth Tunnel, or do a little hiking and climb Teapot Mountain , which also leaves from the Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park.

I would definitely recommend doing the hike and maybe wandering around the Old Street before heading over to Jiufen to get something to eat. 

It’s a pretty easy, straightforward hike taking you up the mountain through the rock that looks like a teapot from Jinguashi. 

I didn’t get a picture of it, but the bottom left picture is from inside the teapot.  It’ll take a couple hours, but it’s a great way to experience some of Taiwan’s amazing hiking on a short trip to the area.

Tips for visiting Jiufen and Jinguashi as a day trip from Taipei:

• They can easily be combined into one trip and you could even add in a stop at the Keelung Night Market on your way back into Taipei if you want a real night market experience before leaving.
• Another day trip option is to combine Jiufen and Yehliu Geopark into one.
• Jiufen is pretty much always busy, so be prepared to fight the crowds.  Don’t let this stop you from going, though.
• From the bus stop, just walk straight (to the right) to get to the Jiufen Old Street.  Or just follow the crowd.
• To get to Jiufen from Taipei, take the MRT to Taipei Main station, get a train to Ruifang, leave the train station in Ruifang, cross the street and walk to the bus stop off to the left.  From here catch a bus up to Jiufen.  If you’re going to Jinguashi, just stay on for a couple more stops.
• If you’re there during Chinese New Year, Jiufen does shut down at least one day during festivities.

Yehliu Geopark Taipei day trip

Yehliu Geopark is a geological oddity on the northern coast of Taiwan.  It’s a rocky area jutting out into the ocean covered in strange rock formations, the most well known being the Queen’s Head.  There is also one that looks like a whale’s tail that I personally preferred.

You can wander among the formations and climb up the little hill thing off to the right of the rocky area.  It offers some pretty nice views of the park and surrounding area.

You’ll have to take a bus to get here.  Start at the Taipei West Bus Station in Terminal A.  This is at Taipei Main Station.  You’ll get the ticket at the KuoKuang window for 120TWD to Yehliu Geopark .    

The bus ride takes about 90 minutes, and the bus will drop you off on the main road just outside the park entrance. Walk down the lane on the left side to enter.

This may not be a full day trip, but it will take up a good portion of the day, so there will be a little spare time for something else once you’re back in Taipei, or head to Jiufen for some tea in the hills at sunset. This is one of the best day trips from Taipei if you want to get outside.

Tips for visiting Yehliu Geopark as a day trip from Taipei:

• The weather can change pretty quickly here, so be prepared.  It was cold and rainy when we got there, but it was warm and sunny soon after.
• It can be pretty busy here, so be prepared for that, too.  While it is busy, it’s easy to get pictures without people.
• If you want a picture with the Queen’s Head, there is a line and a guard shooing people out of the background for you.  Not that I would know what it’s like to get shooed out of the way.. If you’re in that area, just watch out for the lines on the ground.
• If you’re limited on time, this wouldn’t be my first choice of day trips, unless you love this kind of thing, but if you have a lot of time, definitely check it out.
• If you’re traveling around the island and liked Yehliu, consider a quick trip to Xiao Yehliu as well.  It’s a small (less impressive, but still fun) version of Yehliu.

Houtong, Shifen, and Pingxi Taipei day trip

If you decided to do all three of these in one day, it’s going to be a busy day, so make sure you get going early!  Even just doing two would still be fun. 

If you do all three, you can get a taste of the classic Old Streets, the weird things Taipei has to offer, and a little bit of nature with some hiking. 

This is a great option to get a little variety and see a few old streets and villages on a Taipei day trip.

First stop, Houtong Cat Village !  Yes, an entire village dedicated to, and filled with, cats.  If you like cats, this is a must-see place. 

You can hang out with cats (live ones) in shops and restaurants as well as on the streets.  You can enjoy cat music, like meowing versions of popular songs.

You can buy anything you can imagine with cats on it.  I came home with two pairs of cat socks.  Even if it’s rainy you can still spot cats outside, and especially in the shops. 

It’s a small place, so you don’t have to spend tons of time here.  There are restaurants if you decide to eat here.

Next up on the Pingxi Railway Branch is Shifen making it the next logical stop.  Right off the train, you’ll be able to explore the charming little Old Street, which isn’t much of a street, but still worth exploring. 

I wish I made it to Shifen when I was in the area.  I saw it from the train and thought it looked adorable! 

While you’re here, on the most popular stop on the Pingxi Railway Branch, you can send a lantern into the sky or hike about 20 minutes to the Shifen waterfall.

Finally, we have Pingxi , most famous for its Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival during Chinese New Year, which I was lucky enough to make it to. 

And believe it or not, I didn’t even know it was a thing when I first booked my tickets to Taiwan.  Even if you aren’t there for the festival, which happens in late January, it’s still worth a visit to send up your own lantern or to explore, you guessed it, the Old Street. 

I bet you never saw that one coming.  It’s a fun little town to wander around and is definitely worth a day trip.

Tips for visiting Pingxi, Shifen, and Houtong as a day trip from Taipei:

• Even if it’s rainy, still go and do these things.  It was rainy the majority of the time I was in Taiwan.  If I didn’t still go do things, I wouldn’t have seen anything!  Just dress in layers (it can get cold) and bring an umbrella or rain jacket.
• You can get a day ticket for Pingxi Railway Branch unlimited uses.  I would suggest that since all of these are on the line.  It’s super easy to get from Taipei to Shifen , too.
• Even just going to Pingxi and Shifen would be great.
• Check train times the day before you plan to go so you can plan a little better and make the most of your day.  When we went to Houtong, we had to do a lot of waiting for trains.
• While send up a lantern may be fun, consider skipping this activity for the environment.   The lanterns and their frames end up stuck in trees for a little too long and they can cause fires.  I would still consider going back for the festival if I was there then, but only as a spectator.

Yangmingshan National Park Taipei day trip

Finally, we have Yangmingsh a n National Park, which, I’ll admit, I didn’t even know about until recently.  This is an easy escape from the city and perfect for fans of hiking. 

It’s about an hour from Taipei and you can hike from the Visitor Center up to the peak of Quixing Mountain, about halfway up to Xiaoyoukeng.  Here, you can admire sulfur being puffed into the air.

To get there from Taipei, take the MRT to Jiantan Station. From there, head outside and take bus R5, leaving every 15 minutes.

Another option is to take bus 260 outside from Taipei Main Station for a more direct route to Yangmingshan.  Bus 260 from Taipei Main Station does take longer than from Jiantan Station. 

If you want to get out and hike this is definitely one of the best Taipei day trips you could pick.

Tips for visiting Yangmingshan National Park as a day trip from Taipei:

• From Xiaoyoukeng, you can take a bus back to Taipei City or keep walking back to the Visitor Center.
• The hike up takes a couple of hours, especially if you stop and take a lot of pictures.
• The park is famous for it’s venomous snakes, so watch out on the trail, and if you go off trail, definitely watch out there.
• Try and be down before sunset so you’re not walking on the steep trails in the dark.
• Check out the Erziping Recreation Area if you’re here.  There is also a trail here .  It sounds pretty tough but worth it.
• Like most hikes, dress in layers and bring a rain jacket, especially if you go in the winter.

Where to stay in Taipei

Meander Taipei – I stayed here and absolutely loved it! They have dorms and private rooms and it was so good for meeting people without being a party hostel. It’s near Ximending.

Meander 1948 – This is a beautifully modern hostel conveniently located above a 7-Eleven near Taipei Main Station!

Taipei 109 Hostel – This is another nice, modern hostel near Ximending. There isn’t much for a common area so it might not be the best if you want to meet people or socialize.

Star Hostel – This is another beautiful modern hostel near Taipei Main Station. This is a hostel with sustainability practices aimed at reducing waste.

Other Taipei area posts you may like

Spirited Away To The Hills Of Jiufen: What To Do In Jiufen

Yehliu Geopark: Spend A Morning On Mars

Modern Toilet: Taipei’s Toilet Restaurant

Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf + 4 Other Cool Things To Do In Tamsui

Spend An Afternoon at Huashan 1914 Creative Park

7 Ways To Spend One Day In Taipei

Elephant Mountain And Fairy Footprint: Two Best Hikes In Taipei

Everything You Need To Know To Go To The Pingxi Lantern Festival

Hiking Teapot Mountain In Taiwan: A Great Day Hike From Taipei

Have you been to Taiwan?  Did you go to any of these places?  What was your favorite day trip from Taipei?

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

6 thoughts on “ 5 Of The Best Day Trips From Taipei ”

These look awesome! I would love to go to those hot springs and Those views from Jiufen look amazing! Definitely keeping this for reference for when I go over there

I’m so sad I missed the hot springs, but I made it to Jiufen three times! The views are wonderful, especially with a pot of delicious tea!

Taipei is great but there are so many beautiful spots just outside it! This is a pretty good starter list for those who have a bit more time to spare

RIght!? There’s so much to do in that area, it’s crazy! I would love to go back and spend a lot more time there!

This is a great list! Never been to Beitou but would love to do it someday.

Thank you! You and me both!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from Red Around the World

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Strong Taiwan Quake Kills 9, Injures Hundreds

The earthquake was the most powerful to hit the island in 25 years. Dozens of people remained trapped, and many buildings were damaged, with the worst centered in the city of Hualien.

• Share full article

• Hualien, Taiwan A landslide after the quake. Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
• New Taipei City, Taiwan Books flew off shelves as a home shook. @Abalamindo via Storyful
• Taipei, Taiwan Passengers waiting at a train station as some services were suspended. Chiang Ying-Ying/Associated Press
• Hualien, Taiwan People are rescued from a building that had partially collapsed. TVBS via Associated Press
• Hualien, Taiwan Firefighters rescuing trapped residents from a building. CTI News via Reuters
• Taipei, Taiwan Students evacuated to a school courtyard after the earthquake. Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
• Guishan Island, Taiwan Rocks tumbling down one side of an island popular for hiking. Lavine Lin via Reuters
• Hualien, Taiwan A building leaned to one side after the quake. Randy Yang via Associated Press
• Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan Watching news on a rooftop of a hotel after a tsunami warning. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
• Hualien, Taiwan Motorbikes damaged in the quake. TVBS via Associated Press
• New Taipei City, Taiwan Damage in an apartment Fabian Hamacher/Reuters
• New Taipei City, Taiwan Water cascading down a building during the quake. Wang via Reuters

Meaghan Tobin and Victoria Kim

Here’s what you need to know about the earthquake.

Taiwan was rocked Wednesday morning by the island’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century, a magnitude 7.4 tremor that killed at least nine people, injured more than 800 others and trapped dozens of people.

The heaviest damage was in Hualien County on the island’s east coast, a sleepy, scenic area prone to earthquakes. Footage from the aftermath showed a 10-story building there partially collapsed and leaning heavily to one side, from which residents emerged through windows and climbed down ladders, assisted by rescuers. Three hikers were killed after being hit by falling rocks on a hiking trail in Taroko National Park, according to the county government.

By late afternoon, officials said rescue efforts were underway to try to rescue 127 people who were trapped, many of them on hiking trails in Hualien.

One building in Changhua County, on the island’s west coast, collapsed entirely. The quake was felt throughout Taiwan and set off at least nine landslides, sending rocks tumbling onto Suhua Highway in Hualien, according to local media reports. Rail services were halted at one point across the island.

The earthquake, with an epicenter off Taiwan’s east coast, struck during the morning commute, shortly before 8 a.m. Taiwanese authorities said by 3 p.m., more than 100 aftershocks, many of them stronger than magnitude 5, had rumbled through the area.

In the capital, Taipei, buildings shook for over a minute from the initial quake. Taiwan is at the intersection of the Philippine Sea tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate, making it vulnerable to seismic activity. Hualien sits on multiple active faults, and 17 people died in a quake there in 2018.

Here is the latest:

The earthquake hit Taiwan as many people there were preparing to travel for Tomb Sweeping Day, a holiday across the Chinese-speaking world when people mourn the dead and make offerings at their graves. Officials warned the public to stay away from visiting tombs in mountain areas as a precaution, especially because rain was forecast in the coming days.

TSMC, the world’s biggest maker of advanced semiconductors, briefly evacuated workers from its factories but said a few hours later that they were returning to work. Chip production is highly precise, and even short shutdowns can cost millions of dollars.

Christopher Buckley

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s vice president, who is also its president-elect, visited the city of Hualien this afternoon to assess the destruction and the rescue efforts, a government announcement said. Mr. Lai, who will become president in May, said the most urgent tasks were rescuing trapped residents and providing medical care. Next, Mr. Lai said, public services must be restored, including transportation, water and power. He said Taiwan Railway’s eastern line could be reopened by Thursday night.

Meaghan Tobin

Taiwan’s fire department has updated its figures, reporting that nine people have died and 934 others have been injured in the quake. Fifty-six people in Hualien County remain trapped.

Shake intensity

Taiwan’s fire department reports that nine people have died and 882 others have been injured in Taiwan. In Hualien County, 131 people remain trapped.

Agnes Chang

Footage shows rocks tumbling down one side of Guishan Island, a popular spot for hiking known as Turtle Island, off the northeast coast of Taiwan. Officials said no fishermen or tourists were injured after the landslide.

The death toll has risen to nine, according to Taiwan government statistics.

Meaghan Tobin, Siyi Zhao

Officials in Taiwan warned residents to not visit their relatives' tombs, especially in the mountains, this weekend during the holiday, known as Ching Ming, meant to honor them. There had already been 100 aftershocks and the forecast called for rain, which could make travel conditions on damaged roads more treacherous.

Crews are working to reach people trapped on blocked roads. As of 1 p.m. local time, roads were impassable due to damage and fallen rock in 19 places, according to the Ministry of Transportation. At least 77 people remain trapped. A bridge before Daqingshui Tunnel appeared to have completely collapsed.

Taiwan’s worst rail disaster in decades — a train derailment in 2021 that killed 49 people — took place on the first day of the Tomb Sweeping holiday period that year, in the same region as the earthquake.

The earthquake hit Taiwan as many people here were preparing to travel for Tomb Sweeping Day, or Ching Ming, a day across the Chinese-speaking world when people mourn their dead, especially by making offerings at their graves. Now those plans will be disrupted for many Taiwanese.

The holiday weekend would typically see a spike in travel as people visit family across Taiwan. Currently, both rail transport and highways are blocked in parts of Hualien, said Transport Minister Wang Guo-cai. Work is underway to restore rail transportation in Hualien, and two-way traffic is expected to be restored at noon on Thursday, he said.

Taiwan’s preparedness has evolved in response to past quakes.

Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness has evolved over the past few decades in response to some of the island’s largest and most destructive quakes .

In the years after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan killed nearly 2,500 people in 1999, the authorities established an urban search-and-rescue team and opened several emergency medical operation centers, among other measures .

And in 2018, after a quake in the eastern coastal city of Hualien killed 17 people and caused several buildings to partially collapse, the government ordered a wave of building inspections .

Taiwan has also been improving its early warning system for earthquakes since the 1980s. And two years ago, it rolled out new building codes that, among other things, require owners of vulnerable buildings to install ad-hoc structural reinforcements.

So how well prepared was Taiwan when a 7.4 magnitude quake struck near Hualien on Wednesday morning, killing at least seven people and injuring hundreds more?

Across the island, one building collapsed entirely, 15 others were in a state of partial collapse and another 67 were damaged, the island’s fire department said on Wednesday afternoon . Structural engineers could not immediately be reached for comment to assess that damage, or the extent to which building codes and other regulations might have either contributed to it or prevented worse destruction.

As for search-and-rescue preparedness, Taiwan is generally in very good shape, said Steve Glassey, an expert in disaster response who lives in New Zealand.

“ The skill sets, the capabilities, the equipment, the training is second to none,” said Dr. Glassey, who worked with Taipei’s urban search-and-rescue team during the response to a devastating 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. “They’re a very sharp operation.”

But even the best urban search-and-rescue team will be stretched thin if an earthquake causes multiple buildings to collapse, Dr. Glassey said.

Taiwan has options for requesting international help with search-and-rescue efforts. It could directly ask another country, or countries, to send personnel. And if multiple teams were to get involved, it could ask the United Nations to help coordinate them, as it did after the 1999 earthquake.

Pierre Peron, a spokesman for the United Nations, said on Wednesday afternoon that no such request had yet been made as a result of the latest earthquake.

Meaghan Tobin contributed reporting.

At least seven people have died and 736 have been injured as a result of the earthquake, according to Taiwan’s fire department. Another 77 people remained trapped in Hualien County, many of them on hiking trails. Search and rescue operations are underway, said the fire department.

Aftershocks of magnitudes between 6.5 and 7 were likely to occur over the next three or four days, said Wu Chien-fu, director of the Taiwanese Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center, at a news conference.

As of 2 p.m., 711 people had been injured across Taiwan, the fire department said, and 77 people in Hualien County remained trapped. The four who were known to have died were in Hualien.

Victoria Kim

Hualien County is a quiet and scenic tourist destination.

Hualien County on Taiwan’s east coast is a scenic, sleepy tourist area tucked away from the island’s urban centers, with a famous gorge and aquamarine waters. It also happens to sit on several active faults , making it prone to earthquakes.

The county has a population of about 300,000, according to the 2020 census, about a third of whom live in the coastal city of Hualien, the county seat. It is one of the most sparsely populated parts of Taiwan. About three hours by train from the capital, Taipei, the city describes itself as the first place on the island that’s touched by the sun.

Hualien County is home to Taroko National Park, one of Taiwan’s most popular scenic areas. Visitors come to explore the Taroko Gorge, a striated marble canyon carved by the Liwu River, which cuts through mountains that rise steeply from the coast. The city of Hualien is a popular destination as a gateway to the national park.

According to the state-owned Central News Agency, three hikers were trapped on a trail near the entrance to the gorge on Wednesday, after the quake sent rocks falling. Two of them were found dead, the news agency said. Administrators said many roads within the park had been cut off by the earthquake, potentially trapping hikers, according to the report.

Earthquakes have rattled Hualien with some regularity. In 2018, 17 people were killed and hundreds of others injured when a magnitude 6.5 quake struck just before midnight, its epicenter a short distance northeast of the city of Hualien.

Many of the victims in that quake were in a 12-story building that was severely tilted, the first four floors of which were largely crushed, according to news reports from the time. The next year, the area was shaken by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that injured 17 people.

The area has some of the highest concentrations of Taiwan’s aboriginal population, with several of the island’s Indigenous tribes calling the county home .

The county government in Hualien released a list of people that had been hospitalized with injuries, which stood at 118 people as of midday Wednesday.

Across Taiwan, one building fell down entirely, in Changhua County on the west coast, and 15 buildings partially collapsed, Taiwan’s fire department said. Another 67 buildings were damaged. One of the partially collapsed structures was a warehouse in New Taipei City where four people were rescued, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency. Another 12 were rescued at a separate New Taipei City building where the foundation sank into the ground.

Peggy Jiang, who manages The Good Kid, a children’s bookstore down the street from the partially collapsed Uranus Building in Hualien, said it was a good thing they had yet to open when the quake struck. The area is now blocked off by police and rescue vehicles. “Most people in Hualien are used to earthquakes,” she said. “But this one was particularly scary, many people ran in the street immediately afterward.”

Lin Jung, 36, who manages a shop selling sneakers in Hualien, said he had been at home getting ready to take his 16-month-old baby to a medical appointment when the earthquake struck. He said it felt at first like a series of small shocks, then “suddenly it turned to an intense earthquake shaking up and down.” The glass cover of a ceiling lamp fell and shattered. “All I could do was protect my baby.”

Chris Buckley ,  Paul Mozur ,  Meaghan Tobin and John Yoon

The earthquake damaged buildings and a highway in Hualien.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Taiwan on Wednesday damaged many buildings and a major highway in Hualien, a city on the eastern coast, and it knocked out power as it rocked the island.

Across Taiwan, the quake and its aftershocks caused one building to completely collapse and 15 others to partially collapse, according to Taiwan’s fire department. Sixty-seven other buildings sustained damage.

Two tall buildings in Hualien that sustained particularly extensive damage were at the center of the rescue efforts there. Most damage across the city was not life-threatening, said Huang Hsuan-wan, a reporter for a local news site.

Where buildings were reported damaged in Hualien City

“A lot of roads were blocked off. There are a lot of walls toppled over onto cars,” Derik du Plessis, 44, a South African resident of Hualien, said shortly after the earthquake. He described people rushing around the city to check on their houses and pick up their children. One of his friends lost her house, he said.

One of the damaged buildings in Hualien, a 10-story structure called the Uranus Building that housed a mix of homes and shops, was tilted over and appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Many of its residents managed to flee, but some were missing, said Sunny Wang, a journalist based in the city. Rescuers were trying to reach the basement, concerned that people might be trapped there.

Photographs of the initial damage in Hualien showed another building, a five-story structure, leaning to one side, with crushed motorcycles visible at the ground-floor level. Bricks had fallen off another high-rise, leaving cracks and holes in the walls.

The quake also set off at least nine landslides on Suhua Highway in Hualien, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, which said part of the road had collapsed.

Taiwan’s fire department said four people had been killed in the earthquake.

Across Taiwan, 40 flights have been canceled or delayed because of the earthquake, according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center.

President Tsai Ing-wen visited Taiwan’s national emergency response center this morning, where she was briefed about the response efforts underway by members of the ministries of defense, transportation, economic affairs and agriculture, as well as the fire department.

A look at Taiwan’s strongest earthquakes.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning was the strongest in 25 years, the island’s Central Weather Administration said.

At least four people died after the quake struck off Taiwan’s east coast, officials said.

Here’s a look back at some of the major earthquakes in modern Taiwanese history:

Taichung, 1935

Taiwan’s deadliest quake registered a magnitude of 7.1 and struck near the island’s west coast in April 1935, killing more than 3,200 people, according to the Central Weather Administration. More than 12,000 others were injured and more than 50,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.

Tainan, 1941

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake in December 1941, which struck southwestern Taiwan, caused several hundred deaths, the United States Geological Survey said.

Chi-Chi, 1999

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan killed nearly 2,500 people in September 1999. The quake, which struck about 90 miles south-southwest of Taipei, was the second-deadliest in the island’s history, according to the U.S.G.S. and the Central Weather Administration. More than 10,000 people were injured and more than 100,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.

Yujing, 2016

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake in February 2016 caused a 17-story apartment complex in southwestern Taiwan to collapse, killing at least 114 people . The U.S.G.S. later said that 90 earthquakes of that scale or greater had occurred within 250 kilometers, or 155 miles, of that quake’s location over the previous 100 years.

Advertisement

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Thinking of taking a last-minute drive to see the eclipse here's what to know.

Geoff Brumfiel

RV traffic sits at a standstill along a two-lane road near Madras, Ore., a few days before the 2017 total solar eclipse. Experts say traffic could be heavy, but eclipse watchers shouldn't necessarily be deterred. AFP Contributor/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

RV traffic sits at a standstill along a two-lane road near Madras, Ore., a few days before the 2017 total solar eclipse. Experts say traffic could be heavy, but eclipse watchers shouldn't necessarily be deterred.

NASA says that roughly 31.6 million people live in the path of this year's total solar eclipse, and a little under half of the U.S. population lives within 200 miles driving distance of the path of totality .

That could mean many millions of Americans will hit the road to get a better view on April 8. If you're still pondering whether or not you want to make the journey, here's what to consider.

Have some destinations in mind, and check the weather and cloud cover forecasts in advance

It's a good idea to scout out one or more locations within driving distance, so that you have some flexibility if traffic or weather is threatening your plans, says Jonathan Upchurch, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at Arizona State University who has studied travel around solar eclipses.

There are several interactive tools that show the path of totality, including Eclipse2024.org and the National Solar Observatory . You can use them to figure out what sites might work best for you.

In terms of weather, check not just the weather forecast, but also the cloud cover forecast. Some websites, such as Windy.com will predict cloud cover ahead of time, giving you a sense of whether you'll actually be able to see the eclipse in all its glory.

Everything you need to know about solar eclipse glasses before April 8

During the total solar eclipse in 2017, Upchurch says he chose to go to Idaho "because there were some great chances of having sunny skies, and I had the opportunity to be nimble and relocate if I wanted to."

Before driving into the path of totality, make sure your gas tank is full and that you've got everything you need

During the last total solar eclipse in 2017, it's estimated some 5 million people took to the roads, and those numbers will potentially be much higher this year.

Given all that, Upchurch says it's important to make sure you're taking what you need into the path of totality. You should make sure your car is gassed or charged up, and that you have plenty of snacks and water with you in case you get stranded for a while, especially when trying to leave.

Solar Eclipse 2024: Totality stretches from Texas to Maine

Simple tips to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone.

Also don't forget to bring eclipse glasses, which must be worn anytime you're looking at the sun, except for the few minutes when it is completely blocked by the moon.

Some state emergency planners also recommend bringing a paper map or road atlas in case cellular networks become overloaded with visitors seeking directions from their phones.

Don't forget your eclipse glasses everyone! Erika Goldring/FilmMagic hide caption

Don't forget your eclipse glasses everyone!

Arrive early and stay late

Once you figure out where you're going to watch the eclipse, and you've got your supplies, try to get there early. Although traffic is likely to be heavier than normal on the morning of eclipse day, it still should be possible to reach many destinations without too much hassle, says Upchurch.

"Leaving is definitely going to be more of a problem," he says. As the eclipse concludes, people will take to the roads all at once to try and get home as fast as they can. In 2017, that led to traffic jams that lasted many hours in some areas. If possible, Upchurch says, people should stay put for a while to try and avoid the worst of the post-eclipse rush, which in 2017 stretched even into the following day in some parts of the country.

Here's what time the eclipse will be visible in your region

And one more thing: If you do find yourself on the move near the time of the eclipse, state officials stress that you should not simply pull over to the side of the road or highway you're driving on. It's important to be parked legally and safely at the moment of totality.

If you're already in the path of totality: Relax and enjoy!

Several major metropolitan areas including Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo are already inside the path of totality, so there's no need to seek a better view, Upchurch says. You'll probably have the most fun simply staying where you are.

Shots - Health News

Watching a solar eclipse without the right filters can cause eye damage. here's why.

If you're on the edge of the path of totality, however, you might consider making a short trip to get closer to the center of the eclipse's path.

"If you're within about 40 miles of the center line, you'll have two-and-a-half minutes or more" of complete totality, Upchurch says. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth making the trip to a more central location.

Despite studying the potential hassles of traveling extensively, Upchurch says he's still looking forward to seeing the 2024 eclipse, which he plans to watch from Texas.

"Totality is absolutely spectacular," he says. "If you have a chance to witness it, I would do it."

• 2024 solar eclipse
• eclipse 2024
• 2024 eclipse
• Traffic patterns
• total eclipse