Right here’s one of the simplest ways to discover Taiwan on a price range, with out scrimping on each iconic and distinctive experiences!
Taiwan has all the time been certainly one of our favorite locations — it’s reasonably priced, the locals are tremendous pleasant and the road meals is actually to die for (smelly tofu anybody?).
However Taiwan isn’t simply an consuming and procuring vacation spot, there are different scenic landscapes and out of doors actions to discover too.
In comparison with different East Asia cities like Japan and Korea, the place experiences will be barely dearer, it’s undoubtedly attainable to cowl this lovely nation for below S$100/day — with out compromising on must-dos, must-eats, and even hidden gems!
On our final journey, we explored the gorgeous nature escapes of Japanese Taiwan. So this time, we wished to go to the lesser-known areas alongside the West Coast 🤩.
From the world’s once-tallest skyscraper in Taipei to an IG-worthy getaway island in Kaohsiung — right here’s how we uncovered the very best of the West on this nine-day price range Taiwan itinerary.
Learn additionally: 8D Japanese Taiwan Itinerary: The Gateway to Nature’s Finest Adventures (Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Kenting)
Taiwan Itinerary Route through the Excessive-Velocity Rail
Picture credit score: Taiwan Excessive-Velocity Rail
This Taiwan itinerary begins from Taipei, earlier than working south in direction of Kaohsiung, stopping by a number of cities like Taichung, Tainan, and Chiayi alongside the way in which.
Enjoyable reality: Taiwan’s high-speed rail system is especially based mostly on Japan’s Shinkansen (which explains why the trains are tremendous punctual)!
The high-speed rail (HSR) is likely one of the quickest and most handy methods to discover Taiwan’s West Coast 🚅. There are 12 principal stations on the road, stretching round 350km from Nangang to Zuoying — taking solely lower than 2 hours to journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung.
Plus, the stations are linked to the native metro, which made it simpler for us to journey to sure points of interest. For instance, the HSR Tainan Station is positioned subsequent to the Shalun metro station, which is simply 4 stops away from points of interest like Ten Drum Cultural Village.
*Professional-tip: E-book your tickets on-line to order your seats because the trains will be fairly packed throughout the vacation seasons.
Learn additionally: Exploring Taiwan by Excessive-Velocity Rail — Information to Maximising your THSR Cross
Funds Breakdown
8N Lodging: S$244
Transport: S$133.20 (excl. flights)
Actions: S$279.10
Meals & Misc: S$210.60
Whole: S$866.90 (~S$96.30/day)
(1SGD = 22.68)
(detailed breakdown for one pax right here)
Day 1: Taipei | Day 2: Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu | Day 3: Keelung | Day 4: Taichung | Day 5: Nantou | Day 6: Tainan | Day 7: Chiayi, Alishan | Day 8 – 9: Kaohsiung | The place to Keep | Ideas
Day 1: Taipei 台北
THSR from Taoyuan to Taipei: ~20mins
Tall skyscrapers, quirky museums, and energetic procuring streets — Taipei is a one-stop vacation spot for enjoyable. Since we wished extra day trip of the town, we solely spent a day right here however nonetheless managed to take a look at some distinctive locations in Taipei.
Gaki Hip
The primary attraction on our Taiwan itinerary is Taiwan’s first IG Museum, Gaki Hip. Within the native dialect, the identify seems like phrases for: “take an image by oneself” or “selfie” — and that’s what we did!
The varied themed rooms are impressed by the native tradition reminiscent of previous phone cubicles, claw machines with stuffed toys, and even bubble tea.
An fascinating exhibit to notice was one the place you possibly can drop a handwritten word right into a machine, and obtain a brand new one from a random stranger.
We got a card with the key phrase “Friendship”, so we wrote one thing alongside the traces of treasuring friendships. In return, we acquired a card concerning “Braveness” and despite the fact that our Mandarin isn’t the very best, we figured it had one thing to do with how selecting our personal path is the hallmark of our technology (however tell us when you’ve got a extra correct translation within the feedback under!)
The overall ticket contains 5 primary exhibitions in whole, however you’ll should buy a VIP ticket to entry the particular exhibitions just like the Sky Lantern room.
*Notice: Sadly, the museum is barely open until 12 Might 2023 however you possibly can look out for different everlasting and quirky museums reminiscent of an astronomical and even a raptor museum on Taiwan’s official tourism website!
Value: ~S$15.90/pax
Opening hours: 11:30AM – 8PM
Deal with: 13F, No. 66, Part 1, Zhongxiao West Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan 100
Lunch at Hao Ji Dumpling Noodles 豪季水餃專賣店
For lunch, head to Hao Ji Dumpling Noodles retailer for his or her zha jiang mian (NT$50) and scorching bitter soup (NT$35) close to Taipei Important Station. Whereas it was actually crowded throughout the lunch interval, the wait was price it.
Each dishes price lower than S$4 and got here with fairly beneficiant parts — we’d say it was a value-for-money meal!
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 8PM (closed on Solar)
Deal with: No. 1, Lane 29, Part 1, Zhongxiao W Highway, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan 100
Huanshan 1914 Inventive Park 华山1914文化创意产业园区
Initially a Japanese sake plant in 1914, Huashan 1914 Inventive Park was later refurbished into an arts and tradition house housing varied exhibitions and performing arts showcases.
Whereas we have been there, we got here throughout a Mickey Exhibition (until 5 Apr 2023) devoted to the historical past of the OG Disney character — which showcases artworks of various kinds from round 30 worldwide artists.
Opening hours: 24hrs (outlets open from 11AM – 9PM)
Deal with: No. 1, Part 1, Bade Highway, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan 100
Taipei 101 台北101
You might say Taipei 101 is the delight of Taiwan. In any case, it was previously the world’s tallest structure in 2004 at 508m tall, earlier than it was taken over by Dubai’s 828m-tall Burj Khalifa in 2010 😲.
That mentioned, the constructing nonetheless holds a report for having one of many world’s quickest elevators — taking you to the highest in simply 37 seconds! As soon as on the prime, there are numerous statement decks to absorb a panoramic view of the town, together with an outside space on the 91st ground.
Entrance payment: From ~S$26.50/pax
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM (Weekdays), 10AM – 7PM (Weekends), final entry at 6:15PM
How you can get there: Take the practice to Taipei 101 World Commerce Heart and stroll 5mins
Learn additionally: 4D3N Taipei Itinerary incl. Day Journeys and Lesser-Identified Issues To Eat-See-Do
Day 2: Jiufen 九份, Shifen 十分, Yehliu 野柳
Jiufen and Shifen are certainly one of our favorite day journeys from Taipei — roaming alongside their conventional previous streets and lighting up sky lanterns alongside the railway are simply a few of the iconic experiences on most Taiwan itineraries.
Since these cities will be coated in half a day, we determined to take a brief detour to Yehliu first because it’s within the space and alongside the way in which from Taipei too!
Yehliu 野柳
First cease, Yehliu Geopark — a 1.7km lengthy cape that’s residence to a number of rock formations shaped by pure erosion. The world is separated into three sections, every housing its personal rock star (heh).
Part one is thought for its various mushroom-shaped and candle rocks. Part two contains well-known rocks like Fairy’s Shoe and the Queen’s Head — which we thought actually resembled the late Queen Elizabeth. Part three is a vital ecological conservation space of the park that includes sea-eroded caves and pearl rock.
General, 1 hour was sufficient to cowl the entire park however we’d advocate giving an additional hour to totally soak in nature’s creations at a leisurely tempo.
Entrance payment: ~S$5.50/pax
Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
Deal with: No. 167-1, Gangdong Highway, Wanli District, New Taipei, Taiwan 207
Jiufen 九份
Jiufen Previous Road is like going to your grandma’s home stocked with meals — I do know, bizarre comparability, however there are simply so many various meals stalls and tea homes alongside the slim alleyway, it was onerous to not cease and check out every part we noticed. When you’re brief on time, listed here are our prime picks:
Tasty braised pork rice (NT$40) from Zhang Ji Conventional Fishballs and A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll (NT$50) — which gave us two beneficiant scoops of peanut ice cream wrapped in a skinny crepe. Plus a bowl of taro ball soup (NT$40) from Lai Ah Po Taro Balls, which warmed us up on a wet day.
Opening hours: 8AM – 7PM (Mon – Thu), 8AM – 10PM (Fri – Solar)
Deal with: Jishan Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan 224
Shifen 十分
Earlier than making our final cease of the day at Shifen Previous Road, we sidetracked a bit of to the close by Shifen Waterfall. The 40m waterfall is dubbed Taiwan’s personal Niagara Falls, and we might clearly see why.
*Professional-tip: Examine the climate forecast earlier than going and also you would possibly even catch a rainbow right here on sunny days!
Setting off sky lanterns at Shifen Previous Road is likely one of the most iconic experiences in Taiwan. Write your needs on the paper lanterns, gentle them up, and watch them float as much as the skies hoping the heavens reply it — ours was undoubtedly to journey extra 🤞🏻
Shifen Waterfall
Entrance payment: Free
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
Deal with: No. 10, Gankeng Highway, Nanshan Village, Pingxi District, New Taipei, Taiwan 226
Shifen Previous Road
Opening hours: 24hrs
Deal with: No. 81, Shifen Road, Pingxi District, New Taipei, Taiwan 226
Learn additionally: Taipei Day Journey: Shifen & Jiufen Information To All The Should-Eat-See-Dos
Day 3: Keelung 基隆
Keelung might not be as properly generally known as Jiufen and Shifen, however it has its personal pure appeal with lovely historic forts, temples, and vibrant photograph spots.
Heping Island Park 和平島海濱公園
Our day began with a visit to Heping Island Park or Peace Island Park. The small island felt like a weekend getaway with cabin homes, a seaside pool, and even a seashore to chill out at.
Feeling a bit of extra adventurous, we opted for a 30-minute (round-trip) hike on the Huanshan path to Hepingdao Lookout Level. It was a comparatively straightforward climb and the view overlooking the ocean was simply majestic.
Entrance payment: ~S$5.20/pax
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM
Deal with: No. 360, Pingyi Highway, Zhongzheng District, Keelung, Taiwan 202
Khoo Tsu-Music Previous Mansion 許梓桑基隆古厝
Again on the mainland, an iconic historic website we visited was the Khoo Tsu Previous Mansion — a 93-year-old constructing from the Japanese colonial period. The mansion was named after its proprietor, a neighborhood who was a distinguished determine in politics and civic issues prior to now.
Though deserted and coated in vines, it didn’t really feel spooky in any respect however gave off a tranquil environment amongst nature.
Entrance payment: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
Deal with: No. 15, Lane 2, Aisi Highway, Ren’ai District, Keelung, Taiwan 200
Xiandongyan (Fairy Cave) Zuisheng Temple 仙洞巖最勝寺
What makes Xiandongyan Zuisheng Temple temple particular in comparison with different temples is that it’s inbuilt a pure sea cave — one of many largest in Keelung at over 80m lengthy!
Right here’s some background: The caves have been as soon as a pure refuge for native fishermen throughout unhealthy climate however have been transformed to a Buddhist temple throughout the Japanese colonial interval.
Whereas exploring, we got here throughout a slim path on the left of the doorway resulting in a Buddhist shrine. However be conscious, the trail is barely huge sufficient for one individual and we needed to squeeze by way of to move.
Entrance payment: Free
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 4PM
Deal with: No. 1, Renan Road, Zhongshan District, Keelung, Taiwan 20343
Zhengbin Port Color Homes 正滨渔港
Google “Keelung” and one of many first few photos you’ll see are the 16 vibrantly colored homes at Zhengbin Port!
It was as soon as the most important fishing port in Taiwan again in 1934 and was later re-developed by the native authorities. After colouring the constructing facades and introducing new cafes and eating places by the ocean, this place is now one of the fashionable points of interest in Keelung.
Guess we’ll now be contributing these images to Google, together with a 5-star overview 💫.
Entrance payment: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
Deal with: No. 391, Zhongzheng Highway, Zhongzheng District, Keelung, Taiwan 202
Learn additionally: 5D4N Taiwan Itinerary Underneath S$400 — Scenic Roadtrip Uncovering Hidden Gems in Taipei and Yilan
Day 4: Taichung 台中
THSR from Taipei to Taichung: ~20mins
Do you know? Taichung is Taiwan’s second-largest metropolis and is the birthplace of many scrumptious Taiwanese treats like solar desserts and bubble tea! It’s additionally an incredible base to move out for day journeys to different cities like Taian and Nantou.
Solar Cake Museum 太阳饼博物馆
I used to be at present years previous once I learnt that the well-known Taiwanese delicacy tai yang bing (太阳饼) or solar desserts originated from Taichung 🤯. For individuals who’re unfamiliar, it’s a buttery and flaky pastry with a maltose filling.
Study solar desserts on the Solar Cake Museum however what we’re actually right here for is the solar cake-making workshop! We joined a 1-hour session with an expert chef to create six freshly baked solar desserts.
To not boast however ours turned out very well, being candy on the within and crispy on the skin.
Entrance payment: Free
Value of workshop: NT$250/pax
Opening hours: 9AM – 5:30PM
Deal with: No. 145, Part 1, Taiwan Blvd, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan 400
Desserts at Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 and Miyahara 宮原眼科
Aside from innovating solar desserts, Taichung can be the place my favorite drink was created. Relationship again to the Nineteen Eighties, a neighborhood tea store named Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 is claimed to be the inventor of bubble tea.
After having been there although, we discovered it to be barely overpriced at NT$90 for a small cup of pearl milk tea. However hey, always remember your roots, so it’s nonetheless price a attempt to style the way it all started.
Miyahara’s ice cream is one other dessert we extremely advocate. There are over 50 flavours, together with 18 several types of chocolate ice cream. Some fascinating flavours we acquired have been the Alishan osmanthus oolong, and caramel apple — which tastes similar to an apple pie.
Chun Shui Tang
Value: NT$90/cup
Opening hours: 8AM – 10PM
Deal with: No. 30, Siwei Road, West District, Taichung, Taiwan 403 (Siwei Unique Retailer)
Miyahara
Value: NT$200 for two scoops and a pair of toppings
Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM (closed on Tue)
Deal with: No. 20, Zhongshan Highway, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan 400
Yizhong Evening Market 中夜市
There are many night time markets in Taichung however Yizhong Evening Market is the one to go to. It’s open day by day, fairly unfold out, and never too crowded. Most significantly, we discovered the very best bubble tea right here (sorry Chun Shui Tang).
The milk tea (NT$40) from Black Tea Bus is actually candy and aromatic, and topped with mini pearls! Different native delicacies listed here are the standard hen cutlet, papaya milk, and fried pancakes with fascinating fillings like pork with curry.
Opening hours: 11AM – 10PM (Weekdays), 11AM – 11PM (Weekends)
Deal with: Yizhong Road, North District, Taichung, Taiwan 404
Bonus: Day Journey to Taian 泰安
When you have additional time to spare, take a day journey to Taian — a mountain indigenous city positioned in Miaoli County.
It’s solely half-hour from Taichung by practice and is known for its Huoyan Shan hike which may take as much as 3 hours (round-trip). The incline is steep and might not be a straightforward hike for newbies however we guarantee you, the views on the prime are price it 💯.
*Notice: Examine the practice/bus timings to Huoyan Shan Trailhead often on Google maps as they’re rare.
We have been right here throughout spring (between Feb – Mar) and managed to catch the gorgeous pink blooms! Some locations we advocate are Wele Cherry Blossom Park and outdoors the Taian Police Station — with avenue distributors promoting meals like scallion pancakes and Taiwanese sausages.
*Professional-tip: Examine Google opinions often to see if flowers are nonetheless in bloom in these areas.
Learn additionally: The Final THSR Taiwan Meals Information: 25 Should-eats in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung
Day 5: Nantou 南投
Enjoyable reality: Nantou is Taiwan’s solely non-coastal county however satirically, one of many nation’s most lovely lakes is discovered right here!
Solar Moon Lake 日月潭
Picture credit score: @grave_before_shave_ through Instagram
Surrounded by attractive mountains, Solar Moon Lake is likely one of the most scenic landscapes in Taiwan. It’s a preferred day journey from Taichung, being solely 2 hours away by bus.
To completely experience its magnificence, we went for a 1-hour Stand Up Paddling expertise. Even with out an teacher, it was surprisingly beginner-friendly and nobody ended up falling within the water 🤭 .
One thing else we learnt is that it’s simpler to face up when your board is transferring — in all probability as a consequence of calm lake waters! When you’re not too assured, it’s additionally good to only sit and paddle whereas taking within the views.
Different points of interest to discover within the space (if there’s time), embody Wenwu Temple, Yidashao Lakeside Path, Riyuetanlan Station and Ci’en Pagoda.
Value: ~S$30.50/pax for 1hr
Timing slots: 9AM – 4PM (hourly session)
How you can get there: Varied buses obtainable from THSR Taichung Station to Solar Moon Lake
Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village 九族文化村
Because the Stand Up Paddling expertise was close to the Solar Moon Lake ropeway, we hopped on it to get to Formosan Aboriginal Tradition Village.
The village has a bit devoted to replicas of aboriginal villages which you’ll be able to enter and discover, however we undoubtedly didn’t anticipate a full-on amusement park there too!
We took the Gold Mine Journey — a water experience with two first rate drops, and Maya Journey — a rollercoaster that drops from a top of 11 tales.
If you’re up for the problem (not like us), the hardest one right here is the UFO Gyro Drop — hailed as the best free-fall drop tower in Taiwan at 85m 😱.
Entrance payment: From ~S$34/pax (incl. Solar Moon Lake Ropeway ticket)
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5PM
How you can get there: Take the ropeway from Solar Moon Lake to Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village
*Notice: The final bus from the village departs at 5:45PM however do go away earlier as drivers might depart early.
Day 6: Tainan 台南
THSR from Taichung to Tainan: ~55mins
Established in 1661, Tainan is the oldest metropolis in Taiwan with many historic temples, artsy streets, and distinctive villages.
We additionally selected to arrange base right here for the previous couple of days of our Taiwan itinerary because it’s lower than 30mins away by practice to cities like Chiayi and Kaoshiung!
Chihkan Tower 赤嵌樓
With greater than 300 years of historical past, Chihkan Tower is the oldest constructing within the West Central District and certainly one of Tainan’s most well-known landmarks.
It was previously inbuilt 1653 as a fort by the Dutch, and now it’s a nationwide historic website comprising Haisheng Temple (海神廟), Wengchang Pavilion (文昌閣) and Penghu School (蓬壺書院).
In addition to the gorgeous conventional structure, what caught our eye have been the 9 imperial steles carried by stone bixi — a legendary half-dragon, half-tortoise creature.
Entrance payment: ~S$2/pax
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 9:30PM
How you can get there: Stroll 10 minutes from Tainan Station
*Notice: Wenchang Pavilion and Penghu Academy are presently below renovation till finish 2023.
Hai’an Highway Artwork Road 海安路藝術街 and Snail Alley 蜗牛巷
At first look, Hai’an Highway might sound a bit of run-down and coated in graffiti. However as we walked round, we realised it was simply an enormous public artwork exhibition.
A few of our favorite artworks have been the 3D pedestrian crossing — the place we couldn’t resist recreating that iconic Beatle photograph, and the rainbow blocks sculpture — which symbolises the variety of gender and household 🏳️🌈.
One other lesser-known artwork avenue is Snail Alley, only a 10-minute stroll away. Its identify was based mostly on a fictional alley in a novel by Ye Shitao, a literary author in Taiwan who used to reside within the space.
Snails have been his metaphor for taking life gradual and regular, so take your time whereas strolling across the residential space in search of snail-themed decors reminiscent of murals, art work and even signposts 🐌.
Hai’an Highway Artwork Road
Opening hours: 24hrs
Deal with: No. 5, Part 2, Hai’an Highway, West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan 700
Snail Alley
Opening hours: 24hrs
Deal with: Lane 97, Part 2, Yongfu Highway, West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan 700
Ten Drum Cultural Village 十鼓仁糖文創園區
After roaming the streets for photo-ops, we visited Ten Drum Cultural Village — a former sugar refinery throughout the Japanese colonial interval, now transformed into Asia’s first drumming-themed worldwide artwork village 🥁.
Picture credit score: Tourism Bureau of Tainan Metropolis Authorities
Our principal spotlight right here was the 45-minute music efficiency by Ten Drum, an internationally acclaimed Taiwanese percussion group. In addition to drums, the group additionally used different devices like flute and cymbals to create an incredible medley.
*Notice: There are solely two musical performances within the day, at 11AM and 3PM.
However the village isn’t nearly drums, it’s additionally residence to varied thrilling actions and distinctive cafes. We have been stunned to seek out enjoyable points of interest right here like a seven-storey free-fall drop, zipline, sky swing, and even a 360 VR expertise.
As somebody laidback although, I most well-liked chilling within the Magical Area Cafe — which seemed straight out of a Harry Potter film with spellbooks floating within the air and “magic potions” on the market.
Entrance payment: S$19/pax
Opening hours: 10AM – 8:20PM (Weekdays), 9:30AM – 8:20PM (Weekends)
How you can get there: Take practice to Bao’an Station and stroll 15mins
Learn additionally: 7 Underrated Issues To Do in Tainan
Day 7: Chiayi 嘉義, Alishan 阿里山
THSR from Tainan to Chiayi: ~20mins
In comparison with the bigger Taichung and Tainan cities, Chiayi is commonly ignored. However we are saying it’s price a day journey out for its star attraction — the Alishan Nationwide Forest Recreation Space — plus different hidden gems too.
Alishan Forest Recreation Space 阿里山國家森林遊樂區
Opposite to fashionable perception, Alishan isn’t a mountain. Relatively, it’s a whole mountainous space overlaying greater than 1,400 hectares! To us, it appears to be like straight out of a fairy story with lovely lakes surrounded by a misty forest.
It might take as much as 3 – 4 hours (round-trip) to hike from Alishan Railway Station, however for people who find themselves unhealthy at hikes (like me), right here’s our cheat code to chop that point by half — with out lacking out on iconic landmarks.
Take the practice from Alishan Railway Station to Zhaoping Station and go on a leisurely stroll in direction of Shenmu Station earlier than taking the practice again right down to Alishan Station.
General, we managed to cowl points of interest just like the Sisters Pond, Magnolia Backyard, and Shouzhen Temple (presently below renovation) in a span of two hours, taking our time snapping images. We have been even handled to some pink blooms throughout the hike — which actually made all of the strolling price it.
*Professional-tip: Travelling out of the town into the mountainous area could be a little bit of a problem, so we advocate becoming a member of a day tour as an alternative! Plus, lunch is offered too.
Value of tour: ~S$88.20/pax (1 day tour)
Tour timing: 8:15AM – 6:30PM
Assembly level: THSR Chiayi Station
Hinoki Village 檜意森活村
After returning to Chiayi from Alishan, our information additionally introduced us to Hinoki Village — a cultural village comprising of 28 Japanese-style buildings.
Being a self-proclaimed Japan otaku (nerd), I used to be actually excited to see a duplicate of the standard homes and zen gardens in Japan right here. There have been even varied outlets promoting Japanese souvenirs and meals like gold-leaf ice cream!
Mochiron (after all), I needed to lease a yukata (NT$550 for two hours) to actually immerse within the Japanese tradition however principally take fairly images whereas exploring the village.
*Professional-tip: Head to Hinoki Village early as most outlets shut by 6PM.
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM
Deal with: No. 1, Linsen East Highway, East District, Chiayi, Taiwan 600
Dinner at San He 三禾
Drained and hungry after an extended day of strolling, we requested our information for dinner suggestions and he was form sufficient to drive us to a neighborhood restaurant known as San He.
We ordered the braised pork rice (NT$35) and turkey hen rice (NT$35) to strive, and the previous was presumably probably the greatest I’ve had — actually melt-in-your-mouth comfortable 😋. Different add-on aspect dishes have been obtainable, reminiscent of braised egg, seaweed soup, miso soup, and greens.
Opening hours: 10AM – 7PM (Closed on Thu)
Deal with: No. 97, Minquan Highway, East District, Chiayi, Taiwan 600
Day 8 – 9: Kaohsiung 高雄
THSR from Tainan to Kaohsiung (Zuoying): ~15mins
On the final leg of our journey, we headed to Kaohsiung — residence to a number of points of interest such because the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, in addition to The Pier2 Artwork Heart.
However since we visited these on our earlier journey there, we wished to discover new locations and check out new experiences.
Cijin Island 旗津島
Our first cease in Kaohsiung was out of the town and on a quaint little island named Cijin. It’s recognized for a number of iconic photograph spots just like the Kaohsiung Lighthouse, Starlight Tunnel, Cijin Shell Home, and Rainbow Church.
After looking by way of many IG-worthy footage on the Web, we have been actually wanting ahead to visiting Cijin Island and it didn’t disappoint — I imply simply have a look at this 👇
My private favorite was this hidden spot alongside the seashore that resembled a mini Santorini!
*Professional-tip: Lease an electrical bike (~NT$600/hr for a 4-seater bike) to save lots of time and canopy these spots across the island below 2 hours!
How you can get there: Hop on a 5-minute ferry experience to Cijin Island from Gushan Ferry Pier
Glory Pier 光榮碼頭
Picture credit score: Kaohsiung Journey
Beforehand generally known as Pier 13, Glory Pier is positioned on the river mouth of Love River in Kaohsiung.
It was once an essential transport hub to the island areas of Kinmen and Matsu however now it’s a tourism and leisure attraction with a music centre — full with three live performance halls, an artwork gallery, and even a library!
Most individuals may additionally recognise a giant yellow ducky on the pier however sorry to ruffle your feathers, it’s not there :’)
Opening hours: 24hrs
How you can get there: Take the Kaohsiung Gentle Rail to Glory Pier Station and stroll 3mins
Liuhe Evening Market 六合夜市
In true native trend, we ended our final night time in Taiwan by visiting an evening market!
Since Ruifeng Evening Market was closed on the day we have been in Kaohsiung, we went to Liuhe Evening Market as an alternative. It could be smaller however it’s nonetheless full of a lot of scrumptious native meals.
We tried the Taiwanese scorching canine (NT$50) — a sausage stuffed into a bigger sausage fabricated from pork gut casing full of sticky rice, topped with peanuts and shallots. Wow, that was a mouthful, actually.
In fact, we additionally had the Taiwanese large fried hen which was so good that somebody mentioned and I quote: “I might make like to it”. Disclaimer: I swear it’s not me.
Opening hours: 6PM until late
How you can get there: Stroll 8mins from Formosa Boulevard Station
Breakfast at Good Morning 早安美芝城
Serving up contemporary toast, croissants, and burgers, Good Morning breakfast place was an unintended gem whereas strolling round Kaohsiung metropolis.
Among the flavours have been fascinating, together with a signature toast with a pork patty (NT$40) and a beef burger with peanut sauce (NT$55) — the burger truly tasted fairly good, with out the peanut style being too overpowering.
Opening hours: 6AM – 11:30AM
Deal with: No. 56, Zhengqin Highway, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 80674
i-Experience Kaohsiung (5D Visible Flying Theater)
Earlier than heading off to the airport, we squeezed in a single final exercise to discover all of Taiwan (in simply 5 minutes) — i-Experience Kaohsiung!
It’s a 360° visible flying theatre the place we “soared” over mountains, valleys, and cities in Taiwan. The 5D components additionally took us unexpectedly with sprays of water and blasts of wind when diving into the ocean or flying into the sky.
To commemorate our journey, we even snagged a photograph memento for NT$100.
Value: ~S$17/pax
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5PM (Wed – Solar), closed on Mon and Tue
How you can get there: Take the Kaohsiung Gentle Rail to Software program Expertise Park Station and stroll 5mins
Learn additionally: Prime 7 issues to do in and round Kaohsiung — Gateway to Taiwan’s laid again South
The place to Keep in Taiwan
As we have been travelling down from Taipei to Kaohsiung, we based mostly ourselves in three principal places — Taipei (Day 1 – 3), Taichung (Day 4 – 5) and Tainan (Day 6 – 9). So it was simpler for us to take day journeys to close by areas with out the effort of continually transferring round.
Day 1 – 3: Finders Lodge (from ~S$36.50/night time)
Our crib in Taipei was Finders Lodge — whereas the rooms weren’t as massive as we thought, it was nonetheless fairly cosy and comfy.
Picture credit score: Klook
We additionally cherished hanging out within the foyer to play darts and foosball, in addition to seize free meals like cup noodles, tea and biscuits each time we acquired hungry 😋.
The resort is conveniently positioned close to points of interest like Taipei 228 Memorial Park and Nationwide Taiwan Museum too!
Value: From ~S$36.50/night time (for 1 pax)
Deal with: No. 86, Part 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan 100
Day 4 – 5: Inexperienced Lodge – Midori (from ~S$38/night time)
Not gonna lie, Inexperienced Lodge – Midori was in all probability the very best lodging we stayed at on this journey. It’s clear and spacious, and right here’s the very best function — the bathrooms are fitted with a bidet!
What’s extra, it’s located in a mall known as ASEAN Sq. with varied meals choices like Vietnamese and even Indonesian delicacies. It’s additionally a 5-minute stroll from Taichung station and close by locations just like the Solar Cake Museum, Miyahara restaurant, and Taroko mall.
Value: From ~S$38/night time (for 1 pax)
Deal with: 12F, No. 123, Luchuan W. Road, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan 400
Day 6 – 9: Home Inn Home (from ~S$19.50/night time)
Home Inn Home might not be a elaborate five-star resort, however every room is actually cosy with its personal distinctive design — ours was retro-themed with a comfortable sofa and had prop gadgets like a movie gentle stand and even a standing karaoke mic.
It’s additionally only a 10-minute stroll to Tainan station, which labored nice for us since we deliberate to move out from Tainan and discover close by cities like Chiayi and Kaohsiung!
Plus, there are additionally loads of native clothes outlets and quick meals choices close by reminiscent of KFC and McDonald’s for a fast chew 😉
Value: From ~S$19.50/night time (for 1 pax)
Deal with: No. 33, Lane 108, Weimin Road, West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan 700
Ideas for Planning Your Taiwan Itinerary
Having principally been to Taipei and its surrounds, it was refreshing to discover different areas and hidden gems in Taiwan!
I’ve fallen in love with newly found cities alongside the West Coast like Tainan and Kaohsiung for his or her picture-worthy spots, and was even fortunate to catch some pink blossoms in areas like Alishan throughout spring!
Earlier than you go, listed here are some ideas in your future Taiwan itinerary:
1) Deliver enough money: not all outlets settle for playing cards, particularly at native night time markets.
2) Obtain helpful apps like:
Taiwan Railways Administration — to examine the practice schedule
Uber — there’s no Seize
Google Translate — to ask locals for instructions 📱
3) Pre-book journey necessities: journey insurance coverage, SIM card and EasyCard (reloadable transport card) for a hassle-free journey!
4) Pack loads of face masks: present guidelines state that it’s required on public transport. However you’re free to take it off when open air.
Bonus: Try our cherry blossom information and go to throughout spring (Feb – Mar) to catch fairly pink flowers.
Learn additionally: 25 Distinctive Issues To Do In Taiwan In addition to Visiting Evening Markets
Did we miss every other fascinating locations on this Taiwan itinerary? Share with us within the feedback under!
