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The Perfect Taiwan Itinerary And Complete Taiwan Travel Guide

Did you know Taiwan has the largest number and density of high mountains in the world? While this island may be small in size, it has much to offer!

From beautiful beaches to modern skyscrapers and from colorful street art to delicious cuisine, Taiwan has it all.

This Taiwan itinerary will guide you around the highlights of this green island that used to be called ‘Ilha Formosa' (meaning ‘beautiful island‘ in Portuguese). A fitting name as Taiwan is absolutely gorgeous!

Taiwan itinerary

Taiwan Itinerary - empty road in Kenting

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Itinerary for Taiwan and Taiwan travel map

In the map below you can find our Taiwan itinerary, at the end of the post you can download this map.

Click here for the interactive map

The ultimate Taiwan itinerary

  • Day 1-3: Kaohsiung
  • Day 4-6: Kenting National Park
  • Day 7-9: Tainan
  • Day 10-11: Taichung
  • Day 12-13: Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 14-19: Taipei (part I)
  • Day 20-23: Hualien and the Taroko Gorge
  • Day 24-29: Taipei (part II)
The Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei

Important things to know when planning a trip to Taiwan

What is the best time to visit Taiwan?

Taiwan is a great destination year-round, however, Spring (March-April) and Autumn (October-November) are the most popular times to visit.

From mid-May until September, monsoon season causes a lot of rain, especially on the East Coast. We visited in May and while we did experience some rain, the weather was good on most days.

However, we did adjust our travel plans because of the (terrible) weather forecast, and instead of traveling the entire length of Taiwan's East Coast (in the pouring rain), we opted to spend more time in Taipei (where it was still sunny).

During Summer (June until August) Taiwan is hot and humid with temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius.

Winter is low season in Taiwan, though it usually doesn't get that cold (around 10 degrees).

Which currency is used in Taiwan?

The official currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). 

Here you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 34NT$ and $1 approximately 30NT$.

Is Taiwan worth visiting?

Yes, 100% yes! Not only because the island is beautiful but because in Taiwan I met some of the friendliest people of all my travels, and I don't say that lightly.

• When our rented electric scooter died on a steep hill in the middle of nowhere, the owner of our hotel came to our rescue.
• One of our Airbnb hosts showed us his favorite restaurant (and insisted on paying for us no less) where we had the best beef noodle soup of our 1 month Taiwan trip.
• The owner of a fruit stall kept giving us free fruit and drinks because we came back a couple of days in a row.

I could go on but I think I made my point: Taiwanese people are super nice! If friendly residents aren't enough reason for you, let the delicious food convince you.

Beef noodle soup, bubble milk tea, stinky tofu (which may not sound appealing but is really tasty) and Xiaolongbao (dumplings) are just a few of the amazing things you can eat in Taiwan.

What's more, Taiwan is very diverse. It's a perfect for place for hiking, visiting modern buzzing cities and relaxing at a tropical beach as well as one of the 50th birthday bucket list destinations!

Dry beef noodle Kaohsiung

How to get around in Taiwan?

Public transport is excellent in Taiwan: it's dependable and inexpensive. There is a large network of trains, buses, and MRT lines (in Kaohsiung and Taipei).

You can also take a taxi/Uber or use the public bicycle system in Taipei, Kaohsiung, or Tainan. In the table below I've listed all the transport information (and fares) for our 1 month Taiwan trip.

Taiwan 1 month travel by public transport how to travel around Taiwan

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 Taiwan 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.

Taiwan travel tips

In general traveling around Taiwan is very easy. This beautiful small country is safe and well-organized and, as I already mentioned, the people are super friendly.

Nevertheless, here are some travel tips to make your Taiwan trip even easier (and cheaper!).

Bicycles in Kaohsiung city Taiwan

Buy an EasyCard

I recommend that as soon as you arrive in Taiwan, you pick up an EasyCard.

You can use this pass all over Taiwan to pay for transport (MRT, bicycles, buses, trains, ferries, etc.). The Easy Card gives you a discount on transport fares and saves you the hassle of having to pay with coins.

You can top up your credit in 7-11 and Family Mart (you can also pay with your EasyCard in these shops and several others).

Pick up a Wifi router at the airport

During our trip to Taiwan, we used a portable Wifi router with unlimited data to stay online.

We could connect all our devices (and we have a lot) and had excellent reception everywhere in Taiwan (except in the tunnels on the East coast). Click here to book your Wifi router.

You can pick up the router upon arrival at Taoyuan international airport or Kaohsiung airport and use it throughout your Taiwan trip.

You can simply return the device to the service counter where you picked it up, or use a 24-hour drop-off box available at the airports mentioned above if you happen to have to catch a flight outside of business hours.

Be prepared to use Google Translate a lot

While the people in Taiwan are very friendly and always willing to help, I was surprised to learn that many Taiwanese don't speak English. At all.

They will still try to help you through and Google Translate makes it a lot easier. You can download the app for free in the App Store or the Play Store.

Qingshui Cliffs Taiwan East Coast

Our Taiwan trip: facts and figures

  • I traveled with my husband; our trip started in Kaohsiung and ended in Taipei. Our Taiwan trip itinerary was 29 days in total.
  • We traveled around Taiwan by public transport (train, bus, and MRT). In Kenting National Park and Hualien, we rented a scooter. In Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, and Taipei we used the public bicycle rental systems, bus, and MRT to get around.
  • During our trip around Taiwan, we spent approximately 2065 NT / €63 / $69 per day as a couple. If you want to know more about the costs of our Taiwan trip, check my budget breakdown.
  • I have written detailed guides for most places we visited in Taiwan, in these guides you can find detailed information about our day-to-day activities, transportation, and detailed information about our accommodation. You can find the links to those posts in the itinerary below.

Where to find great budget accommodation in Taiwan

In the table below you can find our Taiwan accommodation. I’ve also written a separate post about the places we stayed in Taiwan with more details about these places.

LocationAccommodation namePrice per nightBook viaBook via
HengchunKenting Light Blue Bed and Breakfast€34/$35AgodaBooking
HualienHoney B Trip B&B€49/$50AgodaBooking
Kaohsiung85 Good Time Hotel€46/$47AgodaBooking
Sun Moon LakeItathao Hotel€45/$46AgodaBooking
TaichungModern Inn€32/$33AgodaBooking
TainanTie Dao Hotel€30/$31AgodaBooking
TaipeiComma Boutique Hotel€48/$49AgodaBooking

Note: Prices for these hotels depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Use ‘click here' to see the latest prices on Agoda and Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

* Unfortunately, the Airbnbs we stayed at in Kaohsiung and Taipei are no longer available due to Covid-19. I've done my utmost to find a suitable alternative (see table).

How to spend a month in Taiwan

Ideally, if you have a month in Taiwan as we did, you'd make a full circle around the island. You can either start and end your trip in Taipei or in Kaohsiung, as these are the largest hubs for international flights.

As I mentioned above, unfortunately, we didn't get to finish our Taiwan loop because monsoon season started and the East Coast was soaking wet.

Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun during the additional time we spend in Taipei and I don't regret making this decision. Below you can find our day by day one month Taiwan trip.

If you have less time available to explore Taiwan, don't worry, I've got you covered. Further on in the post, I also suggest shorter options (5, 7, and 10 days, plus 2 and 3 weeks) for your Taiwan travel itinerary.

Day 1 – 3: Kaohsiung

Love River Kaohsiung Taiwan

Kaohsiung isn't a well-known city, at least I had never heard of it before traveling to Taiwan. Of course, that could also just be me being ignorant…

Anyway, Kaohsiung is the third-largest city in Taiwan and this is where we started our trip. Kaohsiung is an important harbor city but also has many interesting sights.

My recommended activities for Kaohsiung are:

  • Cycle the bicycle trail along the Love River. Worthwhile stops are the Kaohsiung 228 Peace Memorial Park, Zhongdou Wetlands Park, Botanical Garden, and the Lotus Pond.
  • Cycle around the Lotus Pond. Another great bicycle trail goes around the Lotus Pond, on the south side of the lake you can find the colorful Tiger and Dragon Pagodas.
  • Visit Qijin Island. This small island is only a 5-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Here you can explore the Cijin Coast Park, admire the view from the Cihou Lighthouse and visit the Maritime Museum.

Book your Kaohsiung accommodation: 85 Good Time Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Kaohsiung.

Day 4 – 6: Kenting National Park

Beach in Kenting National Park

From busy Kaohsiung, we traveled to the green Kenting National Park, in the South of Taiwan.

Fun fact: did you know there are 9 National Parks in Taiwan?

Kenting National Park is beautiful, the beaches are pristine and the empty roads through lush green jungle make it the perfect place for a scooter road trip.

Some of the best places to visit in Kenting are:

  • Maobitou Park: a great spot to admire the beautiful ocean views and impressive rock formations.
  • Hengchun night market: try out lots of typical Taiwanese dishes and snacks and wash them down with a boba (bubble tea).
  • Kenting town: take an hour or so to explore the town, but leave plenty of time to relax on a pretty Kenting beach, with white sand and stunning blue water.

Book your Kenting accommodation: Light Blue Bed & Breakfast

Click here to read about more things to do in Kenting.

Day 7 – 9: Tainan

Colorful temple in Tainan, Taiwan

Our next destination was Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan and one with a Dutch history which made it extra interesting for us (being from the Netherlands and all).

Back in 1624, the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or United East India Company in English) built Fort Zeelandia in Tainan and used the city as their ruling and trading base.

Besides the Dutch Fort, there are many beautiful temples in Tainan. In fact, there are more Buddhist and Taoist temples in Tainan than in any other Taiwanese city! The top spots in Tainan you should visit are:

  • Koxinga’s Shrine: an impressive shrine dating from 1663. Also, take a stroll around the stylish garden in front of the complex.
  • Fort Zeelandia: this fort was built by the Dutch in the early 17th century and used as a trading outpost. It's a great place to learn about (part of) the tumultuous history of Taiwan.
  • National Museum of Taiwan History: another excellent place to learn about Taiwanese history and its many invaders throughout the decades (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese, and the Japanese).

Book your Tainan accommodation: Tie Dao Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Tainan.

Day 10 – 11: Taichung

Skyline Taichung

Unfortunately, it was raining during the majority of our time in Taichung. We made the most of it though and went to the movies, ate wood-fired oven pizza, and hung out in cute cafes.

However, if the weather is a bit nicer, you can easily spend three days here as there are many things to do in this interesting city! Highlights in (and around) Taichung are:

  • Rainbow Village: a short distance from Taichung city center you can find what is perhaps the most colorful village in the world. Painted by Huang Yong-Fu in a desperate attempt to preserve his home that was about to be torn down by the government, this artsy village has now become one of Taiwan’s most famous attractions!
  • Chun Shui Tang Cultural Tea House: the birthplace of Taiwan's famous boba, aka bubble tea. Here you can take a bubble tea-making class and learn how to create these delicious and highly addictive concoctions yourself.
  • Taichung Second Market: an authentic wet market with 100 years of history. Here you can eat local dishes created from secret family recipes handed down for generations!

Book your Taichung accommodation: Modern Inn

Click here to read about more things to do in Taichung.

Day 12 – 13: Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan on a cloudy day

Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan and a very popular place to visit. It sure is a gorgeous place, unfortunately, the rain that found us in Taichung followed us to Sun Moon Lake.

We had planned to do lots of outdoor activities, like cycling around the lake and hiking up Mt. Shuishe.

Instead, we spent most of our time in the Starbucks in Shuishe Village, running outside whenever the rain stopped for a brief moment to take pictures of the still beautiful-looking lake.

Nevertheless, there are tons of things to do at Sun Moon Lake when the weather is nice:

  • Follow (part of) 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.
  • Ride the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭: from the Ropeway, you can enjoy the best views over the lake and forested mountains.
  • Visit the Wenwu Temple and Ci En Pagoda: these beautiful constructions‭ are highly worth a visit, and both can be reached with the Round-The-Lake-Bus.

Book your Sun Moon Lake accommodation: Itathao Motel

? Discount: if you're planning a trip to Sun Moon Lake, check out the Sun Moon Lake ropeway combo pass, which includes the ropeway, bike rental, and a boat trip over the lake.

Day 14 – 19: Taipei (part I)

Taipei skyline at dusk

I loved Taipei! I'm not usually one for big cities for a long period of time, but I really enjoyed our time in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. We spent 12 days there in total and still didn't run out of things to do.

What I loved most about Taipei is how easy it was to get away from the busy part of town and find some peace and quiet.

There is so much nature just a subway ride away from the center! For example, we hiked a mountain trail in the Maokong area and didn't come across anyone else.

I've written an extensive post about Taipei and a blog about day trips from Taipei, but to sum up, here are some of the main Taipei highlights to add to your Taipei itinerary.

Admire the view from the iconic Taipei 101

Go up to the observation deck on the 91st floor for marvelous birds-eye views of Taipei city (purchase a fast-track ticket here).

Explore the National Palace Museum

National Palace Museum Taipei Taiwan

This huge museum houses one of the world's largest collections of ancient Chinese artifacts and is highly worth a visit. Click here to buy your ticket online.

Hike the Elephant Mountain trail

A steep but short walk to the top of Elephant Mountain (a 183-meter high hill) offering beautiful views over Taipei and the aforementioned Taipei 101.

Visit Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a huge and impressive building. Try to time your visit to coincide with the changing of the guards (every hour on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm).

Also visit the nearby Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness, National Concert Hall, and the National Theater.

Eat your way around Shilin Night Market 

Shilin Night Market is one of the best night markets in Taiwan, and also one of the largest in the country. Sample some famous street food dishes such as stinky tofu, fried buns, bubble tea, and oyster omelet.

There are so many food stalls you'll inevitably find yourself coming back a second night to try out more typical Taiwanese foods and snacks.

Take a day trip to Maokong

This is a pretty little village on the outskirts of Taipei that can be reached via the Maokong gondola (buy your online ticket here) or bus.

There are several great hiking trails around the village, which is known for the cultivation of high-quality tea.

Book your Taipei accommodation: Comma Boutique Hotel

Click here to read about more things to do in Taipei.

Day 20 – 23: Hualien and the Taroko Gorge

The East coast was my favorite part of Taiwan and I have only seen a small section! There are steep cliffs, a stunning blue ocean, marble mountains, and a green jungle.

It's much less populated than the rest of Taiwan, only 4% of the Taiwanese live on the East Coast. We spent 3 days in Hualien and used this relaxed city as a base to explore the famous Taroko Gorge and the area south of Hualien.

Some of the best things to do around Hualien are:

  • Qinshui Cliffs: the combination of the steep cliffs and the vivid blue color of the ocean is a spectacular sight.
  • Taroko Gorge: one of the most popular places to visit in Taiwan and rightly so, it's a beautiful place. There are hiking trails, waterfalls, rope bridges, and amazing views wherever you look. Click here to book a day trip from Taipei or take a Taroko tour from Hualien city.
  • East Coast National Scenic Area: we rented a scooter and went for an adventurous drive along the coast and mountainous area south of Hualien.

Book your Hualien accommodation: Honey B Trip B&B

Click here to read about more things to do in Hualien.

Day 24-29: Taipei (part II)

View from Elephant Hill Taipei

Because of the approaching typhoon season, it was already very rainy on the East Coast. Therefore we did not continue south to Taitung (cycling Taiwan’s east coast is a very popular option) but went back to Taipei instead.

In Taipei, we had mostly sunny days for the remainder of our trip and there was a lot more to do in and around Taipei so this was the best option for us.

But I sure would love to see more of the East coast of Taiwan!

Alternative Taiwan itineraries (5, 7, and 10 days + 2 and 3 weeks)

Taiwan itinerary 5 days

If you just have 5 days to travel around Taiwan, don't worry! While you cannot see everything the island has to offer, you can get a taste and feel of the country.

This is how I would spend a Taiwan 5 day itinerary:

Da'an Forest Park Taipei

Taiwan itinerary 7 days

For a 7-day Taiwan itinerary, I'd suggest the following:

  • Day 1-2: Taipei
  • Day 3: make a day trip from Taipei (such as Beitou, Tamsui, Wulai, Maokong or Thousand Island Lake and the Shiding tea township)
  • Day 4: travel to Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 5: explore Sun Moon Lake and travel to Taichung (book HSR tickets with a discount here)
  • Day 6: Taichung
  • Day 7: Taichung and return to Taipei

With this Taiwan 1 week itinerary, you will get to explore the buzzing capital as well as Taiwan's second-largest city, Taichung, and one of Taiwan's absolute highlights: the beautiful Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Taiwan

Taiwan itinerary 10 days

This 10 day Taiwan itinerary not only includes the two major cities of Taiwan (Taipei and Taichung), but also the two most beautiful natural sights: Taroko Gorge on the East Coast and Sun Moon Lake in the middle of the Island.

  • Day 1-2: Taipei
  • Day 3: make a day trip from Taipei (such as Beitou, Tamsui, Wulai, or Maokong)
  • Day 4: travel to Hualien
  • Day 5: visit Taroko Gorge
  • Day 6: travel to Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 7: Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 8-9: Taichung
  • Day 10: Return to Taipei

For days 4-10 of this Taiwan 10 day itinerary, it's easiest to rent a car as this will allow you to explore Taroko Gorge independently.

It's also the easiest way to travel from the East Coast to the West coast. If you opt to travel via public transportation, the best way to travel from Hualien to Sun Moon Lake is via Taipei.

Blue ocean near Taroko Gorge and Hualien

Taiwan 2 week itinerary

If you have 2 weeks in Taiwan, I'd recommend traveling either from North to South or vice versa. Your 2 week Taiwan itinerary could look like this:

  • Day 1-3: Taipei
  • Day 4-5: Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 6-7: Taichung
  • Day 8-9: Tainan
  • Day 10-11: Kenting National Park
  • Day 12-14: Kaohsiung

This 2 week Taiwan itinerary is especially suitable for people looking to travel in one direction instead of a loop.

Evening light on Maobitou Park in Kenting Taiwan

Taiwan 3 week itinerary

If you don't mind a fast-paced itinerary, you could make a complete loop around Taiwain in three weeks. For this 3 week Taiwan itinerary, I'd suggest the following route:

  • Day 1-3: Taipei
  • Day 4-5: Sun Moon Lake
  • Day 6-8: Taichung
  • Day 9-10: Tainan
  • Day 11-13: Kaohsiung
  • Day 14-15: Kenting National Park
  • Day 16-17: Taitung
  • Day 18-20: Hualien and Taroko Gorge
  • Day 21: Return to Taipei

You will be traveling a lot with this 3-week itinerary for Taiwan and I'd recommend avoiding monsoon season (which is especially bad on the East Coast).

This itinerary for 3 weeks in Taiwan will show you very different sides of Taiwan. You'll explore several interesting cities, spend enough time at the most beautiful lake in Taiwan and also visit two National Parks (Taroko and Kenting).

Gaomei Wetlands Taichung

Planning a trip to Taiwan: in conclusion

I had a great time in Taiwan and hope this post will help you plan your trip to this wonderful little island.

You can download the map and table with the transport information below. If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me a message!

This post was updated in November 2022.

ViaTravelers

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

Hello, Lotte! Thank you for thsi great blog! Taiwan is such a fascinating place to visit, and I love the Itinerary you gave. It makes an almost two-week trip to Taiwan packed and great!

Lotte

Monday 4th of October 2021

Thanks for your kind words about my Taiwan itinerary:-) It's such a great country, too bad it's been closed since Covid... Anyway, enjoy your time in Amsterdam (I saw you went on a canal boat trip on your IG).

Lotte

Sarah

Monday 18th of January 2021

Thanks so much for sharing such an amazing post of your experience in Taiwan! I've always wanted to visit this country, and your post helped me add even more to my Taiwan must-visit list.

Lotte

Sunday 24th of January 2021

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for reading my Taiwan post and great to hear it's inspired you (even more) to visit this amazing island. I really loved our time there and would love to go back to explore more (and eat more delicious food...) One day!

Lotte

May Twu

Sunday 3rd of January 2021

Thank you so much for all this information. I truly appreciate it! I have been Virtual traveling since C19 and once this pandemic is contained and global green light turns on, Ilike to take my boys (husband and son) to Taiwan. Stay safe and god bless. Thank you

Lotte

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Hi May Twu,

Thank you for reading my post and most welcome! For now, virtual travel is what will have to do... Hopefully, things will improve in 2021 with vaccine campaigns starting up. I hope you can visit Taiwan in the near future!

Stay safe and thanks again! Lotte

Chris

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

Hi. Thanks for the very informative itinerary!

May I know which month did you went to Taiwan? Thanks.

Lotte

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

Hi Chris,

You are welcome! We went to Taiwan in May and left at the start of June. Have a nice trip:-)

Lotte

Binh Ba

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Thank your for post, it's very useful! Taiwan looks really amazing.

Lotte

Saturday 24th of February 2018

Thank you, Taiwan is amazing indeed:-)