Hey there. If you fancy visiting Taiwan, I have the top 10 places to visit in Taiwan right here for you.
I lived in Taiwan for almost 12 years and fell in love with this beautiful country. So in this article, I want to introduce you to some of the best places you shouldn’t miss out on when coming to Taiwan.
To be honest, it was hard to pick 10 places. I could easily find 10 amazing places in one small area of Taiwan. You could stay for weeks just in and around Taipei City, for example, and have the time of your life.
Now, sit back, relax, and dive into a diverse, modern, yet traditional country, that won’t let you leave easily once you have arrived.
1. New Taipei City – Big City Live
One thing everybody knows about Taiwan is its capital, New Taipei City. This bustling city should be your first stop when coming to Taiwan.
Taiwan has four international airports, but you most likely will arrive at Taoyuan International Airport. From there it is just a 40-minute bus or taxi ride to Taipei City.
With just over 4 million people, Taipei is certainly not a small city and there is lots to discover.
Here are the main things, you should put on your bucket list:
1. Taipei 101 Tower
Standing 508 m (1,667 ft) tall, this beautiful tower was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2009. You simply must visit this tower and, even better, take the elevator to its top (the elevators reach up to 37.7 mph!).
You will be presented with the best view of the city.
2. Night Markets
You can find those all over the country, but Taipei has some of the best and most famous night markets. Here you can eat traditional Taiwanese street food. It’s fresh, delicious, and cheap.
Try “stinky tofu”, fried food, pancakes, oyster omelets, and much more!
Shilin Night Market is the most famous night market in Taipei, but I prefer to go to the Raohe Night Market, especially for its food!
3. Shopping
Of course, you can go on endless shopping sprees in Taipei City. You will find all the big and famous brands but also smaller and lovely shopping areas with more individual styles.
We love to go to the Zhongxiao area for our shopping. Just take the MRT (subway) to that station and wander through the streets. Don’t miss out on the smaller side streets, as that’s where the hidden gems can be found!
4. And Much More!
In this article, I want to highlight the top places to visit in Taiwan as a whole. I will write about Taipei City in more detail in a dedicated article, as there is just too much you can do. You will find a link here once that article is done.
2. Yehliu – The Amazing Queen’s Head
Around 40 minutes away from Taipei City, you will find the Yehliu Geo Park with its amazing stone sculptures. The clue about those sculptures is, that they were created by nature itself.
Countless years of wind and seawater have shaped really cool sculptures, most famously, the Queen’s Head. Look at it from the right angle and you clearly will recognize the resemblance to the head of a queen.
But there are also huge shoes (slippers), a dragon’s head, and quite a few more surprises created by Mother Earth.
3. Pingxi – Famous Sky Lanterns
Pingxi is a small town, also around 40 minutes away from Taipei City. It’s most famous for its sky lanterns. While it’s always worth visiting Pingxi (you can buy your very own sky lantern and let it fly), the best time to visit Pingxi is during the Lantern Festival.
The Lantern Festival is an important holiday in Taiwan, celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar(!) calendar. Before and on that day, most cities and towns celebrate by putting up (sometimes huge) lanterns. It’s a magical time.
The reason why you should consider visiting Pingxi during that time is, that they have the biggest sky lantern ceremony. Hundreds, if not thousands, of sky lanterns get released simultaneously and light the night sky on fire. That a sight!
4. Taichung City – The Center Of Taiwan
This is where I lived for close to 12 years and where I feel at home. With over 2.5 million people, it is the second-largest city in Taiwan.
Just like Taipei City, it is super modern but never forgets its roots and traditions. There are countless activities and sights in and around Taichung City. Great food, shopping, museums, sights, modern tech, traditional night markets, and temples, …
You won’t get bored in Taichung City and I will write a more detailed guide about it in another article.
5. Sun Moon Lake – Meet Taiwan’s Aboriginals
Drive 1.5 hours from Taichung City and you’ll find yourself in a different world. Taiwan has 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes and you can learn more about them at the Sun Moon Lake.
The lake itself is stunning and you can rent a bike to ride around it. Or why not take a small boat out and relax by taking in the views? Unfortunately, you usually are not allowed to swim in the lake as it’s also a source of drinking water.
For me, the main attraction here, however, is the Aboriginal Culture Village. Slightly hidden behind a theme park, you will learn how tribes lived on the island for ages, before people from the mainland arrived in Taiwan. You can meet members of some of the tribes here. Some of them still live their old ways to this day.
The Aboriginal Culture Village is an open-air museum. You can reach it by car or by a cable car that goes over the mountains. I highly recommend taking the cable car as it has stunning views over the area.
6. Taroko National Park – Stunning Landscapes
Taroko National Park stretches over 920 km² and is filled with stunning cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, and forests. It spans multiple municipalities, like Taichung, Hualien, and Taitung.
If you go there, make sure to stay on the paths or go with a guide. It can be quite an unsafe place, due to rock- or mudslides. And since it is such a large area, you can easily get lost, if you wander off the paths.
Besides that, for me, it is a must-visit location in Taiwan. I always brought people there when they visited me in Taiwan.
7. Taitung County – Time For a Breather
Let’s dive into Taiwan’s stunning nature even more. Taitung County is located on the south-east coast of Taiwan and you won’t find any huge cities here. Besides Taitung City with roughly 100k people, there are only small towns, farms, and nature. I loved to come here when I needed fresh air and just wanted to get away from the busy city life.
It’s best to rent a car, scooter, or bike here. Enjoy rides along the coastlines or drive a bit inland to “get lost” in the beautiful mountains. There are also many indigenous people here.
Be aware that it might be hard to find people here that speak English. So communication might be tricky but Taiwanese people are incredibly helpful and friendly. Even if you can’t talk to them in English, they will do their best to help you with anything you might need.
On a side note. Should you happen to be a surfer, don’t forget your surfboard when going to Taitung. You can find Taiwan’s best surfing spots here!
8. Kenting – Amazing Beaches
But now enough of busy cities, endless forests, and farmlands. It’s time to go to the beach.
You’ll find when you go to Taiwan, that many beaches have rather dark sand and are not very spectacular. Well, you haven’t been to Kenting then!
This is the place you need to go to find beautiful beaches. The town itself is small but nice. In some seasons a bit touristy, but that’s to be expected when you have nice beaches around.
You’ll find luxury accommodations there as well as backpackers. We’ve been there countless times and always had a great time.
9. Kaohsiung City – The Harbor Capital
After our trip to the countryside, it’s time to visit the third-largest city in Taiwan.
Kaohsiung City started as a small village but hosts the largest harbor in Taiwan and is in the top 15 of the largest harbors in the world.
Besides that, it is a lovely city that feels quite different from Taipei and Taichung. You can get everything you need there, too, of course. But it feels a bit more relaxed. It’s the perfect mix of big city and nature.
10. Liuqiu Island – Different Vibes
Last but certainly not least, let’s take a look at one of Taiwan’s islands. Liuqiu Island is a smaller corral island located not far from Taiwan’s southwest coast. You definitely will get completely different vibes and experiences there.
To get there, you will jump on a boat. Those are usually really fast boats. If you’re getting seasick easily, I highly recommend swallowing some pills before getting on one of those boats. The trip takes 20-30 minutes and when waves get high, the boat will fly up and down the waves.
The island is a diver’s paradise! Definitely go diving or snorkeling there. Corral reefs are all around the island and there are loads of dive shops.
Be aware, that there are no cars on the island. To get around you would have to rent a scooter (or walk).
Welcome To Taiwan
Now that you know the top 10 places to visit in Taiwan, nothing should stop you from planning your trip to this wonderful island. You will meet lovely and kind people.
The food is one of the best in the whole world. It is incredibly diverse. Make sure you come at a time when the weather suits you. It is very hot and humid during summer. If you can’t stand that, you should come in spring or fall. Winters are quite uncomfortable in Taiwan, though. I wouldn’t recommend to come then.
Whenever you come or plan to go. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions in the comments. I’d love to have a chat about my second home, Taiwan.