Taiwan April 2026

Afternoon

Fly BKK → TPE (~3.5h, +1h time zone). Aim for a morning/midday departure to arrive in the afternoon. Clear immigration, pick up tourist SIM at arrivals.

Evening

Ningxia Night Market — smaller, more local, and arguably better food than Shilin. Famous for braised pork rice, oyster omelette, taro balls.

Walk through Dadaocheng / Dihua Street nearby — Taipei's oldest trading street with restored shophouses, herb shops, and craft stores. Atmospheric at night.

Morning

Longshan Temple (opens 6am). Go early when locals are doing morning prayers — much more atmospheric. Then walk the surrounding Wanhua neighborhood and Bopiliao Historic Block (preserved Qing-dynasty street, free).

Lunch

Wanhua area has great old-school street food — thick noodle soup (mianxian), herbal soup stalls near the temple.

Afternoon

National Palace Museum. Allow 3+ hours. The Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone are the star pieces, but the calligraphy and ceramics halls are where the real depth is. Take MRT to Shilin then bus R30.

Late Afternoon

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) for sunset — get there 30–40 min before sunset for a good spot. One of the best views of Taipei 101.

Evening

Walk down to Raohe Street Night Market (nearby, MRT Songshan) — the pepper buns at the entrance gate are legendary.

Morning

Houtong Cat Village (one stop from Ruifang on the Pingxi Line). Spend 1.5–2 hours — cats everywhere, a cat-shaped pedestrian bridge, and a small coal mining history museum.

Midday

Pingxi Line to Shifen. Release a sky lantern on the tracks (NT$150–200), walk 20 min to Shifen Waterfall (Taiwan's broadest, often compared to a mini Niagara).

Afternoon

Train back to Ruifang, then bus #788 or #827 to Jiufen Old Street (~15 min). Winding alleyways, tea at A-MEI Tea House (the red-lantern building associated with Spirited Away), taro balls, stunning coastal views. Jiufen is better in late afternoon/dusk when the lanterns light up.

Evening

Bus #1062 from Jiufen → MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing (~1.5h) back to Taipei.

Alternative: If you have energy, check out Treasure Hill Artist Village or drinks/food in the Yongkang Street area.

Morning Alternative

Maokong Gondola (opens 9am, MRT Taipei Zoo station) up to the tea plantations — glass-bottom cabins, great views, tea houses at the top. Then catch an afternoon train to Hualien instead.

Afternoon

Rent bikes and ride along the coast. Visit Qixingtan (Seven Star Lake) Beach — dramatic pebble beach with mountain backdrop. Walk through Hualien City — it has a relaxed, small-town feel.

Evening

Dongdamen Night Market — huge, excellent indigenous food stalls (wild boar sausage, mochi, bamboo rice). Hualien's night market is underrated.

Getting Around

Rent a scooter (NT$400–500/day, international license needed) or join a day tour (NT$800–1,200/person). Driving yourself gives much more flexibility.

Route Through the Gorge

• 1.
  Shakadang Trail — easy, 4km round trip, turquoise river, marble canyon walls
• 2.
  Eternal Spring Shrine — waterfall pouring from a cliffside temple
• 3.
  Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) — dramatic cliff road carved into marble
• 4.
  Lushui Trail — short, shady walk through forest
• 5.
  Lunch at Tianxiang — small village deep in the gorge, basic restaurants
• 6.
  Baiyang Waterfall Trail — leads to a “water curtain cave” — bring a flashlight and expect to get wet

Evening

Back in Hualien. Seafood dinner — Hualien is known for fresh catch. Try the area around Nanbin Beach or Zhongshan Road.

Morning

Sleep in, or revisit Qixingtan Beach at sunrise (spectacular). Walk the Pine Garden — restored Japanese-era military building, art exhibitions, ocean views, free entry.

Evening

Check in. Walk Shennong Street — beautifully lit narrow street with restored shophouses, bars, boutiques. First taste of Tainan food: grab danzai noodles (small bowl of minced pork noodles, Tainan's signature dish, originated at Du Hsiao Yueh restaurant).

Morning

Confucius Temple area — Taiwan's first Confucius Temple (1665), surrounded by banyan-shaded streets and small cafes.

Hayashi Department Store — restored 1930s Japanese-era department store, now a curated shop/cafe with rooftop shrine.

Walk through the Tainan Art Museum (Building 1 is a stunning renovated police station).

Lunch Crawl (This Is the Point of Tainan)

• Coffin bread (guancai ban) at Chihkan area stalls — hollowed-out toast filled with creamy chowder
• Milkfish congee — the local breakfast/lunch staple
• Shrimp rolls at Zhouji — crispy, iconic
• Sugarcane juice from any street vendor

Afternoon

Anping District — take a bus (~30 min). Anping Fort (17th century Dutch-built fort), Anping Tree House (banyan roots consuming an abandoned warehouse — very photogenic), Anping Old Street for snacks (shrimp crackers, tofu pudding).

Evening

Flower Night Market (only Thu & Sat) — check if operating. Otherwise explore Snail Alley and Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park (old judicial dormitories turned into an arts space).

Morning

Anything you missed — more temple hopping (Tainan has 200+ temples), Grand Matsu Temple, or the Tainan Flower Night Market (runs Saturdays).

Afternoon

Formosa Boulevard MRT Station — the Dome of Light (world's largest glass-panel artwork, free, inside the station). Worth seeing even if you're not an art person.

Pier-2 Art Center — converted harbor warehouses with street art, sculptures, galleries, a small train you can ride. Good for wandering.

Take the ferry to Cijin Island (NT$40 with EasyCard from Gushan Ferry Pier, 5 min crossing). Seafood street, Cijin Beach, climb to Cihou Lighthouse for harbor views.

Evening

Love River sunset walk. Liuhe Night Market for seafood (papaya milk is the signature here). Or eat fresh-off-the-boat seafood on Cijin Island.

Morning

Lotus Pond (Zuoying district, near HSR station) — walk through the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (enter the dragon, exit the tiger for good luck), Spring and Autumn Pavilions. Best in morning light.