Flights
Bangkok → Taipei (Taoyuan)
Flight time: ~3.5 hours · +1h time zone ahead
| Airline | Airport | Est. Price (THB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai VietJet | BKK (Suvarnabhumi) | 2,900 – 4,100 | Budget, cheapest option |
| Thai AirAsia | DMK (Don Mueang) | 2,800 – 7,000 | Budget |
| Thai Lion Air | DMK (Don Mueang) | 2,600 – 8,500 | Budget |
| EVA Air | BKK | 4,200 – 12,000 | Full service, excellent reputation |
| Thai Airways | BKK | 4,200 – 12,000 | Full service, direct |
| Starlux Airlines | BKK | 4,000 – 15,000 | Full service, newer airline |
| China Airlines | BKK | 6,500 – 25,000 | Full service |
Taipei (Taoyuan) → Singapore
Flight time: ~4.5–5 hours · Same time zone (UTC+8)
| Airline | Est. Price (THB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scoot | 2,500 – 5,000 | Budget, Singapore Airlines subsidiary |
| Tigerair Taiwan | 2,800 – 5,500 | Budget |
| EVA Air | 4,500 – 13,000 | Full service, excellent reputation |
| Singapore Airlines | 5,000 – 15,000 | Full service, direct |
| China Airlines | 5,500 – 14,000 | Full service |
| Starlux Airlines | 4,500 – 14,000 | Full service, newer airline |
EVA Air and Starlux are generally the best value for full-service on BKK→TPE. For TPE→SIN, Singapore Airlines and EVA Air are both strong; Scoot if budget matters more.
Day 1: Bangkok → Taipei
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.
Stay: Taipei
Day 2: Houtong Cat Village & Jiufen
Morning
Check out of Taipei hotel but store luggage at the front desk (confirm at check-in that next-day pickup is OK). Take TRA from Taipei Main Station → Ruifang (~45 min, ~NT$76), then Pingxi Line → Houtong (one stop).
Getting There
TRA Taipei Main Station → Ruifang (~45 min, ~NT$76), then Pingxi Line to Houtong (1 stop).
Pingxi Line runs roughly once per hour — check the timetable at railway.gov.tw.
Late Morning
Spend 1.5–2 hours at the cat village — cats everywhere, a cat-shaped pedestrian bridge, and a small coal mining history museum.
Early Afternoon
Pingxi Line back to Ruifang (one stop), 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.
Evening
Jiufen is at its best when the day-trip crowds thin out and the lanterns light up at dusk. Being here overnight means you experience that atmosphere without rushing. Explore the quieter alleys, have dinner at a local spot, and enjoy the mountain-and-sea night views.
Packing Tip
Travel light to Jiufen — just a daypack with overnight essentials. The old street is steep, narrow, and car-free. Your main luggage stays at the Taipei hotel.
Stay: Jiufen
Day 3: Jiufen → Longshan Temple, Wanhua → Hualien
Early Morning
Jiufen is peaceful and uncrowded in the morning — take a short walk along the old street or enjoy the coastal views from your hotel before checking out.
Jiufen → Taipei
~9–9:30am: Bus from Jiufen → Ruifang (~15 min), then TRA to Taipei (~45 min). Arrive ~10:30–11am.
Late Morning
Longshan Temple. 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.
Luggage Pickup & Transfer To Hualien
Early afternoon: Walk or take 1 MRT stop to Taipei Main Station. Pick up stored luggage from your Taipei hotel (allow 20–30 min if it’s not right at the station). Catch a Taroko/Puyuma Express to Hualien (~2:30–3pm departure, 2h 30min, NT$440).
Book 28 days ahead at railway.gov.tw — these trains sell out.
TRA Booking ↗Luggage Tip
Choose a Taipei hotel near Taipei Main Station or Ximen to minimize the luggage-retrieval detour. Alternatively, use coin lockers at Taipei Main Station on Day 2 instead of hotel storage.
Evening
Arrive Hualien around 5–5:30pm. Check in, then head to Dongdamen Night Market for indigenous food stalls, mochi, and bamboo rice.
Stay: Hualien
Day 4: Full Day Taroko Gorge
Getting Around
Rent a scooter (NT$400–500/day, international driving permit 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
Trail Status Note
Some trails may still be affected by the April 2024 earthquake. Check the Taroko National Park website or ask your hotel before going.
Check trail status ↗Evening
Back in Hualien. Seafood dinner near Nanbin Beach or Zhongshan Road.
Stay: Hualien
Day 5: Hualien → Beitou
Morning
Relaxed morning in Hualien. Visit Qixingtan Beach and the Pine Garden, then pick up mochi gift boxes from Amei Mochi.
Luggage Tip
Leave bags at the hotel front desk after checkout, explore hands-free, then collect bags before heading to the station.
Travel Segments
~2–3pm: Taroko/Puyuma Express Hualien → Taipei · 2h 30min · NT$440
~5–5:30pm: MRT Taipei Main Station → Xinbeitou (~25 min)
Evening
Check into a Beitou onsen hotel. First hot spring soak, then stroll Beitou Park and the hot spring creek before dinner near Guangming Road.
Stay: Beitou
Day 6: Beitou — Remote Work Day
Daytime
Work from the onsen hotel or a nearby cafe. Beitou has solid WiFi and easy MRT access to central Taipei (~25 min) if needed.
Remote Work Tip
Confirm WiFi speed and desk space when booking your hotel, and scout one backup cafe in walking distance.
Evening
After work, take a long soak (private in-room bath or public bath), stroll Beitou Park, and have dinner in the Xinbeitou area.
Stay: Beitou
Day 7: Beitou — Remote Work + Onsen Evening
Daytime
Work from the onsen hotel or cafe.
Evening Heritage Walk
Explore Beitou highlights near Xinbeitou station: Thermal Valley (Hell Valley), Beitou Hot Spring Museum, and Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch. End with a long onsen soak.
Stay: Beitou
Day 8: Museum, Tea & Sunset Day Trip
Morning
MRT Xinbeitou → Shilin (~20 min, Red Line). 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 bus R30 from Shilin MRT. Opens 9am.
Lunch
Near Shilin area before heading south.
Afternoon
Maokong Gondola (MRT to Taipei Zoo station, ~40 min from Shilin). Ride the glass-bottom Crystal Cabin up over tea plantations (~25 min ride). Pick a tea house at the top for local oolong tea, tea noodles, tea-flavored snacks, and mountain views. Spend about 1.5 hours at the top.
The gondola is closed Mondays; Saturday is fine.
Late Afternoon
Gondola down, then MRT to Xiangshan area (~25 min via transfer at Daan). 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. MRT back to Xinbeitou (~30 min) for your final night at the onsen hotel — one last soak.
Stay: Beitou (same hotel, night 4 of 4)
Day 9: Fly to Singapore
Morning
Sleep in, or take one last breakfast in Taipei at Fuhang Soy Milk (shaobing + youtiao). Last-minute shopping before heading to the airport.
Onward Journey
~1pm: MRT Xinbeitou → Taipei Main Station (~25 min)
Airport MRT Taipei Main Station → Taoyuan Airport (35 min, NT$160)
~2:30pm: Arrive airport and check in for evening flight TPE → SIN (~4.5–5h)
Fly to Singapore
Intercity Transport Summary
| Segment | Mode | Duration | Cost (NT$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport → Taipei | MRT | 35 min | 160 |
| Taipei → Ruifang (Day 2) | TRA | ~45 min | ~76 |
| Ruifang → Jiufen (Day 2) | Bus #788/#827 | ~15 min | ~15 |
| Jiufen → Taipei (Day 3) | Bus + TRA | ~1.5h | ~100 |
| Taipei → Hualien (Day 3) | TRA Taroko Express | 2h 30m | 440 |
| Hualien → Taipei (Day 5) | TRA Taroko Express | 2h 30m | 440 |
| Taipei → Airport (Day 9) | MRT | 35 min | 160 |
| Total intercity transport | ~1,400 (~1,580 THB) | ||
Taipei ↔ Beitou is regular MRT (~NT$28 each way, covered by EasyCard). No HSR legs in this itinerary.
Hotels
All ratings from Booking.com. Mid-range budget assumed for two.
Taipei
1 night · Apr 4–5NT$2,000–2,800/night
NT$2,200–3,000/night
NT$2,500–3,500/night
Choose near Taipei Main Station or Ximen for MRT convenience and easy luggage retrieval on Day 3.
Search Taipei hotels ↗Jiufen
1 night · Apr 5–6The Loft Jiufen
Map ↗NT$2,500–4,500/night
Jiufen The Ore Inn
Map ↗NT$2,200–4,000/night
Sunny Room Jiufen
Map ↗NT$2,000–3,500/night
Look for mountain + sea views. Jiufen guesthouses are small (5–10 rooms) — book early. Travel light; old street is steep and car-free.
Search Jiufen hotels ↗Hualien
2 nights · Apr 6–8Azure Hotel
Map ↗NT$2,200–3,500/night
Just Sleep Hualien ZhongZheng
Map ↗NT$2,000–3,000/night
Lakeshore Hotel Hualien
Map ↗NT$2,500–4,000/night
Beitou
4 nights · Apr 8–12Grand View Resort Beitou
Map ↗NT$5,000–8,000/night
Asia Pacific Hotel Beitou
Map ↗NT$3,500–6,000/night
Spring City Resort
Map ↗NT$3,000–5,000/night
Most Beitou onsen hotels have private in-room tubs. Book early for Fri/Sat and confirm WiFi + workspace for remote work days.
Search Beitou hotels ↗Key Booking Reminders
- Hualien train tickets — Book the moment they open (28 days prior, midnight Taiwan time) at railway.gov.tw. Taroko/Puyuma Express seats sell fast. Apr 6 (Taipei→Hualien) opens Mar 9; Apr 8 (Hualien→Taipei) opens Mar 11.
- Jiufen guesthouse — Jiufen is small and popular. Book well in advance for a room with mountain + sea views. Many guesthouses are 5–10 rooms only.
- Taipei hotel luggage storage — Confirm at check-in that the hotel can hold your bags for next-day pickup (Day 3). Choose near Taipei Main Station or Ximen.
- Beitou onsen hotel — Popular weekend destination for locals. Book early, especially Fri/Sat nights (Apr 10–11). Confirm WiFi speed and workspace availability.
- Flights — EVA Air or Starlux for BKK→TPE. Singapore Airlines or EVA Air for TPE→SIN; Scoot if budget matters more. Book soon — April is peak season.
- Taroko Gorge trail status — Check the Taroko National Park website a week before for trail closures.
Food Suggestions by City
Shortlist of well-known spots and local staples to try in each city.
Practical Notes
Visa
Thai passport holders get visa-free entry for up to 14 days (verify closer to date).
Money
NT$ (New Taiwan Dollar). ~1 THB = 1.1 NT$. ATMs everywhere; cards widely accepted.
EasyCard
Buy at any MRT station or convenience store. Works on MRT, buses, trains, convenience stores. Essential.
EasyCard info ↗April Weather
20–28°C in Taipei and Beitou. Some rain possible — bring a light rain jacket.
SIM / eSIM
Buy a tourist SIM at Taoyuan Airport arrivals (Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile). For a 9-day trip, get a 10-day or 15-day unlimited plan (~NT$500–700).
Hot Springs
Most Beitou onsen hotels have private in-room tubs. Public baths often require swimsuit + swim cap. Shower before entering any bath.
International Driving Permit
Needed if you plan to rent a scooter for Taroko Gorge. Arrange before departure, or join a guided tour instead.