klook taichung day trip

How To Do a Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung!

Categories Asia , Taiwan

Taichung Sun Moon Lake is located pretty much in the centre of Taiwan and it’s a popular place to visit on a day trip , but also to stay overnight. After visiting a few cities in Taiwan, a day in nature was what I needed, so I spent one of my days in Taichung walking and sailing around this very special lake on a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung and this is how I did it so you can too!

Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung

Related Post: 1-3 Day Itinerary for Taichung & Things to Do in Taichung.

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Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Bus

The best way to do this Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung is to take the Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus!

Taichung Bus Terminal is in the centre of the city next to Taichung Rail Station but this is NOT where you get the bus to Sun Moon Lake from. You get it from the bus stop – Nantou Bus Stand which is close to the bus station and on the edge of Taichung Park.

Upon arrival, especially if you leave in the morning which I suggest you do, I left Taichung at about 8:30 am, you’ll see a number of buses lined up opposite the park and a small ticket office. On maps.me which is a map app I use all over the world the ticket shop is detailed as Ybus and the bus stand is noted as Nan Tou Bus (bus to Sun Moon Lake, Xitou, Lakang).

You can just purchase a return bus ticket from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake for 360NTD however the more cost-effective way it seems and an easier way is to get one of the Sun Moon Lake passes .

Sun Moon Lake Passes

There is a range of passes available for your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung for different prices as they include different things which you can see in the below photo:

I went for the 790NTD ticket which included the return bus ticket to Taichung from Sun Moon Lake, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway / Cable Car ticket both ways, around the lake Bus ticket, a round trip Boat ticket and a bike rental coupon.

Another popular Sun Moon Lake Pass is the pass for 680NTD which includes the same as the above but full bike rental rather than the Sun Moon Lake Cable Car (although I did enjoy the ropeway, more on that below).

With that being said, on arrival to Sun Moon Lake Taiwan , there are plenty of people and shops selling tickets for boats and bike hire rental so you could get the return ticket only and work out what you want to do when you get there and it won’t cost you too much more. In fact, I didn’t even use the round the lake bus ticket that was included in my pass.

You can also buy combo passes like this online in advance too!

The Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus takes just under 2 hours , heading directly into the centre of Taiwan into Nantou Country. You’ll be dropped off in a town called Shuishe at the Sun Moon Lake Bus Station.

FIRST TIMERS GUIDE TO TAIWAN

I’ve been to Taiwan twice. I love the country so much! I have written lots of posts to help you visit Taiwan, start with my 8 Helpful Tips For Planning a Trip to Taiwan from Start to Finish and the Best Places to Visit in Taiwan !

TAIWAN SIM CARD The best way to stay connected in Taiwan is to buy this EasyCard & Sim Card package deal in advance . You’ll need an EasyCard to get around on transport in Taiwan anyway and at the same time you can get a Taiwan Sim Card with 4G and pick them up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport when you land!

GETTING AROUND TAIWAN

The Metro within cities in Taiwan is really great, easy to use and so safe. You’ll need an EasyCard which you top up with credit to use the metro and buses. To get around Taiwan, I loved travelling by train . As a tourist, we can’t use the direct Taiwan train booking system. Instead you can go to a train station a few days before and purchase your ticket, or book online in advance using 12GO Asia !

Shuishe is a popular tourist town and when it comes to where to stay in Sun Moon Lake if you decide to stay overnight this could be a good place as it has lots of Sun Moon Lake Accommodation and restaurants nearby. However, as as Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung , I would suggest you start your Sun Moon itinerary by heading straight to Shuishe Pier to get out on the lake!

To help you plan your trip around Taiwan, have a look at all of my Taiwan Blog Posts here!

Sun Moon Lake Tours

If you would like the planning of your visit to Sun Moon Lake taken out of your hands then consider a Sun Moon Lake Tour , there are many tours you can purchase online in advance that leave from Taichung and Taipei. There are also tours that combine the Sun Moon Lake Alishan Pass as this is a popular place in Taiwan to visit that is close to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taichung

A Day at Sun Moon Lake including Taiching transfers, including a boat cruise, walking and seeing the Temples via Klook.

Shared Transfers between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake.

Private Transfers from Taichung Rail Station to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taipei

If you really want to visit Sun Moon Lake from Taipei, I would recommend a Sun Moon Lake Day Tour from Taipei as this way you do not need to worry about the transport yourself and will get there quicker than getting the train and bus yourself.

Here’s a Sun Moon Lake 1 Day Leisure Trip from Taipei including hotel pick up and drop off, a guide and lunch via Viator.

If you just want the transport organised for you, here’s a Private City Transfer from Taipei City or from Taipei Taoyuan Airport via Klook.

Things to do in Sun Moon Lake

Here are the best things to do at Sun Moon Lake and an idea of how you can plan your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung . I’ve also included a Sun Moon Lake Map to help you understand what the lake looks like and where the best places to visit in Sun Moon Lake are.

Sun Moon Lake Bike Rental

If you purchased one of the Sun Moon Lake passes with bike rental or you want to hire a bike when you’re there, picking up a bike in Shuishe is a good idea and biking around Sun Moon Lake is the best way to see Sun Moon Lake because the lake is lined with cycling paths said to be the best cycling tracks in Taiwan . Biking around Sun Moon Lake gives you a close up look at the lake and the surrounding areas.

Sun Moon Lake Boat Tour

What I decided to do was to get a boat from Shuishe across the lake to the second most visited town in Sun Moon Lake- Ita Thao. On the boat, Ita Thao Pier is the second stop. The boats do offer commentary but it’s all in mandarin!

This hop on hop off bus and boat combo ticket makes it easy for you to take your bike on the eco-friendly boat in an easy way so you can see all of the lake!

Explore Ita Thao

Itathao is an extremely tourist town but you have to visit on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Ita Thao is full of souvenir shops but it is nice to see some traditional clothing and items that I hadn’t seen elsewhere in Taiwan before because they are very unique to this area and Nantou County. Part of visiting Sun Moon Lake is to learn and experience a bit about the traditional aboriginal culture of the people who used to live here.

Some Sun Moon Lake history is that it’s said that the ancestors of the Thao people found Sun Moon Lake as they were chasing a white deer, it ran to the lake and after they’d seen it they moved all the tribes to live beside the lake!

Ita Thao Shopping District is very popular and famous with Taiwanese so be sure to have a wander of Ita Thao Shopping Street even if you don’t plan to buy anything.

Street Food in Ita Thao

The best thing about Ita thao I think is its street food! When I arrived there at about 11:00 am the stalls were just opening up but by 1:00 pm everything was fully open. From Mochi to Meat there’s street food to suit everyone, there are even local aboriginal foods that you can try.

Sun Moon Lake Tea is very popular so many of the snacks are made with black tea like black tea ice cream, black tea egg rolls.

Sun Moon Lake is most popular with Taiwanese people , after all, it is the largest lake in Taiwan and an extremely special place however I noticed that many of the food signs were in English to help out foreign visitors to Sun Moon Lake.

Make sure you’re hungry enough to eat street food in Ita Thao on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Related Post:   Taichung also has a few night markets, have a read of this post to see which night markets in Taichung to visit ! 

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

A short walk from Ita Thao is the base of the Sun Moon Lake cable car station and you really can’t miss it. The Cable Cars take you up and over the mountains in either a crystal clear bottom car or a normal car. I opted for the normal car as that what was included in my Sun Moon Lake pass. I actually really enjoyed the cable car.

It was amazing to see a full view of the lake from the top and swing over the mountains below. I was just a little surprised and disappointed when I reached the end and ending up turning straight back because at the end is the Aboriginal Culture village.

Purchase a combo ropeway ticket here to include boat and bike rental to save you money!

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Initially, I liked the sound of this and it was on my Sun Moon Lake itinerary however upon arrival I realised that a ticket was 550NTD which is pretty expensive after already paying for the ticket pass for Sun Moon Lake.

In addition to this, from what I saw from the signs and from the ropeway, it’s more of a theme park, and a huge group of school children had just gone inside. From what I can tell, if you’re visiting Sun Moon Lake with children, it could be a fun place to visit , but as adults and as a solo adult, it didn’t seem appealing or worth my money, therefore I got back on the ropeway straight away and went back to Ita Thao Sun Moon Lake.

If you are interested in the Aboriginal Culture and want to visit the Sun Moon Lake Theme Park, this Aboriginal Culture Day Tour ticket combines both so you’ll be able to learn about the culture as well as have some fun!

TAIWAN ITINERARY HELP

Here are my top Taiwan itinerary posts to help your plan your trip:

• 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 1 week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 18 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan!
• How to Plan a Trip to Taiwan!

TAIWAN ON A BUDGET

Taiwan isn’t the cheapest country but it’s not the most expensive either and can be travelled on a reasonable budget. Here’s my post on the cost of travel in Taiwan and how to travel Taiwan on a budget !

Sun Moon Lake Activities

Aside from going on the tourist boats on the lake to get you from A to B, you can pedalo boats to take yourself and you can even go stand up paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake too! The way to do this is by joining a SUP trip with a professional guide . 

Sun Moon Lake Temples

There are a number of temples in Sun Moon Lake that surround the lake.

The closest temple to Shuishe is Wenwu Temple which is a huge temple built-in 1938. From Shuishe you can walk to Wenwu Temple, it’s about 3-4km but the walk is along the Sun Moon Lake trail which keeps you slightly away from the road and right on the lake. This trail is also part of the bike trail so it would be easier and faster to bike to Wenwu Temple from Shuishe.

Close to Ita Thao but not in walking distance are Xuanzang Temple and Cien Pagoda . Xuanzang Temple has the remains of monk Xuanzang inside it who was the holy monk in the Tang dynasty.

Ci En Pagoda is the pagoda you’ll see peeking out from the top of the mountain from the lake because its 46 metres high and is a landmark of Sun Moon Lake.

Both of these temples are accessible by foot from Xuanzang Temple Pier which is the first stop after the boat leaves Shuishe and before it gets to Ita Thao. Alternatively, you can get the round-the-lake bus from Ita Thao Pier to both of these temples which will reduce the amount of walking you need to do as the bus stops by the temples whereas from the pier you need to walk up to them.

Sun Moon Lake Accommodation

If you decide that you do want to stay overnight, instead of just doing a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung! Sun Moon Lake Hotels that are are popular and well-rated are:

The lalu Sun Moon Lake Resort is the most popular hotel in Sun Moon Lake with a spa and infinity pool!

See Moon Lake Homestay  is a cute looking homestay for a good price, perfect for couples.

Hu An The Lakeside House is perfect if you want to be right on the lake and to relax!

For more accommodation on Sun Moon Lake, have a look on Booking.com here !

• More of my Taiwan Posts:
• Taichung Itinerary & Things To Do!
• 2-3 Day Itinerary for Kaohsiung!
• Visiting Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung.
• How to Do a Day Trip to Taroko National Park via Bus from Hualien!
• 12 Taipei Travel Tips!

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Taichung Day Tour: Green Fantasy Forest, Houli Flower Farm, Rainbow Village

Taichung is one of the most popular destinations in Taiwan. Since it’s located only 2 hours away from Taipei City, it’s an easy option for a 1- or 2-day trip. Here is my experience on a Taichung day tour!

P.S. Visiting Taiwan soon? Read our Guide to Taiwan for First-Timers and 5 Days Itinerary in Taiwan .

About Taichung

Green fantasy forest, houli flower farm, taian police station, painted animation lane, rainbow village, book a taichung day tour, reminders and tips, what to read next:.

There are so many things to do in Taichung ! It features scenic mountain areas and the famous Sun Moon Lake, which is the largest lake in Taiwan. It also has a number of man-made attractions, including the Houli Flower Farm and Rainbow Village. Its city is bustling with interesting spots such as temples and museums.

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Taichung is an Instagrammer’s dream because of all the picture-perfect places you can visit.

It’s accessible via train, but for tourists the most convenient option is to rent a car or book a joiner tour. Travel agencies such as KKDay offer day tours in Taichung but their itinerary is too compressed. I recommend finding a local tour organizer instead since they offer a lengthier itinerary to Taichung.

• Taichung Day Tour

I booked a joiner tour by a local tour organizer. Pick up time is 7:30AM in Ximen Station and drop-off time is 7PM in the same location.

I was solo so I stuck with a small group of Filipino tourists and asked them to take pictures of me as well. I didn’t bring a monopod or camera stand. I felt a little embarrassed to be honest because oftentimes people asked me to join them and not the other way around, but I just went ahead and it turned out okay-ish.

Here are the places we visited in the Taichung day tour.

The Green Fantasy Forest is a fantasy-themed park located in Miaoli County. It consists of various installations which are based on fantasy and children’s materials, including a castle, various rooms and houses, a giant red shoe, and even a giant clock set in the middle of a lush forest.

We stayed here for over an hour. Time flew fast since we took turns taking pictures in every spot. There were some spots I skipped and some that I really liked. I recommend taking a longer time in the floating houses and piano in the pond and the giant wall clock.

The Green Fantasy Forest is enjoyable for families and children, as well as IGers.

Houli Flower Farm is a popular tourist attraction in Houli District in Taichung. It’s a farm featuring different flower beds, which vary according to season. The farm also has a restaurant that offers a 2-hour BBQ buffet and a store where you can take home potted plants, honey, and other produce.

Again, Houli Flower Farm is a good place to take pictures. There are displays such as faux piano and other musical instruments in the middle of the flower fields, where you can strike a pose for the camera.

The challenge here is the crowd – you have to get in line and take creative angles to get good shots. I went during a lean season and everywhere else was almost empty, so I was surprised at the crowd in Houli Flower Farm.

Taian Police Station is also located in Houli District. It’s a stopover during spring, as it’s one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Taiwan . The type you can see here is the Yaezakura cherry blossom, which has fives petals. The trees are planted along the road.

There is also a line of food stalls here that serve Taiwanese snacks and delicacies.

We were only here for several minutes. I already had taken pictures of cherry blossoms in Nantou, but it was nice to see different varieties here. I also enjoyed looking at the food stalls. I picked out a stick of candied strawberry to try. It was good!

This is an alleyway in a residential neighborhood where you can see walls painted with characters from cartoon, manga, and video game characters.

The Rainbow Village is the last stop in our itinerary, which is a small residential village painted in whimsical designs. It was done by a certain Huang Yong-fu, who is also known as the Rainbow Grandpa.

Again, this tourist attraction is oftentimes crowded. You have to wait for people to pass to take pictures in the narrow alleys inside the village and to queue to get a picture in the village front. You can also buy souvenirs including notebooks which also has the same design as the village.

Even though it’s commercial, I enjoyed the Rainbow Village. The designs are unique and fun and I felt the passion of the artists by looking at the art houses.

These attractions are worth checking out especially if you like IG-worthy destinations. However, if you are into more natural attractions, I recommend going elsewhere like Shiding.

Personally, I preferred the day tours in North Coast and Shiding better. The reason is that I enjoy natural and cultural attractions, and I find the Taichung tourist spots we’ve visited to be too commercialized. And though I looked forward to taking pictures, it seems that was all I did — a lot of walking and taking pictures. So really it’s just about preference.

Since I’d written this experience, I frequently receive inquiries about the tour, so I guess a lot of people do enjoy going to this particular day tour in Taichung!

Taichung is 2-2.5 hours away from Taipei City. It’s best to depart at around 6 or 7AM in the morning due to the long travel time.

( Updated as of 2020 ) I paid 1200 NTD via joiner tour. Here are other fees:

• Green Fantasy Forest entrance fee – 300 NTD per person
• Houli Flower Farm entrance fee – 150 NTD per person

For convenience, you can also book a Taichung day tour via Klook .

Here are some tips for planning your day trip in Taichung!

• It’s best to visit Taichung on weekdays, as it can be overly crowded otherwise.
• Wear comfortable footwear since you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Also, don’t forget to pick out your best OOTD!
• Bring water and snacks. This is the longest day tour I booked during my trip and I was starving on the way home.

That concludes my feature about Taichung Coast Day Tour! If you have questions or suggestions, let me know in the comment section below.

Planning a trip to Taiwan? Here are important guides:

• First-Timers Guide to Taiwan
• 5 Days Itinerary in Taiwan
• One Day in Taipei City
• Best Day Trips from Taipei City
• What to Eat in Taipei City

Day tours from Taipei City:

• North Coast Day Tour
• Shiding Day Tour

Get discounts on your travels!

Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHERE

Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).

MARIA ANA DOMINGO

Hello Katherine. Can you please share with me the link where you book your Taichung Day Tour which includes the following destinations.

Green Fantasy Forest Houli Flower Farm Taian Police Station Rainbow Village

Thank you very much.

Katherine Cortes

Hello! I just booked that tour from someone in the FB group Filipinos in Taiwan. KKDay also offers day tours to Taichung but with a different itinerary.

Maria Ana Domingo

Hello Katherine. Thanks a lot for sharing your travel blogs. My niece and I are visiting Taiwan next month. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind. For your Days 1 to 3 did you book in the same hotel? What about on Days 4 and 5? Do you suggest we book an accommodation in Taichung so that there are more places to go to? We also plan to explore Sun Moon Lake since we have a late departure back to Manila. You suggestion will be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hello! I booked the same hotel throughout my stay because I only took day tours from Taipei. But if you’re going to explore Taichung including Sun Moon Lake then yes it might be better to book a hotel there.

Ann Domingo

Thank you very much, Katherine. Have a great day and take care.

Eduardo Maresca

At least we can do virtual travelling by reading blog posts like this while waiting for quarantine to end… Next time I visit the Philippines I want to explore some neighboring country as well and Taiwan sounds like an interesting place

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Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung, Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan, with over six million visitors every year. The region’s natural beauty, well-preserved culture, and many activities makes it a fun place for all types of travelers. Sun Moon Lake from Taichung and Taipei will take at least a full day trip, because it’s located a little ways into the mountains.

Here’s all you need to know for your day trip to Sun Moon Lake Day from Taichung! 

Day Trip to Sun Moon Lake, or Overnight Trip?

Many people choose to stay one night near Sun Moon Lake so they can spend more time in the area. Depending on your Taiwan itinerary, you could spend the night at Sun Moon Lake and return to Taichung in the morning, and travel to your next destination from there.

Two great backpackers hostels near Sun Moon Lake are  Yue Lake Backpackers  and  Deer Traveler Hostel

More luxurious options include  Sun Moon Inn ,  Doris Home , and  Blue Sky Bay B&B

How to go to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung

The Nantou bus company has the most direct busses departing for Sun Moon Lake from Taichung. Nantou bus company’s Sun Moon Lake shuttle busses are what the best busses to take from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake.

A round-trip ticket costs 390 TND ($12 USD) and is bought on the day of departure only in Taichung. If you purchase a bus ticket from the ticketing desk, you’ll receive a transit card with 390 TND on it. Tap it each time you board and get off the bus. 

Many locals were also just using their own transit card to board the bus. 

The Nantou bus station in Taichung is a quick walk up the main road from Taichung Station. 

Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Bus Station: Look for a red sign with the symbols 日月, which mean “sun” and “moon”. 

You can also opt for a shared transfer van  or a  private transfer  to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung, both bookable through Klook. 

Sun Moon Lake Day Trip Special Passes

I opted to purchase a Taichung to Sun Moon Lake special pass from Nantou Bus company for 790 NTD ($26 USD). These passes can only be purchased on the day of travel.

The Taiching to Sun Moon Lake special pass includes the cost of the round-trip bus ticket from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake, a voucher for unlimited boat rides on the lake, a voucher for the cable car ride, and unlimited lakeside bus rides. I used all three, so the money was worth it.

Other special passes are more expensive, but include more perks. Here are all the  available passes and their descriptions  in English, from Nantou bus. 

Sun Moon Lake from Taichung

Upon arriving at Sun Moon Lake, I was immediately confused about how to get my day started. There were half a dozen locals bombarding me with offers to rent bikes or get on busses, leaving me a bit frazzled as I walked towards the lake as a start. 

I recommend heading to the pier and getting on a boat as the first step in your Sun Moon Lake itinerary. Including Suishe Pier where the busses drop people off, there are three piers to explore around Sun Moon Lake. If you’re at Sun Moon Lake for biking, you can start by renting at bike at Suishe Pier too. 

Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Day Trip Itinerary

Part a – boat from suishe pier to xuanguang pier.

At Suishe Pier, head to any boat company to show them your boat ticket voucher from the Nantou Bus Pass. They will stamp your hand so you can ride unlimited boats for the day. Alternatively, if you don’t have a voucher, you can pay 300 NTD ($9.80) to purchase unlimited rides.

Things to do at Xuanguang Pier:

• Listen to and donate to aboriginal Taiwanese groups who may be performing local music and dance
• Try Taiwanese tea eggs from the small shop at the pier – a local delicacy of eggs hard-boiled in a big pot of tea and spices
•  Walk up to the Xuanguang Temple, a Buddhist temple dedicated to a monk who spent his life spreading Buddhist teachings after making a pilgrimage to India
• Take a picture with the Sun Moon Lake commemorative stone here (it has the 日月 “sun” “moon” symbols on it)
• Hike up to Xuanzang Temple, a larger temple with a beautiful viewpoint. It’s a nice uphill nature walk to get there
• Hike up again, 1 km, to the Ci’en Pagoda which has the greatest viewpoint overlooking Sun Moon Lake.

Part B – Boat from Xuanguang Pier to Ita Thao

There’s not really any signage at Xuanguang Pier, so just remember which section of the pier you got off your boat, and wait there for the next departing one. All boats make the same counter-clockwise loop around the lake, so you won’t accidentally head back to where you started.

Things to do at Ita Thao:

• Check out the Ita Thao visitor’s center and gift shop, which is informational and sells nice handicrafts
• Walk the scenic Yidashao Lakeside Trail, an easy stroll over a boardwalk to the Cable Car Station
• Take the cable car ride to its terminus, then back again. It costs 300 NTD, or $9.80 USD if you’re buying tickets separately. 
• Visit the Aboriginal Village Theme Park
• Eat your fill of street food at Ita Thao’s main shopping street. Try the bao buns, the aboriginal pork sausage, or some bubble tea! 
• Do you souvenir shopping in all the gift shops and handicraft shops along the same street.
• Hike part of the Shuishe Great Mountain Nature Trail, which stretches from Sun Moon Lake to the Shuishe Great Mountain, the highest peak overlooking Sun Moon Lake (you’ll need several hours for this).

Part C – Boat from Ita Thao back to Suishe Pier

Ask at the visitor’s center or at the building selling boat tickets, which boat to board back to Suishe Pier. Each boat company has its designated pier here. 

Things to do at Suishe Pier:

• Walk up to the pavilion at Meihe Park, a nice viewpoint over the pier and lake.
• Rent a bike to take in either or both directions around the lake from Suishe Pier. Sun Moon Lake Circular Walk path runs counter-clockwise, and Suishe Lakeside Walk path runs clockwise from Suishe Pier. Both are gentle, wide boardwalk paths with amazing views of the lake, perfect for biking 
• Chill at the Starbucks, which has a view over the lake from its outdoor patio.
• Shop at the many handicraft and tea stores along the main road
• Board a bus to Wenwu Temple, the highlight of the Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung! It deserves its own heading… see below.

  The balcony at Starbucks has a great view over Sun Moon Lake

Visiting Wenwu Temple

I’ve seen a hundred temples during my time in Thailand , Myanmar , Japan , India , and other parts of Asia. Wenwu Temple still stands out to me as one of the more magnificent temples. It’s a little bit hard to get to during a day trip from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung, but it’s 100% worth the hassle. 

From Suishe Pier, you need to wait at the main bus station for a local lakeside bus to come. There is usually an attendant there that you can ask about which bus to board. The bus station for Wenwu temple where you get off is located just past the temple itself so you won’t miss it.

Plan to spend 30-50 minutes here when at Sun Moon Lake. Check the bus timetables so you don’t miss the bus on the way down, because they only come every hour. 

At Wenwu Temple, admire the architecture, the art, and the different temple buildings where visitors can pray and receive fortunes. Walk up to the very top gate, climb up to the viewpoints on top of the temple, and admire Sun Moon Lake below. You can even donate 2000 NTD ($65 USD) to have your name inscribed in the wall of temple donors. 

During your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung, be sure not to miss Wenwu Temple! 

Getting from Sun Moon Lake Back to Taichung

From the Suishe Pier bus station, it took about two hours to return to Taichung. Nantou busses depart about every half an hour, and the attendant at the bus station was directing people to different lines depending on their destination. Some busses arrive part-full however, so out of all the people lining up to board my bus at 3:30pm, about 1/4 of the line had to wait longer for the next bus.

Last busses from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung leave at 18:25 and 19:25, with an extra weekend bus departing at 18:40.

Tip : Don’t show up at the last second and expect to have a spot on the next bus back to Taichung from Sun Moon Lake.

Getting from Taichung to Taipei

The bus from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung drops people off at the Taichung High Speed Railway Station and the regular Taichung Station. From here, it would be possible to board a train here and make it a late evening back to Taipei or other destinations.

Traveling from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake? Pin this Post!

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Taichung 1 Day Tour: Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing

An ideal getaway from Taichung, escape from the busy city to Cingjing and Sun Moon Lake in this 1 day tour.

• Child safety seat available
• English service available
• Private tour, flexible pick-up time
• Up to 8 guests per vehicle only. More than 8 guests require 2 or more vehicles.
• Pick up at Taichung City

Hotel, BnB or any place within the city

At over 2000m above sea level, you will be among green grassland, fluffy sheeps, and white clouds

Surrounded by lush mountains and dotted with hot springs, explore this legendary lake with its amazing folklore.

• Drop off at Taichung City

Wanna make changes to the itinerary?

1 - 5 of 50

Cancellation Policy

Cancel 7 days before the trip and get a full refund.

• $5160 TWD per group
• Book You won't be charged yet
• Available tomorrow
• Confirmation within 24 hours

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The Best Sun Moon Lake Tours According to Taiwan Travel Expert

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Sun Moon Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taiwan and should definitely be included on your Taiwan itinerary . Taking a small group tour to Sun Moon Lake allows you to get there and explore the lake with worrying about the logistics or finding a hotel (which often sell out on long weekends).

Below I will compare Sun Moon Lake tour options provided by Klook , my most recommended website for tours, tickets, and other activities in Taiwan. In the original version of this article, I also covered tours by GetYourGuide , but all of these were canceled during COVID. I’ve also recently added some tours by KKDay , Taiwan’s version of Klook.

To be 100% transparent, I have never taken a tour to Sun Moon Lake. I usually travel independently, and in my super detailed Sun Moon Lake guide and my free Taiwan Travel Planning Group , I tell you exactly how to do it all by yourself.

But for those who prefer a Sun Moon Lake tour, I will analyze a few well-reviewed Sun Moon Lake tours, as someone who has been to Sun Moon Lake 6 times in 10 years, to help you make a quick and simple decision on which one is best for you.

Make sure to also check out my other articles when you are planning what to do in Taichung , how to plan your Taichung itinerary , and the best Taichung day trip ideas .

If you are looking for a more serious, multi-day, professional tour of Taiwan, feel free to contact me and I can recommend the most suitable local tour operator for your needs.

Table of Contents

Sun Moon Lake Passes & DIY Options

Besides tours, another option you can consider is to get a Sun Moon Lake Pass . In this way, you can travel independently, but enjoy the convenience of having your bus tickets, boat tickets, bicycle rental, Sun Moon Lake ropeway, and more pre-paid. This allows you to avoid the hassle of figuring out all those things once you get to Sun Moon Lake. Moreover, the pass saves you money!  On the downside, the passes (and what each one includes and doesn’t include) are a little complicated. So for some people, they aren’t worth the trouble.    

Even if you decide to do it all on your own and forget about the SML passes or taking a tour, you can still save money by getting this boat, bike, and Sun Moon Lake ropeway pass . As the name suggests, it includes boat ride across the lake, bike rental, and a ride on the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), all for quite a bit cheaper than if you go each item individually. You just have to figure out how to get to SML on your own. Similarly, the boat hop-on-hop off deal gives you unlimited boat rides on the lake for cheaper than what you would pay there. Find out how to plan your boat rides around the lake in my Sun Moon Lake travel guide .

Finally, for a completely different (and more serene) way to experience Sun Moon Lake, you can consider Stand Up Paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake .

Why I Recommend Klook

I regularly recommend the Hong Kong-based Klook for various tours and activities all over Taiwan. Although I haven’t done their SML tours (because I prefer to visit SML on my own), I have done other Klook tours and activities. They are usually quite convenient and you can save a lot of money. Their site is a kind of a one-stop-shop for all kinds of travel services across the country. I’ve also gotten positive feedback and read all the reviews of their SML lake tours.

Klook is particularly popular among Asian visitors to Taiwan, who are perhaps familiar with it from their own country. Although Taiwan has KKDay, and it often offers even more choices than Klook, I find that overall the KKday pages often have poor English (or little no no English at all). The Klook pages have better English, more pictures, and more detailed descriptions, and this is why I prefer them.

Below, I will however recommend one KKDay tour simply because Klook doesn’t have that one.

If you sign up for Klook with my referral link , you’ll kind NT$100 off your first booking, including any of the Sun Moon Lake tours I recommend in this article.

For some examples of useful Klook deals for Sun Moon Lake, you can pre-book your High Speed Rail Ticket from Taipei to Taichung at a reduced rate .

You can also use Klook to arrange a private transfer Taipei or Taichung to Sun Moon Lake . You can also arrange private or shared transfer from Sun Moon Lake to Cingjing Farm .

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taichung

For semi-independent travelers, or people who want to have a more complete experience of Sun Moon Lake specifically, I think that the tours offered from Taichung are better than those from Taipei . Most of the Taipei to Sun Moon Lake tours were canceled during COVID, anyways. From Taichung, the options are better, and you’ll get more time at the lake.

It’s very easy to get to Taichung on your own by HSR ( see my HSR guide ), regular train (see my train booking guide ), or bus. The following tours include pickup from your hotel or various locations in Taichung.

The first is best for adventure, second is more relaxed but comprehensive, and the last one is for theme park (or cherry blossom) lovers.

Klook’s “Sun Moon Lake Adventure Tour” (Top Choice)

On the Sun Moon Lake Adventure One Day Tour , you get to have more exciting experiences at Sun Moon Lake, include cycling, boat riding, and riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), which offers incredible views from far above the lake.

The tour starts with a pickup from one of three locations in Taichung (Miyahara Ice Cream near Taichung Station, Taichung HSR station, or Feng Chia Night Market ). The pickups and drive to the lake take about 90 minutes. Arriving at Sun Moon Lake, you go mountain biking (keep in mind that SML has been called one of the world’s best cycling destinations!)

After an aboriginal lunch, you take a boat ride across the lake, ride the famous Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), and finally visit Wenwu Temple, the most beautiful temple on the lake.

The same tour is offered here on KKDay , but you may find that it is slightly cheaper.

Ups: You get to cycle, ride a boat, and take the gondola all in one day. Budget-friendly. Adventurous activities. Option for English (or Japanese) guide at no extra charge. Convenient pickup and drop off in Taichung. Downs: You don’t get to visit quite as many places as the next tour.

Klook’s “Day at Sun Moon Lake” tour

For the Day at Sun Moon Lake Tour , starting at your hotel or the train or HSR station in Taichung, you drive to Sun Moon Lake in a van (there may be other guests, or could be just you).

You start with an easy hike on Shuiwatou Trail (Water Frog Head trail), which takes you through a bamboo forest right down to the lake. Then you visit beautifully designed Xiangshan Visitor’s Center before taking a 1-hour boat ride on the lake. Heads up that it can be very hot in summer in Taiwan , even at higher altitude Sun Moon Lake, so wear adequate protection!

You get to visit the aboriginal village of Ita Thao (my favorite place to stay on Sun Moon Lake), as well as the famous sights of Xuanguang (Syuanguang) Temple, Ci En Pagoda, and Wenwu Temple (learn about these sights in my Sun Moon Lake article). The exact program may vary slightly.

Ups: More individual stops that first tour. More relaxing and suitable for kids/elderly (i.e. fewer adventure activities). Budget friendly. Will even pick you up from your hotel in Taichung. Downs: Guide is Chinese speaking only. Must pay extra NT900 for an English speaking guide (in my opinion, you don’t really need it to enjoy the sights). Sun Moon Ropeway (Cable Car) not included.

Klook’s “Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village” tour

Are you into amusement parks? Then the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Day Trip may be for you. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is a combination of aboriginal culture village, with aboriginal songs, dance, and costumes, and amusement park with wild rides. It is one of the most popular theme parks in Taiwan .

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is also famous for cherry blossom viewing in late winter, usually late February to early March (the exact dates vary by year).

After pick-up in Taichung, you go directly to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway on the lake shore, which offers incredible views of the lake as you go up. When you get to the top, unlike the adventure tour above, you will get to ride a second gondola, which goes down the backside of the mountain to the theme park.

After visiting the theme park, you’ll have one more stop, which is the beautiful Wenwu Temple overlooking the lake.

Ups: Great for theme park lovers. Fast and convenient way to enjoy some great Sun Moon Lake views. English, Japanese, or Chinese speaking guide at no extra cost. Also includes Wenwu Temple, the most beautiful temple/view of Sun Moon Lake. Good deal, considering normal tickets to the theme park (NT850) are more than half of the total tour price. Downs: Not much time spent beside Sun Moon Lake. Most of the time is in the theme park. Doesn’t include any sights around the lake besides Wenwu Temple. Not an “authentic” aboriginal experience and not one of the best amusement parks in Taiwan (in my opinion). Lunch not included.

Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm Tour

Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm are two of the most famous day trips from Taichung . So why not combine them into one single day trip with this tour offered by KKDay? Cingjing Farm is a European-style farm and mountain resort village. You can enjoy the high mountain views, see real farm animals, and European-style buildings. See my guide to Cingjing Farm and how to get there on your own .

The tour includes pickup from various points in Taichung, drive to Sun Moon Lake (60-90 minutes) in a car or minivan, boat ride on the lake, drive to Cingjing Farm (60-90 minutes), visit the farm, then drive back to Taichung (60-90 min).

As you can imagine from the above description, there is quite a bit of driving and the day tour is long (around 10 hours total). But if you want to be efficient or have little time on your trip, you can check off these two famous Nantou attractions in a single day.

Ups: Visit both SML and Cingjing in a single day (usually requires multiple days). Don’t need to worry about complicated transportation between these two famous attractions, or walking up the steep highway between sights at Cingjing. Downs: Lots of driving in one day. The KKDay page doesn’t give too many details about what you will see and do at each place. Lunch and Cingjing entrance ticket fees not included. Not clear whether guide speaks English.

Full Taiwan Tour that Include Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is included on another popular GetYourGuide tour choice: this Best of Taiwan 5-Day Tour , also by coach and arranged by the same local tour company as above.

It’s actually amazing how much of Taiwan they can cram into five days on this tour. If you only have five days in Taiwan and want to see it all (not counting Taipei), this is your choice.

I’m actually impressed with the price of this tour, considering that all the hotels are 5-star, and these include some of Taiwan’s most famous and opulent hotels, such as the Fleur de Chine Sun Moon Lake and Silks Place Taroko .

The tour stops include: Sun Moon Lake, Fo Guang Shan (the largest monastery and biggest Buddha in Taiwan, Kaohsiung , Kenting (the beach resort at the southern end of Taiwan), remote Taitung in the southeast, the stunning East Coast of Taiwan , Hualien , and Taroko Gorge .

Ups: 5.0 star rating based on 15 reviews. See many of the most famous places in Taiwan in only five days. Amazing value for money, especially considering the excellent accommodations. Downs: It’s a bus tour. Doesn’t go to Alishan, one of Taiwan’s top attractions. You would spend quite a bit of time on the road. I estimate three hours or more per day. Everywhere you go, you see the most famous (but also most “touristy”) places. For Sun Moon Lake: you only see three sights: Wenwu Temple, Holy Monk Shrine, and Ci En Pagoda. They are three main sights of Sun Moon Lake, but you really get the “tourist” version of Sun Moon Lake. There’s no boat ride or stop in aboriginal Ita Thao village.

Looking for quirkier attractions in Taiwan? Check out Rainbow Village in Taichung or Monster Village in Xitou !

I hope I’ve helped you find a good Sun Moon Lake tour! If you have any questions or experiences you’d like to share, but do so in the comments below!

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8 thoughts on “The Best Sun Moon Lake Tours According to Taiwan Travel Expert”

14th Oct to 19th October My parents who are 55 and 65 hate long hours driving so have opted for express train and hiring local private tour on arrival at the locations:

How does this sound? 14th sightseeing Taipei

15th morning – Leave by train to Taroko Visit Taroko National Park Visit Cliffs Visit the trails Good at Hualien city 15th night (Stay at Hualien or Taroko)

16th – Chill & return 16th to Taipei Sightseeing Taipei & nightmarkets

17th morning take train to Taichung & tour to sun moon lake Stay overnight at Sun Moon Lake

18th morning- Return to to Taipei Sightseeing Taipei

19th morning – Taipei 19th afternoon – airport

Hi Kimmy, and thanks for reading! I think your 15th day sounds too busy. Most people spend a full day to visit Taroko, especially if you want to include Qingshui Cliffs and hiking trails. Even if you take the morning train, you will arrive and need to check into hotel, eat lunch. So you will only have one afternoon to visit the Gorge. It’s possible, but you won’t be able to see every part of the gorge.

There’s not really much to see in Hualien City. To maximize your time, maybe you can stay in Xincheng directly in Taroko Gorge (but the hotels are more expensive). Then maybe you can see some parts on 15th afternoon, and some on 16th morning.

The rest of your plan sounds good! A little busy, but I think it’s doable.

Can we be picked up from our hotel in Taipei to go to sun moon lake for a day tou

Yes, some of the tours will pick you up at your hotel! For example, the “Day at Sun Moon Lake Tour” I described in this article. You can copy and paste this link: https://www.klook.com/activity/483-a-day-at-sun-moon-lake-taichung/?krt=s21&krid=01a2d0e6-0e6a-4a7b-6dda-4fa107ff1740&af_wid=3452&currency=USD&aid=55737cc684cec0b3&utm_medium=affiliate-alwayson&utm_source=non-network&utm_campaign=3452

Hi Nick, Have you got any review or feedback about this tour https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/AttractionProductReview-g13808515-d19349817-Chartered_Sun_Moon_Lake_Tour-Xinyi_District_Taipei.html

We.re thinking on using their service, but not sure if it is worth the money.

Hi Andreas, I haven’t personally used this tour company or even heard of them, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any additional info or feedback better than the reviews already on TripAdvisor. Please note, the tour includes a stop at Rainbow Village, but Rainbow Village is currently closed and not expected to reopen until Jan 2023 or later. They have not updated their website to include this important information (Rainbow Village has been closed for many months), so that’s one thing to consider…

Hi Nick, love your blog on Taiwan 🙂 Would you have any recommendation for private yacht hires at SML?

Unfortunately I’m not aware of any. Perhaps you could contact one of the major hotels on the lake such as Fleur de Chine and they might know!

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Taichung itinerary 1 day — what to do & how to spend one day trip to taichung from taipei perfectly.

Taichung – Taiwan’s second biggest city – not only is a stopover to visit Sun Moon Lake, Cingjing Farm, and Alishan Mount but also has variety of tourism destinations you can’t miss. Why? I’ll tell you then. So, what to do and how to spend one day trip to Taichung from Taipei pefectly? Let’s check out our suggested Taichung itinerary 1 day from Taipei (Taichung one day itinerary, Taichung day trip from Taipei, Taichung one day trip) and Taichung day tour from Taipei (Taichung one day tour) on how to visit Taichung City and top must-visit places in Taiwan to find out the answer!

• Taichung one day itinerary — How to spend 1 day in Taichung from Taipei?
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• Rainbow Village Taichung blog — How to get & how to visit the most colorful village in Taichung, Taiwan
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At first, we caught HSR train from Taipei to Taichung. However, we couldn’t stop falling for the milk tea in Taipei, so we didn’t wanna overnight in Taichung. And then Taichung Exploring Day Tour , solving our problem, helped us have a wonderful day in Taichung.

Link to book Taichung Half Day and One Day Tour: Gaomei Wetland, Rainbow Village, and Miyahara (From Taichung).

One day trip to Taichung from Taipei: Taichung is on the way.

After breakfast, at 9:50 a.m, we had already been in Taipei Main Station East Exit 1 and met the tour-guide along with other visitors. In order to get the right way, you should start early a bit about 20 – 30 minute and always have 4G SIM or portable wifi devices.

Some sticking points for you:

• If the day tour coincide with the check-out day (at the hotel), you can bring along your baggage and put in the baggage storage of the bus. The time you return to Taipei is at night, so you can go to the airport or your new stay right after that which is more time-saving than coming back to old room and getting your baggage again.
• Should take along a power bank because there aren’t any sockets in the bus. It takes 2 – 3 hours to go from Taipei to Taichung by train. That why it is tedious if your phone or laptop runs out of battery, so just pass out until your train come to Taichung.

Taichung day trip from Taipei: National Taichung Theater

Is one of the most magnificent building tin Taichung city, dedicated in 2014 and designed by a brilliant Japanese – Toyo Ito. Highlights of the building are “the soft curves” that create unique external architecture.

This building has six floors include the downstairs which is the tickets office, arts and handicrafts. The following upstairs in turn are shopping malls, Grand Theater, Play House and Rehearsal Room. Especially, you can get onto the top floor by elevator to take a look at The Sky Garden with colorful flora.

Address: No. 101, Section 2, Huilai Road, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 40756 Hours: 11:30AM–9PM Phone: +886 4 2251 1777

Taichung itinerary 1 day: Park Lane Shopping Mall by CMP

This next stop is one of the most famous center malls in Taichung, people are easy-going and have lunch in place. If you aren’t a fashionista, you can explore by yourself some streets nearby and have a lunch at the local stall.

A good new for who are the milk tea followers is a lot of milk tea stalls are available here.

Address: No. 68, Gongyi Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 Hours: 11AM–10PM Phone: +886 4 2328 1000

Taichung one day itinerary:  Miyahara Building.

Miyahara Building had been one of the biggest hospitals in Taichung since the Japan Era. Today, it is considered as one of the most famous place selling ice-cream. Besides that, they also sell types of tea, cakes, candies, chocolates and other souvenirs. Especially, their packing is not only beautiful but also professional. Taking a walk in Miyahara Building, you will be surprised at its fancy and magnificence adding with the ancient style and giant bookshelves which can be said that it is familiar with Hogwarts castle in Harry Potter.

Ice-cream counters are in the front of the entrance but it is too difficult to get in line because of the crowded people. And another the thing you should know that it is 300 TWD (about $0.03) for a cup of ice-cream equivalent to six mugs of milk tea in Taichung. So try or not, it’s up to you.

Address: No. 20, Zhongshan Road, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400 Hours: 10AM–10PM Phone: +886 4 2227 1927

Taichung one day trip: Rainbow Village

At last, the most expected place is here. Our team got car sick nut when the name of the Rainbow Village was called, immediately, our spirit became stronger and more powerful again.

This Rainbow Village used to be military houses. But Mr Huang, with his clever brushstrokes, created colorful building with a variety of lovely pictures.

Take notes:

• Travel once but engraved forever. Therefore, don’t forget to check-in with these lovely pictures in Rainbow Village.
• Taking advantage of good weather, you should take photos as much as you can.

Address: 408, Taiwan, Taichung City, Nantun District, 春安路56巷25號 Hours: 8AM–6PM Phone: +886 4 2380 2351

Taichung day tour from Taipei: Gaomei Wetlands

Finally, the last stop of Taichung Exploring Day tour is Gaomei Wetlands – one of the most impressive destinations on me with the view of wonderful sunset. It is said that its sunset is a fantastic masterpiece which means it is must-see scenery you can’t miss in Gaomei Wetlands of Taichung.

Gaomei Wetlands is located at Taichung’s seaport. According to the tour-guide, Gaomei Wetlands used to be a wind power production for Taiwan. Today, it becomes nature reserve of all kinds of precious birds as well as a famous tourism destination in Taichung.

The perfect time to watch the beautiful sunset is at twilight (You can search Google in advance in order to know exactly the time the sunset happened). Imaging the scenery when watching the splendid moment of the sunset into the sea, hand by hand with beloved, how sweet it is!

If you are wondering you can get to Gaomei Wetlands on time or not. Don’t worry! The tour-guide will change the schedule if it is necessary.

Location: Qingshui, Taichung, Taiwan

Take a note to keep in mind:

Never bring hat along if you don’t wanna lose it. A lot of hats were blown into the wetlands thanks to the strong wind here.

One day trip to Taichung from Taipei: Coming back Taipei

Finishing the tour, we got on the train coming back Taipei. We arrived at the city center at 9:30 p.m and then, the tour-guide asked us if we wanted to get off the train at Ximending walking street or Taipei Main Station. For us, we loved “rocking” so we chose to come down at Ximending Street and went to town on shopping, eating and drink until midnight. After all, we finally finished Taichung Exploring One day Tour with the album of 300 pictures reaching KPI. What an experienced tour!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taichung you can refer to

• Gaomei Wetland & Rainbow Military Community
• THSR One Way Ticket to or from Taichung
• Taiwan 4G travel sim with unlimited capacity
• Day tour to visit Cingjing Farm from Taichung
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
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• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
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• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you looking for more top things to do in Taichung: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Taichung blog — The fullest Taichung travel guide for a wonderful budget trip to Taichung, Taiwan.

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Taiwan Family Itinerary : Taipei & Taichung in one week

• Taoyuan Airport Transfers for Taichung
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9D Taiwan Itinerary Under S$80/day From Taipei to Kaohsiung

Here’s the best way to explore Taiwan on a budget itinerary, without scrimping on both iconic and unique experiences!

Taiwan holds a special place in our hearts — we love the affordable shopping, delicious street food and super duper friendly locals 💖 But besides eating and shopping, there are plenty of other things to do too.

We’re talking about discovering new scenic landscapes and trying exciting activities (like standup paddle boarding or getting strapped to a giant swing 🙃). Plus, did you know you can also see sakuras in Taiwan?

Since we covered the more laidback Eastern Taiwan on our previous trips, this time we ventured out to lesser-known places along the West Coast. So check out our nine-day budget Taiwan itinerary (incl. must-visits and hidden gems) all under a budget of S$80/day 😲

Read also: 8D Eastern Taiwan Itinerary: The Gateway to Nature’s Best Adventures (Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Kenting)

Taiwan Itinerary Route via the High-Speed Rail

Photo credit: Taiwan High-Speed Rail

This Taiwan itinerary starts from Taipei, before working south towards Kaohsiung, stopping by several cities like Taichung, Tainan, and Chiayi along the way.

Fun fact: Taiwan’s high-speed rail system is mainly based on Japan’s Shinkansen (which explains why the trains are super punctual)!

The high-speed rail (HSR) is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to explore Taiwan’s West Coast 🚅. There are 12 main stations on the line, stretching around 350km from Nangang to Zuoying — taking only less than 2 hours to travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung.

Plus, the stations are connected to the local metro, which made it easier for us to travel to certain attractions. For example, the HSR Tainan Station is located next to the Shalun metro station, which is just four stops away from attractions like Ten Drum Cultural Village .

*Pro-tip: Book your tickets online via Klook to score one-for-one tickets! Do remember to reserve your seats beforehand as trains can be quite packed during the holiday seasons.

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klo ok to get 5% off all activities * with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15) at checkout. One-time use only! (* – list of excluded activities )

Read also: Exploring Taiwan by High-Speed Rail — Guide to Maximising your THSR Pass

Budget Breakdown

8N Accommodation:  S$237.30 Transport:  S$130.35 (excl. flights) Activities:  S$251.30 Food & Misc:  S$91.50 Total:  S$710.45 (~S$80/day) (1SGD = 23.41) ( detailed breakdown for one pax here )

Day 1: Taipei 台北

THSR from Taoyuan to Taipei: ~20mins

Tall skyscrapers, quirky museums, and lively shopping streets — Taipei is a one-stop destination for fun. Since we wanted more time out of the city, we only spent a day here but still managed to check out some unique places in Taipei.

Unique Museums

Taiwan has some pretty interesting museums — on our last trip, we visited its first IG Museum, Gaki Hip ! In the local dialect, the name sounds like words for: “take a picture by oneself” or “selfie” — and that’s what we did 📸

There are various themed rooms inspired by the local culture such as old telephone booths, claw machines with stuffed toys, and even bubble tea. However, the museum was only a temporary stint and is no longer there. But do keep a lookout on their socials for when they do return (hopefully in the near future).

Buckingham Palace. Photo credit: Klook

In the meantime, you can still visit other permanent museums in Taipei like the Astronomical Museum (learn about the mysteries of space) or even the Miniatures Museum (see the world’s iconic attractions in mini-sizes)! For other upcoming museums or exhibitions, check out Taiwan’s official tourism site !

Lunch at Hao Ji Dumpling Noodles 豪季水餃專賣店

For lunch, head to Hao Ji Dumpling Noodles store for their zha jiang mian (NT$50) and hot sour soup (NT$35) near Taipei Main Station. While it was really crowded during the lunch period, the wait was worth it.

Both dishes cost less than S$4 and came with pretty generous portions — we’d say it was a value-for-money meal!

Opening hours: 10:30AM – 8PM (closed on Sun) How to get there: Walk 8mins from Taipei Main Station ( Google Maps )

Huanshan 1914 Creative Park 华山1914文化创意产业园区

Huashan 1914 Creative Park was originally a Japanese  sake  plant in 1914. It was later refurbished into an arts and culture space housing various exhibitions and performing arts showcases!

Back in 2023, we came across a Mickey Exhibition dedicated to the history of the OG Disney character — which showcases artworks of different styles from around 30 international artists.

Photo credit: 華山1914文化創意產業園區 via Facebook

For 2024, the exhibitions lined up include Pepper Pig (till 7 Apr), Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary (till 7 Apr) and even a Stranger Things pop-up store (till 10 Mar)! So do check out the official social platforms for updates on new events.

Opening hours:  24hrs (shops open from 11AM – 9PM) How to get there: Take the train to Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station and walk 7mins ( Google Maps )

Taipei 101 台北101

You could say Taipei 101 is the pride of Taiwan. After all, it was formerly the world’s tallest architecture in 2004 at 508m tall, before it was taken over by Dubai’s 828m-tall Burj Khalifa in 2010 😲.

That said, the building still holds a record for having one of the world’s fastest elevators — taking you to the top in just 37 seconds! Once at the top, there are various observation decks to take in a panoramic view of the city, including an outdoor area on the 91st floor.

Entrance fee: From ~S$25.60/pax Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM, last entry at 8:30PM How to get there: Take the train to Taipei 101 World Trade Center and walk 5mins ( Google Maps )

Read also: 4D3N Taipei Itinerary incl. Day Trips and Lesser-Known Things To Eat-See-Do

Day 2: Jiufen 九份, Shifen 十分, Yehliu 野柳

Jiufen and Shifen are one of our favourite day trips from Taipei — roaming along their traditional old streets and lighting up sky lanterns along the railway are just some of the iconic experiences on most Taiwan itineraries.

Since these cities can be covered in half a day, we decided to take a short detour to Yehliu first as it’s in the area and along the way from Taipei too!

First stop, Yehliu Geopark — a 1.7km long cape that’s home to several rock formations formed by natural erosion. The area is separated into three sections, each housing its own rock star (heh).

Section one is known for its diverse mushroom-shaped and candle rocks. Section two includes famous rocks like Fairy’s Shoe and the Queen’s Head — which we thought really resembled the late Queen Elizabeth. Section three is an important ecological conservation area of the park featuring sea-eroded caves and pearl rock.

Overall, 1 hour was enough to cover the whole park but we’d recommend giving an extra hour to fully soak in nature’s creations at a leisurely pace.

Entrance fee:   ~S$5/pax   Opening hours:  8AM – 5PM How to get there:  45min drive from Taipei 101 ( Google Maps )

Jiufen Old Street is like going to your grandma’s house stocked with food — I know, weird comparison, but there are just so many different food stalls and tea houses along the narrow alleyway, it was hard not to stop and try everything we saw. If you’re short on time, here are our top picks:

Tasty braised pork rice (NT$40) from Zhang Ji Traditional Fishballs and A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll (NT$50) — which gave us two generous scoops of peanut ice cream wrapped in a thin crepe. Plus a bowl of taro ball soup (NT$40) from Lai Ah Po Taro Balls , which warmed us up on a rainy day.

Opening hours:  8AM – 7PM (Mon – Thu), 8AM – 10PM (Fri – Sun) How to get there:  Take Bus 1062 from Ruifang Train Station and alight at Jiufen Old Street (3 stops) ( Google Maps )

Before making our last stop of the day at Shifen Old Street, we sidetracked a little to the nearby Shifen Waterfall . The 40m waterfall is dubbed Taiwan’s own Niagara Falls, and we could clearly see why.

*Pro-tip: Check the weather forecast before going and you might even catch a rainbow here on sunny days!

Setting off sky lanterns at Shifen Old Street is one of the most iconic experiences in Taiwan. Write your wishes on the paper lanterns, light them up, and watch them float up to the skies hoping the heavens answer it — ours was definitely to travel more 🤞🏻

Shifen Waterfall Entrance fee:  Free Opening hours:  9AM – 5PM (Oct – May, last entry at 4:30PM), 9AM – 6PM (Jun – Sep, last entry at 5:30PM) How to get there:  Walk 12mins from Shifen Station ( Google Maps )

Shifen Old Street Opening hours: 24hrs How to get there: Walk 3mins from Shifen Station ( Google Maps )

Read also: Taipei Day Trip: Shifen & Jiufen Guide To All The Must-Eat-See-Dos

Day 3: Keelung 基隆

Keelung may not be as well known as Jiufen and Shifen, but it has its own natural charm with beautiful ancient forts, temples, and colourful photo spots.

Heping Island Park 和平島海濱公園

Our day started with a trip to Heping Island Park or Peace Island Park. The small island felt like a weekend getaway with cabin houses, a seaside pool, and even a beach to relax at.

Feeling a little more adventurous, we opted for a 30-minute (round-trip) hike on the Huanshan trail to Hepingdao Lookout Point . It was a relatively easy climb and the view overlooking the sea was just majestic.

Entrance fee: ~S$5/pax Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM How to get there: 17min drive from Keelung City ( Google Maps )

Khoo Tsu-Song Old Mansion 許梓桑基隆古厝

Back on the mainland, an iconic historical site we visited was the Khoo Tsu Old Mansion — a 93-year-old building from the Japanese colonial era. The mansion was named after its owner, a local who was a prominent figure in politics and civic matters in the past.

Although abandoned and covered in vines, it didn’t feel spooky at all but gave off a tranquil atmosphere among nature.

Entrance fee: Free Opening hours: 24hrs How to get there: Walk 14mins from Keelung Station ( Google Maps )

Xiandongyan (Fairy Cave) Zuisheng Temple 仙洞巖最勝寺

What makes Xiandongyan Zuisheng Temple temple special compared to other temples is that it’s built in a natural sea cave — one of the biggest in Keelung at over 80m long!

Here’s some background: The caves were once a natural refuge for local fishermen during bad weather but were converted to a Buddhist temple during the Japanese colonial period.

While exploring, we came across a narrow path on the left of the entrance leading to a Buddhist shrine. But be mindful, the path is only wide enough for one person and we had to squeeze through to pass.

Entrance fee: Free Opening hours: 8:30AM – 4PM How to get there: Take Bus 301 from Minzhi Village Activity Center bus stop and alight at Xiandongyan, Foshoudong (10 stops) ( Google Maps )

Zhengbin Port Colour Houses 正滨渔港

Google “Keelung” and one of the first few images you’ll see are the 16 vibrantly coloured houses at Zhengbin Port!

It was once the largest fishing port in Taiwan back in 1934 and was later re-developed by the local government. After colouring the building facades and introducing new cafes and restaurants by the sea, this place is now one of the most popular attractions in Keelung.

Guess we’ll now be contributing these photos to Google, including a 5-star review 💫.

Entrance fee: Free Opening hours: 24hrs Address: Take Bus 101 (Xiangfeng St/Zhongzheng Rd) from Keelung City Bus Station and alight at Heping Bridge, Indigenous Assembly Hall (21 stops) ( Google Maps )

Read also: 5D4N Taiwan Itinerary Under S$400 — Scenic Roadtrip Uncovering Hidden Gems in Taipei and Yilan

Day 4: Taichung 台中

THSR from Taipei to Taichung: ~20mins

Did you know? Taichung is Taiwan’s second-largest city and is the birthplace of many delicious Taiwanese treats like sun cakes and bubble tea! It’s also a great base to head out for day trips to other cities like Taian and Nantou.

Sun Cake Museum 太阳饼博物馆

I was today years old when I learnt that the famous Taiwanese delicacy tai yang bing (太阳饼) or sun cakes originated from Taichung 🤯. For those who’re unfamiliar, it’s a buttery and flaky pastry with a maltose filling.

Learn about sun cakes at the Sun Cake Museum but what we’re really here for is the sun cake-making workshop ! We joined a 1-hour session with a professional chef to create six freshly baked sun cakes.

Not to boast but ours turned out really well, being sweet on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Entrance fee: Free Cost of workshop: NT$250/pax (~S$10.70) Opening hours: 9AM – 5:30PM How to get there: Walk 8mins from Taichung Station ( Google Maps )

Desserts at Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 and Miyahara 宮原眼科

Apart from innovating sun cakes, Taichung is also where my favourite drink was created. Dating back to the 1980s, a local tea shop named Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 is said to be the inventor of bubble tea .

After having been there though, we found it to be slightly overpriced at NT$90 for a small cup of pearl milk tea. But hey, never forget your roots, so it’s still worth a try to taste how it all began.

Miyahara’s ice cream is another dessert we highly recommend. There are over 50 flavours, including 18 different types of chocolate ice cream. Some interesting flavours we got were the Alishan osmanthus oolong, and caramel apple — which tastes just like an apple pie.

Chun Shui Tang (Siwei Original Store) Cost: From NT$90/cup (~S$4) Opening hours: 8AM – 10PM How to get there: Walk 14mins from Taichung Station ( Google Maps ) Miyahara Cost: From NT$90/scoop (~S$4) Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM How to get there: Walk 4mins from Taichung Station ( Google Maps )

Yizhong Night Market 中夜市

There are plenty of night markets in Taichung but Yizhong Night Market is the one to visit. It’s open daily, quite spread out, and not too crowded. Most importantly, we found the best bubble tea here (sorry Chun Shui Tang).

The milk tea (NT$40) from Black Tea Bus is really sweet and fragrant, and topped with mini pearls! Other local delicacies here are the usual chicken cutlet, papaya milk, and fried pancakes with interesting fillings like pork with curry.

Opening hours: 12PM – 10:30PM (Weekdays), 12PM – 11PM (Weekends) How to get there: Take Bus 25 from Taichung Station (Minzu Rd. Intersection) and alight at Chung Hsing Hall (4 stops). Walk 3mins ( Google Maps )

Bonus: Day Trip to Taian 泰安

If you have extra time to spare, take a day trip to Taian — a mountain indigenous town located in Miaoli County .

It’s only 30 minutes from Taichung by train and is famous for its Huoyan Shan hike which can take up to 3 hours (round-trip). The incline is steep and may not be an easy hike for beginners but we assure you, the views at the top are worth it 💯.

*Note: Check the train/bus timings to Huoyan Shan Trailhead regularly on Google maps as they are infrequent.

Come here during spring (between Feb – Apr) to catch the beautiful pink blooms! Some places we recommend are Wele Cherry Blossom Park and outside the Taian Police Station — with street vendors selling food like scallion pancakes and Taiwanese sausages.

*Pro-tip: Check Google reviews regularly to see if flowers are still in bloom in these areas.

Read also: The Ultimate THSR Taiwan Food Guide: 25 Must-eats in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung

Day 5: Nantou 南投

Fun fact: Nantou is Taiwan’s only non-coastal county but ironically, one of the country’s most beautiful lakes is found here!

Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

Photo credit: @grave_before_shave_ via Instagram

Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Sun Moon Lake is one of the most scenic landscapes in Taiwan. It’s a popular day trip from Taichung, being only 2 hours away by bus.

To fully revel in its beauty, we went for a 1-hour Stand Up Paddling experience . Even without an instructor, it was surprisingly beginner-friendly and no one ended up falling in the water 🤭 .

Something else we learnt is that it’s easier to stand up when your board is moving — probably due to calm lake waters! If you’re not too confident, it’s also nice to just sit and paddle while taking in the views.

Other attractions to explore in the area (if there’s time), include Wenwu Temple , Yidashao Lakeside Trail , Riyuetanlan Station and Ci’en Pagoda .

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klo ok to get 5% off all activities * with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15) at checkout. One-time use only! (* – list of excluded activities )

Cost: ~S$29.50/pax for 1hr Timing slots: 9AM – 4PM (hourly session) How to get there: Various buses available from THSR Taichung Station to Sun Moon Lake ( Google Maps )

Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village 九族文化村

As the Stand Up Paddling experience was near the Sun Moon Lake ropeway, we hopped on it to get to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village .

The village has a section dedicated to replicas of aboriginal villages which you can enter and explore, but we definitely didn’t expect a full-on amusement park there too!

We took the Gold Mine Adventure — a water ride with two decent drops, and Maya Adventure — a rollercoaster that drops from a height of 11 stories.

If you are up for the challenge (unlike us), the toughest one here is the UFO Gyro Drop — hailed as the highest free-fall drop tower in Taiwan at 85m 😱.

Entrance fee: From ~S$30/pax (incl. Sun Moon Lake Ropeway ticket) Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5PM How to get there: Take the ropeway from Sun Moon Lake to Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village ( Google Maps )

*Note: The last bus from the village departs at 4:45PM but do leave earlier as drivers may depart early.

Day 6: Tainan 台南

THSR from Taichung to Tainan: ~55mins

Established in 1661, Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan with many historic temples, artsy streets, and unique villages.

We also chose to set up base here for the last few days of our Taiwan itinerary as it’s less than 30mins away by train to cities like Chiayi and Kaoshiung!

Chihkan Tower 赤嵌樓

With more than 300 years of history, Chihkan Tower is the oldest building in the West Central District and one of Tainan’s most famous landmarks.

It was formerly built in 1653 as a fort by the Dutch, and now it’s a national historic site comprising Haisheng Temple (海神廟), Wengchang Pavilion (文昌閣) and Penghu College (蓬壺書院).

Besides the beautiful traditional architecture, what caught our eye were the nine imperial steles carried by stone bixi — a mythical half-dragon, half-tortoise creature.

Entrance fee: ~S$3/pax Opening hours: 8:30AM – 9:30PM How to get there: Walk 15mins from Tainan Station ( Google Maps )

Hai’an Road Art Street 海安路藝術街 and Snail Alley 蜗牛巷

At first glance, Hai’an Road might seem a little run-down and covered in graffiti. But as we walked around, we realised it was just a huge public art exhibition.

Some of our favourite artworks were the 3D pedestrian crossing — where we couldn’t resist recreating that iconic Beatle photo, and the rainbow blocks sculpture — which symbolises the diversity of gender and family 🏳️‍🌈.

Another lesser-known art street is Snail Alley , just a 10-minute walk away. Its name was based on a fictional alley in a novel by Ye Shitao, a literary writer in Taiwan who used to live in the area.

Snails were his metaphor for taking life slow and steady, so take your time while strolling around the residential area looking for snail-themed decors such as murals, artwork and even signposts 🐌

Hai’an Road Art Street Opening hours: 24hrs Address: Walk 20mins from Tainan Station ( Google Maps )

Snail Alley Opening hours: 24hrs Address: Walk 10mins from Hai’an Road ( Google Maps )

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 during the Japanese colonial period, now converted into Asia’s first drumming-themed international art village 🥁.

Photo credit: Tourism Bureau of Tainan City Government

Our main highlight here was the 45-minute music performance by Ten Drum, an internationally acclaimed Taiwanese percussion group. Besides drums, the group also used other instruments like flute and cymbals to create an amazing medley.

*Note: There are only two musical performances in the day, at 11AM and 3PM.

But the village isn’t just about drums, it’s also home to various thrilling activities and unique cafes. We were surprised to find fun attractions here like a seven-storey free-fall drop, zipline, sky swing, and even a 360VR experience.

As someone laidback though, I preferred chilling in the Magical Space Cafe — which looked straight out of a Harry Potter movie with spellbooks floating in the air and “magic potions” for sale.

Entrance fee: S$18/pax Opening hours: 10AM – 8:20PM (Weekdays), 9:30AM – 8:20PM (Weekends) How to get there: Take the train to Bao’an Station and walk 15mins ( Google Maps )

Read also: 7 Underrated Things To Do in Tainan

Day 7: Chiayi 嘉義, Alishan 阿里山

THSR from Tainan to Chiayi: ~20mins

Compared to the larger Taichung and Tainan cities, Chiayi is often overlooked. But we say it’s worth a day trip out for its star attraction — the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area — plus other hidden gems too.

Alishan Forest Recreation Area 阿里山國家森林遊樂區

Contrary to popular belief, Alishan is not a mountain. Rather, it’s an entire mountainous area covering more than 1,400 hectares! To us, it looks straight out of a fairy tale with beautiful lakes surrounded by a misty forest.

It can take up to 3 – 4 hours (round-trip) to hike from Alishan Railway Station, but for people who are bad at hikes (like me), here’s our cheat code to cut that time by half — without missing out on iconic landmarks.

Take the train from Alishan Railway Station to Zhaoping Station and go on a leisurely stroll towards Shenmu Station before taking the train back down to Alishan Station.

Overall, we managed to cover attractions like the Sisters Pond , Magnolia Garden , and Shouzhen Temple (currently under renovation) in a span of 2 hours, taking our time snapping photos. We were even treated to a few pink blooms during the hike — which really made all the walking worth it.

*Pro-tip: Travelling out of the city into the mountainous region can be a bit of a hassle, so we recommend joining a day tour instead! Plus, lunch is provided too.

Cost: ~S$85/pax (for 1 day tour) Tour timing: 8:15AM – 6:30PM Meeting point: THSR Chiayi Station ( Google Maps )

Hinoki Village 檜意森活村

After returning to Chiayi from Alishan, our guide also brought us to Hinoki Village — a cultural village comprising 28 Japanese-style buildings.

Being a self-proclaimed Japan otaku (nerd), I was really excited to see a replica of the traditional houses and zen gardens in Japan here. There were even various shops selling Japanese souvenirs and food like gold-leaf ice cream!

Mochiron (of course), I had to rent a yukata (NT$550 for 2 hours) to truly immerse in the Japanese culture but mostly take pretty photos while exploring the village.

*Pro-tip: Head to Hinoki Village early as most shops close by 6PM.

Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM How to get there: 30min drive from THSR Chiayi Station ( Google Maps )

Dinner at San He 三禾

Tired and hungry after a long day of walking, we asked our guide for dinner recommendations and he was kind enough to drive us to a local restaurant called San He .

We ordered the braised pork rice (NT$35) and turkey chicken rice (NT$35) to try, and the former was possibly one of the best I’ve had — literally melt-in-your-mouth soft 😋. Other add-on side dishes were available, such as braised egg, seaweed soup, miso soup, and vegetables.

Opening hours: 10AM – 7PM (closed on Thu) How to get there: Walk 12mins from Hinoki Village ( Google Maps )

Day 8 – 9: Kaohsiung 高雄

THSR from Tainan to Kaohsiung (Zuoying): ~15mins

On the last leg of our trip, we headed to Kaohsiung — home to several attractions such as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas , as well as The Pier2 Art Center .

But since we visited those on our previous trip there, we wanted to explore new places and try new experiences.

Cijin Island 旗津島

Our first stop in Kaohsiung was out of the city and on a quaint little island named Cijin. It’s known for several iconic photo spots like the Kaohsiung Lighthouse , Starlight Tunnel, Cijin Shell House, and Rainbow Church .

After browsing through many IG-worthy pictures on the Internet, we were really looking forward to visiting Cijin Island and it didn’t disappoint — I mean just look at this 👇

My personal favourite was this hidden spot along the beach that resembled a mini Santorini!

*Pro-tip: Rent an electric bike (~NT$600/hr for a 4-seater bike) to save time and cover these spots around the island under 2 hours!

How to get there: Hop on a 5min ferry ride to Cijin Island from Gushan Ferry Pier ( Google Maps )

Glory Pier 光榮碼頭

Photo credit: Kaohsiung Travel

Previously known as Pier 13, Glory Pier is located at the river mouth of Love River in Kaohsiung.

It used to be an important transport hub to the island areas of Kinmen and Matsu but now it’s a tourism and leisure attraction with a music centre — complete with three concert halls, an art gallery, and even a library!

Most people might also recognise a big yellow ducky at the pier, which is set to return to Love River Bay for a month from 27 Jan to 25 Feb 2024, after being MIA in 2023 🥲🦆

Opening hours: 24hrs How to get there: Take the Kaohsiung Light Rail to Glory Pier Station and walk 3mins ( Google Maps )

Liuhe Night Market 六合夜市

In true local fashion, we ended our last night in Taiwan by visiting a night market!

Since Ruifeng Night Market was closed on the day we were in Kaohsiung, we went to Liuhe Night Market instead. It may be smaller but it’s still packed with lots of delicious local food.

We tried the Taiwanese hot dog (NT$50) — a sausage stuffed into a larger sausage made of pork intestine casing filled with sticky rice, topped with peanuts and shallots. Wow, that was a mouthful, literally .

Of course, we also had the Taiwanese huge fried chicken which was so good that someone said and I quote: “I could make love to it”. Disclaimer: I swear it’s not me.

Opening hours: 6PM till late How to get there: Walk 8mins from Formosa Boulevard Station ( Google Maps )

Breakfast at Good Morning 早安美芝城 

Serving up fresh toast, croissants, and burgers, Good Morning breakfast place was an unintended gem while walking around Kaohsiung city.

Some of the flavours were interesting, including a signature toast with a pork patty (NT$40) and a beef burger with peanut sauce (NT$55) — the burger actually tasted pretty good, without the peanut taste being too overpowering.

Opening hours: 6AM – 11:30AM How to get there: Walk 5mins from Light Rail Commerce and Trade Park Station ( Google Maps )

i-Ride Kaohsiung (5D Visual Flying Theater)

Before heading off to the airport, we squeezed in one last activity to explore all of Taiwan (in just 5 minutes) — i-Ride Kaohsiung !

It’s a 360° visual flying theatre where we “soared” over mountains, valleys, and cities in Taiwan. The 5D elements also took us by surprise with sprays of water and blasts of wind when diving into the sea or flying into the sky.

To commemorate our adventure, we even snagged a photo souvenir for NT$100.

Cost: From ~S$16/pax Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5PM (Wed – Sun), closed on Mon and Tue How to get there: Take the Kaohsiung Light Rail to Software Technology Park Station and walk 5mins ( Google Maps )

Read also: Top 7 things to do in and around Kaohsiung — Gateway to Taiwan’s laid back South

Where to Stay in Taiwan

As we were travelling down from Taipei to Kaohsiung, we based ourselves in three main locations — Taipei (Day 1 – 3) , Taichung (Day 4 – 5) and Tainan (Day 6 – 9) . So it was easier for us to take day trips to nearby regions without the hassle of constantly moving around.

Day 1 – 3: Finders Hotel (from ~S$37.30/night)

Our crib in Taipei was Finders Hotel — while the rooms weren’t as big as we thought, it was still pretty cosy and comfortable.

Photo credit: Klook

We also loved hanging out in the lobby to play darts and foosball, as well as grab free food like cup noodles, tea and biscuits whenever we got hungry 😋.

The hotel is conveniently located near attractions like Taipei 228 Memorial Park and National Taiwan Museum too!

Cost:  From ~S$37.30/night (for 1 pax) Address: No. 86, Section 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan 100 ( Google Maps )

Day 4 – 5: Green Hotel – Midori (from ~S$33.60/night)

Not gonna lie, Green Hotel – Midori  was probably the best accommodation we stayed at on this trip. It’s clean and spacious, and here’s the best feature — the toilets are fitted with a bidet!

What’s more, it’s situated in a mall called ASEAN Square with various food options like Vietnamese and even Indonesian cuisine. It’s also a 5-minute walk from Taichung station and nearby places like the Sun Cake Museum, Miyahara restaurant, and Taroko Mall.

Cost:  From ~S$33.60/night (for 1 pax) Address: 12F, No. 123, Luchuan W. Street, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan 400 ( Google Maps )

Day 6 – 9: House Inn House (from ~S$19/night)

House Inn House may not be a fancy five-star hotel, but each room is really cosy with its own unique design — ours was retro-themed with a comfy couch and had prop items like a film light stand and even a standing karaoke mic.

It’s also just a 10-minute walk to Tainan station, which worked great for us since we planned to head out from Tainan and explore nearby cities like Chiayi and Kaohsiung!

Plus, there are also plenty of local clothing shops and fast food options nearby such as KFC and McDonald’s for a quick bite 😉

Cost:  From ~S$19/night (for 1 pax) Address: No. 33, Lane 108, Weimin Street, West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan 700 ( Google Maps )

Tips for Planning Your Taiwan Itinerary

Having mostly been to Taipei and its surrounds, it was refreshing to explore other regions and hidden gems in Taiwan!

I’ve fallen in love with newly discovered cities along the West Coast like Tainan and Kaohsiung for their picture-worthy spots, and was even lucky to catch some pink blossoms in areas like Alishan during spring!

Before you go, here are some tips for your future Taiwan itinerary:

1) Bring sufficient cash: not all shops accept cards, especially at local night markets.

2) Download useful apps like: Taiwan Railways Administration — to check the train schedule Uber — there’s no Grab Google Translate — to ask locals for directions 📱

3) Pre-book travel essentials: travel insurance , SIM card and EasyCard (reloadable transport card) for a hassle-free trip!

4) Hunt for online deals: Klook has promotions like one-for-one Taiwan high speed rail tickets and the Klook Pass Taipei , which gives you entry for up to six attractions (like Taipei 101 Observatory and Jiufen Day tour) at a discounted price!

Read also: 25 Unique Things To Do In Taiwan Besides Visiting Night Markets

First published: 14 Mar 2023

Did we miss any other interesting places in this Taiwan itinerary? Share with us in the comments below!

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Hi! Thank you for these comprehensive information! But if there are information about how long it takes from your destination to the next, that will great! And how long did you stay at each destination.

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