Best Things to do in Chiayi City (+ A Perfect 1-Day Itinerary)

When planning a trip to Taiwan, most travelers know Chiayi as the gateway to Alishan National Park. Personally, that is one of the main reasons I visited.

The other reason I visited Chiayi was because it was home to the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

I decided to stay a few nights in Chiayi to see what the city had to offer. What I found was a charming city filled with Japanese-era history, cultural attractions, beautiful parks, and delicious food.

In this guide, I’ll share the best things to do in Chiayi City, along with a practical one-day Chiayi itinerary to help you make the most of your visit to Chiayi.

Whether you are looking for a stop before heading to Alishan or wondering if Chiayi is worth visiting on its own, this Chiayi guide will help you plan the perfect day in what I think is an underrated destination in Taiwan.

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Table of Contents

Is Chiayi City Worth Visiting?

After spending two days in Chiayi, I can honestly say, yes, Chiayi City is worth visiting. Especially if you are looking for a city in Taiwan that isn’t very touristy and combines culture, history, local food, and easy access to beautiful nature.

Many visitors skip Chiayi altogether and head directly to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.

I think spending at least 1-day in Chiayi allows you to experience a different side of Taiwan away from famous cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Where is Chiayi City?

Chiayi City is located in southwestern Taiwan, roughly between Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Chiayi City is situated at the foot of the Alishan mountain range and serves as the gateway to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.

Thanks to Taiwan’s High Speed Rail (HSR), Chiayi is easy to reach from major cities across Taiwan. The journey is about 90 minutes from Taipei and less then an hour from Kaohsiung.

Best Things to do in Chiayi City

From historic landmarks and Japanese-era architecture to scenic parks and bustling night markets, there are plenty of things to do in Chiayi City.

Whether you plan on visiting Chiayi for a day before heading to Alishan or staying longer, these recommended things to do in Chiayi showcase the city’s unique culture, history, and food scene.

Here you can find some of the best attractions and places to add to your Chiayi itinerary.

Visit Hinoki Village

One of the best things to do in Chiayi City is to visit Hinoki Village. This is a beautifully preserved collection of Japanese-era buildings.

The buildings here once were home to forestry workers during Taiwan’s logging boom.

Today, Hinoki Village has been transformed into a tourist attraction filled with cute shops, cafes, and exhibits.

There are a lot of cute Japanese characters scattered around Hinoki Village that are fun to take photos of or with.

Tour Chiayi Old Prison

I love dark tourism sites and unique attractions, so visiting the Chiayi Old Prison was a must for me. It’s a free attraction in Chiayi that I highly recommend adding to your itinerary.

This is one of the few remaining Japanese-era prisons in Taiwan. The old prison is free to enter and visitors have the opportunity to see the preserved cell blocks, courtyards, and look into the everyday life of the prisoners.

If you are interested in history and off-the-beaten path attractions, this is definitely one of the more interesting things to do in Chiayi City.

Walk Through Chiayi Park

Chiayi Park is one of the city’s most popular green spaces and a wonderful place to take a break while sightseeing.

I visited Chiayi Park after visiting the Old Prison, stopped by a Hilife convenience store for drinks and snacks and spent an hour walking through the park.

Explore the Chiayi Botanical Garden

Another completely free attraction in Chiayi is the Botanical Gardens. It’s located at the edge of Chiayi Park and I simply walked in.

I was amazed by how diverse the park was. I walked around ponds, through palm forests, and among towering pine trees.

I really just enjoyed wandering the shaded paths learning about the regions connection to forestry and conservation.

Eat at Wenhua Road Night Market

No visit to Chiayi is complete without spending an evening at Wenhua Road Night Market.

At Wenhua Road Night Market, you can find Chiayi’s claim to fame, Turkey Rice. You can also find a lot of traditional Taiwanese night market specialties.

I actually spent two nights in Chiayi and visited the night market both evenings. I found plenty of delicious Taiwanese food items to try. I loved the pepper buns and Taiwan Hamburgers.

Suggested 1-Day Itinerary

If you only have one day in Chiayi City, don’t worry! You can still experience many of the city’s highlights.

This itinerary combines history, culture, nature, and food and follows my exact journey that I took to explore Chiayi’s top attractions and things to do.

Keep in mind, Chiayi is fairly pedestrian friendly. I ended up walking everywhere but took an Uber from the Botanical Gardens back to my hotel.

If you prefer not to walk to each attraction, Uber works great in Chiayi City.

Morning

Hinoki Village → Chiayi Old Prison → Bubble Tea

I started the day off in Hinoki Village.
After visiting Hinoki Village, I walked about 5-10 minutes to Chiayi Old Prison.
Taiwan is known for Bubble Tea, so I found a nice refreshing tea from a local shop near the prison.
This to me felt like the perfect way to spend a relaxed morning in Chiayi.

Afternoon

Lunch → Chiayi Park → Chiayi Botanical Garden

After a busy morning of sightseeing and navigating around Chiayi, I stopped for lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Chiayi Park.
This is the perfect opportunity to try Chiayi’s famous turkey rice. We found a hole in the wall shop to sit at and enjoy.
Once we refueled, we spent about an hour walking in Chiayi Park and even walked on a reflexology pebble path. These things hurt so bad but feel so good on the feet afterwards.
We then walked directly into Chiayi Botanical Gardens after visiting the park. From here, we walked random trails until content. The botanical gardens are beautiful and not to be missed.

Evening/Night

Freshen up at Hotel → Wenhua Road Night Market → Taiwanese Foot Massage

After a full day of exploring Chiayi, I took an Uber from the botanical gardens back to the hotel to freshen up and relax before going back out in the evening.
My hotel was within walking distance to the Wenhua Road Night Market and I had dinner here trying as much as I could from pepper buns to fried pork and seafood.
A tradition of mine every time I visit Taiwan includes finishing the day with a foot massage. I recommend treating yourself to a traditional foot massage, it’s the perfect way to soothe your tired feet at the end of the day.

Where to Stay

I stayed two nights in Chiayi. One night was just that, a night to catch the bus to Alishan the next morning. I stayed near the Chiayi Train Station at Chiayi Yoyo Hotel.

After Alishan I stayed at a hotel more central and closer to some of the attractions. I stayed at the Maison De Chine Hotel. This hotel was really nice with pleasant staff and a solid breakfast.

Chiayi Yoyo Hotel
Address: 600, Taiwan, Chiayi City, West District, Shuyuan Village, Zhongshan Rd, 617號11樓

Maison De Chine Hotel
Address: No. 257號, Wenhua Rd, Beimen Village, West District, Chiayi City, Taiwan 600

2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival

Besides visiting Alishan the main reason I visited Chiayi was for the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

For those that don’t know. Every year, Taiwan hosts an annual lantern festival. It takes place in a different city or area every year, great for tourism!

This year, 2026 Chiayi hosted the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival.

The lantern festival was a bit out of town and honestly a bit chaotic with the bus systems but it was still magnificent and fun to watch.

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is an expansive area with lantern displays, light installations, cultural performances, interactive exhibits, and night markets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiayi

Is Chiayi City Worth Visiting?
I think Chiayi City is pretty underrated and deserves at least one day to explore. Chiayi has a great food scene, plenty of things to do, and it’s easy to get around and enjoy the city.

How Many Days do you Need in Chiayi?
In my opinion, one day in Chiayi is plenty of time to see the main attractions and enjoy traditional food. If you are visiting Alishan from Chiayi, do yourself a favor and add a day to your Taiwan itinerary to explore Chiayi.

What is Chiayi Known For?
Chiayi is best known as the gateway to Alishan, but within the city it’s known for Hinoki Village and food wise, turkey rice.

Can you Visit Chiayi as a Day Trip?
Yes, Chiayi can easily be visited as a day trip from all major cities in Taiwan. It’s easily linked to the HSR.

The Gateway to Alishan

For many travelers, Chiayi City is the gateway to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, one of Taiwan’s most famous mountain destinations.

I caught the local bus from Chiayi Station to Alishan, but there is also an option to take the scenic Railway from Chiayi.

Alishan is well worth a visit and I highly recommend going as either a day trip from Chiayi or staying the night in Alishan.

Alishan is known for its hiking, high mountain oolong tea, beautiful sunrise views, and cozy mountain atmosphere. I absolutely loved it here, it’s one of my favorite places in Taiwan.

Conclusion

Chiayi City is best known as the gateway to Alishan, but after spending a day exploring its sights and attractions, I found Chiayi to be a destination worth visiting on its own.

From the historic charm of Hinoki Village to the amazing food at Wenhua Road Night Market, there are plenty of things to do in Chiayi City.

Whether you are stopping over before heading to Alishan or looking for an underrated destination in Taiwan, I highly recommend setting aside at least one day to check out Chiayi.

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