Kaohsiung City or simply just Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third most populated city. Accessible by both plane and high speed rail, Kaohsiung is the perfect city to explore for a day or two. Whether you are a foodie looking for traditional Taiwanese Night Markets or into history and want to explore temples and museums, Kaohsiung definitely has something for everyone. My Kaohsiung travel guide covers all of the must-see attractions, popular night markets, and so much more!  ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Kaohsiung City: Kaohsiung City is an underrated city in Taiwan. Kaohsiung City has many attractions and experiences to keep you busy for days.  Top Things to do in Kaohsiung City: Visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Walk around the Lotus Pond. Sample food at Kaohsiung’s night markets.  Where to Stay in Kaohsiung City: I booked a few nights at the Kung Shang Design Hotel and was very pleased with my stay.  Consider taking a Private Day Tour of Kaohsiung City to see the main highlights and learn about this city along the way.  About Kaohsiung City Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third largest city, behind Taichung and of course Taipei with a population over 2.7 million.  Kaohsiung is known as Taiwan’s Harbor Capital because it has the largest port in Taiwan. Because of this, there is a lot of industrial areas to the city. But don’t let that scare you away from visiting Kaohsiung.  Kaohsiung has an abundance of things to do, modern architecture, and beautiful parks.  Kaohsiung is located in southern Taiwan, just south of the city of Tainan. Kaohsiung has its own international airport and is well connected to Taiwan’s high speed rail.  Flying to Kaohsiung City and Public Transportation Kaohsiung International Airport is where the majority of visitors will fly into. There are international flights to and from Kaohsiung from several cities throughout Asia.  Kaohsiung International Airport is easy to navigate, customs is stress free, and baggage claim is reliable. Exiting the airport is easy and the MRT is within walking distance.  Kaohsiung International Airport is on the MRT Red Line, so you can take the subway directly to any station along the Red Line or connecting Orange Line.  I found public transportation in Kaohsiung to be incredibly easy and efficient.  The Kaohsiung Metro or MRT has two lines, a Red Line that runs north and south from Gangshan Station to Siaogang Station, just past the airport.  The Orange Line basically runs east to west from Daliao Station to Hamasen Station.  There is also a convenient light rail circular line, the Light Green Line. The light rail is convenient for accessing places like Shoushan National Nature Park  or the Love Pier.  In my opinion, the MRT is very clean, safe, and affordable. I recommend getting a reloadable EasyCard. This is Taiwan’s transit cards where you can load money on them and use them throughout the country to access buses, trains, subways, and even bikes.  Mikan, Kaohsiung’s Adorable yet Busy Stationmaster If you happen to stop at one of the MRT stations in Kaohsiung City, you’ll most likely notice an adorable mascot plastered all over. From having its own store in the HSR Zuoying Station to being seen on signs in just about every station. The famous mascot is Mikan, an orange cat who is the “Station Master” of Kaohsiung’s metro stations.  According to the station, Mikan is a stray cat that was eventually adopted by the Kaohsiung Metro. Born April 4th of 2020. In Japanese, Mikan is a mandarin orange. When the kitty was found, he was curled up in a ball, people thought he looked like a cute orange, hence the name, Mikan.  In order to become Station Master, Mikan passed his interview and completed all his necessary trainings. He mostly works at the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Where to Stay in Kaohsiung City Kaohsiung has a wide variety of places to stay and many affordable options. I generally don’t seek out luxurious accommodations. When booking hotels, I generally pay attention to location, price, and accommodations.  Now a days, I book most of my hotels through Agoda. Agoda allows for flexibility and many hotels give guests options to pay now or later.  Based on accommodation, breakfast, price, and easy access to Formosa Boulevard Station, we decided to stay at Kung Shang Design Hotel.  For starters, Kung Shand Design Hotel  had massive rooms. By far the largest I’ve seen in a hotel anywhere in Asia. The room designs were unique and comfortable. This hotel was less then a ten minute walk from Formosa Boulevard Station. The breakfast was fantastic as well, it had a nice mix of Taiwanese and Western dishes. When staying in Kaohsiung, I highly recommend booking or at least looking into the Kung Shang Design Hotel.   Best Things to do in Kaohsiung City This Kaohsiung travel guide is built around a two day Kaohsiung itinerary. There is just to much to see and many things to do where I feel two days is a good amount of time to see the main attractions within Kaohsiung and even take a half day trip outside the city. The attractions below, in no particular order are my recommended things to see and do in Kaohsiung City.  Visit Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum Located about 30km from the Kaohsiung City is the impressive temple complex of Fo Guang Shan.  Fo Guang Shan is an easy bus ride from Kaohsiung City, I have outlined getting here in my post: How to Visit Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung City. You can easily spend a day here, but I recommend spending a half day here just to maximize your time in Kaohsiung.  When visiting Fo Guang Shan, don’t miss out on the Pagodas, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Big Buddha, Main Shrine, and Buddha Land.  Walk the Lotus Pond and See the Pagodas Any Kaohsiung travel guide will recommend paying a visit to the Lotus Pond area. There is an abundance of things to do here.  We walked to the Lotus Pond from HSR Zuoying Station. Some of the sites we saw include the Zuying Yuandi Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas.  There is a trail that goes around Lotus Pond and there are multiple parks throughout the area. Eat at the Night Markets One of my favorite things to do in Taiwan is to visit the night markets. It all started with night markets in Taipei, now when visiting, that is all I do for dinner.  Night markets in Kaohsiung is a cheap way to try a nice variety of both Taiwanese and international dishes.  While in Kaohsiung, I visited Ruifeng Night Market and Liouhe Tourist Night Market. If you could only pick one night market in Kaohsiung, I’d have to recommend Ruifeng Night Market. Ruifeng Night Market just had such a great variety of food and drinks to sample. There were so many vendors here it was a tad overwhelming. I ended up trying chicken feet, grain pancakes, fried chicken, squid on a stick, and steamed buns.  Night markets in Taiwan are generally cash only.  Hike Shoushan National Nature Park Just my opinion, but not Kaohsiung itinerary is complete without a visit to the beautiful Shoushan National Nature Park.  Shoushan National Nature Park is easily accessible from anywhere in Kaohsiung City.  We stayed near Formosa Boulevard Station and ended up taking the KMRT Orange Line to Hamasen Station and hopped on the Green Light Rail to Gushan Station. From there we walked directly to the trail head.  I recommend Shoushan National Nature Park because it offers visitors a great chance to see local wildlife and beautiful nature.  We hiked for about 3 hours here and saw many Taiwanese Macaques, got great views of Kaohsiung City, and met a lot of friendly people both locals and tourists.  Interested in reading more? I have a dedicated post on Hiking Shoushan National Nature Park.  Sanfong Temple In my opinion, one of the prettiest temples in Taiwan is the Sanfong Temple. This Taoist temple is known for its photogenic lanterns in the courtyard and beautiful architecture. To take some of the best photos of Sanfong Temple, feel free to walk inside and up the stairs. Here you will see hundreds of lanterns strung across the center of the temple. The temple is free to explore.  Formosa Boulevard Station Not exactly a must do when visiting Kaohsiung City, but if you are transiting through or staying near Formosa Boulevard Station, it’s worth wandering around.  The main attraction at Formosa Boulevard Station is the Dome of Light. It’s a giant stained glass piece of art in the center of the station. At certain times there is even a light show on the ground of the station.  Otherwise, there are some decent restaurants in Formosa Boulevard Station, convenience stores, and plenty of places to sit down and relax.  Love and Glory Pier I visited the Lover and Glory Pier on a rainy day in hopes of seeing the giant rubber ducks floating around. Apparently the ducks are seasonal, so I didn’t see any. Nonetheless, we took the Light Green Line to the Love Pier Station, got off, and walked around the pier for a bit. From here, you get great views of the skyline to include the dominating 85 Sky Tower.  Conclusion My Kaohsiung Travel Guide is perfect for visitors that are exploring Kaohsiung for their first time. Any Kaohsiung City itinerary should include a half day at Fo Guang Shan, a morning hike at Shoushan National Nature Park, a walk around Lotus Pond, and a night of exploring the night markets. Kaohsiung City has plenty of sites and attractions to keep anyone busy for a few days. One of the best things about Kaohsiung is that it doesn’t feel overrun by tourists yet!  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Located about 30 km from Kaohsiung lies the Buddhist complex of Fo Guang Shan. This massive religious complex acts as both a spiritual retreat and one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations. Locals and visitors from around the world come to Fo Guang Shan as a peaceful escape, to learn about Buddhism, or just to check out the beautiful complex to include the 108 meter tall Buddha statue. Getting to Go Guang Shan is a simple bus ride away, so if you are wondering how to visit Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung City, I’ve outlined all you need to know in this post.    **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary How to Get to Fo Guang Shan: The easiest way to visit Fo Guang Shan is by local bus. From Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung take the E02 bus also called Harvard Express. This bus goes directly to Fo Guang Shan.   Top Things to at Fo Guang Shan: Visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Photograph the Big Buddha. Pay a visit to the Main Shrine.  Don’t feel like figuring out the train and bus system? Or prefer to do tours that include Fo Guang Shan? I’d recommend booking a Kaohsiung Private Tour with Fo Guang Shan or this Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour. Why Visit Fo Guang Shan? If visiting Kaohsiung, Taiwan, it is highly recommend to set time aside to visit Fo Guang Shan. Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and one of Taiwan’s most important religious sites.  The Fo Guang Shan Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world and is home to so many impressive exhibits and collections.  Between the Front Hall and Fo Guang Shan Museum are eight pagodas that stand tall To me, one of the most impressive features of Fo Guang Shan is the giant 108 meter tall Buddha statue.  The Fo Guang Shan temple is relatively easy to visit from Kaohsiung by local bus and for the most part visiting the complex is free.   Taking the Bus to Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung The best, cheapest, and easiest way to get to Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung is by bus. Taking the local bus was relatively hassle free and so much easier then I expected.  I stayed near Formosa Boulevard Station in Kaohsiung City. I took the red line and got off in 6 stops at Zuoying R16. When arriving at Zuoying Station, I followed signs to the buses and found the bus stops outside.  There were many bus stops outside, thankfully there were electronic signs listing each us along with the destination, time, and route, below is an example.  I ended up taking the E02 from THSR Zuoying Station to Fo Guang Shan. This bus is also called the Harvard Express E02.  The bus ride was about 40 minutes and the cost was very cheap. We paid NTD 61 which is just under $2.  The Harvard Express E02 goes directly to Fo Guang Shan, stopping at Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Fo Guang Shan.  To return to Kaohsiung City from Fo Guang Shan, simply walk back to the bus stops you were dropped off at and wait for the return bus. The bus stops had times.  For the latest times for drop off and pick up I recommend looking at the bus schedule here.  To sum it up. Take the Red Line to THSR Zuoying Station Follow Signs to the Bus Stop area Take the Harvard Express E02 directly to Fo Guang Shan It really is that easy!  What to See and Do at Fo Guang Shan Front Hall The Front Hall is the main entrance to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Upon entering, you’ll notice the lion and her cubs and the elephant on either side of the entrance. The Front Hall is a more modern building filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes.  Pagodas Between the Front Hall and Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum are eight pagodas, four on each side.  Each pagoda is 38 meters tall and serves a different yet unique purpose. The Pagodas are as listed, One Teaching Pagoda, Two Assemblies Pagoda, Three Goodness Pagoda, Four Givings Pagoda, Five Harmonies Pagoda, Six Perfections Pagoda, Seven Admonishments Pagoda, and Eightfold Path Pagoda.  Some of the pagodas were open while others were closed. The few we popped into had various designs and purposes. For instance, one we went in to was set up for weddings.  For a more in depth description on the pagodas, you can read more on the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum – Main Hall The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is incredible. The museum itself is free to visit, you could easily spend 2 – 3 hours here alone, if not longer.  Within the museum, there are seasonal exhibits and events but also permanent exhibits. You can see the Buddha Tooth Relic, Golden Buddha, Jade Reliefs, Giant Jade Buddha, and so much more.  Take your time exploring the museum, I definitely learned a lot here and had a wonderful experience. For more information, including exhibits and events, check out the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website. Fo Guang Big Buddha The giant Buddha statue at Fo Guang Shan is considered to be the largest seated Sakyamuni Buddha statue in Asia.  According to the site, the statue was built in 2011 and is made up of 1,800 tons of copper. The Buddha itself is 40 meters tall, but all together the statue is 108 meters tall. To me, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha is the highlight of the Fo Guang Shan Museum. It’s amazing how enormous this statue is especially when you walk closer to it. The Buddha statue in the background with the pagodas in front is definitely one of the best pictures you can take at Fo Guang Shan.  Fo Guang Shan Main Shrine The main shrine that is separate from the Fo Guang Shan Museum is a must when visiting.  According to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website, the The Main Shrine or Mahavira Hall is about 100 ft tall. Three Jewels Buddhas are located here, Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitaha Buddha, and Medicine Buddha. Each Buddha is about 26 ft tall.  The walls inside the Mahavira Hall are full of statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, there are 14,800 smaller statues in total.  We got lucky and a kind lady gave us a tour of the Mahavira Hall.  Shoes are to remain outside when visiting the Mahavira Hall and photos are prohibited inside.  Fo Guang Shan Great Buddha Land The last attraction we stopped at while visiting Fo Guang Shan, was the Great Buddha Land.  The Great Buddha here is a 36 meter tall statue surrounded by 480 smaller Buddha statues.  Conclusion The Fo Guang Shan Buddha complex is a must for any Kaohsiung itinerary. Visiting Fo Guang Shan is as easy as taking a direct local bus from Zuoying Station to Fo Guan Shan’s Front Hall. It can take several hours to fully explore this religious site, so take your time. This is truly one of Taiwan’s best gems and I highly recommend a visit to Fo Guang Shan.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Most visitors will travel to Hualien from Taipei to do a Taroko Gorge Day Tour. It is highly recommended to see Taroko National Park, but Hualien is far from just a quick place to stay while visiting the gorge. Hualien offers a range of things to do from spotting beautiful beaches full of colored marble stones to trying delicious snacks at the Dongdamen Night Market. If you are wondering what there is to do in Hualien? I spent three days here exploring the area. Here are my recommendations and top things to do in Hualien.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting from Taipei to Hualien Taipei to Hualien is an easy and very inexpensive journey.  There are several different ways to travel from Taipei to Hualien. Renting and driving a car is an option. You can book a tour or private driver, or take a train which in my opinion is the easiest and cheapest mode of transportation to reach Hualien from Taipei. We took a train from Taipei Main Station directly to Hualien Station. Depending on the train, the trip to Hualien can take anywhere from 2 to 4 or more hours.  We ended up taking the Express Trains, the T. C. Ltd Express to Hualien and the Taroko Express back to Taipei for a whopping NTD 440 or about $14 a person one way. The express trains take about 2 – 2.5 hours and make very few stops along the route.  Recommended Hotels in Hualien Unless you are just doing a day trip to Hualien from Taipei to visit Taroko National Park, you will most likely stay at a hotel in Hualien for at least one night.  Agoda has many excellent hotels in Hualien that are suited for anyone’s price range.  We stayed at the Full Kind Hotel and loved our two nights stay here. The Full Kind Hotel was centrally located, close to great restaurants and shops, ad spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and a great breakfast spread every morning. The hotel was within walking distance to Dongdamen Night Market and there was a 7-Eleven next door.  If searching for hotels in Hualien, I recommend booking through Agoda and we were very satisfied with our hotel stay at Full Kind Hotel. Top Things to do in Hualien Cities in Taiwan like Hualien are a nice change of pace from cities like Taipei or even Jiufen. Hualien felt less touristy and a bit more authentic.  Although there are no grand attractions in Hualien, besides Taroko National Park, there is still plenty to do and see in Hualien.  After spending two days in Hualien, here is a list of our recommendations of top things to do and experience in Hualien.  1. Taroko National Park Perhaps one of Taiwan’s most beautiful natural parks, Taroko National Park, is a canyon famous for its near vertical cliffs, turquoise blue rivers, and stunning hiking trails.  Taroko National Park is near Hualien and is free to visit.  Must do things at Taroko National Park include hiking the Shakadang Trail, visiting the Eternal Spring Shrine, walking across the Buluowan Suspension Bridge, going to the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and finishing the day at Swallow Grotto. Interested in reading more about Taroko Gorge? I have a post dedicated to Taroko National Park Day Tours. 2. Dongdamen Night Market Like the night markets in Taipei, Hualien does have a night market called Dongdamen Night Market.  Each night we stayed in Hualien, we had dinner at the Dongdamen Night Market. There are just to many delicious things to try here.  Dongdamen Night Market occupies a huge space in central Hualien. There are many permanent and covered vendors here selling a wide range of foods. We tried everything from Tofu Fries and slices of bacon to Taiwanese Burgers and Green Onion Pancakes with an Egg. Honestly, everything we had was delicious.  3. Local Markets Like night markets in Taiwan, there are also great markets that pop up in the mornings. Expect to find more fruits and vegetables for sale, seafood, and other goods for daily use bought by locals.  I love strolling through morning markets and trying unique foods. The markets in Hualien seemed to be in different locations around the city. There were some near the Dongdamen Night Market and others close to our hotel.  4. Taipingyang Park and the Coast Line Looking to take a relaxing stroll along the coast in Hualien? Or have kids and want to drain their energy quickly? I’d recommend visiting Taipingyang Park and the nearby beach.  Picture a beach with white sand, crystal clear and calm waters, with palm trees and a guy selling coconuts. Well, this is not that kind of beach!  Instead, the water here is pretty intense, the beach is full of huge marble boulders, and swimming is not advised. Doesn’t sound like your ideal beach, but I found it fascinating to walk on and look at all the beautiful rocks. The Hualien area is known for marble so a lot of pretty colored marble rocks rest on the beaches here.  Taipingyang Park is more of a park for children. The playground equipment looked well maintained and a dream come true for kids.  5. Qixingtan Beach When we took our Taroko National Park Day Tour, the first stop was at Qixingtan Beach.  Qixingtan Beach is just north of the city on the northern tip of Hualien Airport.  Qixingtan Beach is a long beach with incredible views of the mountains in the background and beautiful shades of blue and green water. Although swimming is not advised here due to rough currents, it is a nice beach to walk on and enjoy the views!  6. Riverside Park Hualien had a lot of green space. Along the river that flows through town, there is a nice river walk and network of trails and parks.  We took one of the trails from Jinghua Bridge to the Martyrs Shrine and it was a pleasant walk. There were fisherman in the river, kids on bikes, and people out on their daily dog walks.  7. Pine Garden One attraction in Hualien that intrigued me was the Pine Garden.  According to signs posted at the site, the Pine Garden is a historic site in Hualien and was a former Japanese Command Center. The building was constructed in 1942 to recruit and manage military servicemen.  After WWII, the Japanese left Taiwan and the KMT government took over. In 2003, the Pine Garden and building was officially open to the public. Today, visitors can walk the grounds, go inside the main building, walk through a bomb shelter, browse the shops, or sit and have a beer or treat at the cafe.  8. Shop If shopping is your thing, then Hualien has plenty of shops and fun stores that are worth browsing.  Gongyuan and Zhonghua Rd were full of shops, I personally enjoyed the shops selling treats so I could bring stuff back to friends and family. But there is a wide range of shops here from souvenir stores to high end stores like Rolex.  9. Bubble Tea You can’t go to Taiwan and not have Bubble Tea. It’s like going to Japan and not trying Sushi, it just doesn’t make sense.  For how big Hualien was, there were a ton of Bubble Tea shops. Just keep in mind most Bubble Tea places didn’t open until 10 – 11 am.  Most Bubble Tea shops had similar drinks. What surprises us, is how cheap Bubble Tea is in Taiwan. Two large drinks can cost anywhere from $2 – $3.50. 10. Foot Massage If visiting Taiwan, you cannot leave without having a foot massage. Even a city like Hualien had great foot massage places all over town.  We tend to walk a lot, so our feet are always tired. Every time we visit Taiwan, we end our night with a foot massage. I mean they are so affordable compared to other massage parlors around the world. Do yourself a favor and get a foot massage when visiting Hualien.  Conclusion Hualien kind of flies under the radar as a destination when visiting Taiwan. If it weren’t for Taroko Gorge, Hualien would get close to no tourism and visitors. But Hualien offers visitors much more and it’s an easy train ride from Taipei. In Hualien, you can find a lot of the classic Taiwan must try experiences, like night markets and foot massages. Hualien also has incredible landscapes, beautiful beaches, and an interesting history. So maybe next time you visit Taiwan, add Hualien to your itinerary.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan is a historic yet modern city that blends old traditions with new modernity. From towering skyscrapers like Taipei 101 to the ancient temple of Bangka Lungshan and the natural beauty of Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei has something for everyone. Whether you are into museums, love trying new food, interested in hiking, or simply want to relax and get a massage, Taipei has it all! This post will guide you through some of the top things to do in Taipei.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Top Things to do in Taipei Are you looking for some of the top things to do in Taipei? Or perhaps things to do in Taipei at night? Or just looking for tourist attractions in Taipei that are worthwhile? I’ve been to Taipei 7 times now and have come up with a list of my most recommended things to do in Taipei.  1. Visit the National Palace Museum Taiwan’s National Palace Museum is one of Taiwan’s most prominent and visited attractions. This museum is said to have the best collection of Chinese arts in the world. Two famous artifacts here include the “Jade Cabbage” and “Pork Belly Jade.” After visiting the museum, make sure to stroll through Zhishan Garden. This free Chinese garden is the perfect place to visit after the museum. For more information on the National Palace Museum, feel free to visit the website. Admission: NT $350Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, Closed on Mondays 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   2. Hike Yangmingshan National Park If interested in hiking in and around Taipei, I found that Yangmingshan National Park was one of the best hikes and National Parks to escape the city and find yourself peacefully surrounded by some of Taiwan’s most beautiful nature.  Visitors can get to Yangmingshan National Park entirely by using public transportation. When I visited this national park, I went to Ximen Station in Wanhua District and then took the Brown Line to Dahu Park Station. From Dahu Park Station, I walked directly into the national park.  For me, the highlight besides the beautiful surrounding mountains, was a chance to see wild water buffalo.  3. Try Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is a beloved national dish that is a must try when visiting Taipei. Beef Noodle Soup consists of tender beef, hearty noodles, and a rich broth.  I’d recommend trying Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup for lunch one day, that way you can visit a night market in Taipei at night.  One place that serves Beef Noodle Soup that I really like is Liang Pin Beef Noodles near the intersection of Kaifeng Street and Huaining Street.  4. Take a Day Trip From Taipei I usually recommend at least 2-3 days in Taipei. But if you are staying longer or itching to see more of Taiwan, there are day trips from Taipei that are easy to get to and drastically different from the main city.  Venturing from Taipei offers a treasure trove of amazing landscapes, small mountain towns, cultural landmarks, amazing geological phenomena, and so much more.  An easy train or bus ride from Taipei, visitors can see places like Houtong Cat Village, Yehliu Geopark, and Jiufen.  5. Take the Elevator Up Taipei 101 Visiting Taipei 101 is a must when visiting Taipei. Taipei 101 stands tall and proud and dominates the cityscape. Standing at 508m (1,667 ft), with 101 floors, this skyscraper is one of the world’s tallest buildings.  Taipei 101 has observation decks for visitors on the 89th floor. With 360-degree views, it is truly the best view of Taipei.  One of the most fascinating things to see at Taipei 101 is the Damper. The damper here is the largest in the world and is completely visible to visitors. For those that don’t know, a damper is basically a pendulum that offsets movement of the building due to strong winds or earthquakes.  6. Sample Food at the Night Markets When going to Taiwan, one of my favorite things to do is going to the Night Markets in Taipei. Night markets are scattered throughout the city and have some of Taipei’s best, cheapest, and most unique foods to try. So if you are a foodie like me, it’s paradise. Night Markets in Taipei generally pop up around 17:00 and can stay open past 24:00 depending on the market.  Some of my favorite markets, which I go into detail in my night markets in Taipei post, include Guangzhou Street Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, Linjiang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, Raohe Street Night Market, Shilin Night Market and Ximen Night Market.  When visiting Taipei’s night markets, I always recommend walking through the market first to see what food stands out, then go back and start hitting the stalls. Generally, there will be a small line, you order your food and can stand near the stall to eat or walk around. I like standing nearby, so I can throw my trash away with the vendor.  📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   7. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of Taipei’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you are staying for 1 day or 3 days in Taipei, a visit to the memorial is a must!   The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is a memorial to one of Taiwan’s most influential figures, Chiang Kai-shek.  The Liberty Square area is massive here. Once you pass under the Liberty Square Arch, the massive National Concert Hall and National Theatre Hall can be seen on on the right and left side of Liberty Square. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a white structure with an blue octagon shaped roof.  Visitors can go inside the Memorial Hall, if lucky you can see the changing of the guards.  8. Check out Lungshan Temple During the Day and Night Located in Taipei’s Wanhua District and honestly an easy walk from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is the Taipei’s most famous temple, the Lungshan Temple.  If you decide not to walk to Lungshan Temple, there is a Lungshan Temple Subway Station along the Blue Line.  Lungshan Temple is free to visit and worth seeing both during the day and night. I love how intricate and detailed the architecture of this temple is. The detail of everything is spectacular from the roof to the dragons.  9. Shop at Jianguo’s Flower and Jade Market Looking to escape the rain in Taipei? Or do you enjoying specialized markets and shopping for unique things? I recommend checking out the Jianguo Flower and Jade Markets.  These market areas are found under the Jianguo Elevate Road and are quite expansive. You can spend hours here if desired as there are hundreds of vendors.  The flower market consists of hundreds of vendors as well selling everything from Bonsai Trees to full on Sakura Trees. The Jade Market is everything jade, from jewelry and antiques to pictures and decorations.  10. Stroll and Visit the Museum at 228 Peace Memorial Park I love starting my morning off at 228 Peace Memorial Park. This park is always active, well maintained, and just plain beautiful. It’s within walking distance to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and other attractions in Taipei.  This park is set as a reminder of those that lost their lives during the February 28 (228) incident that occurred in 1947.  There are memorials set up throughout the park, lush green spaces, beautiful ponds, and the National Taiwan Museum.  11. Foot Massage: Perfect way to Relax at the End of the Day My younger self would never even think about getting a massage. On our first trip to Taipei, Jill kind of forced me in to it. Now, every time we visit Taipei, we get a foot massage at the end of every night and I can’t think of a better way to end the day, especially when walking and exploring the city all day.  Foot massages in Taipei are very affordable. I’m talking like $10 – $20 for a 45 minute to 1 hour massage.  Foot massage parlors are found all over the city, you don’t have to look very hard before spotting one. Typically, you’ll sit in a large comfy chair and start with a warm foot soak. Then one of the people at the parlor comes by and massages your feet and calves. It’s truly a wonderful and relaxing experience.  12. Bubble Tea: Refreshing Taiwanese Drink As iconic as anything else in Taipei is Bubble Tea. Bubble tea or boba tea is a very popular Taiwanese drink that combines yummy tea flavors with fun little tapioca pearls. You get a unique blend of refreshing flavors and fun textures with every gulp. Bubble tea shops are found throughout Taipei and the drink itself is very cheap here, just a couple bucks for a large drink. 50 Lan is one of our favorite bubble tea shops. 13. Lunar New Year: Lantern Festival If visiting Taipei in February or March, make sure to attend or grab a schedule of events and attractions for the celebrations. We’ve been to three Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei now and it’s always a spectacular show.  Each year, the lantern festival in Taiwan is in a different city. So far I’ve attended the lantern festival in Taipei and Taoyuan.  14. Spend the Day at Taipei Zoo The Taipei Zoo is a nice zoo that is well worth a visit. The Taipei Zoo was much bigger then I expected, you could spend the whole day here.  The Taipei Zoo is easily accessible by public transportation. It is at the Taipei Zoo subway station at the end of the Brown Line.  General Admission for the Taipei Zoo was only NT$100 which comes out to like $3 USD.  I really enjoyed the Formosan Animal Area and of course seeing the Giant Pandas. That’s right! There are Giant Panda’s at the Taipei Zoo.  15. Try a Pepper Cake from Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake It has become a tradition of mine. Now, every time I visit Taipei, I stop at Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake near Taipei Main Station for a freshly made Pepper Cake.  These pepper cakes are one of my favorite snacks in Taipei. Wondering what even is a pepper cake?  It’s a flaky baked bun, usually baked in a cylindrical clay oven. The bun is filled with a marinated spiced meat, mixed with scallions, white pepper powder, and other ingredients.  I’ve tried pepper cakes around Taiwan and find that Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake makes the best. They open at 11:00 am and there is usually a line already. It’s totally worth it.  There is another Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake location at the Raohe Street Night Market.  Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake Location: Address: No. 13, Section 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei CityCoordinates: 25.0469831, 121.5128111 16. Hike Elephant Mountain: Best Views of Taipei 101 If you are looking for the best views of Taipei 101 in Taipei, or that iconic shot of Taipei 101 with the city in the background, then prepare for a short hike up Elephant Mountain. Hiking Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) is a great hike in Taipei that takes anywhere from 15 minutes to well over an hour depending on the route you take and what you want to see.  But one of the best views of Taipei 101 are from the Xiangshan Viewpoint, which is a short hike up Elephant Mountain.  I did the SihShouShan Circular Hiking Trail which had many more viewpoints of Taipei 101.  This hiking trail is popular at sunset and night because you can see the Taipei skyline.  To get to the trailhead of Elephant Mountain, it’s easily accessible by MRT

If planning on staying in Taipei for a few days, then I’d recommend an easy day trip to Jiufen. Jiufen is one of Taiwan’s most popular destinations and for good reason. Jiufen’s Old Street is a narrow pedestrian food path winding through the city lined with fun shops, teahouses, amazing food vendors, and so much more! For those that love anime, I hear Jiufen was the inspiration behind the animated fantasy film, Spirited Away. So whether you are into anime or just want to experience and see a cute and traditional Taiwanese village, then I highly recommend a day trip to Jiufen. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Jiufen? Jiufen is a village in New Taipei City located in Ruifang District. Jiufen is not far from the coast and is in a pretty mountainous area.  Some nearby towns in the vicinity of Jiufen include Ruifang, Houtong Village, and Keelung City.  Getting to Jiufen from Taipei Getting to Jiufen is relatively stress free and easy, especially if just doing a day trip from Taipei. If visitors are not renting a car, it is recommended to take a train to Ruifang Station then either a bus or taxi to Jiufen.  From Taipei Main Station take the northbound local train to Ruifang Station. It’s a pretty common route, so trains run to Ruifang regularly. The train ride to Ruifang Station from Taipei Main Station is roughly an hour. There is an Express Train that takes about 40-50 minutes, we got lucky and hopped on this one. The express train was a tad more pricey but the comfort and quickness of the train was well worth it.  Once at Ruifang Station, there are buses that go directly to Jiufen. The journey from Ruifang to Jiufen is roughly 15 minutes.  We got lost for some reason in Ruifang and could not fid the bus station. I believe we exited Ruifang Station on the wrong side, so we decided to take a taxi. The Taxi ride was cheap, just a couple bucks! Be warned, the taxi drivers are crazy. I nearly had a heart attack sitting in the back seat as the driver cut off other drivers, sped around tight curves, and honked at other drivers.  Day Trips to Jiufen from Taipei I love day trips and have nothing but great experiences with day trips booking through Viator or Get Your Guide.  Although I did Jiufen on my own this time, I highly recommend booking a day trip to Jiufen from Taipei. Especially if you don’t want to figure out the bus schedules or transferring from one mode of transportation to the next.  Here are a few of the recommended Day Trips to Jiufen.  Small-Group Tour: Jiufen, Yehliu Geopark, and Shifen from Taipei From Taipei: Jiufen Village and Northeast Coast Tour Taipei: Jiufen Night View and Shifen Day Tour Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup How we Spent a Day in Jiufen We spent 3 days in Taipei and took a day trip to Jiufen from Taipei. We chose to visit Jiufen based on interests, proximity to Taipei, and we simply just wanted to see more of Taiwan outside of the big city. We combined a visit to Jiufen with a trip to Houtong Cat Village which was only about 10 minutes away by train.  I saw pictures of the famous Amei Tea House in Jiufen at night and knew I wanted to arrive to Jiufen in the afternoon and hang around until it got dark. We got to Jiufen around lunch time and spent a solid half day here walking the Old Street, sampling food, drinking tea at the famous tea houses, and just explored the narrow alley ways. We really loved our day trip to Jiufen and want to share our experience. If you are wondering what to do in Jiufen? Or looking for things to do in Jiufen, outlined below are what we did and our recommendations on how to spend a day in Jiufen.  Discovered the Cave to Taro Potato Teahouse When going up or down Shugi Road, right next to Amei Tea House, there was a cave like passageway. Curious, Jill and I both walked through the tunnel and ended up at the Taro Potato Teahouse. The tunnel was longer then expected and fun to take photos of. On the other side of the tunnel was the teahouse.  We didn’t actually go inside or eat anything at the teahouse. For the most part we just wanted to walk through the tunnel leading to the teahouse. Walking the tunnel is certainly not a must do when visiting Jiufen, still it was a fun experience.  Drank Tea at a Tea House Overlooking the Ocean I am not a huge tea drinker but Jill is. So while on our day trip to Jiufen, we couldn’t leave without at least sitting down and drinking tea at one of the teahouses.  We knew the famous Amei Teahouse would be impossible to enter without reservations. Without any particular teahouse in mind, we strolled around Jiufen Old Street looking for a teahouse and stumbled upon one. Although I can’t recall the name it was right by Ocean See Hotel. This tea house was multiple storied and we got lucky enough to be seated outside on the balcony. The view were amazing, again looking out toward the coast. Jill and I both ordered different teas. They came out in their own glass kettle. Each one was filled with loose leaf tea. Both teas were from Taiwan and delicious, although I preferred the one I ordered.   Explored the Narrow Alley Ways of Jiufen Old Street When visiting Jiufen, the Old Street also known as the historic district is a must. Jiufen Old Street is a series of small alleys with restaurants, shops, teahouses, bars, and hotels, lined on both sides of the alley ways.  We spent the majority of our time in Jiufen here walking the Old Street and eating food sold by local vendors.  I’ll be honest, this area was jam packed with tourists, I mean shoulder to shoulder. Even though it was crowded, I didn’t feel overwhelmed and still got to eat what I wanted and sit down at bars and tea houses.  It’s one long alley way with several smaller alley ways that branch off the main one. I recommend starting at one end and walking through Jiufen Old Street. Gain a sense of what you want to eat or what shops you want to visit, then go back through and eat and shop. Afterwards, explore some of the side alley ways, you never know what you will come across!  Photographed Temples Although Jiufen is a pretty small village there are several stunning temples in and around Jiufen.  Our taxi driver dropped us off behind Shinghuang Temple. This had to be one of the most photogenic temples I’ve seen in Taiwan. I took a photo of one of the statues on the roof of the temple. The statue is of a man on a Lion/Dragon overlooking the ocean and the land reaching into the sea. This is the main photo above for this post. This has to be one of my favorite views in all of Taiwan. Another impressive temple that is not to be missed while visiting Jiufen is the Shen Ming Gong Temple. This temple is located just a few steep steps above Jiufen Old Street. It’s a massive complex and the vibrant colors and complex architecture are truly impressive.  While sitting in the back of the taxi to Jiufen from Ruifang, I noticed a massive temple off in the distance. According to Google Maps, I believe this is the Jinshan Temple. Unfortunately, I was only able to enjoy this temple from a distance. I’ll have to travel back to Jiufen to pay this temple a visit.  Sampled Food Around Jiufen’s Old Street The highlight of our day trip to Jiufen was walking the Old Street in Jiufen and sampling all the delicious food offered from the various vendors and small dining restaurants.  Food options on Jiufen’s Old Street are endless. You can find everything here from fine dining to snacks on the go.  We tried several small dishes throughout Jiufen’s Old Street. Two things that stood out to us was the Vegetarian Red Vinasse Taiwanese Meatballs (pictured above) and the ice cream burritos with cilantro and peanut butter. The ice cream burritos consisted of dan bing as the wrap rolled with ice cream and cilantro. Either the ice cream was peanut butter or there were peanut shavings on the ice cream. Either way, I would have never guessed, but a concoction of ice cream, peanut butter, and cilantro makes for a great refreshing treat!  Sat Down and Tried Local Taiwanese Beers Surprisingly, Taiwan has a great craft brew scene. While walking the Old Street in Jiufen, we decided to take a breather and try some local brews at Golden Bar.  Golden Bar had an extensive craft beer menu. If I recall, the craft beer was all Taiwanese. While here, I tried the Oolong Tea Pilsner by Jim & Dad’s Brewing Company and a Winter Melon Ale from Taiwan Head Brewers. The Winter Melon Ale was very good. As always, it was so nice to sit down, rest, and enjoy craft beer!  Stood in a Crowd and Took a Photo of Amei Teahouse By far the most popular and photographed site in Jiufen is the Amei Teahouse. According to the Amei Teahouse website, his teahouse has been in Jiufen for over a hundred years and started off as a black smith shop before being converted into a beautiful teahouse.  Honestly, I never went inside the teahouse. Like many others, I just saw the Amei Teahouse from across the alleyway and snapped a few photos. It was painful as there were hundreds of people doing the same thing, taking a quick picture then moving on.  It’s rumored that the Amei Teahouse is the inspiration behind the animated movie Spirited Away. Walked down Shugi Road at Night to View the Lanterns Toward late evening, Shugi Road in Jiufen is lit with lanterns lining both sides of the road from the top to the bottom and is a spectacular site to see. Shugi Road basically connects Ruijin Road wit Jiufen Old Street. It is a series of steps leading from one road to the other.  For many, Shugi Road could be your starting point to exploring Jiufen, or this road could be your exit out of Jiufen. Either way, it is recommended to walk Shugi Road especially at night to view the lanterns.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼    Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂 🚊  For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.