How to Travel Around Taiwan in 2 Weeks: An Unforgettable Itinerary

Taiwan is a destination that truly feels like an adventure. You won’t hear English everywhere, Western tourists aren’t around every corner, delicious food is abundant on every street, and the nature is simply stunning. With 2.5 weeks to explore this beautiful island, I’ve put together a Taiwan itinerary designed to maximize my time here.

Front gate of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, a must-see landmark on your Taiwan trip.

One major advantage of Taiwan as a travel destination is its relatively small size. It’s comparable in size to the Netherlands, actually slightly smaller. If you have two to three weeks and plan to travel around, you can certainly see a significant portion of Taiwan. While you can’t see absolutely everything, I’m very satisfied with the itinerary I crafted for my first visit to Taiwan.

Getting Around Taiwan: Car or Public Transport?

When deciding how to travel around Taiwan, you have two main options: renting a car or utilizing public transport. Taiwan boasts an excellent and very affordable public transportation system. However, it’s important to note that the high-speed rail (similar to Japan’s Shinkansen) operates exclusively along the west coast of the island. If your goal is to explore more of the rugged east coast or circumnavigate the entire island, then renting a car is likely your best choice.

Given that my Taiwan itinerary primarily concentrates on the west coast, I opted to rely entirely on public transport. This proved to be considerably more economical than renting a car and worked flawlessly. Train tickets can be conveniently purchased online and subsequently collected from a machine or ticket counter at the station. There’s also a mobile app for obtaining train tickets, though it currently only functions in Chinese. For almost all train services, you have the option to reserve your seat when booking your ticket, ensuring a comfortable journey.

Days 1-4: Taipei

My journey began with a flight from Amsterdam the day before, making Day 1 my arrival in Taipei, Taiwan’s bustling capital. Although technically a direct flight, it included a brief stop in Seoul where passengers disembarked temporarily before continuing on the same aircraft.

Given the significant time difference, you’ll need a few days to adjust to the new time zone. This is why I decided to kick off my Taiwan itinerary by spending four days in Taipei, allowing ample time to gradually overcome jet lag. Furthermore, Taipei offers such a wealth of attractions and activities that you’re unlikely to feel bored. I’ve also allocated additional days in the city towards the end of my trip. This means if I miss anything during this initial stay, I’ll have another opportunity to experience it later. Deciding on the ideal spot to stay in a large city for the first time can be tricky, but based on my research while preparing my Taiwan itinerary, the Da’an district emerged as home to many beautiful, modern hotels and appealing restaurants.

Where to stay in Taipei: Kimpton Da’an Hotel

Modern hotel room with large windows at the Kimpton Da'an Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, ideal for a comfortable stay.

I chose to stay at the Kimpton Da’an Hotel. This is a lovely hotel located just around the corner from the Zhongxiao Fuxing metro station, offering perfect convenience for recovering from jet lag and exploring the city.

Don’t miss in Taipei:

• Experience authentic Taiwanese cuisine on a Taipei food tour with Taipei Eats.
• Hike up Elephant Mountain for arguably the best panoramic view of the cityscape.
• Savor delicious soup dumplings at the internationally acclaimed Din Tai Fung.
• Witness the solemn changing of the guards ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
• Step back in time by strolling down Dihua Street, Taipei’s oldest street, offering a glimpse into traditional commerce.

Days 5-6: Hualien & Taroko Gorge

Following my initial days in Taipei, I took the train to Hualien. This city is situated on Taiwan’s east coast. As mentioned earlier, the high-speed trains (HSR) do not service this route, but the regular trains (Taiwan Railway – TRA) provide a perfectly comfortable journey. The train ride from Taipei Main Station to Hualien takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. Upon arriving at Hualien station, I took a local bus to reach my hotel.

Eternal Spring Shrine set against a backdrop of lush green cliffs and mountains at Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

While Hualien itself doesn’t offer a vast number of attractions, it serves as the ideal gateway to Taroko Gorge National Park. If you have a rental car, you can easily explore the park at your own pace. Since I didn’t have my own transportation in Hualien, I booked a guided tour with Island Life Taiwan. They provided convenient pick-up from my hotel in the morning and drop-off afterwards. Visiting Taroko Gorge National Park was undoubtedly one of the key highlights of my Taiwan itinerary. The natural scenery is breathtakingly spectacular, and I was glad I booked a tour which allowed me to efficiently see the most beautiful spots in a single day.

Where to stay in Hualien: Just Sleep ZhongZheng

I stayed for two nights at the Just Sleep Hualien ZhongZheng hotel. While the design isn’t particularly striking, my room was very spacious, and its central location proved to be perfect for accessing transportation and exploring the area.

Don’t miss in Hualien:

• Taroko Gorge National Park (a definite must-see).
• Dining at Restaurant Fuzi for excellent Japanese cuisine, including the largest oyster I’ve ever encountered.
• Experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Dongdamen Night Market.
• Enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee and delicious homemade cake at Soave Plan.

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Days 7-8: Taichung

To travel from Hualien to Taichung, the most efficient route involved taking the regular train back to Taipei first, and then transferring to the high-speed train bound for Taichung. The initial journey back to Taipei took approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, followed by a remarkably quick 47-minute high-speed train ride from Taipei to Taichung.

Train station sign in Chinese and English at Taichung, Taiwan, indicating the city name.

However, something I hadn’t anticipated is that the high-speed rail stations are often located outside the main city centers, unlike the regular train stations (with Taipei being an exception). Consequently, while the HSR journey itself is faster, you often spend additional time traveling from the HSR station to your final destination. In Taichung, it took me a 20-minute taxi ride to reach my hotel from the HSR station.

Taichung is Taiwan’s second-largest city. If you plan to include Sun Moon Lake in your travels, Taichung serves as a convenient base. There’s a bus service from here to Sun Moon Lake, allowing for a day trip or an overnight stay by the lake. Initially, Sun Moon Lake was part of my planned Taiwan itinerary, but I made a last-minute decision to visit Alishan National Park instead, which meant skipping Sun Moon Lake this time. For some types of travel, like those using RVs, knowing the differences between a class c motorhome vs travel trailer is important for planning.

Where to stay in Taichung: Explore hotel

My accommodation in Taichung was the Explore hotel. The hotel itself was satisfactory and quite affordable, but its location wasn’t ideal for exploring the city center. It is within walking distance of the Feng Chia Night Market, one of Taiwan’s largest night markets, which was likely the reason I chose it. However, the actual city center of Taichung is a bit further away, and there’s no metro line serving the area directly from the hotel. To get to the city center, I relied on Uber or the local bus service.

Don’t miss in Taichung:

• Exploring Feng Chia Night Market (make sure to try takoyaki – delicious deep-fried Japanese batter balls filled with grilled octopus).
• Admiring the beautiful interior of Miyahara, where queues form for its famous ice cream and traditional desserts.
• Finding a quiet escape at Lenka for beautiful cakes, a great spot to relax away from the crowds.
• Sipping on excellent coffee and milk tea at Ritrovare coffee plus, considered among the best in Taichung.

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Days 9-10: Chiayi & Alishan

Although the high-speed rail also stops in Chiayi, I opted to take the regular TRA train. This allowed me to arrive directly in the city center, conveniently within walking distance of my hotel. The train journey only took about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

View of a serene lake surrounded by lush green mountains at Alishan National Park in Taiwan.

Chiayi itself doesn’t boast a vast array of tourist attractions, but the primary reason for my visit was to take the bus to Alishan National Park the following morning. Perhaps it was due to my low expectations, but I found myself quite charmed by Chiayi. The city center is characterized by narrow streets perfect for leisurely wandering. Chiayi also gained culinary recognition in an episode of Street Food: Asia on Netflix, highlighting its traditional dishes like fish head stew. I certainly wasn’t going to miss trying that!

To reach Alishan National Park, I took one of the earliest buses departing from the train station in the morning. I plan to dedicate a separate post to detailing my experience in this beautiful park and providing practical information on how to get there. One thing is certain: I am incredibly happy that I made the last-minute decision to add Alishan to my trip. Alishan should absolutely be a part of your Taiwan itinerary! If you’re exploring options for smaller travel setups, looking into mini ultra lite travel trailers might be useful for future considerations.

Where to stay in Chiayi: Lan Kwai Fong Garden Hotel

Finding a modern boutique hotel in Chiayi can be somewhat challenging as options are limited. I spent two nights at the Lan Kwai Fong Garden Hotel. While the room felt a little dated, it was spacious (featuring a surprisingly large bed) and had everything I needed. The location was also perfect for accessing the bus to Alishan and exploring the local area.

If you’re keen on experiencing the famous sunrise view in Alishan, you would need to stay overnight at a hotel within the park itself. Unfortunately, these accommodations are notoriously expensive, especially considering they aren’t particularly luxurious. Additionally, I read that there’s a significant chance that cloud cover might obscure the sunrise, so I decided against this option and stayed in Chiayi instead. For those who enjoy unique accommodations, renovated travel trailer for sale options can sometimes offer a distinct travel experience.

Don’t miss in Chiayi:

• Exploring the stunning Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.
• Enjoying coffee and amazing waffles (!) at Moku Sho, located in a traditional Taiwanese house.
• Tasting the local specialty, fish head stew, at SMARTFISH, featured in the Netflix show Street Food: Asia.
• Having breakfast at Good morning (note: there are two with this name, go to the one on Heping Road).
• Visiting the well-preserved old wooden Japanese houses at Hinoki Village and perhaps grabbing a drink at Hit Cat Café there.

Days 11-13: Tainan

Colorful Shennong Street in Tainan, Taiwan, a beautifully preserved historical street with traditional buildings and lanterns.

From Chiayi, I continued my journey south to the southernmost point of my Taiwan itinerary: Tainan. Tainan holds the distinction of being the oldest city in the country and served as Taiwan’s capital for a period. It’s one of the few places where you can still find tangible traces of the era when Taiwan was a Dutch colony (1624-1662). Oh, and did I forget to mention that Tainan is also widely regarded as Taiwan’s food capital?

I took the regular TRA train from Chiayi to Tainan, a journey that remarkably only takes about 34 minutes.

While you could certainly see the main sights in Tainan in fewer than three days, I appreciated having the extra time to explore at a relaxed pace. Many of the key attractions, charming cafes, and excellent restaurants are conveniently located within walking distance of my hotel. Only the Anping district, home to historic sites like Fort Zeelandia and Anping Tree House, is a bit further out, but it’s easily accessible via bus or Uber.

If you have sufficient time and are looking to add another city to your Taiwan itinerary, Kaohsiung is a viable option just south of Tainan. The train ride from Tainan to Kaohsiung takes less than an hour.

Where to stay in Tainan: U.I.J. Hotel & Hostel

Lobby area of the U.I.J. Hotel & Hostel in Tainan, Taiwan, featuring stylish and comfortable seating, a perfect stay location.

In Tainan, I had the pleasure of staying at what I considered the nicest accommodation on my entire Taiwan itinerary: U.I.J. Hotel & Hostel. This property offers a unique blend, with some floors dedicated to hotel rooms (where I stayed) and others configured as a hostel. It’s a perfect combination, providing private, luxurious rooms while also granting access to shared communal spaces. I had a beautiful, comfortable room all to myself but could also utilize the inviting ‘living room’ area, which offers complimentary tea and coffee, and enjoy the spacious outdoor terrace.

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Don’t miss in Tainan:

• Arriving early to secure one of the limited 10 seats at Zyuu Tsubo for a truly delicious, fresh meal blending Japanese and Taiwanese influences.
• Learning about Taiwan’s history, including the Dutch colonial period, at Fort Zeelandia.
• Visiting the fascinating Anping Tree House to see how nature has reclaimed a former warehouse.
• Exploring the charming Shennong Street, recognized as one of the best-preserved historical streets in Tainan, filled with traditional architecture.
• Discovering the many beautiful and historically significant temples throughout the city, such as the Confucius Temple.

Days 14-16: Taipei (Return)

Large sign spelling out "Taipei" located at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taiwan, a creative urban space.

Because numerous people had shared their positive experiences and how much they enjoyed their time in Taipei, I made a conscious effort to allocate additional days to the city at the conclusion of my Taiwan itinerary. As I mentioned earlier, Taipei offers such a wealth of things to see and do that having a few extra days meant I didn’t feel at all rushed to cram everything in.

For the journey back from Tainan, I utilized the high-speed train this time, which transported me to Taipei in a swift 1 hour and 46 minutes. This required taking an Uber to reach the HSR station in Tainan, but the convenience of arriving at Taipei Main Station in Taipei, with direct metro access to my hotel, made it worthwhile.

I briefly considered taking a day trip outside the city to visit popular spots like Jiufen or indulging in relaxation at one of the hot springs situated north of the city. However, I still had plenty on my list to explore within Taipei itself, so I decided to save these excursions for a potential future visit.

Where to stay in Taipei: Hotel Proverbs

Stylish dining area at the Hotel Proverbs in Taipei, Taiwan, showcasing modern design and comfortable seating.

I concluded my Taiwan itinerary in style by staying at Hotel Proverbs. This design-focused hotel is also located within the convenient Da’an district, actually within comfortable walking distance of the Kimpton Da’an hotel where I stayed earlier. I even found myself using the same metro station again. While you could certainly choose to stay in different neighborhoods to experience more variety, Da’an is exceptionally central, and its excellent metro links allow you to reach virtually everything in the city easily.

My room at Hotel Proverbs was wonderfully luxurious, providing a real sense of indulgence for my final three nights before heading back home. It felt like a perfect treat to end the trip.

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Days 17-18: Traveling Back Home

My scheduled flight back to the Netherlands was set for the evening, allowing me to enjoy the better part of the day in Taipei before heading to the airport. Unfortunately, my planned KLM flight was canceled due to adverse weather conditions in the Netherlands. Luckily, there was a Cathay Pacific flight departing around the same time, with a layover in Hong Kong. By taking this alternative route, I managed to arrive back in Amsterdam approximately at the same time the following day as my original itinerary had intended.

Would I Change Anything About This Taiwan Itinerary?

If you have a timeframe of two to three weeks, I genuinely believe this Taiwan itinerary provides an excellent framework for experiencing a majority of Taiwan’s key highlights. The distances between the various locations are relatively short, minimizing travel times between destinations, and everything is easily accessible if you choose to utilize public transport, as I did.

I found the natural parks in Taiwan to be incredibly beautiful and would certainly prioritize seeing more of them on a future visit. However, the major cities, while each having unique points of interest, did start to feel somewhat similar after a while. They are undoubtedly worth visiting, and you won’t run out of things to do. But if you decide against visiting Sun Moon Lake (as I did), then you could potentially consider skipping Taichung, for instance. I felt this city contributed the least unique experience to my trip compared to the others. And naturally, if your available time is shorter than two weeks, you could certainly condense the itinerary by spending fewer days in Taipei or other chosen locations.