Taiwan Travel Guide: 6 Places to See During a Day Trip from Taipei

A day trip from Taipei can mean traipsing through a former gold mining town in Jiufen or photographing sun-kissed rocks at Yehliu Geopark. If a short getaway doesn’t satisfy all your cultural curiosities, book a longer bus ride to Sun Moon Lake or Taroko National Park.

AGODA EXTRA: Indigenous people make up about 1.8 percent of Taiwan’s population. The country contains 14 recognized aboriginal tribes that are believed to have occupied the island 8,000 years before the Han Chinese immigrated to the area in the 17th century.

1. Get lost in a mining village nestled on the side of a mountain in JIUFEN

Once home to only nine families, Jiufen now welcomes new faces each and every day. This former gold mining village built on a the side of a hill is a sight to behold from a distance, but the true charm lies along its cobblestone streets and winding mountain trails. Inside town, you’ll find tea houses and souvenir shops along Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street) and Shuqi Road. Culture junkies want to stay on the west side of town for attractions like Shengping Theater, Jiufen Goldore Museum and Old Jiufen Museum. Adventures head east toward Mount Keelung Trail and Shanjian Road Trail. The sights are really too many to name, but you’ll want to see Golden Waterfall, for sure, and if you think a day trip just won’t suffice, you should book a boutique or guest house in Jiufen in advance.

From Taipei to Jiufen

From Taipei Main Station, take the train to Ruifang Train Station, where you can catch a bus. The bus ride to Jiufen takes about 15 minutes.

From Zhongxiaofuxing Station, catch the Keelung bus (1062) to Jinguashi. Ask the driver to let you out in Jiufen. The ride takes about one hour.

Check In to Chiu Chunt Dint Inn, Step Out to Jiufen Old Street

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2. See the coolest rocks you’ve ever seen at YEHLIU GEOPARK

Poking out from the northern tip of Taiwan, the Yehliu Geopark is an educational marvel featuring uniquely-shaped rocks and natural formations. Light up your Instagram feed with photos of the Queen’s Head Rock, the most famous landmark on the cape, as well as the Fairy’s Shoe, Candle Rocks and the Sea Trench. Dozens of other wonders can be spied on the coast. I mean, you’re basically just dangling into the South China Sea! Also popular in the area is Yehliu Ocean World, where the whole family can get up close and personal with marine life while taking in dolphin and sea lion shows.

From Taipei to Yehliu Geopark

From Taipei West Bus Station at Taipei Main Station, purchase a ticket to Yehliu Geopark at the KuoKuang window. The ride takes about one hour and 30 minutes.

Check In to White House Beach Resort, Step Out to Queen’s Head Rock

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3. View tribal grounds from the seat of a gondola while riding over SUN MOON LAKE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA

The geographic center of Taiwan and the largest lake in the country really deserve a two-day stay, but if you can only swing one day at Sun Moon Lake, you’ll want to check off the most popular sights first. While there is no public swimming in the lake, scenic jaunts across the lake are possible – and highly encouraged – from Sun Moon Lake Shuishe Wharf. Take a cruise past Lalu Island on the way to Ita Thao Visitor Center, where you can learn about members of the Thao Tribe, who still occupy the region today. Near the visitor center, board a gondola at the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, and admire the bird’s-eye view of the region all the way to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, where the whole family can enjoy an entire day immersed in the culture of the Thao Tribe.

From Taipei to Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

From Taipei West Bus Station at Taipei Main Station, buy a ticket to Sun Moon Lake from the Kuo-Kuang window. The bus ride is about three hours long.

Check In to Crystal Resort, Step Out to Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village

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4. Relax in hot springs after trekking through YANGMINGSHAN NATIONAL PARK

With ever-changing scenery and hot springs bubbling year ‘round, Yangmingshan National Park is a sightseeing extravaganza. Follow hiking trails to the Grass Mountain Chateau and Yangming Park, where you can spot cultural landmarks like the Yangmingshan Flower Clock, the Statue of Wang Yangming and Yangmingshan Fountain. Zhuzihu is known for its spectacular display of calla lilies in the springtime, and the observation deck at Zhuzi Lake is open every day of the year. View plumes of volcano gases in Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area, and follow Qingtiangang Circular TrailQingtiangang Grassland. The hot springs are located at the base of the mountain, near Beitou Park. Take a dip in Beitou Public Hotspring, or shop around in Thermal Valley and the Sulfur Valley Recreation Area.

From Taipei to Yangmingshan National Park

Buses run all day, every day from Jiantan Station. The ride is about 20 minutes.

Check In to Golden Hot Spring Hotel, Step Out to Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area

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5. Peer over hairpin curves in a gorgeous gorge at TAROKO NATIONAL PARK

The three-hour trip from Taipei to Taroko National Park is a surefire way to pack in some sightseeing. Taroko Gorge is the park’s star attraction. Adventurers can raft through the marble canyon walls, down the Liwu River and through the Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jiuqudong Tunnel), but for a less-wet view, take a tour bus down the scenic highway trail. If a window seat just won’t do, strap on your hiking boots and aim for Baiyang Trail. Along the way, you’ll see Tianxiang Recreation Area, Xiangde Temple and Tianxiang Plum Garden. Likewise, Changchun Shrine Trail leads you to Eternal Spring Shrine (Changchun Shrine), and Huanliuqiu Trail takes you to the top of Buluowan Terrace.

From Taipei to Taroko National Park

From Taipei Main Station: several trains make the three-hour trip to Taroko National Park, but tickets should be booked in advance, as seats are in high demand.

Check In to Taroko Village Hotel, Step Out to Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jiuqudong Tunnel)

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6. Take a ferry ride at sunset, and fall in love with Taipei’s coastal culture in TAMSUI

One of Taiwan’s most romantic port districts, Tamsui is technically part of Taipei, but it is located just far enough north that locals consider it a perfect weekend getaway. The district’s most scenic area lies on the banks of the Tamsui River. Cross Lover’s Bridge at sunset before taking the ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to Tamsui Old Street, the district’s cultural center for hawker food, street performances and attractions like the Statue De Mackay, Tamsui Qingshui Temple and Love Lane Tamsui. Cyclists can pedal down the coast via Tamsui Golden Shore Bike Path. The 10-kilometer road begins at Guandu Bridge in Taipei and goes through Tamsui Cultural Park and Tamsui Golden Anchor. Keep going from there to find Fort San Domingo, the Drop of Water Memorial Halland Hobe Fort.

From Taipei to Tamsui

From Taipei Main Station, take the Red Line to Tamsui Station, near Tamsui Old Street. The ride takes about 45 minutes.

Check In to YA-GO RIVER LODGE, Step Out to Lover’s Bridge and Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf

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