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- The Ultimate Travel Guide to Taipei 臺北旅遊指南
Are you wondering what to do, see, and eat during your trip to Taipei? We have all the answers here in this ultimate travel guide. From the abundant food options, night markets, historical sights, mountains, and natural beauty of the area, there are endless activities and sights to enjoy for any amount of time. About the author: I am a long-time Taipei resident. So far, I have lived for over 9 years in Taipei City. Originally, I am from the USA, but I now call Taiwan my home. Specifically, I currently live in Nangang District, but I have also lived in Da’an District and Sanchong. Exploring Taipei is my passion.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: March-May, and October – November when the temperatures are nice and there is not as much rain
- How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Yuanshan Grand Hotel or Fu Chang Hotel
- Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Brief Historical Background of Taipei:
The land on which Taipei now stands was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers ever came.
Chinese settlers from Fujian began living here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕), which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei. Most of the buildings were one-story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later, western-style houses were built. The walls and gates of Taipei were completed in 1884.
In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed.
During the Japanese era, in 1904, the walls of Taipei were destroyed after less than 30 years, and Taipei was re-planned into the capital of Taiwan.
After the ROC took control of Taiwan, Taipei continued as the capital city, as well as the financial hub of Taiwan. During the Taiwan miracle, many rural families moved from southern Taiwan to factories and offices in Taipei, making Taipei the most populous urban area in Taiwan.
Currently, Taipei is the most advanced and affluent city in Taiwan. It also has Taiwan’s most advanced public transportation system, making it easy for millions of commuters to live outside the city, where rents are cheaper. Now, most of Taiwan’s economic activity is based in this city.Basic Taipei Travel Tips:
- There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
- Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions, such as for street food, still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here.
- Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiF,i such as from Klook here so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
- The electrical voltage is 110V.
- Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here.
- For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here.
When should you go to Taipei?
In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October-November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Cherry blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here.
Summers are also nice, with the sunniest weather, but also hot and rainy.
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet.
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year.Hotels in Taipei:
High end:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), which are all very high-quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel, which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Budget Hotels:
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home, which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.Attractions in Taipei:
There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here.
Activities in Taipei:
Don’t forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen’ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
How to get there:
The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei’s Songshan and Toayuan Airport.
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei.
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here.
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei’s city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line.
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.How to get around in Taipei:
Taipei’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here.
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here.
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.Tourist Site Map:
Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated:
Now enjoy our full guide to Taipei!Taipei 101 Tower Travel Guide (臺北101)
The Taipei 101 (aka Taipei World Financial Center) is the tallest building in Taiwan, standing at a height of 509 meters. It was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010 and is now the 11th tallest building in the world as of 2023. It stands as an icon and symbol of Taiwan’s economic prosperity and may be the most recognizable building in Taiwan. It also features observatories on the 89th, 91st, and 101st floors with some of the best views of Taipei.
Check out our full guide to the Taipei 101 Tower here.Top Tourist Sites In Taipei 臺北景點指南
Taipei is Taiwan’s most popular city for international tourists, and there are many attractions to choose from. However, if you have no idea what there is to see and do in Taipei, check out this list of the top attractions in Taipei.
Best Views of Taipei (Best Places to see New Year’s Fireworks) 欣賞101煙火的最佳地點
Wondering where you can find the best glimpse of the Taipei 101 fireworks? In this blog, we will share a list of the best views of Taipei 101 and therefore the best places to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. These places are also great locations to take stock photos to get less cliché photos of Taipei. Check out our full guide to the best views of Taipei here.
Taipei Museum Guide 臺北博物館指南
Taipei is full of some of the best museums in Taiwan. Besides the National Palace Museum, there are dozens of museums in Taipei that can provide you deeper insights into Taiwan’s unique history and culture.
Check out our full Taipei Museum Guide here.Family and Kids Guide to Taipei 家庭及小孩台北旅遊指南
Taipei is full of fun places and activities for kids. In the past few years, more and more fun parks, restaurants, museums, and theme parks have opened. In this blog, we will show you some of the funnest activities and places around Taipei that are fun for kids.
Check out our full Taiwan Family and Kids Guide here.Taipei Night Market Guide 臺北夜市指南
Taipei is full of vibrant night markets that will make your mouth water. With this guide, you can eat your way through Taipei’s best night markets. Sometimes one night market is not enough, so why not visit them all?
Check out our Taipei Night Market Guide here for some of the best Night Markets that we know of around Taipei.Taipei Old Street Guide 台北老街指南
Taipei has some amazing old streets waiting to be discovered by you. Each one of the old streets around Taipei has a special story to tell that can help you understand more about Taiwan’s History and Culture. In this guide, we will introduce the most popular old streets in Taipei, as well as some that are less well-known.
Check out our full Taiwan Old Street guide here.Taipei Hiking and Trails Guide 台灣爬山指南
Taipei is full of very accessible hikes right next to the city center. You can find amazing views of Taipei City, as well as make some adrenaline-pumping hikes up some very steep peaks in New Taipei and Keelung. We highly recommend checking out what hikes Taipei has to offer. In this guide, we will list some of the most amazing hikes around Taipei.
Check out our full Taipei Hiking guide here.Taipei Beach Guide 台北前10名的沙灘
Taipei is not usually known for its beaches, but there are some great beaches just outside the city on Taiwan’s Northern Coast, all within an hour’s journey from the city center. Popular activities on these beaches include swimming, surfing, windsurfing, SUPing, paragliding, snorkeling, and more.
Check out our guide to the very best beaches in Taipei here.Taipei Waterfall Guide 台北瀑布指南
Taipei is home to some of Taiwan’s most magnificent waterfalls, and most of them are just a short trip away. In this guide we have compiled a list of the most easily accessible waterfalls around Taipei.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more waterfalls in Taipei than are listed in this blog. Get out there and discover Taipei’s waterfalls for yourself!Waterfall Map:
Check out a map of Taipei’s Waterfalls below.
Taipei Festival Guide 臺北節指南
Taipei is full of festivals throughout the year. Here are a few festivals of note:
- New Year’s Day (中華民國開國紀念日 / 元旦 – Jan. 1)
- Lunar New Year or Spring Festival (農曆新年/過年 29th/30th day of the 12th month, and first 3 working days of the 1st month, usually in January or February)
- 228 Peace Memorial Day 228和平紀念日: February 28th
- Lantern Festival (元宵節 on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, can be in February)
- Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival 平溪燈節 (on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, can be in January or February)
- Tourism Day (觀光節 15th day of 1st lunar month usually in January or February)
- Hot Spring Season 溫泉季節 (all winter)
- Hot Pot Season 火鍋季 (November to March)
- Snow Season 下雪季 (December to February)
- Tourism Day (觀光節 15th day of 1st lunar month usually in January or February)
- Zhuzihu (Yangmingshan) Flower Season: Late February to early June
- Cherry Blossom Season 櫻花季: (February to March)
- Arbor Day / Sun Yat-sen Memorial Day 植樹節/國父逝世紀念日 ( March 12th)
- White Day 白色情人節 (March 14th)
- Youth Day / Martyrs’ Memorial Day 青年節/革命先烈紀念日 (March 29th)
- God of Medicine’s Birthday (保生大帝誕辰 15th day of 3rd lunar month, March or April)
- Earth God‘s Birthday (土地公誕辰, 2nd day of 2nd lunar month, February or March)
- Guan Yin‘s Birthday (觀音誕辰 19th day of 2nd lunar month, March or April)
- Matsu‘s Birthday (媽祖誕辰 23rd day of 3rd lunar month, March or April)
- Easter 復活節 (March to April)
- Children’s Day 兒童節 (April 4th)
- Tomb Sweeping Day 清明節 (April 5th)
- Taiwan Beach Season 台灣沙灘季 (April to October)
- Labor Day 勞動節 (May 1st)
- Literary Day 文藝節 (May 4)
- Mother’s Day 母親節 (Second Sunday of May)
- Dragon Boat Festival 端午節 5th day of the 5th month of the Lunar Calendar (usually in May or June)
- Mango Season 台灣芒果季 (May to September)
- Opium Suppression Movement Day / Anti-Smoking Day 禁菸節 (June 3rd)
- Tiananmen Square Massacre Memorials 六四事件紀念活動 (June 4th)
- Guan Yu‘s Birthday (關公誕辰 13th day of 5th lunar month, May or June)
- City God’s Birthday (城隍爺誕辰 13th day of 5th lunar month, May or June)
- Fulong Sand Art Festival 福隆國際沙雕藝術季 (May-October)
- Yilan International Children’s Folklore & Folkgames Festival (July and August)
- Ghost Festival 中元節 (July to August)
- Qixi Festival (七夕 7th day of 7th lunar month, in July ot August)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (原住民族日 August 1)
- Father’s Day (父親節 August 8th)
- Journalist’ Day 記者節 (September 1st)
- Armed Forces Day 軍人節 ( September 3)
- Teachers’ Day / Confucious’ Birthday 孔子誕辰紀念日 (September 28)
- ROC National Day / Double Ten Day 國慶日 / 雙十節 (October 10th)
- Overseas Chinese Day (華僑節 October 21st)
- Taiwan Retrocession Day 臺灣光復節 (October 25th)
- Halloween 萬聖節 (October 31st)
- Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節 (September or October)
- Double Ninth Festival (重陽節 9th day of 9th lunar month, September or October)
- Chinese Cultural Renaissance Day / Sun Yat-sen’s Birthday 國父誕辰紀念日 / 中華文化復興運動 (November 12)
- Winter Solstice / Dongzhi Festival 冬至 (December 21st, 22nd, or 23rd)
- Constitution Day (行憲紀念日 December 25)
- Christmas 聖誕節 (December 25)
- Taipei Marathon 台北馬拉松 (December)
You can check out our full Taiwan Festival Guide here.
Taipei Day Trip Guide 台北一日遊景點
On your next trip to Taipei, you should not just limit your time to inside Taipei City limits. Expand your horizons and find some awesome day trips that will help you discover another part of Taiwan and appreciate this island in a new way.
Check out our guide to the best day trips that we know of around Taipei here.Guide to the North Coast 台灣北海岸懶人包
Taiwan’s northern coast is an amazing, beautiful area with unique geology and rocks, lots of sandy beaches, amazing mountain views and hikes, old streets, night markets, historical sites, and much more to discover. Don’t not come here.
Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.Guide to Beitou 北投溫泉英文指南
Beitou is Taiwan’s Premiere Hot Spring area. Originally built by the Japanese on natural hot spring water flowing down from Yangmingshan, this area is now springing with hot spring baths, hotels, museums, hikes, restaurants, and more. It is one of the best day trips near Taipei. In this guide, we will tell you how to enjoy this area like a local, and at the same time soak like Japanese royalty.
Check out our full Beitou Hot Springs guide here.Guide to Tamsui 淡水最佳的景點
Tamsui District of New Taipei is famous for its delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well-known areas in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood. Historical places near here include Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, Tamsui Old Street, Bali Old Street, and the Shihsanhang archaeological site. There is plenty here to see and do for almost every kind of traveler.
Check out our full guide to Tamsui here.Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包
Pingxi District of New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations along the Pingxi Railway Line (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan’s history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place.
Check out our full guide to Pingxi and Shifen here.Guide to Yangmingshan
Yangmingshan National Park is a mountainous area in Taipei and New Taipei, known for its volcanic activity, hiking trails, wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and sulfur vents. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
Check out our full guide to Yangmingshan National Park here.Guide to Wulai 烏來指南
Wulai has the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan, and here you can find a street with snacks and restaurants and a gondola that leads to a second tier of the waterfall and an amusement park. In addition, there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
Check out our full guide to Wulai here.Off the Beaten Path Locations
Guide to Nangang District of Taipei 南港區旅遊指南
Nangang District of Taipei City is quieter and less busy than nearby Xinyi District, but here you can find a relaxed atmosphere with beautiful mountains, historic buildings, museums, fun parks, great food, and a lack of crowds. Currently, Nangang is being turned into Taipei’s “next Xinyi District” and is the new artistic and cultural heart of Taipei. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei.
Check out our full guide to Nangang here.Guide to Shiding 石碇懶人包
Shiding District is a secret mountain paradise in New Taipei City, in northern Taiwan (新北市石碇區). Lots of people simply pass through here without knowing much about what there is to see. In this guide, I will show you some of the secret historical and natural destinations in this amazing place.
Neighboring Counties and Cities Worth Checking Out:
Check here for a list of neighboring counties and cities near Taipei that make for an easy day trip from Taipei:
Keelung 基隆
Keelung is a small city in the northern part of Taiwan, known for its deep harbor. Here you can find interesting historical sites dating back to the Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Now the town is a bustling urban area with tons of food options, amazing coastline, waterfalls, mountains, and much more to explore. It should definitely be on your bucket list of places to visit in Taiwan.
Check out our full guide to Keelung here. Yilan County 宜蘭
Yilan is a gem on Taiwan’s northeast coast. It has rugged mountains, waterfalls, a flat coastal plain, a volcanic island, hot springs, and some of the best beaches in Taiwan. In addition you can find night markets, seafood markets, museums, and much more to explore here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan.
Check out our full guide to Yilan here.Miaoli 苗栗
Miaoli is a large rural county in central Taiwan. For years I myself never visited, because I didn’t know what was there and had no reason to go. It turns out there are quite a few attractions here in this secret paradise.
Check out our full guide to Miaoli here.Hsinchu 新竹
Hsinchu is not only Taiwan’s technological hub, but is also rich with historical sights, Hakka culture, and natural beauty. It has numerous old streets, preserved Japanese-era and Qing-era buildings, zoos, mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, and much more to explore. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan.
Check out our full guide to Hsinchu here.Taoyuan 桃園
Taoyuan is a largely rural and industrial county in northern Taiwan, known for having Taiwan’s largest airport. But Taoyuan also has hidden treasures such as one of the best historical old streets in Taiwan, amazing seafood markets, and mountain areas to explore.
Check out our full guide to Taoyuan here.Outer Islands Near Taipei 臺北附近的外島
There are a few islands near Taipei that can be easily reached via only a one-hour plane ride from Taipei Songshan Airport. For more information, see the list below or check out our full guide to Taiwan’s outer islands here.
Matsu Islands 馬祖列島
The Matsu Archipelago is a group of small islands off the coast of China that belong to Taiwan. Acting for a long time as military outposts for Taiwan, the islands have recently opened to tourists. Here you can find traditional stone house villages, magical “blue tear” bioluminescent phenomena, wild sika deer, military museums, a Mazu memorial park including the largest Mazu statue in the world, a variety of local food, and much more to explore…(read more)
Kinmen 金門
Kinmen (aka Jinmen or Quemoy) is a group of islands off the coast of Xiamen, China, belonging to Taiwan. For years, it was the front lines and closest territory to China during the Chinese Civil War, which has not officially ended. Now that the war with China has come to a close due to the establishment of the “status quo,” Kinmen has been open to tourism, especially from China. Kinmen has the highest concentration of museums and historical buildings in almost anywhere in Taiwan, as well as local cuisine, beaches, and scenery, making it an ideal vacation destination for Taiwanese, Chinese, and other foreign tourists…
(read more).Penghu Islands 澎湖群島
If Taiwan is the best-kept secret in Asia, then Penghu is the best-kept secret of the best-kept secret in Asia. It has just everything you could possibly want from a tropical island vacation getaway. Less than an hour plane ride from Taipei with multiple flights daily, it’s also easy to get to. We are sure that a trip to Penghu is one that you will not regret, and there will be more things to do than you could ever have time for…(read more)
You can discover endless tours and activities in Taiwan through Klook here or KKday here.
For more information about Taiwan, check out our full guide to Taiwan here.Complete List of Our Guides to Taipei:
- Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.
- Check out our parents and children guide to Taipei here.
- Check out our Taipei Night Market guide here.
- Check out our Taipei Museum Guide here.
- Check out our guide to Taipei’s Waterfalls here.
- Check out our Taipei hiking and trails guide here.
- Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here.
- Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here.
- Check out our guide to Taipei’s Old Streets here.
- Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here.
- Check out our guide to Beitou Hot Springs here.
- Check out our guide to Yangmingshan National Park here.
- Check out our guide to Tamsui here.
- Check out our one-day guide to Taipei here.
- Check out our guide to Pingxi here.
- Check out our guide to Wulai here.
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival is the premier sand art display in Taiwan. It is easily accessible by public transportation (TRA Gongliao Station), and at the beach, you can find beautiful golden sand, a large shallow swimming area, and tons of food options within walking distance. It is definitely worth a trip this summer.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: April to November when the temperatures are nice and the water is warm
- How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Fullon Hotel or Hai Xia Your Home
- Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Background:
Since 2008, the first “Fulong Sand Sculpture Art Festival” has been held here, attracting large crowds each year. Fulong is a three-kilometer-long stretch of golden sandy beach. The sand, made of quartz, is soft, fine, and smooth to the touch. It has great cohesion when wet, making it ideal for sand sculpting, and it has been certified by the World Sand Sculpting Association. This area is recognized as the best location in Taiwan for sand sculptures. The festival is held at Fulong Beach, where visitors can also enjoy water activities such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and sailing. The festival is usually sponsored by Fullon Hotel.
You may be wondering how the sand sculptures are made so perfectly and don’t fall apart even in the rain. The reason for this is that the sculptors use a rubber-based glue to fix the sand sculptures in place. Every year, interest groups file complaints against the event because they fear that the glue will not be able to decompose into the environment and pose a threat to the ecosystem. However, the event founders claim that the glue is SGS certified, and is eco-friendly glue, and as such the use of glue to fix the sand castles in place is allowed to continue.
Fulong Beach lies next to Fulong Village in Gongliao District of New Taipei, at the mouth of the Shuang River. It is special in Taiwan for its rare golden color.
The beach has been a popular swimming destination since the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In 1959, the TRA created public showers and a bridge that goes to the other side of the sandbar that you see today.
The Fullon Hotel Resort sits in front of the paid beach and is a popular destination for Taipei residents.
Taiwan’s fourth nuclear reactor lies in the background of the beach, but it has never been operational and likely never will be due to the anti-nuclear power movement in Taiwan.
Near the beach, one can go camping at Longmen campground or biking on the Caoling Bicycle Loop.
Price:
220 NT per person (ages 13-64)
Discount Ticket: 145 TWD/person (children ages 3-12)
Senior Ticket: 110 TWD/person (ages 65 and above)
You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
Hours:
2024 Event Dates:
May 31 (Fri) – October 13 (Sun)
Visiting Hours:
Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 19:00 (Last entry at 18:00)
Saturday to Sunday: 08:00 – 19:30 (Last entry at 18:30)
Times are subject to change according to weather conditions.
You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
Event Rules:
- The venue may be temporarily closed in case of sudden weather changes or emergencies.
- Swimming is strictly prohibited outside of designated hours and areas, and visitors are responsible for any consequences.
- Alcohol consumption and carrying prohibited items or weapons are not allowed.
- No fires or camping within the park.
- Do not litter glass bottles, metal cans, or waste.
- Only authorized vehicles are allowed on the beach.
- Climbing lifeguard towers or interfering with lifeguards is prohibited.
- Do not tamper with lifesaving equipment.
- In case of emergencies or other incidents, please follow the instructions of lifeguards and on-site staff. Ignoring their advice and causing accidents will be the individual’s responsibility.
When to go:
May to October when the weather is nice and the water is warm.
Winter on the northeast coast is cold and windy.
2024 Fulong sand sculpture season dates: May 31st to October 13th, 2024.
You can also book tickets to the International Sand Sculpture Art Festival for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
Other Tours and Activities:
There are many activities available at Fulong such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
Where to Stay:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here).
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of hotels and accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
How to get there:
By Train
Take the TRA train to Fulong Station. Walk straight from the station down to the beach! Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
By Car/Scooter:
Take Provincial Highway 2 from Qidu in Keelung through the mountains past Shifen and Shuangxi until you reach Gongliao on the coast. The beach is right in front of the train station, and there is free parking in front of Dongxing Temple.
Looking for scooter rental in Keelung? Search KKday here for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Bicycle:
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike bike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.
Map:
Please see below:
Drone Footage:
360 Degree Panorama:
360 degree aerial view from Fulong Beach in Gongliao District of New Taipei. This is one of the best beaches on Taiwan’s…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Friday, January 19, 2024
You can also check out our 3D panorama of the sand sculpture area above.
360 degree aerial view from Fulong Beach in Gongliao District of New Taipei. This is one of the best beaches on Taiwan’s…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Another 360-degree view further down at Dongxing Temple.
Our Journey:
We have been to Fulong Beach about a hundred times. It is my favorite beach in northern Taiwan. The paid part of the beach features sand sculptures and lifeguards, while the free part of the beach is less clean but there are no annoying lifeguards to whistle at you all the time, making it a foreigner’s paradise. Most of the time I will hang out at the public beach next to Dongxing Temple which is free. For our full blog on that part of the beach, click here.
The sand sculptures are special too. They are very well done and mind-blowingly realistic. They are one of the best festival events in northern Taiwan and you should not miss out on them.
In order to see the sand sculptures, you have to cross the arched bridge over the shuang river to the sand bar, and in order to cross the bridge, you need to buy a ticket.
The last time we visited, the sand sculpture theme was “LINE FRIENDS Summer Star Party.” The exhibition featured over 40 LINE friend characters. The biggest sculpture was this pyramid-shaped “LINE Friends” house.
There are two rows of walkways in between four rows of sand sculptures so that you can enjoy all the individual sculptures up close.
Closer view of some of the LINE Friends sand sculptures.
Another view from some of the sculptures at the entrance.
Along the side of the beach, there is a roped-off swimming area protected by lifeguards. No swimming is allowed beyond the roped area. In the background, there is a free beach area with no lifeguards and no restrictions next to Dongxing Temple.
Closer view of the large arched bridge you have to cross to get to the sand bar.
On the other side of the bridge are lots of public showers that you can use, and bathrooms.
This was an Atlantis-themed sand castle from a previous year.
A sand sculpture with the name of the event.
A Windsurfer taking a ride in front of the sand bar.
View over the Fullon Hotel in Fulong, the biggest and best resort around.
Another view of the sand castles as they were still being built via backhoe in March.
This is the view from the beach near Dongxing Temple. You will notice that there are many more foreigners on this side of the beach. People who can swim, are not afraid of water, and don’t need a lifeguard are naturally attracted to this part of the beach. The best part is this part of the beach is free. However, I feel that many Taiwanese people (many who can’t swim) will enjoy taking selfies with the sand sculptures and just getting their feet wet on the other side of the beach, and paying the fee to go to the other side of the beach is no big deal for them.
View of the sand sculpture fest from the free part of the beach.
Photo Gallery:
You can see more photos of the area in the gallery below.
Caoling – Fulong Bicycle Loop 草嶺-福隆環狀線
The Fulong-Coaling-Sandiao Cape- bike route is one of the most biker-friendly routes in Taiwan, the roughly 2 hour loop is something that the whole family can enjoy. It includes a 2KM ride through the Old Coaling Railroad Tunnel, as well as a ride along the Sandiao Cape coast on an enclosed bike path, where one can enjoy great views of the ocean, Turtle Island, wavy geological features on the coastline, and historical stone villages along the way. This bike route is highly recommended for people of all ages…(read more). You can book a tour to the Caoling Tunnel on KKday here.
Check out our full blog on the Fulong-Coaling-Sandiao Cape- bike route here.
For our full blog on Fulong Beach click here.
There are many activities available here at Fulong such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the international Sand Sculpture Art festival on Klook here or KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.
Check out our parents and children guide to Taipei here.
Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here.
Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here.
Check out our one day guide to Taipei here.
Check out our guide to Pingxi here.
Check out our full guide to Taipei here.
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
Taipei is full of amazing and beautiful hikes, many of which are easily accessible from the city center via public transportation. The mountains and hills around the Taipei Basin provide amazing views, interesting geological features, and a great way to connect with nature. In this blog, we will list the best hikes we know of in Taipei.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: March-May, and October – November when the temperatures are nice and there is not as much rain
- How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Yuanshan Grand Hotel or Fu Chang Hotel
- Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Safety Tips When Hiking in Taipei:
- Always stay hydrated. An adult in Taiwan needs to drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
- Bring sun protection.
- Bring an umbrella or rain gear.
- Don’t go hiking alone. If you do, make sure someone knows where you are in case of an accident.
- Stay off forbidden trails. Some trails are closed off due to landslides or dangerous conditions.
- Watch out for snakes, hornets, and spiders.
Basic Taipei Travel Tips:
- There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
- Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions, such as for street food, still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here.
- Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi, such as from Klook here, so you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
- The electrical voltage is 110V.
- Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here.
- For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here.
When should you go to Taipei?
In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October-November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Cherry blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here.
Summers are also nice, with the sunniest weather, but also hot and rainy.
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet.
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year.
Hotels in Taipei:
High end:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), which are all very high-quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel, which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Budget Hotels:
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home, which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
Attractions in Taipei:
There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here.
Activities in Taipei:
Don’t forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen’ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
How to get there:
The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei’s Songshan and Taoyuan Airport.
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei.
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here.
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei’s city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line.
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.
How to get around in Taipei:
Taipei’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei, below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800 NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here.
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as Sun Moon Lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here.
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.
Taipei Hiking Map:
Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated:
Let’s get this list started!
Check out our Guide to Taipei’s Waterfalls 台北瀑布指南
Check out our full guide to Taipei’s Waterfalls here.
Check out our Guide to the Best Views of Taipei 台北最佳觀景的地方
Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here.
Elephant Mountain Trail 象山步道
Check out our full guide to Elephant Mountain here.
Every time I see a stock photo of Taipei shot from Elephant Mountain, a little part of me dies inside because Taipei has so many other beautiful viewpoints and vistas. If you are looking for stock photos of Taipei, consider going to one of the following locations to take a less cliché photo…(read more)
Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here.
Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國家公園
Price:
Free entrance into the park
(car parking 30-50 NT， scooter parking 20 NT)
You can book tours to Yangmingshan on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here or here.
You can check out tours to Yangmingshan such as a One-day Yangmingshan NP Beitou Hot Spring Park and Tamsui Tour Package, Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei, One Day Hike around Yangmingshan, or Private Yangmingshan Volcano Tour and more on TripAdvisor here.
Check out our full guide to Yangmingshan here.
Pingxi Crags 平溪六尖
For our full blog on the Pingxi Crags hike, click here.
Nangang Tea Mountain 南港茶園區
You can take 14% off the buffet at Courtyard Marriot Nangang on KKday here.
You can also get a discount ticket to Crazy Car Cafe in Nangang, the only restaraunt in Taiwan that offers Go-Karting, on KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Nangang Tea Mountain here.
Baishihu 白石湖
You can book a ticket to the Neihu Strawberry Garden on KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Baishihu and the surrounding area here.
Bishan Temple 碧山巖
Danlan Old Trail 淡蘭古道
Kuolai Old Trail 闊瀨古道
Here you can river trace, SUP / Paddleboard, and more on KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Kuolai Old Trail here.
Jinmianshan 金面山
Guanyinshan 觀音山
Check out our full blog on Guanyinshan here.
Yuanshan (Sanxia) 鳶山
Yuanshan in Sanxia District is a popular hike in greater Taipei. It features a short, easy hikethat has some amazing views of southern Taipei. It can also get very crowded on weekends despite the lack of public transportation. If you are looking for amazing views that are easy to get to, this is the place…(read more)
Wuliao Jian 五寮尖
Fuzhoushan Park 福州山公園
Academia Sinica Trails 中央研究院的步道
Wuzhishan 五指山
Wuzhishan is a beautiful mountain in Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is a popular place to stop for hikers, bikers, and Instagrammers due to its amazing views of East Taipei. Also, there are many coffee shops here with amazing views. Besides taking photos, Wuzhishan is a great place to relax and enjoy nature…(read more)
Xinshan Dream Lake 新山夢湖
Qixing Mountain 七星山
Datunshan 大屯山
Maokong 貓空
Price:
120 NT per person one way from Taipei Zoo Station to Maokong Station.
50 NT per trip for Taipei City residents.
You can book discount tickets to Maokong Gondola on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book a Taipei Zoo and Maokong Gondola tour, a Chih Nan Temple & Gondola Experience, or a Maokong Tea & Shenkeng Stinky Tofu Private Day Tour with English-Speaking
on TripAdvisor here.
Check out our full guide to Maokong Gondola here.
Ergeshan 二格山
Huangdidian Trail 皇帝殿登山步道
Bitou Cape 鼻頭角
Lingjiushan (靈鷲山)
The monastery was started by a former ROC soldier who fought against the PRC in Burma during the 1960s. He then retired near Shuangxi and started this monastery. His religion is now international, has raised tons of money, and also owns the museum of world religions in Taipei to promote mutual understanding among religions.
Caoling Old Trail 草嶺古道
Check out our full guide to the Caoling Old Trail here.
Taoyuan Valley 桃園谷
The trail to Taoyuan Valley is about 4.8 KM long and follows the ridge. You can see lots of wild cattle here. There is a great blog about this trail here.
Stegosaurus ridge (劍龍稜)
Teapot Mountain 茶壺山
Mt. Keelung 基隆山
Keelung Islet 基隆嶼
Price:
Boat trip to the island and hike to the lighthouse: about 700 NT
Boat trip to the island, lighthouse, and other places such as elephant trunk rock: about 1200 NT
Again, you can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here; booking on these sites is usually cheaper than buying tickets in person.
Check out our full guide to Keelung Islet here.
Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島
Tours and Prices:
Whale watching on a boat around the island: 800-1000 NT per person.
Once around the island on a boat and a 2-hour tour of the island: 800-1000 NT per person.
Whale watching and island tour: 1200+ NT
Island tour including hiking to the top of the island: 1200+ NT
You can book a personalized tour and ferry boat tickets with Klook or KKday.
Hikes we missed:
- Stegasaurus Ridge 劍龍稜
- Taipei Skyline Trail 台北天際線
- Battleship Rock 軍艦岩
- Scissors Rock 剪刀石夜爬
- Bijiashan 筆架山
- and many others.
For more Taipei hiking blogs, you can check out Taiwan Trails and Tales here.
Check out our guide to Taipei’s Waterfalls here.
Check out our guide to Yangmingshan National Park here.
Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here.
Also, be sure to check out our full guide to Taipei here.
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
Taiwan is recognized as a bicycle kingdom and offers stunning routes for cycling enthusiasts, including coastal roads, mountain trails, and breathtaking gorges. Renting bicycles is convenient via services like Youbike, which operates at MRT stations, as well as road bike rentals at shops. Popular cycling routes include Sun Moon Lake and the Taipei Riverside Bikeway among others. If you are a fan of cycling, you definitely need to check out this amazing island.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taiwan? 🌊
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
- How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
- Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
- Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Best Places to Cycle in Taiwan:
Popular cycling routes in Taiwan include the Sun Moon Lake Bike Trail, the Taipei Riverside Bikeway, Caoling Tunnel Loop, Xinwu Green Tunnel, Hehuanshan, Taroko Gorge, Yangmingshan, the North Coast, and the East Coast Scenic Area.
For longer more grand bike routes, I recommend going around the entire coast of Taiwan, the southern cross-island highway, central cross-island highway, and northern cross-island highway.
Taiwan Cycling Blogs I Recommend:
You can also check out the blogs Station in the Valley and Taiwan in Cycles for more ideas and recommendations.
Renting a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣租腳踏車:
- Ubike/Youbike – This is a bike rental platform that uses fixed parking areas. You can find them in most of Taiwan. They are at most MRT stations, making it easy to get from the MRT or bus stop to your final destination. The fare is 10 NT for 30 minutes.
- Road Bike Rental – You can rent a road bike for about 1000 NT a day at a local bike shop such as Merida or Giant. I highly recommend this shop in Taipei.
How do I use a Youbike in Taiwan?
To use Youbike you will need to buy an Easy card (悠游卡) or iPass card (一卡通). These cards can be purchased at most MRT stations, and are usually $100 NT. Once you have a card, you will need to register it at a Youbike Station using a local cell phone number. If you do not have a cell phone number in Taiwan, you can go to a local cell provider such as Chuanghua Telecom or Taiwan Mobile and show your passport to buy a SIM card.
Alternatively, you can use a credit card to rent a Youbike (can only be used one time per card).
Fares are 10 NT for 30 minutes, or free for the first 30 minutes if your trip originates from New Taipei City.
After you have a card you should:
- Swipe the card next to an open bike.
- Wait for the bike to unlock.
- Ride to your next destination.
- Place your bike in the Youbike stand and swipe your card to see how much money was deducted.
Buying a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣買腳踏車:
Buying a bike is easy. The main brands in Taiwan are Merida and Giant, and you can find their stores all over the island.
Fixing a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣修路腳踏車:
After riding a bike for a long time in Taiwan, you will certainly run into maintenance issues. To avoid problems, always make sure you have good tire pressure, your chain and flywheels are clean and oiled, and your brakes are tightened.
However, when a problem occurs, you will likely need to take it to a bike shop for repair. Besides Giant and Merida, there are other small “grandpa” bike shops everywhere. They usually do not charge much if anything for labor to fix your bike. You can try to point and gesture the problem with your bike, or you can learn some Chinese words:
Common bicycle vocabulary in Taiwan 常見腳踏車零件用語及詞彙:
(English 英文/Pinyin 拼音/Chinese Characters 中文字)
Broken 壞掉 Huài diào
Fix 修理 xiūlǐ
Replace 換 huàn
How much money? 多少錢? duōshǎo qián?
How much money to fix this? 修理這個多少錢? Xiūlǐ zhège duōshǎo qián?
Can you fix this? 這個可以修理嗎? Zhège kěyǐ xiūlǐ ma?
Can you replace this? 你可以換這個嗎? Nǐ kěyǐ huàn zhège ma?
How much money to replace this? 換這個多少錢? Huàn zhège duōshǎo qián?
Bycicle 腳踏車/自行車/單車 Jiǎotàchē/zìxíngchē/dānchē
(Bicycle) part 零件 língjiàn
Road Bike 公路車 Gōnglù chē
Mountain Bike 山車 Shānchē
Freewheel/cassette 飛輪 fēilún
Seat Stay 後上叉 hòu shàng chā
Brake Block 煞車皮 shāchē pí
Brakes 煞車 shāchē
Brake Cable 煞車線 shāchē xiàn
Caliper Brake 煞車夾器 shāchē jiā qì
Brake Cable 煞車線 shāchē xiàn
Seat Post Clamp 座管束 zuò guǎnshù
Saddle 坐墊 zuòdiàn
Seat Post 座管 zuò guǎn
Top Tube 上管 shàng guǎn
Head Parts 車頭碗組 chētóu wǎn zǔ
Stem Cap 上蓋 shànggài
Stem 龍頭 lóngtóu
Handlebar 車手把 chē shǒu bà
Tape 手把帶 shǒu bà dài
Brake/Shift Level 煞車/換檔級別 shāchē/huàn dǎng jíbié
Shocks 避震器 bì zhèn qì
Fork 前叉 qián chā
Wheel 車輪 chēlún
Spoke 輻條 fútiáo
Hub 花鼓 huāgǔ
Tire 輪胎 lúntāi
Tread 紋路 wénlù
Rim 輪框 lún kuāng
Dropout 勾爪 gōu zhǎo
Nipple 銅頭 tóng tóu
Vavle 氣嘴 qì zuǐ
Crank 曲柄 qūbǐng
Gears 齒輪 chǐlún
Chainring/chainwheel 大盤 dàpán
Bottom Bracket 五通/中軸/BB wǔ tōng/zhōngzhóu/BB
Front Derailleur 前變速器 qián biànsùqì
Pedal 踏板 tàbǎn
Chain 鏈條 liàntiáo
Chain Stay 後下叉 hòu xià chā
Rear Derailleur 後變速器 hòu biànsùqì
Derailleur Cable 變速線 biànsù xiàn
Riding a bicycle safely in Taiwan 在台灣騎自行車安全須知:
First I would like to share my experiences with all of you. I have been riding a bicycle in Taipei for over six years now, and I have seen my fair share of accidents. I have collided with people opening their car doors, I have collided with other cyclists, had near misses with busses, and I have collided with bushes, the road, and pedestrians.
A few weeks ago, I collided with a woman as we were both trying to cross the street during the green light for a pedestrian crosswalk. She walked out from behind a bus and I did not have enough time to react. My shoulder caught her arm, and she spun around and fell to the ground, while I continued forward. We both were at fault. I crossed the street from the main road, and she was not walking on the crosswalk. In the end, the police came, made a police report, and she was taken to the hospital for a fractured elbow. I tried to offer money for her medical costs, but she refused. She could have sued me for more money but she didn’t because she is a nice person. But things could have gone much, much worse. From this experience, I have some basic advice for foreigners riding in Taiwan, especially if you plan on riding in Taiwan long term:
Words of advice:
- Wear a helmet. Even though helmets are not required by law, a helmet could save your life in a crash, especially with a car or bus.
- Do not compromise safety for speed or convenience. Better safe than sorry. Safety first.
- Don’t run red lights. You will notice that in Taiwan some people run red lights on bicycles and are never fined or stopped by the police. Even though it may not be enforced, this is a dangerous habit that could get you or someone else killed.
- Don’t ride in the wrong direction. This may seem safe if you see no cars, but eventually your luck will run out and you will get in an accident.
- If you are in a car lane in front of a four-way pedestrian crosswalk when the pedestrian and bicycle lights are green, you still have to wait for the car traffic light. If you cross the white line into the pedestrian area, this is considered running a red light. You can only enter the pedestrian crosswalk legally from the sidewalk. If you cross that line and hit a pedestrian, it is your fault.
- Consider getting insurance for your bike. If you are like me and accidentally hit an old lady in a pedestrian area who falls down and is seriously injured, you could be financially liable. Ubike has cheap insurance for all members. Sign up for Ubike’s insurance and if you have your own bike, get some insurance.
- If you get in a serious accident, leave your bike where you crashed, call the police, and wait for the police to come. This is the rule for Taiwan traffic laws, even though it may impede traffic.
- Slow down when you are on sidewalks. Avoid hitting pedestrians at all costs. Stay at a low speed and stop to avoid collisions.
- Keep your brakes well-maintained. The biggest safety improvement you can make to your bike is having brakes that stop quickly. Tune your brakes regularly, it could save you money and it could save your life. This applies especially on rainy days. All the accidents I have ever been in could have been avoided if I had better brakes and braked sooner.
- Use a loud bell. This will let pedestrians know to get out of the way or stay to the side of a sidewalk or bike path.
- Use bright lights and reflectors on the front and back of your bike. This will prevent you front being hit by a car at night.
- Avoid buses and bus stops. Buses can and will cut you off if you are cycling on the road in Taipei. I am cut off by buses multiple times a day. In a collision between a bus and a bike, the bus wins every time. Be aware and expect them to stop at every bus stop. You can go around the left side of them, but not the right side. If you try to go around the right side of the bus, you will likely run into pedestrians that are trying to get on and off the bus. The safest course of action is to stop and wait for the bus to drive off.
- Keep your distance from parked cars. Parked cars can open their doors at any time, and some people will forget to look for oncoming traffic behind them. I have hit someone’s car door, which sucked for them and also damaged my bike.
- When in doubt, stop, yield, and wait. As you can see from the regulations below, bikes are required to yield for everyone and everything. If you have doubts about what is safe or legal, better to stop and wait than go on ahead and get in an accident.
What are the regulations for riding a bike in Taiwan? (臺灣自行車規則-英文版)
In a previous blog we have provided our personal experience, a summary of Taiwan bicycle laws, as well as an appendix of the fully translated Taipei/Taiwan bicycle laws. Check out the full blog post here.
Other Frequently Asked Questions 其他常見問題:
Q: What are some popular cycling routes in Taiwan?
A: Popular cycling routes in Taiwan include the Sun Moon Lake Bike Trail, the Taipei Riverside Bikeway, and the East Coast Scenic Area.
For longer more grand bike routes, I recommend going around the entire coast of Taiwan, the southern cross-island highway, central cross-island highway, and northern cross-island highway.
Q: Are there any cycling events in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many cycling events in Taiwan, including the Taiwan KOM Challenge and the Taiwan Cyclist Federation’s annual cycling festival.
Q: Are there any cycling tours available in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many cycling tours available in Taiwan, including guided tours and self-guided tours.
Looking for a bike tour of Taiwn? Click here to search for options.
Q: Is it possible to cycle around the entire island of Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is possible to cycle around the entire island of Taiwan. The route is approximately 900 miles and takes about 10-14 days. The stretch between Hualien and Yilan is often skipped though due to the treacherous mountain terrain, and the fact that the only highway often has large busses and trucks that drive along it.
Q: Are there mountain biking trails in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are mountain biking trails in Taiwan, however some trails are not meant for mountain biking and ban bicycles. Make sure to check beforehand.
Q: Is riding a bicycle a popular mode of transportation in Taiwan?
A: Yes, cycling is very popular in Taiwan, especially for leisure and commuting purposes.
Q: Are there bike lanes in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are some dedicated bike lanes in many areas of Taiwan, especially in urban areas like Taipei but they are not everywhere.
Q: Is it safe to ride a bicycle in Taiwan?
A: Generally, it is safe to ride a bicycle in Taiwan. However, you should always wear a helmet, obey traffic laws, and consider buying insurance to minimize the risk of accidents.
Q: What kind of bike should I ride in Taiwan?
A: A hybrid or mountain bike with wider tires is recommended for uneven terrain or city travel in Taiwan. For long-distance travel on paved roads, get a road bike.
Q: Are there rental bikes available in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many rental bike services available in Taiwan, such as through Merida and Giant stores or bike sharing like YouBike. See the section above for more details.
Q: How much does it cost to rent a bike in Taiwan?
A: The cost of renting a bike in Taiwan varies depending on the rental service and location. Youtube, a bike sharing company, charges 10 NT per half hour.
A road bike from a bike shop will cost about 1000 NT a day to rent.
Q: Can I ride a bike on the national freeways in Taiwan?
A: No, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the national freeways in Taiwan. Stick to designated bike lanes and paths with fewer cars and traffic if possible.
Q: Do I need a license to ride a bicycle in Taiwan?
A: No, you do not need a license to ride a bicycle in Taiwan.
Q: Do I need to wear a helmet in Taiwan?
A: It is not required by law to wear helmets in Taiwan, but for your safety you should still wear one.
Q: Can I bring my own bicycle to Taiwan?
A: Yes, you can bring your own bicycle to Taiwan. However, you may need to pay an extra fee to transport it on public transportation. It is possible to transport your bike both on the MRT and TRA.
Q: Is it common to wear helmets when cycling in Taiwan?
A: No, most people do not wear helmets while cycling, especially while using shared bikes like Youbike. But you should still wear a helmet for your safety.
Q: Can I cycle on the sidewalks in Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is legal to cycle on the sidewalks in Taiwan, but you are required to yield to pedestrians.
Q: Can I park my bike anywhere in Taiwan?
A: No, technically you should only park your bike in designated bike parking areas. However this rule is almost never enforced.
Q: Is it easy to find bike parking in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many bike parking areas available in Taiwan, especially in urban areas.
Q: Is it safe to cycle at night in Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is safe to cycle at night in Taiwan, but you should use lights, reflectors, and bright clothing to increase your visibility.
Q: What is the best time of year to cycle in Taiwan?
A: The best time of year to cycle in Taiwan is from November to February when the weather is cooler.
Q: What should I bring with me on a cycling trip to Taiwan?
A: You should bring a helmet, comfortable cycling clothes, a repair kit, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
Q: Is it easy to find accommodations for cyclists in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many accommodations that cater to cyclists in Taiwan, such as bike-friendly hotels and homestays.
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotels deals in Taiwan here.
Q: What should I do if I get lost while cycling in Taiwan?
You can use a map or a GPS device to navigate while cycling in Taiwan. If you get lost, you can ask for directions from locals or use a translation app to communicate.
For more information, check out our foreigner survival guide here.
You can find more tours of Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our guides on Taiwan to come!
Located right next to the beach is Kenting Street, a great night market for snacking and tourist-oriented shopping. It is the main street in Kenting, and at night both sides come alive to become a tourist night market in Taiwan. It may be the purest tourist night market in Taiwan, with most visitors coming from out of town to enjoy Kenting’s warm weather and beautiful beaches.
🏖️ Planning your trip to Kenting? ☀️
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: Summer when it is warm and less windy
- How to get there: Taiwan Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Nanwan Kiki or Kenting Star Inn 888
- Book tours and activities in Kenting on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Background:
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during theQing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese Era, Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here.
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers.
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all).
Popular treats at Kenting Street Night Market include seafood, and there are many international restaurants on the street, as well as swimming gear. Because most customers are tourists from out of town, prices at this night market are a bit higher than other more localized markets in Taiwan.
Hours:
6:30 PM – Midnight
Price:
Free
When to go:
Summer! It’s when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons.
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in.
How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes Provincial Highway 26. After that keep going past Hengchun into Kenting National Park. The night market will appear after you reach the McDonalds, and there is paid parking nearby. You can search for scooter options here or here, and you can check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Kenting Bus stop. You can book tickets to travel to Kenting via inter-city bus on Klook here.
By Plane: There are direct shuttle buses to Kenting from Kaohsing’s Xiaogang (KHH) Airport.
You can search for cheap flights in Taiwan here.
Where to Stay:
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
I have stayed at many hostels and hotels in Pingtung, and even almost bought a house here. Some places that I have stayed at and can recommend are Nanwan Kiki (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), a B&B next to Nanwan Bay, Kenting’s most popular Beach. There are also a few decent hotels near Kenting Street Night Market like Kenting Star Inn 888 (book on Agoda here, Klook here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). You will notice that none of these hotels are five-star resorts (I do not come to Kenting to waste my time at a resort, but you can still search Agoda, Booking.com, or Klook here for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money.
Tours and Activities in Kenting:
There are many activities available such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing.
You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here.
Map:
Please see below:
Our Journey:
I have been to Kenting Street Night Market at least ten times. It is one of the best places to find food in Kenting, besides downtown Hengchun. Some people have complained that they hate this night market because it is so expensive. I admit the prices here are a bit higher in general when compared to other night markets, but you can still find some delicious food here at a reasonable price. Just let me show you.
There are many activities available such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing.
You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Kenting here.
You can also check out our full guide to Pingtung here, and can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.