taiwan

If you love Instagram and you’re planning a trip to Taipei, this is the Taipei photography guide for you!

I’ve combined my two weeks of knowledge of traveling around Taipei and scoured Instagram for some of the best and more unique Instagram places in Taipei.

I’ve included addresses and tips for how to get the best photo in each!

While there are 15 Instagram spots in Taipei on this list, I’ve included an additional 3 spots at the end which are easy day trips from Taipei as a bonus!

Map of the Best Taipei Photography Spots

Best Instagram Spots in Taipei

Elephant Mountain

One of my favorite Instagram places in Taipei is the beautiful Elephant Mountain.

This short hike takes you to a wonderful viewpoint above the Xinyi district of Taipei, home to many of the city’s most distinctive skyscrapers.

To get here, take the MRT to Xiangshan, follow the signs for Xiangshan/Elephant Mountain, which will take you past a park to a long staircase.

It takes about 20-25 minutes from the metro to reach the top of the stairs to the viewpoint.

There are several areas where you can take a great photo here at Elephant mountain, I’ll share the two most popular.

First, there is a wooden viewing platform with railings which you’ll come across first in your hike.

You’ll always see plenty of locals and tourists there, taking selfies with the gorgeous Taipei 101 in the background.

If you want an unobscured photo of the Taipei 101 without anyone in it, this is your best choice.

Second, if you keep going up the stairs, you’ll encounter a big rock.

Usually there is a line of people patiently waiting to climb this big boulder so they can get themselves in the best Instagram shot of Taipei.

It’s a bit difficult to scramble up here, so be careful, and I definitely recommend wearing some sort of sneaker (I was wearing my Birkenstocks so I had to take them off before I climbed the rock).

It’s lovely at sunset or after dark, but it is also more crowded then. I’d estimate I waited about ~15 minutes for this photo.

Location: Xiangshan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

Stairs near Taipei City Hall

For one of the more unique angles of Taipei 101, I highly recommend this area. We got super lucky, as we stumbled across without even trying!

In fact, for the longest time I couldn’t remember exactly where I took this photo but when I decided to write this post I wanted to put a little more research into it.

With some brain-digging and some Google Maps street-viewing, I was able to find the exact staircase where I took this shot!

It’s located right near the MRT Taipei City Hall Station, near the Starbucks there, just around the corner from one of my favorite Taipei hotels, the W.

Location: Near Taipei City Hall MRT, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

Taipei 101 Observatory

Of course, while you’ll want a few snaps of the Taipei 101 from the outside… nothing beats the view from the top!

The lines can be a huge pain here, so I recommend a priority skip-the-line ticket which is a little extra money but worth it if you’re on a short time crunch while you’re in Taipei.

If you don’t mind waiting a bit but paying less, you can still buy an e-ticket online, which is cheaper than buying them at the actual ticket desk in Taipei!

It also allows you to skip the ticket queue (but not the lines to the elevator).

For the best views (and photos), there’s a new experience, the Skyline 460 Observatory, where you get to see the stunning views of the skyline 460 meters up (over 1,500 ft!)…

… and all that while standing outside, strapped in by a safety harness, for the most unadulterated view over Taipei — the closest thing to flying over it you can do!

Location: Taipei 101, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Taiwan

Cost: Roughly $20 for normal tickets (book via Klook here) or $40 for skip-the-line tickets (select the fast track entry option).

You can also book the new Skyline 460 experience on Klook, but it’s a rather expensive, around $97 USD.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Located at the head of Liberty Square, one of the most important places in Taipei, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall (and snap a few photos along the way).

This is a really beautiful square, and I can think of several distinct spots that would make for unique Taipei Instagram photos.

You have the serene blue-and-white pagoda of the Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall, but you also have the stunning riot of colors of the twin National Theater and National Concert Hall.

There’s also the Liberty Square Arch (one of three gates which flank the memorial hall) — more on that one in a second.

This area is always packed with people, so I do recommend getting an early start one day in this area.

Since you can get snap a variety of Taipei photo spots all in one small area, it offers a good bang for your early-rising buck.

Location: Liberty Square, Democracy Blvd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

Liberty Square Arch

One of the classic Taipei Instagram shots is the view of the main arch gate that begins Liberty Square.

Luckily, there often always to be water on the ground so you can get those lovely reflections that really elevate the photo.

In peak Instagram-ness, I saw some people with a hose spraying water on the ground and a photographer scaring pigeons away at the ‘perfect time’ to get shots of birds flying mid-air.

It’s a little contrived, not exactly the most serendipitous of shots, but dang, is it pretty.

It’s also quite nice to see at night all lit up, so I suggest returning then!

Location: Liberty Square (south entrance) Democracy Blvd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

2/28 Peace Park

This lovely park not far from CKS Memorial Hall is definitely worth a photo stop while in Taipei.

I’ve seen a lot of photos from it all over, usually from far away so it looks like it’s sort of ‘floating’ in the middle of a pond.

I love the view when you look at it head on as well, and it’s better for taking photos with yourself in it!

Location: 2/28 Peace Park (north side), Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

Cost: Free!

The Grand Hotel Taipei

A famous Taipei landmark, this gorgeous hotel is one of the world’s tallest buildings done in the Chinese classical style.

It was completed in 1973, after taking a whopping 21 years to finish.

The building was built by Yang Cho-Cheng and reflects the vision of former president Chiang Kai-shek to have a 5-star hotel that would be suitable for foreign ambassadors to Taipei.

His goal was to give legitimacy to the KMT government despite being displaced from Mainland China, while also attracting foreign guests and promote Chinese culture through its architecture.

Today, it’s still a much-loved Taipei hotel, and while you can definitely stay there (for quite an affordable price, in fact!) it’s also a popular Taipei photography spot.

Location: No. 1號, Section 4, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free to visit the outside, rooms around $80 per night and up (depending on time of year)

Longshan Temple

One of the most visited temples in Taipei, you really shouldn’t miss Longshan Temple when you visit the city – not just for the ‘gram, but for how unique it is.

You’ll encounter people praying in a way specific to Taiwan, using a blend of Buddhist tradition and folk practices.

There are some interesting customs that the Taiwanese observe when praying that I’ve never seen elsewhere.

For one, there are small, painted pieces of wood that are shaped somewhat like a segmented orange which can be found all over the temple.

It’s common for people to pick up the painted crescent-shaped wood, hold it in their hands, toss it to the ground, and pick it back up again.

They’re apparently called “jiaobei blocks” or “moon blocks”, which are thrown in pairs and used as a way of telling the future!

Besides that, it’s just really freakin’ pretty, and there’s also a lovely garden in the front area which would make another nice Instagram spot in Taipei – two for the effort of one!

Location: No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free to enter (note to dress respectfully)

National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine

Located not far from the Grand Hotel Taipei (so easy to get snaps at both and cluster together), the beautiful National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine is one of my favorite underrated Taipei photography spots.

It doesn’t get nearly the same attention as other places like the CKS Memorial Complex and Elephant Mountain.

Still, it is so distinctly and uniquely Taiwanese to me!

I love the beautiful bright red popping against the lush green background and the symmetry is also really eye-pleasing.

Location: No. 139號, Beian Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

Yongkang Shopping Street

Home to the original Din Tai Fung, the Yongkang Shopping Street is one of my favorite places to stroll in Taipei.

Chock full of cute ice cream shops, cafés, umbrella stores (seriously, the Taiwanese love their umbrellas so much they have entire stores dedicated to them), and Instagrammable foods, it’s a dream!

Yongkang Street is a must-visit in Taipei for photography enthusiasts and Instagrammers everywhere.

My favorite spots on this street are Elephant Machine Coffee and the ultra-colorful Soyo shopfront!

Location: Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 

Cost: Free to walk, but you’ll likely want to shop!

Beitou (Hell Valley + more)

The hot springs of Beitou are a wonderful escape from the business of Taipei!

There are a number of cool photography spots near the Xinbeitou area, but I loved visiting so-called “Hell Valley.”

With its nearly boiling waters, the steam rises off the teal-blue like something out of a movie!

There are also a number of wonderful hot spring hotels you can enjoy, either as an overnight guest or by buying a day pass, that would make great Instagram spots.

The nicest hotel in the area is Grand View Resort Beitou, and it was designed by the architect of Taipei 101.

Rooms can be had there for an exorbitant price, but you can also book a day pass to a hotel like the Gaia and use their stunning facilities!

Location: Depends, but the area around the Xinbeitou MRT is where most spa hotels are.

Cost: Around $50 for a day pass to a spa hotel, or free to walk around the Beitou area

Jingshan Suspension Bridge

Did you know Taipei had a national park, complete with volcanoes and hot springs, right in the city limits?

Yangmingshan National Park is a fantastic place to spend a day in Taipei, and I highly recommend visiting it on your trip if you have the time.

This suspension bridge was one of my favorite places in Taipei (it’s located near the Lengshuikeng Creek).

It’s just insanely photogenic, but it is often crowded, so a shot like this will take some patience.

There are actually a number of great Instagrammable spots in Taipei’s Yangmingshan National Park.

While this post will by no means list all of them, I’ll share a few of my favorites!

Location: Jingshan Suspension Bridge, Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei City, Shilin District

Cost: Free (though you’ll need to pay for the bus to the park)

Juansi Waterfall

Yes, Taipei’s Yangmingshan National Park has its own waterfalls, too.

Who says you have to go out to Shifen to chase waterfalls?

It’s just a 1.3-mile trail out-and-back, so it’s not too tough of a hike, either.

Location: Juansi Waterfall, Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei City, Shilin District

Cost: Free, though you’ll need to pay for the bus to the park

Lover’s Bridge in Tamsui

I loved taking a trip out to the end of the MRT at Tamsui Old Street, where there are so many lovely walks to be had.

The Old Street area where you can sample all sorts of Taiwanese delights is a must!

But the real draw for Instagram lovers is Lover’s Bridge, which is gorgeous either during the middle of the day when you can really capture all its white geometrical wonder.

It’s also lovely at sunset or after dark, when you can get some beautiful silhouettes of it or see it all lit up!

Location: No. 199, Guanhai Road, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free

Ximending

The Ximending area is the place you want to be in Taipei at night!

It’s when the lights all turn on and the area gets a really special buzzy vibe that can only be compared to Shinjuku in Tokyo or Dotonburi in Osaka.

Play with portraits or food photos with a low f-stop number to get some good bokeh to really capture the brightness of the neon around.

Note, though: you’ll want a tripod to get the best shots at night!

Location: Near the Ximen MRT, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: Free!

Best Instagram Spots Near Taipei

While none of these spots are in Taipei proper, they are all nearby and many of them are included on my Taipei day trips guide.

I’ll share a few of my favorites belong, but there are so many I don’t have room for!

Rainbow Village (Taichung)

A zippy hour away on the high-speed rail, it’s quite easy to pop into Taichung for a day trip while in Taipei.

While Taichung is full of Instagram-friendly places (Miyahari Department Store definitely being one of them – I have a Taichung itinerary you can steal!), the most obvious is Rainbow Village.

Not actually created for Instagram, this is the life’s work of an old man to transform and save the community he grew up in through art.

The story behind it is quite poignant, and “Rainbow Grandpa” is often sitting in the gift shop watching everyone admire his work.

If you see him, be sure to say hello and make a small purchase or donation to support him!

Location: Rainbow Village, Taichung City, Nantun District

Cost: Free to enter, though you’ll need to take the train to Taichung

Jiufen

If you go by public bus to Jiufen, the very first thing you will see is this gorgeous temple with views to the coast below. Not bad, eh?

It’s certainly a warm welcome to lovely Jiufen, which is gorgeous but can be extremely crowded with tour groups.

There are also so many other great views — the teahouses, the lanterns, the narrow streets, the food — but I wanted to show one unique angle I don’t usually see!

Location: Jishan Street, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Cost: You can get here for a few $ by public bus (crowded) or by a guided tour. A tour is recommended — a tour of Jiufen only is just $20, or you can select the option for Shifen + Jiufen by night for just $10 more!

Shifen Waterfall

With beautiful turquoise-green waters, the trip to Shifen Waterfall was one of my favorite days in Taipei.

There are several great photo spots in the Shifen Waterfall park area – the park with its elephant statues covered in red flags, the suspension bridge, so much more – but I’ll leave that for you to discover.

Location: Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District

Cost: ~$2 entrance fee, plus transit. It’s possible (but a bit complicated) to go by public transit, or you can do a combined Shifen & Jiufen tour for about $30!

Taipei is one of my favorite cities I’ve visited.

Bustling with life yet manageable to navigate, sprawling but incredibly efficient to get around, Taipei feels made for a big city lover like myself.

Taipei’s got incredible (and cheap) eats at all the night markets, boutiques selling uniquely Taiwanese handicrafts, interesting museums and markets, and tons of parks and green spaces.

You could be forgiven for never wanting to leave the Taiwanese capital that seems to have it all.

But one of the best things about traveling to Taipei is that there is such a varied abundance of day trips from Taipei all within easy distance!

The excellent public transportation network around Taiwan makes day trips form Taipei to even the most farflung places actually quite feasible!

As a result, it’s possible to take a day trip from Taipei to places nearly 200 kilometers away, without much time or effort.

I did several day trips during my time in Taipei, including my personal favorite to Shifen Waterfall.

But I didn’t have time to do it all, so I’ve also included a few picks from other bloggers who have done their own Taipei day trips!

13 Top Taipei Day Trips

Shifen Waterfall & Old Street

The small village of Shifen is definitely one of the best day trips from Taipei that you can take!

The best part is arriving in the middle of Shifen village – literally, as the train splits the main “Old Street” in two!

All up and down the streets along the Old Street, people are selling delicious traditional Taiwanese treats such as fried squid, xiao long bao, and fish balls.

Definitely follow your nose and sample as much as you can up and down this main street!

Another common thing to do on Shifen Old Street is to paint your own lantern and set it off into the sky, making a wish along the way.

You can select your colors of the balloon (each color has a special significance) before painting it with well-wishes, then lighting it off into the sky!

It’s quite a touristic activity to be sure, but I loved it all the same.

It doesn’t come close to the magic you’d experience at, say, the annual lantern festival but it’s fun and worth doing all the same.

After lighting off your lantern and watching your wishes reach skywards, you can make your way to Shifen Waterfall.

The traditional way to get there is with a (very weakly powered) electronic scooter; however, it is actually perfectly easy to walk if you so chose.

We opted for the electronic scooter because it seemed a little more fun.

There’s no need for insurance or even a deposit – they literally just give you the keys and off you go!

It’s about a 5-minute ride by scooter or probably a 30-minute walk.

Shifen Waterfall is about a 20-minute walk from the entrance.

Here, you’ll find some areas to rest and relax as well as more food if you get hungry.

(However, the food on Shifen Old Street looked a whole lot fresher and tastier)

Keep walking down the path and soon enough you’ll encounter the beautiful Shifen Waterfall viewpoint!

Shifen Waterfall is 40 meters tall and 60 meters wide, in a horseshoe formation that has given it the nickname “Little Niagara”.

Be sure to walk around a bit to avoid the crowds (it’s a popular day trip from Taipei, so you definitely won’t be alone!) and get the best photo.

I recommend bringing a travel tripod and some neutral density filters to get the ideal “blurry water” photo like I shot below.

How to Get to Shifen from Taipei

It’s quite easy to get from Shifen to Taipei; I’ve explained it in detail on this post here. I’ll recap it here:

First, take the MRT to Taipei Main Station. From there, you can board any northbound train except a Keelung-bound train to Ruifang (the express trains are called Tzechiang).

A ticket cost 78 Taiwanese dollars, or about $2.50 USD. The signage can be a little confusing here, so ask a local to be sure if you’re getting on the right train: the stop you want is Ruifang (瑞芳).

It may help to have the Chinese written out on your phone to show someone if needed.

At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi line and ride that all the way to the end.

The best deal is to buy a day pass for the separate Pingxi line, which costs NTD $80 (about $2 USD), since you’ll have to return this way.

If that’s all too much, you can also book private shuttles there and back.

If that all sounds a little stressful, you can just book a tour. They typically combine a few destinations, like this Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu tour (that includes pastry making as an added bonus!)

Book a Shifen (plus Jiufen and Yehliu) tour here!

Jiufen

The charming old town of Jiufen, once famed for its prosperous gold rush and gold mining activities, is located about 40 kilometers east of Taipei.

The picturesque mountain town offers a vibrant mix of tradition and culture and is a lovely contrast to the chaotic streets of Taiwan’s capital city.

Jiufen’s old street is a maze of souvenir shops and eateries and is the first stop for most visitors on a day trip from Taipei.

Glutinous rice cakes, peanut ice cream, meatballs, Taiwanese sausages, and fish balls are among the many delicious snacks which must be tried along the way!

The A-Mei Tea House is one of Jiufen’s most prominent landmarks and is hugely popular with visitors who stop by the beautiful building and indulge in both the tea and the views.

Jiufen is also home to the picture-perfect Shengping Theatre, which is considered the first modern theatre in Taiwan.

Other great sightseeing options include the nearby Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi and a hike to the top of Keelung Mountain for some amazing views.

How to Get to Jiufen from Taipei

Jiufen can be accessed by public transport: take the #1062 bus which departs frequently from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT and travels to Jiufen Old Street.

Alternatively, ride the train to Ruifang Station and switch to the Golden Fulong tourist shuttle bus.

Other options for traveling to Jiufen include booking a private shuttle for the trip or joining a group tour from Taipei.

However, note that returning back on this bus is incredibly difficult due to the crowds!

Once, I actually tried to return via public bus but several went by without stopping because they were already full.

I ended up taking a shared taxi back to Taipei for 300 Taiwanese per person (about $10 USD).

There are also tours which will take you to Jiufen as well as some off the beaten path places that are hard to get to with public transport.

The Shifen tour above includes Jiufen, and you can also take this Jiufen and Northeastern Coast tour which includes some unique sights.

Book a Jiufen + coast tour here!

The Northeastern Coast

There are some amazing places on the Northern Coast of Taipei!

However, as a Taipei day trip, they can be hard to visit without either your own car or motorbike or a private tour.

A few of the highlights of the Northern coast include Bitou Cape, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse, the stunning Nanya rock formations, Fulong Beach, and Beiguan Tidal Park.

How to Get to the Northern Coast from Taipei

Public transportation in this region is limited and takes quite a while to travel independently, when it exists at all.

As a result, I only recommend doing this as part of a guided tour unless you have your own transport sorted.

It would simply be too difficult to see all these places as a day trip from Taipei without either a tour or a car.

Here’s a Northeastern Coast tour that includes many of the sights above!

Taroko National Park

Taroko National Park is Taiwan’s most iconic park and should be on any Taiwan itinerary.

The park is easily reached from Taipei for a day trip to do most of the unique short hikes, but longer hikes logical require an overnight stay.

Taroko National Park is all about magnificent views of gorges, mountains, waterfalls, and forest. If you’re lucky you can spot some wildlife too!

In case you might run out of time, then remove the Meandor Core Scenic Trail and the Baiyang Trail from the below suggested itinerary.

This Taipei day trip is full of relatively short hikes over good accessible paths. They are all quite flat although the area is very mountainous.

After getting the entrance ticket at the visitor’s center, start with the 2-kilometer Shakadang Trail.

Continue to the Changchun Temple and Changuang Temple; they are both worth a look.

The next trail is the Meandor Core Scenic Trail, which is best in spring when flowers are in full bloom. 

Now go to Swallow Gorge (Tunnel of Nine Turns) and have a look at the magnificent geological formations and, as the name says, the swallows. There is a restaurant there too where you can stop for lunch.

Continue further down the road for the Lushui Trail, but just do the short hike that doesn’t require a permit.

One kilometer further is the last stop: Xiangde Temple. If you have time left and the trail is open, you can finish the day with the Baiyang Trail where at the end is a beautiful waterfall. 

How to Get to Taroko National Park from Taipei

Getting to Taroko National Park for a day trip is best done by car as driving in Taiwan is easy.

Alternatively, you can go on an organized tour too, which gives you less flexibility since you have to stick to the planned itinerary.

However, if you don’t have a car, it’s the only way to visit Taroko in a day trip, so check out tour details here.

If driving yourself, keep in mind that the drive takes about 2 and a half hours, so it’s best to leave Taipei at 6 AM so you can start at 9 AM when the park opens.

Start at the visitor’s center to buy your ticket and map and go from there to each spot.

Parking is available everywhere, and keep in mind you will be driving back in the dark as you need all the daylight hours to explore the park.

Book your Taroko National Park tour here!

Wanli Beach & Yehliu Geopark

Both located on Taiwan’s northeast coast, Wanli Beach and Yehliu Geopark can easily be combined to make a quirky day trip from Taipei.

Just half an hour by bus from the city, Wanli is a resort destination with a white sand beach — but it’s also known for its so-called UFO Village.

The collection of futuristic Futuro and Venturo houses were designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen and constructed in the 1970s.

Most of the UFO-shaped dwellings and pod houses now lie abandoned (the exact reason why the village was vacated is still a point of conjecture), making Wanli a paradise for urban explorers.

Inside, some have original 1970s furnishings, homewares and possessions (including VHS tapes) still lying about.

Take care when exploring, especially if you go inside any of the pods!

After spending a few hours wandering around Wanli, continue north along the coastal road.

You can either re-board the same bus, or walk like I did, stopping in at fishing villages and lookout points along the way.

After 4 kilometers, you’ll reach Yehliu and its famous geopark.

Yehliu is crowded with odd rock formations, many of which resemble human or animal forms.

The boardwalks and pathways that lead visitors along the cape are usually jam-packed, especially on weekends.

Entrance to the geopark costs around 2 USD – bring cash.

How to Get to Wanli from Taipei

Take bus 1815 from Taipei City Hall and get off when you see the Howard Greenbay Resort Hotel.

The UFO Village is tucked just behind the hotel on the beachfront. From Yehliu, you can take a bus 1815 back to Taipei City Hall.

Tamsui Old Street

Tamsui has a super interesting history and is one of the best places to visit as a day trip in Taipei, especially if you’re spending a long weekend in Taipei.

The town of Tamsui, sits at the mouth of the Tamsui River, for which it is named — and where you’ll see the iconic Lover’s Bridge.

First, be sure to check out Tamsui Old Street.

This street is similar to a boardwalk where you can shop for souvenirs, grab amazing street eats, and also explore more of the town.

Some of the most famous foods from Tamsui can be found here, such as the iron egg (a preserved quail egg), ah gei (tofu fishcake filled with mung bean vermicelli), and freshly made fishballs.

After you’ve had your fill of food, time to explore the history of Tamsui, which is rather interesting!

It began as an Indigenous settlement, but in the 17th century, the Spanish arrived and built the first non-aboriginal settlement at and around Fort San Domingo.

In the mid-1600s, the Dutch arrived and expelled the Spanish, encouraging settlement by Han Chinese from mainland China.

About 30 years later, the Dutch were defeated and left the area. After this, the population of Chinese continued to grow and it became a major fishing and trading port with mainland China.

Aside from its remarkable history, Fort San Domingo has also become a tourist site in Tamsui.

The complex is located on the hillside of Tamsui, it is one of the most recognizable buildings due to its red brick facade.

Today, the main building is a museum and there are cannons placed around the property.

How to Get to Tamsui from Taipei

As it’s part of the greater Taipei City, Tamsui can be easily reached by the MRT subway system.

Simply take the Tamsui-Xinyi (Red) Line to the last stop, Tamsui Station.

Wulai

While not far from Taipei since it’s technically part of New Taipei City, Wulai takes about an hour to get to from Taipei — so that’s a day trip, right?

Wulai is famous for its hot springs and indigenous culture, all set along a brilliantly turquoise river bisecting the town, so it’s a fascinating and incredibly relaxing day trip from Taipei.

The primary reason to visit Wulai is to relax in the natural geothermic waters at one of the many beautiful spas (the most highly recommended is Re Change, which you can book here).

If you’re on a budget, there are also free public hot springs you can access.

Cross the bridge after Wulai Old Street, turn right, and walk up the road until you reach a stairway down to the river and signage for the outdoor public hot springs area.

Besides enjoying a natural thermal spa, you can check out the Wulai Atayal Museum

This museum tells the history and present of the indigenous Atyal people, who also perform traditional songs from their culture. Admission is free.

Don’t miss the beautiful Wulai waterfall, a 20-minute walk from Wulai Old Street.

At a whopping 80 meters, it’s one of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls in Taiwan.

How to Get to Wulai from Taipei

If you book with a hot spring resort, they’ll often include a transfer, like this one from Re Change Wulai.

Alternately, from Xindian Station, there is a bus to Wulai which takes about 40 minutes.

Book your hot spring resort visit to Wulai!

Qiandao Lake & Pinglin Tea Plantation

If the hustle and bustle of Taipei is getting to you, then you can unwind at the gorgeous Qiandao Lake.

It’s also nicknamed the Thousand Island Lake because the rolling green hills surrounding the lake give it the illusion of having a handful of floating miniature islands.

This part of Taiwan is the heart of Taiwanese tea culture, so aftewards you can explore Pinglin Tea Plantation and learn about the history and cultivation of tea in Taiwan.

The mountains combined with the beautifully terraced tea plantations are a perfect respite from the city vibes of Taipei.

There’s also the educational Pinglin Tea Museum, where you can taste several local teas (some of the most famous teas in Taiwan!).

You’ll also learn from a tea expert about the specifics on how to brew the ideal pot of tea!

How to Get to Qiandao from Taipei

Taking a guided tour is probably the best way to visit Qiandao, but there is a public transportation option.

From the Xindian MRT station, you can take the #12 bus to Shiding to the Shisangu bus stop, and walk down the hill from there.

However, I haven’t tried it, so I’d probably book a tour instead.

Keelung

One of the closest cities to Taipei, a day trip to Keelung is an easy addition to any Taipei itinerary.

Keelung is a port city most famous for its delicious seafood as well its vibrant night markets and fish market.

Whereas many of the night markets in Taipei have become a slightly touristy affair, the night market in Keelung is mostly frequented by locals.

There are a few interesting things to do in Keelung, including the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial in Zhongzheng Park, the abandoned Qingyu Hall, and of course, the Night Market for which it is best known.

And of course, if you’re a foodie, you won’t want to miss a night market food tour while in Keelung!

How to Get to Keelung from Taipei

It’s quite easy!

Simply take any Keelung-bound train from Taipei Main Station, which will cost about 41 Taiwanese dollars (less than $2 USD).

They leave about once every 20 minutes all throughout the day.

You can also take the Kuo-Kuang Bus outside of Taipei Main Station (exit 3) for 55 Taiwanese dollars, which will also take you to Keelung.

Yangmingshan National Park

While also part of greater Taipei, getting to Yangmingshan takes a bit of effort and definitely feels like a true day trip from Taipei.

I visited using public transportation which I actually don’t recommend.

Getting to the park was easy, but figuring out the shuttle bus that goes throughout the park was pretty inscrutable as a non-Chinese reading tourist!

If I did it again, I would definitely go on a guided tour to make the most of my time.

A few highlights of Yangmingshan include the hike to Mount Qixing, the highest volcano in all of Taiwan at 1,120 meters.

It’s not for the faint of heart – we started this hike, but because we started too late in the day in the middle of winter, we had to abandon the hike about halfway up.

A few other points of interest are the Milk Lake, the sulphur fumaroles, and the many thermal hot springs that dot the volcanic area around Yangmingshan.

How to Get to Yangmingshan from Taipei

In my opinion, the best way is via a guided tour, as once you’re in the park, it can be hard to get around (and getting back is a nightmare on the public buses!)

There’s this tour which combines a trip to Beitou’s hot springs and thermal valley with a tour around Yangmingshan National Park.

Book your Beitou + Yangmingshan tour here!

If you just want to explore the park independently, you can take the MRT to Jiantan stop (1 before Shilin) then take the red bus #5 or small bus #S15 or #S17 to Yangmingshan.

However, once in the park, I found it kind of confusing to get around, so leave early in the day and allow yourself plenty of time to figure out the transportation or walk between destinations.

Taichung

While of course, I’m of the opinion that Taichung deserves a few days of its own, it still isn’t a bad idea to make a day trip from Taipei using the high speed rail.

Using the high speed train, you can get from Taipei to Taichung in a mere 55 minutes.

Just know that the high speed train station is a bit outside of Taichung City in Wurih, so you will want to use a taxi or public bus to get into Taichung proper.

A few things worth seeing in Taichung: getting pineapple tarts from Miyahara, walking around the Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park, visiting the calm Taichung Park, and eating your way through the Fengjia Night Market.

And my favorite part, visiting Rainbow Village, located about a 20-minute cab ride outside the city.

How to Get to Taichung from Taipei

Take the high speed train from either Taipei Main Sation or Banquiao. The train will take less than an hour and cost around 670-750 Taiwanese dollars, around $21-24 each way.

You could also get a 2 or 3 day THSR tourist pass, which will enable you to visit Taichung as well as Kaohsiung (next on this list!), Chiayi, Taoyuan, and other places along Taiwan’s densely populated West Coast.

Kaohsiung

Even though this city is nearly 400 kilometers away, it’s actually only 90 minutes by high speed rail, making this an easy day trip from Taipei!

Kaohsiung has so much to offer: the beautiful, photogenic Lotus Pond, the delicious Liuhe Night Market, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Takao Consulate, the Chimei Museum, the 85 Sky Tower, and so much more.

You definitely could spend a few days in Kaohsiung, but it is also quite doable as a day trip if you have limited time in Taiwan and want to use Taipei as your base.

If you love colorful places, don’t miss the Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, one of the most beautiful subway stops in the world.

How to Get to Kaohsiung from Taipei

Go to Taipei Main Station or Banquiao to take the High Speed Train to Kaohsiung, which will take about 90 minutes and cost around 1500 Taiwanese dollars ($48 USD) one way.

Because it’s an expensive ticket, I recommend just buying the 2 or 3-day unlimited THSR pass — it will already save you money on just the roundtrip high-speed train ticket.

Plus, you can use it to explore other cities on the high speed network — a fantastic deal!

Sun Moon Lake

This is a far one that you’ll need a guided tour for, but it’s worth it for this stunningly clear lake in the mountains!

This tour uses the high speed rail to get you to Taichung first and then transports you by bus to Sun Moon Lake.

It’s a full day but it’s worth it!

Book your Sun Moon Lake tour here!