Ultimate 10-day Taiwan Itinerary For First-timers

Heading to Taiwan for the first time, but not sure where to go? Here’s a 10-day travel itinerary combining the rich history of Taiwan, its breathtaking nature, monuments and culture.

Ready to explore the island? Let’s go!

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🎯 Would you like to go straight to my recommendations?

🗺️ Recommended Tours:
⛵ Kaohsiung Love River Cruise
🏙️ Kaohsiung Attractions Day Tour
🥾 Hualien: Taroko Hiking Trail One-Day Tour
🥾 Hiking Tour at Zhuilu Old Road, Taroko National Park
– Taipei Free Historic Walking Tour
– Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen day Tour

🛌 Budget-friendly accommodations:
Kaohsiung:
Trip GG Hostel
Love River Inn
Hualien:
G.O.A.T Hostel
Taipei:
We Come Hostel

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Best time to visit Taiwan

It all depends on your preferences and schedule, but there’s one important piece of information you should be aware of, especially if you don’t like rain!

Taiwan has actually two monsoon seasons:

• one happening between October and March in the northeast
• another one taking place between May and September in the southwest

Just a little thing to keep in mind if you’re planning to stay in a specific part of the island, or if you want to visit both the north and the south and avoid the rain as much as possible.

Visa

Taiwan has a visa-exemption program with many countries, allowing a duration of stay between 14 days and 90 days, depending on your nationality.

For more information, feel free to check out the official website here!

Language

The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, but don’t worry, even with only English, a few local words, a translation app and the use of your hands, you’ll have no trouble making yourself understood.

Taiwanese people are very approachable and friendly, and it’s pretty easy to travel around the country.

Money

The New Taiwan Dollar is the official currency of Taiwan (NT$). For information, $1≃NT$30.

Phone

Even though getting around Taiwan is simple, I strongly recommend buying a SIM card, especially if you want to access high-speed internet everywhere but also if you plan to use the super-convenient YouBike.

You can of course opt for an eSIM, but bear in mind that you won’t have access to the YouBike rental system.

Taiwan Itinerary

Specially designed for budget travelers in mind, and without a car, here’s a simple itinerary, ideal for first-time visitors to Taiwan. I’ve decided to start this Taiwan itinerary from Kaohsiung, but you can totally switch the first and last stop and do this itinerary the other way around.

Day 1: Discover the beautiful port city of Kaohsiung

For a gentle start, especially if you’re subject to jet lag, let’s focus on the beautiful city of Kaohsiung and explore all it has to offer.

First off all, and after a hearty breakfast, you can choose to warm up with a hike to Shoushan LOVE Lookout & Martyrs’ Shrine and enjoy a breathtaking, peaceful view of the port city. If you’re not really into working up a sweat in the early hours of the morning, you can opt for a relaxing walk along the Love River instead.

Whether you chose to rent a bike or walk, you can then head to The Pier2 Art Center, a former warehouse district now turned into works of art, murals, craft stores and much more.

It’s also a great place to stop for lunch and try an iconic dish: beef noodle soup! Once you’ve filled your belly completely, and if you want to take it easy, the best thing to do is spend some time in Dayi Park: lay on the grass, admire the various sculptures, or enjoy a festival (if there’s one at the time of your visit).

You can also opt for a visit to the Kaohsiung Museum of History if you want to learn more about the city.

After a while, you can make your way to the beautiful Sunfong Temple and its hundreds of red lanterns which are bound to transport you into a magical world, all the more so if you visit at night (the temple closes at 22:00).

And as the temple is close to Liuhe Night Market, you won’t have to look far for dinner and satisfy your craving for street food at the same time.

Day 2: Visit one of the city’s most iconic attractions – Lotus Pond

Start your morning with a scallion pancake, do some shopping in the Shinkuchan Shopping District, and taste a comforting hot pot for lunch.

In the afternoon, hop on your YouBike and pedal off to the iconic Lotus Pond, just a 30-minute ride from the city.

This artificial lake, one of the largest in Taiwan, is a must-see landmark, if only for its picturesque surroundings, temple, colorful pagodas and pavilions as well as the serenity that reigns.

Not to mention that Lotus Pond is also close to another famous night market: Ruifeng Night Market! Another day, another occasion to try new and delicious delicacies of Taiwanese culture!

Day 3: Fo Guang Shan

Next stop on our Taiwan itinerary: the magnificent Fo Guang Shan! Whether you’d like to learn more about Buddhism, see one of Taiwan’s most important cultural sites, or simply spend a peaceful day away from the city, Fo Guang Shan is the place to be.

Located less than an hour and a half from Kaohsiung by bus, you can easily spend your day exploring its nook and crannies, the various treasures and history, the intricate details of all the shrines, pagodas, 108-meter-high Buddha statue and much more that can be found here.

Don’t forget to take a delicious vegeterian lunch and quench your thirst in the beautiful teahouse next to the Sutra Repository.

A perfect idea for a relaxing day before heading back into town for dinner!

Day 4: Day trip to Tainan

Want to visit the birthplace of the famous bubble tea? It’s this way!

Board on the first train out of Kaohsiung in direction of Tainan for a comfortable, short one-hour journey.

What’s great is that many attractions in Tainan are within walking distance of each other, so you won’t have to waste time going from one point to another and using public transport.

Start your exploration at the 17th century Tainan Confucius Temple, make your way to Tainan Wu Garden for a picnic, before going to the popular Shennong Street, where you’ll discover original as well as historic little shops lined up in a single alley, under lovely lanterns.

Time for a break! Have a cup of coffee/tea in Tainan Cultural and Creative Park or stroll through Tainan Park.

If you’re not ready to head back to Kaohsiung yet, I highly recommend going to K’un-shen beach by renting a YouBike to watch the sunset.

You can also choose to grab something to eat before taking the train back to the city at Tainan Garden Night Market or Wusheng Night Market, but remember to check the opening days, as some markets are only open on weekends.

You’ll find other ideas of things to see during a Tainan day trip here!

For more alternative day trips from Kaohsiung, check out my other article here!

Day 5: Direction the quaint city of Hualien

Time to leave Kaohsiung behind and marvel at Taiwan’s natural beauty around Hualien!

As Hualien is still around 4 hours by train from Kaohsiung, this part of your Taiwan itinerary will be more dedicated to resting and discovering the city.

So, after arriving in Hualien, take time to unpack your bags at your accommodation and head to Qixingtan Beach for ultimate relaxation and to recharge your batteries, or visit the city’s attractions such as Hualien Martyr’s Shrine and Pine Garden before sampling Indigenous food in the huge Dongdamen Night Market.

Day 6: Natural gorges and a day in nature in Taroko National Park

Destination Taroko National Park, an hour and a half by bus from Hualien, for a day full of adventure and wonder, in a place that will probably become one of the highlights of your trip to Taiwan.

A day trip to Taroko may not seem like enough, but if you don’t have a lot of time in the country, one day is still enough to see the natural gorges, splendid nature, shrines and scary or fun suspension bridges (your choice) that the park has to offer.

Choose a trail suited to your level and time, and get ready for an amazing day in Taroko.

Always remember to check bus timetables before heading back to Hualien to avoid long waits or having to catch the next bus if many people are already queuing.

For more information on the places I recommend seeing on a day trip to Taroko, here’s my other article on the subject!

Day 7: Last relaxing stop before the hustle and bustle of the capital

As with the previous stop on this Taiwan itinerary, getting to Taichung isn’t the shortest as it takes around 4 hours by train, but I’d say the city is well worth it, even for a short stay, and especially if you’re not a big fan of busy capitals and crowds.

Depending on your arrival time, I recommend two options:

• you can choose to pass by the Rainbow Village and see how this village originally built for exiled military men was transformed into a vibrant symbol in the early 2000s, when one man, Huang Yung-fu decided to paint his village in protest against the new housing development project, making it a popular tourist attraction today.
  You can then make your way to Wanggaoliao Night View Park for sunset.
• or you can rent a bike and cycle past bridges, tunnels and lovely scenery on the DongFeng to HouFeng Bikeway.

And, of course, don’t forget to grab a bite to eat and try the variety of food at Fengchia Night Market before you call it a day.

Day 8: Breathe in the fresh air at Sun Moon Lake

Today, let’s enjoy some peace and quiet and explore the picturesque Sun Moon Lake, a 1h40 bus ride from Taichung.

The best way to admire it and make the most of the lake and all its surrounding sights is, once again, to rent a bike. Yes, the Taiwanese love bikes, but who can blame them when it’s actually one of the easiest and cheapest way to explore a place, not to mention that it offers more freedom and you can take your sweet time visiting without having to worry about bus timetables…

Get ready to admire magnificent views, relax, eat seafood or dim sum and make unforgettable memories around this romantic and charming lake.

Don’t forget to check the bus timetable for the return journey, as there aren’t many!

For a more detailed itinerary of my trip around Sun Moon Lake, read it here!

Day 9: Arrival in the big city

We arrive at the last stop on this Taiwan itinerary: the modern and bustling capital, Taipei!

After taking the train from Taichung (~2-3 hours), you’ll soon discover why Taipei always attracts so many people and keeps them coming back!

If you’re early enough for lunch, try heading to the traditional Dihua street, where a lively market full of snacks, dried goods, teas, herbs and much more awaits you. You can also eat at Lin He Fa Oily Rice Shop for a heartier meal and to try their oil rice or sticky rice!

While you’re in the area, check out the original FaChuKung Temple, accessible after taking the elevator (right in the next street), before visiting Dalongdong Baoan Temple, and its 200-year history.
Don’t miss out on Taipei Confucius Temple, located right next to Dalongdong Boan, for a more peaceful atmosphere and nice exhibitions.

All that’s left is for you to spend some time browsing the various food stalls at Ningxia Night Market to find your dinner and add another culinary delight to your list of must-try Taiwanese dishes.

Day 10: Taipei 101 from above and shopping

What better way to start the day than with a refreshing hike to the top of Xiangshan for the best views of Taipei and find yourself in nature in the middle of the city? It’s also good exercise to work up an appetite!

Next, take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line (red) to Dongmen and stop at Youmou to Ohana Coffee Dongmen for a delicious matcha latte and some food if you’re hungry. You don’t have to be very hungry to enjoy a slice of cake or cinnamon roll, though, just saying.

Afterwards, visit National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall to learn more about the country’s painful history and fight for freedom, as well as interesting exhibits.

And since no trip is really complete without shopping, head to the Ximen district for window shopping, activities, food and more.

If you still have a day left in Taipei, don’t hesitate to check out other areas of the city, or even take a day trip to the famous Jiufen, Beitou or even Tamsui!

Useful links & Apps

Train timetable and tickets (app available): Taiwan Railway

Public bicycle system: YouBike

Go! Taipei Metro app

Foodpanda (food delivery)

Google Translate

That’s it for this 10-day Taiwan itinerary for first-time visitors! I hope this itinerary gives you an idea of how beautiful and underrated this part of Asia is, and inspires you to visit!

Want to know a little more about Taiwan? Check out these 10 facts here!