5 Wonderful Day Trips From Taipei, Taiwan’s Bustling Capital City

Do you feel suffocated by the noise and commotion of big cities like Taipei and dream of a sweet escape where you can breathe fresh air and feel rejuvenated? Look no further and take a day trip to one of these 5 places in Taiwan.

Only three hours from the capital at most, here are some of my favorite day trip ideas (without a car) for your next adventure in Taipei!

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1. Yangmingshan National Park

If you’re looking for a bit of greenery and want to lose yourself in the beauty of nature, then there’s probably no better choice than an adventure in Yangmingshan and a hike on a dormant volcano.

One word of caution, though: bus signs aren’t always in English, bus drivers don’t always speak English, and electronic displays aren’t always on. So you may have to rely heavily on your map to know where to get off.

Hopefully, you’ll fare better than my friend and I, who found ourselves stranded, waiting for a bus that didn’t seem to be coming, before being finally rescued by police officers who kindly drove us to the start of the trail.

Anyway, once you get there, you’ll be spoiled for choice: 18 options to be more exact. You can choose to follow the popular trail that leads to Mount Qixing (which is what we had planned to do, but obviously, since we got lost, it wasn’t an option anymore) or choose a beautiful alternative that fate offered us and hike Mount Miantian.

An easier hike than the other (if you don’t count the hundreds of steep steps you have to climb to reach the peak), where you’ll pass by a beautiful garden and its pond before tackling the trail that leads to the summit and enjoying breathtaking views of Taipei city and the surrounding mountains.

What started out as a challenge turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip, making us forget all about the hardships we encountered to get there. You can also choose to hike to Mount Xiangtian from here or return by the same trail.

If you want to explore other trails, feel free to check out the official website here!

2. Beitou

You can actually combine Beitou and Yangmingsan in a single day (although you’ll have to get up pretty early or choose an easier trail), but, in my opinion it’s best to enjoy the city and its sights, which are close to each other for a day trip.

Only 22 minutes away by MRT (or metro), you can spend your day visiting the small town, known for its sulfur springs and charming, lively atmosphere.

Stop by its park and admire its magnificent green library surrounded by a gorgeous lotus pond, before making your way to the nostalgic and historic train station and Hot Spring Museum. You can even go further and explore the thermal valley with a detour to Puji Temple for a serene and quiet getaway, just a 20-minutes walk from the center.

Be sure to end your day with a visit to the night market to try the various delicacies and fill your stomach after a day of exploring.

If you’re around during the colder months, you can of course enjoy the public hot spring (closed until 2026), spas and foot baths to your heart’s content.

3. Jiufen

About 90 minutes by bus from Taipei, Jiufen, which has become a very popular destination over the years for its rich history, magical vibes and beautiful architecture, is the kind of day trip you’ll want to take if you want to discover an old gold mining town turned famous for its tea houses and lively food stalls.

If you have enough time, I encourage you to stay the night there to see the town lit up by its magnificent red lanterns and to go hiking.

For more information about Jiufen, you can read my article about this beautiful village here!

4. Shifen

Best known for its sky lanterns filled with the wishes of those who release them and its magnificent waterfalls (which indeed awed me), the small village of Shifen is only 90 minutes away by local train, making it one of the easiest day trips from Taipei.

Its old streets and railways, now bustling with people taking postcard-perfect pictures, have a different history, since the railways were in fact built to transport coal from the mines during the Japanese occupation.

So if you love nature and nostalgic charm, Shifen should be on your list!

5. Taichung

Less than two hours away by train, a day trip to Taichung can be filled with many activities, depending on your interests and how much time you have. The city also usually enjoys a better climate than Taipei and is less busy and crowded, making it the ideal escape for those tired of the hustle and bustle of big cities.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any nice attractions to see or that you’ll be bored, quite the contrary. Head to Rainbow Village to brighten up your life, to Gaomei Wetlands to enjoy a picturesque and relaxing place with beautiful sunsets, to HouFeng Bikeway for a quieter but equally scenic cycling experience, not to mention the various interesting museums in the city.

And if you get there very early or have more than a day to spare, don’t miss the stunning Sun Moon Lake!

You have had enough of the capital and its sometimes stresssful pace of life? Check out one of these 5 day trips from Taipei and take a break.

Visiting Taiwan for the first time? Here’s a 10-day itinerary designed especially for you!