3 Easy Day Trips From Taipei: Best Day Trips From Taipei That You Can’t Miss
Taipei is the perfect base to go on many day trips from, and whilst there are so many options out there, the key to choosing the right one is being realistic with your time! A lot of travel websites will list unrealistic day trips which in reality are rushed, with most of your time spent travelling rather than sightseeing. These are the type of day trips I always avoid – in my opinion it’s not worth it! But don’t worry, this guide has got you covered on realistic and best day trips from Taipei that you can’t miss, all under 2 hours away!
WHERE CAN I TRAVEL TO FROM TAIPEI?
1. Jiufen
Jiufen is nestled in the misty mountains and beckons with its nostalgic charm and winding lanes. This old mining town, immortalized in films and novels, offers a glimpse into Taiwan’s rich history and culture. When you google how to get to Jiufen you’ll find a lot of group tours, but you won’t find much information on how to get there by public transport. Well here’s a little secret for you…it is really easy to go by public transport and here is how!
How to get from Taipei to Jiufen and back?
From Taipei, you have several options:
- Bus #1065: You can get this from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station which takes you to Jiufen Old Street bus stop. This takes 60 minutes and runs every 15-20 minutes. To get to Zhongxiao Fuxing Bus Station you take the MRT to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station and take Exit 2, which will take you to Sogo Department Store (Fuxing Branch). The bus stop is at the corner of the Zhongxiao Fuxing Station intersection, on Fuxing South Road, between Zhongxiao Road and Section 3, Zhongxiao East Road.
- Bus #965: You can get this from either Banqiao Bus Station, Wanhua Railway Station, MRT Ximen Station, or MRT Beimen Station, and it will take you to Jiufen Old Street bus stop. The journey time is 60 minutes and it runs every 30-40 minutes during peak hours, otherwise it is 40-60 minutes during off-peak hours.
- Train to Ruifang Station: There is no direct train to Jiufen but you can get the TRA to Ruifang Station from Taipei Main Station for 47 minutes, and then one of the many buses to Jiufen for 12 minutes. The bus options are:
- Bus 788 – goes to Jiufen Old Street and Gold Museum in Jinguashi
- Bus 825 – goes to Jiufen Old Street
- Bus 827 – goes to Jiufen Old Street
- Bus 856 – goes to Jiufen, Gold Museum in Jinguashi, Golden Waterfall, Yingyang Sea, Bitoujiao, Fulong Beach
- Bus 965 – goes to Jiufen Old Steet and Gold Museum in Jinguashi
- Bus 1062 – goes to Jiufen Old Street and Gold Museum and Teapot Mountain in Jinguashi
Going by public transport will give you much more flexibility than a mass group tour, making it the better option. If you don’t want to do either of these you can always get an Uber to Jiufen which takes around 45 minutes and is decently priced (around £25). We actually got an Uber there as we woke up super late, and then got public transport on the way back!
Once you’ve finally made it to Jiufen there is only one way to really go and that is for a walk along Juifen Old Street. It is a very narrow lane with shops and stalls on either side selling tea, local food and much more. The first thing you’ll notice is how chaotic it is! There will be people everywhere going in both directions, and bicycles and motorcycles trying to get down the path which means you have to jump out of the way, BUT it’s all part of the fun! Make sure to try the local snacks being sold on the Old Street, and definitely don’t miss out on the peanut ice cream! For more, check out this guide of Taiwanese food you must eat in Jiufen from my friends at namastetonihao.com.
After all the walking up and down Old Street, you’ll be tired and in need of a break so you can use this opportunity to seek out one of the many tea houses. Now most people will opt for A-Mei Teahouse BUT this is the most touristic place you could possibly choose! Yes, it’s instagrammable and you should go take a look and take a few snaps, but don’t bother eating or drinking tea here as it is a waste of money! There are plenty of more quieter and calmer tea houses that retain their traditional charm rather than being a tourist hub, like Jiufen Teahouse (don’t be put off by the name).
Once you’ve had the much needed tea break go find one of the old mining tunnels to learn a bit more about Jiufen’s history – there is one by A-Mei Teahouse! Goodluck if you’re tall as these tunnels have short ceiling heights, and whilst I am only 5ft 2” even I had to bend down!
You’ll easily end up spending around 3-4 hours here by the time you’ve stopped for lunch/tea. Once you’re done you can take a bus back to Taipei or the bus to Ruifang Station and then the train back to Taipei Main Station. Alternatively you can head to Shifen (see below), which is what most people do as you only need an hour there and its easy to get to from Jiufen!
2. Shifen
Shifen is famous for two things; the sky lanterns and the operational railway track that runs through the middle of the Old Street! There’s even a sky lantern festival held around the 15th day of the first lunar month or every February, and it’s worth trying to time your visit for this! Most people tag this day trip alongside Jiufen as it is easy to get to from there. If you’re doing it separate then you can get here by taking the train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station, and then the Pingxi train line from Platform 3 to Shifen Station.
The train will run through the Old Street and you’ll see everyone standing on the side as it passes! Once the train stops you can go onto the tracks until the next train comes which is every hour. You’ll see everyone going back onto the tracks with the big sky lanterns, getting ready to release them. The tradition is to write your wishes on the sky lantern and then release them into the sky. They are colour coordinated for different wishes and red is the most popular but see the colour guide below for more information. Cost is NT$ 200 for one colour and NT$ 250 for 2 or more colours:
- RED: Health and Peace
- BLUE: Career and Promotion
- YELLOW: Money and Wealth
- ORANGE: Love and Marriage
- GREEN: Vigor and Success
- WHITE: Future and Brightness
- MAGENTA: Attraction and Popularity
- PINK: Happiness.
However, these sky lanterns aren’t exactly environmentally friendly and release toxins into the air so if you are going to participate in this activity, search for Yiqiao Traditional Sky Lantern Shop which sells environmentally friendly lanterns. Apart from the sky lanterns and the railway track, you can also go visit Shifen Waterfall which is a short walk away. To be honest you can miss this as it’s not the most impressive waterfall but if you have time whilst waiting for the next train it’s a lovely walk to the waterfall. Make sure you keep an eye on train times because they only run once an hour so if you miss it you’ll be waiting a long time for the next one.
3. Beitou
Beitou is the easiest day trip from Taipei, being a mere 30 minutes away by MRT. Nestled at the foot of Yangmingshan, you can escape the city buzz and unwind in the tranquil oasis of Beitou, famed for its rejuvenating hot springs.
There are two options when you get here; you can either book a private hot spring experience or you can venture onto the wild side and go into the gender-separated public hot springs (you have to go in completely naked)! If you do want to book one of the private hot spring experiences make sure to do this well in advance, especially during peak season. We managed to book one a few days in advance but we had limited options and timings available to us.
RECOMMENDATION: I can highly recommend the private hot spring room at Radium Kagaya Hotel. This one is unique as it’s an authentic Japanese Kagaya ryokan, which features exquisite Japanese architectures framed against the unique atmosphere of Beitou! You get the room for 2 hours which in plenty of time to soak up, and is one of the few places that offers a day time room rather than requiring you to stay the night.
For a deeper connection with nature and if you have time whilst in Beitou, consider also exploring Yangmingshan National Park as it is home to many breathtaking hiking trails.
CAN YOU DO A DAY TRIP TO TAICHUNG FROM TAIPEI?
The short answer is yes but you shouldn’t! Taichung is only 1 hour away by HSR (high speed rail) or 2 hours by TRA (the cheaper option) making it an easy travel option BUT once you get to Taichung the main attractions are vastly spread out across the city. Given your main transportation option in Taichung is bus rather than metro, it makes getting to each attraction much longer, where in some cases you will need to get 2 buses to get to the chosen attraction. This is why I don’t recommend doing Taichung as a day trip option from Taipei, but rather it’s better to stay there overnight and have 2 days in Taichung to properly explore the sites. Also one point worth noting is that a lot of the attractions close by 5pm, and given they are quite far from one another, you will be rushing and spending most of your time on buses if you choose to do them all in one day.
CAN YOU DO A DAY TRIP TO KAOHSIUNG FROM TAIPEI?
The same as for Taichung, the short answer is yes but you definitely shouldn’t! Kaohsiung is a 2 hour train journey by HSR or near to 5 hours by TRA. The HSR train can be very expensive but also it is located 40 minutes outside of Kaohsiung, so you would need to factor this into your journey time. Getting from the HSR station to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Hall (the main tourist attraction) is a 40 minute bus ride and the bus operates every 1.5-2 hours. This is why it’s unrealistic to do a day trip to Kaohsiung from Taipei!
CAN YOU DO A DAY TRIP TO TAROKO GORGE FROM TAIPEI?
To get to Taroko Gorge from Taipei it is a 2.5 hour train journey to Hualien station and from here it is a 30 minute drive to Taroko Gorge entrance. Once you’re in the national park you can choose one of the many hiking trails and go at your own pace before returning to Taipei. This makes Taroko Gorge a more realistic day trip option compared to Taichung and Kaohsiung even though it is further by train, but that’s because once you get to Taroko Gorge your remaining time is spent hiking rather than hopping from one tourist attraction to another. You can also opt for an organised tour or try organise a private driver if you don’t want to take the train, but note the organised tours start very early around 5.30-6am. In my opinion it would be better to stay overnight nearby to Taroko Gorge to really enjoy all the hiking trails and to witness sunrise or sunset from the mountains, rather than reducing this down to a day trip!
RECOMMENDATION: An alternative and easier day hike option is to Sandiaoling waterfall trail, which is only 1 hour away from Taipei by train.
Why Stick to Day Trips From Taipei Under 2 Hours Away?
While Taiwan boasts a plethora of attractions beyond Taipei, it’s essential to be realistic about your travel time. Day trips exceeding two hours can leave you feeling exhausted and rushed, detracting from the joy of exploration. By opting for excursions within a two-hour radius, you’ll maximize your time spent sightseeing and minimize transit fatigue. Don’t forget there is plenty to see in Taipei that will easily keep you occupied so don’t feel as if you need to do all of these day trips! Check out my guide here on the 10 best things to do in Taipei and if you’re looking for a base hotel in Taipei check out my hotel review here.
So, whether you’re wandering through the narrow streets of Jiufen, releasing dreams into the sky in Shifen, or indulging in a hot spring retreat in Beitou, these easy day trips promise unforgettable experiences without the stress of lengthy travel times. There are many other day trips under 2 hours away you can do as well such as to Wulai, Yingge or Keelung City (the Keelung Night Market is very popular and worth staying around for), which each have their own charm!
Don’t let the allure of distant destinations overshadow the beauty right on Taipei’s doorstep. Embrace the simplicity and convenience of nearby adventures, and let the magic of Taiwan unfold before you. However, if you do have more time in Taiwan then consider doing overnight trips further away from Taipei – you can follow my 7 day Taiwan itinerary for a guide on where else to visiting in Taiwan. Happy travels!