Short answer: For a first trip, the top places to visit in Taiwan are Taipei, the marble gorge of Taroko National Park, Sun Moon Lake, the mountain railway and cypress forests of Alishan, and the old capital of Tainan. Round out the list with the hill town of Jiufen and the sky lanterns of Pingxi, the port city of Kaohsiung, the tropical beaches of Kenting, the volcanic hills and hot springs of Yangmingshan and Beitou, and the islands of Penghu.
Taiwan is small and easy to get around: a high-speed railway runs the length of the west coast, and trains link Taipei with the east coast. The list is ordered the way we would recommend places to a first-time visitor. Practical details are as of October 2026; for visa-free entry, the online arrival card and money, see our Taiwan travel guide.
1. Taipei
Why it made the list: Taiwan’s capital is one of Asia’s most livable and easygoing big cities, with the National Palace Museum’s collection of Chinese art, the bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 tower, incense-filled folk temples and, above all, food, from beef noodle shops to night markets on every corner.
Best time to go: October to December and March to May. Summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible from July to October, and winter is mild but often gray and drizzly.
Don’t miss: the National Palace Museum in Shilin (Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed most Mondays), the view of the city from Taipei 101’s 89th-floor observatory or from Elephant Mountain at sunset, and an evening at Raohe or Ningxia night market.
Getting there and how long: most international flights land at Taoyuan International Airport, linked to Taipei Main Station by the Airport MRT in about 35 to 40 minutes on express trains. Stay three days, or five with day trips.
Practical note: the metro is spotless and signed in English, and one EasyCard pays for trains, buses and YouBike bikes. Eating and drinking are not allowed in metro stations and trains. See our Taipei travel guide.
2. Taroko National Park
Why it made the list: on the east coast north of Hualien, the Liwu River has cut a narrow gorge through marble, with sheer walls rising hundreds of meters above jade-green water. Next to it, the Qingshui Cliffs drop straight into the Pacific. It is Taiwan’s most dramatic landscape.
Best time to go: March to May and October to November, outside the typhoon season and Hualien’s heaviest rain in September and October.
Don’t miss: the Taroko Visitor Center and the short Taroko Terrace Trail, the drive up the gorge to Tianxiang, and the coastal views of the Qingshui Cliffs.
Getting there and how long: Taiwan Railway express trains run from Taipei to Hualien or Xincheng (Taroko) station in about 2 to 2.5 hours. Spend one full day, or two with the coast.
Practical note: the park reopened in stages after the April 2024 earthquake, but in 2026 the Shakadang, Swallow Grotto and Baiyang trails remain closed for long-term repairs, and the road through the gorge opens only during set release periods. Check the park’s announcements before you go. See our Taroko National Park travel guide.
3. Sun Moon Lake
Why it made the list: Taiwan’s largest lake lies at about 750 m (2,450 ft) in the forested hills of Nantou, at the island’s heart. Morning mist on the water, temples and pagodas on the shore, one of Taiwan’s most beautiful cycle paths and the culture of the Thao people make it the classic overnight stop between Taipei and the south.
Best time to go: October to April for clearer, drier weather; spring for cherry blossoms and fireflies. Come midweek if you can, as weekends are busy.
Don’t miss: the ferry loop between the Shuishe, Xuanguang Temple and Ita Thau piers (about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., every 15 to 20 minutes, with an unlimited one-day ticket), and the seven-minute ropeway ride over the hills, with views of the lake.
Getting there and how long: take the high-speed rail to Taichung, then a direct bus to the lake in about 1.5 to 2 hours. One night is ideal.
Practical note: the ropeway costs NT$420 for an adult round trip and normally closes for maintenance on the first Wednesday of each month, according to the operator. Buy ferry tickets at the official pier booths. See our Sun Moon Lake travel guide.
4. Alishan
Why it made the list: a narrow-gauge forest railway, built by the Japanese from 1906, climbs from the plain at Chiayi through bamboo, tea plantations and cloud forest to a mountain resort at about 2,200 m (7,200 ft), surrounded by giant red cypress trees. Sunrise over a “sea of clouds” is the reward for an early start.
Best time to go: October to April for clear skies, and March and April for cherry blossoms. It is cool all year and cold on winter nights.
Don’t miss: the ride on the Alishan Forest Railway, the forest walk among the sacred giant trees, and the pre-dawn Zhushan line train to the sunrise viewpoint.
Getting there and how long: take the high-speed rail or railway to Chiayi, then the Alishan Express (about five hours, with a stop at Fenqihu) or a bus (about 2.5 hours). Stay at least one night.
Practical note: the main line runs normally again, but with only one through train a day; a full fare from Chiayi to Alishan is NT$600. Tickets go on sale about 15 days ahead online and sell out on weekends. See our Alishan travel guide.
5. Tainan
Why it made the list: Taiwan’s oldest city, and its capital for two centuries, has a compact old center packed with forts, more than a hundred historic temples and lanes of low shophouses. It is also Taiwan’s food capital, with beef soup and milkfish for breakfast and night markets after dark.
Best time to go: October to April, the dry, sunny season. Summer is hot, with heavy rain and typhoons.
Don’t miss: Anping, with the remains of the Dutch-built Fort Zeelandia and the banyan-swallowed Anping Tree House, and a morning eating your way through the West Central District.
Getting there and how long: take the high-speed rail to Tainan station, then the Shalun line shuttle train into town. Stay two or three days.
Practical note: many famous food stalls open only in the morning, sell out early and close one day a week, so go early. There is no metro; walk, bike or take taxis. See our Tainan travel guide.
6. Jiufen and Pingxi
Why it made the list: two of Taiwan’s favorite day trips lie in the green hills northeast of Taipei. Jiufen is a former gold-mining town of steep lanes, teahouses and red lanterns above the coast, and the Pingxi branch railway runs through a valley to villages where visitors launch paper sky lanterns.
Best time to go: spring and fall for clear views. The Lantern Festival, two weeks after Lunar New Year (20 February 2027), is the big night for sky lanterns in Pingxi.
Don’t miss: tea with a view in Jiufen’s old lanes and the Gold Museum at nearby Jinguashi, then the Pingxi line, with a stop at Shifen for its waterfall.
Getting there and how long: about an hour by bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing station in Taipei. Allow a full day for both.
Practical note: Jiufen’s lanes are packed on weekend afternoons, so go early or on a weekday. See the day trips in our Taipei travel guide.
7. Kaohsiung
Why it made the list: Taiwan’s big southern port has reinvented itself as one of the island’s most enjoyable cities, with harbor warehouses turned into the Pier-2 Art Center, temples and pagodas at Lotus Pond, seafood on Cijin Island and a dry, sunny winter.
Best time to go: October to April, the dry season. Summer is hot, wet and stormy.
Don’t miss: Pier-2 and the harbor at dusk, the short ferry to Cijin Island, and the twin pagodas on Lotus Pond.
Getting there and how long: the high-speed rail reaches Zuoying in about 1 hour 35 minutes from Taipei on the fastest trains, and Kaohsiung International Airport has flights around Asia. Stay two or three days.
Practical note: the city is spread out, so base yourself near an MRT station; the metro, the circular light rail and the ferries all take EasyCard. Kaohsiung is also the gateway to Kenting. See our Kaohsiung travel guide.
8. Kenting National Park
Why it made the list: Taiwan’s first national park, created in 1984, covers the Hengchun Peninsula at the island’s southern tip, with coral coasts, tropical forest and the island’s best beaches. Water is warm enough to swim for much of the year.
Best time to go: October to May for dry, sunny weather; June to September for the warmest sea, but with heavy rain and typhoon risk.
Don’t miss: the Eluanbi Lighthouse at the southern tip, the wind-swept grasslands of Longpan facing the Pacific, and the night market on Kenting Street.
Getting there and how long: take the high-speed rail to Zuoying in Kaohsiung, then the Kenting Express or other buses in about 2 to 2.5 hours. Stay two or three days.
Practical note: most beaches, viewpoints and trails are free, and the park headquarters says Sheding Nature Park is free to enter; parking at the main sites is charged by the hour. Strong winds blow from about October to April. See our Kenting National Park travel guide.
9. Yangmingshan and Beitou
Why it made the list: on Taipei’s northern edge, Yangmingshan National Park has steaming volcanic vents, grassland and easy peaks, and Beitou, at its foot, is the city’s hot-spring district. Few capitals have this much nature a metro ride away.
Best time to go: December to February is hot-spring season, when Taipei is cool and damp; spring brings flowers to Yangmingshan.
Don’t miss: the volcanic fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng and the climb of Qixing Mountain, Taipei’s highest peak, then Beitou’s Thermal Valley, the wooden Beitou Public Library and the Hot Spring Museum in a Japanese-era bathhouse, followed by a soak.
Getting there and how long: Beitou is at the end of the red metro line; buses climb to Yangmingshan. A day covers both.
Practical note: the Thermal Valley’s water is far too hot to touch; bathe only in the hot-spring hotels and public baths. See our Taipei travel guide.
10. Penghu
Why it made the list: the Penghu islands, in the Taiwan Strait west of the main island, are Taiwan’s summer escape: basalt islets and columns, beaches, traditional stone fish weirs and seafood, with a slower pace than anywhere on this list.
Best time to go: June to September, the beach season, with summer fireworks shows.
Don’t miss: a boat trip to see the basalt columns of the outer islands, and the heart-shaped stone fish weir on Qimei Island.
Getting there and how long: domestic flights from Kaohsiung and other cities reach Magong, the main town. Stay two or three days.
Practical note: boat trips depend on the sea, so build a spare day into your plans, and keep an eye on summer typhoon forecasts. We do not have a Penghu page yet; see our Taiwan travel guide.
How to fit them into one trip
Taiwan’s shape makes a natural loop: down the fast west coast by high-speed rail and back up the quieter east coast by train.
One week: three days in Taipei with a day in Jiufen and Pingxi, then a night at Sun Moon Lake and two in Tainan, returning by high-speed rail.
Ten days: Taipei (three nights), Sun Moon Lake (one), Alishan (one), Tainan (two) and Kaohsiung (two), with a day trip to Taroko from Taipei at the end.
Two weeks: add Kenting (two nights) after Kaohsiung, then take the train around the south to Hualien for Taroko (two nights) and back to Taipei. Penghu suits a summer trip as a short flight from Kaohsiung.
Book trains early for weekends and holidays, especially around Lunar New Year (4–10 February 2027). Our best time to visit Taiwan guide goes month by month, and our AI trip planner builds the day-by-day plan for your dates.
Plan your trip
Start with our Taiwan travel guide for visa-free entry, the online arrival card, the high-speed rail and costs. Use the AI trip planner to turn this list into a route, check what to expect on your dates with the Destination weather tool, and carry a few key Mandarin phrases with our phrase cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful place in Taiwan?
Most travelers name Taroko Gorge, with its marble walls above jade-green water, or Sun Moon Lake in the morning mist. Sunrise over the sea of clouds at Alishan is close behind.
How many days do you need in Taiwan?
A week covers Taipei, a day trip to Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake and Tainan. Ten days to two weeks lets you loop the island, adding Alishan, Kaohsiung, Kenting and Taroko.
What is the best place in Taiwan for first-time visitors?
Taipei. It has the National Palace Museum, night markets, temples and hot springs, it is easy to get around in English, and day trips reach Jiufen, Pingxi and Yangmingshan.
Is Taroko Gorge open?
Partly. The park has reopened in stages since the April 2024 earthquake, with the visitor center, Tianxiang and several trails open in 2026, but some of its best-known trails remain closed for repairs and the road through the gorge opens only at set times. Check the park’s announcements before you go.
What is the best time to visit Taiwan?
October to early December and March to May are the most comfortable months for a trip around the island. The south, from Tainan to Kenting, is also dry and sunny from November to April.