Zhongzheng & Zhongshan & taipei 101 & Elephant Mountain
“14 nights in Taiwan — Land in Taipei, settle into the Old Town base and ease in with the buzzing Ximending district.”
14 nights in Taiwan, mapped out day by day through Taipei, Taichung / Central and Hualien / Kaohsiung — a place to sleep and something worth doing on every one of the 14 days.
Good to know
- Best season
- 12-26 May
- Pace
- Steady, a full day out
- Where you sleep
- Riverside ryokan and 2 more
- Getting around
- Trains, transit, and walking
- Length
- 14 days
- Budget
- €1,955
The trip, day by day
- 1
Arrival & Ximending
Arrive at Taoyuan, transfer to Old Town guesthouseExplore Ximending pedestrian shopping districtEvening street food and neon-lit people-watching in Ximending - 2
Zhongzheng & Zhongshan
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Zhongzheng districtStroll Zhongzheng government quarter and Liberty SquareAfternoon in Zhongshan district cafes and galleriesDinner along Zhongshan's tree-lined boulevards - 3
Taipei 101 & Elephant Mountain
Visit Taipei 101 observatory and mallLunch in the Xinyi districtHike Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) trailSunset skyline photos of Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain - 4
North Coast: Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen
Yehliu Geopark hoodoo rock formationsYehliu Ocean World marine showExplore Jiufen Old Street and teahousesShifen Old Street and release a sky lanternShifen Waterfall ('Little Niagara of Taiwan') - 5
Theme Parks near Taoyuan
XPark aquarium in TaoyuanLeofoo Village Theme Park rides and safariWindow on China Theme Park miniatures - 6
Maokong, Zoo & National Palace Museum
Ride the Maokong Gondola over the tea hillsTaipei Zoo visitTea tasting in Maokong villageNational Palace Museum treasures - 7
Beitou, Yangmingshan & Spring City Resort
Yangmingshan National Park volcanic scenery and XiaoyoukengBeitou Hot Spring valley and Thermal ValleySoak at Spring City Resort in BeitouEvening return to Taipei base - 8
To Taichung & Gaomei Wetlands
Train to Taichung and check into Uptown garden villaExplore central Taichung and Rainbow VillageGaomei Wetlands boardwalk at sunset - 9
Sun Moon Lake & Qingjing
Boat cruise on Sun Moon LakeCi'en Pagoda and lakeside cyclingDrive up to Qingjing Farm high pasturesQingjing Skywalk mountain views - 10
Alishan Forest
Travel to Alishan National Scenic AreaAlishan forest railway and giant sacred treesSisters Ponds and forest boardwalk trailsReturn to Taichung base - 11
To Hualien & Taroko Gorge
Travel to Hualien and check into Harbourside garden villaTaroko Gorge Shakadang and Swallow Grotto trailsEternal Spring Shrine viewpointEvening at Hualien's Dongdamen night market - 12
Taroko Deep Dive & Coast
Qingshui Cliffs coastal viewpointBaiyang Waterfall trail in Taroko GorgeRelax on Hualien's Qixingtan pebble beach - 13
South to Kaohsiung
Rail journey down the east coast to KaohsiungExplore Pier-2 Art Center and harbourLotus Pond Dragon and Tiger PagodasLiuhe Night Market dinner - 14
Kaohsiung & Departure
Morning at Cijin Island by ferryLast-minute shopping in KaohsiungTransfer to airport for return flight to AMS
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Arrival & Ximending
Land in Taipei, settle into the Old Town base and ease in with the buzzing Ximending district. Arrive at Taoyuan, transfer to Old Town guesthouse and Explore Ximending pedestrian shopping district.
- Flights
- €297
- Stay
- €1,658
- Per night
- €140
Estimates — the booking site shows the real price.
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Zhongzheng & Zhongshan
A grand civic-and-culture day through two of Taipei's core districts. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Zhongzheng district and Stroll Zhongzheng government quarter and Liberty Square.
Taipei 101 & Elephant Mountain
Iconic skyline day topped with the city's best sunset viewpoint. Visit Taipei 101 observatory and mall and Lunch in the Xinyi district.
North Coast: Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen
Full-day north-coast loop of rock formations, a hillside old town and lantern rails. Yehliu Geopark hoodoo rock formations and Yehliu Ocean World marine show.
Theme Parks near Taoyuan
An aquarium plus two classic theme parks in the western Taoyuan cluster. XPark aquarium in Taoyuan and Leofoo Village Theme Park rides and safari.
Maokong, Zoo & National Palace Museum
Gondola views, pandas and world-class Chinese art in the city's green southeast. Ride the Maokong Gondola over the tea hills and Taipei Zoo visit.
Beitou, Yangmingshan & Spring City Resort
Volcanic hot-spring and mountain day to unwind before heading south. Yangmingshan National Park volcanic scenery and Xiaoyoukeng and Beitou Hot Spring valley and Thermal Valley.
To Taichung & Gaomei Wetlands
Transfer to central Taiwan and catch sunset over the famous coastal wetlands. Train to Taichung and check into Uptown garden villa and Explore central Taichung and Rainbow Village.
Sun Moon Lake & Qingjing
Alpine lake and high-country farm scenery in the central mountains. Boat cruise on Sun Moon Lake and Ci'en Pagoda and lakeside cycling.
Alishan Forest
Day into Taiwan's legendary cedar-forest highland. Travel to Alishan National Scenic Area and Alishan forest railway and giant sacred trees.
To Hualien & Taroko Gorge
Cross to the east coast for Taiwan's most dramatic marble canyon. Travel to Hualien and check into Harbourside garden villa and Taroko Gorge Shakadang and Swallow Grotto trails.
Taroko Deep Dive & Coast
A slower day exploring more of Taroko and the Pacific coastline. Qingshui Cliffs coastal viewpoint and Baiyang Waterfall trail in Taroko Gorge.
South to Kaohsiung
Scenic transfer to Taiwan's southern harbour city. Rail journey down the east coast to Kaohsiung and Explore Pier-2 Art Center and harbour.
Kaohsiung & Departure
Final morning in Kaohsiung before flying home. Morning at Cijin Island by ferry and Last-minute shopping in Kaohsiung.
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