Going To Taipei, Taiwan? In this installment of our Taiwan Travel Guide Series, we bring you the best day trips that you can make from Taipei city in Taiwan.
Top Day Trips From Taipei
Contents in this Article
- 1 Top Day Trips From Taipei
- 1.1 1. Beitou (北投) Hotsprings – Best Day Trip from Taipei
- 1.2 2. Tamsui (淡水)
- 1.3 3. Maokong (貓空)
- 1.4 How to go to Maokong from Taipei City
- 1.5 4. Jiufen (九份) – Top Recommended Day Trip from Taipei
- 1.6 5. Shifen (十份)
- 1.7 6. Pingxi (平溪)
- 1.8 7. Yehliu Geopark (野柳)
- 1.9 8. Hualien – A Must-Do Day Trip from Taipei
1. Beitou (北投) Hotsprings – Best Day Trip from Taipei
Outside of Japan, Taiwan is the best place in Asia for hot springs. The best hot springs in Taipei are in Beitou, Yangmingshan and Wulai, but we highly recommend Beitou for its convenience and accessibility. Make Beitou Hot Springs one of your day trips from Taipei and relax in the peace and tranquility of the mineral waters at Grand View Resort Beitou.
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Grand View Resort Beitou is one of the best places in Taipei for a private hotspring experience. You can book a private hotspring suite for two at Grand View Resort Beitou online. This travel deal includes an exclusive afternoon tea for two.
How to go to the Hotsprings in Beitou
Take the Taipei MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line (淡水信儀線) (RED LINE) towards Tamshui (淡水) to Beitou Station (北投)or Xin-Beitou Station (新北投), depending on where your hotspring resort is.
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Hot Spring Experience at Grand View Resort Beitou, Taipei
The 1-2-3 Step by Step Guide to get to Grand View Resort Beitou
2. Tamsui (淡水)
Tamsui is located on the same MRT line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line 淡水信儀線) (RED LINE) as Beitou. For convenience, visit both Beitou and Tamsui on the same day. Spend the evening strolling along the Old Streets of Tamsui (淡水老街) and enjoy the scenic waterfront.
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For an experience off the beaten track, take horse riding lessons along the beach of Tamsui and watch the sunset on horseback.
How to go to Tamsui from Taipei City
Take the Taipei MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line (淡水信儀線) (RED LINE). Tamshui (淡水) is the terminal stop of this line. Once you exit from the MRT station,you will see the waterfront. Tamshui Old Street (淡水老街) is just a few minutes walk away.
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Experience the Best of Taipei in 3 Days – Taiwan Travel Guide Series
3. Maokong (貓空)
Maokong was recommended to us by a local and is indeed one of the best things to do in Taipei. Literally translated as cats in the sky, Maokong is akin to a village perched on top of a hill. This is where you will find fresh air and tea plantations at the outskirts of Taipei city. Maokong also happens to be one of the best places in Taipei to have an unobstructed view of Taipei 101.
There are many teahouses in Maokong where you can enjoy good tea and admire the view of Taipei 101. The journey up to Maokong is an equally amazing one. Choose to sit in a glass-bottomed gondola for a trilling ride up to Maokong. For a day of family fun, you can choose to visit the Taipei Zoo which is located at the same MRT station as Maokong.
How to go to Maokong from Taipei City
Take the Taipei MRT Wenhu Line (文胡線) (Brown Line) towards Taipei Zoo. Get off at the terminal stop at Taipei Zoo. Follow the directions towards the gondola that will take you up to Maokong.
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4. Jiufen (九份) – Top Recommended Day Trip from Taipei
This is one day trip from Taipei that you should never miss. Jiufen is said to be the inspiration behind the Japanese anime ‘Spirited Away’. Aside from that, Jiufen Old Street is the perfect place for eating and shopping. The must-try foods in Jiufen are Ah Po fish soup (阿婆魚羹湯), Lao You Hao Yu Yuen (老友號芋圓), Ah-Jou Peanut Ice-Cream Roll (阿珠雪在燒), and Ah Lan Yu Guo (阿蘭芋粿). A trip to Jiufen is often paired with Shifen (see below). Learn how to go to Jiufen and Shifen in one day.
Travelling to Jiufen or Shifen from Taipei by public transport can be rather inconvenient. Those who are travelling in a group or looking for convenience will get better value by taking up a private day tour. With your own driver and car, you’ll get to customize the day tour to Jiufen and Shifen and include more sights such as Yehliu or Pingxi on the way. You’ll also get time on your own to enjoy the sights at your leisure.
How to go to Jiufen from Taipei City
If you intend to take public transport to Jiufen, read our guide on how to go to Jiufen and Shifen in one day. For those who wants to cover Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu in one day, the cheapest option will be to take a round-trip shuttle service. Shuttle services depart either from Ximen MRT Station or Taipei Main Station. For those looking to customize their itinerary or are travelling in a group, a private day tour to Jiufen and Shifen is more value-for-money.
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Fabulous Day Trip to Jiufen Old Street (九份老街), Taipei
Fabulous Jiufen Old Street (九份老街), Taipei
How to Visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day – Taiwan Travel Guide Series
5. Shifen (十份)
Most people pair a day trip to Shifen with Jiufen. It is entirely possible to visit Jiufen and Shifen in 1 day. Shifen is the place where people release sky lanterns – a traditional Chinese practice that brings your hopes and aspirations to the gods in the heavens. A short hike from Shifen Old Town will bring you to the scenic Shifen Waterfall, also known as Little Niagara.
How to go to Shifen from Taipei City
As with Jiufen, read our guide on how to go to Jiufen and Shifen in one day.
Travelling to Jiufen and Shifen from Taipei by public transport can be rather inconvenient. Those who are travelling in a group or prefers a convenient method will get better value by taking up a private day tour. With your own driver and car, you’ll get to customize the day tour to Jiufen and Shifen and add in additional sights such as Pingxi or Yehliu. You’ll also get time on your own to enjoy these sights at your leisure.
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Exploring Shifen Old Town (十份), Taipei
Scenic Shifen Waterfall（十份大瀑布)
How to Visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day – Taiwan Travel Guide Series
6. Pingxi (平溪)
The filming site of the movie You are the Apple of my Eye (那些年，我們一起追的女孩), Pingxi is a lot quieter than Jiufen and Shifen. However, a walk down Pingxi Old Street will acquaint you with its unique charm. Pingxi is an alternative place to release sky lanterns if you want to avoid the crowds in Shifen.
How to go to Pingxi from Taipei City
Pingxi is located on the Pingxi Line (平溪线), the same line that services Shifen. Buy a one day pass for the Pingxi Line (平溪线) if you intend to visit Shifen, Pingxi and other stops on the Pingxi line. Read our guide on how to go to Jiufen and Shifen in one day.
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A walk down Pingxi Old Street (平溪老街), Taipei
How to Visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day – Taiwan Travel Guide Series
7. Yehliu Geopark (野柳)
Yehliu Geopark is located on the northern coast of Taipei. Most people will try and pair it with a visit to Jinguashi (金瓜石), a gold mining town, and or Jiufen and Shifen. What’s there to see at Yehliu? A whole lot of geological structures peppers the coastline. The one to watch out for is the Queen’s Head, a geological structure that resembles its name, and which is said to be vulnerable to collapse within the next 10 years.
How to go to Yehliu from Taipei City
Go to Taipei West Bus Station A and take Bus 1815 that goes towards Jinshan Youth Activity Center. Alternatively, take a shuttle that departs either from Ximen MRT station. There’s another shuttle from Taipei Main station. This shuttle service will bring you to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen in one day.
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8. Hualien – A Must-Do Day Trip from Taipei
Among the list of day trips from Taipei, this is another one that you must not miss. Hualien is the gateway to the renowned Taroko Gorge along the east coast of Taiwan. If you like geological formations and natural coastal scenery, then Hualien is definitely the place for you. Either make Hualien a day trip from Taipei or spend a night at Hualien to experience the old town of Hualien after spending a day at the Taroko Gorge.
The quickest way to get from Taipei to Hualien is by train. However, you’ll need to book the train tickets early as they do get sold out. Alternatively, you can take a day tour to Hualien and the Taroko Gorge from Taipei. This day tour includes round-trip transportation between Taipei and Hualien, as well as all transportation within the Taroko Gorge.
How to go to Hualien from Taipei City
Read our guide on how to go from Taipei to Hualien.
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Read more on our detailed review of each attractions on our Taroko Gorge (太魯閣國家公園) Tour:
Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖), Hualien
Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑步道), Hualien
Eternal Spring Shrine (Chang Chun Si 長春寺), Hualien
Swallow Grotto (Yan Zi Kou 燕子口), Hualien
We hope you find this article useful in your trip planning. We love to hear from you. Please drop us your comments in the comments box below.
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