A worthwhile inclusion to any Taiwan itinerary, Sun Moon Lake ‘shines’ as one of Taiwan’s top tourist destinations.
Whilst it can get busy, the sight of sunset over Sun Moon Lake or a trip to the waterside temples usually makes up for the crowds and it is accessible from Taichung, Taipei and Alishan.
Sun Moon Lake is relatively compact and we’ve included all the highlights in our 1 to 2 day Sun Moon Lake itinerary.
A great place to hike, bike or enjoy luscious lakeside views, Sun Moon Lake has many things to do from cable cars to cultural villages, tranquil temples to Taiwanese tea-tasting – and the views from Ci-en Pagoda are some of the best in Taiwan.
Sun Moon Lake has numerous hotels, restaurants and shops with many tourists and travellers basing themselves in either Ita Thao or Shuishe, both of which overlook the lake.
Pick and choose activities from our Sun Moon Lake itinerary but ideally, you would allow two nights here, especially if arriving late from Taipei.
We last visited Sun Moon Lake in March 2026 staying at the Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel.
Taiwan checklist
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How to get to Sun Moon Lake
We have written an extensive guide on how you can reach Sun Moon Lake from Taipei, Taichung and Alishan, check out our how to get to Sun Moon Lake article >
Taichung is the nearest big city that is connected to Sun Moon Lake with tourist shuttle buses. Many visitors combine a visit to Sun Moon Lake with Taichung, check out our things to do in Taichung guide >
If you are coming on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus from Taichung then you will be dropped off at the Shuishe Visitor Center (map). You can use a Taiwan EasyCard to pay your fare.
Small Taiwan Tourist shuttle buses also operate between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan (2 journeys per day). Check out our Alishan itinerary >
Or try a private driver or transfer – we have written a Taiwan private driver / transfer guide >
Alternatively, try this one day tour from Taipei with Klook >
Sun Moon Lake Accommodation
Most of Sun Moon Lake’s accommodation options are clustered around its two main lakeside towns – Ita Thao and Shuishe, where you can find many mid-range guesthouses and high-end hotels.
Sun Moon Lake is home to some of Taiwan’s most prestigious luxury resorts including The Lalu Hotel, Fleur de Chine Hotel and the Grand Hilai Sun Moon Lake, which are perfect for a special occasion or a Taiwan honeymoon.
These are two mid-range Ita Thao hotels we have stayed at on our 2024 and 2026 Sun Moon Lake trips:
Mid-Range ($$)
Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel
On our latest 2026 trip to Sun Moon Lake, we spent 3 nights here in an amazing 355 ft ² lake view room.
The room itself was clean and comfortable and the balcony was an excellent size. The bathroom was shiny and modern with big glass windows (but you can lower the blinds for privacy). The bed was large, and the TV had the Netflix app inbuilt so we could watch films at night.
Breakfast is served on the top floor (8th floor) offering a small buffet and gorgeous morning views. The hotel is conveniently located near to Ita Thao Pier for the ferry and there are many convenience stores, street food stalls and restaurants on your doorstep.
Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com (use the agoda code TAIWANDERERS for a discount).
Mid-Range ($$)
H& Sun Moon Lake Shui Yang
We stayed at this friendly guesthouse in 2024 – it is located just a few minutes walk from the pier and all the restaurants.
Breakfast was included and you can enjoy eating it on their small deck overlooking the lake. They also provide a small tea tasting tray when you first arrive.
Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
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Sun Moon Lake Itinerary 1 vs 2 nights?
Ideally, Sun Moon Lake needs a couple of nights minimum to explore – or if you are travelling in the rainy or monsoon season, it is good to have at least 2 nights booked, in case one day turns out to be bad weather.
How much you enjoy Sun Moon Lake will likely be very determined by the weather as it is a mainly outdoor place and not too much fun when there is heavy rain and the lake is choppy.
Also there is a lot of travelling time involved – the bus to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei takes 4 hours, or the bus from Taichung takes 1.5 hours, plus to do a full loop of the lake, you would need at least 3 hours of pure cycling time without stopping.
So if your Taiwan trip can afford it, we would recommend two nights in Sun Moon Lake.
Ita Thao vs Shuishe – which is better?
We’ve now done a couple of overnight stays in Sun Moon Lake. Before our first trip, we did a lot of research into which was the best place to stay – as we were reliant on public transport, we narrowed it down to Shuishe vs Ita Thao (Yuchi is another possibility, but the town is a little way back from the lake).
Based on our experiences, we would recommend staying in Ita Thao over Shuishe if you plan to stay more than one night.
Ita Thao has more attractions on its doorstep (like the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village plus various bike, paddleboard and pedalo hire) plus a bigger range of shops and food.
Ita Thao also has a small street food market, and it is an easy, inexpensive ferry boat ride across the lake from Shuishe to Ita Thao (there is just one stop between them – Xuanguang Pier).
That said, if you are only staying one night or want to get an early bus back in the morning to Taipei or Taichung, Shuishe is also perfectly fine with some lakefront hotels. However we personally thought the accommodation at Shuishe seemed a bit more expensive than Ita Thao.
You might like our Ita Thao guide and / or Shuishe guide.
How to get around Sun Moon Lake
There are a variety of different ways you can get around the lake. The main ways are:
- Bike
- Ferry
- Local bus
- Taxi
Sun Moon Lake bus and ferry map
By bike
Named as one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful bike paths, this 30-kilometre scenic loop is a great way to get around the lake, and takes 2.5 hours to complete without stops.
Some parts of the route have demanding inclines, so casual riders may want to only stick to certain parts of the trail – the Shuishe to Xiangshan section is flat, smooth and beginner-friendly, and takes about 30 minutes each way.
The southern half of the lake loop takes you off the bike path and onto the main highway alongside traffic.
You can hire electric bicycles or mountain bikes from rental stores in Shuishe and Ita Thao, plus we saw a large rental place near Xiangshan Visitor Center.
A standard city bike will cost around NT$150 to NT$350 for the day, whilst a standard e-bike will cost NT$500 to NT$800. More premium bikes like e-mountain bikes will cost more. You can pre-book your bike hire on Klook (use the code CKTRAVELS for a discount if spending more than $50 USD).
The Sun Moon Lake ferries are also cyclist-friendly and you can board with your bike – this usually requires a small additional fee (usually around NT$100) paid directly at the pier.
By ferry
Getting out on Sun Moon Lake doesn’t have to be expensive with ferry boat fares starting from just NT$150 per person one way or NT$300 for a round trip (correct as of summer 2026). However, you can buy heavily discounted Sun Moon Lake boat tickets (40% off) in advance from Klook >
Ferry boats operate between 9am and 5pm, with departures running every 15 to 30 minutes. The cruise route operates in a continuous loop connecting three main piers: Shuishe Pier, Xuanguang Temple Pier and Ita Thao Pier. The sailing time between each pier is very short – around 10 to 15 minutes.
The vessels are modern, motorised yachts with both enclosed indoor seating and open-air decks at the back. Most of the journeys have onboard commentary from the boat captain or a crew member, but it is exclusively in Mandarin.
On one journey we used a translation app to understand what was being said (it half worked) and the captain approached us as we were disembarking the ferry to ask us if it worked ok!
By local bus 6669
The Sun Moon Lake round-the-lake local bus route 6669 operates in both directions on an hourly schedule between Shuishe Visitor Center and Xuanguang Temple (via Ita Thao), stopping at many major attractions. The bus does not complete a full continuous circle around Sun Moon Lake.
The first bus departs from Shuishe Visitor Center at 6.40am and finishes around 6pm. You can pay for your journeys with your EasyCard, iPASS or icash cards. Single-ride fares are between NT$24 to NT$40 depending on the length of your journey.
One day passes are available for NT$40 and be purchased at Shuishe Visitor Center, or are included if you purchase a Sun Moon Lake Pass.
Taxi
Taxis are available in Sun Moon Lake but can be quite scarce. We used a few Uber taxis on our last trip, but on one occasion we were unsuccessful in trying to get a ride from our Ita Thao hotel to Shuishe, so we gave up and took the local bus instead!
Other apps you can use for taxi journeys are LINE GO and 55688. Read more in our essential Taiwan apps guide >
Sun Moon Lake itinerary day 1
As you may be arriving either late morning or more likely early afternoon in Sun Moon Lake (especially if travelling from Taipei or Alishan), we would recommend cycling / travelling around the Sun Moon Lake circumference on day 2 of this itinerary, allowing plenty of time to go to key attractions like Wenwu temple and Ci’en Pagoda.
The Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus arrives into Shuishe so if you arrive before your accommodation check-in time, one option is to use the storage lockers at Shuishe Visitor Center immediately next to the Sun Moon Lake shuttle arrival / departure point – or many hotels will let you drop off your bags early.
We have a couple of recommended options on how to spend the remainder of day 1 as part of our Sun Moon Lake itinerary.
Sun Moon Lake itinerary day 1 – option 1
Ferry to Ita Thao
We would recommend taking the Sun Moon Lake ferry to Ita Thao on day 1, before heading to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway along the lakeside esplanade.
And in case you were wondering, yes, you can take your luggage / backpacks on the boat from Shuishe to Ita Thao, if you are staying in Ita Thao – we did this very route with our backpacks (and didn’t get wet once)!
Book your boat tickets in advance here or combine the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway with a ferry ticket here.
Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
A short walk from Ita Thao pier and one of the best things to do in Ita Thao, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway is a cable car that provides some of the best aerial views of the lake. It also delivers you right to the front door of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (more on this later).
The cable car takes under 10 minutes to get to the top and has stunning panoramic views, especially on bright sunny days as the lake glistens in the sunlight – you can even pay a little extra to get glass bottom cable-cars (if you dare).
On our last trip, we went just after it opened hoping to avoid queues but we still had to wait about 20 minutes to go-up. It is worth it though just for the views along the way, even if you don’t want to visit the Aboriginal Village at the end.
A return ticket on the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway departing from Ita thao costs NT$380 (around £9 or $12 USD).
The ropeway is open from 10.30am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 4.30pm on weekends.
Check out this Sun Moon Lake Ropeway and Transport combo ticket >
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (optional)
Part cultural center, part theme park, you’ll find the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village at the top of the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (or it can be accessed by car).
You can take a step back in time to see Taiwan’s main Aboriginal and indigenous groups, their ‘homes’ and traditional crafts and cultural activities like cooking and tribal dances.
The site also has over 25 different rides and various themed zones, plus Taiwan’s largest European style gardens.
Book your discounted Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village ticket with Klook >
Evening / Sunset
Depending on the time you finish after the Ropeway / Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, we would recommend having dinner in Ita Thao if that’s where you are staying – or if you are based in Shuishe, be sure to get the last ferry back just after 5pm or take a local bus / taxi.
Our Ita Thao guide has some recommended eateries as does our respective Shuishe guide. If the weather allows, enjoy sunset over Sun Moon Lake.
Remember that if you bought a Sun Moon Lake round ferry ticket and get off at Ita Thao Pier for the night, you can still do the remaining sectors (Xuanguang Pier and return to Shuishe Pier) using the same ticket on Day 2.
You might like – Our 1 day Taipei itinerary or our 3 day Taipei itinerary
Sun Moon Lake itinerary day 1 – option 2
If you arrive in Shuishe late on day 1 and are staying there or fancy saving the Sun Moon Lake ferry for tomorrow, an easy option for day 1 is to take the local bus north of Sun Moon Lake to Yuchi to visit the HOHOCHA tea museum (open until 5.20pm or 5.50pm on Saturday / Sunday).
Alternatively, if you are staying in Shuishe and have arrived late, spend the night there before starting early the next day to explore the lake area properly – just remember many local restaurants close by 8pm so after that, the 7-Eleven convenience store is your best friend!
HOHOCHA – Taiwan Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Factory 喝喝茶
A short 7 minute bus ride from Shuishe, hop off at HOHOCHA (“to drink tea”), a Sun Moon Lake Black Tea factory famed for its flavorful Ruby Tea – packed with tea products, tasting opps and plenty of tourists, this is a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Created over 30 years by the Wang family, HOHOCHA is centered around a massive 3 storey tea research center which has several gift shops, museum exhibits about the history of tea-making in the region plus a beautiful tea room on the top floor (extra fees apply).
We visited HOHOCHA in Spring 2026 and admission was NT$80 which included a NT$50 discount in the cafe.
We had a lovely tea ice-cream for NT$100 (mango oolong) plus enjoyed a black tea cream puff with a coffee (we know coffee is sacrilege at a tea factory but it is what we wanted)!
Onsite, there are lots of beautifully designed shops and ways to part you with your cash including a cosmetics shop – and don’t forget to get your free souvenir ink stamps at the start.
Sun Moon Lake itinerary day 2
A full day to explore the Sun Moon Lake Area, centered around the lake itself.
Paddleboarding
If you are staying in Ita Thao, you could start the day by hiring a paddle board, canoe or swan pedalo. Check out paddleboard Ita Thao rates on Klook >
Attractions around Sun Moon Lake
There are several ways to get to the attractions in Sun Moon Lake, either using the aforementioned Sun Moon Lake ferry, local buses or by hiring bikes (including electric bikes).
If you have the time (and energy), the best way to navigate the entire circumference of the lake is to hire a bike.
The loop around Sun Moon Lake is just under 20 miles long (or just over 30km) – allow around 3 hours to cycle without stops or around 6 hours if you stop at key sites like Wenwu temple and Ci-En Pagoda.
New cycle paths have been added in recent years meaning it is possible to cycle the full perimeter of the lake in a morning or afternoon. However please note only around a third of the loop route are dedicated cycle paths, and the rest are main roads with some steep climbs.
This website has a great map with routes and difficultly levels >
One of the biggest bicycle rental companies in Sun Moon Lake is Giant Bicycle Rental (map), located on the first floor of Shuishe Shopping Center – bike rental usually starts from around NT$200 plus a refundable deposit.
Check out this Shuishe Sun Moon Lake bike hire with Klook >
If you don’t fancy cycling or walking, your best bet is to use public transport – the Sun Moon Lake ferry and the local bus.
Sun Moon Lake stops / recommended attractions
Read our Sun Moon Lake guide for a big list of around 20 things to do, but for a full Sun Moon Lake 1 day itinerary, the main sites we would recommend to stop at are below (in no particular order).
Ci-En Pagoda (allow 30 minutes)
Built in 1971 at the request of Chiang Kai-shek (the former President of the Republic of China) to commemorate his mother, Ci-En Pagoda is a 12 storey octagonal tower with views of Sun Moon Lake and Lalu Island.
We climbed to the top most recently in March 2026 on a sunny clear day and honestly, it is the BEST place for panoramic views of the lake – although the circular viewing platform at the top can get quite busy with little room to pass each other.
The hike to the top is quite steep (especially if you are starting from Xuanguang wharf Pier) but well worth it for the views and scenic surroundings. If you want to avoid the hike then take the 6669 local bus to Ci-En Pagoda rather than the ferry.
Ci-En Pagoda admission is free of charge – stock up on soft drinks or water as the stall there is not always open. Toilets are also available by the car park.
Xuanguang Temple & Songbailun Natural Park (allow 15 minutes)
Xuanguang Temple dates back to the 1950s and like Wenwu Temple, has stunning views looking out over the lake (we also found it MUCH quieter than Wenwu).
The shrine is dedicated to the Buddhist monk Xuanzang and his teachings – there is also a really nice viewing point in the gardens where families and locals seem to congregate and look out to the lake.
The shop has many religious trinkets and blessings to buy plus ice-cream and soft-drinks – very appreciated on a hot day! It has a free souvenir ink stamp too.
You can access the temple by bus, taxi and bike, but if you are arriving by ferry at Xuanguang Wharf Pier, you will need to walk through Songbailun Natural Park (slightly steep but stunning – be sure to pack water).
Wenwu Temple (allow 30 minutes)
Sun Moon Lake’s best-known landmarks, Wenwu Temple is nothing short of stunning.
Opened in the late 1930s (and rebuilt much bigger in the 1960s) to replace two smaller shrines, Wenwu Temple is located in the hills with stunning views looking out over the water, as well as several halls and shrines to explore, and its own miniature waterfall.
As you first enter, you’ll see huge red guardian lions protecting the temple and then make your way up the steps to visit the three main halls.
The gardens at the top of the site are also a nice place to stroll around with several benches looking out over Sun Moon Lake.
Wenwu temple is free to visit (although donations are appreciated) – the temple is generally open from 8am to 8pm daily.
Wenwu temple is not located near a ferry pier, so is best visited by bike, bus or taxi.
Xiangshan Visitor Center 向山行政暨遊客中心 (allow 30 minutes)
A scenic Sun Moon Lake stop, Xiangshan Visitor Center is a popular pitstop for cyclists traversing the lake and families with cars.
Here you can go to the top of the visitor center to check out the rooftop observation deck looking out over the lake, or watch the ‘multimedia show’ (shudder!) which plays on loop regularly in the theater here.
Tourists also flock here for the food and drink outlets in the visitor center overlooking the lake – the most famous of which is Matcha Prince, a dedicant dessert shop known for its matcha infused sweet treats.
Xiangshan Visitor Center is not located near a ferry pier, so is best visited by bike, bus or taxi. The round the lake 6669 bus does not stop here, but you can take other local buses from Shuishe.
Also remember to do the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (and potentially the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village) if you didn’t do it as part of your day 1 itinerary.
Sun Moon Lake day 2 evening
If you want to stay just 1 night in Sun Moon Lake, you could spend the whole of your second day there before returning to Taichung that same night on the bus.
The last bus from Shuishe Sun Moon Lake visitor center to Taichung leaves at 7.45pm – but please note it may fill up very quickly during peak season and weekends so try to queue up early.
If you are staying overnight for a second night, grab dinner at Ita Thao ‘night market’ (most stalls close around 7pm) or eat at a restaurant near your hotel in Shuise or Ita Thao.
And that concludes our Sun Moon Lake itinerary.
Afterwards, why not head to the mountains and follow our Alishan 1, 2 or 3 day itinerary – you can take a twice daily direct bus from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan.
Check out our Alishan accommodation guide >
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