Taiwan’s oldest city and ancient capital, Tainan celebrated its 400th anniversary last year in 2024! Steeped in history and located on the southwest coast of Taiwan, it is a joyous mix of the old and new, with so many things to do in Tainan.
Tainan is revered for its ancient temples and fine fortresses – it was even the island’s capital for over 200 years until 1887 under the Qing dynasty.
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With beautiful, old buildings and modern street art, Tainan is home to some of the best Taiwan street-food plus lantern-filled side-streets with gorgeous craft stores.
From night markets to salt fields, creative parks to ‘coffin bread’ (better than it sounds), there are so many awesome activities in Tainan.
Although not as well known as Taipei or Kaohsiung on the tourist circuit, Tainan should definitely be a part of your Taiwan itinerary – we most recently revisited Tainan in spring 2026.
Here is our guide to the top things to do in Tainan, Taiwan.
This article was originally published on cktravels.com in May 2019.
Taiwan checklist
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All set for Taiwan? Do one final check with our Taipei first timers guide and our packing list guide. Travelling with kids? Check out our Taipei For Kids eBook >
How to get to Tainan from Taipei
The quickest way to get from Taipei to Tainan is by High Speed Rail and it takes just under two hours.
The Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) is super fast and arrives into HSR Tainan Station (note: this station is a little bit out of the city, so you will need to take a local train or taxi to get to your hotel).
You can book your high speed rail tickets online with Klook for convenience >
At the time of writing (July 2026), there is a buy 1 get 1 free Taiwan HSR offer on Klook for southern bound trains including Taipei to Tainan.
There is an alternative and much cheaper TRA train from Taipei that arrives at Tainan station (in the city centre) and is half the price of the high speed rail. However the journey time is over twice as long, but is a great choice for travellers who are on a budget and not time limited.
It is best to book your seats on these popular routes well in advance (especially during the Taiwan public holidays like Lunar New Year and Christmas). Check out our Taiwan monthly events guides and Taiwan festivals hub here >
Alternatively you can travel to Tainan in style from Taipei in this private chartered car or read our Taiwan private drivers and chartered cars / transfers guide >
Or hire a motorcycle in Tainan with KK Day >
How to get to Tainan from Kaohsiung
You can take a local train from Kaohsiung station to Tainan station which takes about 35 minutes.
If you want to use the high speed rail, you can take a train from HSR Xin Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung to HSR Tainan Station. The journey takes 13 minutes but be aware that both of the high speed stations are located a short distance out of the city centre.
If you are heading to Tainan from Kaohsiung Airport, then you will need to take a 40 minute taxi, or you can take a combination of train and subway which will take around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass
You can book a Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass for overseas travellers which gives you unlimited travel for 5 days on Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railway trains. Click here to book your Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass on Klook >
How to get around Tainan
There is no underground metro system in Tainan but they have a great bus network. The Tainan tourist shuttle bus (88 and 99) runs daily and takes you to all the major places of interest in the city.
Fares are around 36 TWD one way, or you can buy an all day pass from Tainan train station or online on Klook.
The regular City bus covers most of the city and fares are 18 TWD one way. Most of the bus routes start outside the main Tainan train station. We took the city bus a handful of times, and found them very easy to use – using google maps on our phones to plan our routes.
Be sure to get an EasyCard. Read our guide on how to use and top-up an EasyCard in Taiwan >
Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour Bus in Tainan
The city has recently introduced a new and fairly cheap double decker sightseeing bus which you can book online in advance with Klook here (currently unavailable) >
Accommodation
Mid-Range ($$)
The Retro Tai-Pan
Industrial chic boutique hotel in a central location, with breakfast included. This is where we stayed on our last Tainan trip and highly rate the location, amazing a la carte breakfast and helpful staff. Check rates and availability on booking.com, agoda.com and expedia.com
Luxury ($$$)
Shangri-La Far Eastern Tainan
5 star hotel located a 2 minute walk from Tainan Station. Facilities include a pool, sauna and on-site bars and restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com, agoda.com and expedia.com
Check out the best hotels in Tainan via booking.com, agoda.com and expedia.com
Tainan, Taiwan things to do
1. Anping Treehouse
Taiwan’s national tourist board calls the neighbouring (and historic town) of Anping one of the ‘best small tourist towns’ in Taiwan – so this really is one the top things to do in Tainan (and so unique too).
Along with the Old Fort (see below), the main historic attraction here is the Anping Treehouse. The Anping treehouse itself is actually a former warehouse that was abandoned for many years and allowed to go to ruin, overgrown with banyan trees.
Anping Treehouse in Tainan opened to the public in 2004 and is now one of the most popular Tainan tourist attractions – it reminded us a little of Angkor Wat temples with its overgrown banyan trees.
It doesn’t sound that cool but walking around the Anping Treehouse ruins with roots pushing through the foundations everywhere is fascinating.
There are viewing platforms which allow you to explore the old warehouse from above plus there is a small museum, gift-shop and cafe onsite.
The entry price for Anping Treehouse as of summer 2026 is NT$70 (around $2.20 USD or £1.70) – discounted Anping Treehouse tickets can be bought from Klook here >
Try this – Tainan Tours with Klook and Viator
2. Anping Old Fort / Fort Zeelanda
Another historical attraction as part of your Tainan itinerary, a short walk from Anping Treehouse brings you to Anping Fort (also known as Fort Zeelanda).
Anping Fort can be seen for miles around and was built in the 1620s by the Dutch East India Company, to act as an international business centre – it is very similar in style to the Dutch built Fort Antonio in Tamsui during the same period
As trade at the time depended on military force to control the markets, the value of Tainan to the Dutch was mainly in its strategic position.
As well as exploring the Anping Fort walls and original bastion, you can climb up steep stairs to a viewing tower, providing 360 degree views of the local area (although there are narrow stairs up so not great if you don’t enjoy heights).
To get to Fort Anping easily from Tainan train station, jump aboard bus 2, 88 or 99.
The entry price for Anping Old Fort as of summer 2026 is NT$70 (around $2.20 USD or £1.70) – discounted Anping Old Fort tickets can be bought from Klook here >
Read more about the Anping District in our guide >
You might like – the best phone apps for your Taiwan trip >
3. Ten Drum Cultural Village
A cultural park located in an old sugar refinery, Ten Drum Cultural Park is one of our top Tainan things to do.
Although not a theme park in the strictest sense, it has parts of the old refinery that have been transformed into attractions, like cafes in old industrial drums or flying foxes from the tops of buildings.
There are also lots of fantasy style features like the Harry Potter inspired Magical Space (an Instagrammer’s dream) with winged books and a lovely library setting, the Game of Thrones style chair plus the Rainbow Magic Street where a train regularly runs through.
Originally envisioned as a rehearsal space of traditional Taiwanese drummers, the highlight of the show has to be the live drumming show in the Dream Sugar Theatre.
There are several shows daily and your Ten Drum Cultural Village entrance ticket includes admission to the performance.
A bus ride or train / taxi journey away from downtown Tainan, book your discounted Ten Drum Cultural Village tickets here >
4. Tainan Blueprint Creative Park
Taiwan is famous for its creative parks (especially in Taipei) and Tainan is no exception.
Home to independent, quirky shops, food stalls and pop up art installations and murals, Blueprint Creative Park came to be after local artists expressed a desire to be able to legally paint on walls somewhere in Tainan.
Working with local artists, the local Government converted old Japanese Government dormitories into a Blueprint Cultural Park (hence its ‘shabby chic’ appearance).
Tainan’s creative park has lots of street art adorned on the walls – however, the ‘3D blueprint’ installation that the park was originally named after is now very worse for wear (more ‘shabby’ than chic).
Various pop-up events happen at Tainan’s Creative Park from Design Weeks to Pokemon pop-ups and the coffee shops – if you happen to be in Tainan on a weekend, be sure to go to the weekend flea markets at Blueprint Creative Park.
We last visited Tainan Blueprint Creative Park on a Saturday afternoon, and it was bustling with stalls and Taiwanese food pop-ups. The permanent shops and galleries are open during the week; the cute craft shops and stationery stores here are amazing!
This is one top Tainan activity and an awesome attraction (free too), definitely a ‘blueprint’ for success.
5. Hayashi Department Store
Tainan’s Hayashi Department Store is like stepping back in time in Taiwan, akin to visiting Harrods or Liberty in London.
Six stories in height and relatively compact (don’t expect a huge modern department store), Hayashi Department Store was opened in 1932 during the Japanese occupation and to this day still has its original lift / elevator in working order.
One of the best things to do in Tainan’s Hayashi Department Store is visit the rooftop where there are several food outlets (and a lovely tearoom), with a gorgeous gift shop and shrine dedicated to the owner.
Many of the products we saw were exclusive to this particular store plus the upper floors had several pop up clothing and crafts stores. And they have a massive collection of pineapple cakes and other Taiwanese tidbits and tasty souvenirs
Try to coincide your visit to Hayashi Department Store with sunset and enjoy glorious views of the city.
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s 15+ best shopping malls and shopping districts >
6. Guohua Street
Guohua Street is easily one of the best things to do in Tainan and a top Tainan tourist spot – it is a busy, narrow shopping road packed full of cool shops and eateries, but do watch out for the mopeds!
There is just so much to see (and eat) here, and it seems to be very popular with the Tainan students – we tried a few street food dishes (including a Korean pancake from Little Korea).
We even noticed a food stall that had such a big queue that they had a resident DJ complete with decks to keep the crowd entertained as they queued.
Google Maps link to Guohua Street >
7. Shennong Street
Possibly the prettiest and most picturesque street in Tainan, Shennong Street used to be the main entrance for the river ports during the time of the Qing Dynasty – it was once the busiest area in the whole of the city, as merchants and buyers would enter and exit from the port here.
Shennong Street in Tainan has a glut of gift-shops (some of which stay open late), but the overall aesthetic is still rather pleasing (although the arcade machines on the street by the main entrance are not so in keeping with the character of the local area).
We once visited Shennong Street during Chinese New Year so the walls were adorned with red Chinese lanterns, and each shop was taking part in a decorative lantern competition, which they had proudly displayed outside their stores. Also check out what Dihua Street looks like in Taipei during Lunar New Year >
Along Shennong Street, there are several Tainan temples and shrines to explore including the small but sublime JInhua temple, plus you can walk to Shuixian Gong Market, a local wet market.
You might like – Our guide to Cijin Island, Taiwan’s tropical paradise in Kaohsiung >
8. Chimei Museum Tainan
Arriving at Chimei Museum on the bus and walking through landscaped gardens complete with marble fountains and domed roofs felt like being in Europe.
Like nowhere else we’ve been to in Tainan, Chimei Museum is famous in Taiwan for its western art collection and extravagant exteriors (reminiscent of Greek villas or an Italian piazza).
There is also a huge Rodin permanent gallery complete with an accurate reproduction of Rodin’s The Thinker sculpture.
Set in lush landscaped grounds, Chimei Museum has a mix of permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions (and based on our visit, is very popular with local students and university groups).
Entry is NT$200 for the permanent collection; and there is even a rather nice 7-Eleven, gift shop and Starbucks inside – plus a 7-Eleven bar.
Most exhibits and artifacts have Chinese and English interpretation cards plus the surrounding gardens, lakes and ponds are equally stunning.
Make a day of it and combine it with the Ten Drum Cultural Village which is a short walk away nearby.
Also watch out for the geese in the grounds – there was recently a viral video of them chasing a stupid selfie taker.
Book your Chimei Museum permanent and special exhibition ticket in Tainan >
9. Sicao Green Tunnel
It wasn’t until our latest 2026 Tainan trip that we finally made it to the “Little Amazon of Taiwan”, the lush Sicao Green Tunnel (四草綠色隧道) – this is a must do activity in Tainan if you want to do something a little different and away from the city.
Located in Tainan’s Annan District which can be reached by bus, Sicao Green Tunnel is a gorgeous mangrove and canal area which can be accessed by bamboo raft tours costing just NT$200 per adult or NT$100 per child. Or you can book ahead via Klook to get discounted Sicao Green Tunnel raft tickets.
This tranquil Tainan area is home to the largest variety and number of mangrove wetland ecosystems in the country and is a natural ecosystem for such species as mudskippers and Milkfish.
The boat ride is brief but fun and you are given a lifejacket and bamboo hat as you board – please note the mangrove branches can be VERY low so do remember to duck and keep an eye on where you are going!
And if you don’t fancy the boat-ride or would rather watch others take a ride, there is a small bridge next to the temple which has amazing views of the mangroves – plus people on the boat often wave.
Whilst here, you can also visit the Sicao Dazhong Temple 四草大眾廟 known for its beautiful dragon carvings and striking entrance plus a free to visit Sperm Whale Exhibition Hall (we are not making this up!)
10. Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields
Honestly, this was one of the best things in Tainan we did – calm, serene and salty as, the Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields 井仔腳瓦盤鹽田 were first created over 200 years ago during the Qing dynasty.
Almost resembling piles of snow, the salt fields here are an impressive site and you can watch as local workers dry the salt and move it around in giant wheelbarrows – the best viewpoint is from the free observation deck which has a panoramic view of the salt fields and local area.
To prevent salt crystals from attaching to the soil, salt miners used to lay out broken ceramics to produce clearer and better quality crystallised salt.
Try to time your visit to Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields 井仔腳瓦盤鹽田 at sunset so you can see the sun reflect in the salt ponds and nearby lagoon.
There also seems to be some form of electric beach train you can explore the local area in plus a photo-spot where you can pose with salt mining tool – Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields are free to visit.
Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields is located around a 50 minute drive north of Tainan city center, so it is best reached by car, or as part of an organised day tour.
Check out this day tour on Klook – Ten Drum Culture Village, Qigu Salt Mountain, Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields and Dadong Night Market day tour >
11. Anping Navy Destroyer Museum
Taiwan is ‘Transforming’ – welcome to the Navy Destroyer Museum in Anping Harbour (in Tainan), Taiwan’s only warship museum which currently has a very special display (a great thing to do in Tainan with kids).
Every year, the Anping Navy Museum Destroyer usually has a different kid’s exhibition dotted around the Destroyer. One year it was Transformers and in 2025, you could catch super-cute and colorful Ro Wonderlands characters onboard the ROCS Te Yang vessel (formerly the USS Sarsfield) which was built in 1945 and decommissioned in 2005.
Admission costs just NT$100 for adults, children under 6 go free.
Skip the queue – buy your Navy Destroyer Museum tickets here with Klook >
Admission to the warship museum is also included as part of the Tainan pass >
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12. Snoopy / Peanuts Baseball 7-Eleven
As regular readers of Taiwanderers will know, we are slightly obsessed with themed 7-Elevens in Taipei and themed 7-Elevens in Kaohsiung.
You can read even our Taiwanderers guides to 7-Eleven Snoopy, 7-Eleven Hello Kitty, 7-Eleven Bugcat Capoo and 7-Eleven Ultraman (all in Taipei)
Tainan also has several themed 7-Elevens including our favorite – a Peanuts baseball / Snoopy themed 7-Eleven. Inside, you’ll find loads of Snoopy merchandise and gifts (plus Sanrio, Disney merch and more).
The outside of the stall had huge Snoopy baseball graphics plus inside, you could get super cute EasyCards with Snoopy and Charlie Brown playing sports.
The Peanuts and Snoopy 7-Eleven in Tainan can be found here on Google maps >
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13. Tainan Art Museum
Opened in 2019 and spread over 2 buildings, Tainan Art Museum displays over 400 years of local and national art across 35 different galleries.
Once Tainan’s Police Headquarters, this is now one of Tainan’s most popular museums and is within walking distance of Tainan train station.
Book your discounted Tainan Art Museum tickets here via Klook >
You might like – Guide to what Taiwan souvenirs you can buy to take home >
14. Anping Old Street
A little walk from Anping Fort, Anping’s Old Street is a busy, bustling side-street packed full of street-food stalls, gift stores, fairground style carnival games plus various bakeries and sweet shops.
Given how narrow it is, Anping Old Street gets pretty rammed with people and push-chairs (especially on weekends and public holidays).
Incidentally, ‘Old Street’ as a term in Taiwan often refers to somewhere with lots of tourist shops and restaurants, not necessarily an old street.
We found Anping Old Street one of the cheapest places for souvenirs in the whole of Taiwan, especially things like faux LEGO sets or cute drink carriers.
15. Tainan Grand Mazu Temple
Grand Mazu temple (aka the ‘Great Queen of Heaven temple) is Tainan’s most revered place to worship and is dedicated to Mazu, the patron deity of fisherman.
It is open seven days a week (free admission) and you’ll likely witness a great number of local people paying their respects when visiting – there are around 500 Mazu temples nationwide but this is one of the most visited temples in the whole of Taiwan.
The statue of Mazu here is around 300 years old with the site dating back to 1664 (although the temple has gone through many renovations and changes over the years, including earthquakes and fires).
Inside, you can wander freely around the Grand Mazu temple plus there are several stalls to buy charms – this is one of the busiest places to visit in Tainan.
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan’s famous Pingxi Line, which includes Shifen Waterfall and Houtong Cat Village
16. Chihkan Tower (partially closed in 2026)
Also known as Fort Provintia, Chihkan Tower was originally built in the 1650s (rebuilt in the 19th century) and looks over Tainan’s historic quarter – a rich mix of Chinese and Western influences, the gardens are also nice to explore and there is a gift-shop.
It is a curious juxtaposition to see such a magnificent fort in the middle of a busy intersection in downtown Tainan, overlooking traffic and convenience stores. At the time of writing (summer 2026), some of the tower is still closed for renovations.
Admission to Chihkan Tower costs NT$50 per adult as of August 2026.
You might like – Our Taiwan itinerary guides >
17. Asakusa Shopping Center
Tainan’s Asakusa Shopping Center (西門淺草青春新天地) is newly branded themed shopping center and food court located in a historic warehouse dating back to the 1910, part of the Qiancao Shopping Zone(淺草新天地).
It really looks the part and here you can find everything from local crafts and foods to international fare.
Located by the iconic West Market and Ximen Market in West Central District, this forms the centerpiece for Tainan’s old downtown area and this is a great area for retail therapy.
Immediately outside, there are lots more food stalls plus a weekend flea market – it was definitely one of the busiest areas we visited in Tainan.
18. Yongle Street Market
We paid a quick visit to Yongle Street Market in Tainan, close to Chihkan Tower one weekday lunch-time and it was PACKED.
Every stall was bustling with big queues, populated by lunchtime workers and elderly citizens in search of some seriously good food.
Some of the most popular stalls here varied from stinky tofu to corn on the cob and fresh AF strawberries.
Try this – Mini tour with locals: nostalgia Tainan tour >
19. The Spring
On our latest trip to Tainan in spring 2026, we spent a night at the themed Beer Hotel which had a balcony looking out Tainan Spring.
This is an urban park and public space in the middle of Tainan that sits on the site of a former shopping center – modern in design with fountains and a shallow stream, this is a fun thing to do in Tainan with kids, especially in the summer months.
At night, Tainan’s Spring is also lit up with fairy lights and there are several boardwalks and paths to explore.
20. Qigu Salt Mountain
This might be one of the weirdest Taiwan tourism attractions we’ve been to – recently we visited Qigu Salt Mountain 七股鹽山 complete with a huge Shiba on top.
It was quiet during the week but at the weekends, we’ve seen pics of huge lines plus there are curious photo spots all around.
Brilliantly bizarre and an interesting place to learn about the local area’s salt production and how important it is to the local economy! They also do the best salt popsicles we’ve ever tried in Taiwan!
PS The setup here is very different from the Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields – if you only want to do one salt field in Tainan, we suggest you go to Jingzaijiao instead.
21. Anping Fisherman’s Wharf / Historic Harbor Park
A nice spot for a stroll beneath the banyan trees and overlooking the water, you can walk into Anping from the Navy Destroyer Museum via Fisherman’s Wharf and Lin Mo-niang Park.
The latter is named after and has a huge Mazu statue of Lin Mo-Niang, a deity / goddess who protects the sea.
Alternatively, have a ‘whale’ of time in Tainan at Anping Fisherman’s Wharf, memorable for its ‘Big Fish’s Blessing’ installation.
This is a whale shaped lookout and observation deck designed by Taiwanese artist Yang Shiyi, complete with a stained-glass ceiling.
It is made from almost 4,000 steel supports & 450 pieces of colourful glass. Free to visit, it can be found overlooking the harbor at Anping Fisherman’s Wharf.
You might like – Things to do in Kaohsiung with kids >
22. Night markets
Central Tainan has three major night markets which all open on differnet nights of the week:
Wushang Night Market
Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights
When we returned to Tainan most recently, we discovered Wushang Night Market which is open only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to midnight.
We really like this Tainan Night Market as it was full of life, had lots of different food stalls plus families having fun on all the fairground rides and games stalls (including archery and pistol firing).
From taro balls to top hats, mobile phone cases to melon balls, you’ll find all manner of stalls (around 300) at Wushang Night Market in Tainan.
Dadong Night Market
Open Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights
One of Tainan’s biggest and best night markets, Dadong Night Market 大東夜市 has many stalls and is open Tuesday, Friday and Monday nights between 6pm and 1am.
We saw very few tourists at Dadong Night Market and this had all your usual tasty Taiwanese street-foods like stink tofu, candied fruit and BBQ stalls – but it also had some of the more unusual foodie finds that we’ve seen of any night market in Taiwan.
Our favourite stall was Hyun’s Souffle pancakes – a Japanese / Taiwanese style fluffy pancake maker. There were lots of sweet as topping flavors to choose from but we went for the distinctly Taiwanese boba tea pearls and caramelized creme brulee fluffy pancake – so naughty but so so good!
Tainan Flower Market
Open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights
‘Blooming’ heck – so we had read a few articles about how good and authentic the Tainan Garden Flower Night Market is.
Chock full of Taiwanese street food and games stalls, we were personally a bit underwhelmed by it compared to all the other Taiwanese night markets we had previously visited.
So yes, there are a lot of stalls at the Garden Night Market in Tainan, but the food is all very similar and can get very busy down the narrow lanes at peak periods.
When we eventually found quiet moments we were able to order ourselves some famous Tainan coffin bread, a bag of fried chicken and several other local snacks.
It is also very cool to sit with the locals at the crowded tables and see what they are eating.
There is much fun to be had too watching the amusement stalls, where revellers try to pop balloons with darts or win prizes with children’s fishing rods.
23. Anping’s sword lion postboxes
A very brief mention of these amazing postboxes which are now a very popular photospot in Tainan.
These were unveiled recently to celebrate the renovations of Anping Post Office which blends traditional architecture and modern features.
You might like our guide to weird things to do in Taipei (which features Taiwan’s famous wonky postboxes).
24. Sabah Milkfish Museum and Yuguang Island
Yes, there is a milkfish museum on Yuguang Island dedicated to fishy fun – and you can even try lots of milkfish snacks and make your own milkfish balls.
Free to visit, the Tainan milkfish museum was created by Lu Ching-ying, the “Queen of Milkfish.” The museum promotes local milkfish products and is quite a fun place to explore – there are also free milk fish souvenir ink stamps too.
Just across from the museum, take a walk along Tainan’s best beach, Yuguang Island Beach 漁光島沙灘 which is popular for sunbathing, surfing and sunset strolls.
Check out this Milkfish Museum guided tour and milkfish ball DIY experience on Klook >
25. Tainan Park
Although not really on the tourist map, we saw Tainan Park on the map (still shown by its former name of Zhongshan on some older Tainan maps) and decided to have a sunset walk there early one evening,
Very much under the radar of tourist things to do in Tainan, the serenity and beauty of the huge floating pavilion made this park really stand out.
As well as the pathways that arch around the Tainan Park / Zhongshan lake, there are several arched footbridges, lily bonds and smaller pavillions to discover.
In addition, there is one of the few Qing dynasty stone archways still remaining in Taiwan (it is incredible to find such a historic relic so unexpectedly and unannounced in the middle of the park).
The locals (especially the elderly population) make good use of the park, with large groups congregating to chat, play chess or perform tai chi / exercises. It is a popular jogging spot in Tainan too.
Try this – a very special Tainan afternoon treat at Eight Tube Sweet Room >
26. Tainan Treasure House
No, not Alice in Wonderland but Taiwan’s most “beautiful” and ‘bling’ Government building! Amazingly, this is a former Immigration Agency office in Tainan (map) that has been transformed into a ‘Treasure House’ (AKA 藏金閣2館).
It showcases a collection of elegant second hand furniture, trinkets made from recycled materials, eco-friendly sculptures and even the garden and playground outside seem to have been inspired by Lewis Carroll’s books.
According to the onsite panels, the Tainan building “embodies the concept of a circular economy, allowing people to integrate the idea of resource recycling into their daily lives”… we just know its wonderfully weird for a Government building.
27. ABC Burger Tainan
OK, we know you don’t come to Taiwan for hamburgers BUT hear us out – this was the best burger in Taiwan we ever had and we discovered it because it was located next door to our Tainan Hotel (the Retro Tai-Pan) with table upon table of hungry and happy local diners.
Tainan ABC Burger has such a good reputation locally and it started off life as a market stall before becoming a popular restaurant – we visited on a Friday night and it was heaving.
There are several burger types to choose from and you can add fries and a soda to any order for just NT$80 – the burger was juicy and delicious and we have no regrets about trying here; delicious!
28. Tainan Anping canal boat tours
Head out on the water and see Anping District from its canals – there are three different routes to choose from. Fun is to be had when going beneath the bridges as you need to bow down.
Perhaps the best route is the Anping Port Line , which departs every weekend. It sails through gorgeous and scenic spots such as Anping Lighthouse, the Destroyer ship, Anping Fishing Market and Anping Lighthouse.
Book your Anping cruise with Klook >
29. Craft beer bars
Sparrow Brewing
‘Ganbei’ / cheers to Sparrow Brewing, one of the very few craft beer bars in Tainan (we found a lot more craft-beer bars and breweries in Taipei).
A compact and charming taproom with one big bar to sit around and a few outdoor chairs, what Sparrow Brewing lacks in interior space is made up for by the massive range of Tainan craft beers on tap.
We spotted around 15 different draft beers to try, with some very unusual flavours too – coriander lemon-grass beer was quite an acquired taste!
We Drink Beer
Another Shennong Street drinking spot, we had some craft beers at We Drink Beer 沃隼釀造 (well, that is after we worked out how to open the huge revolving door – we weren’t the only ones!).
The Tainan craft beer scene is pretty good and We Drink Beer is one of the better brewery bars, although when we visited, the hip as staff seemed to be more focussed on preening themselves than pouring pints.
A modern taproom on one the city’s oldest streets, We Drink Beer had four craft beers on tap when we visited in 2026 (the stout and IPA’s were very good) plus many bottled craft beers to choose from, costing around NT$190 a beer.
Piao-Lounge Craft Beer Bar
We absolutely adored this English style bar in Tainan – the locals made room for us to sit at the bar and we got chatting to some of the regulars plus some visitors to town who had just been to Tainan Pride.
Compact and cosy over two levels, Piao-Lounge is a neighborhood craft beer bar with around 12 beers on tap, focussed mainly on Taiwan beers plus a few US and European beers. On tap when we visited were local Taiwan breweries like Red Point, Yilan’s Black Drongo Brewery, Jim & Dad’s, Ugly Half, Flow Brewing and several more.
A pint of lager at Tainan’s Piao Lounge starts from NT$240 and honestly, we could have stayed here all night drinking our way through the taps and getting Tainan tips from the tipsy drinkers.
Taihu Tainan 大東夜市
Certainly one of the largest brewery bars and taprooms in Taiwan that we’ve been to, this is a beautiful and big bar from Taihu brewing.
We visited on a quiet Sunday night and counted 20 different beers on tap plus dozens more craft beer cans in fridges – the bar music system played grunge music loud and proud.
With a huge range of Taihu beers on tap, we sat at the bar (as we weren’t eating) and looked longingly at all the taps. Beers start from around NT$220 for a small glass with beers like West Coast DIPA, Tropical Krush, Honey Hibiscus Goze and Blackberry Pie Smoothie Sour – they also have an extensive pizza and burger menu.
30. Try danzai noodles
This popular and simple dish originates from Tainan and consists of a a bowl of Chinese wheat noodles in a shallow light broth that is made from simmered pork bones, prawns, onion, spices and vegetables.
The soup and noodles are served with coriander, black vinegar and garlic, and then topped with minced pork and prawns, and is usually sold in small portions to eat as a snack rather than a main dish.
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31. Jingliao Old Street 菁寮老街
On the outskirts of Tainan towards Chiayi, we absolutely loved Jingliao Old Street 菁寮老街 and visited in February 2026 whilst taking a private transfer car from Fenqihu to Chiayi.
It is famous today as one of the main places to manufacturer the famous Taiwan Striped Bag 茄芷袋 – Ga Ji Di, the red, blue and green market bag you’ll see everywhere and which is very fashionable again.
Jingliao is almost like a working museum, with lots of traditional Taiwanese shops and souvenir stalls including the 80 year old Ho Hsin Fruit and Ice Shop. The street has around 20 or 30 old and modern shops and is free to visit, plus closed to traffic at certain times of the day.
Here you can also visit several striped bag shops and factories, where you can buy various colours and striped patterns plus customize your own products – a tote-ally unique souvenir! We bought a striped boba tea holder.
We were approached by a dad from a local family and he asked us how we’d heard about Jingliao Old Street as he lived here and had seen so few Western tourists visit. We got chatting (he knew London) and ended up buying us a local sugar cane drink as he wanted for us to try it so much – Taiwan hospitality is amazing.
32. 龍九坊 Speakeasy Bar
Located on Shennong Street, 龍九坊 is a hidden away cocktail / speakeasy bar that is disguised as a Hong Kong cinema outside – to enter, you need to pick up the vintage telephone at the entrance and dial “9” in order for the hidden door to pop open.
Inside, an opulent interior awaits with red bar stools, hidden nooks and neon vibes – 龍九坊 Speakeasy Bar is known for its signature cocktails like egg custard, hard iced tea and pandan costing NT$380 to NT$400 each (prices correct as of June 2026).
Dim sum style snacks include steamed pork ribs, chicken feet, crab row shumai and the classic xiaolongbao dumplings.
33. Tainan Snail Alley
Certainly one of the more unusual things to do on our Tainan itinerary, take a slow walk (possibly at a snail’s place) along Snail Alley, a collection of colorful alley ways and corners with various artworks, miniature models and some cute manhole covers.
“Snail Alley” is titled after a scene from the Taiwanese book “The Past is Like a Cloud” – its author Yeh Shih-tao lived in this Tainan neighborhood before his death.
The Snail Alley even has a French cafe hidden in the middle that even serves up l’escargot – whilst quirky, we’d say this probably isn’t worth a special visit.
34. Tainan Lòng Story
One of Taichung’s newest attractions. ‘Taiwan Long Story’ is a co-working space, cultural hub and cute rooftop cafe all rolled into one. It was once the Tainan Cathay Hotel which opened back in the late 60s although much has changed since then.
As Tainan is usually known for its historic buildings, it is refreshing to see a renovated building get such attention and media spot-light.
An Instagrammer’s dream with so many symmetrical staircases, the intention was to convert the 50 year old + hotel here into a modern hostel but planning regulations made it too difficult so it is now a mixed-use space with one of Tainan’s coolest cafes.
Entrance to Taiwan Love Story costs NT$250 which can also be used as part payment in the cafe (the ice cream is recommended) – tours of the building are also available for around NT$350.
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35. Tainan Street Art
2026 update – on our last visit to Tainan, a lot of the street-art we photographed previously has now disappeared including the iconic Super Mario style street art.
Art attack! Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for Tainan’s creative and alluring street art. It is all around (from street furniture to road signs) as you roam the streets (some easier to find than others).
The beauty of Tainan’s street art is that it changes regularly so you never know what you are going to find.
Alas, there also used to be a dedicated Museum of Street Art (the outdoor 3D mural reminded us a little of Super Mario) but this now appears to be closed down.
36. Tianhou Temple
Close to Anping Fort, Tianhou Temple as it is the first main temple you see as you exit the fort gates.
An incredibly intricate and beautiful temple with its origins dating back from 1668 (although last rebuilt in 1994), this the largest temple in the area.
Tianhou (also known as Anping Matsu Temple) was very busy with worshippers paying their respects whilst we visited so we tried not to get in their way and only stayed a short amount of time to get some photos – it is free to visit.
Inside, there are helpful volunteers with temple information leaflets plus several stalls that sell charms and religious tokens.
37. National Museum of Taiwan Literature
Located in a beautiful building dating back over 100 years (it used to be City Hall), this is Taiwan’s very first national literature museum and free to visit.
With the main exhibit panels in Mandarin and English, this is a great free thing to do in Tainan and it covers off significant periods in Taiwan’s history like the Japanese occupation (which this building was built during) and Taiwanese censorship.
There are permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions as well as immersive exhibits – please note the National Museum of Taiwan Literature is closed on Mondays.
Like this? Check out our guide to Taiwan’s National Comic Museum in Taichung >
38. Chin Men Movie Theater (now closed)
2026 Tainan Update – the Chin Men Movie Theater sadly closed down in early 2025 and its future plans are currently unknown. Let’s hope it can be preserved like other culturally significant buildings in Tainan.
The Chin Men Movie Theatre is a historic Tainan cinema / theater that famous Taiwanese film director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Hulk) used to visit as a young boy.
Chin Men is also the only theater left in Taiwan that still displays hand drawn movie posters, many of which can be seen outside the theater and on the surrounding streets.
Created and lovingly hand-painted by Yan Jhen Fa for the last 50 years, his eyesight is now sadly starting to deteriorate so the tradition may soon die.
Specialising in older, second run movies, when we visited the Chin Men movie theater, we saw large intricate hand painted posters outdoors (in early 2024) for recent releases like Napoleon, Oppenheimer and The Marvels.
We read that you can sometimes see Yan Jhen Fa at work as he often paints his movie masterpieces on a vacant lot across the road from the Chin Men Theatre, but unfortunately he wasn’t there the day we visited.
Yan Jhen Fa is still hard at work, recently creating a special Coldplay mural in Taipei’s Ximending.
In 2024, Yan turned 71 years ‘young’ and was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2024 Taipei Film Festival in recognition of his 50 years of service to the film industry.
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39. Other things to do in Tainan and Tainan tours
- See how tightly packed the graves are at Anping District First Cemetery.
- Take part in the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival every February (but be sure to bring protective clothing as it is fiery and full-on)!
- Tainan & Yuguang Island Crescent Bay Canoe & Windsurfing & SUP Stand Up Paddle Experience >
- Take a kids to Tainan’s Austin Land themed play park >
- Visit Taiwan’s only fossil theme park in Taiwan – over 50k tickets booked with Klook >
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