How to spend one week in Taiwan? There is so much to see in Taiwan that 7 days isn’t really enough – but if you’re short on time, this 7 day Taiwan itinerary includes cities, culture, nature and night markets plus some suggested options for day trips.
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Starting in Taipei (or Kaohsiung), our Taiwanderers one week itinerary includes Taipei, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake with a possible option to include Kaohsiung, one of our favourite Taiwan cities.
With suggested stops, accommodation and transport trips, this is our ultimate Taiwan one week itinerary + photos for 2025.
You might like – Our first-timers guide to Taipei and Taiwan >
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook. You can also purchase eSIMs from Airalo.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars.
Taiwan 1 week itinerary / 7 day summary
We’ll show you how to maximise your one week in Taiwan, based on flying into Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei (Taiwan’s main airport) or Songshan Airport with an option to either fly out from Kaohsiung International Airport, or head back to Taipei to fly home from there.
Our 7 day Taiwan itinerary consists of these destinations (click to skip to each section of the itinerary).
- Days 1 to 3 – Taipei >
- Day 4 – Taichung >
- Days 5 to 6 – Sun Moon Lake >
- Day 7 – Kaohsiung (or return to Taipei) >
If you have a few more days planned (e.g. 10 days in Taiwan), we’d also suggest considering Alishan and / or Hualien (the latter especially once Taroko National Park fully reopens, likely in late 2025).
But for a 7 day / one week Taiwan itinerary, this schedule will give you a nice taste of Taiwan and hopefully encourage you to come back again soon for a longer trip.
You might like – 10 best neighborhoods to stay in and visit in Taipei >
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How to spend 7 days in Taiwan – arriving
Day 0 – Welcome to Taiwan
The vast majority of Taiwan travellers will arrive at Taoyuan International Airport. If you haven’t already pre-booked your eSIM or SIM card before arrival, you can buy Taiwan SIM cards in the ‘Arrivals’ section of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
It is very easy (and inexpensive) to go from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to downtown Taipei via the Taipei Airport MRT – it costs $NT160 as of April 2025 – check out our Taoyuan Airport transport guide here >
The Taiwan airport bus runs 24 hours a day so it is convenient if you arrive between 11pm and 6am when the Taipei Metro is closed.
Alternatively, you can consider taking a taxi or pre-book a private transfer from Taipei airport with Klook or Viator (best for large groups or big luggage).
We’d recommend buying a Taiwan EasyCard at Taoyuan Airport (or in advance via Klook) to get around Taipei – check out our guide to Taiwan EasyCards, plus all the cool 3D EasyCard designs.
If you have time (and energy) on ‘Day 0’ after arriving into Taiwan and checking into your Taipei hotel, you might want to head straight to your first Taipei night market for some late-night bites – check out our Taipei night market recommendations here >
Taiwanderers Tip
If you are flying into Taipei between now and June 2025, overseas visitors can enter the Taiwan Tourism Lucky Land Lottery for free!
Lots of prizes are available from pre-loaded EasyCards to free hotel stays, with some prizes worth up to NT$5,000 – but you must register 7 days prior to your arrival here. Read more in our Lucky Land guide >
Taipei Accommodation and Neighborhoods
There are lots of Taipei neighborhoods to choose from – we’ve written about all the best Taipei neighborhoods here and have summarised a few of them below:
| Taipei Area | Why stay in this Taipei Neighbourhood? |
| Ximending | The perfect area for first time visitors to Taipei with a central location, excellent transport links (close to Taipei Main Station), multiple affordable hotels and night-time fun |
| Xinyi | Taipei’s central business district with a lot of shopping malls, cheap chain restaurants plus famous landmarks like Taipei 101 |
| Zhongshan | Chock full of cool cafes, vintage stores and hipster hangouts, this is Taipei’s trendiest neighborhood where the cool kids hang out |
| Zhongzheng | The area immediately around Taipei Main Station with great transport links, lots of budget hotels and restaurants galore – central and convenient |
| Dadaocheng & Datong | A central Taipei neighborhood with lots of history, many mid-range hotels plus Taipei’s famous Dihua Street |
| Daan | Central location famous for Da’an Park, Rongjin Gorgeous Time plus Taipei’s tastiest neighborhood, Yongkang Street |
| Shilin | Famous for Taipei’s largest night market, you will not go hungry in Shilin – enjoy temples, theme parks and cultural sites like the National Palace Museum |
There is an abundance of Taipei hotels to choose from but for the best transport links, close proximity to Taipei Main Station and great night-life, shopping and food, we’d recommend basing yourself in Ximending (especially for Taipei and Taiwan first timers).
Check out our Ximending hotel guide based on our own personal hotel recommendations and from members of our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group.
Taiwan 7 day itinerary: Day 1 Taipei
Please note you might want to rearrange these suggested activities a little based on weather or hotel location – so this initial 3 day Taipei itinerary can be moved around a little based on your needs:
10am: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taipei, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is free to visit with a museum on the lower levels.
The building is a national Taiwan monument and built in the memory of former President Chiang Kai-shek. The grounds are extensive and also one of the best places to spot cherry blossoms in Taipei in the spring months.
The changing of the guards ceremony takes place several times a day so try and catch the 10am or 11am ceremony.
Next up, take a 12 minute walk from Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to Rongjin Gorgeous Time.
11:30am: Rongjin Gorgeous Time
Taipei’s historic hipster hangout, Rongjin Gorgeous Time is not only a cute name but a sublime street mall in Taipei that is full of cool cafes, decadent dessert shops plus a handful of gift stores.
From craft beer bars to beetle ice-cream cones, wonderful waffles to the best bakeries, read more about Rongjin Gorgeous Time >
If you’d rather just dive into delicious Taiwanese food, you can skip Rongjin Gorgeous Time and head straight to the next place…
12:30pm: Yongkang Street
Take a short 7 minute stroll from Rongjin Gorgeous Time to Yongkang Street, Taipei’s tastiest district.
Yongkang Street is one of the yummiest things to do in Taiwan, packed full of cool cafes, decadent desserts and oodles of noodle shops and delicious dumplings.
Check our Yongkang Street guide here including restaurant and food recommendations including Tian Jin Scallion Pancakes.
There are also a couple of branches of Taiwan’s famous Din Tai Fung dumpling chain restaurant including the very first store at the end of Yongkang Street (although it is currently take out only – the other nearby Din Tai Fung branch has ample seating but be prepared to queue).
2pm: Daan Park
Hopefully by now you ate some delicious food along Yongkang Street – so time to explore Daan Park, a 7 minute walk from Yongkang Street and one of Taipei’s biggest urban parks.
A green oasis in a very busy city, Daan Forest Park in Taipei is a sprawling open space popular with families and walkers. Given its inner city location, you’d be surprised by the sheer number of wildlife and birds that live here.
Bonus Activity – Jianguo Jade Market (weekends only)
If you happen to be in Taipei on a weekend, Daan Park is right next to the Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market, open from 9am to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday.
A ‘gem’ of a Taipei weekend market, Jianguo Jade Market takes place below a bustling underpass and the flower market is full of color, featuring beautiful flowers to gorgeous jewellery like green jade necklaces (plus lots of locals with cute dogs in prams)!
Read our Taiwanderers guide to Jianguo Jade Market and Holiday Flower Market >
3pm: Taipei 101 / Simple Kaffa Sola
Next up, time to head over to Taipei’s Xinyi District to visit Taipei’s most famous landmark, the Taipei 101 tower. Depending on the time of year, your mid afternoon trip might even coincide with sunset.
Xinyi is also Taipei’s central business and financial district with so many Taipei shopping malls, if you are in need of any gifts or souvenirs.
To get here, use your EasyCard and take the MRT 3 stops from Daan Park station to Taipei 101 World Trade Center MRT.
Admission to Taipei 101 is around NT$600 but you can save money by enjoying a NT$240 coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola, Taiwan’s highest coffee shop located on the 88th floor of Taipei 101.
Alternative activities
If you are feeling tired already and just want some beers and food with sunset views, check out the rooftop terrace at Hooters Xinyi, a short walk from Taipei 101.
Another option if you’d prefer a sunset hike – head to the Elephant Mountain trailhead to see Taipei 101 and the city lit up at dusk and night.
The trail starts very close to Xiangshan MRT station. Read our Elephant Mountain Taipei walking and viewpoints guide >
5.30pm: Raohe Night Market and Songshan Temple
From Xinyi district, take the MRT to Songshan MRT Station (or take a bus or taxi). Raohe Night Market is open daily from 5pm to 11pm and is one of the best (and tastiest) night markets in Taipei.
From the famous pork pepper buns and musical mushroom stall (truly a ‘fun-guy’!) to the fairground games, Raohe Night Market is one of the best things to do in Taipei at night – check out all the best stalls at Raohe Night Market here >
Afterwards, check out Songshan Ciyou Temple, lit up at night and one of the most beautiful temples in all of Taipei. There are often evening ceremonies and chanting. It is an incredible place to walk around and there are several stalls selling religious blessings and random fortunes.
8pm onwards: Ximending Entertainment District
If you have any energy left after your first day in Taipei, finish your first night with a trip to Ximending. Head back to Songshan MRT Station from Raohe Night Market and take the green line 7 stops to Ximen station.
Taipei’s best known night-time neighborhood and popular with tourists, Ximending is a must-visit when in Taipei at night.
If you’re still hungry and fancy a weird and wonderful Taipei activity, check out the Modern Toilet, a poop-themed restaurant (but the food isn’t too cr@p).
Watch the street performers or do some late-night shopping (Carrefour for instance is open 24 hours).
Some call Ximending a tourist trap but it is never boring plus a great place for late night bites and neon nights – there are also many LGBTQ+ bars located behind The Red House.
Still thirsty for more? Check out our guide to the best Taipei craft beer bars including Taihu Brewing Driftwood Bar, and our things to do in Ximending at night guide.
Another alternative for dinner close to Ximending and Taipei Main Station is Liu Shandong Beef Noodles which we rate as some of the best beef noodles in Taipei.
Day 2: Beitou and Taipei
9am: Morning in Beitou
For the second leg of this 3 day itinerary in Taipei, the morning begins with a trip to Beitou, famous for its natural hot springs.
To get to Beitou from Taipei, take the Taipei Metro (MRT) to the Beitou MRT Station on the red Tamsui-Xinyi Line. Once at Beitou Station, change platforms and jump on the Xinbeitou Line one stop to Xinbeitou MRT Station.
Beitou is a nice way to escape the city with a beautiful backdrop of mountains, forest and natural hot springs and streams. Remember to bring your swimming costume / trunks and a towel if you are planning to join the locals in one of the pools.
There are lots of things to do in Beitou including Thermal Valley, Sulfur Valley plus various museums and easy walks. If you fancy something a little more challenging, head into Yangmingshan National Park (by bus) for incredible views and nature walks.
After a soak and / or bite to eat at Beitou Market, it is time to get on the train back to Taipei for your next destination, Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
Day 2 Afternoon: Huashan 1914 Creative Park
The closest MRT station to Huashan Creative 1914 Park is Zhongxiao Xinsheng (exit 1) – take the Blue or Orange MRT line. It is a 3 minute walk from the station. Alternatively, alight at Shandaoshi Station on the Blue MRT Line.
Taiwan’s best creative park (and most bustling), Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei is packed full of permanent and pop-up shops and exhibitions, street performers plus quirky bars and restaurants – note it is busiest at the weekends.
If you prefer something more modern, Taipei’s best tech mall Syntrend Creative Park Mall is just a few minutes walk away. It is a 13 floor shopping center, home to gaming, technology plus two whole floors dedicated to anime, Manga and character goods.
P.S. If you like themed 7-Elevens, there is a Snoopy 7-Eleven complete with a Peanuts themed seating area an 8 minute walk away from Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
4pm onwards: Dihua Street
Dihua Street is a 10 minute bus ride away from Huashan Creative Park. Alternatively take the MRT from nearby Shandao Temple station to Beimen station (blue Bannan line changing at Ximen station onto the Songshan-Xindian Line). Dihua Street is a 13 minute walk from Beimen station.
The historic district of Dihua Street and Dadaocheng in Taipei is perhaps most famous for its amazing architecture, traditional Chinese medicine shops and Lunar New Year celebrations – however, in recent years, the area has welcomed an influx of coffee shops and craft beer bars.
If you are arriving at Dihua Street at dusk, check out nearby Dadaocheng Wharf which has several riverside bars and pop-up restaurants in shipping containers. There are also several Taipei craft beer bars near Dihua Street – Jim & Dad’s, Floating Bar and Mikkeller.
6pm or later: Ningxia Night Market
Once you’ve finished exploring Dihua Street, if you still have energy and enthusiasm for exploring, make the 1km / 10 minute walk over to Ningxia Night Market.
Ningxia Night Market is another of Taipei’s top night markets, famous for its oyster omelet restaurants – open 7 nights a week with dozens of Taiwan street food stalls, carnival style games and long-established restaurants on either side, you are in for a fun, foodie night at Ningxia .
You might like – Things to do in Taipei with kids including this Taipei capybara cafe
Day 3: Taipei day trip
For your third and possibly final day in Taipei, we’d recommend taking a day-trip from Taipei to see some of Taiwan’s natural wonders.
The Taipei Metro system is really efficient and effective and all of these are quick trips away from Taipei by train or bus.
Shifen, Jiufen and Keelung
You can combine three of Taipei’s top day trips into one with a bit of careful planning.
Start your third day in Taipei by taking the train from either Taipei Main station or Songshan station to Ruifang station – then change to the Pingxi Line and alight at Shifen station.
Shifen is an old mining town that is now most famous for its lantern releases from its railway tracks plus Shifen Falls.
On the way to or from Shifen, we’d also recommend visiting Houtong Cat Village, where hundreds of moggies have taken up residence, kindly looked after by the residents.
It has gorgeous views plus lots of cat themed stores and cafes (the best is Hide and Seek cafe) – even Houtong Train Station has its own station cats plus a railway bridge in the shape of a feline.
From Shifen (or Houtong), take the train back to Ruifang – next up, Jiufen!
To get to Jiufen from Ruifang Station, exit the station, turn left and walk around 200 meters to the bus stop (located next to the police station named Local Residents Plaza 區民廣場).
Here you can take bus number 827 or 788 which both head towards Jiufen Old Street. The bus journey from Ruifang to Jiufen should take around 20 minutes and costs around 15 TWD each way – or get a taxi.
Exploring the mountain town of Jiufen in Taiwan (east of Taipei) feels a little like being in a fantasy movie.
With its historic narrow streets, packed full of beautiful tea-houses and street-food stalls, set amidst a backdrop of stunning coastal views, Juifen almost feels unreal.
The best places to visit in Jiufen are Jiufen Old Street (lots of stalls and food vendors) and A Mei Tea House, a stunning 100 year old teahouse, adorned with lanterns – it is so pretty!
Keelung Night Market
Once you’ve finished in Jiufen, jump on the 788 bus from Jiufen Old Street to Keelung Bus Station (it takes around 50 minutes).
There are lots of things to do in Keelung but depending on what time of day you arrive (likely evening), you might just want to go to Keelung Night Market.
Once you’ve eaten well at Keelung Night Market, head back to Taipei by taking a train from nearby Keelung Train Station.
If you don’t fancy Keelung Night Market you can head straight back to Taipei from Jiufen instead. The train from Riufeng to Taipei Main station stops at Songshan station which is next to Raohe Night Market, so if you didn’t visit there on day 1, you can check it out today instead!
This Pingxi Line and Keelung combined day-trip from Taipei is just one suggestion – and there are lots of Jiufen combination tours available too if you don’t fancy a DIY trip.
Alternatively, you could check out our guides to Wulai or Tamsui (all accessible by Taipei public transport), or any of these other suggested day trips from Taipei.
Day 4: Taipei to Taichung
Check out of your Taipei hotel / accommodation early and head to Taipei Main Station to get a High Speed Train (HSR) to Taichung.
Taichung from Taipei on the Taiwan High Speed Rail train only takes around 45 minutes – although note the Taichung HSR station is a little out of town so you may need to get a bus or taxi to your hotel.
You can buy discounted Taiwan High Speed Rail one way tickets between Taipei and HSR Taichung station (plus other stations) via this Klook HSR booking link >
There is also a much cheaper TRA train from Taipei that arrives at Taichung station in downtown Taichung (the HSR station is a little further out of town). The journey takes just over 2 hours.
Make sure to grab a Taiwan bento box at the station for your journey!
Put your bags into storage at the station or head on over to your Taichung hotel to drop your luggage off.
Taichung Accommodation
Mid-Range ($$)
Park City Hotel Central Taichung
Modern affordable hotel located a 10 minute walk from Taichung Train Station. Check rates and availability on booking.com | agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Millennium Hotel Taichung
Modern high-rise 5 star hotel. Facilities include a rooftop bar, outdoor pool, sauna and on-site restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com | agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
InterContinental Taichung
Taichung’s newest 5* hotel opened in early 2025 and is one of the most luxurious hotels in the whole of Taichung. Check rates and availability on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Check out the best hotels in Taichung via booking.com and agoda.com, or check out our guide on where to stay in Taichung.
Day 4: Taichung Itinerary
Morning: Rainbow Village (Optional)
There are many ways you can spend a day in Taichung – one famous Taichung attraction is the Rainbow Village.
It is quite far out of central Taichung and can be reached by public bus – take bus 56 from the TRA station or buses 26, 70, 617 or 800 from Taichung HSR station.
So you could start your late morning in Taichung by going to the Rainbow Village straight from the station, making use of the luggage lockers.
It is certainly one of the most Instagrammable spots in Taiwan but personally we were quite underwhelmed by it and much of the paintwork was recently vandalised and then replaced with crochet or inferior artwork.
Read our Taichung Rainbow Village – is it worth it guide here >
Another alternative and fun thing to do in Taichung is visit the Bugcat Capoo cat themed cafe at Taichung Station or the Bugcat Capoo House and nearby Foam Cat Cafe. Bugcat Capoo is a popular Taiwan cartoon cat – there is even a themed Bugcat Capoo 7-Eleven in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
11am: National Taiwan Museum of Comics
The National Taiwan Museum of Comics is one of Taiwan’s newest tourist attractions and even if you aren’t a cartoon fan, the grounds and transformation of the old buildings into a modern outdoor museum are stunning.
From children reading comic books in the libraries to families collecting the ink stamps across the site, it was one of the nicest attractions and walkable from most downtown locations and hotels. Read our guide here >
12:30pm: Taichung Second Market or Chun Shui Tang Original Store
A choice for lunch – take the 20 minute stroll / 10 minute bus to Taichung’s most famous daytime market or walk 10 minutes to Chun Shui Tang Original Store, said to be the home of Taiwan bubble tea (if you want air conditioning and a guaranteed seat, consider the latter).
Second Market
Constantly recommended as the best place for Taiwanese street food in Taichung in the day-time, Second Market is open six days a week (closed Monday) from 7am to 1pm.
Second Market has been around for over 100 years and many of the food stalls have been run by the same families for decades – the upper section of the building also has a small museum.
Chun Shui Tang Original Store
Reputedly the original creator of Taiwanese bubble tea, Chun Shui Tang has gone on to big things with stores and tea-shops all over Taiwan plus branches overseas like in Hong Kong and Japan. However it all started in 1983 with this Taichung Chun Shui Tang Original Store.
We ordered 2 small pearl milk ‘bubble’ teas for NT$90 each. We also really enjoyed some kung fu noodles (NT$100) – recommended to us by the Taiwanese couple sitting next to us.
If you fancy a coffee afterwards, head to Confucian Examination Hall x Zhong Dao GLAb a short walk away. This is a modern coffee shop located in an old school examination hall, the only one left remaining from the Qing Dynasty.
The interior is now all sleek and modern and looks like a cross between a library and school lab (yep, they are trying very hard to be trendy).
2:30pm: Shopping or sweets – Shen Ji New Village or Miyahara
One day in Taichung isn’t really enough so you may need to make some sacrifices (or dash around manically). One such choice is a cute shopping village and cultural park versus Taichung’s most famous dessert shop.
Shen Ji New Village
Push your way through the hardcore hipsters and selfie snappers and this pretty independent retail village in Taichung is actually a rather enjoyable area to explore.
From boutique breweries to cute coffee shops, it is easy to spend an afternoon (and the contents of your wallet) at Shen Ji New Village, a top Taichung tourist spot.
Formerly a 1960’s dormitory complex for the Taiwan Provincial Government, Shen Ji New Village in Taichung retains its historical charm and you can still explore the nooks, crannies and mezzanine staircases to the second floor.
Miyahara
We love Miyahara so much that we visit it every time we are in Taichung.
Miyahara is a beautiful and Instagrammable ‘olde worlde’ red brick building from the 1920s (a former ophthalmology clinic), which now houses an incredibly popular ice cream shop, Miyahara, alongside a retail shop and high-end restaurant.
Taichung’s Miyahara n-’ice’ shop interior resembles Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies and has to be seen to be believed – it is packed full of wall to-wall large bookcases and gleaming shop counters, with staff all besuited in immaculate uniforms.
Taiwanderers Tip – Miyahara ice cream is also available at Fourth Credit Union dessert hall down the hall which has smaller queues and you can also sit-in (Miyahara main branch is takeaway only).
Read our full guide to Taichung’s Miyahara here >
3:30pm onwards: Sunset at Gaomei Wetlands
After your ice-cream or shopping session, we’d recommend visiting Gaomei Wetlands, Taichung’s most beautiful sunset spot.
Taichung’s Gaomei Wetlands are a stunning area of natural beauty famous for its wildlife, long boardwalk and stunning sunsets.
A popular thing to do in Taichung and around a 45 minute drive, bus or tour from downtown, Gaomei Wetlands is over 300 hectares and home to herons, ducks and literally tens of thousands of crabs who crawl in the mud around the boardwalks.
It is accessible by public transport but it isn’t an easy journey so we’d recommend taking an inexpensive Gaomei Wetlands tour which picks you up at Miyahara, takes you to Gaomei Wetlands at sunset for a couple of hours then drops you off back in town or at Feng Chia Night market.
We did this KKDay Gaomei Wetlands tour or there are others like this Klook Gaomei Wetlands Tour also from Taichung which combines the Rainbow Village with the Wetlands.
Check out our full guide to Taichung’s Gaomei Wetlands here >
6pm: Feng Chia Night Market
Your final stop in Taichung is some top Taiwan street-food. One of Taiwan’s best night markets, Taichung’s Feng Chia Night Market is one fantastic foodie find, located very close to Feng Chia University.
With around 200 pop-up stalls that open every night plus many permanent clothes, tech and amusement arcades lining the street, Feng Chia is a large night market with some incredible foods and fun carnival style games.
There is a wide variety of food stalls, from scallops to sweet potato balls, roasted clams to chicken claws and local students flock here for enjoyable and inexpensive foods. Read our Feng Chia Night Market guide >
Afterwards, grab a beer in one of the many bars dotted around the night market or make your way back to your hotel for an early start in the morning to your next stop, Sun Moon Lake.
Day 5 and 6: Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake ‘shines’ as one of Taiwan’s top tourist attractions, with a wide array of natural and man-made attractions.
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 an easy trip from Taichung.
Although you can get to Sun Moon Lake from Alishan and Taipei, it is much easier from Taichung.
Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (Bus 6670 A, B, C, D or F)
The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle picks up passengers from the following locations in Taichung:
- Taichung HSR Station – exit 5 (map)
- Taichung Gancheng Bus Station office (map)
- Taichung TRA Station – Minzu Road Intersection (map)
The Taichung to Sun Moon Lake shuttle costs $NT197 with cash one way or NT$ 173 (one way) with an EasyCard.
The bus runs from 7.15am until 7.45pm and takes between 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Sun Moon Lake, depending on where you decide to get on in Taichung.
For a more detailed step by step guide including pictures of the bus stops, check out our how to get to Sun Moon Lake guide >
Sun Moon Lake Hotels and Accommodation
The two main areas to stay in Sun Moon Lake are either Shuishe or Ita Thao.
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.
We found Ita Thao a bit more relaxing than Shuishe and it also had a little more night-life, including a small street food market. It is also an easy, inexpensive boat ride across the lake from Shuishe to Ita Thao (there is just one stop between them – Xuanguang).
However, if you decide to only spend one night in Sun Moon Lake, Shuishe might be best for you so you can make a quick escape in the morning on the shuttle bus.
To get to Ita Thao from Shuishe Visitor Center you can take a taxi or jump onto bus 6669 or 6669A, which is roughly a 20 minute journey.
Alternatively head to Shuishe pier which is a short walk away and purchase a one way ferry ticket to Ita Thao pier.
Mid-Range ($$)
H& Sun Moon Lake Shui Yang
We stayed at this friendly guesthouse which is 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
Luxury ($$$)
The Richforest Sun Moon Lake
Popular hotel with lake views. Facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, restaurant, game/chess room and free bike rental. Some rooms have balconies with lake views. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Fuli Hot Spring Resort
Popular hotel with mountain views. Facilities include an outdoor pool, hot tubs, spa, private hot spring bathhouses, karaoke, onsite restaurants and bar. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Day 5 – Sun Moon Lake PM
To get around Sun Moon Lake, you can choose between hiring bicycles, public transport or taking the ferry boat which loops across the lake at regular departures.
The Sun Moon Lake Boat Ferry fares cost 150 $NT150 one way or $NT300 return – correct as of January 2025.
After checking into your accommodation or putting your luggage into storage (e.g at the Shuishe Tourist Information Center), your first port of call is the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.
Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
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
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).
Part cultural center, part theme park, you’ll find the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village at the top of the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway. You can take a step back in time to see Taiwan’s traditional crafts and cultural activities or there are 25 different rides and various themed zones, plus ornate gardens.
Book your Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village ticket with Klook >
Yidashao Lakeside Trail & Water Frog Head Trail
One of the best walks to do in Ita Thao is to head northeast from the town along the lakeside boardwalk, past the Ropeway and carry on through the forests via the Yidashao Lakeside Trail.
This is a relatively easy and relaxed stroll / hike along wooden boardwalks and paved paths, popular with cyclists and local families.
This walk also brings you to Nine Frogs Stack, a quirky tourist attraction in Sun Moon Lake and an artistic way to see what the lake water levels are like – if you see beyond the first seven frogs, generally that means the lake water level is very low.
PS If you plan to stay in Shuishe or leave the same day, the last ferry back to Shuishe is usually around 5pm.
Day 5 Sun Moon Lake Evening – Ita Thao Market
We personally found the food options at Ita Thao a little bit limited, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
A lot of the restaurants in Ita Thao are quite expensive compared to the big cities, because let’s be honest, you are kind of a captive market if you stay in Ita Thao overnight.
The Ita Thao street food market consists of around 20+ food kiosks, stalls and booths located around the main shopping street that serve Taiwanese snacks and street food until early evening (on our last visit, most had closed by 8pm).
Some of the Ita Thao street food market stalls include wild boar sausage, scallion pancakes, black tea dried tofu, roasted oyster mushrooms, shrimp-rolls, sweet potato balls and many more
If nothing takes your fancy and you find the Ita Thao restaurants a little on the pricey side, one back up is the 7-Eleven and FamilyMart stores.
Day 6: Sun Moon Lake
Arise early to see the sun rise over Sun Moon Lake or have a well deserved lie-in; it’s up to you!
After breakfast, it is time to explore Shuishe and Sun Moon Lake’s temples – jump on the regular ferry / boat shuttle from Ita Thao if you are based there, or hire a bike to cycle the whole lake.
We’ve written about the best things to do in Sun Moon Lake here but for day 6, we’d recommend an itinerary of these Sun Moon Lake attractions and activities.
Shuishe
Spend some time exploring Shuishe either just before you get back on the shuttle bus later on or early in the day (as the Sun Moon Lake ferry goes direct from Ita Thao to Shuishe).
The best short lake walk from Shuishe is the Hanbi trail – it follows a path from Shuishe Pier and does a small loop of a small peninsula that juts out into Sun Moon Lake.
The full loop of this small stretch of the Hanbi Trail takes about 90 mins and is fairly flat, with several viewpoints along the way including Yule Pavilion and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Pavilion.
Afterwards, grab a coffee at one of Shuishe’s waterside coffee shops like Tiao lakeside cafe – even the Sun Moon Lake Shuishe Starbucks has a nice terrace looking out to the water with palm tree views (and yes, they have Sun Moon Lake Starbucks mugs if you are a collector).
Wenwu Temple
Wenwu Temple is nothing short of stunning, accessible by bus (or car) from either Shuishe or Ita Thao.
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.
Wenwu temple is free to visit (although donations are appreciated) – the temple is generally open from 8am to 8pm daily.
Ci-En Pagoda
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.
The hike to the top is quite steep (especially if you are starting from Xuanguang wharf) but well worth it for the views and scenic surroundings – free admission.
Xuanguang Temple and Songbailun Natural Park
If you are taking the Sun Moon Lake shuttle boat, the stop before arriving in Ita Thao is Xuanguang Wharf (or you could take the bus too from Ita Thao/Shuishe).
Also check out the famous Sun Moon Lake tea egg stall here by the jetty – Grandma’s (Ah Ma) Tea Egg.
They sell thousands of these herbal eggs every day and only cost $NT25 each
From the tea egg shop, head up the steps to Xuanguang Temple, which 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.
Day 7: Sun Moon Lake to Kaohsiung or Taipei
The final day of our 1 week Taiwan itinerary – from Sun Moon Lake, take the shuttle bus detailed before from outside Shuishe Visitors Center and alight at Taichung High Speed Rail Station.
From here, you can either return to Taipei from Taichung on the High Speed Rail or alternatively head to Kaohsiung (Xin Zuoying HSR Station) for your final day.
If you happen to spend a few more days in Taiwan e.g. (8 to 10 days as opposed to one week), you could have more time in Kaohsiung and spend a couple of nights here before flying out from Kaohsiung or Taipei airports.
Kaohsiung Accommodation
Budget to Mid-Range ($$)
Airline Inn – Kaohsiung Station
Budget hotel located within walking distance of Kaohsiung station. We’ve stayed here ourselves on two occasions most recently in 2025 and like it for its location plus free laundry. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
TAI Urban Resort
Stylish 5 star hotel with a 27th floor bar, rooftop infinity pool, spa, gym and on-site restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Check out the best hotels in Kaohsiung via booking.com or agoda.com
Day 7 Onwards: Kaohsiung Activities
Kaohsiung is king – we love Taiwan’s third biggest city with its waterfront attractions, tropical Cijin Island, creative and cultural arts spaces plus incredible food.
Depending on how much time you have to spare at the end of your Taiwan trip, these are some of the best things to do in Kaohsiung to complete your 1 week Taiwan itinerary.
Lotus Pond – it is famous for being home to several large statues and religious shrines. The most famous of these (and likely the ones you will have seen on Instagram) are the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas (currently undergoing renovations until 2025), the Spring and Autumn Pavilions plus the Beiji Xuantian Shang Di Pavilion.
Kaohsiung Pier 2 Art Center – this is Kaohsiung’s waterside cultural hub which bustles at the weekend with flea markets, craft stores and food stalls.
Pier 2 Art Center is free entry and is a huge outdoor park full of old industrial warehouses that were once used to store imports and exports. These are now all transformed into shops, cafes, bars, plus famous museums like the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway where you can ride on tiny Taiwan trains. Read our Pier 2 guide here >
Dome of Light – Kaohsiung’s Dome of Light (水仙大師) is free and the world’s largest indoor installation made of glass tiles.Located at Formosa Boulevard MRT, it is often described as the “world’s most beautiful station”. Read our Dome of Light guide >
Yancheng Neighborhood – The historic streets and traditional markets of Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District are fast becoming a hipster hot-spot and one of Kaohsiung’s coolest and most creative neighbourhoods to explore – they even have a Godzilla themed cafe. Read our Yancheng Neighborhood guide >
Weiwuying Street Art Village – Could this be Taiwan’s most colorful place? Weiwuying Street Art Village has welcomed illustrators and street artists from all over the world to create a kaleidoscope of color with large scale murals painted on the sides of residential blocks and homes. Read our Weiwuying Street Art Village guide >
Cijin Island – a ‘tropical paradise’ just a short five minute ferry ride from Kaohsiung. Explore the old fort, see incredible views from the lighthouse or just enjoy a beach session or sunset beer. Read our Cijin Island guide >
Kaohsiung Night Markets
Finally, after all that exploring, time to finish your Kaohsiung trip with one last visit to a Kaohsiung Night Market.
The two best known Kaohsiung night markets are:
Liuhe Night Market (open daily from 5pm to 2am)
A tasty tourist treat, Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Night Market is predominantly a street food thoroughfare that lines both sides of a city block.
Popular local dishes to try whilst in Liu He night market included beef noodle soup and their take on clam spaghetti.
Unlike a lot of night markets, this is easy to navigate and impossible to get lost (unless you’ve had too many Tsing Tao beers). There is even a Taiwan 7-Eleven bar where you can drink draft beer and watch the market crowds.
Ruifeng Night Market (open Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to midnight)
Larger than Liuhe Night Market and nearer to the legendary Lotus Lake, hop off at Kaohsiung Arena MRT for the bevy of budget bites that Ruifeng has to offer.
Ruifeng Night Market food stalls include fried dumplings, grilled mushrooms, peppered conch (snails), pork pepper buns and popcorn fish – we’d estimate there are around 150 food stalls here.
And that concludes our suggested 7 day Taiwan itinerary – we hope we’ve given you lots of Taiwan itinerary ideas plus some flexibility to shape your own trip.
And finally – don’t forget to keep hold of all your convenience store receipts in case you want to enter the Taiwan Receipt Lottery. Foreigners can enter with any purchase and the top prize is NT$10million but you need to come back to Taiwan to claim your prize in person if you are a big cash winner!
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