Taiwan · best-of list
The 8 Best Outdoor Spots in Taiwan
All 8 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Taiwan, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. 7 come with an insider tip, and 8 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
8 outdoor spots in Taiwan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Hualien and Taroko 4 picks
Liyu Lake
Hualien and Taroko · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Mountain-ringed lake with cycling paths and pedal boats south of the city.
Tip: Ride the loop path early on a rented bike.
Photo: 藍Baby · Google
Qingshui Cliffs
Hualien and Taroko · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Sheer cliffs plunging into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
Tip: Morning light is best; view from the Chongde area.
Photo: Fred Hsu · CC BY-SA 3.0
Qixingtan Beach
Hualien and Taroko · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Crescent pebble beach with mountain views north of Hualien city.
Tip: Strong currents; it is for walking, not swimming.
Photo: 蔡明陽 · Google
Taroko Gorge
Hualien and Taroko · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Marble canyon carved by the Liwu River; only some sections and trails have reopened since 2024.
Tip: Check official notices for Highway 8 access windows and which trails are open.
Photo: puiling pp · Google
Jiufen and Pingxi 3 picks
Golden Waterfall
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Roadside cascade stained gold by minerals from old mine workings.
Photo: Jacky Chung · Google
Shifen Waterfall
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Wide curtain waterfall reached by a riverside path from Shifen.
Tip: Free entry; check closing time, it shuts before dark.
Photo: 呂朱耕 · Google
Teapot Mountain Trail
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Short, steep hike to a rocky summit over the coast and the Yin Yang Sea.
Tip: Wear grippy shoes; the top section involves scrambling.
Photo: 湯志翔（阿湯） · Google
Taipei 1 pick
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Steep 20-minute stair climb to the classic view of Taipei 101.
Tip: Go 30 minutes before sunset and stay for the lights.
Photo: 跳表逼逼 · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Taiwan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 8 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Taiwan has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Hualien and Taroko has the most (4 of 8), followed by Jiufen and Pingxi (3) and Taipei (1).
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Liyu Lake, Shifen Waterfall, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan), Qingshui Cliffs, Teapot Mountain Trail, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Taiwan
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Hualien and Taroko 4 on this list
- Jiufen and Pingxi 3 on this list
- Taipei 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.