Taiwan · best-of list
14 Top Things to Do in Taiwan
All 14 things to do our route editors picked in Taiwan, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
14 things to do in Taiwan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Taipei 5 picks
Beitou Hot Springs
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Thermal valley with a public hot spring, Thermal Valley steam pool and a wooden library.
Tip: Bring a swimsuit for the cheap Millennium public hot spring.
Photo: Wing1990hk · CC BY 3.0
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Vast white memorial and plaza flanked by the National Theater and Concert Hall.
Tip: The honor guard changes on the hour.
Photo: AngMoKio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Longshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Si)
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Ornate 18th-century temple, busy with worshippers from dawn to night.
Tip: Visit in the evening when chanting fills the courtyard.
Photo: はせがわたくみ · Google
National Palace Museum
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
One of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art, jade and calligraphy.
Tip: Arrive at opening and head straight for the Jadeite Cabbage gallery.
Photo: Peellden · CC BY 3.0
Taipei 101 Observatory
Taipei · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Observation decks on the 89th floor with a view of the giant tuned mass damper.
Tip: Clear afternoons give the longest views.
Photo: Aimee Gener · Google
Jiufen and Pingxi 4 picks
Gold Museum, Jinguashi
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Former Japanese-era gold mine with a walk-in tunnel and a 220 kg gold bar to touch.
Tip: Combine with the Teapot Mountain hike nearby.
Photo: ifchen chen · Google
Houtong Cat Village
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Former coal-mining village now home to dozens of resident cats.
Tip: It is right by Houtong station on the way to Shifen.
Photo: 夏羽晞（MiNa） · Google
Jiufen Old Street
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Narrow lanes of tea houses and snack shops climbing a hillside above the sea.
Tip: Stay past 6pm when day tours leave and lanterns glow.
Photo: Σ64 · CC BY 3.0
Shifen Old Street
Jiufen and Pingxi · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Rail-side street where visitors paint and release sky lanterns between trains.
Tip: Ride the Pingxi Line and buy a one-day pass.
Photo: Michelle · Google
Tainan 4 picks
Anping Old Fort
Tainan · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Remains of Fort Zeelandia, the Dutch colonial base built in the 1620s.
Tip: Walk to Anping Old Street for snacks afterward.
Photo: 張英斌 · Google
Anping Tree House
Tainan · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Old merchant warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Photo: Venation · CC BY-SA 3.0
Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)
Tainan · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Site of a 17th-century Dutch fort later rebuilt with Chinese pavilions.
Tip: Evening lighting makes for good photos.
Photo: 赤崁樓 · Google
Tainan Confucius Temple
Tainan · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Taiwan's first Confucian temple, built in 1665 with quiet courtyards.
Tip: Fuzhong Street across the road is good for snacks.
Photo: 臺南孔子廟 全臺首學 · Google
Hualien and Taroko 1 pick
Pine Garden
Hualien and Taroko · On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route
Japanese-era military building in a pine grove overlooking Hualien port.
Photo: 松園別館 · 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 things to do 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 14 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Taiwan has the most things to do on this list?
Taipei has the most (5 of 14), followed by Jiufen and Pingxi (4) and Tainan (4).
Are any of these free?
3 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Houtong Cat Village and Longshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Si). Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Taiwan
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Taipei 5 on this list
- Jiufen and Pingxi 4 on this list
- Tainan 4 on this list
- Hualien and Taroko 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.