We had a chance to explore Taiwan during our South East Asia trip, and it immediately became one of the most unique destinations we visited. If you’re seeking a country that offers a mix of vibrant cities, authentic culture and stunning landscapes, Taiwan is the place for you. It also doesn’t feel as touristy as some other destinations in the region, offering an authentic and affordable experience. To help you make the most of your trip, we have put together the ultimate Taiwan 7 day Itinerary, highlighting the best spots to see that will inspire you to visit this remarkable island.
Jump to:
- Best Time to Plan Your Taiwan 7 day Itinerary
- Taipei – Vibrant Capital Filled with Rich Culture, Street Food and Nightlife (2-3 nights)
- Jioufen – Stunning Mountain Town (1-2 nights)
- Hualien – Visiting Taroko Gorge National Park (2-3 nights)
- Taiwan 7 Day Itinerary – Final Thoughts
Best Time to Plan Your Taiwan 7 day Itinerary
Taiwan is a great destination all year round. Even in the winter the temperatures in Taipei can reach 20 degrees. However, if you want to make the most of this stunning country, we recommend visiting in spring or autumn. The temperatures are nice and warm and you’ll avoid the humidity Taiwan experiences during the summer.
Taipei – Vibrant Capital Filled with Rich Culture, Street Food and Nightlife (2-3 nights)
Taipei is a great start to your Taiwan 7 day itinerary and an essential stop for every traveller. It’s a vibrant city filled with modern skyscrapers, bustling shopping streets, lively night markets and a rich cultural heritage.
If you’re flying internationally to Taiwan, Taipei is most likely your first destination. The capital offers a blend of rich culture, modernity and delicious local cuisine. We recommend stopping there for 2-3 nights to make the most of your time. The accommodation can be really affordable – we booked through Booking and paid £25 per night for a double room with a shared bathroom.
Taipei also has excellent public transport links. We used the metro multiple times and paid directly by card at the gates. However, if you’re planning to use public transport frequently during your Taiwan 7 day itinerary, you can also purchase EasyCard in local convenience stores such as 7-Eleven or at metro stations. You will need to load it and you can easily use it on metro and bus journeys throughout the country.
Best Places to See in Taipei
Ximending
We highly recommend exploring the lively area of Ximending. It’s the perfect place to truly soak up the city’s bustling atmosphere – especially if you’re seeking to experience a vibrant Asian city like Seoul, Osaka or Tokyo but at a more affordable price. Ximending is filled with stores, nightlife, street food and live performances. It comes alive at night where you can see its bright lights and enjoy strolling around vibrant nightmarkets.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Taipei is also filled with historical and cultural sights. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Located on Liberty Square, it symbolises Taiwan’s journey towards democracy. It’s also completely free to visit and the impressive grounds and gardens are perfect to stroll around. You can also witness the Change of the Guards taking place every full hour between 9am and 5pm.
Lungshan Temple
Lungshan Temple is another must-see. Built over 400 years ago, it’s considered to be the most significant temple in Taipei. There are also daily chanting ceremonies – it’s the busiest time to visit but also the most atmospheric. The area around the temple is also very interesting to walk around with plenty of traditional stores, fortune tellers on nearly every corner and bustling night markets nearby.
Songshan Ciyou Temple
However, we believe the most beautiful temple in Taipei is Songshan Ciyou Temple. Dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, it’s a true masterpiece of traditional Taiwanese architecture. The temple is covered with colorful murals, interesting carvings and at the entrance you’ll be greeted with multiple stone lion carvings. It also hosts multiple celebrations throughout the year, especially during the Lunar New Year.
Night Markets
Huaxi Night Market is only a short walk away from Lungshan Temple and is one of the most well-known and touristy markets in Taipei. It’s a vibrant spot to soak up the bustling street life, get some souvenirs and enjoy local snacks. You’ll come across some rather unusual snacks here like snake vodka or turtle meat – definitely not something we’d be keen on trying. We recommend sticking to local specialities such as steamed dumplings, bubble tea, noodle soup, or if you’re brave enough, the famous stinky tofu.
Taipei might be the city with the most night markets we’ve ever been to. There are over 30 night markets scattered around the city. While you probably won’t be able to visit them all during your Taiwan 7 day itinerary, we have some recommendations.
Apart from Huaxi Night Market, you can check out Guangzhou Street Night Market located only a short walk away. It’s slightly quieter and less touristy but there’s still plenty of street food to try. Shilin Night Market and Raohe Night Market are the biggest and most popular ones in Taipei. You can literally find everything there – toys, street food, souvenirs, games, and anything else you can imagine.
Jioufen – Stunning Mountain Town (1-2 nights)
Jioufen is a charming town located north of Taipei, near natural sights and stunning mountains. It’s only around 1 hour away from the capital and you can easily catch the bus to get there. Bus number 1062 departs from the centre of Taipei every 30 minutes. You can easily visit Jioufen as a day trip from Taipei, however it’s best to stay 1-2 nights to enjoy the town’s peaceful atmosphere in the morning and in the evening when the crowds from daytrips are not there. We’d also recommend avoiding coming over the weekend as it’s a really popular spot for locals to visit.
Best Places to See Around Jioufen
Jiufen Old Street
Jiufen Old Street is the heart of this charming mountain town filled with souvenir shops, street food and traditional teahouses that make Jiufen famous. If you’re planning to visit some of the more popular teahouses with stunning views overlooking the hills, it’s best to reserve in advance as it can get pretty busy. In the evenings, the crowds of daytrippers disappear and the narrow streets are lit up with plenty of traditional lanterns, giving the entire town a truly magical charm.
Mount Keelung Trail
If you fancy an outdoor adventure during your Taiwan 7 day itinerary, Mount Keelung Trail is a perfect place to enjoy the serene views of green hills, the deep blue ocean, and Jiufen Old Street nestled below.
Shifen Waterfall
Located 30 minutes drive away from Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall is another nature highlight worth visiting. Located between Taipei and Jiufen, it’s very easy to visit for a couple of hours from either destination. It’s known as one of the widest waterfalls in Taiwan and it attracts a significant amount of visitors. Try to visit early in the morning to beat the tours. The water below has a lovely turquoise shade though swimming is forbidden.
Houtong Cat Village
A true gem of the region is Houtong Cat Village. Once a busy coal mining town, now is famously ruled by hundreds of cats. Even though the cats are mostly strays, they’re well looked after by the locals. There are plenty of cat-themed shops and cafes you can visit, or you can simply stroll around and stroke the friendly cats. The town doesn’t get as crowded as Jiufen Old Street so you can comfortably visit during any time of the day. The best way to get to Houtong from Jiufen would be to take a 12 minute bus from Jiufen to Ruifang train station (bus number 788 departs regularly from Jiufen Old Street stop) and from there take a 5 minute train to Houtong. Alternatively, you can come there as a day trip from Taipei by taking a direct train to Houtong.
Hualien – Visiting Taroko Gorge National Park (2-3 nights)
Taiwan is filled with breathtaking natural beauty. Hualien countryside hosts some of the best landscapes, including Taroko Gorge National Park. You can get to Hualien City from Taipei by express train taking only around 2 hours. You can book your tickets directly on Taiwan Railway Official Site.
Visiting Taroko Gorge National Park
Taroko National Park was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our Taiwan 7 day itinerary. Filled with dramatic marble cliffs, turquoise rivers, caves, ancient Chinese shrines and stunning mountain peaks, it’s the best spot in Taiwan to admire nature.
When we visited, the national park was very accessible and easy to see without a car. We bought a day pass for Taiwan Trip Bus number 310 for around £6 per person. The bus departed from Hualien Bus Station and stopped off at all the main attractions. You can purchase the tickets either directly at the Hualien Bus Station or use an EasyCard – reloadable smartcard for Taiwan public transport and pay with it onboard. Even though it was a very affordable option, we spent a bit of time waiting for the bus between stops so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re short on time.
Highlights of Taroko National Park
- Changchun Shrine (Eternal Spring Shrine): A stunning Chinese-style memorial temple located just above a waterfall. One of the most picturesque spots in the park.
- Shakadang Trail: Scenic and relatively easy 4-kilometer trail where you can admire stunning views of clear rivers, mountain gorges and caves.
- Tunnel of Nine Turns: Famous viewpoint where you can walk through tunnels and admire the scale of the gorge.
- Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou Trail): The trail offers unique rock formations and cliffside paths.
- Qingshui Cliff: Coastal viewpoint where you can admire stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
2025 Taroko National Park Update
Sadly, due to the Hualien earthquake in April 2024 much of the park remains inaccessible. As of 2025, the buses operate a limited route, running only between Hualien Bus Station and Taroko Visitor Center. They don’t actually enter the national park premises and you won’t be able to access the main attractions via public transport. For more updates, you can follow Hualien Tourism Services Official Site.
You can visit with your own vehicle, however access is still restricted to only a few time slots per day. Most of the trails are not open, making spots such as Swallow Grotto impossible to access. You can still enjoy parts of the scenery and take photos but hiking options are limited. We truly hope the park will be fully accessible soon – for updates, please follow Taroko National Park Site.
For further things to do in Hualien beside Taroko National Park, we truly recommend visiting Taiwan Obsessed that can give you true local tips on visiting the region!
Taiwan 7 Day Itinerary – Final Thoughts
Taiwan is truly unique and we loved exploring this amazing country. From delicious local food, vibrant cities, cultural heritage and wonderful nature – Taiwan has it all! We hope our Taiwan 7 day itinerary inspired you to visit and helped you plan your trip.
