How many days in Taiwan? 8 days: Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan and Kaohsiung
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Taiwan is about 400 km long, and the High Speed Rail runs down its west side from Taipei to Kaohsiung in about 1h35, so eight days covers the north, the centre and the south without long transfers. Spend three days in Taipei with a trip to the hill town of Jiufen, two at Sun Moon Lake in the mountains, and three in the south, in the old capital Tainan and the port city of Kaohsiung. Plan every evening around a night market.
Short answer
Five days covers Taipei, Jiufen and one day in Tainan by HSR. Eight adds Sun Moon Lake and Kaohsiung at a calmer pace.
The 8-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Taipei: temples, Dihua Street and Taipei 101
Morning. Start at Longshan Temple in Wanhua, built in 1738, when worshippers bring offerings at the early morning prayers. Walk 15 minutes to Bopiliao, a preserved Qing-era street, then take the MRT to Dihua Street, Taipei's oldest shopping street, for dried goods and teahouses.
Afternoon. Visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (free) for the changing of the guard on the hour, then the Taipei 101 observatory on the 89th floor (about NT$600).
Evening. Climb Elephant Mountain (about 20 minutes of steps) for the sunset view of Taipei 101, then eat at Raohe Night Market: pepper buns, stinky tofu and oyster omelette for NT$50-120 each.
Buy an EasyCard at any MRT station; it pays for metro, buses, trains and convenience stores.
Day 2: Taipei: National Palace Museum and Beitou
Morning. Spend 3 hours at the National Palace Museum (about NT$350), with some 700,000 Chinese imperial treasures, including the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-shaped Stone.
Afternoon. Take the MRT to Beitou for the hot springs: the Thermal Valley with its steaming green pool (free) and the public Millennium Hot Spring (about NT$60-150), or a private bath in a hotel.
Evening. Visit Shilin Night Market, the largest in the city, with fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea.
Bubble tea was born in Taiwan; order with less sugar (bàn táng) to taste the tea.
Day 3: Day trip: Shifen and Jiufen
Morning. Take the train to Ruifang (about 45 minutes) and change to the Pingxi Line for Shifen, where you write wishes on a sky lantern and release it over the old railway (about NT$200-250). Walk 20 minutes to Shifen Waterfall.
Afternoon. Take a bus or taxi to Jiufen, the former gold-mining town on a hillside, with red lanterns and teahouses along Jishan Street.
Evening. Have tea at the A-Mei Teahouse as the lanterns light up, then return to Taipei by bus (about 1h15).
Jiufen is very crowded on weekends; go on a weekday if you can.
Day 4: To Sun Moon Lake
Morning. Take the HSR to Taichung (about 1 hour, NT$700), then the Nantou bus to Sun Moon Lake (about 1h30).
Afternoon. Rent a bike and ride the lakeside path from Xiangshan visitor centre, or walk the forested trails to the Ci'en Pagoda.
Evening. Stay in Shuishe village by the pier and eat lake fish and aboriginal Thao dishes.
Buy the Sun Moon Lake pass, which combines the bus, boat and ropeway.
Day 5: Sun Moon Lake by boat and ropeway
Morning. Take the boat around the lake between Shuishe, Xuanguang Temple and Ita Thao, the Thao village, where tea eggs are sold.
Afternoon. Ride the ropeway to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, then take the bus back to Taichung for the HSR to Tainan (about 40 minutes).
Evening. Arrive in Tainan and eat at a local night market.
Tainan HSR station is outside the city; take the Shalun line train to Tainan station (about 25 minutes).
Day 6: Tainan, the old capital
Morning. Visit the Confucius Temple, built in 1665, and Chihkan Tower, the former Dutch Fort Provintia (about NT$70).
Afternoon. Take a bus to Anping for Anping Fort and the Anping Tree House, a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Evening. Walk Shennong Street, with lanterns and wooden shops, and eat danzai noodles and milkfish soup.
Tainan is the food capital of Taiwan; eat small portions at many places.
Day 7: Kaohsiung: pagodas, Pier-2 and Cijin
Morning. Take the train to Kaohsiung (about 40 minutes). Visit the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond; enter the dragon's mouth and leave by the tiger's for good luck.
Afternoon. See the Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard MRT station, then Pier-2 Art Center, old warehouses turned into galleries, and take the ferry to Cijin Island for seafood.
Evening. Eat at Ruifeng Night Market, popular with locals.
Kaohsiung's light rail and MRT both take the EasyCard.
Day 8: Back to Taipei
Morning. Take the HSR from Zuoying to Taipei (about 1h35, NT$1,490).
Afternoon. Shop in Ximending or visit Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
Evening. A last dinner at Din Tai Fung for xiaolongbao, or at Ningxia Night Market.
Taoyuan airport is about 35-40 minutes from Taipei Main Station by the airport MRT.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, spend three days in Taipei with Jiufen, then one day in Tainan by HSR and fly home from Taipei.
Got extra days?
Add Taroko Gorge near Hualien, about 2-2.5 hours by train from Taipei. Parts of the gorge have been closed since the April 2024 earthquake, so check the national park's site for open trails. Or add Alishan for sunrise over a sea of clouds.
Where to stay in Taiwan
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Taipei Main Station / Ximending | Hostels and small hotels on the MRT and airport line. | NT$1,500-2,500 |
| Mid-range | Zhongshan (Taipei) | Quiet streets, cafés and MRT links to all sights. | NT$3,000-5,000 |
| Mid-range | Shuishe (Sun Moon Lake) / Tainan West Central | Lake-view hotels and old-town inns near temples and food. | NT$3,000-6,000 |
| Comfort | Xinyi (Taipei) / Sun Moon Lake resorts | Luxury hotels near Taipei 101, or lake-view resorts. | NT$8,000-20,000 |
Getting around
The HSR runs from Taipei to Kaohsiung (Zuoying) in about 1h35, with stops at Taichung and Tainan. Regular TRA trains are cheaper and reach Hualien and Pingxi. Taipei and Kaohsiung have fast, clean MRT systems; fares are NT$20-65. Use the EasyCard everywhere.
What to eat in Taiwan
Taiwan is about street food: beef noodle soup, lu rou fan (braised pork on rice, NT$40-80), xiaolongbao, gua bao, stinky tofu and shaved ice with mango in summer. In Tainan, try danzai noodles and milkfish. A night-market dinner costs NT$200-400, a restaurant meal NT$400-1,000.
Best time to visit
October to April: 15-25°C in the north and warm in the south. Spring has cherry blossom (February to March), and the Lantern Festival is in February or March. May to September is hot and humid (32-35°C), with typhoons possible from July to October.
Month-by-month weather for Taiwan →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | NT$900 | NT$2,000 | NT$5,000 |
| Food & drink | NT$600 | NT$1,200 | NT$2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | NT$300 | NT$600 | NT$1,200 |
| Local transport | NT$300 | NT$600 | NT$1,200 |
| Total per person, per day | about NT$2,100 | about NT$4,400 | about NT$9,900 |
Approximate 2026 prices in New Taiwan dollars, averaged with two long HSR journeys. Hotels add a 10% service charge, and there is no separate tourist tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a visa for Taiwan?
Many nationalities, including most European, North American, Japanese and Australian passports, can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Others may need an eVisa or Travel Authorization. Check the Bureau of Consular Affairs website before you travel, and make sure your passport is valid for six months.
Is Taiwan safe?
Yes, it is one of the safest places in Asia. Crime is low, the metro is clean and people are helpful. The main risks are typhoons in summer and autumn and earthquakes, which are frequent but usually small. Follow local alerts and check transport during storm warnings.
Should I buy an HSR pass?
Only if you take several long HSR rides. The 3-day pass for foreign visitors covers unlimited trips. For a single round trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung, early-bird or off-peak tickets are often cheaper. Book online or in the T Express app.
Can I visit Taroko Gorge?
Parts of Taroko Gorge have reopened since the April 2024 earthquake, but some trails and roads remain closed for repairs and rockfall risk. Check the Taroko National Park website before you go, and join a guided tour from Hualien for the latest conditions.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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