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Taipei is a vibrant city full of culture, history, and modern attractions, but sometimes a quick escape from the hustle and bustle is exactly what you need. Fortunately, Taipei is surrounded by incredible destinations perfect for day trips. From the enchanting lanterns of Shifen and Jiufen to the breathtaking beauty of Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake, memorable adventures await just a day trip away. Whether you’re seeking nature, history, or cultural experiences, these day trips from Taipei will enrich your Taiwan itinerary by giving you a deeper look into Taiwan’s diverse natural and cultural wonders.
Best Day Trips from Taipei: FAQs
How can I get around Taiwan?
Taiwan is well-connected by buses and trains, especially in bigger cities such as Taipei and Taichung. To travel to and from major cities and regions, there is a high-speed rail (HSR) system, as well as intercity buses. Once you’re in a city or town, you can use local busses, subways, and taxis to get around.
Keep in mind that even in Taipei, public transportation can be irregular with long intervals. I found that the average interval for buses in Taipei was 30 minutes, which can slow down your plans if you don’t time it right. It takes planning in advance to make sure you’re catching the right bus at the best time.
Google Maps is the best app for looking up directions, while Bus+ is the best app for searching arrival times. The arrival times on Google Maps were often wrong, while Bus+ was usually right. I recommend using both apps in conjunction for the best results.
For taking day trips outside of Taipei, you’ll have the best luck by either renting a car or joining a guided tour. Trying to rely on public transportation will take lots of precious time. Keep reading for more information on the best guided tours.
How many days do I need in Taipei?
It depends on how many day trips from Taipei you want to take. I would suggest a minimum of 5 days, but a week is ideal. In my 7-day Taiwan itinerary, I suggest basing yourself in Taipei for all 7 days. You can dedicate 4 days to exploring Taipei and its closer surroundings and 3 days to taking further day trips. I suggest alternating days in Taipei and day trips so you aren’t on the road too long back-to-back.
Are these day trips from Taipei good for solo female travelers?
Absolutely! Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world, even for solo female travelers. The crime rate is very low and it’s safe to walk around by yourself, even at night. The locals are very friendly and a lot of them speak English. You should use the same caution you would anywhere else in the world, but you shouldn’t encounter any problems. I especially recommend doing these day trips from Taipei as guided tours if you’re traveling solo for ease, company, and peace of mind. Keep reading for my guided tour recommendations.
Taipei and its surrounding areas are in my top picks for the best places to solo female travel in Asia!
Best Day Trips from Taipei
Jiufen, Shifen, & Yehliu Geopark
If you can only take one day trip from Taipei, this should be it. Jiufen, Shifen, and Yehliu Geopark are different places but commonly combined into a day trip because of their proximity. Jiufen Old Street is a picturesque narrow alleyway packed with teahouses, street food, bright red lanterns, and souvenir shops. Shifen, a town not far from Jiufen, is known for its waterfall (the “Niagara Falls of Taiwan”) and lantern releasing. Make sure to decorate and release a lantern while in Shifen – it’s a top bucket list experience! Yehliu Geopark is a nature reserve home to scenic rock formations, including the iconic “Queen’s Head”. Doing all three destinations in one day is a great mix of nature, history, and culture only an hour outside of Taipei.
How to get there: While public transportation options exist, to visit all three places in one day, you’re going to need a car or guided tour. I highly recommend this guided tour, which is the exact tour that I did. It allows you to affordably cover so much ground in just one day with a fantastic local tour guide.
Taroko National Park & Hualien
Hualien, a mountainous county on Taiwan’s east coast, is home to the spectacular Taroko National Park. Stunning cliffs, waterfalls, viewpoints, and gorges await on this day trip that’s perfect for nature lovers. Out of all these day trips from Taipei, this one was my personal favorite. I had no idea Taiwan had such impressive national parks with some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen. Although the three hours to Hualien sounds far for a day trip, it’s 100% worth it. I was surprised by how accessible the major sites were, too – no crazy hikes or anything. If you have extra time, you could even extend it to a multi-day stay, which I’ve heard great things about.
How to get there: Take a train from Taipei Main Station or a bus from Taipei Bus Station to Hualien. From there, you can take a taxi or join a tour to get to Taroko National Park. Alternatively, rent a car or join a guided tour from Taipei for ease and convenience. I personally took this guided tour from Taipei and loved every minute of it.
Sun Moon Lake
3 hours south of Taipei lies Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest body of water and one of 13 national scenic areas. While you’re at Sun Moon Lake, don’t miss out on:
- Seeing the stunning lake views at Xuan Zang Temple, then walking further up the road to Cien Pagoda for even better views
- Eating delicious street food in Ita Thao Shopping District
- Make sure to try the Michelin-star black tea ice cream at Tea18
- Taking the glass-bottom Sun Moon Lake cable car for more amazing views
- Exploring the stunning lakeside Wenwu Temple, my favorite temple I visited in Taiwan!
- If you have extra time, renting a bike and making your way around the entire lake
- CNN chose this as one of the top 10 cycling paths in the world!
How to get there: Take the High Speed Rail train to Taichung Station, then take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Sun Moon Lake. Alternatively, rent a car or join this guided tour from Taipei. I did this exact tour myself and really enjoyed it! Wenwu Temple was the highlight of my visit to Sun Moon Lake, and I wouldn’t have been able to reach it without a car or guided tour.
Wulai
Less than an hour outside of downtown Taipei is Wulai, a mountainous district known for its hot springs. While visitors are no longer allowed directly in the natural hot springs, the spas in town are fed by water from the hot springs. But the real appeal of Wulian is its natural beauty, with gorgeous waterfalls and a winding river. If you’re after some local history and culture, you can wander Wulai Old Street to shop and try street food.
How to get there: Take the MRT to Xindian Station and transfer Xindian Bus #849 to Wulai Terminal Station.
Yangmingshan National Park & Beitou Hot Springs
This is the closest day trip from Taipei on this list if you’re looking for an escape to nature and relaxation within an hour of downtown. The beautiful Yangmingshan National Park is a great place for scenic hikes with breathtaking views. Qixingshan Trail is a challenging yet rewarding option, passing volcanic geological landforms with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains at the summit. If you’d prefer a more chill hike, Qingtiangang Circular Trail is a perfect short, flat option through the grasslands.
After your hike, you can take a well-deserved rest by relaxing at Beitou Hot Spring. Located in the foothills of the national park, Beitou is the most famous of all of Taiwan’s hot springs. After enjoying the public bath, you can explore the surrounding neighborhood, which is full of history and nature. Try to avoid visiting on a Monday when most of the area’s attractions are closed.
How to get there: Yangmingshan and Beitou can be reached by public buses from Taipei. However, I highly recommend you avoid the unreliable and crowded Yangmingshan busses by joining this guided tour from Taipei. You’ll save a lot of time and be a lot more comfortable. You couldn’t pay me to get on the Yangminshan public buses again!
Including some of these day trips from Taipei in your travels is the perfect way to experience the diversity of Taiwan’s culture, history, and natural beauty. Each destination offers its own unique charm and adventure, making your time in Taiwan even more memorable. Whether you’re lighting lanterns in Shifen, eating street food in Wulai, or marveling at national parks and scenic areas, these experiences will take your Taiwanese adventure to another level.
Keep reading:
- 7 day Taiwan itinerary & travel guide
- Women’s Taiwan packing list: A stylish and practical guide
- The survival guide to being vegetarian (& vegan) in Taiwan
- Best places to solo travel in Asia as a woman
- Hong Kong itinerary: 4 perfect days for first-timers
- 2 week Japan itinerary and travel guide
- 2 week South Korea itinerary & travel guide from a local
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