The Best Places to Visit in Taiwan
Off the coast of China is the little island nation of Taiwan, a place with a somewhat sensitive international complex at the moment. However, that doesn’t discredit the immense beauty all across the country. On the west coast is where most of Taiwan’s major cities are located, and east of them is where mountainous regions meet the Pacific Ocean. ~23 million people squeeze onto this little island which is roughly the size of Moldova, and it makes the cities appear very energetic and lively, perhaps a bit chaotic even. It’s an amazing place for a diverse trip, as you can head straight from a large city out into a region that feels like New Zealand.
Capital: Taipei
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar
Language: Taiwanese Mandarin
When to visit: October to November, March to May
1) Taipei
Taipei is Taiwan’s massive capital city, sitting at the northern end of the country surrounded by green mountains. It’s mainly modern across the city, which you can clearly see as all the skyscrapers and high rise buildings get framed by the hills. Of course, you can find plenty of traditional neighborhoods and buildings amongst it all. It really is an efficient and high-tech city with life all over.
Things to do:
Take one look at the skyline and you’ll see the standout building, Taipei 101. You can ride the high speed elevator to the observation deck for panoramic views over the city which is truly incredible to look out over. Hike up Elephant Mountain for sick views of it, too. It is found in the Taipei City area, which includes a lot of the skyscrapers, plus places like National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and a bunch of museums. Over to the west in the Wanhua District is the famous traditional spot of Taiwan, Lungshan Temple. What’s awesome is that between all of this is the incredible Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which is a few streets down from the National Taiwan Museum also! There is basically a load of different important cultural sites in many different neighborhoods. In terms of Taipei’s buzzing markets, try both Shilin Night Market (the largest), and Raohe Street Night Market (a smaller one).
How to get there:
Fly into one of Taipei’s two airports, TPE or TSA. The former handles mainly international flights, and the latter is mainly domestic.
You can also take a high speed train or bus to other main cities like Taichung, Taoyuan, or Kaohsiung.
2) Yangmingshan National Park
The awesome thing about Taipei is that just a little further north of it is Yangmingshan National Park, a beautiful volcanic plateau with geothermal activity amongst the mountain scenery. It’s an amazing place to hike and simply just get away from the crowds of Taipei, and one of Taiwan’s best regions for nature full stop.
Things to do:
The most common thing to do is to hike to the peak of Qixing Mountain. It isn’t even that hard, taking literally less than 4 hours to the top depending on where you start. Pick from either Xiaoyoukeng Trailhead, Lengshuikeng Trailhead, or Miaopu Trailhead as your start point. After you’re all done hiking, take the time to actually visit Xiaoyoukeng which is where you can see the geothermic activity live and in action. There is paths and trails going around it. The most scenic and peaceful thing to do in my opinion is to walk to the Qingtiangang Grasslands via the Qingtaingang Circular Trail which takes under 2hrs. It’s basically the beautiful wide open grassy area of the national park, and the countryside scenery is always lovely.
How to get there:
There are frequent buses to Yangmingshan daily, with some being combined with the MRT further into the park.
3) Tainan
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and is often considered the cultural capital of the island. Located in southern Taiwan, it was the capital during various historical periods, including under Dutch rule in the 17th century and later during the Qing dynasty. Because of this, Tainan has a deeper historical feel compared to the modern energy of Taipei and this attracts a lot of visitors.
Things to do:
Starting all the way out in the west, the Anping District is home to the classic Anping Fort which is one of Tainan’s most important landmarks. You can climb the tower for views over Anping and learn about Taiwan’s early colonial history. Whilst you’re here, visit Anping Old Street, as well as the 19th century Eternal Golden Castle which flies over a lot of peoples radars. Now, we can start with the central area of the city. The Tainan Confucius Temple dates back to 1665 and is a good place to see traditional Taiwanese architecture. You can also find Chihkan Tower, the Tainan City Museum, and the iconic Shennong Street all in this central part of the city too. Most of the buildings were built by Dutch colonists during the 17th century. Tainan in general is a cool city to explore with great food.
How to get there:
Take a high speed train from Taipei, or a regular train from Taichung, Kaohsiung, etc.
4) Taroko Gorge
Kutná Hora is yet another one of Czechia’s historic towns, and is pretty close to Prague allowing it to be done as a day trip for those with extra time. known for its medieval silver-mining heritage, and the UNESCO World Heritage status, earned thanks to it’s amazing neo-gothic architecture. It’s a small town with about 21,000 residents, so if you ever get tired of the crowds then head here for a day and explore it’s wide range of churches and cathedrals.
Things to do:
The masterpiece of the city is the Cathedral of St. Barbara, the elevated cathedral with incredible high rising spires and a beautifully crafted interior. It’s right by Jesuit College, so the mix of the two buildings completes the look. Head down from the cathedral and wander the beautiful old cobbled streets, making sure you pass through Vlašský dvůr, the Italian Court. This part ties directly to the town's silver-mining wealth. A bit further out is Sedlec Ossuary, an eerie chapel decorated with real human bones, and over 50,000 of them at that. Right by this is also Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist, so you have a lot to explore around the areas of Kutna Hora.
How to get there:
You can easily train from Prague to Kutna Hora direct, every day.
5) Alishan
Kroměříž is the final historic town of Czechia I’ll mention, and it’s famous for it’s beautiful, serene UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s got a way more elegant and relaxed vibe than everywhere else on the list, and is the best way to experience a peaceful, Moravian town out in the east of the country. It’s accesible from Brno and worth a stop, for sure.
Things to do:
The UNESCO draw of the town is Kroměříž Archbishop's Palace, a grand Baroque princely residence with opulent interiors and a big art collection. Stroll through the Main Square, and the nice streets on your walk there. Inside the castle area, you can take a tour exploring Archbishop's Wine Cellars, if you’re into wine tasting and things as such. Behind the Palace is the Chateau Garden - 64 hectares of English style landscapes, water features, statues and beautifully relaxing nature. However, the main spot in all the photos is the Flower Garden (Květná zahrada). It’s the 2nd UNESCO site, and is an incredible Baroque garden with geometric flower beds. This is really the must see in the city, it’s like a mini Versailles.
How to get there:
Kroměříž is an easy train away, direct from Brno.
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