Things to do in Central Taiwan

Taiwan is without a doubt filled with an endless collection of seascapes, landscapes, and beautiful landmarks that will stun even the most articulate poet. This tour is designed for those who wish to visit the most iconic and picturesque sites throughout Northern Taiwan. On top of snapping some Instagram-worthy pictures, learn about the Taiwanese culture and history behind those sites, whilst immersing yourself in the beauty of nature. Make your first stop at the Queen's Head at Yehliu Geopark. Gaze in awe at the magical views of stone formations inside the park. Your guide will not only snap cool shots for you, but will also explain the formation of the unique stones as well as the Taiwanese people and their culture. Then, visit Chifen, which is well known for its beauty and history as a former goldmine town in Northern Taiwan. Taste delicious Taiwanese snack along the alley, or choose the option to enjoy tea at the A-Mei Tea House, which inspired Oscar awarded animator Hayao Miyazaki for the beautiful house in Spirited Away.  After this, continue your scenic tour to Pingxi, Taiwan's most romantic place. Stroll along Shifen Old Street, one of the most popular movie shooting spots, where you can see a collection of local shops along old train tracks and winding lanes. Towards the end of your tour, make wishes by releasing by a sky lantern into the air and hope that your dreams will come true.

Explore the natural wonders of Taiwan on a 5-day tour from Taipei. Visit Sun Moon Lake, walk with Buddhist monks at Fo Guang Shan Monastery, drive along the Maopitou Coastal Scenic Area, and more. Enjoy accommodation in 5-star hotels. Day 1: Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, and Natural Hot Spring Following hotel pickup, drive to Sun Moon Lake, located in the lofty mountains of Central Taiwan, 2,500 feet (762 meters) above sea level. Stop at the Wenwu Temple (Literature Warrior Temple), dedicated to Confucius as the Master of Pen and to Kuan Ti as the Master of Sword. Continue your sightseeing tour to the Holy Monk Shrine and Tse-En Pagoda, then proceed to your hotel for check-in. Stay overnight at the Fleur De Chine at Sun Moon Lake (or a similar hotel). Day 2: Sun Moon Lake, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, and Kaohisung After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a walk around the Xiangshan Visitor Center before driving to Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery, the most famous Buddhist sacred site in southern Taiwan. Learn about Buddhism during a monastery walking tour and taste Buddhist vegetarian lunch (cost not included). Talk with some of the monks and nuns during a visit to the Main Shrine and Great Buddha Land, the site of a huge Buddha statue. Continue to Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, and visit Liuhe Tourist Night Market. Stay overnight at Kaohsiung in the Grand Hi Lai Hotel (or similar). Day 3: Kaohsung, Kenting, and Taitung Join a morning tour of Kenting National Park, located at Taiwan’s southern tip. Travel past 37 miles of coral-rimmed shoreline and along 3 sides of the park to see its main attractions. Stop at the Eluanpi Lighthouse and Maopitou Coastal Scenic Area (Maopitou Park). Continue to Taitung via the Southern Link Highway. Stay overnight at the Royal Hotel Chihpen in Taitung (or similar). Day 4: Taitung, East Coast National Scenic Area, and Hualien After breakfast, enjoy an exciting East Coast National Scenic Area tour. The East Coast National Scenic Area, known as Taiwan's last unspoiled land, stretches for approximately 100 miles (170 kilometers) down the east coast of the island. Weathering, erosion, and accumulation have produced a wide range of landforms. Your tour will stop at Xiaoyeliu, Sanxiantai, and the Stone Steps. By late afternoon, head to Hualien for an overnight stay at the Silks Place Taroko (or similar). Day 5: Hualien, Taroko Gorge, Taipei Spend a full day at Taroko National Park. Go to Taroko Gorge, a beautiful, narrow ravine created by the Liwu River, cut deep into the mountains of solid marble. Travel along a road that's been carved into sheer walls of rock, winding its way past forested peaks and cliffs, towering thousands of feet above it. Hundreds of feet below, the river roars past gigantic marble boulders. Stop at Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Marble Bridge, Tienshiang, and a marble factory before driving back to Taipei via the Su-Hwa Highway. Ride through the 8-mile-long Hsuei-Shan Long Tunnel before arriving back in the city.

View Taiwan's northern highlights with this group tour from Taipei. Visit destinations like the Yehliu Geopark, the old-fashioned mountain village of Jiufen and Shifen. Start your day with pickup in downtown Taipei, and relax as you make your way to Yehliu Geopark, home to a number of unique rock formations caused by wind and sea, where you will view fascinating rock formations like the Queen's Head, Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe, Ginger Rocks, Elephant Rock, and more. Next, head to Jiufen village, which was once famous for being a gold-mining town in the 1940s, but is now popular for inspiring scenes in the film "Spirited Away." The success of the movie brought vitality to Jiufen’s tourism, making it the most popular destination in northeastern Taiwan. It’s recommended to have a cup of tea at a teahouse, where you can appreciate the picturesque scenery, and the freshly brewed tea at the same time. Besides the teahouses, here you can also tastes various local foods and buy souvenirs. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the traditional Jiufen dessert—Taro Ball. Your tour continues with a visit to Shifen Waterfall. It is one of the most popular attractions in this area, widely-known as the “Little Niagara Falls” of Taiwan, a cascade-type waterfall similar to North America’s Niagara Falls. There are several viewing platforms near Shifen Waterfall, where the visitors can see the waterfall from different angles, even have a close-up look. Then head to the Shifen Old Street to experience the iconic tradition of flying Sky Lantern. Your tour guide will teach you how to release a sky lantern correctly, so you can fully enjoy the tranquil and peaceful moment. The street is lined with souvenir shops, sky lantern shops and eateries, where you can spend some time buying souvenirs or trying some local snacks before returning to Taipei. If you choose the option of combo with a free Lunar New Year Walking Tour: The free walking tour is available on 7, 8, 13, 14 January, 2023. Please contact the tour operator to pick a date once your booking is confirmed. Meet the tour guide at MRT Beimen Station (G13) Exit 3 at 14:30 on your chosen date, and then enjoy a relaxing walk around the old city blocks in Dadaocheng. After the walking tour, the group will dismiss at Ningxia Night Market. Tour stops include: Chinese Medicine Shop, Yongle Fabric Market, Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple, Dihua Street Lunar New Year Market and one of the oldest tea shops in Taipei.

Explore Taipei and the surrounding area on an 8-hour private car charter. Discover iconic sights and beauty spots in northern Taiwan without the hassle of public transportation. Choose from a number of itineraries or create your own. Check out the natural beauty of Yangmingshan and Jiufen. See the amazing coastal rock formations at Yehliu, or perhaps enjoy a drive to Pingxi.

Meet your tour guide at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, then enjoy a ride to the suburban area and start a nostalgic tour of Taipei. There are three branch railway lines still operating in Taiwan: Pingxi Line in Taipei, Neiwan Line in Hsinchu, and Jiji Line in Nantou. As time goes by, these three branch lines have turned into tourist railway lines. Pingxi is one of these small towns that were once prosperous due to the coal mining industry in the 1960s. The last coal mine closed in 1997, many of the residents moved out, and these towns became silent and desolated. Even though the golden age may be long gone, Pingxi becomes well-known for being the film location of some movies and TV commercials. Sky Lantern launch in Taiwan originates from Shifen in Pingxi District. Nowadays, the lanterns are used as symbols of peace and good fortune, the world-renowned Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a big yearly event that draws hundreds of thousands of people every year. Today you have an opportunity to experience this on the train track: write a message, light the lantern and watch it fly to the sky. There are lots of shops that sell Sky Lanterns, souvenirs, and traditional snacks along the train track, you may enjoy a little shopping before we head off to the next stop – Shifen Waterfall. Also known as Taiwan’s "Niagara Falls", Shifen Waterfalls are the biggest cascading falls in Taiwan. It is also a popular scenic attraction and easily accessible by foot from Shifen Train Station. If the weather is good, it creates a rainbow as it splashes into the lake. Your tour ends with a return transfer to your chosen drop-off location. Either at Xinyi Shopping District (Taipei 101) or MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station.

Meet your tour guide and driver in the morning at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station and take a 40-minute journey to the Yangmingshan National Park. Along the way, stop by the Taipei Public Library at Beitou. Located in Beitou Park and near Beitou Hot Spring Museum, it is Taiwan's first "green library", and is one of the most beautiful public libraries in the world. It minimizes pollution and harm to the environment by using recycled materials and by being water and energy-efficient. Visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum which was built during the Japanese colonial era. The Tudor-style building has a brick and wood facade and black tile roofing. The 1st level consists of a small bath and a large bath with a piece of Hokutolite Stone weighing 800 kilograms displayed at a corner. This is the perfect location to learn more about Beitou's rich hot spring culture and history. The next stop is Yangmingshan Flower Clock, the centerpiece of the Yangmingshan National Park. See the flowering plants which change by the seasons, where visitors can enjoy the bloom all year round. Visit Yangming Shu-Wu Mansion, also known as Zhongxing Guesthouse, which was the summer residence of the late president, Chiang Kai-shek. Today the mansion is an important site for Taiwanese culture and history. Afterward, you will visit the most popular spot in the national park, Xiaoyoukeng, which literally means "little oil pit". This is a post-volcanic geological area, where you can see and smell the steam rising from the ground, and feel the heat of a dormant volcano. See Qingtiangang, a lava terrace formed when the lava flowed north after the eruption.  The last stop is Lengshuikeng, which means “cold water pit”. This is a barrier lake formed by the volcanic lava flowing down from the mountain. The hot spring water here is colder than the other areas hence its name. Before the tour comes to the end, enjoy a hot spring foot bath that gives relief to aching feet and helps release tension in the muscles. After the tour, you may choose to disembark at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station or Shihlin Night Market and enjoy the local street foods. If you choose the option of combo with a free Lunar New Year Walking Tour: The free walking tour is available on 7, 8, 13, 14 January, 2023. Please contact the tour operator to pick a date once your booking is confirmed. Meet the tour guide at MRT Beimen Station (G13) Exit 3 at 14:30 on your chosen date, and then enjoy a relaxing walk around the old city blocks in Dadaocheng. After the walking tour, the group will dismiss at Ningxia Night Market. Tour stops include: Chinese Medicine Shop, Yongle Fabric Market, Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple, Dihua Street Lunar New Year Market and one of the oldest tea shops in Taipei.

Experience Taipei in a fun and a different way on a sightseeing tour by bike. This tour is a great way to orient yourself on your first day in the city or see the sights if you only have a short time to visit. Receive informative tips on restaurants, shopping, and nightlife for the rest of your stay. Over the course of 4 hours, complete a 15km cycling route around Taipei all on easy, well-maintained, flat paths.  Start the day by meeting your guide and enjoying a traditional Taiwanese breakfast. Get kitted out with your bike and start to pedal around the historic streets and traditional markets. Admire views of the grand architecture, immaculate temples, and more, as you listen to fun facts from your guide about the culture and history of the city as you go.

Explore some of Taiwan's most stunning scenery on this full-day tour to Taroko National Park departing from Taipei. Ramble through the trails in the gorge and enjoy the stunning view of the soaring marble cliffs. Meet your guide in the early morning, and enjoy a cozy ride to Hualien. Take a break at TCC DAKA Park, an ecological recycling factory and photo hotspot. Through the exhibition and installations in the factory, visitors can have a good understanding about recycling and upcycling. Your epic journey to Taroko National Park starts from the Archway of Taroko Gorge. From the entry to Tianxiang, this 20km section of Central Cross-Island Highway winding through the steep marble cliffs and tunnels of the gorge will blow you away. Walk along Shakadang Trail, with the rivers gently flowing through the marble boulders as you meander along the trail in parallel. The turquoise blue water of the river is crystal clear that you can see the riverbed from above. Head through the tunnels of Swallow Grotto, where the potholes on the cliff surface were created by the ground water and the rapid stream of the river. In the past, they were the natural nesting location of swallows, hence the name. Walking through the tunnels, you will be amazed by the stunning views of the marble cliffs reaching up to the sky. Stop by Cihmu Bridge (Motherly Devotion Bridge), an H-shape hanging bridge built of marble and named by Late President Chiang Jing-guo. Take a short break at a recreational area and have lunch at one of the restaurants in the park. Head to Tunnel of Nine Turns, considered the most scenic section of Taroko Gorge. See the meander running through the deep and spectacular canyons from high above. Get a closer look at the faults and folds of the sheer marble cliffs, as well as the vegetation on the walls. Visit Eternal Spring Shrine, which commemorates the 225 military veterans who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. End with a visual feast of the amazing Qingshui Cliff, one of the island's "Eight Wonders". Enjoy a sweeping view of a 21 kilometer stretch from the viewing platform before traveling back to Taipei Main Station.

Benefit with pick-up from your preferred meeting point in Taipei and journey through the city aboard a comfortable and clean car. It is also very suitable for travelers on a short layover with only a few hours to spare with the option of drop off at the airport or cruise terminal at Keelung Harbor if needed. Suggested sights include the Martyr's Shrine, Lin An Tai Historical House and Taipei 101, the 101-floor landmark skyscraper that claimed the title of the world's tallest building when it opened in 2004. Here you can have a photo and view this building with tips and hints from your local tour guide. Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Dalongdong Baoan Temple, originally built by clan members in Tong'an, Xiamen, who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century.  The tour is flexible and can be customized, create your own itinerary of the city and see the attractions that interest you most, once your reservation has been received, your itinerary will be built with you, according to your preference.

Eat your way through Taipei‘s culinary scene on a private food tour. Go on a delicious journey as you try 10 of the best food items beloved by the locals: from savory to sweet and local drinks; this tour leaves every foodie satisfied. Enjoy a bite of Tianjin, Taiwanese scallion pancake & braised pork, or stuffed rice roll as a veggie alternative in their authentic, local flavor. Each tasting is typical of the local cuisine and hand-picked by a local guide passionate about food. Visit Mazu (Heaven Empress) Temple, Chiang Kei Shek, and the remains of Taipei Prison Wall plus other remarkable spots in between food stops, and learn about their history and cultural relevance from your knowledgeable guide.