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There is so much to see and do in my home country of Taiwan! If you’re looking for daytrips from Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, the options are endless. Public transit in Taiwan is amazing and extensive, making it easy and affordable to explore the country. Here are three daytrips from Taipei you should consider bookmarking!
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TAMSUI 淡水
Tamsui 淡水 (or Danshui) is a quaint seaside village about 45 minutes north of Taipei city center. From Taipei Main Station, you can take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and ride it to the end of the line to Tamsui station (click here for the map). It’s a straight shot via MRT and very efficient, I’d highly recommend taking public transit to get to Tamsui.
I really enjoyed walking down Tamsui’s Old Street and seeing all the stores and street vendors. The streets and walking areas are all quite flat, so this is a great destination for families who may be travelling with children and/or elderly family members. Seafood lovers can venture down to Fisherman’s Wharf to check out fresh catches of the day. Take a stroll along the river for beautiful views of the water.
JIUFEN
Jiufen (or Jioufen) is an iconic tourist attraction in Taiwan, known for its resemblance to the village featured in the famous Hayao Miyazaki film, Spirited Away. Jiufen is one of the most popular daytrips from Taipei as it’s just a 1.5 hour drive away. My family and I opted to book a private car service to drive us there since there were 6 of us. Alternative transportation methods include public transit (MRT) and shuttle buses. If you prefer going with a tour group, there are various tour companies that can include Jiufen as part of the tour. Note that Jiufen is located on top of a mountain, so the drive up is quite steep and a bit winding.
Jiufen Old Street is filled with stores and street food vendors. There is a large variety of food to satisfy your appetite. Be warned that the street is narrow and there are steep stairs. When my family went, there was torrential downpour and fog, which unfortunately meant that we did not have a view from the mountain. However, because it was raining so hard, we didn’t have to deal with massive crowds of tourists. Typically the streets of Jiufen can be very crowded.
TAICHUNG
Taichung is my hometown and definitely worth a few overnight stays! However, if you’re pressed for time, it is still a great choice for daytrips from Taipei because of its close proximity. Taichung is only 45 minutes from Taipei via high speed rail. I would highly recommend taking the high speed rail, as driving can take 1.5 to 2 hours. If you take a public bus, the drive can be even longer as there are multiple stops along the way.
I may be biased since I’ve spent so much time in Taichung with my family, but I actually prefer Taichung to Taipei. It’s not as crowded and busy as Taipei, but you can still enjoy all that Taiwan has to offer, including night markets, delicious food and amazing shopping. There is a lot of nature and greenery blended into the city, which I really appreciate.
See below for links to two detailed blog posts I wrote about Taichung.
