Taipei has an array of activities that welcome and invite visitors to stay longer. While the architecture and night markets boasts great itineraries for the city tourist, Taipei’s location gives visitors staying in the city access to a multitude of beautiful locations which are all just a train stop away.
Shifen Old Street
One of the best and most popular day trips from Taipei would be the small village of Shifen. Shifen’s charm resides around the glistening Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), the rail-side views as well as the widest waterfall in Taiwan.
Once a place for Coal Transportation, the Shifen Old Street has now transformed into a popular tourist stop for both local and international visitors. Both sides of the railway are filled with quaint souvenir shops, street food, local products, restaurants and offerings to light your own sky lantern. Another iconic experience here is the sky lanterns at the Shifen station, by writing your wishes on the lanterns and sending them lanterns into the air.
Yangmingshan National Park
Hikers rejoice! Yangmingshan National Park must surely be one of the world’s easiest escapes into nature from a city. Within about an hour, you can slip from the hustle of Taiwan’s capital into the peaceful mountain air of Yangmingshan. Hiking in Yangmingshan National Park is not overly difficult. Yangmingshan’s hiking trails are also clean and well-maintained, even if slippery at times.
Beitou Hot Springs
Just north of Taipei, Beitou is another popular day trip destination from Taipei. Known for its variety of hot springs and surrounding greenery, Beitou is definitely the ideal place to visit for a day of relaxation away from the bustle of Taipei city.
Immerse yourself in the public hot springs of Beitou and soak your stress away! If you prefer a quieter retreat, there’s plenty of resorts that provide private hot springs too.
Beitou Hot Spring is easily accessible by public transit. It’s at the foot of a mountain, which is also a dormant volcano, so while there will be some travel involved, it is still very close to the city center. We suggest taking the Taipei MRT, or metro, to save cost on transportation. We also love that there is free wifi in the train!
Jiufen Old Street
Known as the mountain town filled with plenty of street food, winding alleys, and scenic views, Jiufen is a charming place to admire some of the best sceneries in Taiwan. This is the city that inspired Studio Ghibli’s multi award-winning anime film Spirited Away as well!
From its straight-out-of-a-fairytale views to traditional teahouses and lanes after lanes of street snacks like chewy taro balls and rolled peanut ice cream, Jiufen is certainly one of the best day trips from Taipei!
The most popular way to get to Jiufen from Taipei is by public transport. From Taipei Main Station, simply take a Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) train towards RuiFang Station. Alight at RuiFang Station and head towards the west exit. Upon exiting the station, turn left and walk until you see a bus station where you can take a direct bus to Jiufen. There are signboards to guide you along the way but if you get lost, don’t hesitate to ask for instructions for the locals!
Wulai District
Directly south of Taipei, the Wulai district is another area that is bursting with exciting activities to enjoy for a day trip. From soaking yourself in the comforting hot springs to discovering the culture of the aboriginal tribe, the Atayal people, the Wulai district is a place you can't possibly miss for a wonderful day trip!
Do visit the Wulai Aboriginal Museum for a cultural glimpse and explore the Wulai Old Street as well for its tasty snacks and wine ( or xiaomijiu 小米酒).
Sun Moon Lake
Located at the foot of a mountain range, Sun Moon Lake offers a view straight out of a Chinese painting. As Taiwan‘s largest lake, Sun Moon Lake has a reputation of being a captivating and picturesque landscape surrounded by the towering mountains.
There are hiking trails around the perimeter and up the mountains that the adventurous tourist can follow, but for an easier way to admire the lake, you can also catch a ride on a ferry that travels across the water from one end to the next.
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