Taiwan | 台灣
Click on the pictures for full view
The App that will get you around the whole island - City Mapper
This app is updated with all buses, mrt, hsr and even uber cars around the island. It proposes you the cheapest, fastest or easiest routes so you can best plan your journey - whether you are a last minute doer like me or a long-term planner.
Use it in combination with google maps to maximize the efficiency of both.
Pro-tip: High-Speed Train does not always go from/to usual central train stations. Make sure to look at that while planning your trips. It is also not possible to use your EasyCard to take the HSR.
Use it in combination with google maps to maximize the efficiency of both.
Pro-tip: High-Speed Train does not always go from/to usual central train stations. Make sure to look at that while planning your trips. It is also not possible to use your EasyCard to take the HSR.
- TaichungTaichung Main Station - shot by @qwarkyl
- TaipeiTaipei 101 Sunset - Shot by @qwarkyl
- KaohsiungKaohsiung Lotus Pond - shot by @qwarkyl
- Shifen & JifenJiufen Old Street - shot by @qwarkyl
- TainanTainan Chimei Museum - Shot by @qwarkyl
- Hualien & TaitungBetween Taipei and Hualien - shot by @qwarkyl
- HikesWaterfall - shot by qwarkyl
- Sun Moon LakeSun Moon Lake Sunrise - shot by @qwarkyl
- CuriositiesXPark Gellyfish - shot by @qwarkyl
Taichung | 台中
Must Go - Myio Coffee
Perfect homemade roast, the place is homy and really lived in. A definite joy to go there.
Must Go - Yu's Cafe
The coffee is quite nice, the place is cute and central. Not always open.
Housing - Norden Ruder Hostel
Very friendly staff, perfect rooms, the view and the activities are worth it
Perfect homemade roast, the place is homy and really lived in. A definite joy to go there.
Must Go - Yu's Cafe
The coffee is quite nice, the place is cute and central. Not always open.
Housing - Norden Ruder Hostel
Very friendly staff, perfect rooms, the view and the activities are worth it
Taipei | 台北
Must Go -
Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Elephant Mountain (to have the best view of Taipei 101)
Housing - Star Hostel Taipei Main Station
Central, the concept is nice and the interior design on point. Very friendly staff!
Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Elephant Mountain (to have the best view of Taipei 101)
Housing - Star Hostel Taipei Main Station
Central, the concept is nice and the interior design on point. Very friendly staff!
I wish I had the chance to go
Kaohsiung | 高雄
Must Go - Lotus Pond, Cijin Beach
The pond is definitely a must see and can take you half a day. The beach of Cijin is further away but very relaxing and gives access to an old Japanese fort overlooking the city
Housing - The Tree House
In the city center, has a much appreciated pool terrace on top!
The pond is definitely a must see and can take you half a day. The beach of Cijin is further away but very relaxing and gives access to an old Japanese fort overlooking the city
Housing - The Tree House
In the city center, has a much appreciated pool terrace on top!
Food & Drinks
蓮潭老店 - Liantan Laodian (drinks nearby Lotus Pond)
Ippudo Ramen Express - Uber Eats order
I have been to
Great Harbor Bridge & nearby shops
Cijin Beach & nearby old Japanese fort
Love River (nice walk)
Kenting National Park / Longpan Park Kenting Beach ("Life of Pi" movie)
Shifen & Jiufen | 十分 & 九份
Must Go -
Jiufen is known worldiwe for insipiring Spirited Away design. I recommend you go to Jiufen in the early afternoon, as shops will close early (especially if it rains)
Housing -
I needed no housing as I made it on a day trip from Taipei, but there are plenty of AirBnBs directly in Jiufen !
Jiufen is known worldiwe for insipiring Spirited Away design. I recommend you go to Jiufen in the early afternoon, as shops will close early (especially if it rains)
Housing -
I needed no housing as I made it on a day trip from Taipei, but there are plenty of AirBnBs directly in Jiufen !
Food & Drinks
Way too many to list them all here, especially in Jiufen Old Street.
I recommend that you try tea houses and braised pork rice (Lu rou fan | 滷肉饭) in Jiufen.
I have been to
Shifen Old Street (great pictures on train racks, and you can also paint paper lanterns and make them go to the skies)
Shifen Waterfalls - aka Taiwan's largest waterfalls
Wanggu Waterfalls - should you like to go on a small hike from Shifen
I wish I had the chance to go
Lingjiao Waterfalls - two train stops after Shifen on your way to Jiufen
Jiufen Teahouse - emblematic, but also expensive
Teapot Mountain Trail - amazing view on the Pacific Ocean
Tainan | 台南
Coming soon ;)
Stay tuned by following my instagram @qwarkyl
Stay tuned by following my instagram @qwarkyl
Taitung | 台東
Hualien | 花蓮
Housing Taitung - Norden Ruder Hostel
Two options to pick up from, you can see the one I picked with the link above. In Hualien, it is easier to reach the city center from the train station, which is a bit further away in Taitung. I recommend booking a taxi with the 55688 app if necessary.
Two options to pick up from, you can see the one I picked with the link above. In Hualien, it is easier to reach the city center from the train station, which is a bit further away in Taitung. I recommend booking a taxi with the 55688 app if necessary.
Food & Drinks
Taitung
A Hung Fried Chicken
Local noodles 榕樹下米苔目*小滿雨生
Tea to go 茶乃子優質茶飲專賣店
Cute bookstore cafe
Taitung tourism night market
Hualien
醺Bar
I have been to
In the center and south-east coast, it's best to rent a motorbike with an international drivers' license.
Taitung
Saxiantai Arch Bridge
Jinzun Lulian Island
Hualien
Chongde Gravel Beach
Taroko Gorges (parts may be closed due to weather or natural events)
I wish I had the chance to go
Taitung
Taimali Railroad CrossingLüdao
Hualien
Shakadang Trail
Yoshino Temple
三棧溪戲水區
Hikes & Outside City Activities
Alishan | 阿里山
National Recreational Park of the Alishan Forest | 2600m high | Hundreds and Thousands year-old trees
Alishan can be experienced from multiple points. From Chiayi, from Taichung, etc. I went there from Taichung, taking the 8:17am HSR to Chiayi. Then from Chiayi HSR station, I took the Tourist Shuttle bus 7329 of 9:30am. I recommend to book all these in advance and to retrieve the tickets a day before at a convenience store.
The way back was similar, with pre-booked tickets. This allowed us to take the last shuttle from the day at 16:40. We arrived in Chiayi HSR around 7-7:10pm.
You can also ride the bus with an EasyCard. During the high season of cherry blossoms, this may not be ideal as this does not guarantee you a seat.
I saw a klook tour while I was there, so it seems this is a good option for solo travelers or people not so confident with multiple ticket bookings to enjoy a day-trip! As a comparison, booking tickets ourselves cost us ~37eur per person.
The way back was similar, with pre-booked tickets. This allowed us to take the last shuttle from the day at 16:40. We arrived in Chiayi HSR around 7-7:10pm.
You can also ride the bus with an EasyCard. During the high season of cherry blossoms, this may not be ideal as this does not guarantee you a seat.
I saw a klook tour while I was there, so it seems this is a good option for solo travelers or people not so confident with multiple ticket bookings to enjoy a day-trip! As a comparison, booking tickets ourselves cost us ~37eur per person.
You can buy an entrance ticket and train tickets directly there. For train tickets, buy them max about 10min before the train leaves, to be certain to have time getting in the train. Each train station has cute stamps. Use them to remember your trip!
Around Shouzhou temple, there are food options again. This is the mid-way point of the hike and it is really nice. Enjoy some of the green sticky-rice dumplings. They are amazing!!
If you are lucky, you may see monkeys. Be quiet around them and careful with your belongings. Nothing happened for me when I saw one, but you never know :)
Take the time to eat before the hike, enjoy the calm, the fresh air, and take beautiful pictures!!
Around Shouzhou temple, there are food options again. This is the mid-way point of the hike and it is really nice. Enjoy some of the green sticky-rice dumplings. They are amazing!!
If you are lucky, you may see monkeys. Be quiet around them and careful with your belongings. Nothing happened for me when I saw one, but you never know :)
Take the time to eat before the hike, enjoy the calm, the fresh air, and take beautiful pictures!!
Bring a fully charged battery. For long trips like these it is ideal as the buses do not have electric sockets. You can also charge your phones at the HSR stations if you bring your electric plugs with you.
You can buy food and drinks at Alishan, but I recommend brining snacks and drinks with you to be in the clear. Same applies for cash, even though you can withdraw some at the Alishan 711.
Bring anti motion-sickness pills if you need. The road to Alishan is full of twist and turns. I did not bring any mosquito repellant and did not get bitten. I also had brought a light jacket and sweater but did not use them (bring them still).
I went there at the end of April and was blessed with good weather and 15°c temperature.
You can buy food and drinks at Alishan, but I recommend brining snacks and drinks with you to be in the clear. Same applies for cash, even though you can withdraw some at the Alishan 711.
Bring anti motion-sickness pills if you need. The road to Alishan is full of twist and turns. I did not bring any mosquito repellant and did not get bitten. I also had brought a light jacket and sweater but did not use them (bring them still).
I went there at the end of April and was blessed with good weather and 15°c temperature.
Other activities off the road
Hike the nearest summit from Taipei, on this dormant volcano. Be ready to walk up stairs for a long time, and to be surrounded by cooler weather, bamboos, and sulfur smokes.
