North Taiwan – The Best Day Trips From Taipei
With so many things to do in Taipei, you may wonder why you would ever want to leave. However, beyond the buzz of the capital city, northern Taiwan is home to some incredible scenery and charming coastal towns. Day trips from Taipei are one of the best ways to explore them.
Whether you are a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply looking for a break away from the city, you are bound to find something of interest in this post, in which we’ll explore some of the best day trips from Taipei.
Beitou and Tamsui
Beitou and Tamsui are both accessible from Taipei’s red MRT line, making for an easy day trip from Taipei. If you wanted to, you could make full-day trips out of both locations but I felt it was quite easy to enjoy the highlights of both within the same day.
Beitou
Take the red MRT line to Beitou and either walk for 10 minutes from there or transfer to the Xinbeitou line and travel one stop to Xinbeitou.
Here you will find a Hot Spring Museum and the Ketagalan Culture Centre, where you can learn about the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. The other main attraction is Thermal Valley, where you can follow a trail around the small, steaming thermal lake. Admission to these sites is free.
You can also take a dip at Beitou Public Hot Spring for a small fee. Just don’t forget to take your swimming costume!
Tamsui
Tamsui is the final stop on Taipei’s red MRT line. It combines historical significance and a vibrant waterfront ambience, as well as being quite artsy.
If you prefer, you could get off the MRT one stop earlier at Hungshulin to enjoy the Mangrove Ecology Trail and Tamsui Art and Cultural Park as you walk towards Tamsui Old Street. Once you are in the Tamsui area, there are a whole host of things for you to see:
- Tamsui Golden Anchor
- Qingshui Temple
- The Former Residence of Kinoshita Seigai
- Huwei Mackay Hospital Heritage Building
- Tamsui Historical Museum
- Chi Po-lin Museum
- Tamsui Customs Officer’s Residence Heritage Building
- The Former British Consulate Residence
- Fort San Domingo
- Aletheia University
My favourite part of the trip was taking a cheap shuttle boat across the river from Tamsui Ferry Boat Wharf to Bali Ferry Boat Wharf. I only explored a small area but found that it was full of local families enjoying the seaside holiday vibes and snapping pictures beside the Bali sign. There were various games for the kids and a huge selection of food stalls (especially on weekends). Bali Old Street is relatively short and busy but once you get to the end, cross the main road and make a quick visit to Bali Mazu Temple.
Then, head back to the wharf and get the ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf Long Beach where you can admire the sunset from Lover’s Bridge, which is colourfully illuminated at night.
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan National Park is known for its spring cherry blossoms and offering incredible views of the Datun Volcanic Group.
Climb Mount Qixing, the highest peak in the park at 1120 metres and a dormant volcano which still lets off steam and sulphuric gases. See if you can spot some of the wild buffalo, the Taiwan blue magpie or the Taiwan macaques. Do take a packed lunch with you and check the weather before you go!
Simply take bus 260 (from the stop opposite Taipei main station) to the Yangmingshan bus terminal. From there, take bus 108 to Mount Qixing – queue on the left for a seat or on the right if you are happy to stand.
The Pingxi Rail Line
Enjoy the mountain scenery of northern Taiwan with a journey along the Pingxi Rail Line. Take a northbound train from Taipei to Ruifang. Grab breakfast at Ruifang Food court and then, back at the train station, buy a day pass for the Pingxi train line. This will allow you to jump on and off the train as little or as much as you like. Popular stops include:
- Houtong – home to a huge population of cats and the Houtong Coal Mining Ecological Park
- Sandiaoling – for Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail to Hegu waterfall and Motian Falls, and Pipa Cave waterfall. The hike is easy but do look at the trail’s Google reviews (and pictures) first as it may not be for everyone!
- Shifen – enjoy a traditional lunch on Shifen Old Street and then walk 15 minutes to Shifen waterfall – Taiwan’s widest waterfall. You may want to wear a poncho to avoid getting wet from the waterfall spray!
- Badouzi – from here, you can take the 791 bus to Shen Ao Power Plant and walk a further 15 minutes to Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock.
On the way back, you will need to come back through Ruifang, from where you can easily get to Jiufen on bus 788 (see below). Unless you particularly want to spend a full day in Jiufen and its surrounding areas, this might be a great time to squeeze in a quick visit!
Jiufen
Possibly the most popular day trip from Taipei amongst travellers, this beautiful mountain village is best visited on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.
Boasting quaint tea houses and incredible views, Jiufen might just be one of the prettiest villages in Taiwan. The village itself is quite small and so the more adventurous could also hike up nearby Keelung Mountain or Teapot Mountain.
Another option is to walk 10 minutes from Jiufen old street to Nine Fukuyama Palace, a small and weathered temple known as the ‘temple within a temple’. Alternatively, head to Qitang Old Street. Qitang Old Street is a less commercialised version of Jiufen old street, boasting colourful stairs and vintage cafes.
To get to Jiufen from Taipei, take a train to Ruifang Station and then take Bus 788 to Jiufen Old Street. A slightly more expensive option is to take bus 965 from Taipei directly to Jiufen Old Street. Alternatively, click here to book an afternoon tour with transport from Taipei.
Yehliu Geopark, Jinshan and Laomei Green Reef
Another brilliant day trip from Taipei which is best completed on a weekday to avoid the crowds, Yehliu Geopark features bizarre rock formations sculpted by wind and waves. You can learn how mushroom rocks, honeycomb rocks, ginger rocks and monocline structures are formed and admire the incredible landscape.
The most famous structures are located in the first half of the park, near the entrance. If you wish, you can continue to explore the rest of the park, including the bird-watching area. Pick up a free map from the visitor centre and easily navigate yourself around the site, or arrange a paid tour at the visitor centre.
To get to Yehliu Geopark, take bus 1815 from Kuo-Kuana Bus Taipei Terminal (near Taipei Metro’s Main Station) and alight at the Yehliu stop. Alternatively, take the 716 bus from Tamsui MRT station.
After you have finished exploring the geopark, jump back on the same bus and head to Jinshan Shitoushan Park. Nearby, you will find Zhongshan Hot Springs Park and Jinbaoli Old Street. From here, jump on bus 863 or 862 to Qianhua. The Temple of Eighteen Deities is a short walk from the bus stop.
The Temple of Eighteen Deities is not to be confused with the Temple of Eighteen Lords, famous for its tall dog statue. The latter is a 40-minute walk (or a 5-minute drive) uphill from the Temple of Eighteen Deities. From the Temple of Eighteen Deities, continue along the same bus route to Laomei. The green reefs of Laomei are visible at low tide in the months of April and May – check the tidal forecast here before you go.
Even if you are not visiting at the right time to see the green reefs, you can still continue along the trail to Fugie Cape Lighthouse – the northernmost point of Taiwan.
Keelung City
Built around its port, Keelung is home to a bustling seafood night market and a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Make sure not to miss the Martyr’s Shrine and Zhongzheng Park, home to the Keelung Guanyin statue.
Continue on to the Ershawen Fort and, from there, trek to Haimen Tianxian before jumping on bus 101 to Heping Bridge to take in the colourful houses of Zhengbin Port. Then, continue on to Heping Island Park, a UNESCO World Geopark.
To get to Keelung, simply take a direct train from Taipei. The journey takes around 45 minutes.
Conclusion
The best day trips from Taipei offer an incredible array of experiences that showcase the beauty and diversity of Taiwan. Whether you’re exploring the breathtaking scenery of Yehliu Geopark, enjoying the coastal charm of Tamsui, or immersing yourself in the cultural wonders of Jiufen, each destination is bound to leave a lasting impression.