Selected: fully customisable Taipei StopoverHoping to get a taste of Taiwan in less than a week? This trip idea sets out the best of Taipei and northern Taiwan in only five nights. Plenty of time to get beneath the surface of Taiwan’s capital and its surroundings.Sleek skyscrapers, mist shrouded mountain town tea houses, a spot of hiking and a bite (or six) to eat at one of Taiwan’s essential night markets, this stopover packs some of the best of Taipei and northern Taiwan into an easy package that can be a holiday in itself, or combined with another Asia destination.Read more LocationTaiwan Suggested Length6 days /5 nights Activity Level Fully customisable Every trip is unique Ratings LightLight mobility requirements as sightseeing activities are done predominantly by vehicle, with light walking SteadyIdeal for most fitness levels. Sightseeing involves walking and being on your feet for a couple of hours at a time, with down-time included too ActiveRequires a moderate level of fitness. Activities and sightseeing will generally involve walking and being on your foot for much of the day. Often includes light activities such as cycling, kayaking, or hands-on experiences AdventureDemands higher fitness. Most days will include a substantial amount of walking and/or activity throughout the day. EnergeticFor people who love being active. We reserve this rating for active itineraries with substantial movement and adventure activities almost every day. Trip highlights Itinerary Is this trip for you? Reviews What's included Take in views from the top of Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world Visit the charming lantern lined streets of Jiufen, a gold mining town on the north coast Try black pepper pork buns, oyster omelette or peanut coriander ice cream rolls at Roahe night market ItineraryAll itineraries are fully customisable. Our destination experts created this trip as an example of a cultural adventure: combining remarkable sights, guided experiences and a slice of everyday local life. Choose us, and we’ll create you a custom holiday where every detail reflects your pace, passions and preferences. Take as much or as little from this trip idea as you want, talk to us when you’re ready. Plan my trip Image Image Day 1-3Taipei Highlights: Stay in the energetic Xinmending neighborhood Learn how religions co-exist and overlap at Longshan Temple Take in the tapestry of Taipei from the top of Taipei 101Welcome to Taipei! You’ll stay in the energetic Ximending neighbourhood, packed with street food stalls and trendy youth focused boutiques. Exploring the city with a local guide, your first stop will be Longshan Temple, place of worship for both Buddhist and Daoist believers. Here you’ll learn about the religious lives of the Taiwanese, and how that ties into traditional Chinese medicine in nearby “herb alley”. For a glimpse into Taiwan’s political past, visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a grand museum and monument to the controversial leader who retreated to Taiwan with his forces at the end of the Chinese Civil War. If the timing is right, you’ll get a chance to see the changing of the guard, and all the pomp and circumstance still afforded to the wartime leader and dictator.Tapei is one of our favourite places to eat in Asia – so roll up your sleeves and join a cooking class. A Taipei local Insider will teach you how to create several of the country's best dishes, including the famous Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings.Head up to Taipei 101 observatory, for all encompassing views of the city and wrap up your day at the Raohe Night Market. It’s the perfect place for a light dinner, though the stinky tofu may be an acquired taste! TransportDay 1: Car transfer from Taoyuan Airport (40-50 minutes) Day 4Jiufen Highlights: Sip tea and take in the view of the old mining town, Jiufen Send your wishes skyward on a sky lantern in ShifenHeading out of the city, you’ll explore several beautiful, historic sites along the north coast. One of several old mining villages in this area, Jiufen, is justly famous for colourful lantern bedecked tea houses (channeling Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away vibes). Just down the mountain from the narrow streets and stairs of Jiufen is the open-air Gold Museum, home to dozens of well-preserved buildings and displays from the region’s active mining days. Wrap up in the small town of Shifen, where you’ll can write your wishes on a red sky lantern, before sending it barrelling skywards to the gods. TransportDay 4: Car transfer from Taipei to Jiufen and Shifen (1 hour) Day 5Taipei Highlights: Visit the National Palace Museum and artist art and artefacts Take a hike on Elephant Mountain for wide-reaching Taipei views accessible without a car Shop for souvenirs and sip bubble tea among the repurposed warehouses of Haushan 1914 Creative ParkSpend your final full day as you please – but we’ve got plenty of suggestions to make the most of your time. You may like to visit the National Palace Museum and all its treasures (near 700,000 of them) or you might prefer a spot of shopping at the boutiques of the Huashan 1914 Creative Park. We also highly recommend taking a hike in the mountains surrounding the city. There are trails for most activity levels and all come with lovely views of the cityscape. TransportDay 6: Car transfer to Taoyuan Airport (40-50 minutes) Is this trip for you? What's greatYou’ll explore some of Taipei’s most important sights, including Longshan Temple, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the towering Taipei 101Get out of the city for some mining history and scenery with a day trip to Jiufen and the north coastYou’re going to eat well! Dig into the street food and stalls of Taipei’s night market scene at Raohe Night MarketThings to considerThis is a short trip and concentrates on Taipei and the surrounding areas – with no time in the south of TaiwanThis itinerary focuses on the highlights. They’re all proven classics, but if you are looking for a more off the beaten track experience then we’ll work with you to make some changes. ReviewsOur trips start with listening. These honest, unedited reviews show how we put people first - because making customers happy is what we’re here to do.Read more reviews Wir haben uns sehr gut beraten gefühlt vor der Reise und auch während der Reise konnten wir, bei Bedarf, uns bei Problemen jederzeit melden. Wir hatten ein sehr gutes und sicheres Gefühl gehabt. Excellent support and advice from Rhian, helping us to plan our trip and making it all happen. She was very friendly and nothing was too much trouble.Our plans became reality once in Korea and all our train journeys went without a hitch. What's included? What's includedBreakfast every dayA full day guided introduction to TaipeiA full day guided day trip to Jiufen and the north coastEntrance fees to specific sights when visited with the guidePrivate airport transfersPre-loaded EasyCard IC Transport cardAccommodationNot includedInternational flightsMeals not mentionedEntrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiencesTips for guides Frequently asked questions Is Taiwan safe? Yes, Taiwan is a safe destination for travel. The crime rate and violent crime rate are some of the lowest in the world. While we advise the usual caution that travelers should always take when away from home, no special precautions are required. Taiwan does have some earthquakes, but they’re very used to them and the country has high quality construction that stands up to natural forces well. We do recommend you take care when crossing the road – the scooter drivers aren’t always as careful as they should be. Is Taiwan expensive? Visiting Taiwan is possible at various budgets, though pricewise, it’s closer to South Korea and Japan than South East Asia. While fancy cocktail bars and high-end, multi-course meals can hit your wallet, sampling several stalls at a night market could set you back under GBP 7 / USD $10 / Aud $14 for the evening. Day to day travel expenses are no more expensive than traveling in Europe or North America, and often will be less. Do Taiwanese speak English? The younger the person you are speaking to and the more urban the setting, the better your chances of being easily understood are. The more rural things get, the more likely that you may be relying on gestures and translation apps (which are always handy to have to hand). How many days does a trip to Taiwan need to be? This is entirely your choice. The length of your trip to Taiwan will depend on many factors, including cost, how much time you have available, how much of the country you want to experience, and the pace that you wish to travel at. Our Taiwan travel consultants will ask the right questions and together, we’ll come up with the best trip that fits you.If you’re looking for just a short stopover, our Taipei Stopover is a great introduction to Taipei and northern Taiwan in just five nights. On the other end of the spectrum, you can encircle the island in a little over two weeks on our Taiwan in Depth tour – covering cities, hot springs and national parks – all using Taiwan’s high-speed train network. Is Taiwan LGBTQ+ friendly? Taiwan is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Asia. Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and Taipei hosts one of the largest Pride events in East Asia. Taiwan is very safe to travel as an LGBTQ+ individual or couple, even in more rural areas. 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Wir haben uns sehr gut beraten gefühlt vor der Reise und auch während der Reise konnten wir, bei Bedarf, uns bei Problemen jederzeit melden. Wir hatten ein sehr gutes und sicheres Gefühl gehabt.
Excellent support and advice from Rhian, helping us to plan our trip and making it all happen. She was very friendly and nothing was too much trouble.Our plans became reality once in Korea and all our train journeys went without a hitch.