✦ Top pick
Jiufen is the best all-rounder for a first day trip; pair it with Shifen and Yehliu on the northeast coast for a classic full day, or choose Beitou if you want a hot-spring escape reachable by metro in under an hour.
Taipei sits at the center of one of the most day-trip-friendly regions in Asia. Within 90 minutes of the city you can wander a lantern-strewn gold-mining town, watch waves gnaw sea cliffs into mushroom-shaped rocks, release a paper lantern over old railway tracks, or soak in a sulfur hot spring while steam drifts through the trees.
The public transport makes it painless: the Taipei Metro and TRA trains reach several of these spots directly, and cheap buses cover the rest. For the coastal cluster of Jiufen, Yehliu and Shifen, a small-group or private tour saves the hassle of stringing together buses, while temple towns like Tamsui and hot-spring Beitou are simply the end of a metro line.
This list is ordered best-first for most travelers, but each entry notes who it suits, how to get there, and what to actually do once you arrive. Pick one for a relaxed outing, or combine two of the nearby coastal towns into a full day.
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1tours from $126Jiufen Google
This former gold-mining town clings to a steep hillside overlooking the sea, and after dark its narrow lanes glow with red lanterns strung above teahouses. The main draw is Jiufen Old Street, a covered warren of food stalls and shops selling taro balls, fish-ball soup and peanut ice cream rolls. Climb to the A-Mei Teahouse, an atmospheric wooden building often linked (unofficially) to the look of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, and settle in for a pot of local oolong as fog rolls over the rooftops. Come in late afternoon so you catch both daylight sea views and the lanterns switching on at dusk.
- Jiufen Old Street food stalls
- Warm taro balls at Ah Gan Yi
- Tea and views at A-Mei Teahouse
- Shengping Theater, Taiwan's oldest cinema
Best for first-timers and atmosphere seekers
Getting there Take a TRA train to Ruifang (about 45 min), then bus or taxi up the hill (15 min); or a direct 1965/1062 bus from Taipei (about 90 min).
2tours from $85Yehliu Geopark Google
A slender cape of honeycombed sandstone where centuries of wind and sea have sculpted the rock into surreal shapes, Yehliu is northern Taiwan's most striking natural sight. The star is the Queen's Head, a delicately eroded formation on a fragile neck of stone that will eventually snap, so see it while it lasts. Follow the boardwalk past mushroom rocks, candle-shaped stones and tidal pools full of tiny crabs, keeping behind the red safety lines where waves can surge. It pairs naturally with Jiufen and Shifen for a full coastal day.
- The Queen's Head rock
- Mushroom and candlestick rock formations
- Coastal boardwalk and tidal pools
- Fresh seafood in nearby Wanli
Best for photographers and geology fans
Getting there Kuo-Kuang bus 1815 from Taipei toward Jinshan (about 75-90 min), or an easy stop on a northeast-coast tour.
3tours from $33Shifen & Pingxi Google
The Pingxi rail line runs through a green river valley dotted with old coal-mining villages, and its signature ritual is releasing a paper sky lantern inked with your wishes right from the middle of the train tracks in Shifen. Just outside town, Shifen Waterfall is a broad, powerful curtain of water sometimes called Taiwan's Little Niagara, reached on a short, easy walk. Trains trundle right through Shifen Old Street, so time your lantern for the gaps between them. Hop back on the branch line to Pingxi or Jingtong for quieter tracks and retro station charm.
- Releasing a sky lantern on the Shifen tracks
- Shifen Waterfall
- Riding the Pingxi branch railway
- Old station cafes in Jingtong
Best for families and couples
Getting there TRA to Ruifang, then transfer to the Pingxi branch line to Shifen (about 90 min total); or by northeast-coast tour.
4tours from $85Yangmingshan National Park Google
Taipei's volcanic backyard is a national park of steaming fumaroles, grassy peaks and seasonal flowers, all within the city limits. Hike up Qixing Mountain, the highest peak in the Taipei area, or peer into the hissing sulfur vents at Xiaoyoukeng. In spring the Yangmingshan Flower Festival carpets the slopes with cherry blossoms and azaleas, while calla lily and hydrangea fields draw crowds to Zhuzihu in early summer. Bring layers, as the summit is cooler and mistier than the city below.
- Xiaoyoukeng fumaroles
- Qixing Mountain hike
- Zhuzihu calla lily and hydrangea fields
- Spring cherry blossoms
Best for hikers and nature lovers
Getting there Metro to Jiantan or Beitou, then bus (S15, S17 or 260) into the park; about 45-60 min total.
5Beitou Google
The easiest escape on this list, Beitou is a hot-spring district you can reach entirely by metro, then a charming pink branch-line train to Xinbeitou. The valley steams from the Thermal Valley, a jade-green sulfuric pool too hot to touch, and public and private bathhouses let you soak in the mineral waters yourself. Visit the free Beitou Hot Spring Museum, housed in a 1913 Japanese-era bathhouse, and the striking green-glass Beitou Public Library nearby. It is ideal when you want a half-day of quiet without leaving the city.
- Soaking in a public or private hot spring
- Thermal Valley (Geothermal Valley)
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum
- Beitou Public Library architecture
Best for a relaxed half-day and cooler months
Getting there Metro Tamsui-Xinyi (red) line to Beitou, then transfer to the Xinbeitou branch line; about 40 min from central Taipei.
6Tamsui (Danshui) Google
At the northwest end of the red metro line, this riverside town is where locals go for sunset, snacks and a sea breeze. Stroll the waterfront promenade and Tamsui Old Street for A-gei (fried tofu stuffed with noodles), iron eggs and giant ice creams, then explore colonial history at Fort San Domingo and the red-brick former British Consulate. Cross the river by ferry to Bali, or continue to Fisherman's Wharf and its Lover's Bridge for the classic sunset view. It is flat, walkable and completely doable on a single metro fare.
- Tamsui Old Street snacks and A-gei
- Fort San Domingo and the British Consulate
- Sunset at Fisherman's Wharf and Lover's Bridge
- Ferry across to Bali
Best for an easy sunset outing
Getting there Metro Tamsui-Xinyi (red) line straight to Tamsui, the end of the line; about 40 min from Taipei Main Station.
7Wulai Google
Tucked into forested mountains south of the city, Wulai is an Atayal Indigenous township known for its waterfall, gorge scenery and riverside hot springs. Ride the little sightseeing trolley or walk to the base of Wulai Waterfall, browse Wulai Old Street for Indigenous specialties like millet wine, wild boar sausage and bamboo-tube rice, and soak in free public riverside pools or a spa. In cherry blossom season the hills bloom pink, and the whole valley stays noticeably cooler than the city. It is greener and less crowded than the northeast-coast towns.
- Wulai Waterfall and sightseeing trolley
- Atayal food on Wulai Old Street
- Riverside hot-spring soak
- Spring cherry blossoms
Best for nature and hot springs without the crowds
Getting there Metro to Xindian (green line), then bus 849 to Wulai; about 60-75 min total.
8tours from $52Pinglin & Thousand Island Lake Google
For a slower, greener day, head to the tea country of Pinglin, the heartland of Taiwan's Baozhong (Pouchong) oolong. The Pinglin Tea Museum explains the craft, and small teahouses let you taste and buy leaves straight from the growers. Nearby, the Feicui Reservoir forms the so-called Thousand Island Lake, where forested ridges rise from the water in layers best seen from the hilltop viewpoints. It is a calm, scenic outing that pairs a leafy walk with an education in Taiwan's tea culture.
- Thousand Island Lake viewpoint
- Pinglin Tea Museum
- Tasting Baozhong oolong with local growers
- Riverside walks in Pinglin town
Best for tea lovers and a slow scenic day
Getting there Green 12 bus from Xindian metro station to Pinglin (about 60 min); the lake viewpoints are best reached by tour or car.
9tours from $136.5Keelung Google
This working port city is best known for the Keelung Miaokou Night Market, one of Taiwan's most celebrated street-food destinations, packed with numbered stalls serving nutritious sandwiches, tempura, crab soup and pao-pao ice. By day, explore the coastal geopark at Heping Island with its wave-carved rock platforms, or drive up to the giant white Zhongzheng Park Guanyin statue for harbor views. Because Keelung is a cruise port, it also works as a shore excursion base for reaching Jiufen and Yehliu. Go hungry and in the evening for the market at its liveliest.
- Keelung Miaokou Night Market
- Heping Island Geopark rock formations
- Guanyin statue and harbor views at Zhongzheng Park
- Fresh seafood by the port
Best for night-market food lovers
Getting there Frequent TRA trains or Kuo-Kuang bus from Taipei Main Station to Keelung; about 45 min.
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Get an EasyCardBuy a rechargeable EasyCard at any metro station or convenience store; it works on the Taipei Metro, TRA trains, most buses, and ferries to Tamsui and Bali, saving you from buying tickets each time.
Combine the coastal townsJiufen, Yehliu and Shifen sit close together on the northeast coast, so a single small-group or private tour lets you see all three in a day, which is far quicker than chaining together buses and branch-line trains yourself.
Time Jiufen for late afternoonArrive in Jiufen in the late afternoon to enjoy sea views in daylight and catch the red lanterns lighting up at dusk; it also means less midday coach-tour congestion in the narrow lanes.
Pack for the mountainsYangmingshan and Wulai run cooler and wetter than central Taipei, so bring a light layer and rain jacket even on clear city days, and check for typhoons in summer, when trails and hot-spring areas may close.
Bring cash for marketsNight markets, old-street food stalls and small teahouses are largely cash-only, so carry small New Taiwan Dollar notes even though the metro and larger shops accept cards and EasyCard.
From gold-rush mountain villages to steaming hot springs and rock-sculpted coastlines, Taipei's surroundings pack an astonishing variety into short train and bus rides. Pick one for a gentle half-day or string together the northeast-coast trio for a full adventure, and you will see why so many travelers rate northern Taiwan as one of Asia's great day-trip regions. Grab an EasyCard, check the weather, and start planning your escape.
Frequently asked questions
Which day trip from Taipei is best for a first visit?
Jiufen is the most popular choice for first-timers thanks to its lantern-lit lanes, teahouses and sea views, and it sits close to Yehliu and Shifen so you can combine two or three into one memorable day on the northeast coast.
What is the easiest day trip from Taipei by public transport?
Beitou and Tamsui are the easiest, since both are reachable directly on the Taipei Metro red line in about 40 minutes with a single EasyCard tap, no bus transfers or tours required.
Can you do Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu in one day?
Yes. These three sit along the northeast coast within roughly an hour of each other, and a small-group or private tour is the most efficient way to see all three in a single day, typically running 8 to 10 hours from Taipei.
Is Taroko Gorge a realistic day trip from Taipei?
It is possible but long, requiring a very early start and a train to Hualien plus onward transport, and some sections of the gorge have faced closures after earthquakes, so check current conditions first or consider staying overnight in Hualien.
How do you release a sky lantern near Taipei?
Head to Shifen on the Pingxi branch railway, where stalls on the old street let you paint wishes on a paper lantern and release it right from the train tracks between passing trains; it costs roughly NT$150-200 per lantern.
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