✦ Top pick
Jiufen is the best all-rounder for first-timers with its lantern-lit teahouse lanes; choose Pingxi and Shifen for sky lanterns and waterfalls, Wulai for hot springs and a gondola, or Tamsui if you want the easiest escape straight off the MRT.
Taipei is one of Asia's easiest cities to escape. Within an hour or two by train, MRT or bus you can swap the city for a teahouse clinging to a mountainside, a riverbank where the sunset turns the water gold, or a misty valley full of hot springs. The north of Taiwan packs a remarkable number of distinct small towns into a small area, and the public transport reaches almost all of them.
These nine towns are ordered best-first for a classic Taipei getaway, balancing atmosphere, things to do, and ease of reach. Most work as a half- or full-day trip; a few (Jiufen, Wulai, Beitou) reward an overnight when the day-trippers leave and the lanterns or hot springs are yours.
Every entry lists how long it takes from central Taipei and how to get there, so you can mix and match. Pair nearby towns to make a full day: Jiufen with Jinguashi, or Shifen with Pingxi on the same little railway line.
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1tours from $105Jiufen Google
A former gold-mining town stacked up a steep hillside above the sea, Jiufen is the most atmospheric small town near Taipei, especially at dusk when red lanterns glow over the narrow stairways of Shuqi Road. The old street is packed with teahouses, taro-ball stalls and views down to the ocean that inspired the look of animated films. It gets very busy by midday, so come early or stay into the evening when tour buses leave and the alleys quiet down. A pot of high-mountain tea on the terrace at Amei Tea House, with the lanterns coming on below, is the classic Jiufen moment.
- Lantern-lit Shuqi Road stairway at dusk
- Taro balls and peanut-ice rolls on Jiufen Old Street
- Tea with a sea view at a hillside teahouse
Best for First-timers and atmosphere seekers
Getting there Train to Ruifang (about 50 min), then bus or taxi up; or direct bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT (about 1 hr 15 min)
2tours from $33Pingxi Google
Pingxi is the home of Taiwan's sky-lantern tradition, a tiny town on a single-track railway where you write a wish on a paper lantern and release it over the green hills. Trains rattle right through the middle of the old street, and the whole valley has a sleepy, lost-in-time feel between trains. Release lanterns from the platform area, then walk to Shifen Waterfall further down the line for the area's biggest cascade. Visiting around the annual Lunar New Year lantern festival is spectacular but extremely crowded; an ordinary weekday is calmer and just as charming.
- Releasing a sky lantern on the railway tracks
- The Pingxi branch line through forested hills
- Old-street snacks like chicken rolls and grilled sausage
Best for A nostalgic, photogenic half-day
Getting there Train to Ruifang (about 50 min), then transfer to the Pingxi branch line (about 30 min); a one-day Pingxi Line ticket lets you hop off at each stop
3Shifen Google
Shifen sits on the same Pingxi railway line and is the best base for the area's two headline sights: Shifen Old Street, where sky lanterns lift off straight from the tracks, and Shifen Waterfall, a broad curtain of water often called Taiwan's Little Niagara. The waterfall is a flat 15-to-20-minute walk from the station along a riverside path past suspension bridges. The old street itself is short but lively, with vendors helping you decorate and release lanterns colour-coded for different wishes. Pair Shifen and Pingxi in one trip using the branch-line day pass.
- Shifen Waterfall, a wide tiered cascade
- Lantern releases on the railway tracks
- Jingan suspension bridge over the river
Best for Waterfalls plus lanterns in one stop
Getting there Train to Ruifang (about 50 min), then the Pingxi branch line to Shifen (about 25 min)
4Tamsui (Danshui) Google
The easiest escape on this list, Tamsui sits right at the end of the MRT Red Line where the Tamsui River meets the sea, famous for some of northern Taiwan's best sunsets. Stroll the riverside boardwalk and old street for fried snacks and 'iron eggs', then cross by ferry to Bali or walk up to historic sights like Fort San Domingo and the colonial Hobe Fort. The Fisherman's Wharf and its Lover's Bridge are the prime sunset-watching spot. Because it is a single train ride from the city, it is the perfect low-effort half-day when you do not want to plan logistics.
- Sunset from Fisherman's Wharf and Lover's Bridge
- A-gei (stuffed tofu) and iron eggs on the old street
- Fort San Domingo and the old British consulate
Best for An easy, low-planning afternoon and sunset
Getting there MRT Red Line direct to Tamsui station (about 40 min from central Taipei)
5Wulai Google
Tucked in a forested gorge, Wulai is an Atayal Indigenous township known for natural hot springs, a thundering waterfall, and aboriginal food. The old street serves dishes like millet wine, wild boar sausage and bamboo-tube rice, and a short walk or mini-train ride leads to Wulai Waterfall. Ride the gondola up to the Yun Hsien recreation area for valley views, or soak in a riverside hot-spring resort. It feels a world away from the city despite being a single bus ride from the Xindian MRT.
- Soaking in Wulai's carbonate hot springs
- Wulai Waterfall and the old logging mini-train
- Atayal dishes: wild boar sausage, mountain greens, bamboo rice
Best for Hot springs and an easy nature day
Getting there MRT to Xindian, then bus 849 to Wulai (about 40 min); roughly 1 hour total from central Taipei
6Sanxia Google
Sanxia is best known for the Qingshui Zushi Temple, an extraordinarily ornate temple rebuilt over decades by artist Li Mei-shu, with some of the most intricate stone and wood carving in Taiwan. The adjacent Sanxia Old Street is a restored row of red-brick arcade shophouses, quieter and more architectural than the food-stall old streets elsewhere. Try the town's signature golden croissant (jin niujiao) baked fresh along the street. It pairs neatly with nearby Yingge for a full day of crafts and old-town wandering.
- Qingshui Zushi Temple's carvings
- Red-brick arcade shophouses on the old street
- Sanxia's golden horn croissants
Best for Temple architecture and quieter old-street strolling
Getting there Bus from Taipei (e.g. from Banqiao or Taipei Main) about 1 hour; easily combined with Yingge
7Yingge Google
Yingge is Taiwan's pottery and ceramics capital, a compact town where you can shop for everything from cheap teaware to collectible studio pieces and throw your own bowl in a hands-on class. The pedestrianised Yingge Ceramics Old Street is lined with kilns, galleries and cafes, and the excellent New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum explains the craft and hosts contemporary exhibitions. It is one of the quickest train rides from the city, making it a satisfying half-day for anyone who likes markets, crafts and tea sets. Combine with Sanxia, a short bus ride away.
- Yingge Ceramics Old Street kilns and shops
- Yingge Ceramics Museum
- A hands-on pottery or hand-building class
Best for Crafts, ceramics shopping and rainy days
Getting there Local train to Yingge station (about 30-40 min from Taipei Main Station), then a 10-minute walk
8tours from $85Beitou Google
Technically a district of Taipei but with the feel of a self-contained hot-spring town, Beitou sits in a green valley fed by steaming sulphur springs. Walk up through Beitou Park past the milky-blue Thermal Valley, the elegant wooden Beitou Hot Spring Museum, and the striking green-roofed Beitou Public Library, then soak in a public bathhouse or a private resort tub. The Hokkaido-style ryokan atmosphere and easy MRT access make it ideal when you want hot springs without leaving the metro map. Evenings, with mist rising off the valley, are the nicest time to bathe.
- Soaking in a sulphur or carbonate hot spring
- Thermal Valley's steaming jade-green pool
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum and the eco-library
Best for Hot springs with zero hassle from the city
Getting there MRT to Beitou, then transfer to the short Xinbeitou branch line (about 30 min total)
9tours from $52Pinglin Google
Pinglin is a green tea town in the hills above Taipei, the heart of Wenshan Baozhong production and a peaceful antidote to the busier old streets. The free Pinglin Tea Museum explains the craft, and small farmhouse teahouses around town will brew you the local lightly-oxidised tea while you look out over terraced slopes. Riverside walks and the surrounding Feicui (Thousand Island) Lake reservoir scenery make it a relaxing, slow day. It sees far fewer foreign visitors than Jiufen, so it feels genuinely local.
- Pinglin Tea Museum
- Tasting Wenshan Baozhong tea at a farmhouse
- Thousand Island Lake reservoir viewpoints
Best for Tea lovers and a quiet, crowd-free day
Getting there Bus from Xindian or Taipei toward Pinglin (about 50 min); easiest as part of a tea-country tour
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Get an EasyCardBuy a rechargeable EasyCard at any MRT station or convenience store; it works on the metro, buses, the local trains and Pingxi branch line, and saves fumbling for change at every transfer.
Beat the crowdsJiufen, Shifen and Pingxi are busiest from late morning to mid-afternoon and on weekends. Arrive before 10am or stay past 5pm for a calmer visit, and consider a weekday for the lantern towns.
Combine nearby townsPair Jiufen with Jinguashi, Shifen with Pingxi (same branch line, buy the one-day Pingxi pass), or Yingge with Sanxia by bus to make a full, efficient day.
Check the weatherNorthern Taiwan's coast and mountains are often wetter than the city, especially October to March. Bring a light rain jacket for Jiufen, Pingxi and Wulai, and pick an indoor option like Yingge's ceramics museum on a rainy day.
Bring cashOld-street vendors, small teahouses and rural buses often prefer cash. Carry some New Taiwan Dollars in small notes, as card acceptance is patchy outside larger resorts and museums.
Northern Taiwan rewards even a single free day, whether you chase a sunset down the Tamsui River, send a wish over the hills of Pingxi, or soak away an evening in Beitou. Pick one or two that match your mood, check the train times, and let Taipei's small towns slow you down for a day.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town near Taipei is best for a first day trip?
Jiufen is the most popular first choice for its lantern-lit teahouse alleys and sea views, reachable in about an hour by train and bus. If you want the absolute easiest trip, Tamsui is a single MRT ride from the city center.
How do you get to Jiufen, Shifen and Pingxi from Taipei?
Take a train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (about 50 minutes). From Ruifang, buses and taxis run up to Jiufen, while Shifen and Pingxi are reached by transferring to the Pingxi branch line, where a one-day pass lets you hop between stops.
Which towns near Taipei have hot springs?
Beitou and Wulai are the two best hot-spring towns. Beitou is reachable in about 30 minutes by MRT and has sulphur springs and public bathhouses, while Wulai, about an hour south, combines carbonate springs with a waterfall and Indigenous Atayal cuisine.
Which small town near Taipei is the quietest?
Pinglin, the tea town in the hills, sees the fewest foreign visitors and offers a relaxed day of tea tasting and riverside walks. Sanxia is also calmer than the famous lantern towns, with ornate temple carving and restored red-brick streets.
Can you do these towns without a tour?
Yes. Tamsui, Beitou, Yingge, Jiufen and the Pingxi line are all reachable by public transport with an EasyCard, and signage is foreigner-friendly. A guided day tour is mainly worth it if you want to combine several scattered spots like Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen in one day without juggling transfers.
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