Taiwan is a compact island with an outsized personality: dynastic temples glow beside sleek towers, bamboo forests frame steaming hot springs, and every neighborhood hums with the promise of another snack worth crossing the street for. Once a maritime hub under Qing and Japanese rule, modern Taiwan is proudly democratic and famously friendly—visitors are often surprised by how easy, safe, and delicious travel feels here.

Taipei anchors the north, a city of world-class museums, efficient MRT lines, artisanal coffee, and night markets where pepper buns crackle and mango ice towers like sculpture. Just a scenic train ride away, Hualien opens the door to Taroko National Park, where the Liwu River has carved a marble gorge of otherworldly tunnels, cliffs, and suspension bridges.

Practical notes: pick up an EasyCard for tap-and-go rides on MRT/buses and for small purchases; Google Pay/Apple Pay are widely accepted. Tipping isn’t customary, but rounding up is appreciated. Weather shifts fast—pack a light rain jacket. For flights, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com; Taiwan’s trains are punctual and easy to book via Trip.com Trains.

Taipei

Taipei is Taiwan’s cultural and culinary capital—think ornate temples like Longshan, the National Palace Museum’s jade treasures, and a skyline capped by Taipei 101’s bamboo-stalk spire. Neighborhoods such as Ximending (youth fashion, neon), Dihua Street (tea, textiles), and Yongkang (noodles, dessert) make wandering a joy.

• Top sights: Taipei 101 Observatory, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, National Palace Museum, Dadaocheng (Dihua Street), Beitou Hot Springs, Yangmingshan National Park.
• Eat & drink: Night markets (Ningxia, Raohe, Shilin), Din Tai Fung (xiao long bao), Yongkang Beef Noodle, Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice, Addiction Aquatic Development (seafood), coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola and Fika Fika Cafe, cocktails at Indulge Experimental Bistro or Draft Land.
• Stay (mid-range friendly): Search stays on Hotels.com (Taipei) or apartments on VRBO (Taipei). Specific picks: Meander Taipei Hostel (budget-social), Grand Hyatt Taipei (Xinyi convenience), Mandarin Oriental, Taipei (classic splurge).
• Getting in: Fly into TPE and compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station takes ~35 minutes.

Day 1: Arrive, Ximending vibes, and a tasty welcome

Afternoon: Land at TPE and ride the Airport MRT into town. Check into your hotel, freshen up, then stroll Ximending, Taipei’s pedestrian district of street performers, anime shops, and snack stands. Try Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle (peppery, silky vermicelli soup) and grab classic boba at 50嵐 (50 Lan) or Tiger Sugar.

Evening: Dinner around Red House lanes—sample crispy Taiwanese fried chicken, scallion pancakes, and gua bao from street vendors. If you fancy a nightcap, head to Indulge Experimental Bistro (Asia’s 50 Best Bars alum) for Taiwanese terroir-inspired cocktails, or sip local craft beer in the Ximending alleys.

Day 2: Old Taipei by bike, sky-high views, and noodles

Morning: See the city like a local on a guided ride: 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast)—pedal quiet lanes, markets, and riverside paths, with a traditional breakfast included.

Afternoon: Refuel on Yongkang Beef Noodles (deep, star-anise broth) and dessert at Smoothie House (legendary mango shaved ice). Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for the hourly changing of the guard and its photogenic blue-and-white pagodas.

Evening: Go up the Taipei 101 Observatory near sunset for a golden-hour city panorama. Dinner at Din Tai Fung (Xinyi)—order truffle xiao long bao, cucumber salad, and hot-and-sour soup. Post-dinner drinks at Draft Land (pour-your-own style cocktails) or a coffee nightcap at Simple Kaffa Sola near Da’an Forest Park.

Day 3: Hot springs and volcanoes—Beitou & Yangmingshan

Day tour: Escape to the hills on the Small-Group: Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei. Steam swirls over Beitou Thermal Valley’s jade waters, Japanese-era bathhouses tell spa history, and Yangmingshan’s fumaroles and flower fields feel a world away from downtown.

Evening: Eat your way through Shilin Night Market: try giant fried chicken steaks, oyster omelets, and peanut ice cream rolls. If you prefer a smaller scene, hop to Ningxia Night Market for taro balls at Liu Yu Zi and oyster vermicelli from mom-and-pop stalls.

Day 4: Temples, tea merchants, and the National Palace

Morning: Explore Longshan Temple, where incense curls under dragon eaves. Wander to Bopiliao Historic Block for Qing-era brickwork. Coffee break at Fika Fika Cafe (Nordic roasts) or settle into a tasting at a Dadaocheng tea house along Dihua Street—sample high-mountain oolong and learn gongfu brewing.

Afternoon: Slurp a simple, perfect bowl at Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice near CKS Hall. Then spend 2–3 hours at the National Palace Museum (Jadeite Cabbage, calligraphy scrolls)—one of the world’s great Chinese art collections.

Evening: Seafood feast at Addiction Aquatic Development (stand-up sushi, charcoal-grilled crab, sashimi counters). Night stroll through Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) steps for the classic Taipei 101 skyline view if you still have pep—bring water and a light.

Hualien (Taroko Gorge)

Hualien is Taiwan’s east coast gateway, a laid-back seaside city sandwiched between the Pacific and the Central Mountain Range. It’s the best base for Taroko National Park, where turquoise rivers rush through marble canyons and swallows dart around tunnel-cut cliffs.

• Top sights: Taroko Gorge (Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, Eternal Spring Shrine), Qixingtan Beach, Dongdamen Night Market, Liyu Lake.
• Eat & drink: Mr. Goose (smoky goose with rice), Hualien-style scallion pancakes, aboriginal set meals featuring millet wine and mountain greens, mochi from Zeng Ji Mochi.
• Stay: Search Hotels.com (Hualien City) or VRBO (Hualien) for central B&Bs and sea-view hotels. Mid-range favorites include family-run minsu (guesthouses) near the station or by Qixingtan.
• Getting there: Morning express trains from Taipei Main Station to Hualien take ~2–2.5 hours; expect about US$15–25. Check schedules and book seats on Trip.com Trains.

Day 5: Train to Hualien, seaside sunset, and night market snacks

Morning: Depart Taipei by express train to Hualien (~2–2.5h). Grab station bentos and settle in for coastal views. Check into your Hualien stay.

Afternoon: Head to Qixingtan Beach for big-sky Pacific vistas and polished pebbles—great for a contemplative walk. Coffee with a sea breeze at a beachfront cafe.

Evening: Feast at Dongdamen Night Market: aboriginal millet sausages, grilled squid, mochi ice, and scallion pancakes tossed with basil. For a sit-down option, try Mr. Goose (tender slices with dipping sauce) and local sides.

Day 6: Taroko Gorge—marble canyons and misty shrines

Day tour: Make the most of your time with a private guide: Custom Taroko Gorge & Hualien Private Day Tour. You’ll weave through the Eternal Spring Shrine, Shakadang’s turquoise stream, Swallow Grotto’s cliff tunnels, and dramatic Cimu Bridge—adjusting stops and pace to your interests and weather.

Evening: Return to town for restorative eats—try aboriginal set menus featuring mountain pepper chicken and foraged greens, or keep it simple with wonton soup and steamed buns from a local dumpling shop. Pick up gift boxes of mochi for the journey back.

Day 7: Easy morning, train to Taipei, and departure

Morning: Sunrise stroll or bike along Hualien’s coastal path, then a light Taiwanese breakfast (warm soy milk and youtiao). Board a late-morning express train back to Taipei (~2–2.5h).

Afternoon: Connect to the Airport MRT for your flight. If you have extra time, grab a quick bowl of beef noodles or braised pork rice near Taipei Main Station before heading to TPE. Compare any last-minute flight options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional swaps and add-ons within Taipei (if you prefer to skip Hualien)

• City landmarks day tour: Small-Group: Classic Taipei Landmarks Day Tour for a curated overview of CKS Hall, temples, and modern spots.

  

• Hands-on food experience: Xiao Long Bao, Beef Noodles & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei—roll soup dumplings, knead noodle dough, and shake your own bubble tea.

  

Where to eat and drink (bookmark for each day)

• Breakfast: Fuhang Soy Milk (classic Taiwanese breakfast, go early), Yong He Soy Milk King (24-hour soy milk and youtiao), Coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola or Fika Fika Cafe.
• Lunch: Yongkang Beef Noodle (rich broth), Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice (comforting lu rou fan), Addiction Aquatic Development (stand-up sushi) or Ta-a Noodles around Dihua Street.
• Dinner: Din Tai Fung (precision dim sum), Shin Yeh (Taiwanese home-style dishes), Ningxia or Raohe Night Markets (pepper buns at Raohe’s gate, taro desserts at Ningxia).
• Drinks: Indulge Experimental Bistro (cocktails), Draft Land (taps for cocktails), microbrews around Zhongshan and Xinyi.

Getting around and budget tips

• Transit: MRT is clean and intuitive; fares typically NT$20–65 per ride. Use an EasyCard for discounts and convenience.
• Trains: Taipei–Hualien express ~2–2.5h, about US$15–25 each way—reserve in advance on Trip.com Trains.
• Budget (51/100): Mix street food and mid-range restaurants; plan 1–2 paid tours (hot springs/nature and Taroko). Expect ~US$30–50/day for meals, plus transit and activities.

Summary: In one week, you’ll taste Taipei’s best bowls, ride to misty mountaintops, and step inside the marble corridors of Taroko Gorge. With trains that run on time and food that rarely misses, Taiwan rewards curiosity at every turn—come hungry, pack light, and leave room in your bag for tea and mochi.