Taiwan is compact, cosmopolitan, and quietly addictive. Once called Formosa (“beautiful island”), it threads ancient temples and tea houses with world-class tech, vibrant markets, and mountain landscapes that feel a world away from the city. You’ll taste century-old recipes, ride spotless trains, and hike marble gorges—all in a single week.

Centuries of migration and trade shaped Taiwan’s culture: Indigenous Austronesian roots, Han Chinese influences, and a Japanese era that left hot-spring towns and modern planning. Today, Taipei hums with coffee culture and design-forward boutiques; the north coast sparkles with odd rock formations and lantern-lit hills; the east unfurls dramatic cliffs and canyons.

Practical notes: Many visitors enjoy visa-free entry; the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) is used and tipping isn’t customary. Grab an EasyCard for tap-and-go transport, carry a compact umbrella (showers pop up year-round), and arrive hungry—beef noodles, xiao long bao, oyster omelets, and bubble tea are practically a national pastime.

Taipei

Taipei is Taiwan’s energetic capital: temples perfumed with incense, lanes packed with breakfast shops, and a skyline crowned by Taipei 101. Neighborhoods have distinct personalities—historic Dadaocheng, youthful Ximending, and leafy Da’an, each with a different pace and plate.

Top sights include the National Palace Museum’s imperial treasures, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall’s ceremonial guards, and atmospheric Longshan Temple. Beyond the checklist, Taipei excels at the micro-pleasures: third-wave coffee, steaming bowls of niu rou mian (beef noodles), and late-night snacks at bustling night markets.

• Where to stay: For 5–9 days in Taiwan, base most nights in Taipei to maximize food and culture, then hop east to Hualien for nature.
• Book stays: Browse Mandarin Oriental, Taipei (resort-style spa, serene rooms), Grand Hyatt Taipei (next to Taipei 101, great pool), or budget-friendly Meander Taipei Hostel (social, clean, central). Also compare Taipei options on Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Getting in: Fly into TPE (Taoyuan) or TSA (Songshan). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport MRT to city: ~35–45 min, ~NT$160–185.
• Getting around: Taipei MRT is spotless and intuitive. Single rides ~NT$20–65; an unlimited One-Day Pass is ~NT$150. YouBike rentals pair well with riverside paths.

Featured tours in/around Taipei (great fits for this itinerary):

• Yehliu & Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour (Departure from Ximending) — full-day small-group coach; expect coastal rock formations, teahouse views, and sky lanterns (from ~US$45–70).

  

• Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei — soak in hot-spring culture and see volcanic scenery (from ~US$55–85).

  

• 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast) — pedal quiet streets, temples, and markets with a guide (from ~US$40–60).

  

• Xiao Long Bao, Beef Noodles & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei — master classic flavors and roll soup dumplings (from ~US$85–110).

  

Day 1: Arrive in Taipei, Ximending vibes, and Raohe Night Market

Afternoon: Land and ride the Airport MRT to Taipei Main, then a quick MRT hop or taxi to your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a stroll through Ximending—Taipei’s pedestrian “youth district”—for street performers and sneaker shops. Snack on Ah Zong Mian Xian (silky rice noodles with braised intestines) or a taro milk tea.

Evening: Make Raohe Night Market your first feast. Start at the ornate Ciyou Temple gate and queue for the famous pepper buns (black pepper pork baked in a tandoor-like oven). Graze grilled squid, scallion pancake, and herbal pork rib soup. For dessert, try peanut ice cream rolls with cilantro—odd, and wonderful.

Day 2: Bike, temples, and skyline views

Morning: Join the 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast) for a local start through quiet alleys, traditional markets, and riverside paths.

Afternoon: Visit Longshan Temple and the nearby Bopiliao Historic Block for Qing-era lanes and exhibits. Then head to Dihua Street in Dadaocheng—tea houses, spice shops, and heritage facades. Coffee break at Simple Kaffa (world champion roaster) or Rufous Coffee for a textbook flat white.

Evening: Ride up to the Taipei 101 Observatory for sunset cityscapes. Dinner at Din Tai Fung (Xinyi) for translucent xiao long bao—pair with hot and sour soup and shrimp fried rice. If you’ve energy, stroll Tonghua (Linjiang) Night Market or toast at Bar Mood (seasonal fruit cocktails, Taiwan spirits).

Day 3: Northern coast classics — Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen (Day tour)

Set out on the Yehliu & Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour, usually 8–9 hours with morning departure from Ximending. At Yehliu Geopark, see the “Queen’s Head” and wave-sculpted hoodoos; in Jiufen, sip oolong in a hillside teahouse that inspired film animators; at Shifen, release a sky lantern along the old rail and visit Shifen Waterfall if time permits. Expect to return early evening—perfect for a casual beef noodles dinner at Yong Kang or Niu Dian.

Day 4: Hot springs and volcanoes — Beitou & Yangmingshan (Day tour)

Join the Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour to explore steaming valleys and rolling grasslands. See Thermal Valley’s jade-green springs, the Japanese-era library and hot-spring museum, then head up Yangmingshan for fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng and vistas at Qingtiangang. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you’d like a soak at a public bath afterward; mind onsen etiquette (rinse before entering, no shoes, quiet voices).

Evening eats back in town: Shilin Night Market for XXL fried chicken, oyster vermicelli, and spring onion cakes, or slide into a cozy izakaya near Zhongshan for grilled yakitori and highballs.

Hualien & Taroko Gorge

Hualien is the gateway to Taroko National Park—where the Liwu River carved a marble masterpiece of sheer cliffs, tunnels, and turquoise pools. The pace slows here: sunrise over the Pacific, black-pebble beaches, and hearty Indigenous flavors at night markets.

Taroko’s classics include the Shakadang riverside trail, Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto’s cliff-hugging walkway, and the Tunnel of Nine Turns. Roads are winding and weather-dependent; check conditions locally after heavy rain and consider a driver if you prefer not to self-navigate.

• How to get there (Day 5 morning): Take the express train from Taipei to Hualien, 2–2.5 hours, ~NT$440–800. Reserve seats via Trip.com Trains. Trains leave frequently; aim for an early departure.
• Where to stay: Base near Dongdamen Night Market (easy food, lively evenings) or by the train station (convenient for buses/taxis). Compare options on Hotels.com and VRBO.

Optional tour that includes Hualien/Taroko (for travelers who prefer a guided multi-day):

• 5-Day Best of Taiwan: Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien — a sweeping circuit from Taipei that includes Taroko Gorge.

  

Day 5: Taipei → Hualien, first look at Taroko

Morning: Depart Taipei by express train (aim 7–9 a.m.). Book on Trip.com Trains; ride time 2–2.5 hours, sea views on the right-hand side. Taxi to your hotel, drop bags, then continue by taxi or bus into Taroko (Visitor Center ~30–40 min from Hualien Station).

Afternoon: Start with the Shakadang Trail (easy, flat, luminous blue river) and the Eternal Spring Shrine (short walks and photo stops). If time allows, continue to Buluowan Terrace for sweeping gorge views. You can hire a half-day taxi charter from Hualien (roughly NT$2,500–3,500).

Evening: Back in Hualien, graze at Dongdamen Night Market—Indigenous grilled boar skewers, scallion pancakes, mochi, fruit teas. Sit-down options: Mr. Goose (succulent poached goose with rice) or Gongzheng Baozi for fluffy pork buns.

Day 6: Taroko highlights and Pacific coast

Morning: Head early to Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) to marvel at swallow-filled cliffs, then the Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jiuqudong), the most dramatic section of marble walls hugging the river. Helmets are sometimes provided at viewpoints; heed signage and stay on marked paths.

Afternoon: Continue north to Qingshui Cliffs (Chongde area) for one of Taiwan’s signature views where mountains plunge into the Pacific. On the return, unwind at Qixingtan Beach—bike the seaside path or skim polished pebbles. If you prefer a driver, a full-day charter runs ~NT$3,500–4,500.

Evening: Dinner on wontons in delicate broth at Dai Ji (a Hualien classic). Nightcap with local craft beer or honey lemon tea; pack pineapple cakes or mochi as edible souvenirs.

Day 7: Hualien → Taipei and departure

Morning: Take a morning express train back to Taipei (2–2.5 hours). If time allows, swing by Dihua Street for last-minute tea, ceramics, and nougat. Popular edible gifts include pineapple cakes from bakeries like SunnyHills or Chia Te.

Afternoon: Head to TPE. If you want a calm pre-flight window, consider booking the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Plaza Premium Lounge (food, drinks, Wi‑Fi; passes from ~US$45). Fly out via Trip.com or Kiwi.com bookings.

Extra eating and sipping cheat sheet (Taipei)

• Breakfast: Fuhang Soy Milk (classic youtiao and savory soy milk), Yonghe Soy Milk King (egg crepe, dan bing).
• Lunch: Jin Feng for braised pork rice (lu rou fan), Yong Kang Beef Noodles (rich broth), cold sesame noodles at a local noodle shop.
• Coffee & desserts: Simple Kaffa, Fika Fika, mango shaved ice at Smoothie House (seasonal).
• Night markets: Ningxia (compact, food-focused), Raohe (pepper buns at the gate), Tonghua (local vibe), Shilin (huge variety).
• Bars: Bar Mood (fruit-driven cocktails), A local craft beer bar around Zhongshan or Da’an for Formosan hops.

Getting between cities: For this 7-day plan, two destinations are ideal. Trains are the most scenic and efficient way to reach Hualien; book seats on Trip.com Trains. In Taipei, the MRT and affordable taxis make neighborhood-hopping easy.

Good to know: Typhoon season (roughly June–October) can impact coastal and mountain areas; check forecasts and park advisories. Carry cash for markets, but cards are widely used in shops and hotels. An EasyCard works on the MRT, buses, and many convenience stores; YouBike requires a simple registration and a credit card.

Seven days in Taiwan gives you a delicious slice of city and nature: night markets and neon, tea houses on misty hills, and a canyon carved from marble. You’ll leave with a camera full of vistas, a palate tuned to sesame and star anise, and a plan to return for the south and central highlands.