Welcome to Taiwan—an island where neon-lit night markets meet misty mountains, and centuries-old temples neighbor avant-garde art spaces. Once called Formosa (“beautiful island”), Taiwan blends Indigenous heritage, Qing-era lanes, Japanese-era architecture, and modern tech-forward cities into one compact, delicious package. You’ll taste your way through markets, ride sleek high-speed trains, and catch golden-hour views over the South China Sea.

Across seven days, this itinerary focuses on two cities—Taipei and Kaohsiung—perfect for a first trip. Expect iconic landmarks like Taipei 101, the photogenic alleys of Jiufen, volcanic landscapes near Beitou, and Kaohsiung’s creative waterfront at Pier-2. Food is a headline act: soy milk breakfasts, beef noodles, xiao long bao, papaya milk, and seafood straight off the boats to your plate.

Practical notes: Pick up an EasyCard for seamless metro/bus rides. Taiwan’s High Speed Rail (HSR) cuts north–south travel to under two hours. Typhoon season peaks July–September; pack a light rain jacket year-round. Street food is generally clean and affordable (NT$50–200 per snack), and tap water is usually boiled for drinking. Concert lovers should check schedules for Legacy Taipei, Zepp New Taipei, and Kaohsiung Music Center during your dates.

Taipei

Taipei is a city of contrasts: incense coils in Longshan Temple, latte art at world-class cafés, night markets perfumed with pepper buns, and an observatory crowning Taipei 101. It’s also Asia’s cocktail heavyweight, home to trailblazers like Indulge Experimental Bistro and Draft Land.

Top sights include the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the alleyways of Dadaocheng (old tea warehouses turned boutiques), Elephant Mountain’s city overlook, and the hot springs of Beitou. Food-wise, this is xiao long bao territory—plus soy milk breakfasts, braised pork rice, and oyster omelets.

• Stay (mid-range to splurge): Grand Hyatt Taipei (walk to Taipei 101), Mandarin Oriental, Taipei (sumptuous, quieter location), budget-friendly Meander Taipei Hostel (social, central). Or browse: Hotels.com – Taipei or VRBO – Taipei.
• Getting in: Compare flights to TPE with Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport MRT to city: ~35–40 min, ~NT$160.
• Don’t miss bites: Fuhang Soy Milk (flaky shao bing & hot soy milk), Jin Feng for braised pork rice, Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles, Ay-Chung for silky rice noodles, and the Taipei 101 branch of Din Tai Fung.
• Nightlife: Draft Land (cocktails on tap), AHA Saloon (Asia’s 50 Best Bars), Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taiwan terroir in a glass). Live music at Legacy Taipei or Zepp New Taipei—check schedules around your dates.

Kaohsiung

Sunny Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s southern port city, has transformed its waterfront into a creative playground. The Pier-2 Art Center brims with murals, installations, indie shops, and weekend pop-ups, while the Love River glows after dark with café lights and easygoing promenades.

Cycle the flat seafront to Cijin Island for black-sand beaches, lighthouse views, and grilled squid at sunset. Culture lovers will be wowed by the audacious architecture of the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) and concerts at Kaohsiung Music Center.

• Stay: Browse central hotels near the Love River or Pier-2 via Hotels.com – Kaohsiung or find apartments on VRBO – Kaohsiung.
• Getting there from Taipei: HSR to Zuoying Station: ~1 hr 35–50 min, ~NT$1,490 (US$45–50). Check schedules on Trip.com Trains, then metro 15–25 min to downtown.
• Eats & drinks: Liuhe Night Market classics (papaya milk, stinky tofu), Ruifeng Night Market on weekend nights, seafood feasts on Cijin Island, Zhangmen Brewing taproom for Taiwanese craft beer, and the award-winning Wu Pao Chun Bakery.

Day 1 – Taipei Arrival, Ximending Stroll, Night Market Kickoff

Afternoon: Land in Taipei and drop bags at your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a wander through Ximending’s pedestrian lanes—street performers, sneaker boutiques, and the historic Red House. Grab a quick bowl at Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles (peppery, silky broth) and a brown sugar boba from Tiger Sugar.

Evening: Head to Raohe Night Market (one of the oldest). Try pepper buns baked in tandoor-style ovens, scallion pancakes, and herbal pork rib soup. Nightcap at Draft Land for innovative, reasonably priced cocktails on tap; order a Highball #1 or a lychee-forward special.

Day 2 – Cycle Taipei at Dawn, Iconic Landmarks, Skyline Sunset

Morning: See the city wake up on the 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast). Pedal past historic streets and markets, stopping for a classic Taiwanese breakfast (think shao bing with egg, hot soy milk). It’s a fun, unique way to orient yourself and tick off several sights early.

Afternoon: Explore the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and hop over to Dihua Street in Dadaocheng for tea shops, fabric stores, and heritage façades. Lunch on braised pork rice at Jin Feng near CKS or chase beef noodles at Lin Dong Fang.

Evening: Ride up Taipei 101’s observatory for blue-hour views. For dinner, the Taipei 101 branch of Din Tai Fung delivers perfect xiao long bao; order the truffle dumplings if you’re feeling fancy. End with a cocktail at AHA Saloon or a creamy oolong milk tea from any of the artisan tea bars on Anhe Road.

Day 3 – Northern Taiwan Highlights: Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen

Full-day tour: Join the Yehliu & Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour to see lunar-like rock formations at Yehliu Geopark, lantern-lit lanes in Jiufen (try taro ball desserts and herbal rice cakes), and release a wish lantern on the old rail line in Shifen. It’s efficient, photogenic, and checks several must-sees in one day. Return to Taipei in the evening; if you’re peckish, pop into Ningxia Night Market for oyster vermicelli and peanut-ice cream rolls.

Day 4 – Volcano Views and Hot Spring Soak, Foodie Night Out

Morning–Afternoon: Trade city streets for steaming valleys on the Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour. Walk boardwalks past sulfur vents, admire flower farms and mountain vistas, and enjoy a restorative hot spring soak (bring a swimsuit; some baths are gender-segregated). Expect cooler temps up high—pack a light layer.

Evening: Back in town, take a guided tasting with The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Taipei: The 10 Tastings for a curated street-food crawl tailored to your tastes.

Prefer DIY? Hit Tonghua/Linjiang Night Market near Da’an for pepper chicken, gua bao (pork belly buns), and Taiwanese tempura. Late-night live music? Check Legacy Taipei’s calendar; big-ticket shows often play at Taipei Arena or Zepp New Taipei.

Day 5 – HSR to Kaohsiung, Pier-2 Art Center and Cijin Island

Morning: Depart Taipei by HSR to Kaohsiung Zuoying (~1 hr 40 min, ~NT$1,490). Book via Trip.com Trains. Check into your hotel near Pier-2 or the Love River. Coffee at a local roaster—Kaohsiung’s café scene is relaxed and spacious.

Afternoon: Explore the Pier-2 Art Center: murals, shipping-container shops, and design markets. Ride the waterfront light rail to Gushan and catch the ferry (10 min) to Cijin Island. Rent a bike, visit the lighthouse and Cihou Fort, then refuel on grilled squid, fried rice noodles, and shaved ice.

Evening: Return to the mainland for a sunset stroll along the Love River. Dinner near Pier-2—look for seafood eateries plating seasonal crabs and local grouper. Sip Taiwanese craft beer at Zhangmen Brewing’s Kaohsiung taproom. If there’s a gig, pop into LIVE WAREHOUSE at Kaohsiung Music Center.

Day 6 – Temples, Monastery, and a Night Market Feast

Morning: Taxi or bus to Fo Guang Shan, one of Asia’s largest Buddhist monasteries. The Buddha Museum’s main hall and serene courtyards make for a contemplative visit; vegetarian canteens serve simple, tasty lunches (NT$120–250).

Afternoon: Head back to the city to tour the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)—the sweeping, dune-like architecture is worth a detour. Stroll its surrounding park or catch an afternoon recital if available.

Evening: Night-market crawl: Liuhe runs nightly (try papaya milk, steamed seafood, flame-torched beef cubes). On Fri–Sun (plus Tue/Thu), Ruifeng Night Market offers more local vibes—queue for fried chicken cutlets, spicy hotpot skewers, and mochi donuts. Afterwards, mellow drinks by the Love River.

Day 7 – Lotus Pond Pagodas, Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Visit the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond—enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit the tiger for good luck. Nearby temples (Spring and Autumn Pavilions) add photo ops. Brunch at Wu Pao Chun Bakery—try the lychee-rose bread or Taiwan wheat loaf with local honey.

Afternoon: Fly out of Kaohsiung (KHH) or ride HSR back to Taoyuan for international flights. Compare flight options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Grab a final bento at the station—Taiwanese railway lunchboxes are a tradition for a reason.

Where the Tours Fit (Quick Reference)

• 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast) – Day 2 morning

  

• Yehliu & Jiufen & Shifen Day Tour – Day 3 full-day

  

• Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour – Day 4 daytime

  

• The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Taipei: The 10 Tastings – Day 4 evening

  

Budget Tips (Score: 50/100)

• Prioritize night markets and breakfast shops (NT$50–200 per item). Mix in one or two sit-down meals like Din Tai Fung (NT$500–900 per person) as “treat” nights.
• Use EasyCard on metros and YouBike for short hops; taxis are affordable for late nights.
• HSR early-bird fares sometimes discount 10–20%; check Trip.com Trains in advance.

Booking Shortcuts

• Flights: Trip.com, Kiwi.com
• Trains (HSR, intercity): Trip.com Trains
• Taipei stays: Grand Hyatt Taipei, Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, Meander Taipei Hostel, plus Hotels.com – Taipei and VRBO – Taipei
• Kaohsiung stays: Hotels.com – Kaohsiung, VRBO – Kaohsiung

In one rewarding week, you’ll sip soy milk at dawn, watch lanterns rise over old rail lines, soak in volcano-fed springs, and cycle a sunlit harbor. Taiwan’s mix of big-city sparkle and coastal calm will have you plotting a return—next time, maybe Taroko Gorge or Tainan’s temple lanes.