The Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Taiwan
It is December, and Christmas is coming soon. After more than a year of living in Taiwan, I am glad that I was able to shoot so many videos about popular tourist attractions in Taiwan. And that calls for an article about the best tourist attractions in Taiwan. So let me share my suggestions. It is a difficult choice, so I focused on major cities and locations that are especially interesting for your first trip to Taiwan.
This article focuses on a small selection of places that give you an impression of the different flavors of Taiwan. For more detailed information, check the page about traveling in Taiwan.
Best Tourist Attractions in Taiwan’s Capital, Taipei City
It hurts a bit to start with Taipei, but this is very likely where you will arrive, and it is also the largest city in the country.
Do not get me wrong. Taipei is full of great places to visit. But many Taiwan travelers just go to Taipei and miss out on the rest of the country.
Every tourist guide will tell you about Taipei 101, Ximending, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and the National Palace Museum. I assume you should visit these places; I did, and I had an amazing time.
However, my personal tip for Taipei is the fish market near Songshan Airport. In my humble opinion, it has the best seafood in the world. There are some nice restaurants, but if you are a backpacker on a budget, for example, there are also cheaper options and a really nice beer garden. However, be ready for action if you walk through the market.
Kinmen Island: A Tourist Attraction with a Twist
Taipei and some other entries on this list below are pretty standard, so I made sure number two is not. Kinmen Island is probably one of the most unique places in the world. It is famous for Kaoliang Liquor, Kinmen Knives, and you may have heard of the movie “The Island Inbetween.”
It is a tourist hot spot, but most visitors come from China and Taiwan. Kinmen is a group of islands only 3 km east of Xiamen in Fujian, China. The island belongs to Taiwan and was the last battleground of the Chinese Civil War. It is almost an hour’s flight from Taipei, and for some reason, I ended up living there. In fact, I have written a Kinmen eBook about this amazing place in Taiwan full of tourist attractions.
Even most Taiwanese people I have met have not been to Kinmen, but due to its history, years of isolation, and unique location, it is an astonishing place that turned me into a travel vlogger. My Kinmen Travel Tales document the island; check it out to learn more
Kenting in Taiwan is full of Beach attractions
Number three of my favorite tourist attractions in Taiwan goes to Kenting in Pingtung County. Most people love the beaches in southern Taiwan. This is a great surfing spot, and I think the best thing to do in Kenting is to go snorkeling. Especially in the summer, make sure to plan some activities that include water because this is the hottest area in Taiwan.
I also made a video about Kenting, of course. You will see the beaches, the nightlife, and the Eluanbi Lighthouse, which are the most popular tourist spots. The Eluanbi Lighthouse is famous, for example, because it is the southernmost point of Taiwan. However, I really want to point out that Kenting National Park has much more to offer than just the beach. See for yourself in the video.
Visit Yilan for Hot Springs and other Tourist Spots
In the northeastern part of Taiwan, you have Yilan, which I also see as a must-visit place during your Taiwan trip. In Yilan County, my first stop was Jiaoxi, famous for its natural hot springs. And trust me, I earned that after my hike to the Wufengchi Waterfall. Unfortunately, I did not make it to Guishan Island (Turtle Island), even though I was so close.
You can go surfing in Yilan, and this tourist destination is also famous for the indigenous Kavalan people. While writing this blog, I remembered that I made two videos about Yilan. I went to the Yilan Distillery Chia Chi Lan Liquor Museum, had a great time outdoors, and also enjoyed my visit to the Luodong Night Market.
Final Stop: Kaohsiung with Many Great Places to Visit for Travelers
Taiwan’s number two is my number one. Not because of the long list of tourist attractions in Kaohsiung, such as Cijin Island or the Lotus Pond, but because of the city’s relaxed vibe. My very first video in my “Exploring Formosa” series gives you an idea of what I mean and also provides an overview of things to do in Kaohsiung, the second-largest city in Taiwan.
I even made a second video about the city to show why traveling with children in Taiwan is a great idea. You see more of the city, and I also went to the Shoushan Zoo.
These are my suggestions for the best tourist destinations in Taiwan. Do not get me wrong, Jiufen and Wulai are also great. Especially Wulai is not frequently visited by Western tourists. However, I had to narrow it down to my favorite locations that I recommend for your first visit to Taiwan. Reach out to me or leave a comment if you have questions or feedback to share.
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[…] in December last year, I wrote a blog about the Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Taiwan, but that article was a bit too practical. At time I aimed to help travellers planning their Taiwan […]
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