3 Best Places to Visit in Southern Taiwan
If you are visiting southern Taiwan, this article is for you. I put together the best things to do for your southern Taiwan trip. However, I also have a page dedicated to traveling in Taiwan in general. And I also wrote a blog about the best places to visit in Taiwan overall. Check these if you are looking for more general information. In this article, I want to show you where to visit in southern Taiwan.
In a nutshell, a visit to southern Taiwan is definitely a great idea. You have history, warm weather, and great food culture. The colder months are ideal for visiting Kenting, Xiaoliuqiu, and Taitung. Of course, you can visit these locations in any season, but note that southern Taiwan can get very hot during the summer. Thus, I am recommending this now, just before winter starts.
Tourist attractions in southern Taiwan: Kenting
Kenting, located in Pingtung County, is the southern end of Taiwan. You can even visit the southernmost point of the island near the Eluanbi Lighthouse. More importantly, the area is absolutely beautiful and offers a wide range of activities.
Most international tourists come for the beaches, and it is a great place to go surfing, swimming, and enjoy the many cool bars. I even managed to attend a music festival and go snorkeling. If you are looking for things to do in Southern Taiwan, add Kenting to your bucket list. It is not only one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan, but also offers a wide range of tourist attractions.
Pingtung County can also be a great place to start your southern Taiwan trip. From here you can travel slowly along the coast up to Taipei or Keelung.
Traveling in Southern Taiwan: Things to do (besides beach activities)
I also tried to find a balance during my Kenting trip by doing some non-beach activities. The Kenting National Park is Taiwan’s first national park, and there is way more to see than the coast. The wetlands of Longkeng offer amazing spots, such as Nanren Lake, and I even hiked the Checheng Guishan Trail. I only stayed a week, but I for sure want to come back. Even the beaches of Kenting are amazing, make sure to also check out the other bits and pieces of the area.
Do not get me wrong. Surfing, snorkeling, and swimming are some of the best things to do in southern Taiwan. But there are also other tourist attractions in southern Taiwan. In Kenting, you will find a great variety of tourist attractions.
Where to visit in southern Taiwan? Xiaoliuqiu, of course!
When I say snorkeling is one of the best things to do in the south of Taiwan, I mean it. Thus, a weekend trip to Xiaoliuqiu is an absolute must. This amazing island, located just off the coast of Kaohsiung, is famous for its sea turtles. It is a tropical island with warm water and temperatures above 25°C year-round.
As you can see in my video, it is really easy to dive with the sea turtles. You do not even need full diving gear. I just brought a basic snorkel and goggles. However, due to the waves and cliffs, you should be a decent swimmer. Especially if you are a travel vlogger and hold that camera all the time 😉
The island is very easy to reach. I took a weekend trip from Taipei: After work, I hopped on the high-speed train to Kaohsiung, took a bus to the port, and from there, it was just a short half-hour boat ride. The island is easily accessible, and it is small enough that you can circle the entire island by scooter in a matter of minutes.
I have visited Kaohsiung several times, and while I like the city, I did not include it in my list of the best travel destinations in southern Taiwan. It is good, but not in my personal top three.
No Southern Taiwan trip without seeing Taitung
Last but not least, check out Taitung in southern Taiwan. This is probably one of the most best places to visit in Taiwan. You have the Pacific Ocean to the east and mountains to the west. In between, there are so many beautiful places and a rich indigenous culture.
I went on a road trip to explore the heritage at the Beinan Archaeological Site. Make sure to go outside of Taitung City. While it is not a bad place, it is small, and the true beauty of Taitung lies in its nature around the city. Places like the Liji Badland Geopark, Dulan Beach, and Xiaoyeliu are unique. There is also Green Island, but I have not managed to make it there yet.
Make sure to visit the south of Taiwan!
And that is a good point to wrap up this article. Thanks for reading. I hope I have managed to motivate you to visit southern Taiwan. I am certainly motivated because Kenting, Xiaoliuqiu, and Taitung are just the beginning.
The list of places to visit in the south of Taiwan goes on. For example, I spent a lot of time in Chiayi. And I would also consider Nantou as one of the best places to visit in southern Taiwan. However, I did not have time to document it properly. So many places are still on my bucket list, and I will definitely share my thoughts when I get to them. Until then, follow me on YouTube and Facebook, so you never miss a content update.
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