Sophie & Eddy
Travel and Food Recommendations
Taipei
See Sophie's guide for sites and food in Taipei (and around Taipei): https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1LQoLN0xHdZztO5BhfBR-juLlvzGmhks&usp=sharing *Copy and paste the link into a browser to see Sophie's tailored notes about each restaurant and destination. Some notes go missing on Google Maps. Food recommendations are all Sophie's personal and nostalgic favorites, so the list has a strong old school bias. Many restaurants have multiple locations, and only one location of each restaurant is marked on this map. For the unbiased guide, see: https://www.travel.taipei/ https://taiwanbizfun.meettaiwan.com/index.html
Yilan County
Visit Jiaoxi in Yilan county for hot springs. You can find rustic B&Bs and decent hotels that have direct connection to certified hot spring. How To Get There: Take a bus from the Taipei City Hall Station, Nangang Station, Songshan Station, or Taipei Main Station to Yilan. Buses are pretty frequent, and you should be able to buy bus tickets at the stations.
Taroko Gorge
Taroko National Park, situated in the eastern part of the Taiwan covers more than 92,000 hectares in the northern section of the Central Mountain Range. This park features high mountains, sheer gorges, and many natural wonders. How To Get There: Take an express train from Taipei to Hualien station, then take a local train to Xincheng Station. From there, you can take a shuttle or regular bus, or a taxi. Or, book a local tour to have the tour drive you into the mountains. Taroko National Park is currently closed. The park hopes to reopen some of the park's safer trails and picturesque spots by end-2024.
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake, located in the middle of Taiwan, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake is in the foothills of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range, surrounded by forested peaks, and has foot trails. How To Get There: Take HSR from Taipei to Taichung Station, then take a bus to Sun Moon Lake. There is also a 4-hour bus between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan.
Alishan
Alishan (or Monut Ali) in Chiayi county is one of Taiwan’s top attractions and one of its most famous mountain resorts. Take the Alishan Forest Railway or hike through the Alishan Forest Recreation Area. Watch sunrise, sunset, and sea of clouds. See cattle egrets migrate. Enjoy champion coffee, alpine tea, and Fenchihu lunch boxes. Visit the local indigenous Tsou tribe. Visit the Jiji Train Station nearby. How To Get There: Take the HSR from Taipei to Chiayi, then take a shuttle bus or the Alishan Forest Railway. We suggest booking a local tour to drive you into the mountains. There is also a 4-hour bus between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan.
Tainan City
Tainan, located in Southwest Taiwan, is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "prefectural capital" for its over 260 years of history as the capital of Taiwan under the Dutch rule, the Kingdom of Tungning and later Qing dynasty rule until 1887. Today, Tainan is known for its centuries-old fortresses and temples, historic and cultural attractions, stunning natural landscape, and agricultural and fishery products and cuisine. How To Get There: Take the HSR from Taipei to Tainan.
Excursion and Fine Dining Train - The Future (鳴日號)
The Future is an excursion train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) that is composed of refurbished Chu-Kuang Express rolling stock. "Themed Train Tours" The train departs from Nangang Station in Taipei and takes passengers on one-day trips to Hualien, two-day trips to Taitung, or three-day trips to the entire East Coast. "Moving Kitchen" Taiwan's first fine dining train tour. The tour allows guests to enjoy Taiwan's beautiful railway scenery and taste five-star delicacies. The menu features seasonal delicacies and local produces from different destinations during the train tour, carefully crafted by Regent Hotel Taipei's top culinary team. The train departs from Nangang Station in Taipei and takes passengers on one-day trips to Hualien or two-day trips to Taitung. Reserve by emailing: englishservice@liontravel.com or check the website.
Other Outdoor Activities
In addition to the scenic areas and national parks mentioned above, see "TAIPEI" for information about the Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei and the many casual day hikes around Taipei that you can reach by bus, taxi, or bicycle. If you are looking for more challenging hikes, there are plenty of famously tall and picturesque mountains in Central Taiwan. For these trips, we would suggest looking into tours offered by travel agencies or car rental if you are feeling adventurous. Visit the link below for some information on all the national parks around Taiwan.
Raffles and Promotions for Travelers
Enter a raffle before entering Taiwan for a chance to win $5,000 NTD. Buy a Taiwan Pass for an HSR-MRT-Tourist Shuttle Bus package.
Book Lodging in Taiwan - TaiwanStay.Net
For booking B&Bs outside of Taipei.
Tour Company Recommendation - Lion Travel
We suggest booking with local travel agencies for remote excursions.