Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, a dense and walkable city of night markets, hot springs, temples, and mountain trails set in a basin ringed by green hills. Its skyline is anchored by Taipei 101, while the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art. Taipei pairs an efficient metro, a famously food-obsessed street culture, and easy access to hot springs and tea-growing hills within the city limits.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Jiufen Old Street
A former gold-mining town on a steep mountainside above the Pacific, known for lantern-lit alleys, tea houses and sea views. Jishan Street and Shuqi Road are the main lanes and are very crowded on weekends and holidays.
Highlights: Jishan Street snack stalls · Traditional tea houses with sea views · Shengping Theatre area · Golden Waterfall and Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park nearby
Shifen Old Street and Waterfall
A railway village where the tracks run through the old street and visitors release paper sky lanterns. Shifen Waterfall, the widest waterfall in Taiwan, is a short walk away.
Highlights: Releasing a sky lantern on the railway tracks · Shifen Waterfall · Suspension bridge over Keelung River · Railway snack stalls
Pingxi Line and Pingxi Old Street
A narrow-gauge mountain rail branch through small villages with old streets, waterfalls and hiking trails. Pingxi hosts the famous Lantern Festival each year around the Lantern Festival date.
Highlights: Sky lantern releasing · Pingxi Old Street · Xiangshan hiking trail viewpoint · Jingtong Coal Mining Museum
Yehliu Geopark
A coastal geopark on a cape of eroded sandstone with mushroom rocks, ginger rocks and the famous Queen's Head formation. The geology is a signature of Taiwan's northern coast.
Highlights: Queen's Head rock · Mushroom rock formations · Candle-shaped and fairy shoe rocks · Seafood restaurants nearby
Tamsui Old Street and Waterfront
A historic port town at the mouth of the Tamsui River with Fort San Domingo, old streets, riverside cafes and sunset views toward Guanyin Mountain. One of the easiest half-day escapes by MRT.
Highlights: Fort San Domingo · Tamsui Old Street snacks · Sunset at Fisherman's Wharf · Ferry to Bali Left Bank
Wulai Hot Springs and Old Street
A mountain township of the Atayal people known for hot springs, a scenic mini-train, Wulai Waterfall and indigenous culture. A popular hot-spring day trip from Taipei.
Highlights: Wulai hot springs · Atayal Museum · Wulai Waterfall · Wulai Scenic Train
Keelung and Miaokou Night Market
A rainy port city with a lively harbour, forts, and the famous Miaokou (Temple Entrance) Night Market known for seafood and street snacks. Also the departure point for Heping Island.
Highlights: Miaokou Night Market snacks · Heping Island Park · Keelung Harbour · Zhongzheng Park Avalokitesvara statue
Yingge Ceramics Old Street
Taiwan's ceramics capital, with an old street of kilns, pottery shops and the Yingge Ceramics Museum. Visitors can throw pots themselves in workshop studios.
Highlights: Yingge Ceramics Museum · Old Street pottery shops · DIY pottery workshops · Ceramics-themed cafes
Sanxia Old Street and Zushi Temple
A historic town with Minquan Old Street's red-brick arcades and Zushi Temple, a richly carved Qing-era temple with extraordinary stone and wood detail. Known for croissants shaped like ox horns.
Highlights: Sanxia Zushi Temple · Minquan Old Street · Ox-horn bread · Blue dye workshops
Lala Mountain (Taoyuan)
A high-elevation forest reserve with ancient cypress trees and cool mountain air, a favourite for summer escapes. Combines with Baling Bridge and the Indigenous Atayal villages.
Highlights: Ancient cypress trail · Mountain views across the Xueshan range · Baling Bridge · Fuxing hot springs
Hualien and Taroko Gorge
Marble canyon gorges, waterfalls and suspension bridges in Taroko National Park, one of Taiwan's most dramatic landscapes. Too far for a comfortable day trip but achievable with early trains; overnight stays are better.
Highlights: Shakadang Trail · Swallow Grotto · Eternal Spring Shrine · Baiyang Trail waterfall
Taichung and Rainbow Village
Taiwan's third-largest city, known for the Rainbow Village painted murals, Fengjia Night Market, the Taichung National Theatre by Toyo Ito, and the Gaomei Wetlands nearby. A practical day trip thanks to the high-speed train.
Highlights: Rainbow Village murals · Taichung National Theatre · Fengjia Night Market · Gaomei Wetlands sunset
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Group day tours from Taipei to Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu run about NT$700-1,500 (about US$22-47) per person including transport and guide
- Private
- Private car with driver about NT$3,500-5,500 (about US$110-173) for a day charter; useful for the northeast coast and Lala Mountain
- Public
- MRT, TRA, THSR and buses cover nearly all trips; EasyCard works on the MRT, TRA local trains and buses
- Rental
- Car rental from about NT$1,800-3,500 (about US$57-110) per day; useful for the north coast, Lala Mountain and Taroko
Multi-day tours from Taipei
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from TaipeiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Use EasyCard for MRT, TRA local trains and buses, and buy the Pingxi Line day pass for unlimited rides on the branch
Book THSR and TRA east-coast tickets ahead for weekends and holidays
Pack a rain jacket for Jiufen, Keelung and the north coast, which are often wet and misty
Check typhoon warnings from Taiwan's Central Weather Administration before heading to the coast or mountains
Start early to avoid crowds at Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu, especially on weekends