With almost 14,000 square miles, Taiwan has more than its fair share of things to see and do. As a quick primer, I created this guide to help you discover my top recommendations on things to check out by county (and now special municipality). Hope this helps you plan the best Taiwan vacation!
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Changhua County (彰化縣 / zhang hua xian)
- Visit Lukang Old Street (鹿港老街 / lu gang lao jie)
- Check out Lukang Temple (鹿港天后宮 / lu gang tian hou gong)
Chiayi County (嘉義縣 / jia yi xian)
- Try goose meat and chicken rice
- Check out the pineapple farms, including Sunny Hill
- Visit Hinoki Village (檜意森活村 / gui yi sen huo cun)
Hsinchu County (新竹縣 / xin zhu xian)
- Enjoy lei cha (pounded tea)
- Follow the journey of Oriental Beauty (東方美人茶 / dong fan mei ren cha)
Hualien County (花蓮縣 / hua lian xian)
- Enjoy a local watermelon
- Experience some of the best mochi in Taiwan
- Go river tracing
- Explore the Grand Canyon of Taiwan
Kaohsiung (高雄市 / gao xiong shi)
- Discover the art by Pier 2 (駁二藝術特區 / bo er yi shu te qu)
Kinmen County (金門縣 / jin men xian)
- Admire the architecture on the islands
Lienchiang County (連江縣 / lian jiang xian)
- Take in the aroma and history of Tunnel 88
- Stop by a lighthouse or two
Miaoli County (苗栗縣 / miao li xian)
- Learn more about Hakka culture
- Visit the Sanyi Wood Carving Museum (三義木雕博物館 / san yi mu diao bo wu guan)
Nantou County (南投縣 / nan tou xian)
- Cycle around Sun Moon Lake (日月潭 / ri yue tan)
- Head to the mountains for tea, hiking, and views
New Taipei City (新北市 / xin bei shi)
- Become enchanted at the sight of Jiufen (九份 / jiu fen)
- Launch a lantern into the sky
- Visit the City of Tea
- Discover the history of the area as a mining area
- Stroll along the port town of Tamsui (淡水 / dan shui)
Penghu County (澎湖縣 / peng hu xian)
- Check out the local sealife
- Give the local cacti a try
- Watch the seas part between Kuibishan (澎湖奎璧山地質公園 / peng hu kui bi shan di zhi gong yuan) and Chiyu
Pingtung County (屏東縣 / ping dong xian)
- Visit the southernmost point of Taiwan
- Check out the local night market in Kenting (墾丁 / ken ding)
- Watch natural fire burning from the ground
Taichung (臺中市 / tai zhong shi)
- Play the piano in a field of lavender
- Find Totoro at his bus stop
- Pick up a box of Taiyang Bing (太陽餅 / tai yang bing)
- Try the chocolates at Miyahara (宮原眼科 / gong yuan yan ke)
- Visit the birthplace of boba tea
- Stroll through Taiwan’s biggest night market
Tainan (臺南市 / tai nan shi)
- Discover the unique combination of Dutch and Taiwanese culture
- Enjoy a local mango
- Visit the Garden Night Market (花園夜市 / hua yuan ye shi）
Taipei (臺北市 / tai bei shi)
- Check out the night markets
- Head to the top of Taipei 101 (臺北101 / tai bei yi ling yi)
- Hike to the peak of Elephant Mountain (象山 / xiang shan)
- Get your seafood fix at Addiction Aquatic Development (上引水產 / shang yin shui chan)
- Soak in a hot spring in Beitou (北投區 / bei tou qu)
Taitung County (臺東縣 / tai dong xian)
- Take in nature at Green Island (綠島 / lu dao)
- Hike around Liyu Mountain Park
- Visit the National Museum Of Prehistory
Taoyuan (桃園市 / tao yuan shi)
- Check out the Baroque-style shops in Daxi (大溪鎮 / da xi zhen)
- Watch the maples at Shihmen Dam (石門水庫 / shi men shui ku)
Yilan County (宜蘭縣 / yi lan xiang)
- Sample Taiwan’s top whiskey
Yunlin County (雲林縣 / yun lin xian)
- Stroll along Beigang Old Street (北港老街 / bei gang lao jie)
- Venture through the Gukeng Green Tunnel (古坑鄉公所 / gu keng xiang gong suo)