Taiwan in 10 Days: Taipei, Hualien & Sun Moon Lake

The Route

10 days · one loop by train · best October–November.

Taipei3 nights · hot springs, night markets Jiufen & Pingxiday trip · old street, waterfall Hualien2 nights · coast & Taroko edge Kaohsiung2 nights · harbour & art Tainan1 night · street food Sun Moon Lake1 night · lakeside ride

Day by Day

Day	Base	Plan
1	Taipei	Airport MRT to Taipei Main (35–50 min). Taipei 101 at dusk, a night market.
2	Taipei	Elephant Mountain, Dihua Street, Beitou hot springs.
3	Taipei	Day trip: Jiufen Old Street and Shifen Waterfall on the Pingxi line.
4	Hualien	Train to Hualien (2 h 10 min–2 h 30 min). Qixingtan beach.
5	Hualien	Qingshui Cliffs and the open parts of Taroko, or cycle the coast.
6	Kaohsiung	Train south via Taitung (about 4–5 h), Pacific views. Love River at night.
7	Kaohsiung	Pier-2 Art Center, Cijin Island ferry and seafood, Dome of Light.
8	Tainan	HSR 15 min or local train 30–40 min. Anping, street food, Chimei Museum.
9	Sun Moon Lake	HSR to Taichung (45–55 min), bus 6670 (1.5–2 h). Cycle the lake at sunset.
10	Depart	Sunrise on the lake, then bus, HSR and Airport MRT to Taoyuan — allow about 4 h.

Transfers

Leg	How	Time	Price
Taoyuan airport → Taipei Main	Airport MRT	35–50 min	NT$150–160
Taipei → Hualien	TRA express	2 h 10 min–2 h 30 min	About NT$440
Hualien → Kaohsiung	TRA via Taitung	About 4–5 h	—
Zuoying (Kaohsiung) → Tainan	HSR / TRA	15 min / 30–40 min	—
Tainan → Taichung	HSR	45–55 min	—
Taichung HSR → Sun Moon Lake	Bus 6670	1.5–2 h	About NT$190–200
Shortcut: Taipei → Zuoying	HSR	1 h 35 min–2 h	NT$1,490

Cost per Day

	Budget	Mid-range	Comfort
Bed / room	Dorm NT$500–900	Hotel room NT$1,500–2,500	Design or 4★ hotel
Food	NT$300–500 (beef noodles NT$90–150)	NT$600–1,200	NT$1,500+
Getting around	MRT NT$20–65 a ride	+ HSR legs	+ taxis
Per person, per day	NT$1,400–2,100 ≈ $45–65	NT$2,900–4,900 ≈ $90–150	NT$6,500+ ≈ $200+

Prices checked November 2026. HSR fares are standard reserved seats; some trains sell early-bird discounts. $1 ≈ NT$32.5.

Best Months

Months	Weather	For this route
Oct–Nov	Warm, settled, clear	★ Best
Mar–Apr	Spring, mild	✓ Good
Dec–Feb	North cool and grey; south mild	◐ Mixed
May–Jun	Plum rains	◐ Wet
Jul–Sep	Typhoons; east-coast trains can stop	✕ Risky

Red lanterns glowing over the stepped lanes of Jiufen Old Street on a rainy night — Jiufen Old Street at night.

Mist over Sun Moon Lake and the forested hills around it at dawn — Sun Moon Lake at dawn.

Good to Know

Taroko: after the April 2024 earthquake the Shakadang, Swallow Grotto and Baiyang trails stay closed (repairs reported to run to about 2031). Other trails reopened in stages in 2026. Check before you go: Taroko access.
Trains: book east-coast express seats ahead, especially for weekends and holidays.
EasyCard: one card for the MRT, buses and convenience stores.
Entry: 90 days visa-free for many passports (US, UK, EU, Japan, Korea); shorter for some others. Free online arrival card. Taiwan visa

A clockwise loop means no backtracking: north for the city, east for the mountains and sea, south for food, and the lake on the way back to the airport. Swap the east coast for a second Taipei day trip in typhoon season.

Plan

Taipei hotelsshortlist Taipei MRTlive map Taipei airportTPE board From LAXEVA, China Airlines, STARLUX eSIMprices by country Taiwan mapstourist maps

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Updated Nov 2026