Taiwan Multi-Day Trips on West Coast Rail
Follow the rail line
The easiest multi-day route in Taiwan runs down the west coast, where Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) links Nangang, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Zuoying in Kaohsiung. Trains run only along this western corridor. A reserved standard seat from Taipei to Zuoying costs NT$1,490 and takes roughly 90 to 105 minutes. Timetables and booking are on the THSR site .
Before you set out
File the free online arrival card at twac.immigration.gov.tw up to 7 days before landing. Carry cash in New Taiwan Dollars (NT$) and an EasyCard for local metros, buses and bikes.
Leg one: Taipei, then Taichung
Spend the first nights in Taipei for the museums and night markets. Then take THSR to Taichung, where Fengjia night market is the big evening draw. From Taichung, a bus of about 1.5 hours reaches Sun Moon Lake. Boat hops between piers cost about NT$100, a full circuit about NT$300, and the 30 km paved bikeway circles the lake.
Leg two: Chiayi and Alishan
Stay overnight in Chiayi, then ride the Alishan Forest Railway. The full Chiayi to Alishan line is running at NT$600, and tickets are sold at the Alishan Forest Railway site , which has its own 2026 booking and payment rules. Walk among 2,000-year-old red cypress trees at the top and, if you stay on the mountain, take the early train to the sunrise viewpoint.
Leg three: Tainan and Kaohsiung
Tainan holds Fort Zeelandia (built 1624) and Chihkan Tower, with a Confucius Temple dating to 1665, all worth a day of sightseeing. Kaohsiung adds the free Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, with its 108 m bronze Buddha, open 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and until 19:00 at weekends, closed Tuesday.
Adding the east coast
The east coast has no high-speed line. Taiwan Railways (TRA) runs the Hualien and Taitung services, so allow time for the slower ride. Taroko National Park is partly open: the visitor centre, Taroko Terrace, Tianxiang, Dacingshui, Chongde, Dali-Datong, Liwushan and Cianyanlishan are all accessible. Highway 8 operates on timed releases, so check trail and road status on the Taroko National Park site before you book rooms in Hualien.
Booking and weather
Typhoon season runs July to October and can disrupt mountain and east-coast legs, so leave a spare night. For hotels near stations, check Taichung hotel rates on Booking.com and compare cancellation terms.
Money and meals along the way
Budget the big items first: THSR from Taipei to Zuoying is NT$1,490, the Alishan Forest Railway NT$600 and a full lake boat circuit around NT$300. Food is the easy part. A braised pork rice bowl at a night market is NT$35 to NT$60, and each city has its own market: Raohe and Shilin in Taipei, Fengjia in Taichung and Liuhe in Kaohsiung. Local metro and bus rides run on an EasyCard, and eating or drinking inside MRT stations, water included, carries a fine of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500.
For a fixed-length plan, the 4-day itinerary covers the first stretch. Tip: reserve THSR seats a few days ahead for Friday and Sunday travel.