✈️ 10‑Day Taiwan Itinerary (From the U.S.)
Balanced culture, food, beaches, nightlife & IG/TikTok‑worthy stops. Planned by area to limit backtracking, with transport tips and costs.
🚄 EasyCard + HSR
🏙️ Taipei • Taichung • Kaohsiung • Kenting • Tainan
🍜 Night markets
🍸 Cocktail bars
🏖️ Beaches
🛠️ Trip Essentials
- 🎫 EasyCard: Tap‑and‑go for MRT, buses, convenience stores (NT$100 card + load value).
- 🚄 High‑Speed Rail (HSR): Taipei ⇄ Kaohsiung ~NT$1,490 one‑way; early‑bird discounts sometimes available.
- 🌦️ Weather: Dec–Jan is mild in the north, warmer in the south (pack layers and a light rain shell).
Costs are listed in NT$ (New Taiwan Dollar). A quick USD cheat sheet is at the end.
📅 Day‑by‑Day Plan
Day 1 — Arrival + Xinyi Skyline
- Airport MRT (≈ NT$160–170) → hotel check‑in.
- 🥾 Elephant Mountain (free; 60–90 mins) for Taipei 101 sunset views.
- 🍸 Indulge Experimental Bistro or Bar Mood; late bites at Raohe Night Market.
Day 2 — Classic Taipei Icons
- 🇹🇼 CKS Memorial Hall → heritage shopping & tea on Dihua Street.
- 🌮 Ningxia Night Market snacks for lunch.
- 🏺 National Palace Museum (NT$350; allow 2–3 hrs).
- 🎨 Ximending stroll; standing cocktails at Draft Land.
Day 3 — Jiufen + Shifen + Yehliu Loop
- 🚃 Train to Ruifang → Shifen Waterfall (free) + sky lanterns (≈ NT$200).
- ☕ Tea at A‑Mei Teahouse in Jiufen (Spirited Away vibes).
- 🪨 Yehliu Geopark (unique rock formations; ~US$4 ticket).
- Return to Taipei by bus/train.
Day 4 — Beitou Hot Springs + Maokong Tea
- Beitou Library & Hot Spring Museum; soak via hotel day pass (public spring closed until 2026).
- 🚡 Maokong Gondola (glass‑bottom option) → hillside tea at sunset.
Day 5 — Taichung → Sun Moon Lake
- HSR to Taichung → shuttle to Sun Moon Lake.
- 🚲 Bike the lakeside path (≈ NT$200–400/day for e‑bike).
- Lakeside sunset & aboriginal dinner.
Day 6 — Kaohsiung (Pier‑2 + Harbor)
- HSR to Zuoying/Kaohsiung.
- 🎭 Pier‑2 Art Center → ferry to Cijin Island for sea views.
- 🌮 Liuhe (or Ruifeng) Night Market; rooftop drinks.
Day 7 — Kenting National Park (Beaches)
- 9189 Express Bus from Zuoying to Kenting (≈ NT$400–500; ~3 hrs).
- 🏖️ Nanwan or Baisha Beach; Dec often swimmable.
- Kenting Main Street snacks & relaxed bars.
Day 8 — Tainan (History) → Back to Taipei
- Return bus to Zuoying → HSR to Tainan.
- Explore Anping Fort, old streets & temples.
- Evening HSR back to Taipei (~NT$1,350).
- 🎶 Club night: OMNI or AI Nightclub.
Day 9 — Trendy Taipei (Songshan/Da’an/Xinyi)
- ☕ Songshan Cultural & Creative Park + coffee.
- 🥟 Din Tai Fung (Xinyi).
- 🛍️ Zhongxiao Dunhua shopping or Elephant Mountain redo.
- 🍸 Cocktail crawl: Indulge → Bar Mood → Draft Land.
Day 10 — Last Hurrah / Flight Day
- Option A (near airport): 🐠 Xpark Aquarium + Gloria Outlets.
- Option B (city): Dihua Street souvenirs + Tamsui sunset.
🎉 Nightlife & Social Spots
- Clubs: OMNI, AI, Triangle, WAVE/KOR (EDM & hip‑hop nights; check event schedules).
- Cocktail Bars: Indulge Experimental Bistro, Bar Mood, Draft Land (reservations suggested).
🤎 For Black Travelers
Taiwan is broadly safe and welcoming. Expect occasional stares or photo requests in less‑touristed areas. Community tips and meetups can often be found via Black/POC travel groups and review platforms (e.g., Green Book Global). Nightlife in Taipei is diverse—hip‑hop nights rotate across clubs; check weekly lineups.
📱 What’s Hot on IG/TikTok
- 🚡 Maokong Gondola glass‑bottom cabins + tea houses
- 🏮 Jiufen/Shifen combo (lanterns + waterfall)
- 🐠 Xpark Aquarium neon jellyfish halls
- 🪨 Yehliu Geopark (Queen’s Head)
- 🍸 Signature cocktails at Indulge / Draft Land
🔁 Optional Swaps & Current Conditions
- Taroko Gorge (Hualien): Some areas had closures and phased reopenings after 2024 quake activity. Check official updates close to your dates.
- Beitou Public Hot Spring: Closed for renovations until 2026—use hotel/resort baths instead.
💸 Quick Cheat Sheet (NT$ → USD)
Rule of thumb: divide NT$ by 32 for a rough USD amount.
| Item | Typical Cost (NT$) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| MRT Ride | 20–65 | $0.60–$2.00 |
| MRT Day Total | 80–150 | $2.50–$4.70 |
| HSR Taipei ⇄ Taichung | 700–750 | $22–24 |
| HSR Taipei ⇄ Kaohsiung | 1,490 | $46–47 |
| National Palace Museum | 350 | $11 |
| Item | Typical Cost (NT$) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Maokong Gondola (one way) | 120 | $3.70 |
| Xpark Aquarium | 600 | $19 |
| Sky Lantern (Shifen) | 200 | $6 |
| Street Food Meal | 100–250 | $3–8 |
| Cocktails (top bars) | 350–450 | $11–14 |
| Kenting Express Bus | 400–500 | $12–16 |
