With 5 days, combine Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Tainan along the west-coast high-speed rail. With 7 days, add a day trip to Taroko Gorge on the east coast. With 10 days, go round the island: Hualien, the East Rift Valley, Kenting, Kaohsiung and Tainan, then back through Alishan and Sun Moon Lake.
LiveTaroko Gorge conditions change often. See the trail status, verified 20 October 2026 →
How Taiwan’s geography shapes the route
Taiwan is long and narrow, with a spine of high mountains down the middle. The west coast has the high-speed rail (HSR), which links Taipei with Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung. The east coast, with Hualien and Taroko Gorge, is reached by express train along the Pacific, or by the winding Suhua Highway.
That is why most short itineraries run north to south down the west side, and why Taroko is usually a separate day from Taipei or the start of a round-island loop.
5 days: Taiwan highlights
| Day | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taipei | National Palace Museum, Dadaocheng tea merchants, Beitou hot springs |
| 2 | Shifen & Jiufen | Sky lanterns and the waterfall, then Jiufen’s teahouses at lantern hour |
| 3 | Sun Moon Lake | HSR to Taichung, Yuchi black tea, boat to Ita Thao |
| 4 | Alishan | Mountain road through tea gardens, giant cypress trails |
| 5 | Tainan | Zhushan sunrise, then temples and a street-food lunch |
This route is our 5-Day Taiwan Highlights journey. It skips the east coast to keep the pace calm.
7 days: add Taroko Gorge
Seven days lets you add the east coast. Spend days 1–3 in Taipei and on the northeast coast, take the express train to Hualien on day 4 for the Qingshui Cliffs and the open sections of Taroko Gorge, then continue down the west side: Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Tainan.
Taroko is only partly open after the April 2024 earthquake. Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto remain closed, and Highway 8 into the gorge opens only in daytime release windows. We plan the day around the current notices; see our live trail status before you book.
10 days: round the island
- Days 1–2: Taipei
- Day 3: Jiufen, then the express train to Hualien
- Day 4: Qingshui Cliffs and Taroko Gorge
- Day 5: East Rift Valley to Taitung
- Day 6: Kenting, Taiwan’s southern tip
- Day 7: Kaohsiung
- Day 8: Tainan, then up to Alishan
- Day 9: Alishan sunrise, then Sun Moon Lake
- Day 10: Dawn on the lake, HSR to Taipei or the airport
Practical notes
- The National Palace Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00, and usually closed on Mondays. Put Taipei sightseeing on another day if you arrive on a Monday.
- The Zhushan sunrise train time is set daily and posted at 16:30 the day before, so the Alishan night must be the night before the sunrise.
- Lunar New Year 2027 is a 7-day holiday, 4–10 February. Trains and hotels sell out and some restaurants close.
- About 80% of the typhoons that hit Taiwan between 1911 and 2025 came in July, August or September. Build a spare day into summer trips.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Taiwan?
Five days covers Taipei and the west coast highlights. Seven days lets you add Taroko Gorge. Ten days is enough to travel round the whole island at a relaxed pace.
What is the best 7-day Taiwan itinerary?
Taipei and Jiufen (3 days), Taroko Gorge by express train (1 day), then Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Tainan down the west coast (3 days).
Is Taroko Gorge worth including in a short itinerary?
Yes, if you accept that it is only partly open. The Qingshui Cliffs, Dekalun Trail and the Tianxiang area are open, but Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto remain closed. Check the live status before you book.
Should I use a private driver or trains in Taiwan?
Use both. The high-speed rail is the fastest way down the west coast; a private car is far easier for Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and anywhere off the rail lines.
When should I avoid travelling in Taiwan?
July to September is typhoon season, and the 7-day Lunar New Year break (4–10 February in 2027) is the busiest travel week of the year.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 20 October 2026 against these sources, mostly official Taiwanese government and news sites in Chinese. Hours, prices and road access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- Taiwan High Speed Rail: timetable
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: Taiwan Railway (臺灣鐵路)
- National Palace Museum: visiting hours
- Alishan Forest Railway: Zhushan line
- ETtoday, 21 May 2026: 2027 government holiday calendar (2027年行事曆)
- Central Weather Administration, 颱風百問 (Typhoon FAQ), Sept 2026 edition (PDF)
- CNA, 22 Jun 2024: Shakadang and Swallow Grotto need about 7 years to rebuild (中央社)
- CNA, 1 Sep 2026: Highway 8 timed releases, 5 windows a day (中央社)
