region
Northern Taiwan
Sleep in Taipei; do Beitou and Tamsui by MRT, Jiufen and Pingxi as one long day, and leave Hualien for a second region.
Not field-verified
Rules in force · 3
- Taiwan ↗Check visa-exemption length, passport validity and the arrival-card rule on the official sites before you fly.
- Taiwan ↗An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers MRT, buses, trains in the north and many convenience-store purchases; buy one at the airport or a station.
- Taiwan ↗When a local government declares a typhoon day, transport and sights can close for the day; follow the official notice, not the forecast alone.
The north is one base and a ring of trips. The MRT reaches Beitou and Tamsui in under an hour and local trains reach the Pingxi and Jiufen area, so moving hotels adds nothing. Keep the Taipei bed, take a day pack, and check the weather: the north coast is often wet.
Where to sleep
Taipeisleep base
Ximending or Zhongshan for first-timers; both sit on the MRT.
Beitouday trip
Hot-spring district; MRT plus a short branch line, about 40 min.
Tamsuiday trip
Waterfront and sunset; MRT Red line, about 45 min.
Jiufen and Pingxiday trip
Hill town and lantern village; bus and local train, 1 to 1.5 h each way.
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Taipei 4, Beitou or Tamsui half-day
- 6 nights
- Taipei 6, Jiufen and Pingxi day, Tamsui evening
- Taipei + Jiufen + Hualien + Kaohsiung in 5 days is mostly train time.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiufen | Taipei | 90 min | unknown | Buses run late but the last bus time changes; check on the day. |
| Beitou | Taipei | 45 min | unknown | MRT keeps running until about midnight; check the last train. |
Bags between cities
Left-luggage lockers at Taipei Main Station; leave the big bag at the hotel for a day trip.