Skip to guide
Huvver
Realistic day-by-day route

Taipei, Tainan & Kaohsiung: 8 Days by Train

A west-coast Taiwan itinerary connecting Taipei neighborhoods, Tainan temples and food, and Kaohsiung’s waterfront without renting a car.

8 days · 7 nightsRail + metro + local taxis5 min read
Use this trip in HuvverPreview the map
Illustrated panorama of Taipei 101, ornate Taiwanese temples, a high-speed train, and Kaohsiung’s illuminated harbor

The route

Taipei → Tainan → Kaohsiung

An illustrated view of the route’s highlights. Open the Huvver preview for the interactive itinerary map.
Route
Taipei → Tainan → Kaohsiung
Overnight plan
3 nights Taipei · 2 nights Tainan · 2 nights Kaohsiung
Pace
Three city bases
Best for
First-time visitors
In this guide· 8-day route

Quick answer

The best route for 8 days · 7 nights

Use three nights in Taipei, two in Tainan, and two in Kaohsiung. Travel south by rail and depart from Kaohsiung if your flights allow. The plan follows the western cities; it does not attempt an island circuit or add mountain destinations as rushed day trips.

This is a city-and-food trip with a simple southbound direction. Taipei’s metro makes the first few days easy, Tainan invites slower walks between temples and small restaurants, and Kaohsiung finishes near the harbor.

Distinguish high-speed stations from city-center conventional railway stations when booking. A shorter train ride can still require a local connection before you reach your hotel.

Why this route works

  • The route travels south once, avoiding repeated returns to Taipei.
  • Each city gets a full day without luggage or a station transfer.
  • Urban bases make it easy to switch to indoor activities during heavy rain.

Day by day

The complete 8 days itinerary

1

Day 1 · Taipei

Arrive and settle in Taipei

Use an airport connection that suits your hotel and arrival time. Spend the evening near the hotel, with a simple meal and a short neighborhood walk. Save a busy night market for a day when you are rested.

  1. Airport transfer
  2. Taipei check-in
  3. Neighborhood dinner
2

Day 2 · Taipei

Old Taipei and the river

Start around Longshan Temple and the surrounding streets, then move to Dihua Street for shops and cafés. Leave time for lunch and a riverside walk rather than crossing the city for every famous sight.

  1. Longshan Temple
  2. Dihua Street
  3. Riverside walk
3

Day 3 · Taipei

Choose a museum or city view

Choose the National Palace Museum or the Taipei 101 area as your main outing. Follow it with a slower meal and an evening market whose opening schedule you have checked. Avoid trying to combine both ends of the city into a short morning.

  1. Chosen museum or viewpoint
  2. City lunch
  3. Evening market
4

Day 4 · Tainan

Take the train to Tainan

Travel south and allow time for the connection from your arrival station to the historic center. After dropping bags, explore a compact group of central lanes and temples. Make food stops part of the walk rather than separate journeys.

  1. Rail transfer
  2. Tainan check-in
  3. Central lanes
5

Day 5 · Tainan

Tainan history and food

Visit the Confucius Temple area, then choose a handful of small food stops and one additional historic site. Anping is a separate afternoon outing if you want it; leave enough time for the local transfer.

  1. Confucius Temple area
  2. Local food stops
  3. Anping or central historic site
6

Day 6 · Kaohsiung

Move to Kaohsiung

Choose a rail service based on your hotel locations and transfer convenience. Settle in, then explore the Pier-2 arts area and the waterfront at a relaxed pace. Leave a longer harbor excursion for tomorrow.

  1. Rail transfer
  2. Pier-2
  3. Waterfront
7

Day 7 · Kaohsiung

A harbor day

Use local transport for a harbor-focused day, adding Cijin when ferry services and weather are suitable. Have lunch before returning to the city and keep the evening open for another neighborhood.

  1. Harbor
  2. Cijin outing
  3. City dinner
8

Day 8 · Kaohsiung

Depart or return north

Depart through Kaohsiung when possible. If flying from Taoyuan, reserve the northbound rail journey and allow for the separate airport connection. An early flight is a reason to move north the previous night.

  1. Hotel checkout
  2. Airport transfer or northbound rail

Before you go

Make the plan dependable

Book the correct stations

Check the exact departure and arrival stations on every ticket. Tainan high-speed rail station is outside the historic center, while Kaohsiung’s high-speed terminus is Zuoying. Include the local transfer in the travel day.

Reserve around busy dates

Check operator timetables and reserve intercity seats when your dates are fixed, especially around holidays. City transport and long-distance reservations serve different purposes; do not assume one pass covers everything.

Make the food plan flexible

Small restaurants and markets have individual opening patterns. Pick several possibilities near each day’s sights instead of making the whole day depend on one stall.

Make it yours

Useful variations

Six days

Choose Taipei and Tainan, keeping two comfortable bases. Kaohsiung can be saved for another visit rather than reduced to an airport stop.

Add nature with more time

Add two or three nights for a separate lake or mountain base after checking transport and current access. This urban route should not be treated as proof that every scenic area is equally easy to reach.

FAQ

Common planning questions

Is this a full island itinerary?

No. It follows three western cities. The east coast and mountains need additional days and their own access checks.

Do I need a rental car?

Not for this route. Rail, metro, walking, and occasional local taxis can connect the planned city bases and outings.

Can I finish in Taipei?

Yes. Add the northbound train and airport connection explicitly, or move north a night before an early flight. Do not count the final day as a full sightseeing day.

Official planning sources

Planning sources checked on October 18, 2026. Schedules, prices, opening rules, weather, and access can change; confirm the live details before booking or setting out.

Editable Huvver template

Take the route with you—and change anything

Copy the full itinerary into your account, add your dates, invite your travel companions, and adjust the plan against its map.

Create my trip

More routes

Keep planning

All trip guides