Asia · Taipei & round-the-island by train
Night markets and temples in Taipei, the marble cliffs of the east coast, rice fields by bike, Tainan's old-town food and Sun Moon Lake, all by train.
Overview
Taiwan is one of Asia's most underrated destinations: welcoming, very safe, easy to get around and with outstanding food. This trip starts in Taipei, a relaxed megacity of night markets, temples and teahouses with the mountain village of Jiufen nearby. It then goes around the island by train. On the east coast, marble cliffs plunge into the Pacific at Taroko and the rift valley is full of rice fields you can cycle through. On the west side you find Tainan, the old capital, with the best street food in the country. Longer versions add Kaohsiung, the misty forests of Alishan and a day on Sun Moon Lake. The trains are superb, including a high-speed line down the west coast, so you'll never need a car.
Scorecard
Tap a criterion to see why it got that score.
Average of 19 criteria
Street-food heaven: beef noodle soup, xiaolongbao, gua bao, bubble tea, night-market snacks, and great tea.
Temples, colonial and Japanese-era towns, the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101.
Dramatic mountains, gorges and a wild east coast. Parts of Taroko are still closed after the 2024 earthquake.
Some nice coast (Kenting, the east coast), but not a beach destination.
Birds and macaques; not a wildlife trip.
Great hiking and cycling (Chishang, Sun Moon Lake).
The night markets are the real nightlife; Taipei has good cocktail and craft-beer bars.
Hot springs and slow east-coast days balance the busy cities.
Megacity, marble gorge, rift valley, old capital and mountain lake.
No nonstop flight from Switzerland: one stop via Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Prague or the Gulf (≈ 15–17 h).
High-speed rail, round-island trains, metros, tourist shuttle buses and the EasyCard for everything.
Visa-free for Swiss citizens, bilingual signs; English is limited outside Taipei, but people are very helpful.
+6 h (summer) / +7 h (winter) from Geneva.
Cheaper than Japan: great meals for CHF 3–10, fair hotels; transport is good value.
Subtropical: lovely in spring and autumn, hot and typhoon-prone in summer, drizzly in Taipei in winter.
One of the safest countries in the world.
Excellent healthcare, no specific health risks.
Good-value hotels and hot-spring resorts; rooms can be small.
Jiufen and some night markets are packed on weekends; the east is calm.
When to go
October–November and March–April are ideal. Avoid July–September for typhoons, and Lunar New Year week for crowds.
Getting there
No airline flies nonstop from Switzerland (Starlux plans Zurich for 2027). The best options are one-stop flights: EVA Air via Vienna, Munich or Paris; China Airlines via Frankfurt, Vienna or Prague; or the Gulf and Istanbul carriers. The total is about 15–17 hours to Taipei Taoyuan (TPE).
| Routing | Airline | Stops | Travel time | Return, economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GVA → VIE / MUC → TPE Excellent service; nonstop long-haul leg. | EVA Air (+ Austrian / Lufthansa feeder) | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 850–1300 |
| GVA → FRA / PRG → TPE | China Airlines / Starlux (Prague) | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 800–1250 |
| GVA → IST → TPE | Turkish Airlines | 1 | 16h–18h | CHF 750–1100 |
| GVA → DXB → TPE | Emirates | 1 | 16h–18h | CHF 800–1200 |
Itinerary
Pick a trip length. Day 1 is arrival day and the last day is departure day; the overnight flights are extra. Each transfer lists every option, with the recommended one first.
Taipei, Jiufen and Pingxi, Hualien and Taroko, the Chishang rice fields, Tainan and Sun Moon Lake.
Land at Taoyuan, take the Airport MRT into town, and head to Raohe night market for dinner.
Pepper buns baked in a tandoor, stinky tofu (be brave), grilled squid and bubble tea, with the ornate Ciyou Temple at the entrance.
Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Dihua Street old town, and sunset from Elephant Mountain.
Taipei's most atmospheric temple, full of worshippers and incense.
A huge white monument and square; the changing of the guard happens every hour.
Restored merchant houses, tea shops, dried-goods stores and riverside sunset at the wharf.
A 20-minute steep climb to the classic view of Taipei 101 at dusk. Then Taipei 101 or dinner at Din Tai Fung.
A day trip into the hills: release a sky lantern at Shifen, see the waterfall, then Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at dusk.
A small branch railway through the jungle; write your wishes on a sky lantern on the tracks in Shifen, then walk to the 'little Niagara' waterfall.
A hillside gold-mining village of steep alleys, red lanterns and teahouses over the sea (said to inspire 'Spirited Away'). It's packed at weekends.
A scenic train between mountains and ocean. In the afternoon, the pebble beach at Qixingtan and Dongdamen night market.
A crescent of pebbles with mountains dropping into the Pacific (swimming is not recommended).
Aboriginal-style grilled meats and stuffed bamboo rice.
A tour of the parts of the marble gorge that are open after the earthquake, and the dramatic cliffs where the mountains meet the Pacific.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, some famous trails (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine) remain closed. Open in 2026: the visitor centre, Buluowan, the Tianxiang area and the Pudu suspension bridge to Xiangde Temple. Check the national park website for the current status.
Sheer cliffs dropping 800 m into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
A short train south into the rift valley. Rent a bike and ride through the famous rice fields at golden hour.
Flat cycle paths through the paddies to 'Mr. Brown Avenue' and its lone tree (green in spring and summer, golden in June and November). Try a Chishang rice lunch box.
A train over the southern mountains to the west coast. Evening in Tainan's old alleys and Garden Night Market.
An old lantern-lit street, then the big night market (Thu, Sat, Sun): danzai noodles, oyster omelette and milkfish.
Confucius Temple and the old town, Anping's fort and Tree House, and a day of grazing on Tainan's legendary snacks.
Taiwan's first Confucian temple (1665) and the Dutch-built Fort Provintia.
Fort Zeelandia and a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Beef soup at breakfast, danzai noodles, milkfish congee and douhua (tofu pudding).
The high-speed rail to Taichung, then a bus into the mountains to Sun Moon Lake. Cycle part of the lake shore in the afternoon.
The Xiangshan cycle path (on water in places) is one of the world's most beautiful bike paths.
Bus and high-speed rail to the airport, with time for a last Taipei dinner before the late-night flight.
The original dumpling house, near Taipei 101 or Taipei Main Station.
Adds a third Taipei day: the National Palace Museum and the Beitou hot springs.
Land at Taoyuan, take the Airport MRT into town, and head to Raohe night market for dinner.
Pepper buns baked in a tandoor, stinky tofu (be brave), grilled squid and bubble tea, with the ornate Ciyou Temple at the entrance.
Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Dihua Street old town, and sunset from Elephant Mountain.
Taipei's most atmospheric temple, full of worshippers and incense.
A huge white monument and square; the changing of the guard happens every hour.
Restored merchant houses, tea shops, dried-goods stores and riverside sunset at the wharf.
A 20-minute steep climb to the classic view of Taipei 101 at dusk. Then Taipei 101 or dinner at Din Tai Fung.
One of the world's great collections of Chinese art, then a soak in the hot springs of Beitou.
700,000 treasures brought from Beijing's Forbidden City, including the famous jade cabbage.
Thermal Valley, the Japanese-era Hot Spring Museum and a private hot-spring room or public bath.
Taipei's largest night market.
A day trip into the hills: release a sky lantern at Shifen, see the waterfall, then Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at dusk.
A small branch railway through the jungle; write your wishes on a sky lantern on the tracks in Shifen, then walk to the 'little Niagara' waterfall.
A hillside gold-mining village of steep alleys, red lanterns and teahouses over the sea (said to inspire 'Spirited Away'). It's packed at weekends.
A scenic train between mountains and ocean. In the afternoon, the pebble beach at Qixingtan and Dongdamen night market.
A crescent of pebbles with mountains dropping into the Pacific (swimming is not recommended).
Aboriginal-style grilled meats and stuffed bamboo rice.
A tour of the parts of the marble gorge that are open after the earthquake, and the dramatic cliffs where the mountains meet the Pacific.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, some famous trails (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine) remain closed. Open in 2026: the visitor centre, Buluowan, the Tianxiang area and the Pudu suspension bridge to Xiangde Temple. Check the national park website for the current status.
Sheer cliffs dropping 800 m into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
A short train south into the rift valley. Rent a bike and ride through the famous rice fields at golden hour.
Flat cycle paths through the paddies to 'Mr. Brown Avenue' and its lone tree (green in spring and summer, golden in June and November). Try a Chishang rice lunch box.
A train over the southern mountains to the west coast. Evening in Tainan's old alleys and Garden Night Market.
An old lantern-lit street, then the big night market (Thu, Sat, Sun): danzai noodles, oyster omelette and milkfish.
Confucius Temple and the old town, Anping's fort and Tree House, and a day of grazing on Tainan's legendary snacks.
Taiwan's first Confucian temple (1665) and the Dutch-built Fort Provintia.
Fort Zeelandia and a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Beef soup at breakfast, danzai noodles, milkfish congee and douhua (tofu pudding).
The high-speed rail to Taichung, then a bus into the mountains to Sun Moon Lake. Cycle part of the lake shore in the afternoon.
The Xiangshan cycle path (on water in places) is one of the world's most beautiful bike paths.
Bus and high-speed rail to the airport, with time for a last Taipei dinner before the late-night flight.
The original dumpling house, near Taipei 101 or Taipei Main Station.
Adds the historic forest railway, a night in the mountains and sunrise above the clouds before Sun Moon Lake.
Land at Taoyuan, take the Airport MRT into town, and head to Raohe night market for dinner.
Pepper buns baked in a tandoor, stinky tofu (be brave), grilled squid and bubble tea, with the ornate Ciyou Temple at the entrance.
Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Dihua Street old town, and sunset from Elephant Mountain.
Taipei's most atmospheric temple, full of worshippers and incense.
A huge white monument and square; the changing of the guard happens every hour.
Restored merchant houses, tea shops, dried-goods stores and riverside sunset at the wharf.
A 20-minute steep climb to the classic view of Taipei 101 at dusk. Then Taipei 101 or dinner at Din Tai Fung.
One of the world's great collections of Chinese art, then a soak in the hot springs of Beitou.
700,000 treasures brought from Beijing's Forbidden City, including the famous jade cabbage.
Thermal Valley, the Japanese-era Hot Spring Museum and a private hot-spring room or public bath.
Taipei's largest night market.
A day trip into the hills: release a sky lantern at Shifen, see the waterfall, then Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at dusk.
A small branch railway through the jungle; write your wishes on a sky lantern on the tracks in Shifen, then walk to the 'little Niagara' waterfall.
A hillside gold-mining village of steep alleys, red lanterns and teahouses over the sea (said to inspire 'Spirited Away'). It's packed at weekends.
A scenic train between mountains and ocean. In the afternoon, the pebble beach at Qixingtan and Dongdamen night market.
A crescent of pebbles with mountains dropping into the Pacific (swimming is not recommended).
Aboriginal-style grilled meats and stuffed bamboo rice.
A tour of the parts of the marble gorge that are open after the earthquake, and the dramatic cliffs where the mountains meet the Pacific.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, some famous trails (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine) remain closed. Open in 2026: the visitor centre, Buluowan, the Tianxiang area and the Pudu suspension bridge to Xiangde Temple. Check the national park website for the current status.
Sheer cliffs dropping 800 m into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
A short train south into the rift valley. Rent a bike and ride through the famous rice fields at golden hour.
Flat cycle paths through the paddies to 'Mr. Brown Avenue' and its lone tree (green in spring and summer, golden in June and November). Try a Chishang rice lunch box.
A train over the southern mountains to the west coast. Evening in Tainan's old alleys and Garden Night Market.
An old lantern-lit street, then the big night market (Thu, Sat, Sun): danzai noodles, oyster omelette and milkfish.
Confucius Temple and the old town, Anping's fort and Tree House, and a day of grazing on Tainan's legendary snacks.
Taiwan's first Confucian temple (1665) and the Dutch-built Fort Provintia.
Fort Zeelandia and a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Beef soup at breakfast, danzai noodles, milkfish congee and douhua (tofu pudding).
A train to Chiayi, then the historic forest railway (or bus) up to Alishan's giant cypress forest.
Boardwalks among 2,000-year-old red cypresses, ponds and moss.
The pre-dawn train to Zhushan for sunrise over the sea of clouds, a tea plantation, then the bus to Sun Moon Lake.
A small train at ≈ 5 am to the viewpoint for sunrise over Yushan and the sea of clouds.
A boat between Shuishe, Ita Thao (Thao aboriginal village) and Xuanguang Temple.
Bus and high-speed rail to the airport, with time for a last Taipei dinner before the late-night flight.
The original dumpling house, near Taipei 101 or Taipei Main Station.
Adds the port city of Kaohsiung and the Fo Guang Shan Buddha before Tainan.
Land at Taoyuan, take the Airport MRT into town, and head to Raohe night market for dinner.
Pepper buns baked in a tandoor, stinky tofu (be brave), grilled squid and bubble tea, with the ornate Ciyou Temple at the entrance.
Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Dihua Street old town, and sunset from Elephant Mountain.
Taipei's most atmospheric temple, full of worshippers and incense.
A huge white monument and square; the changing of the guard happens every hour.
Restored merchant houses, tea shops, dried-goods stores and riverside sunset at the wharf.
A 20-minute steep climb to the classic view of Taipei 101 at dusk. Then Taipei 101 or dinner at Din Tai Fung.
One of the world's great collections of Chinese art, then a soak in the hot springs of Beitou.
700,000 treasures brought from Beijing's Forbidden City, including the famous jade cabbage.
Thermal Valley, the Japanese-era Hot Spring Museum and a private hot-spring room or public bath.
Taipei's largest night market.
A day trip into the hills: release a sky lantern at Shifen, see the waterfall, then Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at dusk.
A small branch railway through the jungle; write your wishes on a sky lantern on the tracks in Shifen, then walk to the 'little Niagara' waterfall.
A hillside gold-mining village of steep alleys, red lanterns and teahouses over the sea (said to inspire 'Spirited Away'). It's packed at weekends.
A scenic train between mountains and ocean. In the afternoon, the pebble beach at Qixingtan and Dongdamen night market.
A crescent of pebbles with mountains dropping into the Pacific (swimming is not recommended).
Aboriginal-style grilled meats and stuffed bamboo rice.
A tour of the parts of the marble gorge that are open after the earthquake, and the dramatic cliffs where the mountains meet the Pacific.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, some famous trails (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine) remain closed. Open in 2026: the visitor centre, Buluowan, the Tianxiang area and the Pudu suspension bridge to Xiangde Temple. Check the national park website for the current status.
Sheer cliffs dropping 800 m into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
A short train south into the rift valley. Rent a bike and ride through the famous rice fields at golden hour.
Flat cycle paths through the paddies to 'Mr. Brown Avenue' and its lone tree (green in spring and summer, golden in June and November). Try a Chishang rice lunch box.
A train to the port city. Afternoon at Lotus Pond and the Pier-2 art district, then Liuhe night market.
Enter through the dragon's mouth and leave by the tiger's for good luck.
Warehouses turned into galleries, then a 5-min ferry to Cijin for a seafood dinner.
The giant Buddha monastery of Fo Guang Shan in the morning, then a short hop to Tainan.
A huge Buddhist complex with a 108 m bronze Buddha and eight pagodas.
Beef soup, shrimp rolls and coffin bread around Guohua Street.
Confucius Temple and the old town, Anping's fort and Tree House, and a day of grazing on Tainan's legendary snacks.
Taiwan's first Confucian temple (1665) and the Dutch-built Fort Provintia.
Fort Zeelandia and a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Beef soup at breakfast, danzai noodles, milkfish congee and douhua (tofu pudding).
A train to Chiayi, then the historic forest railway (or bus) up to Alishan's giant cypress forest.
Boardwalks among 2,000-year-old red cypresses, ponds and moss.
The pre-dawn train to Zhushan for sunrise over the sea of clouds, a tea plantation, then the bus to Sun Moon Lake.
A small train at ≈ 5 am to the viewpoint for sunrise over Yushan and the sea of clouds.
A boat between Shuishe, Ita Thao (Thao aboriginal village) and Xuanguang Temple.
Bus and high-speed rail to the airport, with time for a last Taipei dinner before the late-night flight.
The original dumpling house, near Taipei 101 or Taipei Main Station.
Everything, with a full slow day on Sun Moon Lake at the end.
Land at Taoyuan, take the Airport MRT into town, and head to Raohe night market for dinner.
Pepper buns baked in a tandoor, stinky tofu (be brave), grilled squid and bubble tea, with the ornate Ciyou Temple at the entrance.
Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Dihua Street old town, and sunset from Elephant Mountain.
Taipei's most atmospheric temple, full of worshippers and incense.
A huge white monument and square; the changing of the guard happens every hour.
Restored merchant houses, tea shops, dried-goods stores and riverside sunset at the wharf.
A 20-minute steep climb to the classic view of Taipei 101 at dusk. Then Taipei 101 or dinner at Din Tai Fung.
One of the world's great collections of Chinese art, then a soak in the hot springs of Beitou.
700,000 treasures brought from Beijing's Forbidden City, including the famous jade cabbage.
Thermal Valley, the Japanese-era Hot Spring Museum and a private hot-spring room or public bath.
Taipei's largest night market.
A day trip into the hills: release a sky lantern at Shifen, see the waterfall, then Jiufen's lantern-lit teahouses at dusk.
A small branch railway through the jungle; write your wishes on a sky lantern on the tracks in Shifen, then walk to the 'little Niagara' waterfall.
A hillside gold-mining village of steep alleys, red lanterns and teahouses over the sea (said to inspire 'Spirited Away'). It's packed at weekends.
A scenic train between mountains and ocean. In the afternoon, the pebble beach at Qixingtan and Dongdamen night market.
A crescent of pebbles with mountains dropping into the Pacific (swimming is not recommended).
Aboriginal-style grilled meats and stuffed bamboo rice.
A tour of the parts of the marble gorge that are open after the earthquake, and the dramatic cliffs where the mountains meet the Pacific.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, some famous trails (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine) remain closed. Open in 2026: the visitor centre, Buluowan, the Tianxiang area and the Pudu suspension bridge to Xiangde Temple. Check the national park website for the current status.
Sheer cliffs dropping 800 m into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
A short train south into the rift valley. Rent a bike and ride through the famous rice fields at golden hour.
Flat cycle paths through the paddies to 'Mr. Brown Avenue' and its lone tree (green in spring and summer, golden in June and November). Try a Chishang rice lunch box.
A train to the port city. Afternoon at Lotus Pond and the Pier-2 art district, then Liuhe night market.
Enter through the dragon's mouth and leave by the tiger's for good luck.
Warehouses turned into galleries, then a 5-min ferry to Cijin for a seafood dinner.
The giant Buddha monastery of Fo Guang Shan in the morning, then a short hop to Tainan.
A huge Buddhist complex with a 108 m bronze Buddha and eight pagodas.
Beef soup, shrimp rolls and coffin bread around Guohua Street.
Confucius Temple and the old town, Anping's fort and Tree House, and a day of grazing on Tainan's legendary snacks.
Taiwan's first Confucian temple (1665) and the Dutch-built Fort Provintia.
Fort Zeelandia and a warehouse swallowed by banyan roots.
Beef soup at breakfast, danzai noodles, milkfish congee and douhua (tofu pudding).
A train to Chiayi, then the historic forest railway (or bus) up to Alishan's giant cypress forest.
Boardwalks among 2,000-year-old red cypresses, ponds and moss.
The pre-dawn train to Zhushan for sunrise over the sea of clouds, a tea plantation, then the bus to Sun Moon Lake.
A small train at ≈ 5 am to the viewpoint for sunrise over Yushan and the sea of clouds.
A boat between Shuishe, Ita Thao (Thao aboriginal village) and Xuanguang Temple.
A full day on the lake: ropeway to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, Ci'en Pagoda, and black tea tasting.
Hop between piers, walk up to temples with lake views.
A cable car over the mountains with lake views.
Sun Moon Lake is famous for its black tea (Hong Yu No. 18).
Bus and high-speed rail to the airport, with time for a last Taipei dinner before the late-night flight.
The original dumpling house, near Taipei 101 or Taipei Main Station.
Skip a region, add beach days, change the pace… Suggest changes and a new version of this trip will be created.
Getting around
Get an EasyCard (a contactless travel card) at the airport and use it on metros, buses, local trains and even in convenience stores. Book long-distance trains in advance on the official apps (THSR for the high-speed rail, TR for the round-island trains): express trains to the east coast sell out on weekends. Scenic areas (Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Taroko) are served by Taiwan Tourist Shuttle buses, or you can join a small-group tour or hire a driver for a day.
The high-speed rail (THSR) links Taipei to Kaohsiung in 1h35; TRA express trains (Puyuma, Taroko) run around the island. Clean, punctual and comfortable.
Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs are superb; the Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in 35 min.
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle buses reach the scenic areas; intercity buses are cheap and comfortable.
Uber and taxis are widely available and reasonably priced.
A driver for the day (≈ CHF 110–160 per car) is the easiest way to see Taroko and the east coast.
Excellent cycle paths around Sun Moon Lake and through the Chishang rice fields (YouBike rental with your EasyCard).
Where to stay & budget
Per person per day, excluding international flights. Assumes two people sharing a double room, trains, and a mix of night markets and restaurants.
A green, easy-going capital of temples, night markets, teahouses and hot springs, dominated by Taipei 101.
Where: Near Taipei Main Station or Zhongshan / Da'an (on the MRT).
A relaxed coastal city between the Pacific and the mountains, and the gateway to Taroko Gorge.
Where: Near the train station or Dongdamen night market.
A village in a green valley between two mountain ranges, famous for its rice ('lunch boxes') and cycle paths through the paddies.
Where: In a minsu (B&B) among the paddies.
Taiwan's port city, sunny and laid-back: harbour art districts, Lotus Pond temples and seafood.
Where: Near an MRT station in Yancheng or near Pier-2.
The old capital and Taiwan's soul: hundreds of temples, Dutch forts, old alleys and the best snacks in the country.
Where: Central West district (old town).
A mountain forest area at 2,200 m: giant cypress trees, tea plantations, a historic forest railway, and sunrise over a sea of clouds.
Where: In the Alishan Forest Recreation Area (for the sunrise) — book early.
Taiwan's largest lake, ringed by green mountains, temples and cycle paths.
Where: Shuishe village (boats, buses, restaurants).
Practical
Information last checked: September 2026. Visa rules, prices and timetables change, so always check before booking.
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