Morning: Arrive at Taoyuan Airport and take the MRT Airport Express (≈40 min) to central Taipei. Check into your hotel and freshen up.
Afternoon: Visit Longshan Temple and stroll through the vibrant Ximending district, sampling street snacks.
Evening: Head to the Taipei 101 Observatory for sunset views, then enjoy dinner at the lively Raohe Night Market.
Find HotelsMorning: Take a bus to the mountain town of Jiufen, wander its tea houses and narrow lanes with ocean vistas.
Afternoon: Continue to Shifen to see the waterfall and release sky lanterns on the historic railway line.
Evening: Return to Taipei; optionally explore the bustling Keelung Night Market before resting.
Find HotelsMorning: Board the train to Hualien (≈2 h). Check into your Hualien hotel.
Afternoon: Join a guided tour of Taroko National Park, hiking the Shakadang Trail and visiting Swallow Grotto and the Eternal Spring Shrine.
Evening: Relax at the Hualien waterfront and enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant.
Find HotelsMorning: Rent a bike and ride along the Pacific coastline, stopping at scenic lookouts.
Afternoon: Optional short trek to Qingshui Cliffs for dramatic sea‑cliff views.
Evening: Experience the Mid‑Autumn Festival with mooncakes, lanterns, and riverside barbecues organized by local hostels.
Find HotelsMorning: Take the TRA train to Chiayi, then transfer to the Alishan Forest Railway.
Afternoon: Arrive in Alishan, explore the Giant Tree Trail and the Sisters Ponds.
Evening: Check into a mountain lodge and prepare for the sunrise excursion the next morning.
Find HotelsMorning: Watch the iconic sunrise over the sea of clouds at the Alishan Sunrise Viewing Area, then hike the Zhangguang Trail.
Afternoon: Return to Chiayi and take the HSR to Tainan. Check into your hotel.
Evening: Wander the historic Chihkan Tower area and dine at the Garden Night Market.
Find HotelsMorning: Visit the Dutch fortress Fort Zeelandia and the nearby Koxinga Shrine.
Afternoon: Explore the narrow alleys of the Anping district, sampling famous Tainan street food such as oyster omelet.
Evening: Relax at the historic Confucius Temple area and enjoy a tea ceremony.
Find HotelsMorning: Take the HSR to Kaohsiung (≈20 min). Drop off luggage at your hotel.
Afternoon: Visit the futuristic Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the colorful Pier‑2 Art Center.
Evening: Stroll along the Liuhe Night Market for dinner and try local specialties like papaya milk.
Find HotelsMorning: Ride the Kaohsiung Metro to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Lake.
Afternoon: Explore the Pier‑1 area, including the iconic 85 m Tuntex Sky Tower and the nearby love river promenade.
Evening: Enjoy a sunset cruise on the harbor and dinner at the lively Ruifeng Night Market.
Find HotelsMorning: Travel by bus to Kenting (≈2 h). Check into a beachfront resort.
Afternoon: Relax on Kenting Beach, swim, and snorkel in the clear waters.
Evening: Explore the Kenting Night Market for fresh seafood and tropical fruits.
Find HotelsMorning: Visit the scenic Eluanbi Lighthouse at Taiwan’s southern tip.
Afternoon: Continue eastward by train to Taitung. Check into a local guesthouse.
Evening: Experience the lively Taitung Night Market** and try the indigenous millet wine.
Find HotelsMorning: Rent a scooter to ride the East Coast Highway, stopping at the stunning Sanxiantai Bridge.
Afternoon: Visit the National Museum of Prehistory and relax at Jhiben Hot Springs.
Evening: Return to Taitung for a quiet dinner by the harbor.
Find HotelsMorning: Take the scenic train along the Pacific coast back to Hualien.
Afternoon: Transfer to a fast train for Taipei. Store luggage at the station.
Evening: Visit Yangmingshan National Park for a short hike and soak in a natural hot spring before your final night.
Find HotelsMorning: Hike Elephant Mountain for a panoramic view of Taipei 101 and the city skyline.
Afternoon: Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Ximending, do last‑minute shopping, and sip bubble tea.
Evening: Transfer to Taoyuan Airport (≈40 min) for your 21:40 flight.
Find HotelsIf you need more time in the mountains, consider adding an extra night in Alishan or Taroko and dropping the evening visit to Keelung Night Market. Conversely, you can shorten the trip by skipping the Taitung leg and using those two days for a deeper dive into Taipei’s cultural sites or a beach day in Kenting, allowing a more relaxed pace without missing the major highlights.