After checking in and dropping your bags, head to Taipei 101 Observatory in Xinyi for an easy first look at the city. From Taipei Main Station, take the MRT Red Line to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station; the ride is roughly 15–20 minutes. The observatory generally opens from late morning into the evening, but check the official timetable for your date and allow about 1½ hours, including the elevator queue and time on the indoor and outdoor viewing levels. Tickets are usually around NT$600; visibility can change quickly in November, so don’t worry if the upper mountains are hazy—the dense city view is still excellent.
Take the MRT to National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for the late afternoon, changing at Dongmen if needed. Spend about an hour walking beneath the blue-and-white gates across Liberty Square to the memorial hall; the grounds are free and usually accessible until around 6:00 PM, while the main hall may close earlier. This is a good time to see the plaza in softer light without trying to force in another museum on arrival day.
Continue to Yongkang Street in Da’an, either by MRT to Dongmen Station or by a short taxi from the memorial hall. Wander the side lanes rather than treating the street as a single attraction: independent tea shops, stationery stores, bakeries, and small Taiwanese snack counters make this a pleasant 1½-hour introduction to Taipei. Have dinner at Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Restaurant), where expect roughly NT$500–900 per person. Queueing is normal, so take a number and browse nearby shops; order xiaolongbao, one vegetable dish, and noodles rather than over-ordering on your first meal.
Finish at Raohe Street Night Market in Songshan, reached from Dongmen by the Green Line with a change at 中山 (Zhongshan), or by taxi if you are tired. Enter near Ciyou Temple and allow about two hours for a slow pass through the stalls. Try the famous pepper buns, grilled seafood, and a sweet drink, carrying small cash and keeping your bag close in the crowd. The market is generally busiest from around 7:00 PM onward and runs late; when you’re done, Songshan Station provides direct MRT and train connections back toward central Taipei.
Start at Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Zhongshan, arriving around opening at 9:30am so you have a calm couple of hours for its modern and contemporary Taiwanese exhibitions. Allow roughly NT$30–50 for admission, depending on the exhibitions; the museum is closed on Mondays, so today’s timing works well. From central Taipei, take the MRT to Yuanshan Station, then walk about 10 minutes through the pleasant Taipei Expo Park area. The museum café is fine for a quick coffee, but save your appetite for Dihua Street later.
Head toward Dadaocheng Wharf by MRT to Daqiaotou Station or by a short taxi ride, then walk down to the riverside for an unhurried hour. The wharf is best in daylight, with broad views across the Tamsui River and plenty of space to sit; allow about 30–45 minutes for the walk from the MRT depending on your route. From there, continue into Dihua Street, Taipei’s atmospheric old commercial quarter. Spend around 1½ hours browsing its restored shophouses, tea merchants, fabric stores, herbal shops, and small snack counters. For lunch or a light bite, look for oyster omelets, rice rolls, or a traditional tea shop rather than trying to fit in a formal meal. Most shops open around 10am and begin closing between 5:30 and 7pm, so this is the right part of the day for shopping.
From Dihua Street, take the MRT from Daqiaotou Station toward Beitou, changing at 民權西路 Zhongshan Junior High School? Better: take the Red Line from Taipei Main Station or walk/taxi to Beimen Station and use the Tamsui–Xinyi Line via Taipei Main Station; in practice, a taxi is simplest and usually takes 25–35 minutes depending on traffic. Visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum for about 45 minutes—entry is free, and it generally opens 9am–5pm, with Monday closure possible, so check the day’s hours before leaving central Taipei. Continue through the hot-spring park to Beitou Public Hot Spring for an inexpensive soak of around 1½ hours; admission is commonly about NT$60, though hours and prices can change. Bring the swimwear and compact towel from your packing list, and use a locker or keep valuables minimal. The pools are communal and modest rather than spa-like, so follow posted temperature and bathing rules. Finish at Manlai Hot Spring Ramen, a short walk from the bathing area, for ramen and hot-spring eggs—budget roughly NT$300–600 per person. Expect a queue at dinner; if it is busy, put your name down first and take a slow walk around the nearby park while waiting.
Leave Taipei Main Station around 7:00–7:30am for Ruifang, then take the local Pingxi Line toward Shifen. Allow roughly 1.5–2 hours door to door, depending on the connection; an EasyCard is convenient for the local trains and buses. At Shifen Old Street, trains still pass directly through the market, so step well clear of the tracks and check the timetable before lingering. Spend about 90 minutes browsing the railway-side stalls for peanut ice-cream rolls, grilled sausages, and the famous sky-lantern shops—though releasing a lantern is optional and adds roughly NT$200–500.
Walk or take the short shuttle/taxi connection toward Shifen Waterfall; the entrance area is roughly 20–30 minutes from the old street on foot, with some steps and uneven paths. Allow about 1.5 hours for the forested walk and viewpoints, and wear your water-resistant walking shoes—the trail can be slick after rain. Afterward, return toward Ruifang and continue by bus to Jiufen Old Street for an unhurried two-hour wander through its narrow stairways and snack stalls. Try taro balls at A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll or fish-ball soup at Jiufen Old Noodle, then take a short break at A-Mei Tea House, one of the classic teahouses overlooking the coast. Budget approximately NT$300–700 per person for tea; arrive before sunset if you want the best mountain-and-sea light, and bring your compact rain layer because Jiufen is often misty even when Taipei is dry.
For dinner, take a local bus or taxi down to Keelung Miaokou Night Market, allowing roughly 30–45 minutes from Jiufen depending on traffic. The market is generally liveliest from early evening until around 10:00pm, with numbered stalls serving oyster omelets, pepper buns, crab and shrimp dishes, and shaved ice. Look for the brightly lit central lanes around Ren’ai Road and Aizhan Road; cash is easiest, and NT$300–600 is plenty for a generous tasting-style meal. Return to Jiufen by taxi for the simplest late-evening option, or check the final bus times carefully before leaving—services become less frequent at night.
Leave Jiufen around 6:30–7:00am in your reserved private transfer, allowing 4.5–5.5 hours to reach Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi. The mountain roads can be slow in November rain, so confirm the night before that the driver has allowed time for traffic and that your luggage can remain safely in the vehicle; this is much more practical than attempting the multi-transfer public-transport alternative with bags. Have breakfast before departure or carry something simple, as roadside stops are not guaranteed.
After checking in or leaving your luggage at your accommodation, take a taxi or lake shuttle to Wenwu Temple on the north shore. Allow about an hour to climb through its grand gates and terraces, where the ornate rooflines frame excellent views across the water. From there, continue by taxi or the local Sun Moon Lake bus toward Ita Thao, then ride the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway—generally operating from around 10:30am to 4:00–4:30pm, weather permitting. A return ride is roughly NT$300, and the full visit takes about 1.5 hours; go as soon as you arrive in Ita Thao rather than leaving it until late afternoon, since wind or low cloud can suspend service.
Spend the late afternoon wandering the Ita Thao Shopping District, where small stalls sell indigenous Tsou-inspired snacks, millet-based treats, smoked meats, and local mountain produce. Bring cash—many vendors do not take cards—and browse without rushing before dinner at Sun Moon Lake Full-Day Tea House, a relaxed lakeside choice for tea-based dishes and regional flavors; budget approximately NT$500–900 per person and check the evening opening time ahead, as seasonal hours can vary. Finish with a 45-minute stroll along the Ita Thao lakeshore, when the tour groups have thinned and the illuminated water and dark mountain silhouettes make the shoreline especially peaceful. A light waterproof jacket and umbrella will be useful: evenings beside the lake are cooler and damp even when southern Taiwan feels mild.
Take the Nantou Bus 6670 from Sun Moon Lake around 6:30–7:00am, changing at HSR Taichung for the train to Tainan; expect roughly 3.5–4.5 hours overall. From HSR Tainan, the TRA Shalun Line takes about 25 minutes to Tainan Station, while a taxi is easier with luggage and usually costs around NT$350–500 to the West Central District. After dropping your bags, have a quick local lunch nearby, then walk or take a short taxi ride to Chihkan Tower. Allow about an hour for the red-brick remains, banyan-shaded courtyards, and stone steles; it is generally open roughly 8:30am–9:30pm, with admission around NT$50. The early afternoon is warm but usually manageable in November, so keep your water bottle handy.
From Chihkan Tower, it is about a 12-minute walk south through the old center to Hayashi Department Store. This beautifully restored 1930s building is a good slower-paced stop after the morning transfer: browse its design and food floors, then go up to the small rooftop shrine and city-view terrace. Allow an hour; it generally opens around 11:00am and closes around 9:00pm, though individual shops vary. A further 10-minute walk brings you to Confucius Temple, where the atmosphere changes from commercial Tainan to quiet courtyards and mature trees. Spend around 45 minutes exploring the temple precinct and surrounding lanes; the grounds are free, though some interior areas have separate hours, commonly around 8:30am–5:30pm.
For dinner, walk or take a short taxi to Du Hsiao Yueh (原始店度小月) in the historic center. This is the original branch associated with Tainan’s famous danzai noodles, and it is ideal for ordering several small dishes rather than one large meal. Budget approximately NT$300–600 per person; the shop typically serves lunch and dinner, but hours can change, so check locally before setting out. Finish with an unhurried walk along Shennong Street, about 10–15 minutes away. Come after sunset, when the old timber façades, small galleries, boutiques, and tea cafés are at their most atmospheric. One hour is enough for a relaxed stroll, though this is a good place to linger if you still have energy; wear your comfortable walking shoes, as the older paving can be uneven.
Take a TRA local or Puyuma train from Tainan Station around 7:30–8:00am; the ride to Kaohsiung Station takes about 35–50 minutes and costs roughly NT$106–142. From the station, collect only what you need for the morning and take a taxi to Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Dashu District—allow 45–75 minutes in traffic. The museum is free, though donations are welcome, and its vast approach, eight pagodas, memorial halls, and giant seated Buddha are best enjoyed before the midday heat. Allow around 2.5 hours; dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and wear your comfortable walking shoes.
After the museum, return by taxi toward central Kaohsiung and continue to Pier-2 Art Center in Yancheng District, ideally arriving around 2:00–2:30pm. The former warehouses are spread along Dayong Road and the harbor, with murals, design shops, and rotating exhibitions; outdoor areas are free, while indoor shows usually cost NT$50–150. Give yourself two relaxed hours, then walk or take the light rail a few stops toward the Kaohsiung Music Center beside the Love River. Spend about 45 minutes around its striking white “whale” buildings and waterfront viewpoints, particularly as the light softens. For dinner, take the MRT Red Line from Yanchengpu or a short taxi ride to Liuhe Tourist Night Market near Formosa Boulevard Station. Browse before choosing a stall—seafood, grilled meats, papaya milk, and oyster dishes generally come to NT$300–700 per person. Finish with a 45-minute walk along the Love River promenade in Yancheng or Lingya; the riverfront is pleasantly breezy in November, so bring your light jacket.
If your international flight is later in the evening, leave your hotel with only your day bag and ask reception to hold your luggage. Take the MRT Red Line to Zuoying Station, then a short taxi ride or local bus to Lotus Pond. Begin at the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, where you traditionally enter through the dragon and leave through the tiger for good luck. Allow about an hour for the lakeside temples and photographs; admission is generally free, though donations are welcome. Wear shoes with a secure grip, as the steps and tiled walkways can be slippery after rain.
Continue on foot around Lotus Pond for another hour, taking the waterfront paths between the temples and pavilions rather than rushing from one landmark to the next. November is usually comfortable here, but the open lakefront can be sunny and windy, so carry water, your compact umbrella, and a light layer. From Zuoying, take the MRT toward Formosa Boulevard, change for the Orange Line to Yanchengpu, and continue to Gushan Ferry Pier by taxi or local bus; the transfer usually takes 35–50 minutes depending on connections.
Board the short ferry to Cijin Island—about 5–10 minutes, with EasyCard accepted—and spend roughly two hours wandering Cijin Old Street. This is a good place for an unhurried seafood lunch or snacks: look for grilled squid, fried seafood, and bowls of oyster vermicelli, checking the day’s prices before ordering. Afterward, walk or take a local bus toward Cijin Seaside Park for an hour along the coast. The sea breeze is strong, so your water-resistant jacket is useful; keep swimwear packed rather than expecting a swimming stop, as conditions and beach facilities vary.
Return by ferry to Gushan Ferry Pier, then take the short ride to Duck Zhen (鴨肉珍) in Yancheng for an early dinner. Expect a busy, straightforward local shop rather than a leisurely restaurant: order the duck rice with soup, find a seat when available, and allow about 45 minutes. A meal usually costs around NT$200–400 per person. From there, collect your luggage and take the MRT Orange Line and Red Line toward Kaohsiung International Airport; allow roughly 35–50 minutes from central Yancheng, plus extra time for the walk between platforms and airport check-in. For an international flight, arrive at Kaohsiung International Airport 2.5–3 hours before departure, especially if checking bags.