Start at Taipei Main Station to get your bearings and pick up an EasyCard at a metro information counter or convenience store; load around NT$300–500 to begin, then top up as needed. The card works on the MRT, buses, and many convenience-store purchases. Allow about an hour to sort yourself out and, if you’ve arrived with luggage, leave it at your hotel or a station locker before exploring.
Take the MRT from Taipei Main Station to Ximen Station—about 5 minutes on the Blue Line, plus time to find your exit—and wander Ximending for roughly 1½ hours. The pedestrian streets are lively on a Sunday, with plenty of shops and snack stalls; browse at your own pace rather than trying to cover every lane.
Stop at Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle in Ximending for its thick, savory rice noodles. A small bowl is usually around NT$60–70, so budget NT$100–200 if you’d like a drink or another snack; expect to eat standing at the counter or outside. It’s a casual first meal, not a long sit-down break.
Head to Raohe Street Night Market in Songshan District by MRT—ride the Green Line from Ximen Station to Songshan Station (around 20 minutes), then follow the signs to the market entrance by Ciyou Temple. Most stalls get going around 5pm and run late; entry is free, and NT$300–500 is plenty for a few bites. Try the pepper bun near the entrance, but expect a queue, especially on a Sunday, and leave room to browse the rest of the market.
Start at Longshan Temple around 8:30–9:00, when the incense-filled halls are lively with local worshippers. It’s generally open daily from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; admission is free, but keep your voice low and avoid photographing people at prayer. From Longshan Temple, walk roughly five minutes to Bopiliao Historical Block. Since it’s Monday, the indoor exhibition spaces may be closed, but you can still enjoy the restored streetscape from outside; check the posted notices before you go in expecting to see exhibits.
Take the MRT from Longshan Temple to Dongmen—about 15 minutes, including the transfer—and spend around 90 minutes around Yongkang Street. For a classic Taiwanese lunch, try Yong Kang Beef Noodles; Din Tai Fung is nearby if you’re in the mood for dumplings, though queues can be long. Budget roughly NT$250–500 per person, then leave a little time to browse the small shops and cafés.
Ride the MRT from Dongmen to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (one stop), and allow about 90 minutes for the expansive plaza and grounds. The outdoor spaces are a good Monday plan even if some indoor exhibition areas are closed; the memorial grounds are free to explore. From there, take the MRT toward Taipei 101—usually around 20–25 minutes door to door—and aim to reach the observatory in the late afternoon for the changing light over the city. Tickets are roughly NT$600–700, and the observatory typically stays open into the evening; check the day’s hours and buy ahead if you want to avoid a ticket queue.
Take a morning express from Taipei Main Station and allow roughly 2–2.5 hours to reach Hualien Station; reserve a seat ahead, especially if you want a particular departure. After arriving, leave your bag at your hotel or in station lockers, then grab a quick lunch in town before heading out. A taxi is the easiest way to Qixingtan Beach—roughly 15 minutes from the station, depending on traffic.
Give Qixingtan Beach about 1.5 hours to wander the dark-pebble shore and take in the Pacific views. It’s a scenic coast rather than a swimming beach: waves and currents can be strong, so stay out of the water. From there, take a taxi back toward town to Pine Garden, a former Japanese military building with leafy grounds and views over the coast. Budget about an hour; it generally opens 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with a modest admission fee (around NT$50), though check its current hours before setting out.
Head to Dongdamen Night Market for dinner, allowing about 1.5 hours to browse the stalls and try Hualien specialties alongside familiar Taiwanese snacks. It’s an easy taxi ride from Pine Garden, or a longer walk if you have energy; the market typically gets going around 6 p.m. and stays lively late. Set aside roughly NT$250–500 per person, and bring cash—sharing a few small plates is the best way to sample more.
Keep the morning departure early so you have time to check in and drop your bags before sightseeing. If the rail connections run late, don’t rush: Chihkan Tower is a compact first stop, and the rest of the evening is close by.
Spend about an hour at Chihkan Tower, the Dutch-era fort site in central Tainan. It’s generally open daily into the evening; check the posted hours and admission price before you go, as these can change. Wander the courtyards and historic buildings at an easy pace, then take a short taxi ride or walk toward dinner.
Book ahead at A Xia Restaurant if you can, and allow 1–1½ hours for Tainan-style seafood and local dishes; budget around NT$400–800 per person. After dinner, walk about 10–15 minutes to Shennong Street for a relaxed 45-minute stroll past its preserved shopfronts. Many small shops close early, but the lane is atmospheric after dark even when they’re shut.
Get to Anping Tree House around opening time, typically 8:30 a.m.; allow about 1½ hours to follow the elevated walkways through the banyan roots and the old warehouse. Admission is usually around NT$70, often with access to nearby historic attractions—check the ticket details at the entrance. From there, it’s a short walk to Anping Old Fort, where you can spend about an hour among the ramparts and exhibits on the area’s Dutch-era history. Both sites are compact, but the paths can be uneven, so comfortable shoes help.
Wander over to Anping Old Street for lunch and a browse through the historic quarter. Try local shrimp rolls, oyster dishes, or a sweet treat such as douhua; budget around NT$200–400 per person, depending on how much you graze. Give yourself roughly 1½ hours, then take a taxi toward Blueprint Culture & Creative Park in West Central District—usually about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic. The park’s murals and design shops make an easy late-afternoon stop; shops generally open later in the day, so allow about an hour and check individual shop hours if there’s somewhere specific you want to visit.
Head to Garden Night Market in North District for dinner and a relaxed final wander. Thursday is one of its usual operating nights, but market schedules can change, so confirm before setting out; it generally gets going in the early evening. A taxi from Blueprint Culture & Creative Park takes roughly 15–20 minutes, while city buses are a budget option if you don’t mind a slower trip. Bring cash and plan on about NT$250–500 per person to sample a few stalls; arrive hungry, then follow the busiest queues for popular snacks.
Take a morning train from Tainan Station to Kaohsiung Station and head straight to Pier-2 Art Center in Yancheng District. From the station, the MRT and a short walk or a taxi will get you there; aim to arrive around 10:30, leaving about two hours to wander the converted warehouses, outdoor installations, and waterfront paths. The galleries and shops keep different hours, but the outdoor art is easy to enjoy without a ticket. It’s a good area to explore at an unhurried pace—look out for pop-up exhibitions and small design shops between the larger warehouses.
For lunch, walk to Duck Zhen (鴨肉珍) in Yancheng. Expect a casual, busy local shop serving duck rice and other duck dishes; budget about NT$200–400 per person, bring cash, and allow extra time if there’s a queue. Afterward, walk toward Gushan Ferry Pier and take the ferry to Cijin Island—the crossing is only a few minutes, and you can usually pay with an EasyCard or buy a ticket. Spend around 2½ hours strolling Cijin Old Street, then continue along the seafront for open-water views; bring sun protection, as there’s little shade on some stretches.
Take the ferry back to Gushan and continue by taxi or public transit to Love River for an easy one-hour finish. A riverside walk is free; if you’d rather see the city from the water, check the boat-ride times and fares at the pier, as they vary by operator. The light is lovely toward sunset, and there are plenty of cafés and casual dinner options nearby if you want to linger.
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