tainan tourist shuttle bus

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Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Service

Timetable & Fares

• Yilan County
• Keelung City
• Taipei City

New Taipei City

• Taoyuan City
• Hsinchu County

Jiaoxi Route A

　　The Jiaoxi Route has Lines A and B. Line A from Jiaoxi Train Station to Yun...

Jiaoxi Route B

　　The Jiaoxi Route has Lines A and B. Line B travels between Jiaoxi Train Sta...

Dongshan River Route

　　The Dongshan River Route goes to Luodong between the Luodong Sports Center ...

Zhuangwei Dune Route

　　Buses of the "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle - Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Route"...

Yilan and Northeast Coast Route

“Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus – Yilan Northeast Coast Route” ...

Coastal Keelung Route

The Coastal Keelung Route connects the most distinctive scenic views in Keelu...

Beitou Zhuzihu Route

Among Taipei's many tourist attractions, Beitou Hot Springs area, a pop...

Gold Fulong Shuttle Bus(Weekday)

　　The Golden Fulong Route has 23 stops:Ruifang Station(Residents' Sq...

Crown Northern Coast Shuttle Bus

The Crown Northern Coast Route links 16 popular attractions: Tamsui MRT ...

Muzha Pingxi Shuttle Bus(to Shifen)

[Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795] Muzha Pingxi Route has now been transformed into...

Muzha Pingxi Shuttle Bus(to Pingxi)

Daxi Express

The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Daxi Express departs daily from the Taiwan High Sp...

Xiaowulai Route (Holiday Route)

The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Wulai Route connects famous scenic spots in Northe...

Shihmen Reservoir Route (Holiday Route)

The Shimen Reservoir route is a sports and recreation route (running on holid...

Dongyanshan Route

　　Dongyanshan Forest Recreation Area is located in the Fusing District, Taoyu...

Lions Head Mountain Route

　　The Shishan Route welcomes you to Hsinchu! It links Zhubei Train Station to...

Guanwu Route

The "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle -Guanwu Route" makes eight stops, mainl...

• Miaoli County
• Taichung City
• Changhua County
• Yunlin County
• Nantou County

Nanzhuang Route

　　Nanzhuang has the Xiangtianhu Line and Xianshan Line as its network transpo...

Fengyuan-Houli Route

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle's Fengyuan-Houli Route connects key attractions be...

Taichung Midtown Bus Loop

Along the 38 stop route, there are many historical monuments, tourist hotspot...

Dasyueshan Route

The Taiwan Tourists Shuttle 889 Dashueshan Route offers a brand new experienc...

Lukang Route

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Route takes you between attractions in Changhua...

Lukang Route A

Douliu Gukeng Shuttle Bus

         The “Shekou Tourist Center”, &l...

Beigang Huwei Shuttle Bus

The Walking with the Gods Route of the Beigang Huwei Line this year includes ...

Yunlin Caoling Route (Operates on every Wednesday ~ Sunday)

Yunlin Caoling Route is the Tourist Shuttle route going mainly from Douliu to...

This route mainly departs from Taichung's key areas (Taiwan Railways and ...

The Jiji Route is operated by the All Day Bus Transport Co., Ltd. and travels...

Sun Moon Lake-Xitou Route

Considering that Sun Moon Lake and Xitou are two of Nantou County's most ...

Ruilong Waterfall Route

The Ruilong Waterfall Route is within the Rulong Waterfall Park in Zhushan. I...

Shuanglong Route

The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Shuanglong Route takes you through the Snake Kiln,...

Tianzhong Zhushan Route

The “Tianzhong Zhushan Route” operates between Tianzhong, Ershui,...

Sun Moon Lake-Alishan Route

"The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake - Alishan Route" shuttles...

Douliu Zhushan Route

The "Douliu Zhushan Route" connects Douliu, Linnei, and Zhushan, pa...

Sun Moon Lake Route

　　The Sun Moon Lake Route travels through important transportation hubs: Taic...

Xitou Route-From Taichung

　　The Xitou Route picks up passengers from many major transportation hubs suc...

Xitou Route-From Changhua

　The Xitou Route picks up passengers from many major transportation hubs such...

Checheng Route

Departure is the start of a journey! The “Taiwan Trip Checheng R...

Qingjing Route

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus Qingjing Route is one of the routes to Hehuan Moun...

Dongpu Route

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus Dongpu Route takes visitors from Shueili and Jiji ...

• Chiayi County
• Chiayi City
• Tainan City
• Kaohsiung City
• Pingtung County

Ruili Route (Holiday only)

Alishan Northwest Corridor is a newly popular scenic spot in recent years tha...

Taiping Shuttle bus

Tourist factories in Dalin Township have become popular destinations in recen...

Southern Branch of the NPM route

　　The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum Route is a ring linking t...

Alishan Route A

　　The unique nature, terrain, landscape and culture in Alishan National Sceni...

Alishan Route B

Ruote 66 Guanglinwojia Route

　　In attempt to promote Chiayi City tourism, Chiayi City Government applied t...

Guanglinwojia Route

To promote Chiayi City's tourism sector, the Chiayi City Government has s...

88 Tainan Loop Route (Holiday Route)

        The bus stops at the popular attractions in old T...

99 Anping Taijiang Route (Holiday Route)

        The service is focused on transporting tourists t...

Guanzihling route

The Guanziling Route connects attractions such as Guanziling Hot Springs, Jin...

The West Coast Expressway

The West Coast Expressway links Xinying, Yanshui and the famous site of High-...

Dongshan coffee route

Starting from Lingding Park, the route connects Guan Zih Ling Scenic Area and...

Meiling route (available on weekends)

Starting from Yujing, the route connects Yujing, Tainan with scenic attractio...

Ling Po-Guantian Line

The Lingpo Guantian Line connects attractions such as Liuying Jianshanpi Reso...

Shoushan National Nature Park Route_A

The Shoushan National Nature Park Route is the only fast and direct bus route...

Shoushan National Nature Park Route_B

This route is a special holiday shuttle service for Shoushan National Nature ...

Shoushan National Nature Park Route_C

This route operates as a special holiday shuttle service, connecting visitors...

Kenting Express Line

　　During the consecutive holidays, there are often traffic jams on each road ...

Shen-Shan Route (Book for Tour)

This route is the 508 Shen-Shan Route tour bus, stopping at Guchuan Bridge, S...

Dapeng Bay Liuqiu Route

    Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area has two designated scenic areas...

Mountain Coffee & Cocoa Route(Book for tour)

This 603C Mountain Line Lovely Bus route. Start with a stroll over the Shanch...

Kenting Airport Express Line

Departing from near the Kaohsiung City train station, the route reduces stops...

• Hualien County
• Taitung County

Hualien East Coast Route

Let's break away from the traditional stop-and-go model of conventional b...

Yuchang Fengbin Line

Yuchang Fengbin Line is a “Cruise” tour on a bus and not rail tra...

Taroko Route

Due to the closure of the Taroko National Park, starting from April 1...

Hualien Route 1-Day Tour 303B (Every Tue-Sun)

This route is characterized by crisp and clean air, fertile land, delicious f...

Hualien Route 1-Day Tour 303C (every Monday)

Hualien Route Half-Day Tour 303D (runs daily)

East Rift Valley Line

　　The shuttle on the Rift Valley Luye Route runs six times daily. It takes pa...

East Coast Line Day Trip

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle East Coast Line 8101A is a cruise bus travelling a tot...

East Coast Line Day Tour (Morning Half Day Tour)

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle East Coast Line 8101B is a cruise bus travelling a tot...

East Coast Line Day Tour (Afternoon ~ Evening Half Day Tour)

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle East Coast Line 8101D is a cruise bus travelling a tot...

• Lienchiang County
• Kinmen County
• Penghu County

Nangan to Giant Matsu Statue Route(morning)

"Taiwan Trip @ Matsu" laid back island tour bus provides you with t...

Nangan to Giant Matsu Statue Route(afternoon)

Beigan to Peace Memorial Park Route (Morning)

Beigan to Peace Memorial Park Route (Afternoon)

Juguang to Dongquan Lighthouse Route (Open in odd months)

Juguang to Dongquan Lighthouse Route (Open in even months)

Dongyin to Northernmost Frontier Route (Morning)

Dongyin to Northernmost Frontier Route (afternoon)

A Route - Shuitou Zaishan

　　In Kinmen, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle has 7 routes starting at Jinchen...

B Route - Guningtou Battlefield

C Route - Shishan Folk Culture Village

C Route - Shishan Folk Culture Village (Hop-on/hop-off bus, operates from Tuesday to Sunday)

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle offers 7 routes in Kinmen County. These routes st...

D Route - Banyan Park & Taihu Lake

E Route - Wind Lion God morning route

　　Wind Lion God is a guardian figurine believed to protect people from evil. ...

E Route - Wind Lion God afternoon route

Route F - Urban Cultural Trip (Sunday)

One bus will depart from 8:30 and 13:30 every Sunday from the Jincheng Statio...

Kinmen Bridge Lieyu Line

The Kinmen Bridge Lieyu route includes the main scenic attractions in Lieyu T...

Magong Shuttle Bus North Ring Line

1. There are 3 routes of Tourist Shuttle Penghu: ""Magong Shuttle B...

Magong Huxi Route

Magong Pengnan Line

Penghu Airport Express Route

Penghu Airport Express Route is a shuttle bus from Penghu Airport to Bus Main...

• Attractions

Longdong Bay

Jiufen (Jioufen)

• Nearby Stop

Ticket information

• Special Ticket Offers
• Low-floor Bus

Wonderful Travel

• Itineraries

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Tainan 8899 One Day Pass (purchase the Tourist Shuttle No.88 route and get the Tourist Shuttle No.99 route for free)

ST1282604483

As part of the tourism bureau’s “Taiwan Trip”, the No.88 Anping Shuttle and the No.99 Taijian Shuttle, takes you on a sightseers journey of Tainan. The service will allow you to stroll past Fort Provintia/Chikan Tower, Eternal Golden Castle, Anping Fort, Anping Tree House, Confucius Temple, Koxinga Shrine, Sicao Ecological Park and Qigu Salt Mountain; and take you to the street foods you cannot miss. The speedy service will allow you to fully enjoy and soak in the history filled city of Tainan.

Online Voucher

Sale Period

即日起 ~ 2022/12/31

Valid dates

即日起 ~ 2025/09/05

Payment Method

LINE Pay (Kindly remind that $30 off-line handing fee will be charged if request a refund 60 days after payment！) / Free Reservation / Credit Card

Description

 ≣ service information ≣.

No.88 Tainan Circuit Route

The shuttle offers a one-way circuit services that starts at 10:00 and ends at 20:00 with 20-minute intervals every day. The service centers around the heart of Tainan and stops at most tourist attractions. Passengers are encouraged to take the shuttle to visit iconic attractions such as Confucius Temple, Tainan Art Museum Bldg 1 and 2, The Judicial Museum, Lin Department Store, Fort Provintia, and then through to You-ai Street, Guo-hua Street, Shen-nong Street and An-hai Road to sample the best local street foods of Tainan. The shuttles depart regularly on 20 minute intervals for you to enjoy the best the city of Tainan has to offer.

No. 99 Anping Taijian Route

The service provides passengers to attractions in Anping District and Qigu District. Passengers on this service will skip unnecessary waiting time in the CBD of Tainan, the bus departs at Tainan Park, and stops by Koxinga Shrine, Confucius Temple, Lin Department Store, Fort Provintia, Zhongzheng Market, Eternal Golden Castle then straight to Anping, then north bound to Sicao Ecological Park (Dazhong Temple) and Qigu Salt Mountain. Through this simplified route, the service can provide an easier access for tourist thinking of spending time in Tainan.

≣ Shuttle Schedule  ≣

Tourist Shuttle No.88 Tainan Circuit Route： http://busmap.tainan.gov.tw/ebus/pathInfo.jsp?pathId=1088&locale=zh_TW

Tourist Shuttle No.99 Anping Taijiang Route： http://busmap.tainan.gov.tw/ebus/pathInfo.jsp?pathId=1099&locale=zh_TW

*Times are subject to change, please refer to on site announcements and official website for accuracy.

≣ Route Info  ≣

【88 Tainan Circuit】

Tainan Train Station (South Exit), Confucius Temple (National Museum of Taiwan Literature, Tainan Arts Museum Bldg 1), Lin Department Store, The Zheng Ancestral Shrine, Fort Provintia, Ximen, You-ai Street Entrance, Little Ximen (Tayih Landis Hotel), Yonghua Station, Zhongzheng and Haian Intersection, Shen-nong Street, Liren Elementary School, Gongyuan North Road, Tainan Bus Station, Chenggong Road, Tainan Train Station (South Exit).

【99 Anping Taijian】

Tainan Bus Station, Tainan Train Station, Koxinga Shrine (Fuqian Road), Jian Sing Junior High School (Fuqian Road), Lin Department Store, The Zheng Ancestral Shrine, Fort Provintia, Zhongzheng Market (Taiwan Trip), Eternal Golden Castle, Indigenous Cultural Hall, Yianping Street, Anping Oyster Shell Cement Kiln Museum, Anping Fort (Anbei Road), Old Tait & Co. Merchant House, Anping Tree House, Crowne Plaza (Anbei Road), Sunset Platform, Taijiang National Park Information Center, Sicao Ecological Park (Dazhong Temple), Sicao Wildlife Refuge, Luermen Bridge, Mazu Temple (Chengan Road), Long Shan Village, Taiwan Salt Museum, Qigu Salt Mountain, Taiwan Salt Museum, Hailiao Pier, Hailiao Mangrove Station, Liukong Service Station & Visitors Station, Black-Faced Spoonbill Museum of Zoology, Black-Faced Spoonbill Observational Pavilion (Bird Watching Pavilion).

*Please refer to Tainan Bus Official Site for the precise routes and times for 99 shuttle during bird watching season.

Instructions for use

※No.88 Tainan Circuit: Please show your QR code, and have it scanned by our staff to get on board.

※No. 99 Anping Taijiang: Please show your QR code to the Southern ticketing kiosk situated in Tainan Train Station. Have the code scanned to redeem a paper ticket. Keep the ticket safe as we do not re-issue nor refund the ticket if it is lost or damaged.

※This offer is for full-priced tickets only, other type of tickets should be purchased on-site.

※Prior to the expiration, both the No.88 route and the No.99 route can be used without boarding limits.

※Contact Us:：(06)2219177

※Offer Period: please redeem during service operating hours. Redeemed tickets can only be used on the day. Cannot be used cross-days or on multiple days. Thank you for your cooperation.

※If the product is not redeemed, please head to Tainan Fun Card official website, app or email for refund applications.

※The system does not offer order adjustments, if you need make any changes, please cancel the order and re-order again.

※The QR Code is for 1 user only, cannot be redeemed more than once.

※If pets are on board, it will need to be charged a ticket at half-price. No seats can be allocated for pets.

※Please bring on board a vessel to hold your pets in while on board. Each passenger is allowed to carry 1 pet, with the carrying vessel no larger than 27 cubic inches in size.

※※If weather, natural disaster, traffic, on road accidents or other events of force majeure that results in delaying of the service. The company retain the rights to delay or stop all bus services.

※Operating Hours: Please refer to Tainan Bus’official webpage for Shuttles schedule.

http://2384.tainan.gov.tw/NewTNBusWeb/Default.aspx

No.88 Anping Route： http://busmap.tainan.gov.tw/ebus/pathInfo.jsp?pathId=1088&locale=zh_TW

No.99 Taijian Route： http://busmap.tainan.gov.tw/ebus/pathInfo.jsp?pathId=1099&locale=zh_TW

※Bus services info： https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/bus/12

※During National Holidays, New Years Eve and New Year Holidays, please refer to official websites for any changes in operating hours.

Limitations

※Tickets are redeemed and timed upon boarding. Multiple use are not allowed. 

• Fontrip Tech. Co. (Trust)
• Phone：03-5910052
• Email：[email protected]
• seller name：豐趣科技股份有限公司
• VAT number：42760988

Tainan 8899 One Day Pass (purchase the Tourist ...

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Tainan, Taiwan – 16 Things To Do Guide + Photos 2024

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Taiwan’s oldest city and ancient capital, Tainan celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2024!  Steeped in history and located on the southwest coast of Taiwan, it is a joyous mix of the old and new, with so many things to do in Tainan.

Tainan is revered for its ancient temples and fortresses – it was even the island’s capital for over 200 years until 1887 under the Qing dynasty.

With beautiful old buildings and modern street art, Tainan is home to some of the best Taiwan street-food plus sublime side-streets packed full of lanterns and old tea shops.

From night markets to old movie theatres, creative parks to ‘coffin bread’ (better than it sounds), there are so many things to do in Tainan (and eat and drink!)

Although not as well known as Taipei or Kaohsiung on the tourist circuit, Tainan should definitely be a part of your Taiwan itinerary – we most recently revisited Tainan in early 2024.

Here is our guide to the top things to do in Tainan, Taiwan:

Check out our brand new website! We have launched a dedicated Taiwan site – visit us at Taiwanderers.com >

Table of Contents

Things to do in Tainan

1. anping treehouse.

Taiwan’s national tourist board calls the neighbouring (and historic town) of Anping one of the ‘best small tourist towns’ in Taiwan – so this really is one the top things to do in Tainan.

Along with the Old Fort (see below), the main historic attraction here is the Anping Treehouse. The Anping treehouse itself is actually a former warehouse that was abandoned for many years and allowed to go to ruin, overgrown with banyan trees.

Anping Treehouse in Tainan opened to the public in 2004 and is now one of the most popular Tainan tourist attractions – the best way to describe it is ‘ Angkor Wat ’ meets ‘ Shoreditch warehouse chic’ (seriously!)

It doesn’t sound that cool but walking around the Anping Treehouse ruins with roots pushing through the foundations everywhere is fascinating. Think of Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap and you’ll see what we mean.

The entry price for Anping Treehouse as of summer 2024 is NT$70 (around $2.20 USD or £1.70) – discounted Anping Treehouse tickets can be bought from Klook here >

A top Tainan tourist spot, find out more about our visit to the treehouse and how to get there, read our full Anping Treehouse in Tainan blog >

2. Anping Old Fort / Fort Zeelanda

A short walk from Anping Treehouse brings you to Anping Fort (also known as Fort Zeelanda).

Anping Fort can be seen for miles around and was built in the 1620s by the Dutch East India Company, to act as an international business centre. As trade at the time depended on military force to control the markets, the value of the area to the Dutch was mainly in its strategic position – tactical eh!

As well as exploring the Anping Fort walls and original bastion, you can climb up steep stairs to a viewing tower, providing 360 degree views of the local area (although there are narrow stairs up so not great if you don’t enjoy heights).

To get to Fort Anping easily from Tainan train station, jump aboard bus 2, 88 or 99.

The entry price for Anping Old Fort as of summer 2024 is NT$70 (around $2.20 USD or £1.70) – discounted Anping Old Fort  tickets can be bought from Klook here >

For more information on visiting, read our dedicated Anping Old Fort / Fort Zeelandia blog >

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3. Ten Drum Cultural Village

A cultural park located in an old sugar refinery, Ten Drum Cultural Park is one of our top Tainan things to do. Although not a theme park in the strictest sense, it has parts of the old refinery that have been transformed into attractions, like cafes in old industrial drums or flying foxes from the tops of buildings.

There are also lots of fantasy style features like the Harry Potter inspired Magical Space (an Instagrammer’s dream) with winged books and a lovely library setting, the Game of Thrones style chair plus the Rainbow Magic Street where a train regularly runs through.

Originally envisioned as a rehearsal space of traditional Taiwanese drummers, the highlight of the show has to be the live drumming show in the Dream Sugar Theatre – there are several shows daily and your Ten Drum Cultural Village entrance ticket includes admission to the performance.

A bus ride or train / taxi journey away from downtown Tainan, book your discounted Ten Drum Cultural Village tickets here >

4. Grand Mazu Temple

Grand Mazu temple (aka the ‘Great Queen of Heaven temple) is Tainan’s most revered place to worship and is dedicated to Mazu, the patron deity of fisherman.

It is open seven days a week (free admission) and you witness a great number of local people paying their respects when you visit – there are around 500 Mazu temples in Taiwan but this is one of the most visited temples in Taiwan.

The statue of Mazu here is around 300 years old with the site dating back to 1664 (although the temple has gone through many renovations and changes over the years, including earthquakes and fires).

Such in Mazu Temple’s popularity and beauty, a Taiwanese creative agency recently (in 2022)  launched an accurate digital recreation of the temple in the Metaverse. Online visitors can light virtual lanterns and have fortune poems – but the real thing will always be better.

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5. Tainan Blueprint Creative Park

Taiwan is famous for its creative parks (especially in Taipei) and Tainan is no exception – home to independent, quirky shops, food stalls and pop up art installations and murals. Blueprint Creative Park came to be after local artists expressed a desire to be able to legally paint on walls somewhere in Tainan.

Working with local artists, the local Government converted old Japanese Government dormitories into a Blueprint Cultural Park (hence its ‘shabby chic’ appearance).

Most people talk of the actual original 3D blueprint installation here, and you can’t move for people taking selfies – it is definitely one of the most Instagrammable spots in Tainan, along with the Anping Treehouse.

However, whilst we can see its charm and clever use of perspective, this part of the park was our least favourite, as it was looking quite run down when we visited (hopefully it has been refurbished since). The other Blueprint Creative Park murals and installations were spot on though!

Various pop-up events happen at Tainan’s Creative Park from Design Weeks to Pokemon pop-ups and the coffee shops – be sure to go to the weekend markets.

We last visited Tainan Blueprint Creative Park on a Saturday afternoon in early 2024 and it was bustling with stalls and food pop-ups – the permanent shops and galleries are open during the week.

This is one top Tainan thing to do and an awesome attraction (free too), definitely a ‘blueprint’ for success.

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6. Tainan Park

Although not really on the tourist map, we saw Tainan Park on the map (still shown by its former name of Zhongshan on some older Tainan maps) and decided to have a sunset walk there early one evening,

Very much under the radar of tourist things to do in Tainan, the serenity and beauty of the huge floating pavilion made this park really stand out.

As well as the pathways that arch around the Tainan Park / Zhongshan lake, there are several arched footbridges, lily bonds and smaller pavillions to discover.

In addition, there is one of the few Qing dynasty stone archways still remaining in Taiwan (it is incredible to find such a historic relic so unexpectedly and unannounced in the middle of the park).

The locals (especially the elderly population) make good use of the park, with large groups congregating to chat, play chess or perform tai chi / exercises – it is a popular jogging spot in Tainan too.

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7. Hayashi Department Store

Tainan’s Hayashi Department Store is like stepping back in time in Taiwan, akin to visiting Selfridges or Liberty in London.

Six stories in height and relatively compact (don’t expect a huge modern department store), Hayashi Department Store was opened in 1932 during the Japanese occupation and to this day still has its original lift / elevator in working order.

The highlight for us was a visit to the rooftop where there are several food outlets (and a lovely tearoom), with a gorgeous gift shop and shrine dedicated to the owner. We coincided our visit at sunset and were treated to glorious views of the city.

One of the best things to do in Tainan’s Hayashi Department Store is visit the rooftop where there are several food outlets (and a lovely tearoom), with a gorgeous gift shop and shrine dedicated to the owner.

Try to coincide your visit to Hayashi Department Store with sunset and enjoy glorious views of the city.

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8. Chin Men Movie Theatre

The Chin Men Movie Theatre is a historic Tainan cinema / theater that famous Taiwanese film director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Hulk) used to visit as a young boy.

Chin Men is also the only theatre left in Taiwan that still displays hand drawn movie posters, many of which can be seen outside the theatre and on the surrounding streets.

Created and lovingly hand-painted by Yan Jhen Fa for the last 50 years, his eyesight is now sadly starting to deteriorate so the tradition may soon die.

Specialising in older, second run movies, when we visited the Chin Men movie theater, we saw large intricate hand painted posters outdoors (in early 2024) for recent releases like Napoleon, Oppenheimer and The Marvels.

We read that you can sometimes see Yan Jhen Fa at work as he often paints his movie masterpieces on a vacant lot across the road from the Chin Men Theatre, but unfortunately he wasn’t there the day we visited. Yan Jhen Fa is still hard at work, recently creating a special Coldplay mural in Taipei’s Ximending .

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9. Tainan Flower Market (Night Market)

‘Blooming’ heck – so we had read a few articles about how good and authentic the Tainan Garden Flower Night Market is. Chock full of Taiwanese street food fare and tasty tidbits, we were personally a bit underwhelmed by it compared to all the other Taiwanese night markets we had previously visited.

So yes, there are a lot of stalls at the Garden Night Market in Tainan, but the food is all very similar and can get very busy down the narrow lanes at peak periods.

When we eventually found quiet moments we were able to order ourselves some famous Tainan Coffin Bread, a bag of fried chicken and several other local snacks. It is also very cool to sit with the locals at the crowded tables and see what they are eating.

There is much fun to be had too watching the amusement stalls, where revellers try to pop balloons with darts or win prizes with children’s fishing rods.

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10. Guohua Street

Guohua Street is easily one of the best things to do in Tainan and a top Tainan tourist spot – it is a busy, narrow shopping road packed full of cool shops and eateries, but do watch out for the mopeds!.

There is just so much to see (and eat) here, and it seems to be very popular with the Tainan students – we tried a few street food dishes (including a Korean pancake from Little Korea).

We even noticed a food stall that had such a big queue that they had a resident DJ complete with decks to keep the crowd entertained as they queued.

Google Maps link to Guohua Street >

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11. Shennong Street 

Possibly the prettiest and most picturesque street in Tainan, Shennong Street used to be the main entrance for the river ports during the time of the Qing Dynasty – it used to be the busiest area in the whole of the city, as merchants and buyers would enter and exit from the port here.

Shennong Street in Tainan has a glut of gift-shops, but the overall aesthetic is still rather pleasing (although the arcade machines on the street by the main entrance are not so in keeping with the character of the local area).

We visited Shennong Street during Chinese New Year so the walls were adorned with red Chinese lanterns, and each shop was taking part in a decorative lantern competition, which they had proudly displayed outside their stores.

12. Tainan Street Art

Art attack! Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for Tainan’s creative and alluring street art. It is all around (from street furniture to road signs) as you roam the streets (some easier to find than others).

2024 update – on our return to Tainan in early 2024, a lot of the street-art we photographed previously has now disappeared including the iconic Super Mario style street art.

The beauty of Tainan’s street art is that it changes regularly so you never know what you are going to find.

Alas, there also used to be a dedicated Museum of Street Art (the outdoor 3D mural reminded us a little of Super Mario) but this now appears to be closed down.

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13. Chimei Museum Tainan

Arriving at Chimei Museum on the bus and walking through landscaped gardens complete with marble fountains and domed roofs felt like being in Europe.

Like nowhere else we’ve been to in Tainan, Chimei Museum is famous in Taiwan for its western art collection and extravagant exteriors (reminiscent of Greek villas or an Italian piazza).

Set in lush landscaped grounds, Chimei Museum has a mix of permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions (and based on our visit, is very popular with local students and university groups).

Most exhibits and artifacts have Chinese and English interpretation cards plus the surrounding gardens, lakes and ponds are equally stunning – inside, if you’ll also find a gift-shop plus Chimei Museum Starbucks.

Make a day of it and combine it with the Ten Drum Cultural Village which is a short walk away nearby.

Book your Chimei Museum Permanent & Special Exhibition Ticket in Tainan >

14. Snoopy / Peanuts Baseball 7-Eleven

As regular readers of CK Travels will know, we are slightly obsessed with themed 7-Elevens in Taiwan – you can read even our Taiwanderers guides to 7-Eleven Snoopy , 7-Eleven Hello Kitty , 7-Eleven Bugcat Capoo and 7-Eleven Ultraman (all in Taipei)

Tainan also has several themed 7-Elevens including our favourite – a Peanuts baseball / Snoopy themed 7-Eleven. Inside, you’ll find loads of Snoopy merchandise and gifts (plus Sanrio, Disney merch and more).

The outside of the stall had huge Snoopy baseball graphics plus inside, you could get super cute EasyCards with Snoopy and Charlie Brown playing sports.

The Peanuts and Snoopy 7-Eleven in Tainan is called  7-ELEVEN 康樂門市 (SNOOPY主題商店) and can be found here on Google maps >

BRAND NEW FOR 2024! Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips Group! Need help with your itinerary or have any Taiwan related questions? We are in Taiwan right now, so head on over to our friendly Facebook group and ask the experts! Click here to join our group >

15. Tainan Art Museum

Opened in 2019 and spread over 2 buildings, Tainan Art Museum displays over 400 years of local and national art across 35 different galleries.

Once Tainan’s Police Headquarters, this is now one of Tainan’s most popular museums and is within walking distance of Tainan train station.

Book your discounted Tainan Art Museum tickets here via Klook >

Our final thing to do in Tainan

16. tainan day trips and tours.

Tainan: Qigu Salt Mountain & Chikan Tower and Anping Castle Day Tour >

Glamping in Tainan by Sunlight Glamping Village >

Austin Land Ticket in Tainan >

Tainan City Zuojhen Fossil Park >

Tainan LongHai Eco Boat Tour and Oyster Barbeque >

Tainan Historic Sites Pass

2023 UPDATE: This pass seems to be currently unavailable

If you are planning on visiting all of the popular historical sites in Tainan then you might want to consider purchasing a  Tainan Historic Sites Pass .

The pass gives you one-time entry to the following historic sites: Anping Old Fort (Old Fort Zeelandia), Anping Tree House, Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintria) and Eternal Golden Castlealso.

PLUS the pass also gives you unlimited rides on Tainan city buses for 24 hours. Order a pass online with Klook  and pick up from Tainan train station.

How to get to Tainan

Kaohsiung is the nearest  international airport  and is served by the low cost airline  Air Asia  (get hunting for those bargain fares!).

A taxi from Khaosiung airport to Tainan will take around 40 minutes, or you can take a combination of train and subway which will take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Plan your route in advance online using Rome2rio .

The best way to get to Tainan from other parts of Taiwan is by train. The  Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR)  is super fast and arrives into HSR Tainan Station (Note: this station is a little bit out of the city, so you will need to take a bus or taxi to get to your hotel). You can book your high speed rail tickets online with Klook  for convenience.

There is an alternative and much cheaper TRA train from that arrives at Tainan station (in the city centre) and is half the price of the high speed rail. However the journey time is over twice as long, but is a great choice for travellers who are on a budget and not time limited.

It is best to book your seats on these popular routes well in advance (especially during the Taiwan public holidays like Chinese New Year).

Alternatively you can travel to Tainan in style from Taipei in this private chartered car >

Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass

You can book a Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass for overseas travellers which gives you unlimited travel for 5 days on Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railway trains. Click here to book your Taiwan 5 Day Joint Train Pass on Klook >

How to get around Tainan

There is no underground metro system in Tainan but they have a great bus network. The Tainan tourist shuttle bus (88 and 99) runs daily and takes you to all the major places of interest in the city. Fares are around 36 TWD one way, or you can buy an all day pass from Tainan train station.

The regular City bus covers most of the city and fares are 18 TWD one way. Most of the bus routes start outside the main Tainan train station. We used the city bus a handful of times, and found them very easy to use – using google maps on our phones to plan our routes.

If you are staying in the city for a while you might want to consider purchasing an  iPass  which you can use to pay for your bus rides in Tainan, and also in Taipei and Kaohsiung. These can be purchased and topped up in convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Family Mart.

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus

The city has recently introduced a new and fairly cheap double decker sightseeing bus which you can book online in advance with Klook here .

Pocket WIFI rental in Tainan

Having a pocket wifi device was super handy during our trip. We pre-ordered one online with Klook   and collected the device at Taipei airport and dropped it off at Kaohsiung’s airport. The rental cost was pretty cheap at only £1.25 per day, and we were both able to connect our phones to it. 

More Taiwan blog posts

• The best things to see and do in Taipei
• Kaohsiung travel guide, Taiwan
• Taichung travel guide, Taiwan
• Shoushan Love lookout and Pier 2 Art Center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Houtong Cat Village – a fun day trip from Taipei
• Taiwan’s night time markets – a photo guide
• A guide to ‘7-Eleven’ in Taiwan
• The Modern Toilet – a poo themed restaurant in Taipei
• Tasting local Taiwanese dishes on a food tour in Taipei

Tainan accommodation

Here are some highly rated accommodation suggestions for all types of budget in Tainan!

Some hostel accommodations that come highly rated include:

77 Hostel  /  Journey Hostel  

If you are looking for something mid range then these hotels are in excellent locations with great reviews:

Kindness Hotel – Tainan Chihkan Tower  /  Taipung Suites  /  FX Hotel Tainan

Treat yourself

Alternatively if you are looking for something more special then treat yourself to a stay at one of these beautiful hotels in Tainan:

HOTEL COZZI Ximen Tainan  /  Silks Place Tainan  /  Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Tainan

Did you enjoy our  Things to do in Tainan  blog post? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.

You can follow CK Travels on:  Instagram Facebook TikTok   YouTube Pinterest

You can follow Taiwanderers on:  Instagram Facebook TikTok   YouTube

Things to do in Tainan – add to Pinterest!

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Great list! I’ve only visited Tainan for the nightmarket and it was an insanely crowded experience. I found it pretty difficult to get around the city since it’s not as convenient as Kaoshiung or Taipei.

Yeah the market was a bit of an effort to get to and really disappointing – we LOVED the Taipei ones though!

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Tainan Launches Kaohsiung International Airport – Tainan City Shuttle Service And Tourist Packages To Attract International Visitors Tainan

Tainan City Government launched shuttle buses that run between Kaohsiung International Airport and Tainan to attract more visitors to the city as travelers gradually return to Kaohsiung International Airport. The city government collaborated with e-commerce platforms to make transportation ticket purchasing more convenient for international travelers who can now take the bus directly to Tainan as soon as they arrive at the Airport. Furthermore, a wide range of sightseeing & admission packages for popular tourist destinations are also available.

Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed that the shuttle bus service between Kaohsiung International Airport and Tainan City offers a fast and comfortable transportation experience. Shuttle tickets are easily available for purchase on travel e-commerce platforms, such as kkday, Klook, the Lion Travel website, and the Tainan Easy Trip website, and these websites have Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean language options, making it easier for international travelers to book tickets. Besides transportation tickets, users can also browse through a wide selection of travel packages for Tainan’s popular tourist destinations. Foreign KOLs are invited to promote Tainan’s tourism as well. Hopefully, these measures will attract more global tourists to Tainan and drive the growth of the local tourism industry!

Tainan City Bureau of Tourism Director Lin Guo-hua explained that the shuttle route includes five stations: Kaohsiung International Airport, Barclay Memorial Park, Shangri-La Far Eastern, Tainan; Tainan Bus Station, and Siaosimen. There are 4 round trips per day with a total of 8 buses running. Shuttle buses depart from Kaohsiung International Airport (to Siaosimen) at 00:30, 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00; and shuttles running from Siaosimen to Kaohsiung International Airport depart at 3:30, 11:00, 15:00, and 19:00. A single-way ticket is NTD 300/person, and tickets can be purchased on websites such as Tainan Easy Trip, Klook, KKday, and the Lion Travel website. Various promotional packages will be launched in collaboration with the platforms’ promotional events in the future to make it easier for international travelers to visit and enjoy Tainan.

Where to buy tickets:

https://www.kkday.com/en/product/144365

https://www.klook.com/activity/125440-route-111-tainan-kaohsiung-international-airport/?spm=Activity.TopNavigation.SelectLanguage&clickId=b03d081cb1

Lion Travel

https://go.liontravel.com/zh-tw/search?tags=巴士,小港

Tainan Easy Trip

https://tainan.funcard.com.tw/tour/listAll

• PostDate：2024-08-12
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Yonghua Civic Center 708201 No. 6 Yonghua Road, Sec. 2, Anping District, Tainan City｜TEL: 886-6-2991111｜

MinJhih Civic Center 730201 No. 36 MinJhih Road, Sinying District, Tainan City｜TEL: 886-6-6322231｜ 

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Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

The Perfect Itinerary for Kaohsiung and Tainan (2024 Update)

March 11, 2024 by Bino 12 Comments

Kaoshiung and Tainan, the main cities in the southern region of Taiwan, have been getting quite a bit of attention lately thanks to government efforts to promote the region to overseas tourists. The historic heart of the island has seen plenty of new hotels as well as redevelopment of existing tourist infrastructure in recent years.

Being slightly more than a 3-hour high speed train ride from Taipei, it makes sense to spend a couple of days in the southern cities. This is after all where Taiwan’s capital used to be. Those who make the effort to come here are ultimately rewarded with a different side to Taiwanese culture. People tend to speak Minnan (Hokkien) here compared to Mandarin and the tropical climate also means plenty of sunshine as compared to the usually dreary weather up north. If you are thinking of visiting Kaohsiung and Tainan and have no idea where to go, this suggested itinerary can hopefully help you.

Tip: If you are heading to Kaohsiung / Tainan by Taiwan’s high speed rail, check out this current promotion where tickets are cheaper for Non-Taiwanese passengers. Limited time only. Book here

If you are also heading up north, check out this Taipei itinerary

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Kaohsiung

dome of light at formosa boulevard station

The most common entry points to Kaohsiung are either via the Kaohsiung International Airport which is only 15 minutes from town or the Zuo Ying High Speed Rail Station. If you are arriving by the latter, you may be pleased to note that one of Kaohsiung’s top attractions – the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas – are situated close by. Chances are you’ll have your luggage in tow so it may be wise to check-in to your hotel first (check out my recommended lodging below).

Tip: If you are arriving via Kaohsiung International Airport, you may wish to purchase your 4G sim card beforehand in order to avoid potential queues and just collect once you arrive at the airport. Prices are also cheaper if you buy online. Check prices here .

Cijin / Qijin

After obtaining your bearings, start your day at Cijin (Qijin) District. Touted as one of the city’s tourism hotspots, the elongated island by Kaohsiung harbour is great for outdoor pursuits such as cycling. While here, you can check out the shops by the beach or head to Chihou Fort and Chihou Lighthouse. Both were constructed by the British in the 19th century and marked the beginnings of the city as a port. Entrance is free for both attractions.

Former British Consulate at Takow

Afterwards, head back to the mainland and make a short stop at the Former British Consulate at Takow (daily except Wed, 10AM to 7PM; opens at 9AM on Sat and Sun). It’s perched on top of a hill and is one of the oldest colonial mansions in Taiwan. Inside, visitors can find a museum as well as a cafe. The view over the city and the harbor is also fantastic.

Lunch at Duck Zhen

delicious duck at Duck Zhen – be prepared to queue!

Take an early lunch at Duck Zhen (鴨肉珍) at 258 Wufu 4th Road in Yanzheng District which is known for its excellent duck rice. What makes the dish special is the sauce so make sure to order the duck rice which comes soaked in sauce rather than have the duck separately. Do note that the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Pier 2 Art Center

After grabbing a bite, it’s just the right time to make the short stroll to Pier 2 Art Center (daily, 10AM to 6PM; until 8PM from Fri to Sun). The shops will start opening by this time. Taiwan has plenty of cultural and creative zones around the major cities and this is Kaohsiung’s answer to that. Inside, you’ll find plenty of small shops selling knick-knacks, the occasional art gallery as well as plenty of outdoor art works. If you are looking for a spot from where to take nice selfies, this place offers plenty of possibilities. Live Warehouse , a live music venue, provides a reason to return to Pier 2 Art Center at night. You can check their website for schedules of concerts and other live events here .

Be Dazzled at Formosa Boulevard MRT

Take the MRT and stop at the Formosa Boulevard Station to see the Dome of Light installation. This particular station frequently makes it to various lists of the most beautiful subway stations in the world. The stained glass fixture is counted as among the largest in the world. The dome comes in 4 sections representing the various elements: water, fire, earth and light.

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 

dragon and tiger pagodas in kaohsiung

Afterwards, head out to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (daily, 8AM to 6PM) in the city outskirts. Kaohsiung’s most recognizable attraction is best visited in the afternoon just when the sun is shining on the frontage.

To get here from Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, ride 4 stops along the red line and alight at Kaohsiung Arena Station. From there, take shuttle bus #301 which will drop you off right by the lotus pond where the pagodas are. 

Day 2 – Kaohsiung to Tainan

Fo guang shan monastery.

fo guang shan monastery in kaohsiung

Start the morning with an optional excursion to the gigantic Fo Guang Shang Monastery in the outskirts of Kaohsiung. There is no shortage of temples in Taiwan but to be frank, this is one of the grandest modern temples I have ever seen. The most impressive portion of the temple is the grand pathway with pagodas on either side that leads to a giant Buddha statue. The reason why I call this an optional trip is because unless you have your own car or book a private tour , it may take you a bit of time to get there and back. The fastest way via public transport still takes 1.5 hours each way. The #8501 bus which departs from the Zuoying THSR station gets you there. Alternatively, it’s 40 minutes away by car from Kaohsiung’s city center. If you have your own car, it would make sense to head to Tainan after visiting Fo Guang Shan due to its location in the northern outskirts of Kaohsiung.

Should you decide not to do the trip to Fo Guang Shan, your morning should be spent traveling to Tainan after having your fill of Kaohsiung. You can take the high speed train to get to Tainan from Kaohsiung . You can buy discounted tickets HERE . Taiwan’s 4th largest city and former capital, Tainan lies immediately north of Kaohsiung and because or urbanization, the two cities are almost contiguous to each other. Tainan is Taiwan’s cultural heart with plenty of age-old forts, temples, museums, historic alleys as well as good eats. As such, I recommend spending around 1.5 to 2 days in this city to fully explore what it has to offer.

Chihkan Tower

chihkan tower

The main station in the city, Tainan Station, is conveniently located in the heart of town and is around 15 minutes walk to the tourist attractions. It makes sense to stay around the area. I stayed at the Shangri-la’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Tainan which offers a free shuttle bus to the sights nearby. You can start off at the Chihkan Tower (also known as Fort Provintia, Admission: 70 TWD). The site originates as a Dutch fort built in 1653. It was later destroyed by an earthquake and had to be rebuilt. This explains the Chinese facade. Inside, you’ll find a museum as well as a viewing deck which gives you an overview of the surrounding gardens.

Koxinga Shrine

koxinga shrine

Afterwards, head out to the Confucius Temple which is a short cab ride or a 13 minute walk away from Chihkan Tower. The center of learning dates back to the 17th century. Travelers around East and Southeast Asia can note similarities in places like Hanoi with its Temple of Literature. From here, it’s also a short walk to the Koxinga Shrine a few blocks away. It’s a small family shrine erected to commemorate the ancestors of a noble man in the 17th century. It offers a good glimpse at the architecture of the time.

Hayashi Department Store to Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park

It might be searing hot by this time in the afternoon, a perfect excuse to head over to the Hayashi Department Store . Much more than a shopping center, this commercial establishment dates back from the colonial Japanese era and has a distinct old world charm. From the tiled chessboard floors to a perceptible art deco interiors, this department store today caters to well-heeled travelers and you can find plenty of knick knacks inside as well as a restaurant on the topmost floor.

If you haven’t had enough of Taiwan’s “art districts,” you can end your day at Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park – Tainan’s very own. It’s a shopping hub of quaint indie stores, art galleries as well as plenty of street art. It’s worth a stroll even for just an hour and is at its liveliest at night.

Tainan’s Night Markets & Other Nightlife Options

End the day at one of Tainan’s lively night markets. The Garden Night Market is the biggest and is open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays while Dadong Night Market is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Those looking for nightlife options will be pleased to note that one of the local watering holes, TCRC (located near the Matsu Temple) frequently makes it to the list of Asia’s top bars. It’s a bit difficult to get a seat from 10pm onwards as was my experience so do come earlier or at least leave your name and number (waiting time can be 2+ hours).

Day 3 – Tainan

Anping old fort and tree house.

anping fort

Spend the day exploring Tainan’s equally historic Anping District. While here, the Anping Old Fort is a must-see. It’s a Dutch fortress that has been turned into a museum. It also boasts of nice views of the city especially on clear days. Admission is TWD 70 (you can buy discounted tickets here ). The dilapidated Anping Tree House nearby has become somewhat of an attraction due to social media. The site is filled with the overgrowth coming from the banyan tree and has plenty of “instagrammable” spots.

If you are having lunch in the area, I would recommend trying 周氏蝦捲 (#125 Anping Road) for its battered shrimp dish – akin to a Taiwanese style tempura.

Sicao Green Tunnel

sicao green tunnel

One of the more unexpected activities in Tainan is the mangrove swamp tour which can be done on a boat. One ride on the Sicao Green Tunnel costs around TWD 200 per person. You’ll be on a raft along with approximately 14 other people with the ride lasting 30 minutes. Although the river is quite short, it’s highly scenic and in certain segments, you’ll see the mangroves from both sides joining together to form an arch and create a natural shelter from the sunlight. Do note that the location is a bit out of town so you’ll need your own transport to get here.

Chimei Museum

chimei museum in the outskirts of tainan

Another optional excursion you can do is visit the grandoise Chimei Museum (hours: 9:30AM to 5:30PM daily except Wednesdays) located in the city outskirts. Even if you have no interest in art exhibits, the exteriors are pretty impressive and is not dissimilar to the royal palaces in Europe with a large fountain and a bridge flanked by statues on both sides lining the entrance to the museum.

To get to Chimei Museum from downtown Tainan, take the train from Tainan Station and alight at Bao’an Station. From Bao’an Station, the museum is a 10-minute walk away.

Spend your last evening in Tainan strolling through atmospheric Shennong Street . Here, you’ll find quirky establishments such as a namesake bar where there are no standard operating hours, a cafe filled with dolls and vintage sofas brushing elbows with trendy restaurants. Add in the neighborhood shrine and temple and you’ve got yourself a perfect hangout for Taiwan’s hipsters.

How to Get From Kaohsiung Airport to Kaohsiung City Center and Tainan

From Kaohsiung Airport to Kaohsiung City Center – The Kaohsiung Airport MRT Station connects you to downtown via the red line. Alternatively, cab rides to town cost about TWD 350 and take 10 to 15 minutes or you can book a private car transfer .

From Kaohsiung Airport to Tainan – Allow a 45 minute to 1 hour ride. You can either hail a taxi when you arrive or book pre-arranged airport transfers .

Where to Stay in Kaohsiung and Tainan

In Tainan, I stayed in Shangri-la’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Tainan for its free shuttle bus to several tourist attractions and location close to Tainan Station. For families, this hotel offers family rooms that can easily fit 4 people. This is also among the most affordable Shangri-la properties in the world.

In Kaohsiung, I stayed in the ultra-chic Silks Club Kaohsiung . I particularly loved its Japanese sensibilities and its designer artwork in the rooms and throughout the public areas. You can check out my full review here . For a more affordable option, you can also check out FX Inn Kaohsiung – Zhonghua Road which is very close to the night market and MRT station.

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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February 8, 2018 at 3:18 pm

Awesome article!!!

As a Tainan citizen, I would like to recommend to have a walk along Guohua St and Zhengxing Street to grab some local delicacies. Better go there and share food with friends , you definitely want to try as more as you can.

Besides Tainan city center, Guanziling (關子嶺) is another must go tourist attraction. It is located in north Tainan and is famous for mud spring. The area is well developed for tourists with many hot spring hotels and restaurants. ( I recommend chicken dishes!)

Thank you for writing this article! It is a perfect travel guild for foreigners.

July 9, 2019 at 9:37 pm

I am planning to visit Taipei been there couple of times but haven’t gone back for like 9 years. I am only available in August to visit Taipei and wish to take the high speed train from Taipei to Kaoshiung. But understand it is typhoon in Taiwan so is it still good to go? Thanks.

July 10, 2019 at 11:14 am

August is a hit or miss. Yes there are typhoons but not all the time. Also, ironically, August is actually the month with the highest number of sunshine hours in the year for Taipei.

July 12, 2018 at 12:37 pm

hi Loved raeding your Blog.Quick question can we stay in Tainan & do both Tainan & Khaoshiung.2d1N?Thnks

July 16, 2018 at 1:09 pm

It is certainly possible but too rushed. Do you have a private car?

August 6, 2018 at 3:46 pm

Very informative blog. Will be of great help in planning my trip to Kaoshiung & Tainan. Thanks!

August 22, 2018 at 5:32 pm

Your blog is very informative. My friends and i would like to travel to Kaoshiung in end oct, is 6 day 5 nights to long to stay? Is there any other location where we can travel near Kaoshiung? If yes, please give some recommendation. Thanks

August 22, 2018 at 6:11 pm

Thanks for reading! With 5 nights you can do Kaohsiung, Tainan and maybe even Kenting.

September 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm

Planning to go kaoshiung on 26-30 sep.any place to recomend?

December 15, 2018 at 5:40 pm

Hi, I’m flying to Kaohsiong from 27/12 till 1/1. Please advise how many places at each place and noted u reconmended for 6D5N can choose to go kaohsiong, Tainan and kending? Would greatly appreciate if you could advice us on how many nights at each places so that it’s not too hectic nor rush. Thanks in advance!

December 15, 2018 at 7:18 pm

Hello! You can look at doing the following:

2 nights – Kaohsiung 2 nights – Tainan 1 night – Kenting

April 10, 2019 at 2:59 am

Your article is very informative. We plan to go to Taiwan in the summer and need your help. Do you think the below itinerary is good? – spend 2 nights at Fo Guang San day 3 – Dragon & Tiger pagoda, Dome of Light, Lotus pond, “Love” art installation. Ruifeng night market day 4 – Pier-2 Art center, Cijin Island. Luihe night market day 5 – Fishermans’ Wharf day 6 – train to Taipei

can you please suggest a place to stay. We want to use AirBnB but not sure of the area/district that is convenient for the above activities. Also, what is the best mode of transportation from Kaoshiung to Taipei.

thanks much in advance 7/6 – Train to Taipei

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• Getting To & Getting Around Tainan

Each hour at least two and usually three trains from Taipei and two more from Kaohsiung arrive at Tainan’s High-Speed Railway (HSR) station. The station is inconveniently located far from the downtown. Bullet trains take one hour 40 minutes to/from Taipei (US$44 one way at the time of writing), while Kaohsiung is just 15 minutes away (US$5 one way), but travelers should allow another half hour to reach the city centre. For the final leg of the journey, shuttle buses and a commuter train service are alternatives to taking a taxi, but don’t go anywhere near some popular hotels .

Conventional trains and long-distance buses link Tainan with all of Taiwan’s major cities. Of the former, the fastest are the Puyuma expresses (three and a quarter hours to Taipei; US$24). By coach, Taipei is around four and a half hours away; one-way tickets sometimes cost as little as US$9, peak periods being pricier than midweek and journeys inevitably taking longer.

Excursions north and south

The best way to get to Kaohsiung to the south is by regular train , with most of the very frequent services making the journey in under an hour and costing less than US$3. Chiayi— from where it’s possible to travel on to Alishan — lies to the north and is slightly further away; express trains require 40 minutes (US$6 one way). Tourists heading to the east coast can bypass Kaohsiung and board one of the six trains per day to Taitung. On most of these services, the travel time is below three hours; one-way tickets cost around US$15 but should be booked a few days in advance, especially if you aim to go on a weekend.

Tainan doesn’t yet have a metro or rapid-transist system and the city’s bus system isn’t as comprehensive as that in Taipei. That doesn’t much matter because many of Tainan’s historical attractions are within walking distance of one another. Getting to Anping, however, means either hailing a taxi (it shouldn’t cost more than US$7 from the city centre) or boarding the No. 2 city bus (services every 20 minutes; journey takes around 25 minutes; less than US$1 one way). Once in Anping, it’s possible to rent a bicycle or simply walk from one relic to the next.

Renting a car in Tainan makes some sense — not for the city itself, but for exploring sights within the Siraya National Scenic Area like Moonworld and Xinhua. If driving oneself, the Buddhist complex at Foguangshan , Pingtung County’s indigenous communities and Taijiang National Park come within striking distance. Rental companies have offices inside the HSR station and close to the conventional railway station.

More information about Tainan

• Accommodation & Food in Tainan

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Tainan travel blog — the fullest tainan travel guide for first-timers.

Tainan is a small city located in southern Taiwan and also the oldest city, is the old capital of Taiwan with a rich and long-standing culture, cool climate, excellent cuisine, suitable for who want to explore the ancient cultural traditions, rituals and Taoism of the island nation. Initially, when the Dutch ruled, Tainan was established as a ruling and trading base. After that, in the 17th century, General Koxinga defeated the Dutch, regained Tainan and turned it into the capital for a long time. There is still a Confucius Temple built in the 17th century, and Tainan people are always proud because they still retain more ancient temples than anywhere in Taiwan. So when visiting Tainan, covering the city is a quiet nostalgic feeling, easy to see ancient and old architecture in everywhere, the mossy street corners, peaceful, vintage, slowly lifestyle, gentle life.

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So, is Tainan worth visiting, what to do in Tainan and how to plan a budget trip to Tainan for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Tainan travel blog (Tainan blog) with the fullest Tainan travel guide (guide to Tainan, Tainan tourist guide, Tainan city guide, Tainan guide) from how to get Tainan, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Tainan to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Tainan blog — When is the best time to visit Tainan?

Tainan weather is relatively warm, the summer is often heavy rain, the best time to visit this city is in fall or spring.

In the Spring (February to April), the temperature is usually around 20 degrees Celsius, with little rain, dry, suitable for visiting tourist destinations such as national parks or museums. And this is also the time of the traditional New Year, and the Spring Festival, so the city scenery is more colors, more beautiful and more fun.

Autumn (September – November) with dry weather and cool climate so it is very convenient to travel, sightseeing. Autumn has beautiful scene, green color gradually change to yellow and red of Maple leaves.

Winter weather is colder, not favorable for traveling. But if you are a snow lover and winter activities, this is not a bad time.

Tainan travel blog — How to get to Tainan?

From Vietnam you can fly directly to Tainan or from other provinces of Taiwan to Tainan by train or by HSR high speed train. Normally in cities, train stations, high-speed trains and main bus stations are close together, so you can buy tickets at the central stations of cities/provinces. (In Taipei will be Taipei Main Station; Taichung station is Taichung station, Kaohsiung will be Zuoying station).

Tainan travel guide — Getting from Tainan Airport to the city

To getting from Tainan Airport to the city center, visitors have two public transportation options: bus and taxi.

Bus: There are two bus routes that visitors can travel from Tainan Airport to the city center: NO.5 Tainan City Bus and R3 Bus (Go through the Tainan Train Station – HSR train station – Tainan Airport). This is a type of city bus so travelers need to determined the area of their hotel located near the stop point to reach and down. Ticket price is around 20 TWD ($0.65)/trip.

Taxi: Taxis are available 24/24 at the airport so you can catch one at anytime to go to the city center. However, picking up the car at night will cost more than 20% more daytime.

Tainan blog — Getting around Tainan

Most of Tainan’s main tourist attractions are located near an area around the city center so you can walk to explore. Visitors who do not want to walk can contact and ask their hotel staff for a bicycle rental service or ask for a nearby bicycle rental. You can rent a bike from T-Bike: Phone: 0800-527527 (Local) / 06-2436668 (Mobile). Email: [email protected] . Website: http://tbike.tainan.gov.tw/Portal/en-US.

Tainan blog — Where to stay in Tainan?

Here are some good hotels in Tainan you can refer to:

Silks Place Tainan

Silks Place Tainan is the perfect place to feel Tainan and its surroundings. Only 58.6 km from Tainan Airport, so this 5-star hotel can be easily accessed from the airport. With the good location, from hotel you can easily to reach the popular attractions of the city. Whether you are a fun person or just want to relax after a busy day, you will feel comfortable when using the hotel facilities such as fitness room, outdoor swimming pool, children’s playground, kids club. Silks Place Tainan is an ideal place for who want to stay and seeking charm, comfort and convenience in Tainan. Room rates from $131. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: No. 1號, Heyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 213 6290

Hotel Tainan

When visiting Tainan, you will feel at home at Hotel Tainan, where excellent quality and thoughtful service. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. Guests can take a stroll around the city’s top tourist attractions such as: Tainan HSR station, Focus Square, Si Hua Tang…Rates from $57.83. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: 1 Cheng Gong Road, West Central Dist, Tainan 70050, Taiwan R.O.C., Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan, 70050 Phone: +886 6 228 9101

Kindness Hotel – Tainan Chihkan Tower

Kindness Hotel Tainan , located in the Tainan City area, is a popular choice for travelers. From the hotel you can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest of Tainan city such as: Confucius Temple is only 400 meter away, National Museum and Chikan Tower are only a 5- minute walk away, 6-minute walking from Fuzhong Underground Station where you only take 12 minutes to Tainan Airport. ‎Price range: $55 – $122. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: No. 97, Section 2, Minquan Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 225 3377

You can also refer to the mid-range, budget hostels, homestays with good ratings and reviews below:

Dynasty Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $31. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 46號, Chenggong Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 6 225 8121

FX Hotel Tainan Minsheng Rd : 4-star hotel with room rates from $38. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 76, Section 2, Minsheng Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 511 6977

Fuward Hotel : 4-star hotel with room rates from $45. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 28號, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 225 1000

Tie Dao Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $11. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.2, Chenggong Rd., North Dist, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan, 70443 Phone: +886 6 221 3200

Premier Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $45. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 128, Gongyuan Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 6 225 2141

At Tainan Inn : 3-star hotel with room rates from $29. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.292 Rongyu Street, Tainan 70167, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 290 5388

Edinburgh Motel : A good motel with room rates from $44. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 77號, Yonghua 5th Street, Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan 708 Phone: +886 6 297 0116

Fuqi Hostel – ZhongZheng : A very good hostel with room rates from $14. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.70, Zhongzheng Rd, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 703 4543

Yi Pin Yuan Hotel : A good hotel with room rates from $19. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.182, Baoan Rd., Tainan City, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 221 2666

Rainbow Island B&B : A good hotel with room rates from $29. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 94, Chenggong Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 982 050 400

Good Ground Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $42. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 18, Zunwang Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 222 1105

Leo Ho Hostel : 2-star hostel with room rates from $24. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: Weimin St., West Central Dist.,Tainan Train Station,, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan Phone: +886 981 236 957

Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel : A luxury hotel with room rates from $231. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 201號, Section 2, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 Phone: +886 2 2378 8888

You can find, check rates, availability & booking for Tainan hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.

Tainan blog — Best places to visit and top things to do in Tainan

Anping Old street – Anping Tree House – Anping Fort (#tainan travel blog)

These 3 places are close together, so if you visiting here, you should visit all three places.

Anping Old Street

Visiting Taiwan, you definitely have to visit Tainan’s Anping Old Street, which is an old, narrow, but still airy street, along the street are high brick houses, a bit old. Along the two sides of the street are dense shops but still very orderly. There are many unique items sold in this street such as: Tainan’s typical fruits, famous peanut candy, pig’s blood, Tainan sausage .. or you can find the unique souvenirs and gifts such as cloth dolls, wooden dolls which only sell in this market.

Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)

Fort Zeelandia, originally is a fortress was built by the Dutch, dating from the 17th century, so it is a valued historic landmark. Entrance ticket is very cheap only 50 NT, inside the fort is a small museum which exhibits the artifacts and information of the fort and Tainan history. The outside, the traces of the walls was built by red bricks stills remain, look so catch-eyes and vintage. Walking around a minute, you will meet the observation tower, but only to stand at the bottom and looking up. In the fort campus has the statue of General Koxinga, a Chinese talent general in the 17th century, who was regained Tainan from the Dutch.

Anping Tree House

Exactly this place is more like a garden, you can walk under the trees, walk a little more will encounter a small lake. Visitors who self-sufficient travel can spend an hour for strolling in the garden, breathe the fresh air of Tainan and watch the bizarre architecture of the unique house. Originally, Anping Tree House is an old warehouse of a factory, next to this storehouse is a huge banyan tree, the banyan tree grows, grows up, until one day its huge roots swallow up the storehouse. The root branches cling to and tighten the walls, even rising through the roof. From there, they abandon the warehouse and keep that unique feature so that people can come to visit.

Address: No. 50-2, Yanping St, Anping District, Tainan City, 708. How to get there: Take the bus No. 2, 88 or 99 from Tainan Train Station. Ticket price: 50 NT/place of sightseeing.

Confucius Temple

It was built around the 17th century. At that time, the place that built the Confucius Temple was a hill, with the Confucius Temple on the right and the National School on the left. In the East is the Hall of Morality, which is easily understood as a place of the preaching of the masters (like the university lecture hall today), the West is the Hall of the Great, is the worship Confucius and the disciples.

Now the Confucius Temple is preserved and respected. Although the temple is located in the middle of the street, but steps through the red gate (East Dacheng Gate) to enter the temple campus, completely like a world in another, sanctified, solemn but serene, peaceful, people are returning to the nature of each human being: man is innately good; human nature is basically good.

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