One of my favorite things about Taiwan is that with a few exceptions, it’s not a tourist destination. In fact, you almost never see foreign tourists outside the vicinity of Taipei.
With this being said, living in Taiwan showed me that there’s value in pushing yourself even further off the tourist trail (to the extent that Taiwan even has one), and that the more obscure the Taiwanese destination, the more visiting it tends to reward you.
Over the next few paragraphs, I’ll be showing you Taiwan off the beaten path. Some of these places are relatively easy to access, while others require long and arduous journeys—all are very much worth whatever effort it takes to reach them.
Understanding Taiwan’s Tourist Trail
Before I explain how best to explore Taiwan off the beaten track, you need to understand what does—and doesn’t—constitute the tourist trail in Taiwan:
- It should go without saying, but both Taipei and destinations on its immediate periphery (such as Jiufen and Keelung) are the core of Taiwan’s tourist trail.
- While cities like Taichung and Chiayi (more on that in a second) aren’t popular among foreign tourists, they’re gateways to Sun Moon Lake and Alishan (which definitely are tourist trail spots), respectively.
- The city of Kaohsiung is the main tourist destination of southern Taiwan. However, you can argue that Tainan (to the north) and Kenting National Park (to its south) are tourist trail destinations by extension.
Generally speaking, Taiwan’s east coast isn’t considered part of the tourist trail, with the possible exception of Hualien and Taroko Gorge (before the latter closed indefinitely in the wake of a 2024 earthquake).
Where to Go Off Taiwan’s Beaten Path
Taitung
Taitung is one of my favorite parts of Taiwan, period, because it’s simply so eclectic. If you’re not eating your way through Taitung City (I love the “short rice” noodles), you can hike down to Lisong Hot Spring in the Great Rift Valley, hit the beach in Taimali or attend a hot air balloon festival in Luye. This is to say nothing of the islands just offshore—I’ll get to those later.
Yunlin
When it comes to unique places to visit in Taiwan that are along the high-speed rail line, meanwhile, Yunlin is top of mind (mainly because I just visited, as of the time I’m writing this post). After getting off the train, rent a car and prepare to be amazed. Head east to Gukeng for coffee farms, hiking trails and a Honey Museum, or southward and westward to the cultural hubs of Huwei and Beigang.
Yilan
Although their names sound similar (the different meanings of their characters notwithstanding), Yilan could not be more different from Yunlin—and not just because the former is much closer to Taipei than the latter. At the same time, Yilan County is just as eclectic as Yunlin. Basing yourself in the hot springs town of Jiaoxi, you can head north to Wai’ao Beach and Guishan Island, inland to Taipingshan National Forest or southward to spiritual Nanfang’ao before eating your way through Luodong Night Market.
Chiayi
Chiayi isn’t on the Taiwan tourist trail, directly, though it is on the way: You’ll almost certainly pass through here en route to Alishan, even if you don’t stay overnight. On the other hand, there isn’t a whole lot of “there” there; I mostly enjoy coming here and wandering aimlessly, eating turkey rice (huo ji rou fan) on my way from the Japanese-influenced Hinoki Village to the Mt. Jiuhua Temple (which in spite of what its name suggests is not a mountain).
Taiwan’s outlying islands
The good news? I’ve written an entire guide to Taiwan’s outlying islands, which succinctly lays out how and why to visit each. The better news? I’ll break it down even more here: Castaway Lanyu and Lyudao off the southeast coast are the most remote islands, while crowded Penghu to the west is the most mainstream. Matsu and Kinmen, meanwhile, are closer to China than to Taiwan (and they feel like it).
Alternatives to Popular Taiwan Destinations
Want to have a “different” Taiwan trip without overexerting yourself? Here are some alternatives to popular Taiwan destinations:
- Spend less time in Taipei, and head to Taichung instead, whether or not you plan to visit Sun Moon Lake afterwards.
- Instead of taking day trips to Keelung or Jiufen, visit Shifen, which is home to one of Taiwan’s most beautiful waterfalls. Or hike at Teapot Mountain, which rises above Jiufen.
- Rather than visiting Tainan on a day trip from Kaohsiung, simply make Tainan your base for exploring southern Taiwan.
- Instead of visiting Kenting National Park (which disappoints some travelers), instead go by ferry from Kaohsiung to Xiaoliuqiu island.
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Other FAQ About Taiwan Off the Beaten Path
What are some underrated destinations in Taiwan?
Underrated destinations in Taiwan range from ones that are truly off the beaten path (such as remote Lanyu and Lyudao islands) to ones that are just a short different from more popular places. In the latter case, I’m thinking of coastal Yilan county (from Taipei) and the historical city of Tainan (from Kaohsiung).
Where to go in Taiwan without tourists?
To be frank, most of Taiwan is lacking in foreign tourists, at least outside of central Taipei and the various day trips from it, as well as Kaohsiung. I’d recommend focusing either on Taiwan’s east coast (in particular Yilan in the north and Taitung in the south), or on the various outlying islands, such as Kinmen, Penghu, Lanyu and Lyudao.
Is Taiwan an underrated country?
Taiwan is an extremely underrated country. Whether you visit bonafide tourist destinations in the capital (such as the Taipei 101 skyscraper or Ximending pedestrian area) or go far off the beaten path by road tripping along the east coast scenic route, I think you’ll be surprised both by how amazing the destinations and experiences are, but also by just how few fellow tourists you encounter.
The Bottom Line
I hope I’ve inspired you to explore Taiwan off the beaten path. For some travelers, a relatively “easy” destination like Yilan or Yunlin (both of which are just a couple hours from Taipei) will scratch the itch of wanting to go off Taiwan’s beaten track—it’s better to spend less time in transit, and more time exploring. Others will appreciate a more epic journey, such as to remote Lanyu and Lyudao islands, which require either a ferry or a propellor plant flight to reach, even after you’ve traveled all the way to Taitung (which is, itself, pretty remote). Need personalized help putting your Taiwan adventure together? Consider hiring me to plan it!
