Destinations

The Pacific coast road between Hualien and Taitung — why your own wheels win, the sparse bus reality, the Sanxiantai bridge closure through 2027, and the stops that earn the detour. Checked August 2026.

Six day hikes reachable from Taipei without a car, from the 20-minute Elephant Mountain viewpoint to Teapot Mountain's ridge and the Bitoujiao sea cliffs. Checked August 2026.

Compare Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu, Beitou, Tamsui, Yangmingshan, Wulai, Maokong and Keelung by weather, transport and traveler type.

Riding Cycle Route No. 1 around Taiwan — the 968 km loop, the 9-12 day reality, Giant's rental program, which direction to ride, and the seasons that make or break it. Checked August 2026.

How to get to Jiufen by bus or train, when to go to dodge the crowds, which teahouse is worth it, and whether to stay overnight. Checked July 2026.

A Kaohsiung plan that works — the reopened Dragon Tiger Pagodas, Cijin ferry logistics, Pier-2, Fo Guang Shan's closed-Tuesday trap, and where to stay. Checked August 2026.

The Maokong gondola's current NT$180 flat fare, its Monday closures, the crystal-cabin question, which tea house to sit down in, and how the zoo combo works. Checked August 2026.

Visiting Taipei's National Palace Museum — NT$350 tickets, the Monday-closure change most guides missed, the bus transfer from Shilin, and how to see the famous pieces without drowning. Checked August 2026.

How to use Taichung — Miyahara and the theater district, Gaomei Wetlands' tide-window logistics, the truth about Rainbow Village, and the 6670 bus that makes it the Sun Moon Lake base. Checked August 2026.

Compare Taiwan's four major city stops by atmosphere, nights, transport, station friction and route fit—plus which one to skip on a short trip.

Tainan done properly — the 5am beef soup ritual, Anping's fort and tree house, Chihkan Tower's restoration status, the HSR station trap, and why an overnight beats a day trip. Checked August 2026.

Whether Taipei 101's NT$600 observatory earns the money, the free Elephant Mountain alternative, current hours and last entry, and the damper everyone underrates. Checked August 2026.

Taitung done right — booking the sold-out Puyuma train, the Green and Orchid island ferries, the rift-valley bike roads, and the summer balloon festival. Checked July 2026.

How Taiwan's high-mountain permit system works for foreigners — the Yushan foreigner quota and Paiyun lottery, Xueshan's 30-day window, Jiaming Lake's cabin, and the no-permit alternatives. Checked August 2026.

Taiwan's hot spring towns compared — Beitou's metro access, Jiaoxi's in-town soaking, Wulai's gorge, Guguan's mountain valley and Zhiben in the southeast — plus the etiquette rules. Checked August 2026.

Taiwan's six island escapes compared — Xiaoliuqiu's turtles, Green Island's reefs, Orchid Island's Tao culture, Penghu's beaches, Kinmen's Cold War tunnels and Matsu's blue tears. Checked August 2026.

Tamsui at the metro's end — the old street snacks, the NT$80 three-fort ticket, ferries to Bali and Fisherman's Wharf, and where to stand at sunset. Checked August 2026.

Wulai by bus 849 — the mini train to the waterfall, what happened to the free riverside pools, current bathhouse price bands, and the Atayal street food to order. Checked August 2026.

Xiaoliuqiu logistics that work — the NT$450 ferry from Donggang, reaching Donggang from Kaohsiung, no-license electric scooters, the turtle rules and intertidal fees. Checked August 2026.

Yehliu Geopark's NT$120 ticket, the 1815 bus from Taipei, why the Queen's Head is on borrowed time, and how to combine the cape with Keelung. Checked August 2026.

Beitou's public Millennium Bath is closed for renovation into 2026 — here's the current status, which baths to use instead at every budget, and how a Beitou day works.

Getting to Kenting from Kaohsiung, the scooter license rule that catches foreigners, which beaches you can actually swim at, and what the night market is like now.

The Pingxi railway line done properly — Shifen Waterfall's gate hours, the NT$80 day pass, the sky lantern question, and which stops to skip. Checked July 2026.

Yangmingshan without a car — the R5, S15 and 108 buses, which of the park's zones fits your day, and the fog problem nobody budgets for. Checked July 2026.

Plan Alishan without a car: buses and forest railway from Chiayi, sunrise tickets, where to stay, seasons and the Sun Moon Lake connection.

A Sun Moon Lake guide covering Taichung and Taipei transport, day trips, where to stay, cycling, families, weather and Alishan.

Taroko's checked July 2026 access status, closed classic trails, no-car limits, Hualien alternatives and when to postpone the gorge.