Simple Cities Guide
When planning your Taiwan journey, understanding each city’s distinct character helps you craft an itinerary that matches your interests rather than simply ticking off “must-see” destinations. This guide provides the essential context you need to decide which cities deserve your limited travel time.
Please note that this guide covers only the cities on Taiwan’s main island. The offshore islands will be discussed in a separate post.
Also note that this is intentionally a simplified overview designed for first-time visitors or travellers working with limited time. Each city contains far more depth, character, and hidden gems than these brief descriptions can capture - we’ve deliberately omitted countless fascinating neighbourhoods, local festivals, specialist museums, and off-the-beaten-path experiences that could easily fill weeks of exploration. Consider this your starting framework for deciding which cities match your interests, knowing that once you’ve chosen your destinations, much richer detail awaits. We’ll be adding more comprehensive guides for individual cities, or you can contact us directly for recommendations tailored to your specific interests.
Rather than trying to visit every location, consider your priorities: first-time visitors might focus on Taipei, Tainan, and one eastern destination; food lovers might concentrate on Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung; nature enthusiasts might skip cities entirely for Nantou, Hualien, and Taitung. Taiwan’s high-speed rail connects western cities efficiently, but eastern destinations require significantly more time: a two-week trip might comfortably cover four to five cities, whilst a week-long visit works better with two or three bases.
Judge cities not by what guidebooks say you “must” see, but by which characteristics align with your travel style: Do you prefer efficient sightseeing or aimless wandering? Urban energy or rural quiet? Historical sites or natural landscapes? Your honest answers determine which cities deserve your limited time. Remember that Taiwan’s compact size means most decisions aren’t permanent: if a city disappoints, you’re rarely more than a few hours from alternatives.