Central Taiwan

Miaoli

This predominantly Hakka county rewards visitors interested in cultural authenticity over convenience, with its traditional industries, festivals, and cuisine offering insight into a distinct Taiwanese subculture. Miaoli’s mountainous terrain creates stunning landscapes but challenging transport: hiring a scooter or car proves essential for exploring beyond the city centre. The slower pace and limited tourist infrastructure mean you’ll need patience and ideally some Mandarin ability, but the trade-off is genuine local interactions and uncrowded attractions.

Taichung

Taiwan’s second-largest city strikes a balance between Taipei’s sophistication and southern Taiwan’s laid-back character, offering excellent museums, cafés, and street food without overwhelming crowds. The city’s newer development means wide boulevards and modern architecture dominate over historical sites, making it ideal for travellers who want urban amenities without dense, chaotic streets. Taichung serves as the perfect base for exploring central Taiwan’s mountains and Sun Moon Lake. However, the spread-out layout requires more reliance on taxis or buses compared to Taipei’s MRT efficiency.

Changhua

This small city revolves almost entirely around Lukang, a former port town that preserves one of Taiwan’s finest collections of Qing Dynasty architecture and traditional crafts. Lukang’s narrow lanes, temples, and artisan workshops offer a compact yet rich historical experience easily enjoyed in half a day, making Changhua ideal for travellers wanting to experience “old Taiwan” efficiently. Beyond Lukang, Changhua offers little reason to stay overnight, though its location between Taichung and Tainan makes it a convenient stop along Taiwan’s west coast. The county is also famous for ba-wan (Taiwanese meatballs) - if you’re passing through, make sure to try one.

Nantou

Taiwan’s only landlocked county, Nantou contains the island’s geographical heart and some of its most spectacular mountain scenery, including Sun Moon Lake and access routes to high-altitude areas. The county rewards travellers with time and transport flexibility: many of its best experiences require multiple bus connections or private vehicles. Nantou’s appeal lies entirely in natural beauty and indigenous culture rather than urban attractions, so plan accordingly with outdoor gear and realistic timeframes for mountain travel.

Yunlin

Often overlooked by foreign visitors, Yunlin offers authentic agricultural Taiwan—puppet theatre traditions, temple festivals, and the historic town of Beigang - without tourist-oriented infrastructure. The county’s flat terrain and traditional industries provide insight into Taiwan’s pre-industrial economy, appealing to travellers interested in how most Taiwanese lived before rapid urbanisation. Yunlin requires the most cultural flexibility on this list, with minimal English and few concessions to foreign visitors, making it suitable only for confident independent travellers or those with local contacts.