Taiwan is a favourite holiday destination in Asia for many reasons. Besides indulging in endless amounts of sweet and savoury street snacks, there are also many places of interests to visit.

You can also experience a little more of the Taiwanese culture by taking a trip down to the more rural areas of the country, such as Hualien—known for their beautiful mountainous areas and landscapes.

Whether it’s your first time visiting the land of night markets, or even if you have already been there multiple times, Taiwan will always retain its charm and city life that will leave you wanting more. Here’s a condensed 6D5N itinerary of our trips, where we explored beyond Taipei and the 22 things to see, do and eat in Taiwan.

DAY ONE IN TAICHUNG

#1 GET THE FAMOUS TAIWAN MILK TEA

3.15pm: You’ve seen them sell out rapidly on Singapore’s 7-11 shelves but in Taiwan, these bottles of milk tea are constantly available in vast quantities. The drink comes in various flavours, such as Café Au Lait, Matcha Latte, Sumiyaki and more. The best part? They’re at least two times cheaper than what you’ll find here in Singapore.

Besides that, the convenience stores stock up on amazing amounts of microwaveable food, chips, pastries and more that make for great midnight snack stashes.

#2 VISIT FENGJIA NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: The experience here was (and always will be) crazy, to say the least. The crowd—especially during dinner hour—was unbelievable. We had to squeeze through the people-packed streets, but the street food such as the huge takoyaki, sweet potato puffs and taro chips made it all worth it. You could easily spend hours walking up and down the street and trying everything!

Fengjia Road, Xitun District
Taichung City 407
Daily: 4pm – 2am

DAY TWO IN HUALIEN

#3 CHECK INTO PAPAYA RIVER B&B

This B&B is tucked away in a serene, quiet spot in Hualien. It doubles up as an alpaca farm and is also home to two dogs and a cat. These domesticated pets are friendly, so you can even pet them if you like!

The host themselves also offer guide services, and they brought us around Hualien while we were there. Plus point: the incredible landscape around the B&B makes for amazing pictures.

No. 176 Guanghua 8th Street
Hualien County 97357
Tel: +888-3-842-1122

DAY THREE IN HUALIEN

#4 FEED THE ALPACAS

9.30am: If you’re staying at the B&B, you can wake up bright and early and request to feed these alpacas—for free! Start your morning right by getting upclose and personal with these fluffy creatures!

#5 STROLL AROUND NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY

10.45am: Just a 20-minute ride from The Papaya River B&B, the school is open to the public, and boasts beautiful scenic views that are perfect for pictures.

University Road Section1
Shoufeng Township, 974

#6 TAKE IN THE SCENIC VIEWS AT LIN TIAN SHAN FORESTRY PARK

1pm: You can’t find any mountains in Singapore, but Hualien is littered with them. The forestry park is relatively quiet, and provides you with an opportunity to trek through the trees. Entry is free!

No. 20, Linsen Road, Fenglin Township
Hualien County 975

#7 TREK AROUND LIYU LAKE

2.30pm: This lake is a must-visit when you’re in Hualien. It is quiet, peaceful, and looks over the beautiful mountainside. There’s a footpath that stretches across 2.4km leading you from one end of the lake to the other, and you can either walk that length or rent bikes.

It’s the perfect place to take in the fresh air and take in the nature surrounding you.

Huantan North Road, Shoufeng Township
Hualien County 974

#8 HAVE DINNER AT EAST GATE NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: This night market is the most popular one in Hualien, simply because it is huge, and even has little game stores for you to try out. Some of the food we tried included cheese omelettes, grilled squid, and even a kebab wrap!

No. 50, Zhongshan Road
Hualien Country 970
Daily: 6pm – 12am

DAY FOUR IN XIMENDING, TAIPEI

#9 TAKE THE TAIWAN METRO

12pm: The Taiwan Metro is a quick and fuss-free way to get around Taipei and beyond! Similar to the trains we have here in Singapore, their cabins are also clean!

#10 VISIT SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

1.30pm: What is a trip to Taiwan without making a pit stop at the iconic Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall? Paying tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen, who is affectionately named as China’s founding father, this is where you can learn more about his revolutionary career.

No. 505, Section 4
Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#11 SOAK IN A HOT SPRING AT BEI TOU

3pm: Relax your muscles and enjoy a thermal hot spring bath at Bei Tou, a popular tourist destination in Taipei. Just a stone’s throw away from Xinbeitou station, the area has a mix of both public and private baths featuring mineral-rich water. Do note that it is recommended for you to book the private baths before heading over.

Nearest Station: Xinbeitou

#12 SHOP AT XIMENDING

6.30pm: With your bellies filled, you can now shop around the vast shopping district that is Ximending. If you’re a shoe-lover, you’re in luck—the area is home to a myriad of shoe stores like Nike, Adidas, and ABC Mart (this is a multi-label store with tons of amazing shoes). Besides that, there are tons of more souvenir shops selling Taiwanese snacks that you can bring home.

108, Taipei City
Nearest Station: Ximending

DAY FIVE IN TAIPEI

#13 TAKE A WALK AT DA’AN PARK

11am: Just a 15-minute ride from Ximending Station on the metro line, Da’an Park is apparently one of the ‘richer’ parts of Taiwan, but the scenery is no less beautiful. It is located right outside Da’an Park metro station. You can even have a morning run along the park!

Section 3, Xinyi Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Nearest Station: Da’an Station

#14 GO SHOPPING AT ZHONGXIAO DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

3pm: This is the Southern region of Taipei—within walking distance from Da’an Park—and is arguably the ‘hipster-haven’ of Taipei which is popular among Taiwanese youths.

You’ll find a huge range of stores with different styles to shop from. Look out for a huge Forever 21 outlet located right outside the train station.

Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua Station

#15 VISIT TAIPEI 101

7pm: A must-do for all Taiwan first-timers. But if you don’t fancy paying extravagant prices to go up the tower, try hanging around the vicinity around the building instead. It is equally as beautiful.

Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101 Station

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#16 HAVE BREAKFAST AT AH CHUNG MIAN XIAN

10am: The store along Ximending is often populated with people standing around and eating their piping hot bowls of mian xian—which are thin flour noodles cooked in rich broth and topped off with pig intestines.

No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest Station: Ximending

#17 BUY PINEAPPLE TARTS AT CHIA TE

3pm: Honestly, no Taiwan trip is complete without buying back some tasty treats from Chia Te. The only outlet in Taiwan is located in Nanjing where snaking queues outside the storefront is a common sight.

Be prepared to queue for about 20-30 minutes but fret not, for the wait will be worth it as their biscuits and pastries taste amazing. If you’re not sure what to get, try their Sun Cakes, Milk Cakes, and Pineapple Tarts.

No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing E Road, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Tel: +886-2-8787-8186
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#18 FEAST AT RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

6pm: This night market might just be one of the better ones in Taiwan, offering a huge selection of different kinds of food such as fried squid, baked cheese potatoes, and the famous Fuzhou Pepper Buns.

Roahe Street, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Tel: +886-2-2763-5733
Nearest Station: Songshan

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#19 TAKE A DAY TRIP TO JIUFEN

9am: Bus services up to Jiufen are available from Taipei. You can either book a private bus, or go on a public one (which is cheaper). The ride takes about 3 hours.

Jiufen 224, Ruifang District, Taipei City

#20 TRY THE FAMOUS A-ZHU PEANUT ICE CREAM ROLLS

You’ve probably heard of these peanut ice cream rolls. After all, they’ve been flooding Instagram feeds for a long time now. These ice cream rolls are made of taro ice cream, topped with peanut shavings and wrapped in spring roll skin.

No. 45, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#21 SNACK ON LAI AH PO YU YUAN

These are traditional handmade taro, sweet potato and green tea balls mixed with sweet soup, and can be eaten hot or cold. They cost just NT$40 (S$1.72) per bowl!

No. 143, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#22 SPEND YOUR LOOSE CHANGE ON GRAB-CLAW MACHINES

Ximending has stores that house many different grab-claw machines, and they’re relatively easy to win too! If you have any extra loose change before you head home, you can try your luck at these machines and see whether you can bring home any adorable plushies or toys.

In fact, you’re likely to find shops dedicated to grab-claw machines at literally all the night markets scattered around the city.

Located less than two hours away from Taipei, Taichung is a neighbouring city in Taiwan you have to visit as it is home to many different arts and cultural influences and some of the best night markets.

In recent years, Taichung has undergone a rapid redevelopment and is now a wonderful holiday destination for many; various adorable themed cafes have sprung up in Taichung that appeal to many Instagram-addicts and avid travellers. The next time you plan a trip to Taiwan, you have to include these cafes in your itinerary.

If you are intrigued by all things cute and adorable, read on to discover the 8 Cafes & Restaurants In Taichung that are so adorable, you wouldn’t want to leave.

Photo Credit: I_chen_chang

I’M TALATO

Designed with a swimming pool filled with giant replicas of ice cream cones, this place is perfect for Instagram addicts. Take countless photos of their cute pink floats and dummy swimming pool that will definitely make your friends jealous. What you have to get there is their creamy and delicious gelato.

No. 451, Yingcai Rd, West District
Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Tel: +886 4 2305 8908
Daily: 11.30am – 7.30pm

Photo Credit: Sowing The Sweets

SOWING THE SWEETS

With yellow and white hues, Sowing The Sweets is a brightly-lit cafe that primarily makes use of cheerful colours in the likes of mellow yellow and turquoise. They serve up adorable-looking cakes that are made for the gram but what you must not skip is their salted caramel tart and chocolate cake.

No. 234, Huamei Street
West District
Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Tel: +886 986 750 680
Mon to Fri: 1pm – 7pm
Sat & sun: 12pm – 7pm

Photo Credit: Blue Box

BLUE BOX

Nestled in the North District of Taichung, this blue box container cafe exudes chill beach vacation vibes that will have you reminiscing about your beach holidays. Their seating area is set against a pretty backdrop filled with artificial blue and white roses. Perfect for your social media feeds, the cute over-the-top sweet treats are a must to try.

No. 173, Yizhong Street
North District
Taichung City, Taiwan 404
Tel: +886 955 132 267
Mon to Fri: 2pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 1.30pm – 10pm

Photo Credit: Princess Annie’s Garden

PRINCESS ANNIE’S GARDEN

Designed around a fairy-tale theme, Princess Annie’s Garden is every Disney princess’s dream come true. With a perfect garden view that will enhance your overall dining experience at the restaurant, guests are able to enjoy the peace and serenity of nature while savouring western delights.

No. 223, Zhongxing Street
Xinshe District
Taichung City, Taiwan 426
Tel: +886 4 2593 1568
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 8pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 8pm

Photo Credit: Robot Station

ROBOT STATION

A robot haven, this place appeals to all fans of robots. With robots ornaments placed at different corners of the cafe, this quirky cafe is a hot spot among the youths and tourists. As for food, Robot Station serves up everything from pizzas and sandwiches to excellent desserts and juices.

No. 106, Xiangshang North Road
West District
Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Tel: +886 4 2301 9859
Mon, Wed & Sun: 11.30am – 9pm
Closed on Tuesdays

Photo Credit: Modern Toilet

MODERN TOILET

With a chain of Modern toilet joints across Taipei, this place definitely needs no introduction. The quirky toilet-centric interior with poop-shaped cushions, bathtubs and showerheads is truly an interesting experience! Dig into scrumptious food and amazing drinks served on plastic toilet bowls instead of regular plates.

Taiwan, Taichung City
North District
Yizhong Street
Tel: +886 4 2223 2870
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm

 Photo Credit: Mk5566

ATC CAFE

The gigantic pink cup outside ATC Cafe calls for your immediate attention and you can bet it is popular with the ladies who pose with the cup for their #OOTD pictures. Its sleek interior makes it a popular spot among the young and fashionable crowd who stops by for a cup of coffee or tea.

No. 480, Shizheng Road
Xitun District
Taichung City, Taiwan 407
Mon to Thu & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12pm

Photo Credit: Ashare Cafe

ASHARE CAFE

Ashare Cafe is a space for all those who love travelling to come together and enjoy typical cafe grub while unwinding from the pressures of life. The wall is decorated with antique car plates, old paper maps, flags and posters that make great backdrops for taking your #OOTDs.

No. 20, Minsheng North Road
West District
Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Tel:  +886 4 2301 7380
Tue: 9am – 5pm
Wed to Sat: 9am – 9pm
Sun: 9am – 7pm

Read: 8 best day trips from Taichung you will regret not visiting

Taiwan is a fantastic country with rich history, friendly locals, amazing street food and beautiful landscape. Most visitors usually only go to Taipei, and it is a shame because there are many other cities that are worth visiting.

Taichung, for instance, is a wonderful holiday destination. For a start, it is only an hour away from Taoyuen International Airport. From there, you can easily make day trips to other places like Kaohsiung, Tainan and Changhua. The main draw for tourists is Feng Chia Night Market – one of the biggest, if not the biggest, night markets in Taiwan. There are many things to see, do and eat in Taichung. The next time you plan a trip to Taiwan, you have to include Taichung in your itinerary.

Here is a travel guide on the things to do in Taichung.

Miyaharu (Gong Yuan Yan Ke)

Housed in a former eye hospital, Miyaharu is opened by Dawncake – an established store in Taichung that sells pineapple tarts and other pastries packaged in nice boxes – and it has become so popular that it is listed on most travel guides to Taichung. Miyaharu is worth visiting – even if it was just to see the shop’s interior – and to buy some gifts for friends and relatives.

No 20 Zhongshan Road
Zhong District, Taichung
Tel: 04 2227 1927

The original bubble tea from Chun Shui Tang

Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, believed to be the inventor of bubble tea, is also a must-try in Taichung. Besides having a wide range of tea-based beverages, they also serve affordable and tasty traditional Taiwanese snacks such as pig’s blood, beef noodles, and braised pork rice.

30 Siwei St, Taichung
+886 4 22297991

Calligraphy Greenway

Taichung Calligraphy Greenway is a parkway in the heart of the city which connects National Museum of Natural Science, Civil Square, Wuquan Parkway, and the LiChuan Canal. It is very liberating to take a stroll along the pavements and to simply just enjoy the greenery.

Feng Chia Night Market

Taichung’s Feng Chia Night Market is one of the biggest night markets in Taiwan. To put it simply: No one visits Taichung without going to Feng Chia. You can find the most innovative snacks here, and in fact, Feng Chia is the testing ground for most modern street food. After they are proven to be popular, they are then spread to the other night markets in Taiwan.

Coffee Appreciation Class

If you have time, drop by ‘Coffee Area’ for a coffee appreciation class. The owner is very friendly and knowledgable about coffee. A typical class (450NT/pax, minimum 4 guests) takes around 2 hours  and you can learn about the basics of roasting and coffee tasting.

165 Cunzhong Street
Tel: 04 2376 1273

Fantasy Story

Fantasy Story is an area made up of several blocks of old shophouses converted into cute cafes, slick boutiques, stylish furniture shops and cool lifestyle stores. Every shop has its own character and you can easily spend a day there. Fantasy Shop No. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 are located on 13 Meicun Road Section 1 Lane 117.

Sweet Woods – Fantasy Shop No. 7 dedicated to dining – is about five minutes walk away on 136 Xiangshang North Road. Over there, you can have tea at Wilsons English Afternoon Tea Cafe, ice cream at Bianca, and desserts from Pause Bonheur.

Visit themed restaurants

There are plenty of themed restaurants in Taichung, but if you like a romantic princessy place, you must go to Princess Annie’s Garden Restaurant at Xinshe town.

No.223 Zhongxing Street
Xinshe District, Taichung City
Tel: 04-2593 1567
Daily: 9am – 8pm

Rollin Farm (Ruo Yin Nong Chang)

Rollin Farm is a peaceful and serene spot to get away from the city for a quiet retreat. Getting there from Taichung takes slightly under two hours by car, but when you arrive, you will discover that it is worth the journey.

The rooms at the min su (homestay) are not only well-furnished, but they also come with a stunning view overlooking the mountains. If you have no plans for an overnight stay, a day trip to this scenic part of Taichung is almost as wondrous.

No 1 XueShan Road, Heping District, Taichung City
Tel: 04 2597 1218

Second Market

Head to Second Market – one of the more popular traditional markets in Taichung – for breakfast. There, you can find famous local snacks such as meatballs, fried radish cake, and wanton soup.

Sanmin Road, Central District, Taichung City

Getting to Taipei from Singapore: TransAsia Airways has daily flights – an early morning departure from Changi Airport and an evening return from Taoyuan Airport.

Tips for exploring Taichung: Qiito.com is an online travel organiser and accommodation hosting website which recommends places of interest in Taiwan.

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: I travelled to Taichung as a guest of Taiwan Tourism Board, Qiito.com and TransAsia Airways. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets, hotel accommodation and transport were sponsored.