{"id":696,"date":"2026-07-02T07:47:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T12:54:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T12:54:26","slug":"taiwan-7-day-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/taiwan-7-day-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan 7-Day Round-Island Highlights Itinerary: Sort Out North, Center, South, and East Transport Connections All at Once"},"content":{"rendered":"<style class=\"lt-tbl-css\">.entry-content table,.lt-tbl{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:1.2em 0}.entry-content th,.entry-content td,.lt-tbl th,.lt-tbl td{border:1px solid #d4dcd7;padding:8px 11px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}.entry-content th,.lt-tbl th{background:#eef3f0;font-weight:600}<\/style>\n<p>Updated: 2026-07-02 | For real-time information, always refer to official announcements.<\/p>\n<p><em>First time in Taiwan with only seven days, but you want to touch the north, center, south, and east all at once\u2014this itinerary links the west coast by HSR and connects the east by TRA, making one loop around the island that's just right: doable, yet leaving lasting memories.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Many people coming to Taiwan for the first time, able to arrange only seven days off, worry that wanting to see the north, center, south, and east is too greedy. Actually, it isn't. Taiwan isn't big\u2014the HSR strings the western counties into a single express line, the east is filled in by the TRA, and the rhythm of looping around is actually quite smooth. Here's how I'd do it: depart from Taipei, Sun Moon Lake in the center, Tainan and Kaohsiung in the south, then over to Hualien in the east, and finally back to Taipei. The point isn't to cram it so full your legs give out, but to know clearly every day how to get there, how to arrange things, and what to watch out for.<\/p>\n<p>Get the logic of getting around straight first, and everything after is easy. Taiwan connects its cities mainly through three kinds of rail transit: the HSR on the west coast (fast, a bit pricey), the TRA that reaches almost everywhere (slow, cheap, includes the east), and the metro and buses in each major city. Most short trips can be handled with a single<strong>EasyCard<\/strong>\u2014the Taipei Metro, Taichung Metro, Kaohsiung Metro, most city buses, YouBike, and all local (non-reserved) TRA trains accept it (some reserved trains like Tze-Chiang and Puyuma don't accept electronic tickets and require a separate ticket). Remember two things before you arrive: first, confirm whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry (most European, American, Japanese, and Korean nationals can stay 90 days, but the rules change,<strong>please refer to the official website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/strong>); and second, you'll need to fill out the online \"Arrival Card\" before arriving in Taiwan. Once you land, the first thing to do is usually getting connected to the internet.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"lt-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/holafly.sjv.io\/L0RdLZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">Set up a Taiwan eSIM (Holafly) before you go<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:0.9em\">This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See<a href=\"\/en\/affiliate-disclosure\/\">affiliate disclosure<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n<table class=\"lt-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Route<\/th>\n<th>Recommended option<\/th>\n<th>Approximate Time<\/th>\n<th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Taipei \u2194 Taichung \/ Tainan \/ Kaohsiung<\/td>\n<td>High Speed Rail (HSR)<\/td>\n<td>Taipei\u2013Zuoying in about 1.5 hours<\/td>\n<td>Fastest; please refer to the official HSR website for fares<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Taipei \u2194 Hualien<\/td>\n<td>Taiwan Railway (East Coast Line)<\/td>\n<td>From about 2 hours<\/td>\n<td>Tickets sell out fast on holidays, so be sure to book early<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Short trips within the city<\/td>\n<td>Metro \/ bus \/ YouBike<\/td>\n<td>Depends on the route<\/td>\n<td>EasyCard works for all of them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Days 1 to 2 I'd leave entirely to Taipei. After arriving, settle into Taipei for two nights first\u2014this is the least likely starting point to go wrong. The first day focuses on the city center: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Ximending, and in the evening head to the Raohe or Ningxia night market. The second day covers the classic sights\u2014take the metro to<strong>Taipei 101<\/strong>(observation deck opening hours and ticket prices are subject to the official website), then head to the Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) Trail for city night views, or go to Beitou for hot springs and the National Palace Museum to see national treasures. Taipei's metro coverage is very dense, and for two days you can get around almost entirely by metro. For more in-depth planning, check out our<a href=\"\/en\/category\/taipei\/\">Taipei section<\/a>with<a href=\"\/en\/category\/transportation\/\">Transport Guide<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n<p>Day 3 heads to central Taiwan, slowing the pace by half a day. In the morning take the HSR to Taichung, and after dropping off your luggage you can first stroll around Shen-Ji New Village and the Rainbow Village, then have a bowl of Taichung local street food for lunch. In the afternoon head to<strong>Sun Moon Lake<\/strong>: the simplest way is to take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake line from Taichung HSR Station or Gancheng Station (about 1.5 to 2 hours' ride; schedules and fares are subject to the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle official website). In the evening take a lake cruise or ride a bike around the lake, and stay a night lakeside\u2014it's the most soothing stretch of this trip. Those on a tighter schedule can also merge this day into the Taichung city area and head straight south the next day. For details on how to enjoy it, see<a href=\"\/en\/category\/sun-moon-lake\/\">Sun Moon Lake section<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n<p>Days 4 to 5 are the south's food and coastal line. Return from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung and take the HSR south; the fourth day goes to Tainan\u2014Taiwan's food capital and ancient city, with Chihkan Tower, Anping Fort, and Shennong Street, paired with beef soup, danzai noodles, and shrimp rolls; strolling slowly and eating slowly suits it best. Tainan's attractions are concentrated in the old city district, and you can string them together on foot plus by bus. On the fifth day move on to Kaohsiung; Tainan to Kaohsiung is about 11 minutes by HSR and 30 to 40 minutes by TRA\u2014very close. For Kaohsiung, I recommend the Pier-2 Art Center, the Love River, taking the Kaohsiung Metro to Formosa Boulevard Station to see the Dome of Light, and heading up to Sizihwan in the evening for the sunset. Those wanting an extra day can arrange a day trip to Kenting or Xiaoliuqiu from Kaohsiung.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"lt-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kkday.com\/?cid=25297\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">Book Tainan \/ Kaohsiung day trips and experiences (KKday)<\/a><\/p>\n<table class=\"lt-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Route<\/th>\n<th>High Speed Rail (HSR)<\/th>\n<th>Taiwan Railway<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Taichung \u2192 Tainan<\/td>\n<td>About 45 minutes<\/td>\n<td>About 2 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tainan \u2192 Kaohsiung (Zuoying)<\/td>\n<td>About 11 minutes<\/td>\n<td>About 30\u201340 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>(Times are approximate; for actual schedules and fares, please refer to the official HSR and Taiwan Railway websites.)<\/p>\n<p>Day 6 is the longest stretch of travel of the whole trip: from Kaohsiung over to Hualien in the east. Currently<strong>South-Link Line + Eastern Trunk Line<\/strong>you can take the TRA north from the Kaohsiung\/Taitung direction to Hualien; the ride is fairly long, so it's advisable to set off early in the morning and book reserved seats in advance (east-coast routes are extremely popular on holidays). If you want to save time, you can also take the HSR back to Taipei first, then take the TRA from Taipei to Hualien; both routes work, depending on whether you want to see the east-coast scenery. One special reminder here: affected by the major Hualien earthquake on April 3, 2024,<strong>Taroko National Park remained mostly closed as of 2026, with only sections open under controlled conditions<\/strong>, and the Baiyang Trail and others are still closed. Before setting off, be sure to check the latest announcements on the Taroko National Park official website, and don't hastily plan Taroko as a must-visit attraction.<\/p>\n<p>Day 7 leaves the last day to Hualien's nature. While Taroko is mostly closed, the city and its surroundings are just as wonderful:<strong>Qixingtan Beach<\/strong>take in the Pacific,<strong>Liyu Lake<\/strong>go boating, and eat Indigenous and local snacks at Dongdamen Night Market. If you've got the energy, head into the East Rift Valley (to spots like Yunshan Water &amp; Cloud or Lintianshan). In the evening, take a TRA train from Hualien back to Taipei to connect with an international flight or stay one more night. For more things to do in Hualien, see<a href=\"\/en\/category\/hualien\/\">the Hualien section<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"lt-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trip.com\/t\/7nFwx9y94V2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">Compare accommodation prices across cities (Trip.com)<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h4>\n<h5>Can you really loop around the whole island in seven days?<\/h5>\n<p>Yes, but it's more of a \"highlights sprint\" than in-depth travel. This route uses the HSR to link up the west coast and the TRA to connect the east, stopping one to two days in each key city. If you'd like to slow down, you can drop either the Kaohsiung or Hualien leg and spend an extra night in that destination instead.<\/p>\n<h5>Do I have to rent a car?<\/h5>\n<p>No. Public transport is very convenient in the western cities, and a single EasyCard will get you almost everywhere. Only for point-to-point areas like Kenting and the East Rift Valley does self-driving or a chartered car give you more flexibility, but you'll need an International Driving Permit plus your original home-country license. Please follow the official rules issued by the motor vehicles authority.<\/p>\n<h5>Do I need to book HSR tickets in advance?<\/h5>\n<p>On weekdays you can usually get tickets on the spot or same-day, but for long weekends and weekends we strongly recommend reserving on the HSR official website or app in advance. Eastern TRA trains (to Hualien) are especially hard to get, so be sure to book early. Actual fares and early-bird discounts are as stated on the official website.<\/p>\n<h5>Can I visit Taroko Gorge right now?<\/h5>\n<p>As of 2026, most areas remain closed due to the earthquake, with only a few sections partially open under access restrictions. Please refer to the latest announcements on the Taroko Gorge National Park official website, and reshape your Hualien itinerary around Qixingtan Beach, Liyu Lake, the city center, and the Rift Valley.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First time in Taiwan with only 7 days? This round-island itinerary links the west coast by High Speed Rail (HSR) and connects the east coast by Taiwan Railway, with a day-by-day plan covering Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien, including transport connections and things to note.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[41,42,43],"class_list":["post-696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-taiwan-itinerary","tag-taiwan-round-island","tag-itinerary-planning","tag-taiwan-hsr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":801,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696\/revisions\/801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalriceball.website\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}