Ivan LimWhen people think of a trip to Taiwan, iconic landmarks like the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall typically come to mind. But Taiwan offers so much more beyond these well-known attractions. Whether you’re into hiking, immersed in the Taiwanese entertainment scene, a cultural explorer, or a fan of the arts, Taiwan has a wealth of experiences to uncover.
This updated 4-day itinerary takes you off the beaten path, highlighting some of Taipei’s lesser-known gems you won’t typically find in guidebooks. From hidden spots to unique activities, it’s the perfect way to explore a more authentic side of the city!
Also read: Taiwan Itinerary for First-timers: My 6D5N Trip to Taichung & Taipei
Day 1 – Embracing the Best Nature Taiwan has to offer
1. Hike at MaKau Ecological Park
Escape from the city and immerse yourself in the natural paradise of MaKau Ecological Park.
Minchih Forest Recreational Area is situated between 1,150 to 1,700 metres above sea level and is truly a hidden gem in the Yilan county of Taiwan.
One can easily spend a few hours at the Minchih Forest Recreational Area. The air is fresh and crisp, with no sound of cars nor sight of skyscrapers.
You can hire a guide from the Cilan Resort to bring you around the Minchih Forest Recreational Area. We were told stories of how a poet from thousands of years ago wrote poems while sitting by this lake, apparently mesmerised by the beauty of the misty grounds.
Other than the Minchih Forest Recreational Area, the Divine Trees Garden is also a must-visit.
The biggest cypress tree area in the whole of Taiwan, the Divine Trees Garden is a must-go for nature lovers. There are more than a hundred trees over a thousand years old, all named after famous people in Chinese history, like the philosopher Confucius and the founder of the Mongol empire Genghis Khan.
TripZilla tip: Keep an eye open for cherry blossoms if you’re visiting during the blooming seasons.
It would be ideal to stay a night at the Cilan Resort, and then take a day each for the Minchih Forest Recreational Area and the Divine Trees Garden, all of which make up the MaKau Ecological Park.
Doesn’t this accommodation look like nice and cosy? Cilan Resort offers regular rooms as well as wooden cabins and cottages interspersed in the forest, making for a very idyllic and laidback environment to wind down your long day of hiking.
If you ever get tired of walking around the beautiful grounds within one day (which I assure you you won’t there are so many flora and fauna and birds and animals to admire), there is also a karaoke and a cafe in the park.
Tip: As the MaKau Ecological Park is located quite high above sea level, it can get quite cold. It was 4 degrees Celsius when I visited, so do bring more layers and a windbreaker! Also, wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty as the grounds might be muddy and wet.
How to get there: You can take the shuttle buses (at 7.30am, 10.15am and 1.00pm daily) from Mingchi Villa or Qilan Villa. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi at Yilan Station.
Day 2 – Get your Art On
1. Visit Starry Paradise
Starry Paradise in Keelung’s Embrace Cultural and Creative Park (永恒文创园区) is an amazing park inspired by the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. The sight that welcomes you as you enter the park is spectacular.
More than 4 million recycled plastic bottles form this gigantic mosaic sprawling 53 hectares.
“The project focuses on the concepts of healing and art while serving as a charity that addresses environmental concerns,” park spokesperson Jeffrey Wang (王志欽) said.
Check out the bubble houses (星空泡泡屋), a series of bubble houses designed by budding Taiwanese artists, and immerse yourself in the magical and fairytale-like ambience. Pop into the Starry Cafe (星空咖啡馆) for a cup of hot chocolate and some cupcakes, or buy specially curated vodka inspired by Van Gogh himself as a souvenir to bring back home.
How to get there: A free shuttle bus service is available at Badu Station.
2. Explore Kengkou Community Mural Village
Kengkou Community Painted Village (坑口彩绘村) consists of mural paintings which cover more than 30 hectares of residential and factory walls, covering a total area of more than 3,310 square metres. The scenes painted commonly depict farm life in the 1950s or 1960s, but increasingly more and more cartoon and popular culture elements are being painted.
Go trigger-happy snapping pictures of these paintings! There are even some murals where you can include yourself in the picture like this:
How to get there: Take bus no. 5020 or 5021 from Taoyuan Station, alight at Kengkou Station.
Day 3 – DIY your own Yummy Cake
1. Learn Cake-decoration at I-mei Factory
I-mei Foods has accompanied the people of Taiwan for over 70 years, and it’s one of the most popular souvenirs tourists bring home to their loved ones. Now instead of just buying some traditional cakes at home, learn about the history of I-mei and even decorate your own cakes or snacks. I drew clouds and trees on top of my cake, and even named it after myself. Fun times.
There’s also an I-mei bakery right beside the factory which serves piping hot breads, snacks, and drinks.
How to get there: Take the bus from Taoyuan Station towards Jhuwei, and alight at Sijhou Station. Then, turn right at South Public Road and walk for 5 minutes to arrive at the destination.
2. Build your own biscuit house (or any other creation) at Castella Land
Castella Land is both a factory and an interactive museum where visitors get to see and learn more about how the food is put together. It costs 200 NTD to enter (around 8 SGD) and the entry fee can be used to offset what purchases are made in Castella Land, as well as any DIY activities that tickle your fancy.
We took a biscuit house-building DIY session and I was rather pleased with how mine turned out.
How to get there: Take the red-line shuttle bus from Taoyuan Luzhu Town Hall Station, and alight at Yu-tso Station.
3. Wind down at Jiaobanshan Resort Park
Jiaobanshan Resort Park (角板山行馆园) in the Fuxing District of Taoyuan is a wonderful place for escaping from the busy pace of the city. The park is 636 metres above sea level and occupies 6 hectares.
Have a leisurely stroll around the park. Sit in the cafe at the top. Listen to the wind. Look at all the nature surrounding you.
Best thing? There is no entrance fee.
How to get there: Take bus no. 5104 or 5106 from Daxi Station, alight at Jiaobanshan Park Station.
Day 4 – Culture and the arts, both modern and the old
1. Visit Jiaan W Rd, Longtan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 325
So what’s so special about this place? Well, nothing much except it’s the home of the female lead in one of the hottest Taiwanese movies ever Our Times. If you enjoyed the movie, you can consider coming here and walking around the neighbourhood.
Even if you’re not a fan, and are only here as because of #BoyfriendDuties, you can still score some pretty good pictures, like this one:
How to get there: Take bus no. 5050 from Zhongli Station, alight at Shihmen Junior High School Station.
2. Marvel at Shihmen Dam (石门水库)
Although it was constructed for functional reasons back in 1964, Shihmen Dam is now a magnificent tourist attraction in its own right. The dam and reservoir supplies water to more than 3 million residents in northern Taiwan today and is Taiwan’s third largest dam and artificial reservoir.
Photography enthusiasts can revel in the many spots around Shihmen Dam that provide amazing vantage points for landscape photography.
How to get there: Take bus no. 5050 or 5055 from Zhongli Station, alight at Shihmen Station.
Also read: 14 Unconventional Things to Do in Taiwan for A Smashing Vacation
Are you excited to zip off to Taiwan to try one of these unconventional things to do? Then this is your sign to finally book that flight and immerse yourself in Taiwan’s unique culture and offbeat attractions!
