Best road trips in Taiwan

Arabia Weather - With a length of 395 kilometers (245 miles), Taiwan is the ultimate travel and road trip island, known as Ilha Formosa (the Beautiful Island), and from hot springs to pristine beaches to urban cities, we believe that the reason behind this name is complete.

Taiwan is easy to get around — with all the beautiful areas and popular tourist destinations accessible via public transportation — travelers who want to see the entire island without worrying about train and bus schedules should consider a road trip. Driving is the perfect way to get off the beaten track and see beautiful scenery, all at your own pace.

These groundbreaking tour plans stop at the best places in Taiwan, each with famous foods and attractions that highlight the country's charm as a tourist destination as well as offering an authentic experience of life in Taiwan. And you can complete all the trips in two weeks - and bypass the island, too

Ride or drive the Maokong cable car to Jinan Temple © Getty Images

Taiwan road trip - Taipei and surrounding areas

Best road trip for those who are short on time
Taipei - Wulai; 45.5 km (28 mi)

Drive to the top of the mountains in southern Taipei for stunning views of the capital. Stop at Jinan Temple, a Taoist temple dedicated to Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, and nicknamed the "Temple of the 1,000 Steps" thanks to its 1,275 steps. Next, drink tiguanyin, a type of oolong tea, from one of the tea shops in the area.

Next, drive to Xinqing, famous for its aged tofu. Don't let the smell stop you from enjoying cubes of aged tofu, fried and topped with a mild chili sauce and a cold pile of sauerkraut.

Continue your journey to Wulay, the picturesque homeland of the Atayal tribe, the second largest indigenous group in Taiwan. Try atayali food, such as wild boar, rice cooked in bamboo tubes and colorful mochi, on the ancient paved Wulay Street before admiring the nearby Wulay Waterfall, which cascades into the Nanxi River (a cable car transports visitors to the summit), and soaking in the milky sulfur hot baths, near Wen Quan Road.

Planning tip: This short excursion can easily be done in half a day, but you can also take a more relaxed tour by reversing the tour, driving directly to Wulai, then stopping in Xinqing for dinner and finishing in Maokong, where many tea shops stay open until hours First morning. While you can take the Maokong Cable Car to Maokong, driving offers more flexibility – the cable car stops running in the early evening.

Look at the wondrous rock sculptures on the windswept coast of Yehliu © Getty Images

Taiwan Road Trip - North and Northeast Coast

The best road trip to discover traditional Taiwan
Taipei - Jiaosi - Taipei; 242 km (150 mi); Allow two or more days

This northern Taiwan trip includes a little bit of everything – bizarre geological formations, night markets, tea shops, lighthouses, hot springs and one of Taiwan's best beaches.

Start by driving northeast to the windy coast of Ihliu, where the wondrous rock sculptures of Ihliu Geopark arose naturally. Step back to Keelung Fishing Village, famous for its temples and lively Miaokou Night Market near the port.

From here, drive east to Jinguashi, a former gold mining town on the slopes of Mount Geelong, site of the Gold Museum and a former POW camp during the Japanese occupation. Then head to Jiufen – it's worth taking the time to wander the narrow, red-lit streets of Jishan.

Time your visit for sunset to watch the sun set behind the majestic mountains and Shenau Bay while drinking hot tea. End the day by launching torchlights from the nearby village of Shifen or its neighboring town of Pingxi, two mountainous towns that you can easily walk between. Stay for the night.

On day two, drive to Tucheng, both for the black sand beach and the Lanyang Museum, which has exhibits on the Lanyang plains and hot springs. Next, drive to Jiaosi, the center of nature tourism in Taiwan. The drive is unforgettable due to the mountains rising above the emerald green rice fields, the coastal escarpment and the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. (Look closely, and you might see a dolphin or a whale!)

Half an hour south is Luodong. Stop at the National Center for Traditional Arts, a museum that offers an interactive look at folk arts. Spend the night in Jiaosi, bathing in odorless sodium bicarbonate hot springs – an experience so refreshing that you may find yourself spending the night at a seaside hot-water hotel before driving about an hour back to Taipei.

© Getty Images

Taiwan Road Trip - Northwest Taiwan Adventure

The best road trip for cultural immersion
Taipei - Taichung; 174 km (108 mi)

Sanxia contains one of the most famous Taoist temples in Taiwan, Tzucher Temple, and the best examples of architecture from the end of the Qing period and the beginning of early Japanese colonization can be found on Old Minquan Street in Sanxia. Take a short drive to Yingyi, Taiwan's pottery-producing capital, to view pottery along Old Yingyi-paved Street and at the New Taipei Yingyi Pottery Museum.

Drive southwest to the coast, then head south to Miaoli, the heart of Taiwan's Hakka culture. Stop into a tea shop to grind your own green tea leaves, sesame seeds and ground peanuts into a fine powder. Visit the Wood Carving Museum in Sanyi and marvel at the shops in Miaoli packed with wood carvings of Buddha and Taoist saints, furniture and knick-knacks.

Taiwan Road Trip - Sun and Moon Lake

The best road trip for nature lovers
Taichung - Lake of the Sun and Moon; 84.7 km (52.6 mi)

Enjoy bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang, the tea shop where the famous milk tea with tapioca bubbles was invented. Explore the vibrant Fengya Night Market, one of Taiwan's most famous night markets, before moving on to the mountainous Sun and Moon Lake.

Located 748 meters (2,454 feet) above sea level, the Lake of the Sun and the Moon is a must-see destination: a freshwater lake divided in two by an island, resulting in a body of water that resembles the Moon and the Sun. Definitely stop for a boat or bike ride around the two-mile Xiangshan Bike Trail, which runs around the perimeter of the lake.

Driving in the Clouds: Chiayi and Alishan

The best road trip for history and beauty
Sun and Moon Lake - Alishan; 146 km (90.7 mi)

Hikers can take hikes along 14 trails bordering the lake. The lake is also a place for butterfly spotting (Taiwan has the highest concentration of butterflies in the world).

Most travelers head to Chiayi to visit Alishan National Park © Getty Images / iStockphoto

The southern city of Chiayi is full of local hospitality. Here is the southern branch of the National Museum, the National Palace. The collection includes ceramics, jade, paintings, calligraphy and Chinese art, much of which was secretly shipped before the Nationalists fled mainland China in 1949.

Most people go to Chiayi to visit Alishan National Park, braving the cold temperatures and strong winds at 8,169 feet (2,490 meters) at the summit of Mount Guishan to watch the sun's rays break through the clouds. Alishan was settled by the Tso tribe, one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Taiwan.

Along this western route in Taiwan, the farms around Chiayi give way to pineapple and banana plantations before giving way to the bamboo fields of the Alishan region. The dizzying Alishan Road has many hairpin turns on winding roads through forests of red cypress, cedar and pine, but it's worth it.

During two weeks in March or April, thousands of Japanese cherry trees bloom here, bringing larger crowds to the mountaintop. It's best to spend the night in Alishan and wake up before dawn to travel to Guishan to see the timeless sunrise show, one of Taiwan's top tourist attractions.

Road trip in southern Taiwan

Best road trip to authentic Taiwan
Alishan - Kaohsiung; 173 km (107 mi)

After a heart-warming drive up and down Alishan, cruise along Taiwan's southern coast for a laid-back look at southern Taiwan, with sunny skies, sophisticated food and plenty of arts and culture.

Make time to tour Tainan's temples and cafes overlooking the canals. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan's southern port, holds a rich maritime history, and one of its most famous landmarks is the River of Love. Stroll along the riverside, stroll around the shops and experience the best Taiwanese cuisine at Liuhe Night Market.

Taiwan Road Trip - Kenting and the Southern Taiwan Coast

The best road trip for a beach vacation

Kaohsiung-Kenting; 110 km (68 mi)

Taiwan Trip A springtime beach destination is Kenting, one of the best beaches in Taiwan. Located in the southernmost tip of Taiwan, Kenting offers sandy beaches, great waves for surfers, and relaxing rest.

The beach town is home to surf shops, as well as the National Museum of Marine Science and Marine Life, home to 15,000 marine creatures, including penguins, reef fish, sharks, giant dogfish and seals, and Kenting National Park, known for its beaches, coral reefs and relaxed atmosphere.

One of the most famous trips in Taiwan is the drive through the Taroko Tunnel © Getty Images/iStockPhoto

Taiwan Road Trip - East Coast Drive and Taroko Tunnel

The best scenic road trip and backpacking trips in Taiwan

Kenting - Taroko Tunnel; 323 kilometers (200.7 mi)

One of the most popular excursions is the drive down the Taroko River, a 19-kilometre (12 mi) gorge formed by the marble rocks of the Lio River. Located in the Central Mountain Range in eastern Taiwan, the Taroko River was originally composed of limestone, but massive natural forces and high temperatures one million years ago caused the limestone to turn into marble.

The vast Taroko National Park is best explored by driving the Central Island Road through the park. Be sure to stop along the way and explore the Swallow Raid Trail, the Nine Times Tunnel, the Eternal Springs Shrine Trail, Guan Yin Cave, Taroko Tower, and the Bell Tower.

The park is the perfect place to spot black bears, Formosan monkeys, wild boars, and more than 100 species of birds. There are several hiking trails – ideal for trekking – and highway travelers can stay a night in the park. Accommodations range from a five-star hotel to a hostel to camping.

Taiwan Road Trip - Northeast Coast

The best road trip to enjoy the coastal scenery

Taroko Gorge - Taipei; 154 km (95 mi)

Drive along the Suao-Hualien Road, the only coastal road in Taroko National Park. This is an exciting journey that includes the Qingshui Mountains, which extend 21 km (13 mi) and rise 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) above the Pacific Ocean on the left and the vast ocean on the right.

Continue north through eastern Taiwan to Sanxiantai – an isolated island (originally a cape) featuring an eight-arch ocean-lined bridge – before returning to Taipei for further exploration.

Important tips for driving in Taiwan

• Renting a car is simple, but you need an international driving licence.
• Scooters are popular, but not recommended. Scooters and bicycles over 50 cc require a driving licence.
• Roads are generally well maintained, but be careful of scooters, especially in cities
• Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts.
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
• Street addresses are written in the following order: zip code, county, neighborhood, road, section, driveway, alley, street, house number and, if applicable, building, floor number and apartment number.