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    North Taiwan

    Taiwan

    North Taiwan

    RegionCultureCulinary

    The North around Taipei is the most densely populated part of Taiwan and the entry point for most travelers.

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    7. North Taiwan
    The North around Taipei is the most densely populated part of Taiwan and the entry point for most travelers. Here you land in Taoyuan, eat your way through the capital's night markets, and drive in an hour to the mountains above the Northeast Coast.The Greater Taipei Area, including New Taipei and Keelung, is home to around seven million people. The metro reaches Yangmingshan National Park with its extinct volcanoes and Beitou's hot springs. In Ruifang District lies the former gold mining town of Jiufen, next door to the Gold Museum in Jinguashi.
    Northern Taiwan is the first stop for most visitors: Taoyuan Airport is located here, and Taipei is the country's transportation hub with its metro, train, and high-speed rail. Plan three to four days for Taipei and excursions to Beitou, Maokong, and Jiufen. From here, you can take the high-speed rail to the west or express trains to the east coast.
    Jiufen

    Place 1 of 2

    Jiufen

    Jiufen is a former gold mining town located on a steep hillside above the northeast coast, about an hour from Taipei.

    Jiufen is located in New Taipei's Ruifang District, on a steep slope overlooking the northeast coast, approximately 35 kilometers from central Taipei. The town's vibrant life unfolds along Jishan Street, the old town alley, and the stairs of Shuqi Road, featuring teahouses with sea views.

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    Taipei

    Place 2 of 2

    Taipei

    Taiwan's capital in the north of the island blends Qing-era temples, colonial architecture, and the 509-meter-tall skyscraper Taipei 101 with a vibrant night market culture.

    Taipei has about 2.5 million inhabitants, with the greater metropolitan area including New Taipei and Keelung home to approximately seven million people. The city is situated in a basin surrounded by mountains, rising northward towards Yangmingshan National Park.

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    Meals and Drinks

    Taipei is the city of night markets and Xiaolongbao.

    Night markets

    Evenings, food stalls line the Raohe Night Market and Shilin; oyster omelets are typical.

    Beef and Noodle Soup

    Taipei's classic, known for example from Yongkang Beef Noodles.

    Taro balls in Jiufen

    Cooked taro and sweet potato balls in sweet soup are the specialty of the mountain town.

    Temples, Museums and Gold Miners

    In the north lie the country's great cultural institutions: the National Palace Museum with imperial treasures brought from China, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The Longshan Temple, founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, shows how closely Buddhism and folk beliefs are intertwined here.In Jiufen and Jinguashi, the alleys and the Gold Museum tell of the gold rush from 1893 and of mining during the Japanese colonial period.

    Exploring the North

    Airport: The Airport MRT connects Taoyuan directly to Taipei Main Station.Taipei: Six Metro lines, buses, and rental bikes, all with the EasyCard.Jiufen: Buses 1062 and 965 directly from Taipei, or train to Ruifang then bus.

    Round trips through this region

    Taiwan around the island in 16 days

    The tour starts in Taipei with temples, museums, and night markets, then proceeds to the gold mining town of Jiufen. High-speed train to Taichung, bus to Sun Moon Lake, then into the Alishan mountains with its historic forest railway. The south offers Tainan's Old Town, the port city of Kaohsiung, and Kenting National Park's beaches. Back north via Taitung's East Rift Valley and Pacific coast to Hualien, gateway to Taroko Gorge, with some paths closed since the 2024 earthquake.

    16 Days
    10 stops

    Nearby

    Taipei

    Taipei

    Taiwan's capital in the north of the island blends Qing-era temples, colonial architecture, and the 509-meter-tall skyscraper Taipei 101 with a vibrant night market culture. Taipei is the perfect starting point for any trip: This is where you land, where you'll find exceptionally good and affordable food, and where mountains with hot springs are right on the city's doorstep.In the west, around Wanhua and Dadaocheng, the 1738-founded Longshan Temple and the shops of Dihua Street reflect the city's 19th-century trading past. To the east, shopping districts and skyscrapers define the Xinyi area. The National Palace Museum houses one of the world's largest collections of ancient Chinese art, and to the north, the city borders Yangmingshan National Park, home to extinct volcanoes and hot springs.
    Jiufen

    Jiufen

    Jiufen is a former gold mining town located on a steep hillside above the northeast coast, about an hour from Taipei. Its stair-lined alleyways, traditional teahouses, and red lanterns make it the most popular day trip from the capital, especially in the late afternoon when the lights come on and the view extends over the sea.Following gold discoveries in 1893, the village grew into a mining town, its golden age coinciding with the Japanese colonial era. The present-day old town, centered around Jishan Street, primarily reflects those years. After the decline of mining, the town fell into disrepair and only later experienced a resurgence as a popular tourist destination. In the neighboring town of Jinguashi, the Gold Museum, located on a former mine site, recounts the history of gold extraction.
    Jinguashi

    Jinguashi

    Jinguashi, a short bus ride from Jiufen, was, like its neighbor, a center of gold mining. The Gold Museum recounts the history of gold extraction and the miners' lives; during World War II, it also served as a prisoner-of-war camp. Buses 788, 825, 856, 1062, and 965 travel here.
    Taroko National Park

    Taroko National Park

    Taroko Gorge, north of Hualien, is Taiwan's most famous natural landscape: The Liwu River has carved its way through marble cliffs, with walls rising steeply. The area is home to the Truku people.The earthquake on April 3, 2024, severely impacted the park. Well-known trails like the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, and Zhuilu Old Trail remain closed. Accessible areas include the Visitor Center at the park entrance with the Dekalun Trail, and parts of Tianxiang. Before any visit, check the latest advisories from the National Park Administration.
    Hualien

    Hualien

    Hualien on the east coast is the gateway to Taroko National Park and the Pacific coast, where the Central Mountain Range drops almost vertically into the sea. The city itself is relaxed and manageable; its appeal lies in its surroundings: pebble beaches, steep cliffs, and the famous Marble Gorge.The earthquake on April 3, 2024, severely impacted Taroko Gorge. Many well-known trails, such as the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, and Zhuilu Old Trail, remain closed even in 2026. Open areas include the visitor center at the park entrance with the Dekalun Trail and parts of the Tianxiang area. Before any excursion, check the latest information from the National Park Administration. Between the city and the gorge lies Qixingtan pebble beach.