Classic Taiwan Rail Loop
Connect Taipei, Jiufen, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Sun Moon Lake using TRA and THSR trains.
A popular route for first-time visitors, using the railway network as the backbone, with a chartered car only for the Taroko day trip and a bus transfer for the Sun Moon Lake section. Traveling clockwise, the eastern section is slower and the western section is faster, staying one to two nights in each destination. Kenting and Alishan are omitted to reduce transfers; if you wish to see the southern tip of the island or high mountains, you can opt for a self-drive route instead.
Typhoons are common from June to September, which may affect eastern railway services and chartered car itineraries.
Day by day
Day 1 · Taipei Old Town and Ximending
Taipei（Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall、Bangka Lungshan Temple、Ximending）
Take the Airport MRT (approx. 40 minutes) to Taipei Main Station, and use the MRT and walking to get around the city.
Stay: Taipei Main Station
Day 2 · National Palace Museum, Xinyi, and Xiangshan Night View
Taipei（Taipei Palace Museum、Taipei 101、Elephant Mountain Trail、Raohe Street Night Market）
Take the MRT and transfer to a bus to reach the National Palace Museum (approx. 1 hour), then take the MRT to the Xinyi District, commuting within the city for the day.
Stay: Taipei Main Station
Day 3 · Pingxi Line from Shifen to Jiufen
Jiufen & Jinguashi（Shifen Waterfall、Shifen Old Street、Jiufen Old Street）
Take the TRA train to Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Line to Shifen, return to Ruifang, and take a bus up to Jiufen, spending about half the day traveling.
Trains on the Pingxi Line run at long intervals, so check the schedule in advance. Jiufen guesthouses have many stairs, so travel light.
Stay: Jiufen Old Street Area
Day 4 · Jinguashi Transfer to Hualien
Jiufen & Jinguashi（Gold Museum (Jinguashi)） → Hualien & Taroko（Qixingtan Beach、Dongdamen Night Market）
Take a bus to Jinguashi, return to Ruifang, and take an Eastern Trunk Line train to Hualien (approx. 2 to 2.5 hours).
Train tickets for the Eastern Line are highly sought after on holidays; it is recommended to book as soon as they go on sale.
Stay: Hualien City
Day 5 · Qingshui Cliff and Taroko Gorge
Hualien & Taroko（Qingshui Cliff、Taroko Gorge、Tianxiang & Xiangde Temple）
Charter a car for a day trip from Hualien City, passing through Qingshui Cliff into Taroko Gorge to Tianxiang, coordinated with the opening hours of Provincial Highway 8.
Shakadang, Yanzikou (Swallow Grotto), and Changchun (Eternal Spring) Shrine remain closed; check the Taroko National Park website for announcements before setting off.
Stay: Hualien City
Day 6 · Cycling in Chishang to Taitung
Taitung & Green Island（Mr. Brown Avenue, Chishang、Dapo Pond、Taitung Tourism Night Market）
Take the Huadong Line train to Chishang (approx. 1.5 hours), rent a bicycle at the station, and take a train to Taitung in the afternoon (approx. 30 minutes).
Stay: Taitung City
Day 7 · South-Link Line to Kaohsiung Harbor Area
Kaohsiung（Pier-2 Art Center、Cijin Island、Sizihwan & Former British Consulate at Takao）
Take the South-Link Line train from Taitung to Kaohsiung (approx. 2.5 hours), and explore the harbor area on foot and by ferry in the afternoon.
Stay: Yancheng · Pier-2
Day 8 · Lotus Pond and Transfer to Tainan
Kaohsiung（Dragon and Tiger Pagodas） → Tainan（Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)、Grand Mazu Temple、Shennong Street、Guohua Street）
Take the MRT to Zuoying to visit Lotus Pond, then take the TRA train to Tainan (approx. 40 minutes) and explore the historic town on foot.
Stay: West Central District Old Town
Day 9 · Anping Half-Day and Head to Sun Moon Lake
Tainan（Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)、Anping Tree House） → Sun Moon Lake（Shuishe Pier & Village）
Take a bus to and from Anping, take the THSR to Taichung in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour), and transfer to Nantou Bus 6670 to Shuishe (approx. 1.5 hours).
Bus 6670 has limited departures, so coordinate your THSR arrival with the bus schedule.
Stay: Shuishe
Day 10 · Lake Cruise and THSR Return to Taipei
Sun Moon Lake（Xuanguang Temple、Ita Thao）
Take a morning boat cruise connecting the piers, take a bus to THSR Taichung Station in the afternoon, and take the THSR back to Taipei (approx. 1 hour).