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Tainan Travel

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Visit the most culturally entrenched city of Taiwan - full of temples and historic heritage

Witness the charisma of our oldest capital - where the history of Taiwan began

Wander in quaint small alleyways and squares - but never get lost with our professional tour guides

Description

Tainan city - also known as “Capital City” to locals - is the oldest city built in Taiwan and the start of our development as an immigrant society. For the last four hundred years, Tainan saw the political rule varying from the Netherlands, ancient China, Japan and finally to current times. Now a metropolitan filled with old elements, Tainan is regarded as the cultural center of the island as well as the famed destination for passionate foodies. On this tour, we take you to explore the stories and folk tales that are hidden in the corners of downtown Tainan. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the depth of history, religion, and multiculture in the origin of Taiwan!

Every Tue / Thu / Sat / Sun 10:00 meet up with guide

Meeting point: Entrance of Chihkan Tower

Our guides are recognized with a green and white paper fan saying "Like It Formosa".

1. Chihkan Tower

First built in 1653 during the Dutch colonization of Taiwan as its economic center “Fort Provintia”, it was renamed and rebuilt into “Chihkan Tower” in the later years. The Chihkan Tower we see today is a mixture of Dutch and Chinese work, and has sustained through attempted military invasions of Japan (1874) and France (1884) - a miracle that was attributed to its good Feng Shui and godly protection.

2. Tainan Grand Mazu Temple

The Grand Mazu Temple of Tainan not only symbolizes the role that folk religion plays in early urban development, but also shows how political shifts incorporated into architecture. After the Qing China’s conquer of Taiwan in 1683, Goddess Mazu is credited for the victory and promoted from “Princess” to “Queen” Mazu by the Qing emperor. More than three centuries later, Goddess Mazu remains an important figure in Taiwanese religion and politics even today.

3. Hayashi Department Store

Feel free to explore the second department store ever built - and first ever in south Taiwan - in country on your mid-way break! Don’t forget to check the iconic Japanese shrine on the rooftop!

4. Tainan Confucius Temple

Tainan Confucius Temple is one of the most symbolic religious heritages in Taiwan. Built in 1665 as the island’s first national academy, the temple later became a shrine for Confucius for his contribution to education. Here visitors can also witness how the respect for Confucius is emphasized throughout the temple - from the gifted inscribed boards from the heads of state to the dismount stele. Today, its memorial ceremony for Confucius (held twice a year) is still the most well-preserved in the Chinese-speaking world.

5. Tainan Art Museum

Formerly the Tainan Police Department built during the Japanese colonization, it is the earliest existing police station in Taiwan today. Starting in 2018, it has been renovated and reopened as an art museum. The Art Deco appearance of the building gives away the financial situation of the Japanese empire during its construction in the 1930s: simple yet practical.

6. National Museum of Taiwan Literature

Constructed in 1916 during the golden age of Japanese colonization as the Tainan Prefecture government building, it was built luxuriously on the high grounds of Tainan region and the center of the city as a symbol of political power. The building was reopened in 2003 as the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, and now holds a large collection of local works in Taiwanese, Japanese, Mandarin and classical Chinese.

Every Tue / Thu / Sat / Sun 12:30 tour ends

Every Tue / Thu / Sat / Sun 10:00~12:30

Or,  book a private tour !

Meeting Point

Entrance of Chihkan Tower

(No. 212, Sec. 2, Minzu Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City, Taiwan)

Tip-based. Pay what you want!

Guide to tipping:

Nice: NT$300~400

Great: NT$400~500

Awesome: NT$500+

Important Notice

1. Booking is required to join the tour.

2. The guide is recognized with a green and white paper fan saying "Like It Formosa".

3. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bottle of water or an umbrella if needed.

4. This tour is wheelchair, stroller and kid-friendly.

5. This tour will take place rain or shine. However, if Tainan City Government announces a day off because of natural disasters, the tour will be canceled and you will be notified via email one day in advance.

6. If you are joining this tour with a group of more than five people (5+), or a group arranged by travel agencies, please fill in our private tour request form  to customize your needs. The idea of our free walking tours is to show the city to individual travelers and small groups, and is not suitable for last minute big groups. If no advance notice or booking is made, Like It Formosa and our guides reserve the right to refuse your participation in our tours.

7. In the event of emergency situations, please call the guide or message our  Facebook Fanpage .

8. Anything not covered hereunder, Like It Formosa reserves the right of final modification.

A Travel Guide to Tainan, Taiwan’s Original Capital

Tainan City (臺南 or “Taiwan South”) is in many ways the best major city in Taiwan for experiencing Taiwanese history and culture.

For over 200 years, Tainan was the capital of Taiwan. To this day, it retains a traditional vibe , with some of the country’s most important historical attractions and temples. Many locals also consider it the food capital of Taiwan. Outside of the city center, there are some quirkier attractions, like Cigu Salt Mountain , Guanziling Mud Hot Springs , and Sicao Green Tunnel .

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know for visiting Tainan, including the most famous and lesser-known sights, how to reach them, where to stay, how to plan your itinerary, and most important, what to eat in Tainan.

If you prefer a listicle, see these 70+ things to do in Tainan .

Table of Contents

Tainan History

Tainan’s history is so rich that it has been dubbed the Phoenix City (鳳凰城), after the mythological bird known to kill itself and rise from the ashes time and time again.

Tainan is the part of Taiwan where both Chinese and European settlers first arrived . The name Taiwan may come from the Taivoan aboriginal people who lived there at the time, or it may have come from the name “Tayouan” used by another local tribe, the Siraya.

Whichever theory is true , the word Taiwan eventually came to be used for the whole island, and the variation “Tainan” came to be used for that area. The Chinese chose the characters 臺南 or “Taiwan South”, which differentiates it from Taipei (Taiwan North), Taichung (Taiwan Middle), and Taitung (Taiwan East).

In 1622, the Dutch established Fort Zeelandia in today’s Anping District of Tainan. Dutch presence only lasted until Koxinga , a half-Chinese, half-Japanese pirate and Ming Dynasty loyalist, showed up and kicked them out.

While Koxinga’s Kingtom of Tungning based in Tainan only lasted 22 years, it would have long-lasting impact. Even today Koxinga is revered in Tainan and there are several temples dedicated to him. (As a fun side note, my wife’s family has the same surname as Koxinga (鄭), and they come from the Chiayi -Tainan area, so my father-in-law often jokes that he is a descendent of the pirate king.)

Koxinga’s rule ended dramatically when the Qing Dynasty took over – one Ming prince and his five concubines famously committed suicide in what is now the Grand Matsu temple in Tainan.

The following centuries saw waves of Chinese migration to Tainan and Taiwan. In 1858, the Qing rulers opened up Anping Port to foreign trade. Opium flowed in, while tea, sugar, and camphor flowed out. Today’s hot attraction, Anping Treehouse , is in one of those trading houses.

Tainan also became known for its salt production , with several salt-related attractions remaining today. This would last until 2002, when cheap salt flooded in after Taiwan joined the WTO.

When Taiwan was opened for trade, Taipei developed as the preferred port, thus the capital was moved from Tainan to Taichung (briefly) then to Taipei in 1887.

The Japanese kept Taipei as the capital during their colonial rule of Taiwan (1895 to 1945), but they also transformed Tainan. Several great examples remain and are tourist attractions, including Hayashi Department Store .

After the Japanese left and KMT arrived, Kaohsiung overtook Tainan as the main financial center in Southern Taiwan. Tainan of today is a medium-sized city with refreshingly few skyrises.

In 2010, Tainan City was merged with Tainan County (just like Taoyuan , Taichung, and Kaohsiung), so the whole area is now called Tainan City.

Tainan’s City Center is rich in historic temples and buildings. Anping District in the city’s northwest is known for Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia), Aping Treehouse, and Anping Old Street.

Getting to Tainan

Tainan is well connected to other major cities on the west coast of Taiwan. The closest international airport is in Kaohsiung – Tainan Airport only has domestic flights. Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is 1.5 hours away by High Speed Rail.

If you come to Tainan by regular (TRA) train , you’ll fin Tainan Station is conveniently located in the city center, where many old temples and sights are. If you want to visit Anping District, you’ll need to take a bus from there (45 minutes). Travel time from Taipei to Tainan by TRA is 3 to 4.5 hours. Find out how to buy tickets for these trains here .

Tainan’s High Speed Rail (HSR) station is located here , southeast of the city center. If you come by HSR , the travel time from Taipei will be faster (1 hr 45 min). Here’s how to book HSR tickets .

But then you’ll need to take a taxi (20 min) or local train (20 min) from Shalun Station on the TRA (regular train) line to the city center. Shalun station is connected to the HSR station. Buy discount HSR tickets here .

Kaohsiung is even closer, at only 30 min to 1 hr (TRA) or 15 minutes (HSR). Just keep in mind that Kaohsiung’s HSR station is also not in the city center of Kaohsiung but in Zuoying district.

There’s no MRT in Tainan. Make use of bicycles (Tainan has YouBike but also their own local T Bike system), taxis, or local buses to get around, as the city’s main attractions are rather spread out. You can see quite a bit on foot, but the occasional bus or taxi will help. GoogleMaps is fairly reliable for bus times and stop locations.

To visit places outside of the city center, you’re going to need more time. Buses tend to be slow. Consider hiring a driver for a day if you want to visit multiple places outside the city. Guanziling Mud Hot Spring is easier to reach from Chiayi city than from Tainan’s city center, even though it”s technically in Tainan.

Where to Stay in Tainan

For the Tainan city center, Huzi Room Guesthouse (see on Booking / Agoda ) is conveniently located near Tainan Station. For a hostel, U.I.J. Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) is one of the nicest ones I’ve ever seen.

For visitors with kids, Hotel Cozzi (see on Booking / Agoda ) is excellent, with family-themed rooms plus indoor and outdoor play areas.

If you decide to spend a night in Anping District , for visiting the many attractions there, I highly recommend Anping Inn Here (see on Booking / Agoda ).

If you want to spend a night in a hot spring hotel, the best one at Guanziling Mud Hot Spring is King’s Garden Villa (景大渡假莊園) (see on Klook / Agoda ). Read more about it in the “Things to Do” section below.

Top Things to Do in Tainan

I’ll separate the below into the top attractions in Tainan City Center, Anping District, and Outside the City Center. You can see even more pictures and details about each of these places in my guide to the best things to do in Tainan .

Tainan City Center

The Tainan city center, especially the area west of Tainan train station, is rich in historical attractions. There’s a long list of temples in Tainan , several of which are the oldest or most important of their kind in Taiwan.

The Confucius Temple stands out as the most popular, but others worth visiting are Koxinga’s Shrine (延平郡王祠), Lady Linshui’s Temple (臨水夫人媽廟), Wufei (五妃廟 or Five Concubines Temple), Grand Matsu Temple (臺南祀典大天后宮), and God of War Temple (臺灣祀典武廟).

Hayashi Department Store (台南林百貨) is a really cool Japanese-era art deco department store where the elite used to go shopping. Today its shops still sell luxury teas, crafts, jewelry, souvenirs, and so on. Don’t miss the original Shinto shrine on the roof!

Other interesting attractions in the Tainan city center include Chikhan Tower (赤崁樓), Tainan Park (臺南公園), Tainan Wu Garden (吳園藝文中心), Blueprint Culture & Creative Park (藍晒圖文創園區), Tainan Art Museum 1 & 2 (臺南市美術館1館/2館) and Black Bridge Sausage Museum (黑橋牌香腸博物館).

For atmospheric streets, check out Snail Alley (蝸牛巷) and Shennong Street (神農街). You can even rent a qipao to take photos on Shennong Street at night, when the lanterns are lit (see more places to rent qipaos in Taiwan here ).

For visitors with kids, or anyone who feels too hot, cool off in The Spring (河樂廣場), when it has water in it, that is! It’s closed on Tuesdays, during water shortages, or when they decide it isn’t hot enough out.

321 Art Alley Settlement (321巷 藝術聚落), once a very cool attraction, is unfortunately closed for at least a few years.

Anping District

Anping is the area originally settled by the Dutch. Although it may not feel like it, it’s actually an island formed by Anping Canal (read about other fascinating Taiwanese islands here ).

Anping can be reached in about 45 minutes by bus from Tainan city center. It is a very traditional area with some fascinating attractions.

Anping Fort (安平古堡 or Fort Zeelandia) is the top attraction. Right next to it, Anping Old Street (安平老街, see my guide) is a very traditional street specializing in prawn crackers and dried fruits.

Also right next to the fort, Anping Matsu Temple (安平開台天后宮 or Anping Kaitai Tianhou Temple) is truly impressive, especially the roof details.

A short walk from Anping Fort, Anping Treehouse (安平樹屋) is a unique attraction. There, banyan tree roots have been left to take over a former trading company’s warehouse.

Besides the above must-sees, some smaller attractions in Anping District include Eternal Golden Castle (二鯤鯓砲臺), Deyang Ship Destroyer (安平定情碼頭德陽艦園區), a parked US Navy Ship, Lin Mo-niang Park (林默娘公園臺) with its giant Matsu Statue, Anping Salt Beach White God (安平鹽神白沙灘公園), and Big Fish’s Blessing (大魚的祝福, a whale art installation).

For beautiful sunsets, head to Sunset Platform (觀夕平臺) or Yuguang Beach (漁光島沙灘) on Yuguang Island.

Outside the City Center

Outside the Tainan City Center, but still technically in “Tainan City” the attractions become less about history and more varied.

South of the Tainan City Center, Chimei Museum (奇美博物館) is one of the most interesting, if unexpected, museums in Taiwan. The museum looks like the White House in Washington D.C. with the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, complete with the Fountain of Apollo from Versailles in front.

The museum houses the extensive private collection of a local billionaire, include an amazing display of violins and ancient weapons. Buy your tickets online here .

Right next to Chimei, Ten Drum Cultural Village (十鼓文創園區) occupies a former sugar refinery. You could spend a whole day exploring its skywalk, rides, art installations, cafés, second-hand bookstore, and more. It was created by the 10 Drum Percussion Group. Get your tickets here or visit it as a part of this tour .

Just north of Anping District in Annan District, Sicao Green Tunnel (四草綠色隧道) is the best way to experience the coastal wetlands of Taijiang National Park (台江國家公園). Although the green canopy of trees over canal is a little artificial, it’s undeniably beautiful.

Also in Annan, Luerhmen Mazu Temple (正統鹿耳門聖母廟) is the world’s largest temple dedicated to Matsu, goddess of fishermen and the sea. National Museum of Taiwan History (國立臺灣歷史博物館) is excellent but out-of-the-way.

Continuing north from Anan District will bring you to a few salt-related attractions on the coast. Cigu Salt Mountain (七股鹽山 or Qigu Yanshan ) is a literal mountain of salt that you can climb. You can also taste salt ice cream, salt douhua , and other snacks. Learn more about Tainan’s salt history at the Salt Museum (七股遊客中心) nearby.

Further up the coast, almost in Chiayi, Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields (井仔腳瓦盤鹽田) is an extremely photogenic collection of salt fields on the coast. You can even try raking some salt or climb the tower for an especially good view. It’s free to visit and included on this tour .

If you’re in the area, might as well add Beimen Crystal Church (水晶教堂), reminiscent of the High Heeled Shoe Church in neighborhing Chiayi .

In the north, Laohutang Art Village (老塘湖藝術村) is an atmospheric art village, although not super easy to get to.

Guanziling (關子嶺溫泉) in the northeast is where you’ll find Taiwan’s best mud hot spring. There you can soak in silty hot spring water or even rub the mud on your body, which is good for the skin. King’s Garden Villa (景大渡假莊園) is the best place to try it.

Also in the hills of northeastern Tainan, Dongshan Coffee Road (175咖啡公路) is a great place to coffee plantations and cafés with beautiful surroundings. Just a few examples are here , here , and here . It’s a popular road for cycling. If you’re interested in Taiwanese coffee regions, also don’t miss Gukeng area in Yunlin .

Find a way to remote Erliao Sunrise Pavilion (台南二寮觀日亭) for sunrise. Head to Caoshan Moon World Grand Canyon (草山月世界大峽谷) for cool landscapes. Last but not least, families will enjoy Zhuozhen Fossil Museum (臺南左鎮化石園區).

Best Tainan Tours and Deals

The Klook Tainan Pass can save you a little money. It lets you choose 2-4 attractions in the city and you have 30 days to use it.

You can visit Tainan’s top attractions on this day tour from Kaohsiung . To see the salt attractions plus Ten Drum Cultural Village , try this tour . You can also hire a private driver to make a custom schedule for your Tainan trip.

Discounted tickets for Sicao Green Tunnel , Ten Drum Cultural Village , Chimei Museum , and more are available on Klook.

How to Plan Your Tainan Itinerary

When checking travelers’ Taiwan itinerary in my Taiwan Travel Planning group , I usually recommend that they spend one night in the Tainan city center and one night in Anping District to best enjoy this city.

For Chimei Museum and/or Ten Drum Village , it makes sense to visit them either on the way to or from the Tainan HSR station, which they are close to. Otherwise, you could visit these two attractions together as a day trip from Tainan city center .

If you are want to visit off-the-beaten track spots like the salt attractions north of the city, you’ll need to the better part of a day to reach them by bus – consider to hire a driver for the day to speed things up.

If you want to visit Guanziling Hot Spring , it’s easiest to do it as a day trip or overnight trip from Chiayi City, perhaps before of after going to Alishan.

What to Eat in Tainan

Tainan has its own distinctive cuisine, which has earned it a reputation as the culinary capital of Taiwan. Some classic Taiwanese dishes started in Tainan and spread around the island, but others are still largely only found in Tainan and neighboring areas like Chiayi and Kaohsiung.

Tainan has a reputation for putting sugar in everything. Sugar was a hot commodity and status symbol in the early days of colonial Tainan. To this day, you will find that most dishes have some sweetness to them.

Some classic and modern Tainan dishes to watch out for include eel noodles (鱔魚意麵), fried shrimp/oyster rolls (蝦 / 蚵捲), danzai noodles (擔仔麵), coffin bread (棺材板), rice pudding (碗粿), milkfish soup (虱目魚湯), milkfish congee (虱目粥), and Spanish mackerel stew (土魠魚羹).

To find any of the above while exploring Tainan, I suggest that you copy-paste their Mandarin name to GoogleMaps to find vendors near you.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, here’s my guide to finding vegetarian foods .

Tainan’s night markets are a great place to try the above, and the full gamut of Taiwanese street foods. But there’s something important to know: unlike most night markets in Taiwan , each night market is open on a different night of the week.

Go to Ta-Tung Night Market on Mon/Tues/Fri, Wusheng Night Market on Wed and Garden Night Market on Thus/Sat/Sun. All are a little outside the city center. See my guide to Tainan’s night markets for all the details.

In the daytime, check out the traditional Shuixian Gong Market (水仙宮市場) in the morning and the connected Yongle Market (永樂市場), which has lots of food stalls on its east side, and excellent sushi shop right next to the temple inside Shuixian Market.

For amazing ice cream, don’t miss these two shops on the same street. Tai Cheng Fruit Shop (泰成水果店) does amazing ice cream and fruit combinations. Quan Wei Jia Ice Cream (蜷尾家甘味處散步甜食) has interesting Japanese flavors of soft serve, like oolong tea and genmaicha (brown rice green tea).

Near Tainan Station, Xu Feng Hao (旭峯號) does ice cream and fruit juices in a very Instagrammable and iconic old building. For something more peculiar, there’s even a capybara café in Tainan, called Mogu Kabi – here are other places to see capybaras in Taiwan .

At night, check out Speakeasy Bar (赤崁中藥行), which is set up to look like a traditional Chinese medicine shop, and is housed in what used to actually be one.

On Anping Old Street, try the oyster rolls here and buy some prawn crackers and dried fruits to take home.

If you visit Cigu Salt Mountain, you can try salty douhua (豆花 or dessert tofu) and ice cream, while the Salt Museum has salty coffee in its café.

When traveling to Guanziling, no local visitor would miss stopping for a whole urn-roasted chicken (甕缸雞) on the way. Just a few possible ones are here and here . They’ll give you plastic gloves to rip the chicken apart yourself.

Tainan Events

In 2024, Tainan is hosting the 400-year anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch and founding of the city.

This will start with the 2024 Lantern Festival National Event , with festivities taking place in Anping district and around Tainan HSR station. See my Lantern Festival guide for all the details.

In other years, when it isn’t hosting the national event, Tainan will still have several lantern displays throughout the city, including the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival .

On the same day as the Lantern Festival, the annual Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival also takes place in Yanshui District of Tainan city. It is considered one of the most dangerous festivals in the world, with fireworks and bottle rocks being shot directly at crowds of people.

The Tainan Arts Festival usually falls in spring (March, April, May). Music lovers can watch for the Tainan May Jam and Tainan Summer Music Festival. For Dragon Boat Festival, Tainan’s races are usually help in Anping Canal. On Confucius’ birthday (September 28), expect festivities at the Confucius Temple in Tainan.

Winter is the best time to visit Sicao Green Tunnel and Taijiang National Park, where the rare migratory black faced spoonbill and other birds are best seen.

Last but not least, there are countless small temple fairs and parades throughout the year in Tainan, often in celebration of various gods’ birthdays. Don’t be surprised if you happen to stumble upon one. Follow the sound of firecrackers!

Read about other holidays and festivals in Taiwan here .

A Travel Guide to Taoyuan City, Taiwan’s “Peach Garden”

The 20 best night markets in taiwan, from north to south, 6 thoughts on “a travel guide to tainan, taiwan’s original capital”.

Hi. I enjoyed this post of yours! I’ll be visiting Tainan, for the first time, on 26-28 April. Would you have any suggestions on which places I should check out?

All my suggestions are in the article above.

Thanks Nick for this amazing article. We are planning to come in December with a 9 year old. We are just wondering which place would be more kid friendly Kaohsiung or Tainan? We would be in Taiwan for almost 9 days.

Kaohsiung is a larger city and has more kid-friendly attractions than Tainan. Kaohsiung has a zoo, some theme parks, etc. It also has better public transportation. Tainan’s main attractions are old temples and historic buildings, which kids mostly don’t care about.

Thank you so much for your detailed Tainan guide! We just got back this past weekend from a 10 day trip which included Tainan, and we definitely took your recommendations. We stayed in Anping in an AirBnB for our large family, which was great because it included a kitchen to prepare all the amazing local fruit that was in season. The June weather in Tainan was very hot and humid, A/C was definitely needed. The Anping Matsu Temple was really cool to visit- the temple had great local guides who are very knowledgeable and passionate about the temple. They know all the back stories of the temple, but they do not speak english well so you need a bilingual person in your group to get the most out of the tour. The Deyang Destroyer was a hit for the teenage males in the family. The other ship attraction just 5 min walk north, which was a reproduction Koxinga-era warship, was unfortunately closed. Apparently the humidity and heat encourages rot and termites, and these destroyed the ship. Thank you again!!

Thanks for your feedback. So glad you enjoyed the trip!

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Taiwan’s True Capital

Most of you are here to create a Tainan itinerary—and I’ll address you all in a minute. But before I do, I’d like to tell a little story about how I came to find myself in Tainan one weekend in the hottest, wettest part of summer 2019 in the first place.

Indeed, I almost traveled to Tainan—I almost moved there!—a decade ago. Having reached the end of my rope teaching English in Shanghai , I reached out to an American couple I’d met traveling in Cambodia that February. It’s not a fantastic job , she’d been honest. But apart from us , he interjected, you’d be the only teacher there, so it would be a secure one.

The good news, of course, was that I ended up not needing to take them up on their offer: Days later, I got my first-ever online freelance writing gig, which was the springboard into making money online, and to enjoying the life I now lead. A life that eventually saw me relocate from Bangkok to Taipei .

Anyway, let’s get to my Tainan travel guide.

Where to Stay in Tainan

This does not, on its own, explain why I just spent the better part of 3 days in Tainan. For that we need to go back to late April, when I stayed in Taipei for a month to test out what living there would be like. An exhibition at Huashan 1914 Creative Park portrayed Tainan, which was Taiwan ‘s ancient capital, in an extremely flattering light—I was quickly sold; but finding the right opportunity to go took longer.

In fact, it was just about a week ago that my friend Sean (who originally hails from Tainan) said he might want to accompany me to his hometown. At the moment we checked into our stylish (but somewhat non-functional) room at Konkai Inn last Friday afternoon, our trip had been confirmed for less than 48 hours.

A Few of My Favorite Things to Do in Tainan

Tainan confucius temple.

As (bad) luck would have it, Sean’s mother suddenly fell ill around this time, so he headed to a nearby hospital to check on her as I began exploring alone. My first stop, Wu Garden , was so disappointing and bland I forgot I visited until I was going through my notes. The second, Tainan Confucius Temple , was beautiful enough, though it was undergoing extensive renovations, to say nothing of the downpour that began falling as I approached its main pagoda.

Hayashi Department Store

The heaviest rain tapered off, but the drizzle was steady enough that I decided to hold off visiting more Tainan attractions until Sean returned from the hospital. At that time, it was still a bit damp, so we headed first to 卓家汕頭魚麵 ( Zhuō jiā shàntóu yú miàn ) and dined noodles made from pounded fish right in front of a temple no less. Afterwards, we made our way to Hayashi Department Store , which was built when Taiwan was under the control of Imperial Japan and, appropriately, looks like it was transported directly from Ginza . We got lot in several picturesque temples and alleyways (as one does in Tainan) on our way back to the hotel, where Sean received news that his mother’s illness was significantly less serious than she had feared.

Chihkan Tower

I can’t lie: The rain of Friday afternoon and evening put me in a terrible mood, not unlike how I’d felt during the first several days of my melodramatic Taiwan road trip last October . As I went for my morning run Saturday, however, a blue sky revealed itself in the encroaching daylight. Sean wanted to sleep in a bit, so I retraced some of my footsteps from the previous day, stopping at the Confucius Temple (which looked much more beautiful in full sunlight), Quanmei Theater with its hand-drawn movie posters and Chihkan Tower , the most famous when it comes to what to do in Tainan, which originally dates back to the Dutch-colonial period of the mid-17th century.

Sicao Green Tunnel and Anping Old Town

Sean had woken up by the time I returned and, after a delicious breakfast in the cerulean-toned dining room of Konkai Inn, we made our way westward to the aptly-named Sicao Green Tunnel . I’d expected our boat ride through the mangrove swamp to be a hot mess, but while it was definitely hot it was often enjoyable, from the scenic views of Dazhong Temple , to wildlife like the vermillion fiddler crab and snowy black-faced spoonbill. Unfortunately, Sean started to feel a bit sick himself around this time, though he pushed on as long as he could. We managed to see about half the attractions in Dutch-colonial Anping ( Anping Old Fort , Anping Tree House and Anping Old Street ) and even eat both Chou’s famous shrimp rolls and dou hua tofu pudding before Sean finally cried uncle.

Garden Night Market

After Sean left, I ascended to the top of Fort Zeelandia , where the view (and the smeared windows through which I viewed it) ever so slightly let me down. I stopped in at a local coffee shop, where I enjoyed a delicious cocktail that mixed espresso and whiskey, and the local “coffin toast” specialty before making my way to to Eternal Golden Castle, where a black swan was swimming in the moat (surrounded, ironically, by white swan boats). Overheated and exhausted, I decided not to wait four hours at the nearby Sunset Platform , and instead headed back to the city center to meet Sean, who told me he felt a lot better. After a quick dinner of fried egg noodle ( yi mian ) soup at Xiǎodòu Dòuguō Shāo restaurant, we headed to one of Sean’s least favorite Tainan night markets, Garden Night Market ( Da Dong , his favorite, was closed).

Chimei Museum

Sunday morning, as our local train headed from Tainan Station toward the distant high speed rail hub that also bears the name “Tainan,” I realized I’d made a terrible omission during my Tainan itinerary: I hadn’t eaten dan zhai noodles, which are perhaps the city’s most famous dish, once. Sean, who’d taken this train to and from his rural home to his city high school, felt wistful as we entered the vehicle. As we stepped off and began our long march toward the European-looking Chimei Museum , which is owned by Tainan’s richest man Shi Wen-long, the heat of the day zapped us as quickly as the F-15s flying overhead, no doubt performing a drill to try and send a message to the thugs on the mainland . Inside, the exhibition raised my estimation of Shi’s wealth, and of Tainan’s, figuratively speaking: Tainan might not be Taiwan’s political capital anymore, but Chimei Museum is certainly the island’s most conspicuous display of culture.

When to Visit Tainan

It rained for at least the first 12 hours I spent in Tainan, which led me to believe that by traveling there on the second of August, I’d come during the bleakest part of the rainy season. In reality, both Saturday and Sunday ended up being clear (if scorching), so I’m happy to report that if you too plan to travel during the months of July and August, you should have at least a couple of clear days.

On the other hand, while many of the Tainan things to do are rather evergreen, even in the case of rain, I do wish I’d come during a slightly cooler time. Sean tells me that months like April and October are more pleasant and relatively dry, though if you’re already in Taiwan (living here like me or just chill in Taipei for a while, as one does), you might consult a weather forecast before taking a trip of the relatively last-minute sort (as one also does) and choose the sunniest weekend you can.

Tainan vs Kaohsiung

I originally thought to entitle this section Tainan vs Taipei, since it seems obvious to compare Taiwan’s original capital with its former one. However, provincial Tainan has little else in common with cosmopolitan Taipei, apart from how abjectly sunshine (or a lack thereof) transforms the mood of both cities.

Rather, I see more parallels between Tainan and Kaohsiung , the largest city of southern Taiwan. Although I grew to like Tainan more as my trip wore on, and in equal measure with how far off the tourist trail (which is rather minimally trodden, anyway) I wandered, I do think Kaohsiung is more satisfying during a comprehensive Taiwan itinerary than Tainan. Tainan’s slow-burn sights and fickle charm are better for Taiwan travelers (or residents, as the case may be) who are comfortable enough on this island to see—and dig—deeper.

FAQ About What to Do in Tainan

Is tainan worth visiting.

Absolutely! If my list of things to do in Tainan doesn’t convince you of that, I encourage you to speak to any Taiwanese person. Even northerners who hail from Taipei or Taichung love Tainan, for reasons I think are clear by this point.

What is Tainan famous for?

Taiwan is primarily famous for A) its culinary culture and B) the fact that it was once the capital of Taiwan. These reasons are well reflected in the list of Tainan things to do I’ve presented in this article, and are unavoidable when you visit.

How many days should I spend in Tainan?

This Tainan itinerary is based on the assumption that you will spend 2-3 days in Tainan. However, you can enjoy Taiwan’s true capital in as little as a day (a very long day!); you can easily spend a week in Tainan or longer without getting bored. The topic of how many days in Tainan is important, but it’s not essential—you can always come back, after all!

The Bottom Line

Once the weather (and my mood) became favorable to exploring Tainan, I quickly went from being ambivalent about (maybe even disappointed with) Taiwan’s original capital to being slowly but surely charmed by it. From the eclectic mix of Chinese temples and pre-war Japanese architecture in its immediate center, to the Dutch-colonial flair (but decidedly Taiwanese flavors) of seaside Anping, Tainan Taiwan is a city that demands time—and patience. Still not sure where it fits into your Tainan trip? Hire me as your Taiwan Travel Coach! Once you suss out things to do, whether in this Tainan travel guide or some other way, Tainan is a breeze of a city to explore!

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10 Best Things To Do In Tainan (3 Day Tainan Itinerary)

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: July 24, 2024

Categories Taiwan

Tainan was the 2nd city we visited in Taiwan and I liked it even more than Kaohsiung. Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest and the former capital (from 1683 until 1887).

That's why there are many interesting things to see and lots of historic sites to explore. Most of the things to do in Tainan are located in the very walkable city center.

Or, do as we did and cycle your way around town!

10 best things to do in Tainan

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

3 day Tainan itinerary: map and highlights

We traveled to Tainan from Kenting National Park and spent 3 days in this lovely city.

Tainan was a particularly interesting city for us to visit, because of the Dutch history. I'm Dutch myself, so it's always interesting to visit places with a bit of Dutch history, though sadly, our history isn't always something to be proud of…

The city of Tainan is also famous for its many ancient temples, but there are many other worthwhile places to visit as well in this relatively small city. Check out the map below to see what to do in Tainan.

Click here for the interactive map.

3 days in Tainan: summary

• Tainan day 1:  visit the City God Temple, Koxinga's shrine, the great South gate, and the Tainan Confucious temple.
• Tainan day 2:  visit the Hayashi Department Store, the Land Bank of Taiwan, the Grand Mazu Temple and Chihkan Tower, Anping Old Fort, and the (Anping) Grand Mazu Temple.
• Tainan day 3:  visit the National Museum of Taiwan.

Plan your Taiwan trip like a pro with these tools: ? Pick up an EasyCard for cashless payments and to use public transport. ? Book discounted tickets for Taiwan's high-speed rail. ? Stay connected with a  Taiwan Wifi router . ? Plan your journey with the  T aiwan Lonely Planet . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Klook or Get Your Guide . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

What to do in Tainan: itinerary day 1

After our excellent biking experience in Kaohsiung, we decided to continue our explorations by bike in Tainan as well (read more about the bike rental system in Tainan in the transport section below).

City God Temple

We cycled past the colorful City God Temple but didn't go inside as it was very busy with local people. I never want to intrude too much when people are worshiping, whichever religion it may be.

Koxinga's Shrine

Up next was Koxinga's Shrine, I particularly liked the beautiful garden.

An interesting piece of history: Koxinga conquered the Dutch who had established several outposts in Taiwan and subsequently founded his own dynasty (the Kingdom of Tungning).

Great South Gate

We continued to the Great South Gate. While the gate itself was quite nice, I loved the tree (pictured on the right) which is slowly but surely taking over the wall!

Confucius Temple

Our last stop of the day was the Confucius Temple, we strolled around the gardens and admired the beautifully decorated buildings, don't you love those doors!

The complex was built in 1665 and it's impressive how well-preserved the buildings and intricate carvings are.

Things to see in Tainan: itinerary day 2

Hayashi department store.

Tainan has a reasonably walkable historical centre so we started our second day on foot. It was just a short walk from our hotel  to the famous Hayashi Department Store, built during the Japanese rule of Taiwan.

When the store had just opened, people used to queue up to ride the elevator, a novelty for that time (1932)!

Across Hayashi Department Store is the Land Bank, an impressive-looking building that's modeled after a Greek temple.

Grand Mazu Temple

From the Land Bank, we walked to the Grand Matsu Temple (also known as Datianhou or Grand Mazu Temple).

This beautiful and colorful temple was built in 1684 for Mazu, Goddess of the Sea. The Mazu Temple is a very popular attraction in Tainan and a national monument.

Chikan Tower

Across the temple is the Chikan Tower, another interesting tourist attraction and rumored to have a secret tunnel leading all the way to Fort Zeelandia…

Next to the Chikan tower was a bike rental station and we hopped on a bike and cycled to the Anping area, the other district in Tainan you can't miss!

We cycled along the channel which offered some great city views.

It's around 5 kilometers from the Chikan Towers to Fort Zeelandia, you could walk as well but we preferred our bikes.

Fort Zeelandia (also known as Anping Fort)

For me, Fort Zeelandia was the highlight of our Tainan itinerary because I find it fascinating to imagine how people explored the world centuries ago.

Long before the arrival of planes, TV, and social media… Sailing into the unknown, not knowing if you would ever return to your home country…

It takes real courage and an adventurous spirit to sign up for such a journey!

Anyway, I digress. Fort Zeelandia was built by the V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) on the shores of Southwest Taiwan in the early 17th century.

The fort was used as a trading outpost for several years, but eventually the Dutch were defeated and left Taiwan.

The fort was our final stop of the day, from the Anping district we cycled back to our hotel.

If you plan to visit multiple historical sites in Tainan, such as Anping Old Fort, Anping Tree House, Chihkan Tower, and the Eternal Golden Castle, you can save money with the Tainan Historic Sites Pass .

Places to visit in Tainan: itinerary day 3

National museum of taiwan history.

On our third day in Tainan, we visited the National Museum of Taiwan History. We cycled there (about 8 kilometers) in the early morning and spent the majority of the day learning about the history of Taiwan.

Did you know this little island has been occupied by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese, and the Japanese?! I did not, I learned that and much more in the museum, a day well spent.

Get the excellent audio guide! We bought a combination ticket for 2 people including entrance fee and 2 audio guides for just 250NT.

The best time to visit Tainan

We visited Tainan in mid-May and had nice weather. It was quite humid and hot, but we didn't have any rain.

Monsoon season starts at the end of May and continues until September. During monsoon season it's very humid and rainy so these months are not the best for a trip to Tainan.

Keep in mind that the winter months (December – February) can get relatively cold (around 10 degrees Celsius).

Altogether, the best months to visit Tainan are March/April and October/November . During these months temperatures are comfortable (around 25 degrees) and the chances of rain are the lowest.

Tainan travel budget

As you can see in the itinerary above, we did a lot of sightseeing in Tainan. However, this doesn't mean a visit to Tainan will break the bank.

In fact, it's very easy to visit Tainan on a budget, during our 3 days in Tainan we spent approximately €50 per day (for us as a couple, so just €25 per person!).

We ate delicious local food, drank bubble tea, and tried stinky tofu (not my favorite). Below you can find more information about our accommodation and how to get around Tainan city.

Where to stay in Tainan – Tie Dao Hotel

We felt Tie Dao Hotel was excellent value for money: we only paid €17 per night for a small, but newly renovated, room.

The location of the hotel is great, across Tainan train station and next to a T-bike station (Tainan's public bike rental).

We stayed in a spotless room with a comfortable bed. The bathroom was modern and the shower had good water pressure and a constant temperature.

Towels and toiletries were provided, and there were hot and cold water dispensers in the hallway. WiFi wasn't great but overall it was much more than we expected for the price we paid.

Important note: we first got room 1319 on the 13th floor, which was being renovated at the time of our stay. However, I asked for a different room because the room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. We got a renovated room on the 2nd floor (219) instead, which was very clean and didn't smell at all.

How to get around Tainan: transportation

Cycling is very popular in Taiwan, there are great public bike rental systems in place in Kaohsiung, Taipei , Taichung , and, to our delight, in Tainan as well.

Since we're from the Netherlands, we're used to cycling everywhere.

So for us, this was the perfect way to explore these Taiwanese cities while getting some (much-needed) exercise in the process (because of all the delicious food we ate in Taiwan).

In Tainan the public bike rental service is called T-Bike, you can find more information on this website . There is an app available (in Chinese) that you can use to locate a bike rental station.

You can use an EasyCard to register ( read more about the EasyCard here and in my Kaohsiung post ) or pay with a credit card.

In order to register your EasyCard at a T-bike station, you'll need a Taiwanese number.

Unfortunately, you can only register one EasyCard per Taiwanese phone number in Tainan. We wanted to rent two bikes, so we used one EasyCard to rent a bike and our credit card for the second one.

Tainan things to do: in conclusion

That’s everything about our 3-day trip to Tainan, the old capital! It ended up being one of our favorite places in Taiwan and I hope this article has given you an idea of which places to visit in Tainan.

If you've got more time to spend in Tainan, here are some other popular places to add to your itinerary:

• Anping Treehouse: this is a former warehouse that's been covered by a huge banyan tree.
• Tainan Park: this is a lovely green park and a very pleasant space to relax or have a picnic.
• Tainan Art Museum: situated in the West Central District, this interesting museum features local artwork.

You can download the list of all the Tainan attractions mentioned in the post below.

Do you want to read more about traveling in Taiwan ? Also check out these posts:

• 10 amazing beaches in Taiwan
• 15 great Taipei day trips
• Taiwan travel budget
• Taiwan travel itinerary
• Things to do in Hualien
• Things to do in Kenting
• Things to do in Taitung
• Where to stay in Taiwan on a budget

This post was updated in February 2023.

Saturday 28th of October 2017

Will be heading to Tainan in December! Thanks for sharing this wonderful guide Lotte.

Very welcome! Enjoy Tainan and don't forget to eat lots of delicious food while you are there;-)

Wednesday 28th of June 2017

Excellent, informative post. So interesting to hear about the Dutch history in Taiwan, I wonder if any influence on the language or culture was left behind. I also had a curious experience exploring Hong Kong, which is an old British colony - its a wonderful, fascinating culture but I still stumbled across a traditional British afternoon tea, which was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Thursday 29th of June 2017

Thank you Mark! I don't think much of the Dutch culture was left behind, but definitely some architecture and Dutch names. Haha, British afternoon teas are the best:-). Do you have the name of the place? Would love to check it out next time I'm in Hong Kong!

Ryan Biddulph

Saturday 24th of June 2017

Hi Lotte, I never knew Taiwan had any Dutch influence? Fascinating. Your countrymen were great explorers though. I did know of the Dutch influence in Bali for many years before the Balinese became independent. Loving the pics. Tainan looks like a fun place to visit. Thanks for sharing :) Ryan

Monday 26th of June 2017

Thank you Ryan! Haha, yes the Dutch love to explore... Indonesia was a colony back in the days, as was Suriname (which we traded for New York, in hindsight that wasn't the smartest decision;-).

70 Things to Do in Tainan, Taiwan’s Ancient Capital

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Tainan is the original capital of Taiwan and one of the country’s most culturally rewarding destinations. Nicknamed “Phoenix City” after its shape and its phoenix trees, Tainan is famous for its historic sights and considered the food capital of Taiwan .

Some of the top things to do in Tainan city center including touring the city’s historic temples and artsy lanes and districts. A hop over to Anping District , with its forts and famous treehouse, is also a must, while Tainan’s night markets are mostly found outside the city center, too.

Further afield (keeping in mind that ever since 2010, “Tainan City” now encompasses all of what used to be “Tainan County”), there are worthwhile Tainan day trips to impressive salt fields, mud hot springs, and the fear-inducing Yanshui fireworks festival.

Below I’ll cover the top attractions in Tainan City Center (West Central District), North and South District, Anping, Annan, and other places to visit around Tainan, based on multiple visits I’ve made over my past decade-plus of living in Taiwan , including most recently in mid-2022. For more general info about visiting, see my guide to Tainan .

You can find lots of discounts for Tainan activities and attractions on Klook, such as this Tainan historical sights pass . If you sign up with my referral link first, you’ll get NTD100 off your first booking!

Table of Contents

Getting to Tainan

From Taipei, the regular (TRA) train takes 3-4 hours, and seats can be reserved 2 weeks in advance. The TRA station is conveniently located in the Tainan city center, walking distance from the main sights.

By taking the High Speed Rail to Tainan, you can get there in 1.5-2 hours, but it will cost around twice as much. You can order discounted HSR tickets to Tainan and read how to reserve seats with them here , up to 28 days in advance. It’s also important to note that the Tainan HSR station is well out of the city center, to the southeast.

Upon arrival at the HSR station, simply hop onto the regular train at Shalun Station (it’s connected by a walkway to the HSR station – it takes less than 5 minutes to transfer). The local train from Shalun to Tainan TRA station takes 22 minutes; almost the same as a taxi, but a fraction of the price. You can swipe an EasyCard to board the local train, and there are regular departures. You can also go into the city by private transfer or by taxi.

In Tainan, you can rent a scooter or Gogoro for exploring the sights; it’s also possible to visit most places on foot, but the sights are quite spread out, so the occasional bus and/or taxi ride will make your explorations more feasible.

Where to Stay in Tainan

There are loads of hotels and hostels to choose from in Tainan. Many of the hostels and budget hotels are in atmospheric old buildings.

When I last visited, I stayed in the low-budget hotel Wabisabi (see on Booking / Agoda ). My miniature room was in the Japanese worker’s dormitory style, like staying in a capsule hotel but facing a small courtyard. It was definitely an experience, but perhaps not for everyone. It was conveniently located near Shennong Street, Yongle Market, and Matsu Grand Temple.

For a comfortable guesthouses conveniently located near Tainan Train Station, try Huzi Room (see on Booking / Agoda ). For visitors with kids, Hotel Cozzi (see on Booking / Agoda ) is highly recommended.

If you decide to spend a night in Anping like I did (see the Anping section of this article), I highly recommend Anping Inn Here (see on Booking / Agoda ). It’s brand new, close to the Old Street, and my room came with a large bean bag chair and free drinks. The owner was super friendly and even let me borrow her scooter!

Central Tainan Attractions

Tainan City’s West Central District (中西區) can be considered the city center of modern-day Tainan. All the Tainan sights below are within walking distance of the Tainan Train Station (the TRA, or regular train station, not the HSR, or Tainan High Speed Rail station, which is a ways south of the city center).

It would be too much to try to visit all of the below Tainan attractions in a single day, but if you want to try, I’ve listed them roughly in a sort of zig-zag order across the city center that I actually followed myself on one wild day of touring Tainan, starting from the Tainan Train Station. I would suggest picking and choosing, especially when the weather’s hot!

This list starts out with lots of temples; but scroll on for a variety of other things to do!

Taiwanfu City God Temple

A 10-minute walk southwest of Tainan Train Station, the small Taiwanfu City God Temple (臺灣府城隍廟) features a giant abacus used for calculating people’s good and bad deeds. You can spot it above the entranceway when you first step inside the temple (see right side of the photo above).

“Taiwanfu” refers to the Prefecture of Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, and this temple is dedicated to the god who protected that “city”. It is the oldest of several City God temples in Taiwan, including one on Dihua Street in Taipei . 

You can read more about this and other local temples in my guide to the most important Buddhist and Taoist temples in Tainan .

See my similar guides to the top attractions in Taipei and attractions in Kaohsiung .

Dongyue Temple

Five minutes further south on foot, the Dongyue (東嶽殿) or “Hell Temple” is a small but colorful temple where you can spot demon statues, and people go there to communicate with the dead through spirit mediums. There’s a good chance you could even witness such a ceremony there; I did when I visited!

Yanping Junwang Temple (Koxinga Shrine) and Koxinga Museum

These two structures in the same park are dedicated to Koxinga ( Zheng Cheng Gong in Mandarin or Kok-sìng-iâ in Taiwanese language ), one of the most important figures in Tainan’s (and Taiwan’s) history. Koxinga was son to a Chinese pirate and Japanese woman. He was responsible for expelling the Dutch from Taiwan and establishing the Kingdom of Tungning, the first Han state in Taiwan. The temple was constructed by Koxinga’s son, Zheng Jing, to honor his father.

This beautiful Yanping Junwang Temple (延平郡王祠), also called Koxinga Shrine (but not to be confused with the Koxinga Ancestral Shrine, or 鄭成功祖廟, near Hayashi Department Store) sits in a calm park that also has a large statue of Koxinga riding a horse and a Shinto stone gate, right in front of the temple. The temple contains cultural artifacts and lots of info covering the history of the shrine and Tainan.

The large Koxinga Museum (鄭成功文物館) next to the temple is currently undergoing major renovations and was closed when I last visited in mid-2022.

Lady Linshui’s Temple

Just across the street from the park, Lady Linshui’s Temple (臨水夫人媽廟) is famous for its many depictions of women. Lady Linshui was a Taoist priest in Fuzhou, China who is said to have brought rains during a flood, but lost her baby as a result.

Women visit Lady Linshui’s temple to pray for a successful pregnancy, or they bring babies who cry too much there. Make sure to visit the second floor at the back, which features especially stunning paintings, such as in the above photo.

Wufei / Temple of the Five Concubines

It’s a bit of a detour to the south, but if you make it, you’ll be rewarded with a visit to this small temple, called Wufei Temple (五妃廟), in a serene park.

The temple honors the five concubines of the Ming Prince Zhu Shugui (朱術桂), who committed suicide along with the prince himself when the Qing Dynasty took over in 1683. The concubines killed themselves in the prince’s palace, which now houses the Tainan Grand Matsu Temple (see below). Wufei used to have beautiful cracked paintings of the concubines (see my picture above, taken several years ago), but unfortunately they are now replaced with ugly printouts, which hopefully they will eventually replace with new paintings.

Tainan Confucius Temple

The Tainan Confucius Temple (臺南孔廟) is the oldest of several Confucius temples across Taiwan (read about them in my guides to temples in Taipei and things to do in Taichung ) and is arguably Tainan’s most famous attraction. The temple was constructed by Zheng Jing and is considered the first educational institution in Taiwan. Like other Confucius temples, it is known for its simplicity of design, contrary to the busy designs of most Taiwanese temples.

You can enter the Confucius Temple from the gate on the east side, opposite Kongmiao Shopping District (see below). Entrance to the grounds is free, but you’ll need to pay NT40 (students/seniors 30) to enter the Main Hall. West of the temple, via another gate, is the Japanese-built Tainan Wude Hall (原臺南武德殿), or Old Tainan Martial Arts Hall (台南武德殿), which isn’t usually open to the public, but looks cool when lit up at night.

Kongmiao Shopping District

Named after the Confucius Temple, Kongmiao Shopping District (孔廟商圈) is an atmospheric street lined with cafés and craft/souvenir shops leading east from the entrance to Tainan Confucius Temple. It’s best to visit in the afternoon or early evening when the shops are actually open. 

Tainan Art Museum

The popular Tainan Art Museum has two locations not far apart. Building 1 (臺南市美術館1) is housed in an old art deco police station and is across the street from the northeastern corner of the Tainan Confucius Temple. Building 2 (臺南市美術館2館) is a large, contemporary museum in a striking white building (see image above), a short walk west of Tainan Confucius Temple and Wude Hall.

You can buy discounted Tainan Art Museum tickets online here .

Hayashi Department Store

The evocative Hayashi Department Store(台南林百貨) is a Japanese-built art deco department store dating to 1932. Wealthy people would have gone shopping there during Japanese colonial period in Tainan.

The once abandoned department store has been totally fixed up and is a department store once again, with five floors of artisanal goods, teas, jewelry, and souvenirs.

Check out the 4th floor for some relics of the original building and displays covering the building’s history. The rooftop houses a café and the ruins of a Japanese Torii shrine overlooking the city. There’s even some damage from WII.

Tiantan Tiangong Temple

Tiantan Tiangong Temple (臺灣首廟天壇) is worth a quick stop to see the calligraphy tablet that consists of a single stroke – it is considered one of the three most famous tablets in Taiwan. You can spot it on the ceiling above the main shrine. The temple is was built in 1854 on the site of what was the oldest temple in Taiwan, an altar that was used by Koxinga to communicate with the gods.

Behind (east of) the temple, a small dessert restaurant called 鷲嶺食肆 is housed in a beautiful Japanese-era house, while the Former Tainan Weather Observatory (原台南測候所) is an iconic, circular Tainan landmark beside it.

Tainan Wu Garden

The Tainan Wu Garden (吳園藝文中心) is a short walk from there, with a lovely coy pond, pavilion, and wooden teahouse called Daybreak 18 (奉茶.十八卯), pictured above.

Down a small lane (Zhongshan Road Lane 79) to the east of Wu Garden is a popular fruit juice and ice cream shop called 旭峯號 that is housed in an iconic, classically Tainan-style building. It has become something of an Instagram hotspot in recent years. 

Snail Alley

Skipping over to the west now (I recommend hopping in a cab on Zhongshan Road if you want to avoid the 10-minute walk), Snail Alley (蝸牛巷) is a cute, super narrow lane that contains a few cafés. These include Pâtisserie Le Paradise (巴哈迪 印象甜品工房), which sells snail-shaped cakes (pictured above), and a cocktail bar called Bar Lonely (籠裏). There’s also a snail mosaic in the alley.

The location of Snail Alley on GoogleMaps is not quite right and led me astray. I recommend going to Minsheng Road Section 1 #157 (民生路一段157號) to find it, or search Serendipity Café (不經意的美好 by 熹餐廳) on GoogleMaps. The alley starts right beside it.

Tai Cheng Fruit Shop

About 5 minutes’ walk from Snail Alley, this ice cream shop (and the next entry, which is right across the street from it) have become all the rage in Tainan.

Tai Cheng Fruit Shop (泰成水果店) is literally a fruit shop, but they became famous when they started adding traditional Taiwanese ice cream (like sorbet, and totally vegan!) to huge pieces of fruit. Their half melon filled with scoops of ice cream (NT220, good for 2 people) is the most famous, but there are also pineapple and mango versions.

Quan Wei Jia Ice Cream 

Opposite Tai Cheng, Quan Wei Jia Ice Cream (蜷尾家甘味處散步甜食) is a Japanese-style soft serve ice cream shop. You can expect tasty flavors like almond, earl gray, oolong tea, and genmaicha (brown rice green tea). If you can’t decide between the two ice cream shops, just get both like I did! There are also some really cute little shops in the area.

Tainan’s “Spring” (河樂廣場) is a pretty public artificial pond and water fountain. You can walk in it to cool your feet off after exploring the sights, or do as the locals do and sit in the shaded area under the street overpass. I wish we could have something like this in Taipei! This is a great stop for anyone visiting Tainan with kids.

Note that it is closed on Tuesdays for cleaning. It may also sometimes be empty when there are water shortages, which is a common problem in Taiwan, or when the weather is cool. Always check the more recent reviews on GoogleMaps before you go.

Shennong Street

Shennong Street(神農街) is one of the most atmospheric streets in Tainan. It used to be a row of shops like one of the 5 canals (五條港) leading to Anping Harbor. Boats used to go right up to the back doors of the shops.

The street is especially in the evening when all the shops are open and lanterns are lit up along the street. It runs west to east, starting at the Medicine Temple (see below) and ending at Shuixian Gong Market (also see below).

On Shennong Street, don’t miss Fat Cat Story , a cat café at the western end near the Medicine Temple. They’ve only got one cat, Bing Bing, but he’s lovey and cute, and they’ll give you food to feed him at your table. If cat cafes are your thing, here are my recommended cat cafes in Taipei , where it all started! And it’s not on Shennong Street, but there is also a capybara cafe in Tainan (there are several capybara cafes and zoo across Taiwan ).

Medicine, Wind, and Water Temples

These three Taoist temples are small but considered some of the most important in the city. They are all within a few minute’s walk from each other in the Shennong Street Area.

Medicine Temple (三協境全台開基藥王廟) is at the western end of Shennong Street, Wind Temple (風神廟) is just a few steps off Shennong Street, and Water Temple (臺郡三郊水仙宮) is inside Shuixian Gong Market (see below).

Shuixian Gong Market

Shuixian Gong Market  (水仙宮市場) is a traditional wet market (think lots of raw fish and meat, open in the morning only), but it’s worth visiting for the excellent sushi bar right in the middle of it, called 達也濱家漁場.

The Water Temple is also right in the market, a few steps from the sushi bar, and the market is named after it.

Yongle Market

Yongle Market (永樂市場) is another large morning market that is connected to Shuixian Market, starting right behind the Water Temple.

It is similar to Shuixian Gong Market, but features more restaurants and food stalls, especially along Guohua Street Section 3 (國華街三段). These include 科芬園砂鍋魚頭, where you can try fish head stew, a Chiayi dish that was famously featured on the Netflix series Street Food Asia (this isn’t the restaurant that was featured, but it’s the same dish).

Tainan Grand Mazu Temple

The most famous Matsu temple in Tainan’s city center is Tainan Grand Matsu Temple (大天后宮), but there are also impressive Matsu temples in Anping and Luehrmen (see below sections of this article).

Originally this Matsu temple was the palace of the Ming Prince Zhu Shugui and his five concubines before they killed themselves on the eve of the Qing takeover. They killed themselves in what is now the second room of the temple when you enter.

The palace was later converted into a temple honoring Matsu, goddess of the sea, who is often considered Taiwan’s patron goddess. The large Matsu statue on the main altar is a masterpiece that inspired many later Matsu statues in Taiwan. It was made over 300 years ago by a master from Quanzhou, China.  

God of War Temple

Near the Grand Matsu Temple, the God of War Temple (臺灣祀典武廟)  features a long, crimson red outer wall running along the street. Another unique feature is the super tall threshold at the entrance, dating to when women were banned from entering the temple.

Chihkan Tower

Across Minzu Road from the God of War Temple, Chikhan Tower (赤崁樓) is another of the city’s most recognizable structures. Originally called Fort Provintia (普羅民遮城), it was built by the Dutch in 1652, making it the oldest still preserved building in the central Tainan area. It is especially atmospheric when viewed at night.

You can get a small discount if you book your ticket to Chikhan Tower here on Klook .

North and South District Sights

There are a few noteworthy Tainan attractions just north and south of West Central District, in North District (北區) and South District (南區). They can be added on to the above walking tour, if you’ve got time!  

Tainan Park

Tainan Park (台南公園) in North District is the largest green space in central Tainan city, at 132,000 square meters, and often called the “Lungs of Tainan”.

The park includes a lovely pond (燕潭) with pavilion and zigzag bridge across it, a Qing Dynasty stone gate (重道崇文坊), the Tainan City Children’s Science Museum (台南市兒童科學館) for those visiting Tainan with kids, and a playground at the center. It’s a short walk from Chihkan Tower, and I enjoyed a lovely sunset there at the end of my long day of touring Tainan’s attractions!

321 Arts Village

321 Arts Village (321巷 藝術聚落) is a former Japanese military dormitory village converted into arts community, along the lines of 44 South Village in Taipei and Guangfu Village in Taichung. There are 18 former residences on site to explore, housing art galleries, live-in artist’s studios, cafés, and more.

There is always art on display, inside the homes, and in the lanes running between them. Note that it was still closed as of mid-2022.It is a short walk from Tainan Park.

Shiji Café (是吉咖啡) is a really cool café nearby with a large second-floor window overlooking a leaf-filled lane.

Also read about Pier 2 Art Village in Kaohsiung .

Blueprint Culture & Creative Park

Blueprint Culture & Creative Park (藍晒圖文創園區) in South District is best visited at night, when the photogenic 3D blueprint of a house is all lit up. There’s also a souvenir shop, a few cafés, some community art spaces, an indigo dying house, a statues of a blue robot mascot guy throughout!

Black Bridge Sausage Museum

Yes, there is a dedicated sausage museum (黑橋牌香腸博物館) in South District, and no, I never made it there. But it’s quite popular among locals, so I’ll throw it out there for all you sausage lovers!

Night Markets in Tainan

The night markets in Tainan work a little differently than night markets in Taipei or other cities in Taiwan. Each one has its own night, or a couple nights of the week, and some of the most famous food vendors move between them on each day of the week.

There’s a common local saying to help you remember when to go where: 大大武花大花花 (大 for Ta-Tung on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 武 for Wusheng on Wednesday, and 花 for Garden on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Tainan night markets are also typically set up in large open areas like parking lots, not on regular streets. Also, they are all located well away from the city center, so you’ll have to journey to reach them. You can find out what to eat at each one in my guide to Tainan’s night markets (coming soon).

Garden Night Market

Garden Night Market (花園夜市) is the largest and most famous night market in Tainan, and by some counts, the largest in all of Taiwan, with over 400 stalls. It’s open on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, and is a ways up in North District.

Ta-Tung Night Market

Ta-Tung (大東夜市, or Dadong Night Market) in East District is the second most famous night market in Tainan. It runs Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Wusheng Night Market

Wusheng Night Market (武聖夜市) used to be Tainan’s favorite, but it has now slipped to the third spot. It runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is in West Central District, but in the northwestern corner of the district, a ways from any of the city center attractions (it takes 15 minutes to reach it on foot from Shennong Street, mentioned above in this article)

Xiaobei Night Market

Xiaobei Night Market (小北觀光夜市) is near Garden Night Market in North District, but opens on days when Garden isn’t (Tuesday and Friday).

Xin Yong Hua Night Market

Xin Yong Hua Night Market (新永華夜市) in Anping district (see next section) is a new, pleasantly uncrowded, and relatively small night market that runs on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Things to Do in Tainan’s Anping District

You really can’t visit Tainan without spending a day in Anping District (安南區), even half a day, if you can! This historic district features the original Dutch Fort from when they colonized Taiwan, the awesome Anping Treehouse, Anping Old Street, and a few other worthwhile sites.

If you’ve got extra time, there are a few more sights in neighboring Annan District, but easily accessible from Anping, in the next section below, including the famous Sicao Green Tunnel.

 Anping Grand Mazu Temple

It makes sense to start your Anping visit at Anpring Grand Mazu Temple (安平開臺天后宮), near entrance to the fort, because the exit of the fort will then lead you to the next destination below. Anping’s Matsu Temple holds the title for oldest running Matsu temple on mainland Taiwan (there’s an even older one in Penghu ).

The three large Matsu statues on the main shrine inside have flexible bodies and sit on wooden stools that date to the Song Dynasty. The temple is a stunner, but if I could make one request, it would be to install air conditioning; it was scorching inside the temple on the day I visited!

Anping Old Fort

Anping Fort (安平古堡), or Fort Zeelandia , was the original Dutch Fort in Taiwan during their brief (38-year) occupation. It was built from 1624 to 1634 by the Dutch East India Company. When you first enter near the back of Anping Grand Mazu Temple, you’ll see a small museum to the left, which includes models of the original fort.

Behind the museum is an original outer fort wall built of bricks imported from Batavia (today’s Jakarta, capital of the Dutch East Indies at the time). You can climb the inner fort, which is to the right of the main entrance.

There are canons, statues, and a souvenir shop on top. You can also climb the white scouthouse for an impressive 360-degree view of the surrounding Yanshui River, Anping Canal, Anping District. The exit of the complex is at the backside of the fort and leads to the next attraction below.

For another interesting fort in southern Taiwan, see my guide to Cijin Island in Kaohsiung .

Entrance to the fort is NT50, or cheaper if you pre-order your ticket online . It’s also included on the Tainan Historical Sights pass .

Anping Treehouse and Former Tait & Co. Merchant House

Anping Treehouse (安平樹屋) is one of Anping’s most popular attractions. It consists of an abandoned warehouse that has been completely taken over by banyan trees. It sits behind Former Tait & Co. Merchant House (英商德記洋行), now a small museum, which was a merchant house during the Qing Dynasty and Japanese period.

There’s also Mr. Zhu’s Home & Calligraphy Exhibit (朱玖瑩故居(因鹽玖定), the first building you’ll see when you enter the site, while Former Tait is to the left, and the treehouse is behind it. Before leaving, enjoy the excellent soft serve ice cream at the small café on site (I had sea salt and caramel flavor when I visited). Note the staircase decorations on the walls inside, meant to replicate the elevated walking paths inside the treehouse.

For more information see my detailed guide to Anping Treehouse .

You can also pre-order your tickets online to save a little money. The treehouse is covered by the Tainan Historical Sights Pass .

Anping Old Street

Anping Old Street (安平老街), also called Yanping Street (延平街), is sometimes called the oldest street in Taiwan. It runs west to east from the east side of Anping Fort, and doesn’t really get going until around noon.

The street’s two major specialties are shrimp crackers (蝦餅), which you can see being made right on the street, and dried fruits, with the most famous shop selling the latter being Lin Yong Tai Dried Fruit Store (林永泰興蜜餞行, #84). Like other old streets in Taiwan, Anping Old Street can get very crowded, but when I visited during COVID, there was hardly anyone there.

Here’s my foodie-focused self-guided walking tour of Anping Old Street .

Haishan Hall

While exploring the Old Street, if you left turn down Lane 104, just after the small temple, you can reach a beautiful old house called Haishan Hall (海山館). Look for the lion with a sword in its mouth above the entranceway; these were once used as house markers instead of numbers, and they are now a symbol of Anping. 

Cultural Museum of An-Ping Oyster Shell Cement Kiln

A five-minute walk from Haishan Hall or Anping Old Street, this small, free museum (安平蚵灰窯文化館) explains more than you ever wanted to know about oysters, including how their shells were fired in the kiln on site to make cement.

On the way, you can also stop in at Anping Market (安平市場, 6 am to 1 pm), if you’re interested in seeing a traditional Taiwanese wet market.

Anping Salt God White Beach Park

Anping Salt God White Beach Park (安平鹽神白沙灘公園) is a small white-sand beach on a pond, with a white statue of a god beside it. You can’t swim here on, but it makes for an interesting, if unexpected, photo op in Anping.

Sio House Salt Museum

Right next to the white beach, the Sio House Salt Museum (台南安平-夕遊出張所)  is a very small museum about Tainan’s salt industry. There isn’t much to see, but they do sell birthday salts, as in a different type of salt for every day of the year.

You can also buy a few salt-flavored foods and drinks (including salt soda, popsicles, and dou hua ), and the museum is housed in a lovely Japanese wooden home. There are other more interesting salt-related attractions in Tainan (see the final section of this article).

In the same area, the Old Julius Mannich Merchant House (東興洋行) is another old house that now contains a restaurant. Anping Small Fort (安平小砲臺) is also a short walk away, but it won’t blow you away compared to Anpring Fort or Eternal Golden Castle (see below).

I recommend visiting the following sights in the late afternoon, as the sun is beginning to set (I did so after I checked into this hotel, which I highly recommend ). They are in order as you would encounter them on foot, coming from the Anping Fort/Old Street area.

Anping Harbor and Anping Canal

To Enjoy a good view of Anping Harbor (安平港), you can climb to the top floor of the Anping Community Center (台南市安平區金城里活動中心), just a 5-minute walk south of Anping Old Street and Fort. The building houses a bar called Hola (安平果然是你) with a view of the harbor. The harbor-side of the building also has a whale mural that looks cool when lit up at night.

Anping Canal runs for six kilometers inland and back to the harbor, creating a large island that makes up most of Anping District. There are walking and cycling trails along it, and Anping Canal Park (安平運河公園) can be lovely, especially at night. There are several bridges crossing the canal, including the rainbow-colored New Lin An Bridge (新臨安橋). There’s also the small Anping Canal Museum (安平海關 運河博物館), which was closed when I visited in 2022.

Anping Fisherman’s Wharf

If you cross Anyi Bridge, where Anping Harbor connects to Anping Canal, you’ll reach Anping Fisherman’s Wharf (安平漁人碼頭), which is known for sunset views. Historic Harborside Park (港濱歷史公園) is famous for its Whale Art Installation (大魚的祝福(鯨魚裝置藝術), which you can climb up into.

Lin Mo Niang Park

Following the Historic Harborside Park on foot or by bike to the west toward the ocean will bring you to Lin Mo Niang Park (林默娘公園), named after Matsu, the goddess of the sea. There, a towering white Matsu statue stands, protecting Taiwan, and welcoming ships as they enter the harbour. This is just one of several large Matsu statues in the county (see the others in my guide to the most important landmarks in Taiwan ).

1661 Taiwan Warship Museum

The Taiwan Warship Museum (臺灣船園區) is a small, harborside museum featuring a red and black wooden warship dating to the 1600s. There isn’t a whole lot to see; usually you can go on the ship, but it was closed for renos when I visited. Still, marine warfare fans might want to take a quick look on the way to the next entry.

Entrance is listed as NT30 (it was actually free when I visited, possibly because I showed up just a few minutes before closing), and it’s closed on Mondays. Make sure to get there before the 5:30 closing time.

Deyang Ship Destroyer Exhibition Hall

The more worthwhile Deyang Ship Destroyer Exhibition Hall (安平定情碼頭德陽艦園區) features the USS Sarsfield , a US Navy ship that was laid down at the end of WWII, deployed in Cuba, the Vietnam War, and finally used by the Taiwan navy before being retired in 1977.

You can explore several floors and rooms of the ship. There are also some small Republic of China tanks and aircraft on site. You can get a small discount if you buy your tickets here on Klook .

Eternal Golden Castle

The Eternal Golden Castle, also called Erkunshen Battery (億載金城 / 二鯤鯓砲臺) was built to resist invading Japanese troops. I recommend visiting right before the 5:30 p.m. closing time, when the low rays of the sun make the ruins live up to their name.

The Eternal Golden Castle is located in the large Yizai Park (億載公園), just five minutes from Deyang Ship Destroyer. You can get a small discount if you book your ticket here on Klook . Entrance to the castle is covered by the Historical Tainan Sights Pass .

Yuguang Island

Yuguang Island (漁光島) is an unexpected gem and rare tropical beach/island on the otherwise super developed west coast of Taiwan. I’ve included it on both my lists of best beaches and islands of Taiwan .

connected to the mainland via a rounded bridge. It’s a bit far (20 minutes on foot), but possible to walk from Eternal Golden Castle to the beautiful stretch of sand at Moon Bay.

It’s a popular spot at sunset, and there are some food stalls at the end of the bridge, just before the park and beach. If you’ve got your own wheels, you could further explore the island’s various fishing docks and lighthouses.

Sunset Platform

For another sunset vantage point, you can consider Sunset Platform (觀夕平臺), which is just across the harbor entrance from Yuguang Island, but too far away from the latter to reach on foot (you’d have to walk all the way around the entire harbor.

There’s also a beach near Sunset Platform at Qiaotouhaitan Park (橋頭海灘公園), also popular at sunset, as well as Anping Lighthouse (安平燈塔).

Places to Visit in Annan District

The following attractions are in Annan district, just north of Anping, but easily accessible from Anping. Since it’s possible to see the main attractions of Anping in half a day, you could include one or more of the following to complete your day, and spend the night in Anping at this hotel , and visit the following sights the next morning like I did.

Taijiang National Park

Taijiang National Park (臺江國家公園) is a relatively new (created in 2009) national park protecting mostly wetlands and marine areas. The most popular way to explore the national park is by taking a boat tour to Sicao Green Tunnel (see next entry) or a longer tour of the national park provided by the same boat operator.

The longer tour visits several stops in the national park, but mainly only runs in winter, when rare black-faced spoonbills, a migratory bird, can be seen in the area.

Sicao Green Tunnel

A popular attraction, Sicao Green Tunnel (四草綠色隧道) is a “tunnel” formed by a canopy of trees over a canal in a wetland area in Taijiang National Park . Thirty-minute boat tours depart after enough people arrive.

The same company offers longer tours that cover more ground in the national park, which are more popular in winter, when the migratory black-faced spoonbill can be spotted. Read my guide to Sicao Green Tunnel for all the details!

Luerhmen Mazu Temple

The extremely impressive Luerhmen Mazu Temple (正統鹿耳門聖母廟) is one of the largest temples in Taiwan. It’s well out of the way and not easy to reach. I recommend going by scooter, which I did, but you can also take bus Tainan bus 11 to Shengmu Temple stop, or Tourist Bus 99, when it’s actually running (the bus has been majorly reduced because of lack of tourists).

The huge, colorful temple complex is surrounded by a moat and has two towering statues of demons protecting the temple in the parking lot. It is the world’s largest temple dedicated to Matsu.

National Museum of Taiwan History

Also far out of the way, the National Museum of Taiwan History (國立臺灣歷史博物館) is nevertheless one of the best history museums in Taiwan. To get there, you can take bus 18 from the city center.

Tainan Day Trips

The following places are further afield in Tainan City, making them suitable as day trips from Tainan.

Chimei Museum

The rather unexpected (it looks something like the Whitehouse in Washington D.C.) Chimei Museum (奇美博物館) also contains a surprisingly large array of artifacts. Inside you’ll find five major collections: musical instruments (including the world’s largest violin collection), fine arts, natural history/fossils, antiques, and an impressive armor collection.

Several buses go there from the city center, including ones en route to the Tainan High Speed Rail station; use GoogleMaps to find the best bus options from your departure location.

You get discounted tickets to Chimei Museum here on Klook .

Cigu Salt Mountain

Cigu Salt Mountain (七股鹽山, or Qigu Salt Mountain) is exactly what it sounds like: a mountain of salt. It’s a photogenic site, and you can climb several staircases to the top. It lies in the namesake Qigu District, which was once famous for its salt industry. You can also taste a wide variety of salted items on site, including salt ice cream, salt douhua, and seafood baked atop hunks of salt.

The Qigu Salt Museum (成功鹽體驗館) is just around the corner and worth an hour of your time. There are salt sculptures, loads of info about the former industry, and a café that does salted coffees.

For more information on Cigu and the next entry, see my guide to Cigu Salt Mountain and Tainan’s Salt Fields.

About 25 minutes’ drive away from Cigu Salt Mountain, Guosheng Lighthouse (國聖港燈塔) sits at the westernmost point on Mainland Taiwan. There are also some beautiful sand dunes there, called Dingtoue Sandbar (頂頭額沙洲).

Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields

The Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields (台南北門井仔腳瓦盤鹽田) are the most photogenic reminders of Tainan’s salt producing past. The beautifully preserved salt fields north of Qigu Salt Mountain are especially photogenic in the late afternoon. You can even walk on some of them and try your hand at shoveling salt. There’s a tower you can climb to get a truly impressive view from above.

Beimen Crystal Church

Not far from Jingzijiao Wapan, Beimen Crystal Church (水晶教堂) is a curved glass structure surrounded by a pond. It’s a popular Instagram spot and wedding photography location. If this kind of site appeals to you, also consider visiting the High-Heeled Shoes Church (高跟鞋教堂) not too far away across the border in Chiayi County.

Laotanghu Art Village

Art lovers can consider visiting Laotanghu Art Village (老塘湖藝術村), where the ruins of old homes have been fixed up by artists, including treeehouses, cute shops, and a wooden bridge to more atmospheric homes on a small island.

Yanshui Fireworks Festival

Often called one of the most dangerous festivals in the world, the Yanshui Fireworks Festival (鹽水蜂炮) takes place in Yanshui district in northern Tainan. The festival started when locals set off fire crackers to ward off a cholera epidemic in the late 1800s.

Now, every year on the 15 th day of the first month on the Lunar Calendar (the same day as the Lantern Festival ; see more info in my guide to Taiwan’s festivals ), mobs of people in the street get pummelled by thousands of bottle rockets, sometimes even causing their clothing to start on fire! You can read all about my experience at the Yanshui Fireworks Festival .

Guanziling Hot Spring

One of Taiwan’s most unique hot springs is the mud hot spring found at Guanziling in northeastern Tainan. The best spot in town to try bathing in the muddy waters, and rubbing mud on your body (it’s great for the skin) is King’s Garden Villa (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ).

You can find all the details you need for visiting in my guide to Guanziling Mud Hot Spring .

Dongshan Coffee Road

Also in Guanziling district, Dongshan Coffee Road (175咖啡公路) on highway 175 offers the chance to sample locally grown coffee directly from coffee farmers. Plums, longans, and other citrus fruits are also grown in the area. It’s a popular cycling destination.

Erliao Sunrise Pavilion

The Erliao Sunrise Pavillion (台南二寮觀日亭) in southeastern Tainan is a wooden walkway along a mountainous road to a platform that features epic mountain views. You’ll want to come for sunrise, if possible, for a chance to see the famed sunrise above mist-covered hilltops. It’s a similar view that is often associated with Alishan in neighborhing Chiayi County .

Caoshan Moon World Grand Canyon

A 20-minute drive further up the same road will bring you to Caoshan Moon World Grand Canyon (草山月世界大峽谷). Head to “308高地觀景台 viewing platform” for the best views of the canyon. The scenery is reminiscent of the similar Moon World Landscape Park in neighboring Kaohsiung.

Tsailiao Fossil Museum

A 20-minute drive in a different direction from Erliao Sunrise Pavillion will take you to Tsailiao Fossil Museum (臺南左鎮化石園區), which features fossils and replicas of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures.

Huxingshan Park

If you’re visiting the area around Lunar New Year in Taiwan, definitely make a stop at Huxingshan Park (虎形山公園), which is decked out with cool lights and lantern displays at the time. There’s also a suspension bridge and art displays on site.

Well, I hope you’ve found more than enough ideas for fun things to do in Tainan, Taiwan! Let me know in the comments how your trip goes of if I missed anything!

Related Posts

6 thoughts on “70 Things to Do in Tainan, Taiwan’s Ancient Capital”

Hi Nick, thank you for such a comprehensive list of places to see in Tainan. I am a single female solo traveller and is interested to catch the sunrise at Erliao Pavillion. How can I get there without driving a car?

Will appreciate your advice. Thank you in advance.

Best regards, Dara.

In the daytime, it takes at least 2 hours to get there by bus, usually with a couple transfers needed. If you wanted to go for sunrise, then the only option would be to find a private driver willing to go that early, wait for you, then drive you back down.

Hey Nick! Thank you for the most comprehensive English guide on Taiwan! I had a question – is it possible to get from Tainan to Alishan? On the map and from Google it seems entirely possible, yet I don’t see it being mentioned in many guides.

You just need to hop on any train from Tainan to Chiayi first, then follow the instructions on my website or other sites for taking the bus from Chiayi to Alishan

Hi This is Chelsea Lin from Taipei. I am enthusiastic in promoting Taiwan Tourism as Korea and Japan did. Is it ok that I can interview you with your opinions regarding tourist industry here in taiwan, what do you think can be improved? Thank you for your response.

Hi, please contact me by email at [email protected]

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The Perfect Itinerary for Kaohsiung and Tainan (2024 Update)

March 11, 2024 by Bino 12 Comments

Kaoshiung and Tainan, the main cities in the southern region of Taiwan, have been getting quite a bit of attention lately thanks to government efforts to promote the region to overseas tourists. The historic heart of the island has seen plenty of new hotels as well as redevelopment of existing tourist infrastructure in recent years.

Being slightly more than a 3-hour high speed train ride from Taipei, it makes sense to spend a couple of days in the southern cities. This is after all where Taiwan’s capital used to be. Those who make the effort to come here are ultimately rewarded with a different side to Taiwanese culture. People tend to speak Minnan (Hokkien) here compared to Mandarin and the tropical climate also means plenty of sunshine as compared to the usually dreary weather up north. If you are thinking of visiting Kaohsiung and Tainan and have no idea where to go, this suggested itinerary can hopefully help you.

Tip: If you are heading to Kaohsiung / Tainan by Taiwan’s high speed rail, check out this current promotion where tickets are cheaper for Non-Taiwanese passengers. Limited time only. Book here

If you are also heading up north, check out this Taipei itinerary

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Kaohsiung

dome of light at formosa boulevard station

The most common entry points to Kaohsiung are either via the Kaohsiung International Airport which is only 15 minutes from town or the Zuo Ying High Speed Rail Station. If you are arriving by the latter, you may be pleased to note that one of Kaohsiung’s top attractions – the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas – are situated close by. Chances are you’ll have your luggage in tow so it may be wise to check-in to your hotel first (check out my recommended lodging below).

Tip: If you are arriving via Kaohsiung International Airport, you may wish to purchase your 4G sim card beforehand in order to avoid potential queues and just collect once you arrive at the airport. Prices are also cheaper if you buy online. Check prices here .

Cijin / Qijin

After obtaining your bearings, start your day at Cijin (Qijin) District. Touted as one of the city’s tourism hotspots, the elongated island by Kaohsiung harbour is great for outdoor pursuits such as cycling. While here, you can check out the shops by the beach or head to Chihou Fort and Chihou Lighthouse. Both were constructed by the British in the 19th century and marked the beginnings of the city as a port. Entrance is free for both attractions.

Former British Consulate at Takow

Afterwards, head back to the mainland and make a short stop at the Former British Consulate at Takow (daily except Wed, 10AM to 7PM; opens at 9AM on Sat and Sun). It’s perched on top of a hill and is one of the oldest colonial mansions in Taiwan. Inside, visitors can find a museum as well as a cafe. The view over the city and the harbor is also fantastic.

Lunch at Duck Zhen

delicious duck at Duck Zhen – be prepared to queue!

Take an early lunch at Duck Zhen (鴨肉珍) at 258 Wufu 4th Road in Yanzheng District which is known for its excellent duck rice. What makes the dish special is the sauce so make sure to order the duck rice which comes soaked in sauce rather than have the duck separately. Do note that the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Pier 2 Art Center

After grabbing a bite, it’s just the right time to make the short stroll to Pier 2 Art Center (daily, 10AM to 6PM; until 8PM from Fri to Sun). The shops will start opening by this time. Taiwan has plenty of cultural and creative zones around the major cities and this is Kaohsiung’s answer to that. Inside, you’ll find plenty of small shops selling knick-knacks, the occasional art gallery as well as plenty of outdoor art works. If you are looking for a spot from where to take nice selfies, this place offers plenty of possibilities. Live Warehouse , a live music venue, provides a reason to return to Pier 2 Art Center at night. You can check their website for schedules of concerts and other live events here .

Be Dazzled at Formosa Boulevard MRT

Take the MRT and stop at the Formosa Boulevard Station to see the Dome of Light installation. This particular station frequently makes it to various lists of the most beautiful subway stations in the world. The stained glass fixture is counted as among the largest in the world. The dome comes in 4 sections representing the various elements: water, fire, earth and light.

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 

dragon and tiger pagodas in kaohsiung

Afterwards, head out to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (daily, 8AM to 6PM) in the city outskirts. Kaohsiung’s most recognizable attraction is best visited in the afternoon just when the sun is shining on the frontage.

To get here from Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, ride 4 stops along the red line and alight at Kaohsiung Arena Station. From there, take shuttle bus #301 which will drop you off right by the lotus pond where the pagodas are. 

Day 2 – Kaohsiung to Tainan

Fo guang shan monastery.

fo guang shan monastery in kaohsiung

Start the morning with an optional excursion to the gigantic Fo Guang Shang Monastery in the outskirts of Kaohsiung. There is no shortage of temples in Taiwan but to be frank, this is one of the grandest modern temples I have ever seen. The most impressive portion of the temple is the grand pathway with pagodas on either side that leads to a giant Buddha statue. The reason why I call this an optional trip is because unless you have your own car or book a private tour , it may take you a bit of time to get there and back. The fastest way via public transport still takes 1.5 hours each way. The #8501 bus which departs from the Zuoying THSR station gets you there. Alternatively, it’s 40 minutes away by car from Kaohsiung’s city center. If you have your own car, it would make sense to head to Tainan after visiting Fo Guang Shan due to its location in the northern outskirts of Kaohsiung.

Should you decide not to do the trip to Fo Guang Shan, your morning should be spent traveling to Tainan after having your fill of Kaohsiung. You can take the high speed train to get to Tainan from Kaohsiung . You can buy discounted tickets HERE . Taiwan’s 4th largest city and former capital, Tainan lies immediately north of Kaohsiung and because or urbanization, the two cities are almost contiguous to each other. Tainan is Taiwan’s cultural heart with plenty of age-old forts, temples, museums, historic alleys as well as good eats. As such, I recommend spending around 1.5 to 2 days in this city to fully explore what it has to offer.

Chihkan Tower

chihkan tower

The main station in the city, Tainan Station, is conveniently located in the heart of town and is around 15 minutes walk to the tourist attractions. It makes sense to stay around the area. I stayed at the Shangri-la’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Tainan which offers a free shuttle bus to the sights nearby. You can start off at the Chihkan Tower (also known as Fort Provintia, Admission: 70 TWD). The site originates as a Dutch fort built in 1653. It was later destroyed by an earthquake and had to be rebuilt. This explains the Chinese facade. Inside, you’ll find a museum as well as a viewing deck which gives you an overview of the surrounding gardens.

Koxinga Shrine

koxinga shrine

Afterwards, head out to the Confucius Temple which is a short cab ride or a 13 minute walk away from Chihkan Tower. The center of learning dates back to the 17th century. Travelers around East and Southeast Asia can note similarities in places like Hanoi with its Temple of Literature. From here, it’s also a short walk to the Koxinga Shrine a few blocks away. It’s a small family shrine erected to commemorate the ancestors of a noble man in the 17th century. It offers a good glimpse at the architecture of the time.

Hayashi Department Store to Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park

It might be searing hot by this time in the afternoon, a perfect excuse to head over to the Hayashi Department Store . Much more than a shopping center, this commercial establishment dates back from the colonial Japanese era and has a distinct old world charm. From the tiled chessboard floors to a perceptible art deco interiors, this department store today caters to well-heeled travelers and you can find plenty of knick knacks inside as well as a restaurant on the topmost floor.

If you haven’t had enough of Taiwan’s “art districts,” you can end your day at Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park – Tainan’s very own. It’s a shopping hub of quaint indie stores, art galleries as well as plenty of street art. It’s worth a stroll even for just an hour and is at its liveliest at night.

Tainan’s Night Markets & Other Nightlife Options

End the day at one of Tainan’s lively night markets. The Garden Night Market is the biggest and is open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays while Dadong Night Market is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Those looking for nightlife options will be pleased to note that one of the local watering holes, TCRC (located near the Matsu Temple) frequently makes it to the list of Asia’s top bars. It’s a bit difficult to get a seat from 10pm onwards as was my experience so do come earlier or at least leave your name and number (waiting time can be 2+ hours).

Day 3 – Tainan

Anping old fort and tree house.

anping fort

Spend the day exploring Tainan’s equally historic Anping District. While here, the Anping Old Fort is a must-see. It’s a Dutch fortress that has been turned into a museum. It also boasts of nice views of the city especially on clear days. Admission is TWD 70 (you can buy discounted tickets here ). The dilapidated Anping Tree House nearby has become somewhat of an attraction due to social media. The site is filled with the overgrowth coming from the banyan tree and has plenty of “instagrammable” spots.

If you are having lunch in the area, I would recommend trying 周氏蝦捲 (#125 Anping Road) for its battered shrimp dish – akin to a Taiwanese style tempura.

Sicao Green Tunnel

sicao green tunnel

One of the more unexpected activities in Tainan is the mangrove swamp tour which can be done on a boat. One ride on the Sicao Green Tunnel costs around TWD 200 per person. You’ll be on a raft along with approximately 14 other people with the ride lasting 30 minutes. Although the river is quite short, it’s highly scenic and in certain segments, you’ll see the mangroves from both sides joining together to form an arch and create a natural shelter from the sunlight. Do note that the location is a bit out of town so you’ll need your own transport to get here.

Chimei Museum

chimei museum in the outskirts of tainan

Another optional excursion you can do is visit the grandoise Chimei Museum (hours: 9:30AM to 5:30PM daily except Wednesdays) located in the city outskirts. Even if you have no interest in art exhibits, the exteriors are pretty impressive and is not dissimilar to the royal palaces in Europe with a large fountain and a bridge flanked by statues on both sides lining the entrance to the museum.

To get to Chimei Museum from downtown Tainan, take the train from Tainan Station and alight at Bao’an Station. From Bao’an Station, the museum is a 10-minute walk away.

Spend your last evening in Tainan strolling through atmospheric Shennong Street . Here, you’ll find quirky establishments such as a namesake bar where there are no standard operating hours, a cafe filled with dolls and vintage sofas brushing elbows with trendy restaurants. Add in the neighborhood shrine and temple and you’ve got yourself a perfect hangout for Taiwan’s hipsters.

How to Get From Kaohsiung Airport to Kaohsiung City Center and Tainan

From Kaohsiung Airport to Kaohsiung City Center – The Kaohsiung Airport MRT Station connects you to downtown via the red line. Alternatively, cab rides to town cost about TWD 350 and take 10 to 15 minutes or you can book a private car transfer .

From Kaohsiung Airport to Tainan – Allow a 45 minute to 1 hour ride. You can either hail a taxi when you arrive or book pre-arranged airport transfers .

Where to Stay in Kaohsiung and Tainan

In Tainan, I stayed in Shangri-la’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Tainan for its free shuttle bus to several tourist attractions and location close to Tainan Station. For families, this hotel offers family rooms that can easily fit 4 people. This is also among the most affordable Shangri-la properties in the world.

In Kaohsiung, I stayed in the ultra-chic Silks Club Kaohsiung . I particularly loved its Japanese sensibilities and its designer artwork in the rooms and throughout the public areas. You can check out my full review here . For a more affordable option, you can also check out FX Inn Kaohsiung – Zhonghua Road which is very close to the night market and MRT station.

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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February 8, 2018 at 3:18 pm

Awesome article!!!

As a Tainan citizen, I would like to recommend to have a walk along Guohua St and Zhengxing Street to grab some local delicacies. Better go there and share food with friends , you definitely want to try as more as you can.

Besides Tainan city center, Guanziling (關子嶺) is another must go tourist attraction. It is located in north Tainan and is famous for mud spring. The area is well developed for tourists with many hot spring hotels and restaurants. ( I recommend chicken dishes!)

Thank you for writing this article! It is a perfect travel guild for foreigners.

July 9, 2019 at 9:37 pm

I am planning to visit Taipei been there couple of times but haven’t gone back for like 9 years. I am only available in August to visit Taipei and wish to take the high speed train from Taipei to Kaoshiung. But understand it is typhoon in Taiwan so is it still good to go? Thanks.

July 10, 2019 at 11:14 am

August is a hit or miss. Yes there are typhoons but not all the time. Also, ironically, August is actually the month with the highest number of sunshine hours in the year for Taipei.

July 12, 2018 at 12:37 pm

hi Loved raeding your Blog.Quick question can we stay in Tainan & do both Tainan & Khaoshiung.2d1N?Thnks

July 16, 2018 at 1:09 pm

It is certainly possible but too rushed. Do you have a private car?

August 6, 2018 at 3:46 pm

Very informative blog. Will be of great help in planning my trip to Kaoshiung & Tainan. Thanks!

August 22, 2018 at 5:32 pm

Your blog is very informative. My friends and i would like to travel to Kaoshiung in end oct, is 6 day 5 nights to long to stay? Is there any other location where we can travel near Kaoshiung? If yes, please give some recommendation. Thanks

August 22, 2018 at 6:11 pm

Thanks for reading! With 5 nights you can do Kaohsiung, Tainan and maybe even Kenting.

September 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm

Planning to go kaoshiung on 26-30 sep.any place to recomend?

December 15, 2018 at 5:40 pm

Hi, I’m flying to Kaohsiong from 27/12 till 1/1. Please advise how many places at each place and noted u reconmended for 6D5N can choose to go kaohsiong, Tainan and kending? Would greatly appreciate if you could advice us on how many nights at each places so that it’s not too hectic nor rush. Thanks in advance!

December 15, 2018 at 7:18 pm

Hello! You can look at doing the following:

2 nights – Kaohsiung 2 nights – Tainan 1 night – Kenting

April 10, 2019 at 2:59 am

Your article is very informative. We plan to go to Taiwan in the summer and need your help. Do you think the below itinerary is good? – spend 2 nights at Fo Guang San day 3 – Dragon & Tiger pagoda, Dome of Light, Lotus pond, “Love” art installation. Ruifeng night market day 4 – Pier-2 Art center, Cijin Island. Luihe night market day 5 – Fishermans’ Wharf day 6 – train to Taipei

can you please suggest a place to stay. We want to use AirBnB but not sure of the area/district that is convenient for the above activities. Also, what is the best mode of transportation from Kaoshiung to Taipei.

thanks much in advance 7/6 – Train to Taipei

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Tainan travel blog — the fullest tainan travel guide for first-timers.

Tainan is a small city located in southern Taiwan and also the oldest city, is the old capital of Taiwan with a rich and long-standing culture, cool climate, excellent cuisine, suitable for who want to explore the ancient cultural traditions, rituals and Taoism of the island nation. Initially, when the Dutch ruled, Tainan was established as a ruling and trading base. After that, in the 17th century, General Koxinga defeated the Dutch, regained Tainan and turned it into the capital for a long time. There is still a Confucius Temple built in the 17th century, and Tainan people are always proud because they still retain more ancient temples than anywhere in Taiwan. So when visiting Tainan, covering the city is a quiet nostalgic feeling, easy to see ancient and old architecture in everywhere, the mossy street corners, peaceful, vintage, slowly lifestyle, gentle life.

• Top night markets in Taiwan — 11 most famous, must-go & best night markets in Taiwan
• What to eat in Tainan? — 10+ best food in Tainan & famous food in Tainan
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• Best bubble tea in Taiwan — Top 11 most famous & top bubble tea brands in Taiwan

So, is Tainan worth visiting, what to do in Tainan and how to plan a budget trip to Tainan for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Tainan travel blog (Tainan blog) with the fullest Tainan travel guide (guide to Tainan, Tainan tourist guide, Tainan city guide, Tainan guide) from how to get Tainan, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Tainan to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Tainan blog — When is the best time to visit Tainan?

Tainan weather is relatively warm, the summer is often heavy rain, the best time to visit this city is in fall or spring.

In the Spring (February to April), the temperature is usually around 20 degrees Celsius, with little rain, dry, suitable for visiting tourist destinations such as national parks or museums. And this is also the time of the traditional New Year, and the Spring Festival, so the city scenery is more colors, more beautiful and more fun.

Autumn (September – November) with dry weather and cool climate so it is very convenient to travel, sightseeing. Autumn has beautiful scene, green color gradually change to yellow and red of Maple leaves.

Winter weather is colder, not favorable for traveling. But if you are a snow lover and winter activities, this is not a bad time.

Tainan travel blog — How to get to Tainan?

From Vietnam you can fly directly to Tainan or from other provinces of Taiwan to Tainan by train or by HSR high speed train. Normally in cities, train stations, high-speed trains and main bus stations are close together, so you can buy tickets at the central stations of cities/provinces. (In Taipei will be Taipei Main Station; Taichung station is Taichung station, Kaohsiung will be Zuoying station).

Tainan travel guide — Getting from Tainan Airport to the city

To getting from Tainan Airport to the city center, visitors have two public transportation options: bus and taxi.

Bus: There are two bus routes that visitors can travel from Tainan Airport to the city center: NO.5 Tainan City Bus and R3 Bus (Go through the Tainan Train Station – HSR train station – Tainan Airport). This is a type of city bus so travelers need to determined the area of their hotel located near the stop point to reach and down. Ticket price is around 20 TWD ($0.65)/trip.

Taxi: Taxis are available 24/24 at the airport so you can catch one at anytime to go to the city center. However, picking up the car at night will cost more than 20% more daytime.

Tainan blog — Getting around Tainan

Most of Tainan’s main tourist attractions are located near an area around the city center so you can walk to explore. Visitors who do not want to walk can contact and ask their hotel staff for a bicycle rental service or ask for a nearby bicycle rental. You can rent a bike from T-Bike: Phone: 0800-527527 (Local) / 06-2436668 (Mobile). Email: [email protected] . Website: http://tbike.tainan.gov.tw/Portal/en-US.

Tainan blog — Where to stay in Tainan?

Here are some good hotels in Tainan you can refer to:

Silks Place Tainan

Silks Place Tainan is the perfect place to feel Tainan and its surroundings. Only 58.6 km from Tainan Airport, so this 5-star hotel can be easily accessed from the airport. With the good location, from hotel you can easily to reach the popular attractions of the city. Whether you are a fun person or just want to relax after a busy day, you will feel comfortable when using the hotel facilities such as fitness room, outdoor swimming pool, children’s playground, kids club. Silks Place Tainan is an ideal place for who want to stay and seeking charm, comfort and convenience in Tainan. Room rates from $131. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: No. 1號, Heyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 213 6290

Hotel Tainan

When visiting Tainan, you will feel at home at Hotel Tainan, where excellent quality and thoughtful service. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. Guests can take a stroll around the city’s top tourist attractions such as: Tainan HSR station, Focus Square, Si Hua Tang…Rates from $57.83. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: 1 Cheng Gong Road, West Central Dist, Tainan 70050, Taiwan R.O.C., Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan, 70050 Phone: +886 6 228 9101

Kindness Hotel – Tainan Chihkan Tower

Kindness Hotel Tainan , located in the Tainan City area, is a popular choice for travelers. From the hotel you can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest of Tainan city such as: Confucius Temple is only 400 meter away, National Museum and Chikan Tower are only a 5- minute walk away, 6-minute walking from Fuzhong Underground Station where you only take 12 minutes to Tainan Airport. ‎Price range: $55 – $122. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Address: No. 97, Section 2, Minquan Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 225 3377

You can also refer to the mid-range, budget hostels, homestays with good ratings and reviews below:

Dynasty Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $31. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 46號, Chenggong Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 6 225 8121

FX Hotel Tainan Minsheng Rd : 4-star hotel with room rates from $38. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 76, Section 2, Minsheng Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 511 6977

Fuward Hotel : 4-star hotel with room rates from $45. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 28號, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 225 1000

Tie Dao Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $11. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.2, Chenggong Rd., North Dist, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan, 70443 Phone: +886 6 221 3200

Premier Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $45. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 128, Gongyuan Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 6 225 2141

At Tainan Inn : 3-star hotel with room rates from $29. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.292 Rongyu Street, Tainan 70167, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 290 5388

Edinburgh Motel : A good motel with room rates from $44. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 77號, Yonghua 5th Street, Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan 708 Phone: +886 6 297 0116

Fuqi Hostel – ZhongZheng : A very good hostel with room rates from $14. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.70, Zhongzheng Rd, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 703 4543

Yi Pin Yuan Hotel : A good hotel with room rates from $19. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No.182, Baoan Rd., Tainan City, Taiwan Phone: +886 6 221 2666

Rainbow Island B&B : A good hotel with room rates from $29. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 94, Chenggong Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704 Phone: +886 982 050 400

Good Ground Hotel : 3-star hotel with room rates from $42. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 18, Zunwang Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700 Phone: +886 6 222 1105

Leo Ho Hostel : 2-star hostel with room rates from $24. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: Weimin St., West Central Dist.,Tainan Train Station,, Tainan City, Tainan, Taiwan Phone: +886 981 236 957

Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel : A luxury hotel with room rates from $231. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ). Address: No. 201號, Section 2, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 Phone: +886 2 2378 8888

You can find, check rates, availability & booking for Tainan hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.

Tainan blog — Best places to visit and top things to do in Tainan

Anping Old street – Anping Tree House – Anping Fort (#tainan travel blog)

These 3 places are close together, so if you visiting here, you should visit all three places.

Anping Old Street

Visiting Taiwan, you definitely have to visit Tainan’s Anping Old Street, which is an old, narrow, but still airy street, along the street are high brick houses, a bit old. Along the two sides of the street are dense shops but still very orderly. There are many unique items sold in this street such as: Tainan’s typical fruits, famous peanut candy, pig’s blood, Tainan sausage .. or you can find the unique souvenirs and gifts such as cloth dolls, wooden dolls which only sell in this market.

Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)

Fort Zeelandia, originally is a fortress was built by the Dutch, dating from the 17th century, so it is a valued historic landmark. Entrance ticket is very cheap only 50 NT, inside the fort is a small museum which exhibits the artifacts and information of the fort and Tainan history. The outside, the traces of the walls was built by red bricks stills remain, look so catch-eyes and vintage. Walking around a minute, you will meet the observation tower, but only to stand at the bottom and looking up. In the fort campus has the statue of General Koxinga, a Chinese talent general in the 17th century, who was regained Tainan from the Dutch.

Anping Tree House

Exactly this place is more like a garden, you can walk under the trees, walk a little more will encounter a small lake. Visitors who self-sufficient travel can spend an hour for strolling in the garden, breathe the fresh air of Tainan and watch the bizarre architecture of the unique house. Originally, Anping Tree House is an old warehouse of a factory, next to this storehouse is a huge banyan tree, the banyan tree grows, grows up, until one day its huge roots swallow up the storehouse. The root branches cling to and tighten the walls, even rising through the roof. From there, they abandon the warehouse and keep that unique feature so that people can come to visit.

Address: No. 50-2, Yanping St, Anping District, Tainan City, 708. How to get there: Take the bus No. 2, 88 or 99 from Tainan Train Station. Ticket price: 50 NT/place of sightseeing.

Confucius Temple

It was built around the 17th century. At that time, the place that built the Confucius Temple was a hill, with the Confucius Temple on the right and the National School on the left. In the East is the Hall of Morality, which is easily understood as a place of the preaching of the masters (like the university lecture hall today), the West is the Hall of the Great, is the worship Confucius and the disciples.

Now the Confucius Temple is preserved and respected. Although the temple is located in the middle of the street, but steps through the red gate (East Dacheng Gate) to enter the temple campus, completely like a world in another, sanctified, solemn but serene, peaceful, people are returning to the nature of each human being: man is innately good; human nature is basically good.

Continued reading…

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All , Asia , Travel & Eats · August 21, 2024

Tainan Brunch Tour and Chimei Art Museum Day Trip

Spend a day in Tainan with me with a Tainan Brunch Tour , exploring the Chimei Museum , and ending with the BEST room temperature beef hot pot ever! It rained so much on our Tainan trip, we had to look for some indoor activities! The rain didn’t stop our appetite! We tried some of Tainan’s most iconic local brunch foods like rice dumplings and lamb soup , and ended our day with an epic beef hotpot !

Getting To Tainan

Lotus wrapped sticky rice dumpling – 黃家菜粽.

• Fresh Lamb Soup – 包成羊肉

Creative Boba Tea – 甜又鮮飲料

Steamed sticky rice scholar cakes – 泉記米行.

• Chimei Museum
• A-Yu Beef Shabu Shabu

Tainan is on the southern end of Taiwan, and is definitely a food paradise. I love coming to Tainan every time I visit because there’s just so much to explore. There are a few different ways to get to Tainan from Taipei:

• Driving: My parents drove about  4 hours down Highway 1 to meet us in Tainan
• There are  bus routes  that will take you as well, so you don’t need to rent a car to make this trip.
• By local train, it takes about 3.5 hours.
• Taiwan High Speed Rail,  the  FASTEST way , which is about 1.5 hours, Be sure to check out my High Speed Rail post on my trip from Taoyuan to Tainan.

Rainy Brunch Tour In Tainan

In the few days that we were staying in Tainan, it was pouring rain. So, what better to do on a downpour morning than to stay indoors and try a bunch of different brunch foods? Tainan’s a breakfast food paradise for sure, so I show you everything we tried on this mini brunch tour . Everything I’ve eaten is so uniquely Tainan, I haven’t tried it in any other city that way!

My mom was craving lotus wrapped sticky rice dumplings, a classic Tainan breakfast, so we headed to 黃家菜粽. Here, you can get sticky rice dumplings, cold noodles, and miso soup for no more than 45 NTD ($1.50) per item.

The sticky rice dumpling is wrapped in lotus leaf and stuffed with a bunch of savory fillings. I wish I could have this every single day for breakfast. The fillings are fragrant from mushrooms and rich from pork belly and salted eggs. They’re quite filling, so if you have a small appetite, it’s best to share.

In Tainan, the classic way of eating sticky rice dumplings is surprisingly with miso soup. Their Taiwanese style miso soup has the classic tofu, seaweed, and anchovies, but also chunks of freshly fried Chinese doughnuts to add some substance. It’s super simple, and in fact I’m pretty sure you can recreate it at home with my miso soup recipe. It’s savory but light, and washes down the sticky rice bites perfectly.

Here at 黃家菜粽, you can grab and cheap and filling breakfast that the locals love for $3 a meal. It’s a delicious way to live like a local.

Room Temperature Lamb Soup – 包成羊肉

It was still pouring outside, so we decided to go across the street for some fresh mutton soup at 包成羊肉 . This place definitely caught me by surprise, because although unassuming, they’re actually super popular in Tainan. They serve lamb the same way Tainan usually loves to serve their beef in the Tainan room temperature style , where the meat is butchered daily and never refrigerated.

The menu is simple: choose simply lamb meat or add any lamb parts you’d like in either original soup, herbal soup, or dry with sauce . We got an original and and herbal soup to share.

The original soup is just pure mutton. I don’t know how they do it, but there’s no gamey taste in the meat or soup. Instead, it’s just the most comforting and pure meat-infused broth paired with tasty tender mutton . Made with the angelica root, the herbal soup is much darker in color, and has a deeply medicinal savory flavor.

They have 4 self-served condiments you can use to dip your mutton in: bean sauce, sweet and spicy, white vinegar, and thin sliced ginger. It’s so fun trying different combinations of the 4!

All items are 120 NTD for small and 180 NTD for large orders. They open every day of the week except Monday at 5 am, and close when they sell out, often by 11 am. We were lucky to come on a less busy day since it was so rainy. If you’re looking to try some super fresh lamb soup, get here early!

by the time we finish the soup it stopped raining so I guess it was meant to be. We wanted to grab some drinks along the way, so we ordered some boba at 甜又鮮飲料 . They’ve got self ordering kiosks and brightly colored drink posts all over the store.

It’s so hard to choose what to drink! They have many creative fruit tea drinks and sodas to choose from, so you’ll find something you like for sure. The drinks here are so good, and the store is super clean. My sister and I each grabbed a tasty fruit tea, and it was so refreshing. Stop by for a quick drink!

We came across the tiniest, most unassuming rice shop,  泉記米行,  selling  traditional Scholar Cakes . Made with freshly milled sticky rice flour directly in the store, these traditional rice cakes have to be good. Named because they look like the  scholar hats of ancient China , these steamed rice cakes are also called  “Scholar Cakes” 狀元糕.  

Made by filling molds with sticky rice flour and sesame or peanut sugar, these cakes are steamed and come in  packs of 6 for $96 TND or 10 for $160 TND.  Because of it’s association with scholars, many students come to eat this traditional dessert  before exams for good luck .

These scholar cakes were so good, we actually ended up going back for seconds on our trip to Anping Old Street ! Fresh off the grill, they’re  steaming and soft , filled with  sesame or peanut powder.  If you let it cool a little, the texture changes completely into a chewier, bouncier, mochi-like bite. I daresay it gets better after it cools a bit! Don’t miss out on these scholar cakes, because it’s harder and harder to find in Taiwan now.

Chimei Museum: World’s Biggest Violin Collection

Since the rain really started picking up, we decided to choose an indoor activity. With both Chimei Museum and the Tainan Art Museum, Tainan’s no stranger to appreciating the arts. Today, we visited the beautiful Chimei Museum, a private museum built by Wen-Long Shi, the former chairman of the Chimei group. It’s my dad’s first time here, so it’s super exciting for us.

I love the story and history behind Chimei Museum! Because of his love for museums as a kid, Wen-Long Shi believed you should always have access to the wonders of music and art regardless of financial status. Despite his humble beginnings, he worked hard with aspirations to one day open a museum for the public. Today, Chimei Museum houses various types of his private collections, including one of the world’s largest violin collections .

There’s so much to look at, we spent the rest of our day just observing beautiful paintings, weapons, scultures, and taxidermy. Tickets to the museum are about $150 NTD (about $10) , and you can definitely spend a whole day here. We decided to drive to the museum today. You can also get to Chimei Museum by bus from the main train stations, or take a taxi from Tainan City Center.

A-Yu Beef Shabu Shabu 阿裕牛肉涮涮鍋

I am about to put you on something that changed Dom’s life forever the first time he tried it: Tainan’s room temperature beef hot pot (台南溫體牛火鍋) at A-Yu Beef Shabu Shabu 阿裕牛肉涮涮鍋 . Every day the meat is rushed directly from the farm to be butchered at the restaurant without any refrigeration to ensure the meat is served within 6 hours. It’s the most melt-in your mouth beef that you will ever try in your life.

I would never forget Dom’s face when he took the first bite of the beef. Just looking at the meat, it may not seem special, but it’s hiding some good flavor. The thinly sliced beef is tender, but not too fatty and has a slight chew that you can’t find with any other types of beef. All the thinly sliced beef needs is a few seconds in the hot bone broth and you are ready to enjoy. Each cut of beef has it’s own unique flavor, and it’s a super addicting bite.

This delicious beef hot pot meal starts with a 100 NTD pot price, and you can order different cuts of beef for 200-300 per plate. Vegetables and drinks can be purchased from the fridge on the first floor before you head upstairs to the dining area, so I suggest you do that first. You also get complimentary braised pork rice with your meal, so don’t forget to get a bowl while you’re here. Like many other restaurants in Tainan, they do sell out fast so I recommend coming at least 10 minutes before they open to ensure you get a seat.

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Exploring the Rhythms of Tradition: A Complete Guide to Ten Drum Cultural Village in Tainan

Nestled in the vibrant city of Tainan, the Ten Drum Cultural Village offers a unique cultural experience that resonates deeply with Taiwan’s rich heritage. Originally a historic sugar refinery, this site has been transformed into a creative park dedicated to the art of drumming and cultural events. If you’re planning a visit to Tainan, here’s a guide to the must-see attractions at Ten Drum Cultural Village.

Interactive Drumming Sessions

One of the highlights of the Ten Drum Cultural Village is the interactive drumming sessions. Visitors of all ages are invited to participate in drumming workshops led by skilled performers. These sessions are designed to give you a hands-on experience of traditional Taiwanese drumming techniques.

Drum Music Performances

The village is renowned for its electrifying drum music performances. These shows combine powerful drumming with theatrical elements, creating an immersive cultural spectacle. Check the performance schedule to catch one of these stunning displays.

Art and Sculpture Garden

Beyond its musical attractions, Ten Drum Cultural Village also features an expansive art and sculpture garden. Walk through this outdoor space to view a diverse array of sculptures and art installations, each telling a part of Taiwan’s cultural story.

Culture and History Tour

Take a guided tour through the village to learn about its transformation from a sugar factory to a cultural hotspot. The tours provide fascinating insights into the history of the site, the traditional techniques of drum making, and the cultural significance of drumming in Taiwan.

Workshops and Classes

Ten Drum Cultural Village offers a variety of workshops where visitors can engage in different aspects of Taiwanese cultural arts. From drum-making classes to learning traditional dancing, these workshops offer hands-on learning experiences that are both fun and educational.

Award-Winning Restaurant and Café

After a day of exploring, relax at the village’s restaurant and café, which serve a variety of traditional Taiwanese dishes. The restaurant is known for its delicious, locally sourced ingredients and its serene atmosphere.

Visiting Ten Drum Cultural Village in Tainan is a journey into the heart of Taiwanese art and heritage. Whether you’re participating in a drumming session, enjoying a vibrant performance, or simply exploring the scenic grounds, this cultural hub offers a rich, immersive experience for travelers of all ages.

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, tainan travel guide: things to do, what to eat and where to stay in tainan.

On my last visit to Taipei , I found myself with a few extra days that I could use to explore places outside of Taipei. Aside from Jiufen and Beitou, I haven’t been anywhere else in Taiwan. So I decided to go to the extreme and visit Tainan, at the southern end of Taiwan!

Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan, first established during the Dutch colonization era in the 1600s. From then on, it was known as the ancient capital city of Taiwan. It continues to hold the title of the capital city for over 200 years, until the 18th century when the capital was moved to Taichung and then to Taipei , where the capital city currently sits.

• Travel Tips for First-time Visitors

How many days should I spend in Tainan?

When is the best time to visit tainan, how to get to tainan, how to get around in tainan, where to stay in tainan, tainan itinerary example, what to do in tainan.

• What to eat in Tainan

Due to its long history, Tainan is often referred to as Taiwan’s cultural capital. You can see the remnants of Tainan’s history from the time of Dutch colonization to the Japanese era in the 18th century.

In the present day, there are plenty of eating spots, small local shops, and trendy cafes to visit. If you like walking, Tainan is a treat because there are tons of small alleys to explore. Basically, there is something for everyone in Tainan!

Tainan Travel Tips for First-time Visitors

Tainan is safe and easy to travel in, but here are a few pointers that could make your trip even easier:

1. Read my Taipei Travel Tips for First-time Visitors – Many of the travel tips I have for Taipei will apply to Tainan too, such as getting a pre-paid SIM Card that will work in Taiwan, including Tainan, and getting EasyCard , which works on buses in Tainan as well!

2. Buy the High-Speed Rail (HSR) ticket ahead of time – I will elaborate more on taking the HSR in the Getting to Tainan section below, but this is definitely the easiest way to get to Tainan if you are coming from Taipei or other major cities in Taiwan.

3. Buy most of the Tainan attraction tickets via Klook – During my time in Tainan, I bought all of the ticket attractions from Klook. It was super easy because Klook provides direct entry , meaning you don’t need to redeem another ticket – just show the QR code from your voucher!

4. There is a military air base near Tainan – the Tainan airport serves as both military and commercial air base. So occassionally you’ll hear the zooming of military air planes. If noises like this bothers you, you might want to bring an ear plug. Personally it did not bother me at all!

The touristy part of Tainan is actually not a big area. I recommend spending at least 1.5 days in Tainan.

If you’re a fast traveler, one day could even be enough to see most things in Tainan, but it will be very rushed. For those who like to travel slowly, there will be enough things to do in Tainan for 3 days.

Tainan is located in the southern part of Taiwan. The weather here tends to be warmer and more humid than in the northern region.

Like the rest of Taiwan, I would recommend visiting from March to April when the weather is still somewhat cooler and there is not much rain. Starting from mid-May, it gets hot and a little bit rainy in Taiwan. There is also a possibility of typhoons in the region around September or October. November to December might also be a good time to visit when it’s not yet too cold.

I would also recommend visiting Tainan on a weekend if you prefer a more lively atmosphere. There will be more things to do and shops will be open, but it will be more crowded and accommodations could be more expensive. I visited Tainan from Thursday to Friday and was able to visit most of the things on my list without much crowd.

The easiest way to get to Tainan is via the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) from Taipei . But of course, there are a few more ways to get to Tainan. I’ll cover all of them below so you can decide which one is best for you:

1. via the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) from Taipei (BEST WAY!)

The fastest and best way to get to Tainan is no doubt via the HSR trains . These trains are similar to the bullet train in Japan and will take you to Tainan in 1 hour and 45 minutes . The HSR Train departs from Taipei Main Station . There are multiple trains leaving from this station, so make sure to follow the sign that says HSR!

➡️ I highly recommend booking your HSR Ticket from Klook for easy redemption and the cheapest price! PS: Check for Klook promotions! when I was booking my ticket, they had a 1-to-1 promotion.

I found the HSR ticket price to be fairly reasonable. Through Klook, a journey from Taipei to Tainan cost NT$ 1,080 one way . There are multiple HSR trains every hour going from north to south Taiwan and vice versa, making it easy for your to change your plan on the go.

For example, I changed my train ticket to an earlier time in the morning. It took me less time than expected to get ready, so I was already at the station an hour before my train was due to depart. I originally reserved the 9:41 am train, but I was able to get on the 9:01 am train.

Take note changing the timing is still subject to seat availability! I tried to do the same from my Tainan <> Taipei ticket later on, but I was only able to move it to 30 minutes earlier since all the seats on the earlier trains were booked up.

Another bonus point for taking HSR is that there is a free shuttle bus that will take you to Tainan City . I asked the visitor information at Tainan HSR station how I can get to Tainan, and they directed me to take bus H31. Bus H31 dropped me off at Siaosimen , 10 minutes away from my hotel in the West Central district! Super convenient. On the way back, I took Bus H31 to catch the HSR to Taipei as well.

How to redeem your THSR ticket from Klook and reserve a seat

• Purchase the THSR ticket from Klook for the direction you want. PS: Check for Klook promotions! when I was booking my ticket, they had a 1-to-1 promotion.
• Reserve your train timing at the THSR website using the redeem code stated on your Klook voucher. Take note of the deadline to change train timing, in case your plan changes. This is usually 1 hour before your train departure.
• On the day of your reservation, head over to the THSR ticket counter and show your QR Code from the Klook voucher to redeem the physical ticket.
• If you want to make any last-minute changes, you can do so at the ticket counter too, but again, this is subject to seat availability.
• Receive the physical ticket from the THSR ticket counter and use it to board your train!

2. via the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) from Taipei

Another way to travel by train from Taipei to Tainan is using the TRA train. This journey will take 4.5 hours from Taipei, as it is a regular train and much slower than the TSHR train. However, the main draw for them is that TRA tickets cost about half of TSHR, only about NT$ 540-700 one way. So if you’re on a budget and have time to kill, you might want to consider this option.

Book your TRA ticket straight on the website .

3. Fly into Tainan Airport (TNN)

One option you can consider is flying directly to Taiwan Airport (TNN) if you intend to come straight from your home country and skip Taipei. I would only recommend this way if you can fly directly to TNN. Otherwise, I think the train from Taipei is still the best way.

I mostly got around on foot while I was in Tainan, but occasionally you might need to use other methods. Here are a few ways you can explore Tainan:

By Public Bus – Unlike Taipei , there is no convenient metro to get around in Tainan. You’ll have to rely on the bus if you want to go by public transport. The buses are punctual in Tainan but they don’t come very often.

Despite the frequency, I find that it was still pretty easy to navigate. Like Taipei, most of the bus stops in Tainan will tell you when the bus will come. The schedule on Google Maps is pretty accurate too, and the fare is the same as Taipei – NT$ 15 per bus ride.

By Tourist Bus 88 and 99 – On weekends, there are buses catered for tourists which will stop at most tourist attractions. You can buy the tourist bus ticket here .

By Bicycle – This is a popular way to get around in Tainan. Ask your hotel if they can rent you a bicycle. I personally did not use this as I found it pretty easy to just walk around in Tainan. There is also a bike rental system called YouBike you can potentially use while you’re in Tainan.

By Taxi – The yellow taxi is also available in Tainan, if you prefer that. Taxi fares are pretty reasonable in Taiwan so this is not a bad option at all.

When visiting Tainan, you’ll want to stay in the West Central district . This is where most of the food and attractions are going to be in Tainan, which will make it very convenient for you.

Here are some accommodations you can consider:

The Retro Tai-Pan – I stayed here during my visit to Tainan and I HIGHLY recommend this hotel. The hotel is done up with a retro industrial vibe, but it’s actually newly renovated and clean. The location is great, within walking distance of plenty of eateries and bus stops. The rooms are minimalist, but spacious.

They also served the most amazing hotel breakfast I’ve ever had, which was included with the stay! I don’t usually waste stomach space on hotel breakfast, but this was well worth it.

UIJ Hotel & Hostel – This was another accommodation I considered. Don’t let the name fool you – it’s not a dingy hostel, it’s actually a trendy hotel at the heart of the West Central district of Tainan. You can stay in a private room or a bed in a 6-bed dorm. A friend of mine stayed in the private room and she loved it. The private rooms are fitted with Aesop soaps!

Based on where things are located, I recommend dividing your days like so:

Day 1: West Central District

• Arrive in Tainan from Taipei
• Walk around the west central district during the day
• At night, go to Garden Night Market or check out small bars in Tainan

Day 2: Explore Anping District

• Visit Anping Treehouse, Anping Old Fort, and Anping Old Street
• Sicao Green Tunnel
• Return to Taipei

Without further ado, here are things you can do during your visit to Tainan!

1. Walk around the West Central District

The West Central district in Tainan is one of the most popular and busiest districts in Tainan. There are shops, restaurants, and historic sites to visit. There are also small alleys to get lost and walk around in.

Walking around Tainan is pretty cool. You’d be walking on a sidewalk, and it might suddenly turn into a temple, or a wet market, or an extension of a restaurant. You just never know what you’ll see.

Here are a few places I suggest you can visit in the West Central District of Tainan:

1. Check out Tainan’s historic sites

One of the most popular sites in West Central is the Chihkan Tower . Chihkan Tower is the oldest building in Tainan, built in 1653 during the Dutch colonization era as an administration center. Back then, it was called Fort Provintia.

Inside, there is a small garden and a 2-story Sea God Temple, a Chinese-style building that was added later on to the fort. Wenchang Pavilion was under renovation and was closed when I visited.

➡️ You can buy tickets to Chihkan Tower via Klook for direct entry. Just show the Klook QR code at the entrance!

When you are exploring the city on foot, you’ll notice there are so many temples in Tainan. Apparently, there are 12,000+ temples in Taiwan, and Tainan houses 1,600 of them. So let’s visit a few notable ones.

Just a short walk away from Chihkan Tower is Tainan Grand Mazu Temple . Admission is free, but when visiting the temple you’ll see people praying at the temple, so please be quiet and make sure not to linger too long.

Next, you can visit Tainan Confucius Temple , which is famous for students who are about to take an important exam or trying to gain admission to a competitive school.

2. Shopping at Hayashi Department Store

I originally did not include Hayashi Department Store on my list, because I thought it was just a department store. But I happened to pass by while I was walking around the district and… I am really glad I peeked in!

This department store was the first department store in Tainan, dating back to 1932 during the Japanese occupation. It consists of 6 floors of shops filled with unique local designer goodies. It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs or even something nice to bring back for yourself.

Most of the interior has been preserved, including the old elevator which will only fit 5 people at a time. These days, the elevator will only take you from the 1st to the 5th floor and back down. It does not stop on the floors in between. You’ll need to take the stairs all the way up and down to see the different floors of the department store unless you are pregnant or elderly.

On the 5th floor, there’s a restaurant and coffee shop you can relax in. From the 5th floor, you could take the stairs up further to the rooftop. While the view up there isn’t much, there is a small Shinto temple!

3. Visit Blueprint Creative Park

Just like in Taipei , there is a creative park in Tainan too, repurposed from old abandoned building. Blueprint Creative Park is built on a former prison dorm.

At Blueprint Creative Park, you can walk around and check out the small shops they have scattered on the ground. My favorite one is the Taiwan Tile Museum . I was surprised to learn that they had Peranakan tiles in Taiwan too, just like in Singapore .

It’s best to visit the park at night or close to sunset so that you can see the light installations too. At the entrance of the park (the one facing Ximen Road), you can see one of the former prison dorms that have been painted deep cerulean blue and turned into 3D light art installations.

4. Explore the small alleys of Tainan

One of the main draws of the West Central district is that there are so many small little streets to explore and get lost in. This is why I prefer walking when I was here, as opposed to taking the bus or taxi.

A few noteworthy places for such walks are:

Shennong Street

Best visited during sundown because there are lanterns that will be lit up and make the street look pretty. Small shops, cafes, and cocktail bars line up the street.

Snail Alley

A small alley for a quiet afternoon walk. There is a cafe and a bar, but it is also residential. Most of the houses here play into the “snail” theme. You can find many snail ornaments, both obvious and hidden, decorating the alley!

2. Explore Anping District

The history of Anping dates back to the 17th century, during the Dutch colonization of Taiwan. In Anping, you can see the historical remnants of the time when it used to be called Fort Zeelandia.

From Tainan West Central District, you can take Bus 2 all the way to Anping, which will only take 20 minutes.

Here’s what you can see in the Anping District of Tainan:

1. Anping Tree House and Tait&Co Merchant House

You can start your Anping exploration by visiting the merchant house, where you can learn the history of Anping as a harbor that plays a key role in opening Taiwan for international trade. It began as a hub for exporting camphor, then during the Japanese occupation, it was taken over by a Japanese salt company.

On the back of the merchant house is its former warehouse, which is now overgrown by Banyan trees. This is now known as Anping Tree House. You can walk around inside the warehouse. It does not have a roof anymore, and you can admire how nature had completely taken over the warehouse.

➡️ You can buy tickets to Anping Tree House via Klook for direct entry. Just show the Klook QR code at the entrance!

2. Anping Old Fort

Anping Old Fort is about a 5-minute walk from the tree house. Throughout your visit to Anping, you’ll see the name “Fort Zeelandia” often. Well, Fort Zeelandia is the old name for Anping Old Fort when the Dutch occupation in the early 1600s. The fort was built by the Dutch in 1624, then renamed “Anping” when Koxinga took the area back in 1662.

Inside the old fort, you can see remnants of the original wall. What was interesting to me was that the wall was made using three very basic ingredients: oyster shells, syrup, and glutinous rice. Pay attention to parts of the wall – you can still see the “scissor wall lock” that was used to reinforce the wall!

You can also climb up the light house for a good 360 view of Anping. There is a set of stairs and it’s not too hard to climb.

➡️ You can buy tickets to Anping Old Fort via Klook for direct entry. Just show the Klook QR code at the entrance!

3. Anping Old Street

The old street is just a short walk from the old fort. Nowadays, you can find snacks and all kinds of goods here, similar to what you can expect from a night market. But you’d be interested to know that this street is the oldest street in Taiwan!

It’s best to visit the old street after 11 am and before 6pm since vendors only open around that time. You can try the famous Tainan snack here – Coffin Bread.

4. Sicao Green Tunnel

Once you are done with the historical area of Anping, you can make your way to Sicao green tunnel. Here, you can take a boat tour of the mangrove tunnel for peaceful and beautiful natural scenery.

➡️ You can buy admission tickets to Sicao Green Tunnel via Klook . You need to redeem the tickets for entry.

3. Explore Tainan’s popular street food scene

You can’t visit Tainan without appreciating their food! I have a whole section on what to eat in Tainan below, but you should also make time to visit their food street and night market.

Guohua Street

Located near the Tainan station, this street is popular with locals for good and cheap eats.

Garden Night Market

This night market is only open on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. You’ll also want to check their Facebook page or Instagram page to make sure they are indeed open since the weather might also affect their opening.

From the West Central District, you can take Bus 0 to reach Garden Night Market.

4. Visit Museums in Tainan

If you like art and the experience of going to a museum, you’ll love Tainan! There are plenty of museums to visit – here are a few:

Tainan Art Museum

Located right in the middle of the West Central district, this is definitely the most convenient museum for tourists.

➡️ You can buy admission tickets to Tainan Art Museum for direct entry. No need to redeem the ticket when you get there!

Chimei Museum

Chimei Museum is located outside of the city, so it will take some effort to get there. However, it is worth it because the museum ground is big and you can explore an outdoor area aside from the exhibition.

You can take Bus 5 or H31 (the same one we take for taking the HSR). It will take about 30 minutes by bus.

➡️ You can buy admission tickets to Chimei Museum . You need to redeem the tickets for entry.

5. Relax at a cool cafe and hang out spots!

You could say parts of Tainan have been gentrified. Many of the old buildings are now turned into trendy bars at night or coffee houses during the day. If you need a break and fancy a cup of coffee or tea, these places are a great option to hang out in!

Here are some of my favorite cafes in Tainan:

Washida Coffee – Located right in the middle of the West Central district, this coffee shop is located inside the UIJ Hotel Lobby , which also doubles as a bookshop.

Nijo Coffee – Located deep inside the alleys in one of the West Central district alleys, and next to one of the many temples in Tainan, Nijo can be a bit hard to find but it is truly a respite in the busy city. If you want a table, there is a minimum spend of NT$200, but you can also just take your drinks to go.

Mudliu Teahouse – A Hong Kong-style tea house with a retro vibe. They are only open at night and in the later part of the week.

What and where to eat in Tainan

With its long history, it makes sense that Tainan is also known for its culinary delights. There are many dishes I enjoyed during my time in Tainan, and I have made a separate post for it!

All about food in Tainan: Check out my Tainan food guide here

Alright, I hope that paints a picture of what Tainan is like and I hope it helped plan your trip to Tainan! As usual, please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or anything else you would like to add to the post.

Till next time 👋🏻

13 Comments

• February 4, 2024

Thank you. Very informative. From now on, I will follow your blogs. Have a nice day.

Hey Haydee, thank you for the kind words! Have fun on your travels 😀

• December 17, 2023

Hi, I will be spending 3 days 2 nights in Tainan. Was thinking to get a private charter to get around, do you think it is really needed? Or public transport is good enough? Thanks!

• October 22, 2023

Hi, is Tainan a friendly place for solo travellers?

hey JP, yes i think so. i went by my self.

• November 8, 2023

Hi Melissa, sorry didn’t have notification of your reply. Currently, I am in Tainan already. 😅 I went to Snail Alley and Shennong Street. Both were ghost towns. Including Tainan Cultural & Creative Park.

• October 19, 2023

Thank you! Will use your tips for our trip in few days there!

• October 17, 2023

Hi, I am going to Tainan via HSR on one day trip and what is your advise on the itinerary, We have 6 adults and 2 children. Do you have any recommendation for children food. This is our first time go to Tainan without tour guide. We want to go Old Street, cafe and local food. Please advise. Thank you.

• September 23, 2023

Hi What a comprehensive write out! Will definitely use yours for my upcoming trip in Oct 23 Thank you!!!

• September 24, 2023

Thanks Sharen. Have fun in Tainan!

• June 18, 2023

Thank you for the sharing. Will be visiting Tainan in early Nov 2023. Your sharing is definitely very useful for us.

• June 10, 2023

Such great information. So grateful to stumble upon this while i’m planning for my trip in Oct! Thank you

Thanks Dave! Have fun in Tainan

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