Taiwan in 5 Days: Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung & Hualien (2025)
Want a quick look at Taiwan’s best bits? A ‘5-Day Best of Taiwan’ tour, hitting spots like Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien, seems like it could be it. This review will offer you an inside look at what you might get. It is supposed to help you see if this kind of fast-paced trip matches what you are after. The idea is to help you decide whether it is a good fit for how you want to travel.
Day 1: Arrival in Taipei & Sun Moon Lake’s Charm
The trip often starts in Taipei, at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). So, from there, expect a transfer to Sun Moon Lake. It is a popular scenic spot, known for its still, blue water and mountain views. It feels like a scene straight out of a movie.
What can you do at Sun Moon Lake? A boat ride on the lake offers various angles to appreciate the surroundings. Think peaceful temples dotted along the water’s edge, the kind that makes you want to sit for a while. Also, the indigenous Thao tribe have cultural performances sometimes. That could really connect you with the location’s stories and past. Plus, there is the chance to try local eats.
Now, this is just a potential issue though, a quick one-day tour could just skim over the deep history here. Maybe you won’t feel fully in sync with the place, if you only have a little bit of time.
Read our full review: Sun Moon Lake Full Review and Details
Day 2: Exploring Tainan’s Historical Depths
Tainan is next on the itinerary. It is commonly known as Taiwan’s oldest city, full of history around every corner. If old buildings and stories excite you, then that should be interesting to you. This is just something to think about. Tainan packs some impressive stops for any tourist wanting to see the background of this unique destination.
Anping Fort is often highlighted. It dates back to when the Dutch ruled. That’s going to be something you see, imagining it as it might have been a long while back. Fort Provintia can give you more historical context; what I mean is you learn stuff about various periods in Tainan’s story, so that’s kind of cool. For local flavor, think about visiting the Confucius Temple. Here, the atmosphere might be relaxing, with many chances to pause. Then there are Tainan’s famous snacks. Make sure to grab a bite, you will get your fill of the different food stories and tastes here!
The tight schedule of such a tour could mean not fully engaging with Tainan’s beauty. Exploring all the smaller historical places can take extra time. That is what you will want to think about as you prepare for this trip!
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Day 3: Kaohsiung’s Modern Vibe
Kaohsiung, is usually on deck. What I mean is this city is where contemporary style hits harbor charm, that kind of contrast. Now, the city shows a different face of Taiwan. That really might be the intention of this part of the vacation!
Consider visiting the Lotus Pond. It is home to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas; this stop offers some unique photo possibilities, more or less. What I mean is they have cool architecture. Then think about a visit to Pier-2 Art Center. The place turned old warehouses into unique art spaces. This offers up creativity everywhere. For those interested in seeing city views, you can make a pitstop at 85 Sky Tower. It is commonly an option for taking the city in all at once! And last but not least is a simple evening walk in Love River. It may very well be both charming and refreshing.
Spending a shorter amount of time in Kaohsiung might not give travelers opportunities. Opportunities to check out some cooler attractions in the area like the night markets could easily disappear. Think hard about this!
Read our full review: Kaohsiung Skyline Full Review and Details
Day 4: Hualien’s Natural Beauty
Moving towards the east coast, there’s usually Hualien, a different setting with natural landmarks. Hualien usually becomes the area to experience some of Taiwan’s best outdoor treasures; pretty much that is what its there for! So now here is another place, lets see what’s cool about it.
A trip to Taroko Gorge has you passing super high marble cliffs and twisty paths. Often visitors report enjoying seeing Swallow Grotto with neat rock creations and tiny swallows. What’s usually an option is paying a quick visit to Qixingtan Beach. The specific setting, near the ocean, might be serene, very nearly picturesque.
The pace of a short tour might only scratch at what Hualien offers. Taking more private, slower-paced visits might assist you in engaging more fully with nature in Hualien. This kind of choice might matter.
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Day 5: Return to Taipei & Departure
The last day means going back to Taipei for your flight home, that is common anyway. With enough time, there might even be an opportunity for a quick visit, and what I’m talking about here is one of Taipei’s better spots. Then its the airport, goodbyes, and onward!
This kind of rapid travel really might feel too packed; this tour provides some main Taiwanese features and destinations to many vacationers. But that pace could make experiences lack depth or seem impersonal, to be honest. Selecting this ‘Best of’ tour boils down to balancing speed versus immersion and seeing just what that balance means for your travel hopes. You could ask yourself, would I appreciate experiencing some main destinations in a simple, straightforward kind of vacation arrangement versus really spending the time seeing something up close and really learning what Taiwan offers. That is what it may hinge upon.
Read our full review: Taipei Cityscape Full Review and Details