Taitung: top things to do, hidden gems and key tips

Use Taitung as a base for the south-east: the rice fields of Chishang, the coast road north to Sanxiantai, and the ferry to Green Island. Give it two or three days. Book trains 28 days ahead, and hire a car or use the tourist shuttles: the sights are spread out.

How long have you got?

• One day: the National Museum of Prehistory, Peinan Site Park and Taitung Forest Park.
• Two or three days: add a day in the East Rift Valley, at Luye and Chishang, and a day up the coast to Dulan and Sanxiantai.

When are you going?

• May and June: golden rice fields along the East Rift Valley.1East Rift Valley NSA (opens in a new tab)erv-nsa.gov.tw Cycle Mr Brown Avenue in Chishang.
• July and August: the Taiwan International Balloon Festival at Luye Highland. In 2026 it ran from 4 July to 20 August.2Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Autumn and winter: the northeast monsoon brings the best surf to Jinzun and Donghe.3East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw The 2026 Taiwan International Surfing Open runs from 6 to 22 November at Jinzun Harbour.4Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw

Top things to do

• National Museum of Prehistory: NT$100, Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 to 17:00.Tip Free Mandarin tours at 09:30 and 14:30, and English audio guides to borrow. Check before late November 2026, when maintenance closures are listed.5National Museum of Prehistory (opens in a new tab)nmp.gov.tw
• Chishang’s Mr Brown Avenue: a road through rice fields with no power poles, open all day.Tip Cycle County Roads 193 and 197.6Taitung County (opens in a new tab)tour.taitung.gov.twEast Rift Valley NSA (opens in a new tab)erv-nsa.gov.tw
• Luye Highland: home of the summer hot-air balloon festival. The 2026 festival ran from 4 July to 20 August.7Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Sanxiantai: an eight-arch footbridge out to a rocky islet. Visitor centre 08:30 to 17:00.Tip Phone the visitor centre on +886 89 854 097 to check the bridge is open.8East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Dulan Sugar Cultural Park: an old sugar factory turned into studios and a live-music venue.9Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Taitung Forest Park: the county’s largest park, with a “black forest” of casuarina pines, good by bike.10Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Zhiben Hot Spring: riverbed springs with public baths from the Japanese era, and hot spring hotels.11Taitung County (opens in a new tab)tour.taitung.gov.tw

Do this instead

• Instead of the NT$180 day pass on shuttle 8168A: tap an EasyCard and pay per ride. Taitung Bus Station to Luye Highland and back comes to about NT$100.12Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (opens in a new tab)taiwantrip.com.tw

Hidden gems

• Peinan Site Park: an archaeological park of slate pillars and rebuilt houses, NT$30, 15 to 20 minutes’ walk from Taitung station.Tip Free Mandarin tours at 10:00 and 15:00.13National Museum of Prehistory (opens in a new tab)nmp.gov.tw
• Dapo Pond: a lake about 700 m from Mr Brown Avenue, open all day.14Taitung County (opens in a new tab)tour.taitung.gov.tw

Getting there and around

• By train: book 28 days ahead.15Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw From Kaohsiung, the South Link line takes about two hours.16Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com
• By air: Mandarin Airlines flies from Taipei Songshan.17Focus Taiwan (opens in a new tab)focustaiwan.tw
• Tourist shuttles: 8168A to Luye, leaving Taitung Bus Station at 08:00 and 13:40, and Luye Highland at 11:28 and 17:08;18timetable (opens in a new tab)taiwantrip.com.tw 8101A up the coast to Sanxiantai, seats bookable ahead.19Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Car hire: at Taitung station, with your passport and an International Driving Permit.20East Rift Valley NSA (opens in a new tab)erv-nsa.gov.tw See Driving in Taiwan.

If it doesn’t go to plan

• Trains sold out? Fly from Songshan, or take the coastal bus from Hualien, about 4 hours 15 minutes,21East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw or come via Kaohsiung.
• Typhoon? Flights and ferries stop. See Typhoons, weather and holidays in Taiwan.
• It’s Monday? The Museum of Prehistory and Peinan’s exhibition hall are closed. Go to Chishang or the Forest Park.