Here are sample DIY Taipei-Hualien itineraries for 3 DAYS, 4 DAYS, 5 DAYS and 7 DAYS (1 WEEK), with budget estimates. If you need more help planning your trip, check out our TAIPEI TRAVEL GUIDE, TAIPEI ITINERARIES, and HUALIEN TRAVEL GUIDE.
“If you could visit only one destination in Taiwan, make it the East Coast,” our guide shared confidently. Her description of this side of the island was so peppered with superlatives, it sparked a curiosity in me so hard that I found myself on the train to Hualien just two months later.
Hualien City is the gateway to the East Coast. Our guide was right. The East Coast is definitely one of the most breathtaking destinations in Taiwan. A journey along the shore and into the canyons will treat you with a bombardment of scenic views. The best part, Hualien is easily accessible from Taipei.
If you’re flying to Taipei soon, you might want to consider squeezing Hualien into your itinerary.
Tip: For a hassle-free trip, rent a pocket wi-fi!
If your entry point is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, rent a Pocket Wifi so you stay connected when you travel. This device can accommodate up to 5 devices at once. Klook’s wifi rental service also provides unlimited 4G data with no decelaration to 3G. You can pick it up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport. The number of available units so reserve one as soon as you can.
Here are some sample Taipei-Hualien itineraries. If you choose to use this as your guide, please take note that these itineraries assume the following:
- You’re flying in and out of Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
- You’re staying near the Main Station in Taipei and near Hualien Train Station in Hualien. These are strategic locations because most key attractions will be easy to reach.
We also put Hualien earlier in the itinerary because it’s farther than Taipei. This way, since you’re already in Taipei on your last day, there is less risk of missing your flight out.
As always, feel free to make some changes to these itineraries to better suit your flight schedule and other travel preferences.
WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Taipei-Hualien Itinerary: 3 Days
This itinerary will allow you to tour Taroko Gorge, Hualien City, and Taipei City.
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Stops: 2 nights in Hualien, Taipei day tour
Places to visit: Taroko Gorge, night market, Pine Garden, Martyr’s Shrine and Stone Art Avenue in Hualien; Taipei 101, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, and Shilin Night Market in Taipei
Day 1: DIY HUALIEN CITY TOUR
10:05am – Arrival at the airport
11:00am – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$160
12:58pm – Taroko Express train to Hualien, NT$440
01:00pm – Arrival at Hualien Station, walk to hotel
01:30pm – Hotel check in
02:00pm – Late lunch, NT$150
03:30pm – Martyr’s Shrine
04:30pm – Pine Garden, NT$50
06:00pm – Walk around town
07:30pm – Night market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Cab to hotel, NT$100
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 2: TAROKO GORGE TOUR
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Taroko Gorge Tour, NT$900, Book here!
06:00pm – Dinner, NT$150
07:30pm – Stone Art Avenue & Ethnic Dance
08:30pm – Back to hotel
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 3: TAIPEI CITY TOUR
08:00am – Wake up call, pack up
10:00am – Hotel check out
11:00am – Lunch, NT$150
12:30pm – Puyuma train to Taipei, NT$440
03:00pm – MRT to Chiang Kai Shek Station, NT$20
03:10pm – Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
04:10pm – CKS Station to Taipei 101 Station, NT$20
04:30pm – Taipei 101, NT$510, Get Discounted Ticket Here!
06:30pm – Taipei 101 to Jiantan Station, NT$30
07:00pm – Shilin Night Market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Jiantan Station to Taipei Main Station, NT$20
09:30pm – Taipei Main Station to Airport, NT$160
10:30pm – Flight check-in
Cost Estimate: NT$4100 (USD133, SGD183, PHP7220, EUR115), not counting plane tickets and hotel.
Taipei-Hualien Itinerary: 4 Days
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Stops: 2 nights in Hualien, 1 night in Taipei
Places to visit: Taroko Gorge, night market, Pine Garden, Martyr’s Shrine and Stone Art Avenue in Hualien; Taipei 101, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, and Shilin Night Market in Taipei; Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu Geopark.
Day 1: DIY HUALIEN CITY TOUR
10:05am – Arrival at the airport
11:00am – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$160
12:58pm – Taroko Express train to Hualien, NT$440
01:00pm – Arrival at Hualien Station, walk to hotel
01:30pm – Hotel check in
02:00pm – Late lunch, NT$150
03:30pm – Martyr’s Shrine
04:30pm – Pine Garden, NT$50
06:00pm – Walk around town
07:30pm – Night market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Cab to hotel, NT$100
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 2: TAROKO GORGE TOUR
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Taroko Gorge Tour, NT$900, Book here!
06:00pm – Dinner, NT$150
07:30pm – Stone Art Avenue & Ethnic Dance
08:30pm – Back to hotel
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 3: TAIPEI CITY TOUR
08:00am – Wake up call, pack up
10:00am – Hotel check out
11:00am – Lunch, NT$150
12:30pm – Puyuma train to Taipei, NT$440
03:00pm – Hotel check in
03:30pm – MRT to Chiang Kai Shek Station, NT$20
03:40pm – Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
04:30pm – CKS Station to Taipei 101 Station, NT$20
04:50pm – Taipei 101, NT$510, Get Discounted Ticket Here!
06:30pm – Taipei 101 to Jiantan Station, NT$30
07:00pm – Shilin Night Market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Jiantan Station to Taipei Main Station, NT$20
09:30pm – Walk to hotel
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 4: JIUFEN, SHIFEN, YEHLIU TOUR
05:00am – Wake up call, early check out
07:15am – MRT to Ximen Station, NT$20
07:45am – Jiufen-Shifen-Yehliu Tour, NT$680, Discounted Ticket Here!
Plus Lunch, NT$200, and Yehliu Entrance Fee, NT$80
05:00pm – Back to Ximen Station
05:10pm – MRT to Main Station
05:30pm – Pick up bags
06:00pm – MRT to Airport, NT$160
07:00pm – Flight check in
Cost Estimate: NT$5100 (USD166, SGD228, PHP8990, EUR143), not counting airfare and hotel.
Taipei-Hualien Itinerary: 5 Days
Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
Stops: 2 nights in Hualien, 2 nights in Taipei
Places to visit: Taroko Gorge, night market, Pine Garden, Martyr’s Shrine and Stone Art Avenue in Hualien; Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Ximending, and Shilin Night Market in Taipei; Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu Geopark.
Day 1: DIY HUALIEN CITY TOUR
10:05am – Arrival at the airport
11:00am – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$160
12:58pm – Taroko Express train to Hualien, NT$440
01:00pm – Arrival at Hualien Station, walk to hotel
01:30pm – Hotel check in
02:00pm – Late lunch, NT$150
03:30pm – Martyr’s Shrine
04:30pm – Pine Garden, NT$50
06:00pm – Walk around town
07:30pm – Night market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Cab to hotel, NT$100
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 2: TAROKO GORGE TOUR
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Taroko Gorge Tour, NT$900, Book here!
06:00pm – Dinner, NT$150
07:30pm – Stone Art Avenue & Ethnic Dance
08:30pm – Back to hotel
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 3: NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM, TAIPEI
06:30am – Wake up call, hotel check out
08:30am – Puyuma train to Taipei, NT$440
11:30am – Hotel check in
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – MRT to Shilin Station, NT$25
01:20pm – Bus to National Palace Museum, NT$15
01:40pm – National Palace Museum, NT$350, Book Here!
03:40pm – Bus 213 to Martyr’s Shrine, NT$15
04:00pm – Martyrs’ Shrine
04:45pm – Watch Changing of the Guards
05:10pm – Bus to Shilin Night Market, NT$15
05:50pm – Shilin Night Market, Budget: NT$250
08:00pm – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$25
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 4: JIUFEN, SHIFEN, YEHLIU TOUR
05:00am – Wake up call
07:15am – MRT to Ximen Station, NT$20
07:45am – Jiufen-Shifen-Yehliu Tour, NT$680, Discounted Ticket Here!
Plus Lunch, NT$200, and Yehliu Entrance Fee, NT$80
05:00pm – Back to Ximen Station
05:10pm – Explore Ximending
06:30pm – Dinner, NT$150
08:30pm – MRT, NT$20, or walk to hotel
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 5: TAIPEI 101 & MEMORIALS
08:00am – Wake up call, pack up
09:30am – Early check out, leave bags
10:00am – MRT to NTU Hospital Station, NT$20
10:30am – Presidential Office Building
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – Walk to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
01:30pm – Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
02:30pm – MRT to Sun Yat Sen Station, NT$25
03:00pm – Sun Yat Sen Memorial
04:00pm – Walk to Taipei 101
04:30pm – Taipei 101, NT$510, Get Discounted Ticket Here!
07:00pm – MRT to Main Station, NT$25
07:30pm – Pick up bags
08:00pm – MRT to Airport, NT$160
09:00pm – Flight check in
Cost Estimate: NT$5900 (USD192, SGD264, PHP10400, EUR165), excluding plane tickets and hotel.
Taipei-Hualien Itinerary: 6 Days
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Stops: 3 nights in Hualien, 2 nights in Taipei
Places to visit: Taroko Gorge, Dangdamen night market, Pine Garden, Hsiukuluan River Rafting, Martyr’s Shrine and Stone Art Avenue in Hualien; Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Ximending, and Shilin Night Market in Taipei; Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu Geopark.
Day 1: DIY HUALIEN CITY TOUR
10:05am – Arrival at the airport
11:00am – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$160
12:58pm – Taroko Express train to Hualien, NT$440
01:00pm – Arrival at Hualien Station, walk to hotel
01:30pm – Hotel check in
02:00pm – Late lunch, NT$150
03:30pm – Martyr’s Shrine
04:30pm – Pine Garden, NT$50
06:00pm – Walk around town
07:30pm – Night market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Cab to hotel, NT$100
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 2: TAROKO GORGE TOUR
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Taroko Gorge Tour, NT$900, Book here!
06:00pm – Dinner, NT$150
07:30pm – Stone Art Avenue & Ethnic Dance
08:30pm – Back to hotel
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 3: HSIUKULUAN RIVER RAFTING
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Hsiukuluan River Rafting, NT$800, Book here!
03:00pm – Rest at hotel, freshen up
05:00pm – Nanbin Park
07:00pm – Dongdamen Night Market, Budget: NT$250
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 4: NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM, TAIPEI
06:30am – Wake up call, hotel check out
08:30am – Puyuma train to Taipei, NT$440
11:30am – Hotel check in
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – MRT to Shilin Station, NT$25
01:20pm – Bus to National Palace Museum, NT$15
01:40pm – National Palace Museum, NT$350, Book Here!
03:40pm – Bus 213 to Martyr’s Shrine, NT$15
04:00pm – Martyrs’ Shrine
04:45pm – Watch Changing of the Guards
05:10pm – Bus to Shilin Night Market, NT$15
05:50pm – Shilin Night Market, Budget: NT$250
08:00pm – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$25
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 5: JIUFEN, SHIFEN, YEHLIU TOUR
05:00am – Wake up call
07:15am – MRT to Ximen Station, NT$20
07:45am – Jiufen-Shifen-Yehliu Tour, NT$680, Discounted Ticket Here!
Plus Lunch, NT$200, and Yehliu Entrance Fee, NT$80
05:00pm – Back to Ximen Station
05:10pm – Explore Ximending
06:30pm – Dinner, NT$150
08:30pm – MRT, NT$20, or walk to hotel
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 6: TAIPEI 101 & MEMORIALS
08:00am – Wake up call, pack up
09:30am – Early check out, leave bags
10:00am – MRT to NTU Hospital Station, NT$20
10:30am – Presidential Office Building
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – Walk to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
01:30pm – Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
02:30pm – MRT to Sun Yat Sen Station, NT$25
03:00pm – Sun Yat Sen Memorial
04:00pm – Walk to Taipei 101
04:30pm – Taipei 101, NT$510, Get Discounted Ticket Here!
07:00pm – MRT to Main Station, NT$25
07:30pm – Pick up bags
08:00pm – MRT to Airport, NT$160
09:00pm – Flight check in
Cost Estimate: NT$7200 (USD234, SGD322, PHP12700, EUR201), excluding airfare, accommodations, and tips.
Hualien-Taipei Itinerary: 7 Days
Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Stops: 3 nights in Hualien, 3 nights in Taipei
Places to visit: Taroko Gorge, Dangdamen night market, Pine Garden, Hsiukuluan River Rafting, Martyr’s Shrine and Stone Art Avenue in Hualien; Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Elephant Mountain, Ximending, and Shilin Night Market in Taipei; Jiufen, Shifen, and Yehliu Geopark.
Day 1: DIY HUALIEN CITY TOUR
10:05am – Arrival at the airport
11:00am – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$160
12:58pm – Taroko Express train to Hualien, NT$440
01:00pm – Arrival at Hualien Station, walk to hotel
01:30pm – Hotel check in
02:00pm – Late lunch, NT$150
03:30pm – Martyr’s Shrine
04:30pm – Pine Garden, NT$50
06:00pm – Walk around town
07:30pm – Night market, Budget: NT$250
09:00pm – Cab to hotel, NT$100
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 2: TAROKO GORGE TOUR
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Taroko Gorge Tour, NT$900, Book here!
06:00pm – Dinner, NT$150
07:30pm – Stone Art Avenue & Ethnic Dance
08:30pm – Back to hotel
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 3: HSIUKULUAN RIVER RAFTING
06:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Hsiukuluan River Rafting, NT$800, Book here!
03:00pm – Rest at hotel, freshen up
05:00pm – Nanbin Park
07:00pm – Dongdamen Night Market, Budget: NT$250
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 4: FREE DAY, ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN
06:30am – Wake up call, hotel check out
08:30am – Puyuma train to Taipei, NT$440
11:30am – Hotel check in
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – Free time, rest
03:30pm – MRT to Xiangshan Station, NT$25
04:00pm – Walk and climb Elephant Mountain, FREE
05:30pm – Watch sunset
06:30pm – Trek down to city
07:30pm – Dinner, NT$150
09:00pm – Lights out
Day 5: NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM, TAIPEI
08:30am – Wake up call
11:00am – Lunch, NT$150
12:00nn – MRT to Shilin Station, NT$25
12:30pm – Bus to National Palace Museum, NT$15
01:00pm – National Palace Museum, NT$350, Book Here!
03:40pm – Bus 213 to Martyr’s Shrine, NT$15
04:00pm – Martyrs’ Shrine
04:45pm – Watch Changing of the Guards
05:10pm – Bus to Shilin Night Market, NT$15
05:50pm – Shilin Night Market, Budget: NT$250
08:00pm – MRT to Taipei Main Station, NT$25
09:30pm – Lights out
Day 6: JIUFEN, SHIFEN, YEHLIU TOUR
05:00am – Wake up call
07:15am – MRT to Ximen Station, NT$20
07:45am – Jiufen-Shifen-Yehliu Tour, NT$680, Discounted Ticket Here!
Plus Lunch, NT$200, and Yehliu Entrance Fee, NT$80
05:00pm – Back to Ximen Station
05:10pm – Explore Ximending
06:30pm – Dinner, NT$150
08:30pm – MRT, NT$20, or walk to hotel
10:00pm – Lights out
Day 7: TAIPEI 101 & MEMORIALS
08:00am – Wake up call, pack up
09:30am – Early check out, leave bags
10:00am – MRT to NTU Hospital Station, NT$20
10:30am – Presidential Office Building
12:00nn – Lunch, NT$150
01:00pm – Walk to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
01:30pm – Chiang Kai Shek Memorial
02:30pm – MRT to Sun Yat Sen Station, NT$25
03:00pm – Sun Yat Sen Memorial
04:00pm – Walk to Taipei 101
04:30pm – Taipei 101, NT$510, Get Discounted Ticket Here!
07:00pm – MRT to Main Station, NT$25
07:30pm – Pick up bags
08:00pm – MRT to Airport, NT$160
09:00pm – Flight check in
Cost Estimate: NT$7700 (USD250, SGD345, PHP13500, EUR215), excluding airfare, tips, and hotel.
Reminders and Tips
- Book your tickets and tours with Klook. I have provided links where you can purchase tickets or book tours. These are affiliate links, many of which offer discounts. You’ll also help our blog in the process if you purchase tickets via Klook.
- The fares and prices are just estimates. It’s meant to give just a ballpark figure. The actual costs may vary. Estimated costs do not include shopping budget and other expenses that are not indicated.
- Total cost estimates are bloated. We added a bit of allowance. Better overestimate than under.
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