Introduction to Tainan
When it comes to exploring Taiwan’s deep roots and vibrant traditions, Tainan is the place where it all began. As Taiwan’s oldest city and its former capital during the Qing dynasty, Tainan is a living museum—where centuries-old temples sit beside hip cafés, and historic streets echo with tales of kings, colonists, and revolutionaries.
Often dubbed the “Kyoto of Taiwan,” Tainan offers more than just beauty and history. It’s the soul of the island, with a character shaped by 400 years of cultural fusion—from indigenous tribes and Ming loyalists to Dutch colonizers, Japanese administrators, and modern Taiwanese creators.
Whether you’re here to trace ancient history, wander through temple-dotted alleys, indulge in legendary street food, or simply soak up the city’s relaxed charm, Tainan welcomes you like an old friend—with incense in the air and a bowl of milkfish soup in hand.
Tainan isn’t about rushing through attractions. It’s about slowing down, connecting to tradition, and tasting life at its fullest. In Tainan, you don’t just see history—you feel it. In the creak of temple wood, the aroma of old-school soy sauce, the warm smiles of vendors who’ve cooked the same dish for 50 years. It’s a place where the past and present walk hand-in-hand, and where every street corner tells a story.
Why Visit Tainan
Cultural Capital: With over 1,000 temples, Tainan is Taiwan’s spiritual and historical core.
Street Food Paradise: Tainan is often hailed as Taiwan’s food capital, where classic dishes were born and perfected.
Rich Colonial Heritage: From Dutch forts to Japanese-era architecture, Tainan is layered with history.
Laid-Back Charm: No frantic pace here—Tainan invites you to slow down, wander, and savor.
What to Eat in Tainan
Tainan’s food is famous across Taiwan for being sweet, savory, and deeply rooted in local pride. It’s the birthplace of several iconic dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Danzai Noodles – Small bowls of shrimp noodle soup, invented right here
Milkfish Soup – A local favorite with tender fish and clear broth
Coffin bread – a thick toast filled with creamy stew
Shrimp rolls
Savory rice pudding
Mango shaved ice (especially in summer)
Coffin Bread – A creamy chicken stew served in fried toast shaped like a coffin
Oyster Omelet – Chewy, savory, and full of flavor
Sweet Peanut Soup – Perfect after a salty snack
Top Food Spots:
Guohua Street – A foodie’s dream, lined with traditional bites
Shennong Street: A beautifully preserved old street filled with vintage shops, indie bars, and artisan crafts. Visit at night when lanterns glow and music fills the air.
Garden Night Market (Tainan)
Opens only on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Dadong Night Market (Tainan)
Opens only on Monday, Tuesday and Friday
Wusheng Night Market (Tainan)
Opens only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Tip: Visit Guohua Street and Shennong Street for legendary local food vendors and cozy street-side eateries.
Things to Do in Tainan
When people think of Taiwan, they often imagine Taipei’s modern skyline or the lush peaks of Alishan. But for a deep dive into the island’s history, culture, and legendary street food, there’s no place quite like Tainan.
As Taiwan’s oldest city and former capital, Tainan is a living museum of temples, colonial forts, traditional snacks, and centuries-old stories waiting to be discovered.
Tainan City Center
Hayashi Department Store
Hayashi Department Store (林百貨) is a beautifully restored 1930s-era Japanese shop building in Tainan’s old city center. Climb its wooden staircases to vintage-inspired boutiques, tea rooms, and an Instagram-friendly rooftop café offering city views and historical ambiance.
The architecturally preserved façade, Art Deco interiors, and period furniture offer a nostalgic shopping and cultural experience. On weekends, special events and workshops bring this heritage building back to life, making it a charming blend of commerce and culture.
Key Points:
Historic Japanese-era department store with Art Deco charm
Rooftop café with city views and retro atmosphere
Rotating cultural events and artisan pop-ups
Chihkan Tower
Built in the 17th century during the Dutch colonial era, Chihkan Tower (赤崁樓) is one of Tainan’s most iconic historic sites. Surrounded by water moats and verdant gardens, the structure mixes Chinese-style pavilions with Dutch foundations.
Inside, intricate altars, historic plaques, and stone-carved poetry reflect centuries of layers—from Ming loyalists to Qing officials—offering a serene yet educational experience right in the city’s heart.
Key Points:
Dutch-built 17th-century tower with Chinese additions
Water moats, gardens, and cultural heritage exhibits
Displays covering temple-inscribed poetry and colonial history
Shennong Street
Shennong Street (神農街) is Tainan’s best-preserved baroque-era lane, lined with red-brick homes, vintage cafes, art galleries, and boutique shops. Its uneven stone pavements and lamplit ambiance make it a favorite backdrop for photographers and romantics.
The street pulses at dusk, when lanterns glow and shopfronts open for artisans and tea spots. Through street festivals and music nights, Shennong delivers quiet cultural immersion with a romantic and nostalgic tone.
Key Points:
Baroque and red-brick architecture on a historic lane
Charming cafés, galleries, and photographic appeal
Evening ambiance with lanterns and cultural small events
Blueprint Culture & Creative Park
Transformed from an old dormitory cluster, the Blueprint Culture & Creative Park (藍晒圖文創園區) features street-art-lined courtyards and creative murals guided by sunlight. Massive outdoor “blueprint” murals evoke the solar print technique, giving the park its whimsical name.
Today you’ll find design shops, art installations, photography studios, and cafés in reclaimed architectural spaces. Events like weekend markets and film screenings draw in creatives and cultural explorers alike.
Key Points:
Urban art park with sunlight-reactive blueprint murals
Galleries, creative stores, and photo backdrops
Street markets, film nights, and community arts programs
Anping District
Anping Fort
Also known as Fort Zeelandia, Anping Fort (安平古堡) was built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century and later expanded with Ming-era brickwork. Climb atop the ramparts to sip tea and take panoramic views of the Anping Canal, harbor, and sunset sky.
The onsite museum tells the story of Dutch colonization, Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), and Taiwan’s early interactions with Europe and China. The flagstone walls and archaeological remains make history feel tangible for visitors of all ages.
Key Points:
17th-century Dutch stronghold with Ming-era additions
Elevated views over canal, harbor, and sunset skies
Museum on colonial history and Koxinga’s conquest
Anping Old Street
Anping Old Street (安平老街) is Tainan’s premier heritage food market, lined with shops selling oyster omelet, shrimp rolls, bean-pudding desserts, and herbal snacks. The area buzzes with hand-made souvenirs like dried seafood and salt-art crafts.
Beyond the food, the street leads to historic temples, silver shops, and traditional pastry makers. The old-town atmosphere is warm and walkable—best explored at a slow pace to follow the scents, flavors, and sounds of Tainan’s coastal town culture.
Key Points:
Old-town market with iconic Tainan street food
Souvenir crafts: dried seafood, salt art, local treats
Walkable heritage-lined route linked to seaside temples
Anping Tree House
Once a sugar warehouse, the Anping Tree House (安平樹屋) has been reclaimed by banyan roots, whose sprawling tendrils and trunks overtake the old bricks. The result is a living sculpture—nature melding with architecture in a surreal way.
Visitors can walk along boardwalks throughout the ruin, discover secret chambers and elevated platforms, and photograph the ethereal interplay of branches and brick. It’s a captivating symbol of time, nature, and history interwoven.
Key Points:
Abandoned sugar warehouse overgrown with banyan roots
Boardwalk pathway through arboreal ruins and hidden spaces
Dramatic photo settings reflecting time, architecture, and nature
Yuguang Island
Connected to Anping by a causeway, Yuguang Island (漁光島) is a reclaimed wetland turned low-key seaside leisure park. Trails pass mangroves, fish ponds, and coastal viewing decks.
The area attracts birdwatchers at high tide and locals enjoying paddling boats through waters dotted with floating lanterns. With few buildings and few crowds, Yuguang offers a calm slice of seashore retreat.
Key Points:
Reclaimed causeway island with mangrove ecology
Birdwatching and tidal walkway access
Quiet waterfront park with boat-rental options
Sunset Platform
Built along Anping’s waterfront, the Sunset Platform (黃昏夕照平台) offers a neat, elevated viewpoint for watching solar dips over horizon watercraft. It’s a popular evening spot where couples and families gather to snap photos and soak in vivid skies.
Benches, lamp posts, and photo-frame sculptures make it easy to enjoy or pose before the fading light. Grab a snack nearby and linger—the platform captures the golden hour in a quintessential coastal town setting.
Key Points:
Elevated evening lookout for sunset photography
Waterfront benches and sculpture photo spots
Romantic and family-friendly coastal ambiance
Eternal Golden Castle
The Eternal Golden Castle (億載金城) is a 19th-century coastal fortress built by the Qing Dynasty to defend against Western naval threats. Rock ramparts overlook the tide and house restored cannon redoubts and military walkways.
Inside, exhibits recount the ancient coastlines, cannon reloading processes, and Qing military structures. The nearby moat courtyard and timber watchtower recreate a maritime defense post, offering history and ocean views blended.
Key Points:
Qing-era fortress against Western naval powers
Coastal cannon emplacements and rampart walks
Moat courtyard with maritime defense exhibits
Outside the City Center
Ten Drum Cultural Village
Ten Drum Cultural Village (十鼓文創園區) is a repurposed sugar factory turned into a world-class taiko drum performance venue in Houbi. Metal walkways line drum pits, galleries, and rehearsal spaces, blending industrial architecture with energetic shows.
Visitors can see live drumming concerts, try beginner-friendly rhythm workshops, and explore a drum-themed labyrinth. The site also hosts canopy bike rides and adrenaline drum bridge jumps—melding art, culture, and entertainment.
Key Points:
Taiko performance center in refurbished factory grounds
Interactive workshops and live drumshows
Adventure rides like drum bridge and industrial canopy cycle
Chimei Museum
The expansive Chimei Museum (奇美博物館) complex holds Western art, armor, musical instruments, and natural history collections across landscaped grounds. Its neoclassical architecture, sculpture gardens, and vast galleries make it Taiwan’s premier encyclopedic museum.
Permanent exhibits range from Rodin’s bronzes to Stradivarius violins, medieval armor, and dinosaur skeletons—presented with museum quality and community programming. With spacious halls and a park café, it’s ideal for a cultural day out.
Key Points:
Extensive collections: art, instruments, armor, and nature
Neoclassical architecture and landscaped grounds
Community events, family-friendly spaces, and café environment
Qigu Salt Mountain
Located in Tainan’s salt-producing coast, Qigu Salt Mountain (七股鹽山) transforms piles of harvested sea salt into white dunes, walkways, and sculptures. The white mounds shift with seasonal salt harvesting, providing surreal photo ops.
Visitors can taste sea salt products and use sand chairs on the piles. The site is also adjacent to traditional evaporation ponds where salt workers demonstrate age-old harvesting methods.
Key Points:
Salt dunes from evaporated sea salt harvesting
Interactive salt product shop and photo niches
Adjoins traditional salt-pond landscapes and worker demos
Jing Zhai Jiao Tile Paved Salt Fields
Jing Zhai Jiao Tile Paved Salt Fields (井仔腳瓦盤鹽田) is the best-preserved traditional salt field in Taiwan, featuring tiled salt evaporation ponds and red-brick managers’ residences. Wide salt pans form geometric pools reflecting sky and horizon.
During harvest season, you can walk the narrow tile ridges and engage with salt farmers. Wooden salt-shoveling tools demonstrate sustainable harvesting traditions. It’s an open-air museum offering cultural immersion and eco-conscious travel moments.
Key Points:
Traditional tile-lined salt evaporation ponds
Harvest walkthroughs with farmer interaction
Cultural-heritage site with working salt-field experience
Sicao Green Tunnel
Dubbed Taiwan’s “Amazon,” the Sicao Green Tunnel (四草綠色隧道) is a narrow river corridor lined with lush mangrove forests. Wooden boat rides glide under intertwining branches, offering serene eco-tours with turtle and bird sightings.
The canopy creates a mystical emerald passage—best experienced early or late in the day for soft light. The site connects to coastal wetlands and shore fishing villages, threading ecology, history, and local culture into quiet waterways.
Key Points:
Mangrove-lined boat tunnel with calming atmosphere
Sightings of crabs, birds, and riverine wildlife
Cultural eco-tour linking to nearby fishing villages
Taijiang National Park
Spanning Tainan’s southwestern wetlands and coastal zones, Taijiang National Park (台江國家公園) preserves tidal flats, marsh ecosystems, and traditional lagoons. Boardwalk trails offer birdwatching—especially for migratory species—and interpretive forests.
The park also features ethnic Tao canoe rides, stilt-house villages, and saline grasslands. Cultural and ecological trails merge salt fields with fishing villages, reflecting centuries of human-nature harmony along the Taiwan Strait coast.
Key Points:
Wetland and tidal flat conservation with educational trails
Migratory bird habitats and stilt-house heritage villages
Cultural-ecological canoe tours through lagoon ecosystems
Visit the Most Temples You’ve Ever Seen
Tainan’s spiritual landscape is second to none. There’s a temple for every wish, every god, and every festival.
Must-Visit Temples:
Confucius Temple – The oldest in Taiwan; serene and scholarly
Grand Mazu Temple – Dedicated to the sea goddess, protector of sailors
City God Temple – Where spirits of the afterlife are honored
Exploring Tainan’s temple alleys is like walking through an open-air museum of faith and folklore. With over 1,500 temples, Tainan has the highest temple density in Taiwan.
Explore both big-name temples and small neighborhood shrines tucked away behind buildings.
Tip: Be respectful—remove your hat, don’t point at statues, and observe in silence when possible.
How to Get to Tainan from Taipei
Tainan, often referred to as the cultural capital of Taiwan, is a must-visit for travelers interested in history, temples, traditional snacks, and heritage architecture. As Taiwan’s oldest city and former capital, it offers a unique contrast to the modern buzz of Taipei.
If you’re starting in Taipei, getting to Tainan is straightforward and offers multiple options, depending on your time, budget, and travel style. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about traveling from Taipei to Tainan, including high-speed rail (HSR), conventional trains (TRA), bus, car, and flight options.
Option 1: Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR) – Fastest & Most Convenient
This is the quickest and most popular way to get from Taipei to Tainan.
Route: Taipei HSR Station → Tainan HSR Station (Rende District)
Duration: ~1 hour 45 minutes
Cost: NT$1,350 (standard reserved seat)
Train Frequency: Every 20–30 minutes
Tainan’s HSR Station is located in Rende District, about 20–30 minutes from downtown Tainan by local train, bus, or taxi.
Transfer to downtown Tainan:
TRA Shuttle Train (10 mins): From Tainan HSR to Tainan TRA Station
Taxi: ~NT$300–400 to city center
Bus: Less frequent but available
Pros:
Fast, reliable, comfortable
Perfect for a day trip or short stay
Discounted tickets available via Klook or KKday
Tip: Use the Taiwan HSR app or website to book tickets in advance and check train schedules.
Option 2: Taiwan Railways (TRA) – Budget-Friendly and Central
The TRA train system offers direct service from Taipei to Tainan City Center, making it a great option for budget travelers or those wanting to arrive directly in the heart of the city.
Route: Taipei Main Station → Tainan TRA Station
Duration:
Tze-Chiang Express: ~4.5–5 hours
Chu-Kuang Express: ~5.5–6.5 hours
Cost: NT$738–843
Train Frequency: ~Every 30–60 minutes
Pros:
No need to transfer—arrives in the center of Tainan
Great for those with time and a tight budget
Comfortable seats and scenic countryside views
Tip: Book Tze-Chiang Express trains for the best value in terms of time vs. cost.
Option 3: Intercity Bus – Budget but Slow
Long-distance buses run from Taipei to Tainan, offering a cheaper option but with a longer journey time.
Route: Taipei Bus Stations → Tainan (various stops)
Duration: ~5.5–6.5 hours (traffic-dependent)
Cost: NT$350–500
Bus Companies: UBus (統聯), Kuo-Kuang (國光), Ho-Hsin (和欣), Aloha
Pros:
Lowest-cost option
Comfortable, with reclining seats and free Wi-Fi
Night buses available for red-eye travel
Tip: Take a night bus to sleep through the ride and arrive in Tainan early morning.
Option 4: Driving – Great for Road Trips
If you want to stop at places like Lukang, Chiayi, or Taichung on the way, consider driving from Taipei to Tainan.
Route: National Freeway No. 1 (Sun Yat-Sen Freeway)
Duration: ~4.5–5.5 hours
Costs: Car Rental: ~NT$1,800–2,500/day
Toll Fees: ~NT$250–300
Fuel: ~NT$500–800
Pros:
Maximum flexibility
Ideal for groups or family travel
Opportunities for scenic detours
Tip: Avoid peak weekend traffic and use apps like Google Maps or Waze for live traffic updates.
Option 5: Flights – Not Practical
Although Tainan has an airport, flights between Taipei and Tainan are limited and often more expensive and time-consuming than the train or bus.
Airports:
From Taipei Songshan (TSA) or Taoyuan (TPE)
To Tainan Airport (TNN)
Flight Duration: ~1 hour
Cost: NT$1,500–2,500
Total Travel Time: 3–4 hours (with check-in and airport transfers)
Not Recommended Unless:
You’re connecting to another domestic flight
You live close to the airport
You’re using frequent flyer miles
Final Travel Tips
Book HSR or TRA tickets early during weekends and holidays.
EasyCard or iPASS can be used on local transport and shuttle buses.
Consider staying in the Confucius Temple or Shennong Street area for easy access to attractions.
Download apps like Taiwan HSR, TRA eBooking, or Bus+ for schedules and tickets.
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Old Town Tainan
Visit Confucius Temple, Chihkan Tower, and City God Temple
Lunch on Guohua Street
Evening at Shennong Street with a craft beer
Day 2: Anping & Coast
Explore Fort Zeelandia, Tree House, and Anping Old Street
Take a boat through Sicao Green Tunnel
Sunset at Yuguang Island
Day 3: Food, Art & Nature
Coffee and shops at Blueprint Creative Park
Try a milkfish breakfast
Head to Taijiang National Park for an eco-tour or cycling adventure
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