Getting around Taiwan is as easy as A-B-C!
Armed with breathtaking mountains and sinfully delicious street food, Taiwan is an Asian holiday utopia that also has excellent transportation to match. Go around the island aboard the Taiwan High-Speed Rail, or hop on the Taiwan Railway to hit up all scenic spots. First-timer to Taiwan and not sure how to go about train travel or simply trying to get the most bang for your buck? Klook shows you how to make the best use of the Taiwanese rail system!
P.S. before you jump into adventure, make sure all your travel documents are complete:
Taiwan High-Speed Rail vs. Taiwan Railway
There are two types of train services in Taiwan: The first is the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR), which speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour to take you across Taiwan. From the Northern end of Taipei to the Southern tip of Kaohsiung, you’ll be there in a jiffy!
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Meanwhile, you can explore nooks and crannies missed by the high-speed rail by riding the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) — or Taiwan Railway for short, with tracks that snake through the country’s scenic treasures.
Much like Japan’s JR Pass, Taiwan has its own train pass packages to help tourists save some transport money and, more importantly, relieve the burdens of understanding complex transportation systems in a foreign country. One of which is the 5-Day Joint Train Pass, which gives you access to both the THSR and the Taiwan Railway.
What is the 5-Day Joint Train Pass?
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The 5-Day Joint Train Pass gives five consecutive days of unlimited Taiwan Railway travel. Out of these five days, you can choose two days to travel on the speedy Taiwan High-Speed Rail.
This pass can only be purchased outside of Taiwan by visitors with a tourist visa. Visitors must purchase a 5-Day Joint Train Pass before their arrival and head to a THSR or Taiwan Railway Ticket window within 90 days of purchase. You’ll need to show your passport for redemption.
Klook Tip: Plan ahead and decide when you intend to use the pass. You will be asked to declare the exact dates when redeeming the tickets.
Want to know more about the Taiwan High-Speed Rail? Check out our trusty guide:
Alternatively, for those who are in Taiwan for a shorter holiday, you can book theTHSR Unlimited Tourist Pass to enjoy two to three days of unlimited train travel!
Types of 5-Day Join Train Passes
Standard Pass | Express Pass | |
|---|---|---|
Advanced Seat Reservations | THSR only Reserve seats at the THSR website | THSR and TRA Reserve seats at the THSR website / any TRA counter |
THSR Validity | Any 2 days within 5 days from first use Valid on all THSR routes | Any 2 days within 5 days from first use Valid on all THSR routes |
TRA Validity | 5 consecutive days Valid train lines: - Chu-Kuang Express* - Fu-Hsing Semi Express* Excluded train lines: - Tze-Chiang Limited Express - Taroko Express - Puyuma Express - Tour trains, group trains, cruise trains, and any other trains as specified by Taiwan Railway | 5 consecutive days Valid train lines: - Chu-Kuang Express** - Fu-Hsing Semi Express** - Tze-Chiang Limited Express** - Taroko Express*** - Puyuma Express*** Excluded train lines: - Tour trains, group trains, cruise trains, and any other trains as specified by Taiwan Railway |
* For trains with vacant seats only (reservations not available)
** Reservations available, but boarding applicable for both reserved / vacant seats
*** Reservations required prior to boarding
Confused over Taiwan rail passes? Fret not — we’ve got you covered! Take a peek at our trusty guide to the best Taiwan transportation passes:
Where do I buy my 5-Day Joint Pass?
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You can buy your pass directly from Klook! Once you arrive in Taiwan, you can redeem your actual pass at a THSR / TRA station by presenting your passport along with your redemption code and then confirming your intended usage date. Once you have your pass, you’ll be taking the next train to wherever you want to go!
Klook Tip: If your travel plans only have a stop or two, instead of multiple, you can also opt for the Taiwan High-Speed Rail one-way ticket instead at a discounted price from Klook!
Where can my 5-Day Joint Train Pass take me?
Taiwan has been labeled one of the most underrated places in the world, and that’s because most don’t know where to find the good stuff.
Now that you’ve equipped yourself with the Taiwan High-Speed Rail tickets and the Taiwan Railway Pass, getting around the sweet potato-shaped island is nothing but a breeze! Here’s our recommendation for the top things to do all over Taiwan, starting from its capital:
Taipei
1. Touch Stars Revolving Restaurant
Photo Credit: joker177 on Pixabay
First order of business in Taiwan: dig into some sumptuous food at Touch Stars Revolving Restaurant. This is no ordinary restaurant, however, as it takes your high dining experience to the next level — 492 feet from above! House specialties include hot pot, pigeon cooked with Chinese rice, and a fabulous view of Taipei. What more can you ask for?
2. Taipei Double Decker Dining Car
Would a tour of Taipei while indulging in a luxurious afternoon tea be more up your alley? Another dining experience you’ll want to try is theTaipei Double Decker Dining Car, which takes you on a one-and-a-half-hour ride to see the best sights in town — Taipei 101, Tao Zhu Yin Garden, Xinyi District’s towering skyscrapers, and heaps more. Top this with a mouthwatering meal of smoked chicken, ham and cheese Swiss brioche, and a glass of Mont Blanc, and you’ve got yourself a full feast!
Klook Tip: Fancy sightseeing Taipei at night instead? A dinner set is also available at the Taipei Double Decker Dining Car
3. Taipei 101
Photo Credit: Timo Volz on Unsplash
What’s a trip to Taipei without visiting its most iconic landmark? Taipei 101 stands at a whopping 1,667 feet high and offers the most awe-inspiring views of the entire city and beyond. When you ride the elevator up to the 91st floor, you’ll get to touch the clouds and lounge in the sky. Bonus: this experience includes plenty of photo-taking opportunities to share on your socials!
Want more of Taipei? Check out our Taipei best things to do and eat list:
Yilan
4. Guishan Island
With its long stretch of sea cliffs, turquoise-colored waters, and an abundance of sunshine, Guishan Island (aka Taiwan’s famed Turtle Island) offers a relaxing escape from the city. Just two and a half hours away from Taipei by train, this slice of paradise is a haven, one with seas filled with whales, dolphins, flying fishes, and plenty of rock-spotting opportunities.
Hualien
5. Taroko National Park
Photo Credit: MagicTV on Pixabay
Stop number five is none other than Taroko National Park, one of the nine national parks on the entire island. Encompassing over 92,000 hectares of land, the park is blessed with natural beauty — from rocky coastal cliffs and marbled canyons to gentle streams. You’ll be in awe of Mother Nature!
Klook Tip: Lace up your hiking shoes for this adventure down the Swallow Grotto Trail inside the park!
Taitung
6. Duoliang Station
Speaking of trains, you’ll want to visit the most beautiful train station in Taiwan: Duoliang Station! Here you can catch the dreamy landscape of the Pacific Ocean with the old-style train chugging along the tracks. Train arrivals are scheduled at 30-minute intervals, so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your cameras for the perfect shot! While waiting, there’s also the nearby abandoned Duoliang Elementary School, which is now covered with traditional Taiwanese driftwood art.
7. River Tracing Experience
There’s something in Taitung, too, for all our adventure-seeking friends: the River Tracing Experience will take you on a thrilling expedition down Mulberry Creek. Hike, splash, and crash against the waves as you journey further into the stream, before you meet the Taromak tribe at Dongxing Village and learn all about their way of life.
Kaohsiung
8. Sizihwan Beach
Photo Credit: Chi-Hung Lin on Flickr
By riding the Taiwan High-Speed Rail train to Kaohsiung, you can hit the beach and work on that tan you’ve been meaning to. Packed with gorgeous coral formations, tranquil coastlines, and a bay made for watching the sunset, Sizihwan Beach is famous among locals for its black sands that are a stunning contrast against the sun’s golden glow.
Klook Tip: Come during sunrise and sunset to see the most jaw-dropping sight in Kaohsiung.
Chiayi
9. High-Heel Wedding Church
Think of Cinderella's glass shoes and multiply it a thousand times its size — and you’ll have the High-Heel Wedding Church in Budai. Made fully from 320 blue-tinted glass panes, it’s certainly one of the most stunning sights you’ll behold in Taiwan. Some say it’s made to attract females to the church, while others say it’s a work of art inspired by a fairytale. Whatever the case is, the humongous shoe has been gaining worldwide attention since its completion in 2016.
Klook Tip: Take your creativity for a spin with this giant shoe and try taking some optical illusion shots here.
10. Alishan Forest
If you’re visiting Chiayi, you can’t miss the magical Alishan Forest, a massive recreational area that covers five breathtaking natural wonders. Start off with a scenic train ride from the Alishan Tourist Village and go up the mountain to see the sea of clouds, sunset, and cherry blossom trees. Popular stops in the park include Shenmu, the Sacred Tree, and Zhushan, the best spot to watch the sunrise.
11. Meteor Garden Sightseeing Tour
Fans of Meteor Garden, listen up: here’s your chance to visit some of the filming locations of the hit Taiwanese drama series with the ultimate Meteor Garden Sightseeing Tour. Retrace the love story of Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si as you hit up National Chung Cheng University, P.S. Bubu Cafe, where the couple had their first date, and many more nostalgic places.
Taichung
12. Miyahara Ice Cream Shop
Photo Credit: Jeshoots on Pexels
Did someone scream for ice cream? Whether your tummy’s rumbling or you’re born with a sweet tooth, Miyahara’s ice creams are the perfect desserts to cool off against Taiwan’s warm weather, especially during summer. Located within walking distance of Taichung Train Station is this Hogwarts-looking ice cream shop that offers endless flavors, such as Hakka Thunder Tea, and just about 20 different types of chocolate ice cream!
Curious about what else there is to do in Taichung? Check out our Taiwan High-Speed Rail guide for Taichung, which also includes the best sights and eats:
Ruifang
13. Houtong Cat Village
Photo Credit: Faye Yu on Unsplash
In this town, humans don’t rule; cats do. And rightfully so, as they prevented this town from dwindling to nothingness as many of its residents began to move out before the cats attracted tourists and brought business back to the tiny village. Now there are hundreds of cat residents there, possibly more than humans! If you love felines, do not miss out on this purrrr-fect destination!
Klook Tip: Drop by the Hide and Seek Cafe to enjoy some feline-inspired dessert, yum!
More amazing destinations in New Taipei by rail here:
Off to Taiwan!
Photo Credit: Lisanto on Unsplash
Now that you’re armed with all the deets, Klook yourself a 5-Day Joint Train Pass today and explore!
You can also grab the essentials: a 4G WiFi Device, car rental, and check out our cool 72-hour itinerary to make the most out of your trip:
Updated by: Jianne Uy
