Itineraries · Taiwan
Taipei day trips: Tamsui, Jiufen and Xinbeitou in 5 days
The most satisfying day trips from Taipei do not require a new hotel every evening. A riverside afternoon in Tamsui, a tea stop above the sea in Jiufen and a quieter day around Xinbeitou each have a different rhythm. Giving them separate days leaves room to notice that difference, while returning to the same room keeps the journey simple.
- Suggested time
- 5 days and 4 nights in Taipei
- Where to stay
- One central Taipei hotel for the entire stay
- Season and timing
- Reorder the river and hillside outings around current weather and confirmed visitor days.
The short answer
Keep one Taipei hotel for four nights: use day 2 for Tamsui, day 3 for Jiufen and day 4 for Xinbeitou, with arrival and departure kept separate. Tamsui and Xinbeitou suit a Metro-based plan; Jiufen has a separate bus journey into the hills. Reorder the outings for weather and visitor days rather than squeezing all three into one circuit. A guided northeast tour is an alternative to the independent Jiufen day, with a different stop list and less freedom over the tea break.
Days 1–2: settle into Taipei, then follow the river in Tamsui
Let day 1 end at the Taipei hotel, with dinner nearby rather than an ambitious first excursion. On day 2, take the Metro to Tamsui and begin with the Old Street shops before moving onto the riverfront. The city guide distinguishes the inner shopping street from the outer waterfront walkway, so lunch and the later stroll belong naturally together. Return to the same Taipei room that evening; a boat crossing or distant wharf visit is an optional change to the day, with its own operating check.
Day 3: give Jiufen the hills, a meal and a tea break
Jiufen deserves a day of its own because the lanes climb through a former mining settlement rather than extending the Taipei Metro network. The Taipei Bus operator page checked on 2026-10-08 identifies route 965 from Ximen and Beimen towards Jiufen; confirm the actual boarding stop, direction and return service. Once there, let the Old Street snacks lead into a seated tea break with the coastal setting around you. Keep the night in Taipei, and save Jinguashi for a longer visit instead of treating it as an obligatory extra.
Make time for the local food
What to eat and where to look
Tamsui ah-gei
The city guide describes fried tofu filled with glass noodles, sealed with fish mince and finished with sauce.
- Where to look
- Current snack-shop menus on and around Tamsui Old Street.
- Fit it into your day
- Make it part of the day 2 lunch before the river walk.
Contains fish in the cited preparation; the tofu exterior does not establish a vegetarian dish. Ask about sauces and other ingredients.
Jiufen taro and sweet-potato balls
New Taipei’s cuisine guide names both varieties among the chewy, aromatic dessert balls associated with Jiufen Old Street.
- Where to look
- Old Street dessert stalls actually offering the balls.
- Fit it into your day
- Share a bowl on day 3, leaving time for a later seated tea break.
Ask about toppings, dairy and other ingredients; the name does not establish an allergen-free serving.
Beef noodle soup
The national snack guide describes beef soup made with spicy bean paste, with noodles added after cooking the beef. Recipes differ between kitchens.
- Where to look
- An actual restaurant menu around the Xinbeitou outing; this is a Taiwanese meal option rather than a uniquely Beitou specialty.
- Fit it into your day
- Choose a seated lunch on day 4 instead of rushing between the museum and a bath appointment.
Contains beef; check wheat, soy, spice, broth and shared preparation for dietary requirements.
Day 4: make Xinbeitou a smaller, park-side outing
After the hillside day, Xinbeitou offers a change of pace around Beitou Park and its former public bathhouse. Reach the district by Metro, then give the Hot Spring Museum and a proper lunch room to shape the visit. On 2026-10-08, the city listing showed the museum closed on Mondays, so swap this day with Tamsui or Jiufen if necessary. A bath is a separate reservation at a particular facility, with its own rules; the museum visit does not include soaking. Return to the Taipei hotel for the final night.
Day 5: leave a clear route back to the airport
The last morning belongs to packing and the confirmed airport connection, rather than one more distant day trip. Keeping one room throughout the stay makes that ending straightforward: there is no luggage transfer from a hill town or hot-spring hotel to settle first. If you choose a guided tour earlier in the trip, compare its actual stops with the independent day it replaces. A combined Jiufen, Yehliu and Shifen outing is a different experience from lingering in Jiufen, not an extra circuit to bolt onto the same evening.
Practical questions
Should I change hotels for these Taipei day trips?
This plan keeps the same Taipei room for four nights. Tamsui, Jiufen and Xinbeitou each get a separate outing, with the luggage left at the base.
Can I take the Metro all the way to Jiufen?
No. The operator identifies route 965 from Ximen and Beimen towards Jiufen. Check the actual boarding location and return service; Tamsui and Xinbeitou are the Metro-based outings in this plan.
Does a museum visit include a hot-spring bath?
No. Beitou Hot Spring Museum occupies a former public bathhouse, while current bathing is arranged separately with a particular facility. Its visitor day and the bath reservation need separate checks.
Can I combine all three areas in one day?
This itinerary deliberately separates them so each visit has room for a meal and a slower walk. Guided combined tours have their own stop lists; choose one as a replacement for an independent day, then confirm what it actually includes.
Sources and checks before you travel
Reference sources for the version dated 8 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.
- New Taipei City Travel: Tamsui Old Street ↗ — opens in a new tab
- New Taipei City Travel: Jiufen Old Street ↗ — opens in a new tab
- New Taipei City Travel: cuisines ↗ — opens in a new tab
- Taipei Bus: Jiufen route 965 ↗ — opens in a new tab
- Taipei Travel: Beitou Hot Spring Museum ↗ — opens in a new tab
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: Xinbeitou Hot Springs ↗ — opens in a new tab
- Taoyuan Metro: Airport MRT route map ↗ — opens in a new tab
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: Taiwan Snacks ↗ — opens in a new tab
Does this experience fit your route?
Choose the day trip that fits your stay, then compare the actual route and inclusions before booking a guided alternative.
Check dates and details on Viator ↗ — opens in a new tabAffiliate link · Book with ViatorPhoto credits
The former public bathhouse makes a cultural stop in the Xinbeitou park-side district.
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Lanterns in Jiufen accompany the hillside town’s tea-house setting.
Photograph: Lishuilynn — opens in a new tab · CC BY-SA 4.0 — opens in a new tab
Changes: Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with responsive crops. · Original photograph and licence details ↗ — opens in a new tab
A Tamsui riverfront scene; sunset conditions vary with the day’s weather.
Photograph: Chi-Hung Lin — opens in a new tab · CC BY-SA 3.0 — opens in a new tab
Changes: Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with responsive crops. · Original photograph and licence details ↗ — opens in a new tab
Taro-ball desserts photographed during a Jiufen Old Street visit; current vendors and ingredients need separate checks.
Photograph: Makoto Lin / Office of the President — opens in a new tab · CC BY 2.0 — opens in a new tab
Changes: Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with responsive crops. · Original photograph and licence details ↗ — opens in a new tab
