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The Perfect 3-4 Day Itinerary to Visit Hualien City, Taiwan

Last Updated: August 3, 2023 · Taiwan

Looking for the best things to do in Hualien City, Taiwan? This adventurous yet laid-back Hualien itinerary includes local gems and activities beyond Taroko Gorge you won’t want to miss!

In just a few days, you can experience a Taiwanese aboriginal cooking class, bike along the scenic Hualien coastline, eat at the Dongdamen Night Market, and more.

Hualien is the second largest county in Taiwan. The city also has the highest indigenous population (9,000/source), which makes its aboriginal cuisine even more of a must-try when visiting!

And while most of Eastern Taiwan is wild and full of cultural and natural gems, it’s Hualien that steals the show.

Traditional style Taiwanese house with scooters parked out front in the streets of Hualien City, Taiwan.
Female traveler on biking lane in Hualien, Taiwan.
Panoramic view of Taroko Gorge and riverside trail.
Taiwanese local driving on scooter past decorated red shrine on the street of Hualien City, Taiwan.

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Many tourists will pass through Hualien because it’s the jumping-off point, or gateway, to visit Taroko Gorge inside Taroko National Park.

But Hualien is worthwhile visiting on its own. It has a rich aboriginal culture, a long and storied history, and plenty of street food delicacies.

Not to mention, its unique location pinning it between the rugged mountains and the beautiful blue sea brings a slew of outdoor adventures to your doorstep.

So how many days do you need in Hualien to really soak up the atmosphere?

With three days or more in Hualien, you’ll have the chance to visit Taroko on a day trip, bike along a scenic coastline or through farmland, take an aboriginal cooking class, chomp your way through Taiwanese night markets, and have plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore nearby hot springs, waterfalls, and hiking trails.

Simply stated, anything less than three days in Hualien would be too fast-paced to really enjoy the city’s gems and its surroundings.

Basically, don’t sleep on the opportunity to visit Hualien beyond Taroko! (But you should definitely spend a day doing that too.)

This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Hualien City in 3-4 days. Read more below for an adventurous yet easy-going Hualien itinerary!

Table of Contents show
The Perfect Hualien City Itinerary, Taiwan
Quick Resources to Know Before Visiting Hualien
Easiest & Best Ways to Get to Hualien City
What to Do in Hualien in 3 Days (or More!)
Day 1 in Hualien: Exploring the Heart of Hualien
Stroll Hualien’s Cultural and Creative Industries Parks
Take a Taiwanese Aboriginal Cooking Class
Eat at the Dongdamen Night Market
Day 2 in Hualien: Taroko Day Trip
Day 3 in Hualien: Biking Around Hualien
Day 4 in Hualien: Hot Springs, Hikes, & Falls

The Perfect Hualien City Itinerary, Taiwan

Quick Resources to Know Before Visiting Hualien

  • 🏡 Accommodation: The best area to stay in Hualien is downtown as it’s easy to get around on foot. Search the best hotels in Hualien here.

  • 📱 Data: If you need data while in Taiwan, you can very easily get it by using Airalo’s Taiwan/Asia eSIM. This literally saved me on my Asia trip and it was so simple to set up!

  • 🚗 Renting a car: Foreign visitors with international driver’s permits can rent a car in Hualien (you must have a valid international license).

  • 🧿 Travel insurance: I used SafetyWing’s nomad insurance to cover my trip to Taiwan. Costs only $40/4 weeks!

Easiest & Best Ways to Get to Hualien City

Inside the train subway platform 9 with sign of train travel in Taiwan.
Passengers on subway taking the train in Taiwan.
Taipei Main Station train ticket counter.

The two best ways to reach Hualien City from Taipei are:

  • By train from Taipei Main Station to Hualien Station (2-4 hours, cost NT $440 per person or about $28 USD)
  • By rental car (160km, 3-4+ hours)

We booked the Tze-Chian Ltd. Express, train # 408. Our total travel time only took 2 hours and 10 minutes. It’s wise to purchase train tickets in advance since many locals and tourists travel between Taipei and Hualien to get to Taroko.

Train station sign for train travel from Taipei.
Holding train ticket stub in front of Hualien Train Station, Taiwan.
If you don’t take a picture of your train ticket stub, does it even count?

You can also fly or take a bus to Hualien, but the comfort and relatively low cost of traveling by train make it more enticing in my opinion.

I would only recommend going by car if you want to take a scenic, slower road trip from Taipei to Hualien. Otherwise, you risk hitting traffic which can increase how long it takes to get there.

There are lots of twists and curves as well, so the train will provide a smoother journey! Bottom line: Train travel in Taiwan typically is faster, simpler, and cheaper.

What to Do in Hualien in 3 Days (or More!)

Day 1 in Hualien: Exploring the Heart of Hualien

Traditional style Taiwanese house with scooters parked out front in the streets of Hualien City, Taiwan.
The cute local streets of Hualien City

If you travel to Hualien from Taipei, it’s likely you will arrive by late morning or just past lunch.

For your first day in the city, I highly recommend getting your bearings and not jumping at the chance to visit Taroko Gorge (like we did!).

Instead, there are plenty of things to do in Hualien’s city center that are fun and won’t tire you out right after your journey.

  • Drop off bags at your hotel
  • Grab food/coffee in a cozy cafe (Seedson Cafe was really good!)
  • Explore around Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park and Zhongshan Rd
  • Try the 3:30 pm Taiwanese Aboriginal Cooking Class
  • Head out for Taiwanese street food and mini fair games at Dongdamen Night Market
Digital nomad working in a cafe in Hualien City, Taiwan.
Sandwich, chai latte, and laptop on table at Seedson Cafe in Hualien City, Taiwan.
Taiwanese local driving on scooter past decorated red shrine on the street of Hualien City, Taiwan.

As I mentioned above, the best place to stay in Hualien for your itinerary is downtown.

Hualien is super navigable on foot, and by staying downtown you will have most attractions, markets, shops, restaurants/bars, and cozy coffee shops within a 10–15 minute jaunt.

We stayed at Boy Apartment boutique hotel and loved it!

P.S. Right around the corner from Boy hotel is a very cute and homely brunch restaurant called Wei Sen (葳森早餐) (no English menus but don’t let that deter you). The owners were so welcoming and happy to see a young “foreign” couple dine at their place!

Depending on what time you arrive in Hualien on day one, I recommend taking it easy, checking into your hotel, and exploring at your own pace.

Whatever you can’t do on day one, you can tuck into days 2-4 based on your interest!

Stroll Hualien’s Cultural and Creative Industries Parks

Striped alley inside the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park, Hualien City, Taiwan.
Photo: Shum Man Kwan

The Cultural and Creative Industries Park was once a wine factory but has since been restored into an artsy industrial park featuring handicrafts, exhibitions, and artistic performances. This activity is great for your first day in Hualien and it’s an easy walk from your hotel downtown.

There is also the super cute YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Industries Park (it’s more of a one-lane alley with shops and food stalls) which is located slightly further north. Visit both or just one based on your time!

Afterward, you can explore the shops and galleries sprinkled down the popular Zhongshan Rd.

Take a Taiwanese Aboriginal Cooking Class

Tourists taking a Taiwanese aboriginal cooking class in Hualien City, Taiwan
Photo credit: Karenko Kitchen via Klook

The aboriginal cooking class by Karenko Kitchen is a fun, no-pressure activity for your first day in Hualien. There are two times to choose from — 10:30am or 3:30pm.

We didn’t have time for this activity because of our Taroko trip, but it was on my Hualien bucket list!

Eat at the Dongdamen Night Market

Taiwanese street food stalls at the Dongdamen Night Market in Hualien, Taiwan.

Dongdamen is the best (and largest) night market in Hualien.

It’s huge and you can find anything from glazed strawberries and bubble tea to fried squid and stinky tofu, and beyond (eek!).

Eating in a Taiwanese night market for the first time can be a little intimidating though.

What are you supposed to order? What’s really local, what’s fresh, what’s responsible?

If you’re like me, you’ll ask yourself these questions too!

After walking around, we decided to eat in one of the little back-tent “food courts” — the tables were full of locals so we knew it was a good spot. We took photos of the menu with our translation app to get an idea of what we were ordering.

Woman holding up Pearl Bubble Tea at Dongdamen Night Market in Hualien, Taiwan.
OH, and don’t forget to get a brown sugar bubble tea in Taiwan!! Even the 7-11 ones are so good!

We shared an oyster omelet, fried rice, vegetable greens, and salt-fried milkfish.

If I went back, I’d try the “coffin toast” (search for ‘Jiang’s Bread Coffin’), a fried scallion pancake, grilled corn on the cob, and Hualien’s famous mochi sweets.

Day 2 in Hualien: Taroko Day Trip

Visiting Taroko Gorge is a must-do when in Hualien. You should plan on spending one full day here (or more if your itinerary allows).

The Eternal Spring Shrine with waterfall tumbling down into the riverbed—a popular place to see in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
The Eternal Spring Shrine, Taroko Gorge

We stayed overnight in Taroko and I talk about all the things to do there in my Taroko Gorge guide!

While I detail everything you need to know in that guide, I will say here that I wish we had taken a day tour of Taroko instead of going on our own (because we didn’t have a car).

Female standing by a lamp pole overlooking the Eternal Spring Shrine & Bell Tower attraction in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
The icy blue Liwu River carving out the marbled canyon of Taroko Gorge, Taroko National Park, Taiwan.
Tourists crossing the Buluowan Suspension Bridge inside Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

If you do have a rental car, you’ll be free to explore at your leisure. But if not, hopping around from attraction to attraction by bus is not ideal!

And if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can do a cycling tour of Taroko Gorge.

So keep this in mind when you plan your day trip to Taroko.

Tourists wearing hard-hats overlooking the canyon walls of Taroko Gorge on the Swallow Grotto Trail in Taroko National Park, Taiwan.
Swallow Grotto Trail

There are so many things to do and see, plus scenic hiking trails to enjoy, that a full day dedicated to Taroko is your best best. It will be jam-packed, certainly, but you can still take it slow and see the best of Taroko Gorge in one day from your base in Hualien.

If you’re going by rental car, make sure to stop to see the Qingshui Cliffs. Some Taroko tours also include it in their itinerary due to its popularity.

Sunny, bright view of the Qingshui Cliffs outside of Hualien City, Taiwan.
Qinshui Cliffs (Photo by DAPA)

Day 3 in Hualien: Biking Around Hualien

For your third day in Hualien, I recommend taking it easy since you will have just spent a big day in Taroko the day before.

We found that doing a leisurely DIY bike tour around Hualien City was the perfect way to see some more of the city’s attractions including the Pine Garden and the Martyr’s Shrine.

Start your day by renting a bike in town ($200 NT) and then head to the Hualien coastline and beaches.

Nanbin Park is the perfect starting point from downtown Hualien for this ride.

From Nanbin, cycle along the coast to Beibin Park.

Biking along a bike path in Hualien with the red Jinguang Bridge in the background, Hualien Taiwan.
Female traveler on biking lane in Hualien, Taiwan.
Riverbend and grassy park in the city of Hualien, Taiwan.

Keep going and cross the red Jinguang Bridge to reach the other side of the river, where you’ll find the Pine Garden—a former Japanese military site that’s now an important historical point of interest in Hualien.

The grounds of the Pine Garden offer unhampered views over Hualien Port and the Meilun River. On site is also a restaurant and souvenir shop.

From the Pine Garden, the next logical pitstop is Hualien’s Martyr Shrine.

While there isn’t much “to do” here but you will be treated with one of the prettiest shrines in Hualien. You can read more about its history and see a preview in this wonderful write-up here.

Visiting all of the above should take up a full morning!
That said, with your free afternoon and evening, you might consider doing a whale-watching tour, going on a fun river rafting adventure, or simply relaxing back at the hotel.

Day 4 in Hualien: Hot Springs, Hikes, & Falls

Landscape of the pebble-strewn Qixingtan Beach near Hualien, Taiwan.
Qixingtan Beach (Photo by Leung Cho Pan)

For your last day in Hualien, I would recommend hitting up the nearby natural gems.

Hualien’s unique location between the mountains and sea makes it a great spot for waterfall hikes, beaches, and even hot springs.

And yes, soaking in a Taiwanese hot spring is right up there with visiting a Taiwanese night market.

According to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, the top three hot springs to soak in in the valley surrounding Hualien are Ruisui, Hongye, and Antong Hot Springs.

However, do note that Ruisui Hot Spring is a 1-hour drive south of Hualien. This would be ideal if you are heading south after Hualien anyway.

Yellow-tinged hot spring pools of Ruisui near Hualien, Taiwan.
Ruisui Hot Springs (Photo credit: Taiwan Tourism Bureau)

If you do visit Ruisui, make sure to make the most of your time down there by visiting the once Japanese-owned Wuhe Tea Plantations. (Yep, probably the third-most Taiwanese “must” beyond night markets and hot springs is tea!)

If your last day in Hualien doesn’t work out as you plan to go back north and not south, maybe an adventure closer to Hualien would be more worth your time.

In that case, the suburban Saguer Trail is ideal for quick cityscapes out in nature. It is an easy 1.3km loop that features a waterfall and isn’t too difficult, so the whole family can enjoy it!

Another one is the Maplewood Trail which features multiple platforms for panoramic views over Hualien City.

A final recommendation for what to do in Hualien in 3-4 days is to visit the Qixitang (Chishingtan) Scenic Area which features a lovely pebble-speckled bay and arched beach. This scenic area is possible to reach by bike as well (21km) from Hualien (in case you haven’t biked enough!).

I hope this adventurous, slow travel guide to Hualien helps plan your trip! Please feel free to reach out with questions if you have them!

By: Bri · In: Taiwan

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The Eternal Spring Shrine with waterfall tumbling down into the riverbed—a popular place to see in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.How to Visit Taroko National Park — Taroko Gorge Itinerary
Female traveler holds cup of Taiwanese tea at Amei Teahouse overlooking Jiufen and Keelung Bay at sunset.The Best Things to Do in Jiufen, Taiwan (2-3 Day Itinerary)

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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