With the rising awareness of health, the government has increased the planning and construction of many bicycle routes, providing people with the opportunity to tour Taiwan by bike. Here are 10 places to visit in Taiwan tourist must-see. These routes pass through forests, coastlines, fields, and towns, allowing you to explore the different scenery of Taiwan by bike.
Places to Visit in Taiwan: Top 10 popular must-go attractions
Places to Visit in Taiwan: Top 10 Taiwan Attractions Guides When You are Biking Around Island!
Top 1 / Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake, located in Nantou, is in the central part of Taiwan. It’s also the only non-coastal county in Taiwan. As a popular tourist places to visit in Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake attracts many local and international visitors.
One thing that everyone must do at Sun Moon Lake is “biking around the lake”. Sun Moon Lake was once named one of the “Top 10 most beautiful bike paths in the world” by CNN.
Visitors can bike around Sun Moon Lake and enjoy the beauty of the lake and the surrounding mountains from all angles. On this bike path, you can move between the beautiful lake and mountains, to enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. It’s an experience you won’t forget.
The road around the lake is about 30 kilometers long. The slope is less than 10%, making the bike path quite flat. It’s suitable for riders of all levels. Since the path goes around the whole lake and there is a dedicated bike path, it’s safe and comfortable to bike here. For people who like biking, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to take in the beautiful places to visit in Taiwan along the way.
Sun Moon Lake National Scenic
Area Address: No. 599, Zhongshan Rd, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 555
Top 2 / Wuling
Wuling, located in central Taiwan at an altitude of 3,275 meters, spans Nantou and Hualien. Along the way, the breathtaking high mountain scenery, dense forests, and clear streams showcase the grandeur of nature. Not only is it a favorite challenge among mountaineers, but it is also the highest point on Taiwan’s roads, attracting many cycling enthusiasts to push their high-altitude cycling limits places to visit in Taiwan!
Due to its high altitude, Wuling offers different sceneries. From April to June, you can see the sky filled with crux. In September, you can chase the Milky Way and enjoy the maples. And in winter, you can enjoy the snow and soak in the springs.
For cyclists, Wuling is the highest point on Taiwan’s roads and is one of the must-challenge goals. There are three well-known cycling routes to challenge Wuling Pass Recommended Routes below, All three routes to Wuling go up to more than 2,500 meters, with a gradient of 15%. It’s not just a test of your legs, but also your buttocks, requiring experience, physical strength, and endurance.
Wuling
Address: No. 170, Renhe Rd, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 546
Recommended Routes
- Wuling Pass West: From the Geographic Center of Taiwan to Wuling, the whole distance is 56 kilometers
- Wuling Pass East: From Qixingtan to Wuling, the whole distance is 104 kilometers.One of the top 10 cycling routes that must be ridden in a lifetime by Global Cycling Network
- Wuling Pass North: From Yilan Baitao Bridge, pass Wuling Farm, Lishan, Dayuling to Wuling, the whole distance is 113.9 kilometers, we had a bird's eye view of the most beautiful Atayal tribe, a classic tribal culture.
Top 3 / Taroko
Taroko is located in Hualien, where the tectonic plates collide, resulting in amazing geological landscapes. Taroko National Park, with mountains and sea, is next to the Pacific Ocean on the east and the Central Mountain Range on the west. The impressive canyon, cliffs, clear blue sky, and streams make Taroko Gorge one of the must-visit places to visit in Taiwan. It attracts a lot of visitors and cycling enthusiasts.
People usually start their cycling journey in Taroko from Hualien Station or Xincheng Station. You can take your bike on the train, or you can use the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, which allows you to fold your bike and take it on the bus.
The length of the cycling route in Taroko depends on the chosen route. Each route has beautiful views that make it hard to choose. The lengths of the routes are around 20 to 50 kilometers. Some of the routes are relatively flat and suitable for general cyclists and family outings. Some sections will go uphill, but they won’t be too steep or long. It’s definitely a must-visit cycling places to visit in Taiwan.
Taroko National Park
Address: No.291, Fushi, Xiulin Township, Hualien County 972, Taiwan
Top 4 / Huadong Valley
The Huadong Valley is between Hualien to Taitung, located in the eastern part of Taiwan. Due to its remoteness and low pollution, it has relatively preserved rich natural resources. The Huadong Valley has unique natural and cultural landscapes, as well as rich indigenous culture, allowing visitors to deeply appreciate the scenery and rich cultural heritage of Huadong.
The Huadong Valley is scenic all year round, with daisies in the spring, daylilies in the late summer and early autumn, and rapeseeds in winter. Also, don’t forget to visit the Taiwan International Balloon Festival in Luye Plateau if you come here in summer. In winter, there are hot springs you can visit to relax. Some famous ones are Ruisui, Red Leaf, and Antong. Soaking in the hot springs and enjoying the view is a really great experience.
Many cycling enthusiasts like to challenge themselves here, not only because of its primitive beauty and natural scenery, but also because the terrain of the valley makes the entire route more challenging.
The difficulty of the Huadong Valley route varies depending on the route chosen. The entire valley is about 180 kilometers long, which is a long-distance challenge that requires a certain amount of physical strength and endurance. Although the slope of most routes is not steep, it is still recommended to have some cycling experience due to the long distance.
Hualien Station
Address: No. 100, Guolian 1st Rd, Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan 970
Top 5 / Sandiao Cape Lighthouse ( Easternmost Point of Taiwan )
Easternmost Point of Taiwan－Sandiao Cape
The coast is full of rocks, the spectacular waves beating the cape and the blue sky, the special and beautiful landscape here amazed the visiting Spanish ships, it has an exotic old name – “San Diego”, and passed through Taiwan. Now we call it “Sandiaojiao“, which is located in the extreme east of Taiwan, and therefore the most famous thing is that it has the first sunrise on the island.
Sandiao Cape Lighthouse－Eyes Of Taiwan
Standing on the corner of the extreme east gorge, facing the Pacific Ocean, it flashes white and red light twice every 28 seconds, like a girl in a white dress winking at the beautiful ocean. San Diaojiao Lighthouse is also known as “the eyes of Taiwan”, guiding the direction with warm light at night, illuminating the way for the fishermen to go home.
In addition to being the leader of the sea, it is also a popular tourist attraction, with pure white lighthouse buildings, football-shaped airway radars, Greek-style pavilions, and love installation art. Remodeled from a warehouse, with retro wooden doors and stained glass windows, it is full of a sweet and romantic atmosphere, attracting many couples to come here for a romantic date, and many new couples can be seen here to take wedding dresses and leave good memories; the condescending location and the open space It is also a holy place for sunrise fans and photography fans.
Many people have taken a lot of photos in the lighthouse area. In fact, there is a secret viewing platform where you can enjoy the beautiful waves of waves colliding with rocks, and embrace the beautiful scenery of mountains and seas, and the sea and sky. You can also see the winding trails, the white lighthouse, and the football-shaped radar station appearing in the picture at the same time, all of which are among the most beautiful places to visit in Taiwan at Sandiaojiao.
Sandiao Cape Lighthouse
Address: No. 38, Magang Street, Fulong Village, Gongliao District, New Taipei City.
Top 6 / Kenting / Eluanbi Lighthouse ( Southernmost Point of Taiwan)
Kenting, located in Pingtung County, is known for its sunshine, beaches, and sea. The beaches here have soft white sand , making them ideal for beach relaxation and water sports. It is one of Taiwan’s most popular vacation spots to places to visit in Taiwan!
Furthermore, Kenting has unique geological features such as the cliffs, caves, limestone caves, and red clay terrain of Longpan Park, which are captivating.
Kenting National Park is in the southern part of Hengchun. When you visit Kenting, don’t forget to take a photo at the Eluanbi Lighthouse and the Southernmost Point as a milestone of your cycling challenge.
To get to the Southernmost Point, first go to the Southernmost Point parking lot next to the Eluanbi Lighthouse, then follow the signs to see a shaded path. Walk along this path for about 10 minutes and you’ll see the Southernmost Point mark.
If you just want to ride around Kenting without challenging Shouka mountain pass, the slope is easy for beginners. Just be aware that the sea breeze might be a bit strong.
If you like to challenge yourself, you can try riding around Kenting plus tackling Shouka mountain pass, the so-called “Heavenly Road”, which is a continuous slope 21 kilometers long. The lengthy and seemingly endless uphill segment is tough, but the sense of achievement you get after completing it is beyond words.
Kenting National Park
Address: 596, Kenting Rd., Hengchun Township, Pingtung County 946008, Taiwan
Top 7 / Qigu / Guosheng Lighthouse (Westernmost Point of Taiwan)
Qigu is located on the southwest coast of Tainan. As a coastal area, it has lagoons, sandbanks, and lush mangrove forests. It is a natural ecological wetland, fostering a rich array of marine life. In addition, fish ponds provide food for migratory birds passing through every autumn and winter. Here you can observe the ecology of the Black-faced Spoonbill, a protected migratory bird.
Tainan is a city full of historical sites, culture, and cuisine. Cycling in Tainan not only allows you to experience the natural places to visit in Taiwan but also gives you a taste of Taiwan’s rich history and culture, as well as endless delicious food. When cycling in Tainan, don’t forget to check in at the westernmost point – Guosheng Lighthouse, while enjoying the sunset of Qigu and the scenery of the salt fields and wetlands.
Guosheng Lighthouse ( Westernmost Point of Taiwan )
Address: No.52, Yancheng, Cigu Dist., Tainan City 724, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Top 8 / Fugui Cape ( Northernmost Point of Taiwan )
Fugui Cape, located in the Sanzhi District of New Taipei City, is the northernmost point of Taiwan’s main island. It has a long coastline with wide views of the sea and sky.
You can start at Baishawan beach, ride a bike along the coast, and end up at the Fugui Cape Lighthouse. There, you can enjoy the beautiful sea views and the northernmost point.
A cycling trip to Fugui Cape is often arranged alongside a tour of the North Coast. This route would usually take you through Qianshuiwan, Baishawan beach, Shimen district, Jinshan district, and Wanli district.
In just one day, you can effortlessly experience the scenic sea views, the Shimen Cave, and the beautiful bays, all while enjoying the fascinating places to visit in Taiwan of the North Coast.
Laomei Lookout
Address: No. 27, Fenglin Rd, Shimen District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 253
Top 9 / Alishan
Alishan is located in Chiayi County and is famous places to visit in Taiwan for its sunrise, sea of clouds, rich ecology, and historic railway. It’s a great place for family outings and sightseeing, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan. When visiting Alishan, you must take the Alishan Forest Railway and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. Many tourists come here to watch the sunrise over Alishan, watching the sun slowly rise from the sea of clouds.
If cyclists start from the Chu-Kou and ride to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, it’s a continuous uphill challenge. The total distance is about 53.6 kilometers with an average slope of 3-4%. Although the overall slope is not steep, the total climb of about 2200 meters will consume a lot of energy.
The Alishan Highway has beautiful scenery along the way, with many famous spots, such as the Alishan Forest Recreation Area and the Sacred Tree Group. Don’t forget to stop by Fenqihu for a bento box meal. The sense of achievement after the physical and stamina test of completing the challenge of Alishan is unforgettable.
Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
Address: 605, Taiwan, Chiayi County, Alishan Township, No.59
Top 10 / Haowangjiao / Baishatun
Haowangjiao in Houlong is located in Miaoli County. The Cape and its surroundings have captivating mountain and sea views, as well as many recreational resources.
You can overlook the Taiwan Strait, the Houlong Plain, and the coastline with many wind turbines. In the evening, the sunset is enchanting, earning the name “Sunrise over Alishan, Sunset over the Haowangjiao”.
Heading south into Baishatun, it’s the famous starting point for the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage in Taiwan. Every year, many believers are attracted to participate in activities here. In Baishatun, you can appreciate rich culture and religious activities.
The bike ride on this route will experience different scenes, from the beauty of the coast to wind turbines, and then to historical and cultural experiences. This route is suitable for people who want to experience the local culture of Taiwan, enjoy beautiful scenery, and enjoy the fun of cycling places to visit in Taiwan.
Houlong Haowangjiao
Address: 356, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Houlong Township
Baishatun Gongtian Temple
Address: 357, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Tongxiao Township, No.8
Taiwan has much more to offer than just these places, and everyone has their own preferences when it comes to types of scenery. Whether you enjoy the refreshing mountain views, energetic seascapes and beaches, or prefer a cultural tour of historical sites, MathewBike, a local Taiwanese and professional bike route planner, can tailor your bike tour in Taiwan to suit your style.
MathewBike provides a comprehensive range of bicycle and equipment rental services. Whether you favor touring bikes, road bikes, tandem bikes, or e-bikes, we can find the perfect fit for you. Moreover, MathewBike also offers luggage storage services, so you won’t need to carry around heavy baggage. All you need to do is bring a light and joyful mood, and you can embark on your bicycle journey across Taiwan.
