Tainan City is a beautiful ancient city that lies in the southwest coast of the island. Although Taipei is Taiwan’s current capital city, Tainan was the capital from 1683 to 1887 under the ruling of the Qing Dynasty.
Tainan was first colonized in 1590, making it the first city of Taiwan’s lengthy history. From 1624 to 1662, the Dutch took over Taiwan and made this city the headquarters with the construction of several military forts.
This city has just 2 million people, making it the fifth largest city in Taiwan. But I can guarantee you that fifth largest city doesn’t equate to fifth best. Tainan City has plenty of amazing things to do, see, eat and experience.
Here’s the complete guide to planning your trip in Tainan. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.
Table of Contents
Is Tainan Worth Visiting?
With so many options in Taiwan and Asia, why should you travel to Tainan? Easy. Tainan is arguably the best city in Taiwan if you’re really looking to soak in that Taiwanese culture.
It’s not as modern as Taipei and retains many of the old, historic buildings that made Tainan the powerhouse capital it once was. Although it’s an old “ancient” city, Tainan is modern enough to provide all the convenient options that the country has to offer (minus the subway MRT system).
There are plenty of sights to see, specialty foods and historic buildings in Tainan. So if you’re looking for more than just nightlife, nature and tall buildings, this city has a lot to offer.
Rich Taiwanese Culture & History
Tainan City is truly one of my favorite cities in Taiwan because it has sort of an old-school charm to it. It doesn’t have the glitz and glamour of Taipei or the beautiful scenery of Hualien.
However, as soon as you step into the city, you are immersed in rich Taiwanese culture. There will be night artists performing to ancient Chinese dances and old alley ways are fascinating to walk through.
As a matter of fact, this city has over 70 destinations that have been classified as places of historic interest. The streets are filled with temples, historic buildings and small street vendors.
There is no other place in Taiwan like Tainan. If you want to dive head first into the country’s history and culture, come to this city first.
Authentic Food Culture
Taipei may be the capital of Taiwan, but Tainan has been called the “culinary capital of Taiwan.” Don’t get me wrong. Taipei has great food, but really they just have a wider variety of good food.
Italian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, American and Taiwanese foods are all excellent in Taipei. On the other hand, Tainan’s food culture revolves around traditional Taiwanese cuisine – all the Taiwanese classics and more.
If you want to try the best Taiwanese food in Taiwan, this is the place to get your grub on. See below for recommended foods to try.
Getting to Tainan
There are a lot of ways to get to Tainan, but it all depends on where you’re coming from. Thanks to Taiwan’s advance transportation system, you can get there easily as long as you’re in the country.
From International
The quickest way to get to Tainan from overseas is to fly into Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH). But keep in mind that not all flights go directly to Kaohsiung.
For most international flights, you’ll have a transfer at Taoyuan Airport (TPE) first. Either way, whether you’re coming from Taipei/Taoyuan or Kaohsiung, I recommend using Taiwan’s high-speed rail to get to Tainan.
From Taipei
From Taipei, I recommend you take the high speed rail. Sure, it’s quite a bit more expensive, but it’ll save you a lot of time. It’ll cost you around $50 USD for a one-way ticket and will take you roughly 4 hours for the trip.
You can purchase your high speed rail ticket from Taipei Main Station. Or, you can pre-book it online from Taiwan’s transportation website.
From Kaohsiung
Because Kaohsiung is so close, you don’t necessarily have to take the high speed rail. However, it’s relatively cheap so you might as well.
A one-way ticket from Kaohsiung to Tainan will cost you roughly $5 USD. You take the HSR from Kaohsiung’s subway MRT system so it’s easy to find and convenient.
If you want a cheaper but longer alternative, I would recommend the Taiwan railway train from Taipei area or the bus from Kaohsiung area.
Costs of Traveling to Tainan
Traveling to anywhere in Taiwan is relatively cheap, especially if you’re coming from the States. But still, it’s always best to know the cost of traveling to Tainan so you can budget your trip ahead of time.
Like with all cities in Taiwan, you can spend a lot of money or very little. It all depends on how you want to travel. 5-star hotels are everywhere in Taiwan – and Tainan is no exception.
We’re going to assume you’re trying not to break the bank for you trip to Tainan (as you shouldn’t).
Accommodation in Tainan
I found dorms in a hostel to be as low as $60 NTD ($3 USD), but usually around $300 NTD to $500 NTD ($10 USD to $15 USD).
Private hostel rooms start at $300 NTD ($10 USD) and go up to $1000 NTD ($30 USD).
Although budget hotels in Tainan start at just $30 USD, I would recommend a bed & breakfast. Tainan is famous for having many great B&Bs with unique designs.
Unfortunately, there are no websites to find these amazing B&Bs. So, if this is what you want, I would have a local search travel blogs for recommendations.
Food Cost in Tainan
The cost of food in Tainan is cheaper than it is in Taipei. Actually, food in Taipei is the most expensive (but still relatively cheap!).
The most common type of food in Tainan is Taiwanese food, which happens to be the cheapest type of food in Taiwan as well. Meals can cost as little as $2 to $3 USD at restaurants, while street food can cost as low as $1 USD.
Transportation Costs in Tainan
This could cost you a lot of very little depending on how you want to get around in Tainan. Unfortunately, there is no metro here and cabs are probably your best bet at going cross-city.
Uber does serve the island, but they’re much more prevalent in bigger cities, such as Kaohsiung and Taipei. It’s worth looking for an Uber if you have the app. Just expect to wait longer than usual to catch one.
Finding a cab is slightly harder, but they are around. Cab fare will start at $80 NTD and increase $5 NTD for every 250 meters of driving or 3 minutes of waiting. This is just slightly more expensive than taxi fares in Taipei.
For more information on budgeting your Taiwan trip, click here.
Money Saving Tips
Eat street food at night markets – Taiwan, as a whole, is world famous for their night markets. But Tainan has some of the most famous night markets and street food on the island.
If you need food that’s cheaper than what Tainan restaurants already has to offer, this is a great place to get your grub on.
Walk to your destination – Taxi rides in Tainan aren’t that cheap, especially on holidays with a higher-than-average surcharge. So, walking to your destination (or at least part of it) would help save you money.
Not every place is walkable and can sometimes be brutal to take a stroll in the summer heat. But the streets of Tainan are quite fascinating to wander and you’ll save a lot of money in the process.
Best Things to Do in Tainan
There are plenty of awesome things to do in Tainan. Most of the attractions revolve around their long and colorful history – everything from the period of Dutch colonization to ancient Confucius temples.
Like every city in Taiwan, Tainan also boasts spectacular and gorgeous nature attractions. It’s home to beautiful parks, hot springs and so much more!
Historic Landmark Attractions
Anping Tree House – This is by far the coolest thing to check out in Tainan. Apparently, a Bayan tree spent a century growing through an abandoned warehouse to create the ultimate tree house.
Chihkan Tower – This was an outpost built by the Dutch in the 17th century during their colonization of Formosa Island. Many consider this fort to be the most famous historic site in all of Tainan, which makes it a top recommendation.
Anping Fort – One of the main fortresses built by the Dutch in 1634, Anping Fort has become a popular attraction in Tainan city. It’s amazing how well this fort has been preserved and walking around the fort is a cool experience.
Confucius Temple – This ancient temple was the first school of Confucius teaching in Taiwan. The architecture is exactly what you see in those old ancient Chinese films and the garden makes for a nice stroll.
Shennong Street – This old street in Tainan is sort of a hidden gem. There are a bunch of cool shops and interesting stores on this street. I recommend going at night because the lanterns and street performers give it a different feel.
Nature Attractions
Tainan Park – Located near the center of the city, Tainan Park is comparable to Taipei’s Daan Park. It’s very convenient to get to and has many tall green trees and a small lake. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll.
Taijian National Park – Just north of Anping lie one of the coolest national parks in southern Taiwan. Taijian National Park is adjacent to the strait that the Chinese immigrants came from to settle in Taiwan’s first city. There are also several ancient temples throughout the park, making this more than your ordinary park.
Guanziling Hot Spring – If you want to relax, this hot spring is the place to be. However, it’s quite a journey to get to from the center of Tainan city. If you’re coming from the north, going to this hot spring from Chiayi City is a faster option.
Wusanto Reservoir – This reservoir is a serene environment perfect to a walk or bike ride around the lake. There’s some nice Japanese architecture nearby as well if you have the time
Tainan Night Market Attractions
Note: Not all night markets are opened every day.
Wu Sheng Night Market – Also another popular market, Wu Sheng is a large and spacious night market popular with travelers. This night market is opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6PM to 1:30 AM.
Garden Night Market – Perhaps the most famous night market in Tainan, Garden has the largest selection of street foods. This night market is opened on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 PM to midnight.
Dadong Night Market – Dadong night market has much more than just great street food. If you’re into activities and games, Dadong will make for an enjoyable night. This night market is opened on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 6PM to 1:30AM.
Other Tainan Attractions
Ten Drum Culture Village – Built upon an old sugar factory, the Ten Drum Culture Village has really transformed into a unique experience in the past years. Come here and watch how they build their drums, catch a drum show and enjoy delicious Taiwanese foods.
Chimei Museum – There is no museum in Taiwan like the Chimei Museum. The architecture makes you feel like you’re walking in a building straight out of Greece.
This hotspot museum is located right next to the drum village and should be very high on your list of things to do in Tainan.
Best Food to Eat in Tainan
This culinary center of Taiwan is the stop to make during your food tour. Tainan really is famous for several traditional Taiwanese dishes. Unlike Taipei, where the focus of food is very broad, Tainan focuses on traditional Taiwanese food.
These are “must-try” foods that Tainan does best:
Run Bing – These are often called the Taiwanese burrito or the Taiwanese spring roll. Ingredients include lu rou (braised pork), dried tofu, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrot strips, peanut powder and oyster sauce, wrapped in a thin tortilla. But every family and restaurant has their own unique recipe.
Milk Fish – This fish is abundant in southern Taiwan, including the city of Tainan.
Beef Soup –
碗糕 wan gao
米糕 mi gao
蚵爹 ke die
肉圓 rou yuan