Jiufen - the best day trip from Taipei
During my trip to Taiwan, I wanted to blend some well-known tourist spots with places off-the-beaten-path. I believe that a mixture of both creates a well-balanced and interesting itinerary. One of the most recognizable places I visited was Jiufen - a picturesque town in New Taipei City district. It’s part of almost every Taiwan itinerary I researched and after visiting it, I can understand why, especially if you’re short on time and want to experience something different than just the energy of the biggest city.
My trip to Jiufen was short, as I decided to only spend one night there, but honestly, it felt like enough. It’s a popular day-trip destination and truthfully, it would’ve worked this way too!
Jiufen is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip from Taipei. Located just around 30 km away from Taipei, still in New Taipei district, it’s easily accessible even by public transportation. I decided to stay there overnight - in my mind that would allow me to escape the daytrippers crowds and slowly ease into the next morning, and even though heavily rainy weather that day prevented me from making the most out of my initial itinerary, I would highly recommend this option!
After spending a few days in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, a day in a smaller town felt truly satisfying and calming. After I arrived in Jiufen, I immediately felt a relaxed vibe, even despite the crowds. And for such a quaint, small city, it definitely was crowded - but for a reason! Jiufen has proven to be a beautiful stop on my 2-week Taiwan trip and allowed me to slow down for a minute. It was a decently welcomed break after a few intense days in the capital of Taiwan.
Now, let’s get into my recommendations for what to do in Jiufen, how to get there and how to make sure that you’re making the most out of your trip there!
Getting there is fairly easy, especially if you’re starting out in Taipei - and that’s usually the case. You can get the bus number 965 called a tourist shuttle, and pay for the trip exactly how you would on a city bus - by tapping your easy card as you get in, and again as you get out. The cost of a one-way trip for Beinmen station (the closest one to Taipei Main Station) was 90 NTD and the trip took somewhere around 45 minutes. If you want to rent a car and drive there, you can definitely get there as well, however keep in mind that the last kilometers of the way, the road is pretty steep and the traffic in Jiufen can be a bit of a hassle with multiple tourist buses and tourists themselves.
Once you’re in Jiufen, you will definitely be able to get by just by walking - it’s a small town, very walkable and I don’t think you’ll ever be in need for a different form of transportation. Half the charm of this town is just losing yourself in the old town narrow roads and exploring on foot.
In my view, the best way to experience Jiufen is just to walk around the town and explore the charming alleyways with adorable souvenir shops, tea houses and, of course, the iconic red lanterns decorating the streets and providing a soft and warm glow, especially in the evening. There’s no need to rush - just take it one step at a time, and believe me - you’ll be talking a lot of steps as the roads lead through multiple staircases. The town may be busy, especially as it’s getting darker in the afternoon and while the shops are still open, so up until around 7-8 p.m., but that’s to be expected.
The town is very popular among tourists and its’ charm makes it easy to see why. If you wish to explore in a more private way, mornings are a much better choice - the town is still beautiful and most people arrive there around noon, so you might be able to scroll around on you own for a little bit. Jiufen is not “a hidden gem”, so come here already with an expectation of being surrounded by the crowds. But it is popular for a reason. While some say it’s a town “Spirited Away” was modeled on, I’ve read many opposing opinions, so it’s hard to say what’s the truth. But nonetheless, it’s a charming little town, nestled in the mountains, with beautiful views, cozy teahouses and some of the best beef noodles I’ve ever tasted!
One of the biggest selling points for Jiufen is that it’s located on a hill overlooking the coast - so most days the view from anywhere in town takes your breath away. There are many restaurants or cafes that take advantage of this and allow you to enjoy or tea or coffee with a view. Some of most popular ones are: A-mea tea house, Jiufen Teahouse, Hima Cafe, however due to the heavy rain I experienced during my limited time in Jiufen, I didn’t really get the chance to explore them.
Something that was also scratched from my itinerary due to weather conditions was climbing Keelung mountain for a sunrise view. Another, more popular option, is Teatop Mountain. Both are fairly close to the town, and you can start your hike straight from the town. The best way to experience the views, is to start very early in the morning and aim to be on top of the mountain just before the sunrise. That way, you’ll be able to gasp over the city lights of Taipei shimmering in the distance, and at the same time, watch as a new day is waking up with the sunrise over the coast. It’s supposed to be a once in a lifetime type of view, so it’s still on my list for when I come back to Taiwan!
My trip to Jiufen was short and my itinerary heavily influenced by the cold weather, rain and restricted views, so some points were left unseen. On the other hand, there’s nothing better than sitting in a restaurant, while the outside world is overflowing with rain, and munching on chewy, flavourful and, oh so hot beef noodles. I must recommend trying out the restaurant Age Inn Beef Noodles. I think this meal alone would’ve saved my stay in Jiufen!
What do you usually do when your travel plans get scratched by weather conditions? Do you still try to make the most out of your stay?
Let me know!
See you next time,
Adriana
