• Introduction – Why This Taiwan Itinerary Is Worth Copying
• Why We Chose Kaohsiung, Chiayi & Taichung
  • Kaohsiung: Relaxed Harbor City, Art Spaces and an Uncrowded New Year Experience
  • Chiayi: A Slower Pace and the Gateway to Nature
  • Taichung: The Perfect Balance of City, Culture and Day Trips
  • Why This Route Works So Well
• Quick Overview of Our 10-Day Taiwan Itinerary
  • 📍 Days 1–4: Kaohsiung (Relaxed City Start)
  • 📍 Days 5–6: Chiayi (DIY Base for Alishan)
  • 📍 Days 7–9: Taichung (City, Food & Scenic Day Trips)
  • 📍 Day 10: Departure Day
• How We Traveled Between Cities (DIY Transportation Guide)
• Estimated Taiwan Travel Budget for 10 Days (Per Person)
• Where to Stay in Taiwan (General Tips from Our Trip)
• Summary of Our Bookings (Klook) for This Taiwan Trip
• Is This 10-Day Taiwan Itinerary Right for You?
• Final Thoughts + What to Read Next

When people plan a trip to Taiwan, Taipei is usually the first stop and that was true for us too. This itinerary, however, comes from our second time traveling to Taiwan, which allowed us to explore the country with more confidence and a clearer travel style.

During our first Taiwan trip, we focused on Taipei and nearby attractions. We explored the city and joined popular tours like Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Shifen, and Taipingshan. That first trip helped us become familiar with Taiwan’s transportation system, how DIY travel works, and how efficient everything really is.

Because of that experience, we planned our second Taiwan trip differently.

This time, we wanted to go beyond Taipei and explore southern and central Taiwan, following a mostly DIY itinerary, with one guided day tour for a nature-heavy destination that’s easier to visit with a tour. Our route covered Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung – a route that gave us a perfect balance of relaxed cities, scenic nature, local food, and slower travel days.

This 10-day Taiwan itinerary is ideal if you:

• Have already visited Taipei (or plan to skip it this time)

• Want a mostly DIY Taiwan trip with minimal tours

• Prefer a relaxed and well-paced itinerary

• Are traveling as a couple or doing slow travel

What we love about Taiwan is how beginner-friendly yet flexible it is. If you’re comfortable navigating MRTs, trains, and buses, DIY travel is very doable. At the same time, adding one guided tour can be a smart choice for areas that require early starts or multiple transfers.

In this guide, we’ll share:

• Our exact 10-day Taiwan route

• Which parts were DIY and which day we joined a tour

• What to expect in Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung

• Practical tips on transportation and budget

• Links to detailed city guides we’ll be publishing next

If you’ve already experienced Taipei or want to see a different side of Taiwan, this itinerary focuses on the South and Central regions, offering a trip that’s sulit, relaxed, and perfect for second-time or confident first-time travelers

After exploring Taipei during our first Taiwan trip, we wanted our second visit to feel different, slower, and more immersive. Instead of hopping from one crowded attraction to another, we planned a route that would let us experience everyday Taiwan, scenic landscapes, and local food without constantly being on the move.

That’s how we ended up choosing Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung.

Kaohsiung: Relaxed Harbor City, Art Spaces and an Uncrowded New Year Experience

We chose Kaohsiung as our starting point because it offered exactly what we were looking for on our second Taiwan trip—a relaxed city atmosphere with plenty of things to do, without the overwhelming crowds of Taipei.

We stayed around the Pier-2 area, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. The neighborhood is creative, walkable, and close to several major attractions, making it perfect for a DIY-style stay.

During our time in Kaohsiung, we explored:

• Pier-2 Art Center, a creative hub filled with installations, cafés, and open spaces that are great for slow walks

• A half-day DIY trip to Cijin Island, where we enjoyed seaside views, fresh air, and a break from city scenery

• A full cultural day visiting Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the iconic Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, which gave us insight into Taiwan’s spiritual and cultural side

One of the highlights of our stay was spending New Year’s Eve at Kaohsiung Dream Mall to watch the fireworks. Instead of dealing with massive crowds around Taipei 101, we enjoyed a more relaxed but equally festive countdown—proof that celebrating New Year outside Taipei can be just as memorable, if not better.

We also visited:

• National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, an impressive architectural and cultural landmark

• National Science and Technology Museum, which added a fun and educational stop to our itinerary

Spending four days in Kaohsiung allowed us to enjoy the city without rushing. Days felt flexible, travel was easy, and there was always time to rest, walk around, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. Overall, Kaohsiung gave us one of the most relaxing city stays we’ve had in Taiwan and set the perfect tone for the rest of our trip.

If you’re planning a Kaohsiung trip DIY-style, we shared our full budget, itinerary, and tips in our Ultimate Kaohsiung Day DIY Travel Guide: Budget, Itinerary & 10 Tips.

Chiayi: A Slower Pace and the Gateway to Nature

We chose Chiayi as our base mainly because it’s the most practical city for a DIY day trip to the Alishan National Forest area. Instead of staying in the mountains, Chiayi gave us the convenience of a city while still being well-connected to one of Taiwan’s most famous nature destinations.

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Chiayi is how transportation-friendly it is. We stayed near Chiayi Station, which made everything incredibly convenient—from early morning departures to easy transfers going to our next destination. If you’re planning to visit Alishan without joining a tour, Chiayi is one of the best places to stay.

From Chiayi, we did a DIY day trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, enjoying cooler weather, forest views, and scenic spots that felt very different from the cities we had visited earlier in the trip. Having Chiayi as our base made this experience less stressful and more flexible.

Aside from Alishan, we also explored attractions within Chiayi City itself:

• Visited Hinoki Village, a charming cultural spot with a relaxed atmosphere

• Tried local street food at Wenhua Road Night Market

• Ate Chiayi’s famous specialty, Turkey Rice, which is simple but incredibly satisfying

Chiayi turned out to be more than just a stopover—it was a calm and practical base that balanced our itinerary. After the relaxed days in Kaohsiung, Chiayi slowed things down even more and prepared us perfectly for the final leg of our journey.

Taichung: The Perfect Balance of City, Culture and Day Trips

We ended our Taiwan trip in Taichung because it offered the best mix of DIY city exploring and unforgettable day trips. Compared to Taipei, Taichung feels more relaxed, yet it still has plenty of attractions, food spots, and easy access to nature.

Most of our time in Taichung was DIY, allowing us to explore at our own pace. Highlights included a DIY trip to Sun Moon Lake, visiting the iconic National Taichung Theater, and food-hopping at Fengjia Night Market. We also enjoyed discovering local eats and cafés around Taichung Main Station, which turned out to be a great area for casual food trips.

One day, we joined a guided day tour booked via Klook to Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan. This was one of the highlights of our trip, especially since we were lucky enough to see snow—something that would have been very difficult to do on a DIY basis due to distance, weather conditions, and early travel hours.

Spending three days in Taichung worked perfectly:

• DIY-friendly city attractions

• Amazing food scene

• Easy access to Sun Moon Lake

• One well-planned tour for a high-altitude, weather-dependent destination

Taichung was the ideal city to slow down toward the end of the trip, combining flexible DIY travel with one carefully chosen tour that added a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Why This Route Works So Well

What made the Kaohsiung → Chiayi → Taichung route work so well for us is how logical, flexible, and stress-free it was especially for a trip that’s mostly DIY with just one well-chosen day tour.

First, the northbound flow makes travel days easy. Starting in southern Taiwan and slowly moving up to central Taiwan meant shorter train rides, fewer backtracks, and smoother transitions between cities. Each transfer felt manageable, even with luggage.

Second, this route offers a natural progression of experiences:

• Kaohsiung eased us into the trip with relaxed city vibes, wide streets, and efficient MRT lines.

• Chiayi slowed things down even more, giving us a quieter base and access to nature-heavy experiences.

• Taichung wrapped up the trip with a mix of culture, food, DIY city exploring, and scenic day trips.

Another reason this route works is how DIY-friendly it is overall, while still allowing room for one guided tour where it actually makes sense. Most attractions were easy to reach by train, MRT, or bus, but for high-altitude and weather-dependent destinations like Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan, joining a tour helped us save time, avoid complicated transfers, and travel more comfortably.

Lastly, this itinerary is ideal for travelers who value balance over rushing. Instead of packing too many destinations into a short time, we spent multiple days in each city, giving us room to adjust plans, rest when needed, and truly enjoy each place.

This route is perfect if you:

• Have already visited Taipei or want a different Taiwan experience

• Prefer a mostly DIY itinerary with minimal tours

• Want efficient travel days without long transfers

• Enjoy a relaxed pace with a mix of city life, food trips, and nature

This is a high-level summary of our 10-day Taiwan trip covering southern and central Taiwan. The itinerary is mostly DIY, with one guided day tour, making it flexible, beginner-friendly, and ideal for travelers who prefer a relaxed pace.

📍 Days 1–4: Kaohsiung (Relaxed City Start)

• Stay around the Pier-2 area

• Explore Pier-2 Art Center

• Half-day DIY trip to Cijin Island

• Cultural day trip to Fo Guang Shan and Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

• Visit National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts and National Science and Technology Museum

• New Year’s Eve fireworks at Dream Mall

👉 Detailed guide coming soon: Kaohsiung 4-Day Itinerary

👉 Guide on Must Visit Places in Kaohsiung – Why Kaohsiung Is Worth Visiting: 13 Must See Places & Beautiful Attractions

📍 Days 5–6: Chiayi (DIY Base for Alishan)

• Stay near Chiayi TRA Station

• DIY day trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

• Visit Hinoki Village

• Food trip at Wenhua Road Night Market

• Try Chiayi’s famous Turkey Rice

👉 Detailed guide coming soon: Chiayi

👉 For Alishan, see full travel guide – Alishan 1 Day DIY Travel Guide

📍 Days 7–9: Taichung (City, Food & Scenic Day Trips)

• Visit National Taichung Theater

• Food-hopping at Fengjia Night Market

• DIY trip to Sun Moon Lake

• Explore cafés and local eats near Taichung Main Station

• One-day tour (Klook) to Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan (snow experience)

👉 Detailed guide coming soon: Taichung 3-Day Itinerary

📍 Day 10: Departure Day

• Easy morning

• Last-minute café hopping or shopping

• HSR Transfer from Taichung to Kaohsiung

• Travel to the airport

🧭 Why This Itinerary Works

• Logical south-to-central route

• Short travel days

• Mostly DIY, with one strategic tour

• Balanced mix of city, culture, nature, and food

• Relaxed pace, no rushing

One of the main reasons Taiwan is perfect for DIY travel is its efficient, reliable, and easy-to-understand transportation system. Since this was our second time in Taiwan, we were already comfortable navigating trains and MRTs which made traveling between Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung smooth and stress-free.

Our trip was mostly DIY, and we relied heavily on public transportation, with one guided day tour added only for a high-altitude destination.

🚄 Intercity Travel: THSR and TRA Trains

For traveling between cities, we mainly used:

• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) – fast, comfortable, and ideal for longer distances

• Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) – slower than THSR but more scenic and budget-friendly

This combination worked well for our route:

• Kaohsiung → Chiayi

• Chiayi → Taichung

Train stations are well-organized, announcements are clear, and ticket buying is straightforward even for non-Mandarin speakers.

🚇 Getting Around Cities: MRT, Buses and Walking

Within cities, we mainly relied on MRTs, buses, and walking.

• MRT systems (especially in Kaohsiung) are clean, efficient, and beginner-friendly

• Local buses reach areas that MRT lines don’t

One thing to keep in mind with buses is that waiting times can vary. Depending on the route and schedule, you may need to wait around 15 to 30 minutes for the next bus. This usually isn’t an issue if you’re not rushing, but it’s important to factor into your planning.

During times when we were concerned about schedules or tight timing, we occasionally used Uber—but only for short distances. Uber is reliable and easy to use in major cities, though it’s more expensive than public transportation, so we treated it as a backup option rather than our main mode of transport.

🗺️ Using Google Maps for Navigation

For both city travel and intercity routes, we mostly relied on Google Maps to figure out:

• Which MRT line to take

• Which bus to ride

• Which TRA or THSR train to use

• Estimated travel times and transfers

In our experience, Google Maps in Taiwan is mostly accurate, especially for MRTs and trains. However, for buses and some local routes, schedules can change or have longer waiting times.

Because of this, we always made it a habit to:

• Double-check bus timetables at the bus stop

• Confirm train schedules at TRA stations

• Allow buffer time when connecting to another ride

Using Google Maps as our main guide while confirming details on-site helped us avoid missed rides and unnecessary stress.

💳 EasyCard: A Must-Have for DIY Travelers

The EasyCard made daily travel incredibly convenient. We used it for:

• MRT and bus rides

• Select train routes

• Convenience store purchases

• Some attractions

Having an EasyCard saved time and eliminated the need to buy individual tickets for every ride.

🌄 When a Tour Makes Sense: Cingjing Farm & Hehuanshan

While most of our itinerary was DIY, we joined one guided day tour (booked via Klook) for Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan. This was a practical choice because:

• These destinations are far and high-altitude

• DIY travel would require multiple transfers

• Early departures and weather conditions are easier handled with a tour

For places like these, joining a tour can actually save time and reduce stress, especially if you’re traveling on a limited schedule.

🧭 Why Transportation Was Never a Problem

What we loved most about traveling in Taiwan is how organized and tourist-friendly everything is:

• Clear signage (often in English)

• Reliable systems

• Clean and safe stations

• Multiple transport options depending on your needs

If you’re comfortable using Google Maps, allowing buffer time (especially for buses), and being flexible when needed, DIY travel in Taiwan is absolutely manageable.

One of the reasons we love Taiwan is that it’s very budget-friendly, especially for DIY travelers. For this 10-day trip covering Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung, our expenses stayed reasonable even with comfortable hotels, good food, and one guided day tour.

Below is a realistic budget estimate per person, based on our experience. Your actual cost may vary depending on travel season, flight deals, and personal spending habits.

✈️ Flights (Manila, Philippines ↔ Kaohsiung, Taiwan)

Estimated: ₱6,000 – ₱12,000

• Depends heavily on seat sales and airline promos

• We highly recommend booking early or watching for sales

💡 Tip: Flights are often the biggest variable, so this is where you can save the most.

🏨 Accommodation (9 Nights)

Estimated: ₱2,000 – ₱4,000 per night for 2
Total: ₱20,000 – ₱40,000 for 2 persons

We stayed in budget to mid-range hotels, usually near train or MRT stations. Rooms were clean, safe, and comfortable, perfect for resting after long days of exploring.

🍜 Food and Drinks

Estimated: ₱1,000 – ₱1,500 per day per person
Total: ₱10,000 – ₱15,000 per person

Food in Taiwan is very affordable:

• Night markets

• Local restaurants

• Cafés and breakfast shops

Food is one of the biggest highlights of traveling in Taiwan and the good news is, it’s very affordable, even if you eat well every day.

We mixed night market food, local restaurants, cafés, and convenience store meals, which helped us keep our food budget reasonable without sacrificing quality.

🥪 Breakfast Tips (Cheap and Convenient)

For breakfast, we often kept things simple and budget-friendly:

• 7-Eleven and FamilyMart offer surprisingly good and cheap breakfast options like:

  • Tea eggs

  • Bread and pastries

  • Sweet potato

  • Hot drinks and coffee

These are perfect if you’re heading out early or just want a quick bite before starting the day.

We also tried local breakfast shops, especially those where you see locals lining up in the morning. These places are:

• Usually cheaper than cafés

• Filling and freshly prepared

• A great way to experience everyday Taiwanese food

Local breakfast shops turned out to be one of the best value-for-money meals during the trip.

🍢 Lunch, Dinner and Snacks

For the rest of the day, we rotated between:

• Night markets (Liuhe, Fengjia, Wenhua Road)

• Local noodle shops and small restaurants

• Food areas near train stations

You can easily enjoy a full meal for a very reasonable price, especially if you avoid tourist-only restaurants.

💡 Food Budget Tips for Taiwan

• Eat where locals eat—lines usually mean good food

• Use convenience stores for quick meals or breakfast

• Mix street food with sit-down meals

• Bring a refillable water bottle

With this approach, Taiwan food trips feel sulit, satisfying, and stress-free, even on a long trip.

💰 Transportation Cost Breakdown (per person)

🚆 Intercity Trains

TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration)

• Kaohsiung → Chiayi: ₱400 – ₱500

• Chiayi → Taichung: ₱400 – ₱500

👉 Subtotal (TRA): ₱800 – ₱1,000

THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail)

• Taichung → Kaohsiung (booked via Klook): ~₱1,250 per person (one way)

• There is often a Buy-One-Take-One promo for non-Taiwanese travelers on Klook, which can significantly lower the cost if you’re traveling as a couple.

👉 Subtotal (THSR): ~₱1,250

🚌 Buses for Day Trips

• Chiayi → Alishan (roundtrip bus via Klook): ~₱884

• Taichung → Sun Moon Lake (roundtrip bus from Taichung Bus Terminal): ~₱500

👉 Subtotal (Buses): ~₱1,384

🚇 City Transportation (MRT, Local Buses, EasyCard)

• MRT rides in Kaohsiung and Taichung

• Local buses within cities

• EasyCard usage

👉 Estimated total: ₱500 – ₱800

🚕 Occasional Uber (Short Distances Only)

Used only when:

• Bus waiting time was too long (15–30 minutes)

• We were tight on schedule

👉 Estimated total: ₱200 – ₱500

🔢 Breakdown Summary

• TRA trains: ₱800 – ₱1,000

• THSR: ~₱1,250

• Buses (Alishan + Sun Moon Lake): ~₱1,384

• MRT / Local buses / EasyCard: ₱500 – ₱800

• Uber (short rides): ₱200 – ₱500

✅ GRAND TOTAL

👉 ₱4,100 – ₱5,900 per person

This already covers:
✔ All intercity travel
✔ Scenic DIY day trips
✔ City transportation
✔ Convenience rides when needed

💰 Tours & Attractions Cost (Per Person)

🛍️ Miscellaneous & Souvenirs

Estimated: ₱2,000 – ₱4,000

• Pasalubong (bought in Carrefour Store)

• Snacks

• Small shopping items

💰 Estimated Total Budget (Per Person)

👉 ₱40,000 – ₱60,000 for 10 days

This already includes:

• Flights

• Hotels

• Food

• Transportation

• One guided tour

• Attractions

💡 How to Save More on Your Taiwan Trip

• Book flights during seat sales

• Stay near MRT or train stations to avoid taxis

• Eat where locals eat (night markets = win)

• Use DIY travel for most destinations

• Join a tour only when it makes sense

✅ Why Taiwan Is Sulit for Filipinos

• Efficient public transport

• Affordable food

• Clean and safe cities

• Flexible travel style (DIY or tour)

• Great value for money

If you’re looking for a destination that offers comfort, culture, and convenience without breaking the bank, Taiwan is a solid choice.

Choosing the right place to stay can make a huge difference in how smooth your Taiwan trip will be. For our 10-day itinerary covering Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung, we prioritized convenience, accessibility, and comfort over luxury.

Here are the key tips that worked well for us.

🚉 Stay Near Train or MRT Stations

This is the most important rule we followed.

Staying near:

• MRT stations (especially in Kaohsiung)

• TRA train stations (Chiayi and Taichung)

made it easier to:

• Catch early buses or trains

• Go back to the hotel for quick breaks

• Avoid unnecessary Uber or taxi rides

For example:

• In Kaohsiung, staying near the Pier-2 area gave us easy access to MRT lines and walkable attractions

• In Chiayi, staying near the TRA station was extremely convenient for our DIY Alishan day trip

• In Taichung, staying near Taichung Main Station made food trips and day trips much easier

🏨 Budget to Mid-Range Hotels Are More Than Enough

Taiwan’s budget and mid-range hotels are generally:

• Clean and well-maintained

• Safe and secure

• Comfortable enough for long trips

Since most of the day is spent outside exploring, we didn’t feel the need to splurge on luxury hotels. What mattered more was:

• Clean rooms

• Hot showers

• Good location

• Easy check-in/check-out

🧳 Prioritize Comfort Over Hotel Size

Hotel rooms in Taiwan—especially in cities—can be smaller than what Filipinos are used to, but they’re usually well-designed and functional.

Our tip:

• Don’t focus too much on room size

• Focus on location, cleanliness, and reviews

A smaller room near transport is far better than a bigger room far from everything.

🔍 Use Reviews & Maps When Booking

When booking accommodations, we always:

• Checked Google Maps for distance to stations

• Read recent reviews (especially about cleanliness and noise)

• Confirmed walking distance, not just “nearby”

This helped us avoid areas that looked close on paper but were inconvenient in reality.

💡 Accommodation Budget Tip

Spending a bit more for a strategic location can actually save you money:

• Less Uber usage

• Less wasted time

• Less stress on travel days

For a long trip like this, convenience is worth paying for.

✅ Where This Fits in Your Planning

This section helps you:

• Decide which areas to stay in

• Narrow down hotel searches

• Avoid common first-timer mistakes

We’ll be sharing city-specific hotel recommendations in our detailed Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung guides.

Our 10-day Taiwan itinerary was mostly DIY, but we strategically booked a few items in advance to save time, reduce stress, and control our budget. Most of these were booked through Klook, while accommodations were booked separately.

Below is a clear breakdown of what we booked, how much it cost, and why we chose to book it in advance.

🧭 Tours, Tickets, and Transportation Bookings (via Klook)

📱 Travel Essentials Bookings

🏨 Accommodation Summary (Booked Separately)

We prioritized location over hotel size, choosing areas close to MRT or train stations to save time and transportation costs.

💡 Booking Strategy Takeaway

• We booked only what made sense in advance

• Most attractions were explored DIY

• Klook was used selectively for:

  • Long-distance transport

  • High-altitude tours

  • Fixed-schedule routes

This approach gave us flexibility, cost control, and a much more relaxed travel experience.

💙 Quick Note

Some links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you book through them. This helps support Jam and Gelo Travels and allows us to keep sharing detailed and honest travel guides.

If this itinerary helped you, feel free to bookmark this page so you can easily come back to it while planning your Taiwan trip 🇹🇼✨

Thank you for the support—we truly appreciate it 💛

This itinerary was designed based on our second trip to Taiwan, focusing on a mostly DIY, relaxed, and practical travel style. If you’re wondering whether this route fits you, here’s a quick way to decide.

✅ This itinerary is perfect for you if:

• You’ve already visited Taipei (or plan to skip it this time)

• You enjoy DIY travel using trains, MRTs, and buses

• You prefer a relaxed pace instead of rushing city to city

• You want a mix of city life, food trips, and nature

• You’re traveling as a couple or doing slow travel

• You’re okay with mixing DIY travel with one strategic day tour

Exploring Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung works especially well if you value comfort, efficiency, and flexibility over ticking off as many attractions as possible.

⚠️ This itinerary may NOT be ideal if:

• It’s your first time in Taiwan and you really want to focus on Taipei

• You prefer fully guided tours every day

• You’re traveling for less than 7 days

• You want a fast-paced trip with very packed daily schedules

This route is intentionally slower and more balanced—it’s not meant to be rushed.

🧭 Why This Route Works for Second-Time (or Confident) Travelers

• Transportation is straightforward and efficient

• Cities are well-connected with short travel times

• Attractions are spread out enough to avoid burnout

• DIY travel keeps costs manageable

• One well-chosen tour adds value without limiting flexibility

If you’re comfortable using Google Maps, following train schedules, and allowing buffer time, this itinerary is very doable and rewarding.

✅ Quick Takeaway

If you want to see a different side of Taiwan—beyond the usual Taipei route—this 10-day Kaohsiung–Chiayi–Taichung itinerary offers a sulit, relaxed, and well-balanced travel experience.

This 10-day Taiwan trip reminded us why we wanted to come back in the first place.

Exploring Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Taichung gave us a deeper appreciation of Taiwan beyond the usual Taipei route. The cities felt less rushed, the food trips were more relaxed, and the mix of DIY travel with one well-chosen tour made the entire journey smooth and enjoyable.

Because this was our second time in Taiwan, we were able to travel with more confidence—using trains and buses, planning realistic days, and knowing when it made sense to book ahead. That balance allowed us to slow down, enjoy the moments, and still see some of Taiwan’s most scenic and memorable places.

If you’re planning a Taiwan trip and want something:

• Relaxed but still fulfilling

• Mostly DIY and beginner-friendly

• Balanced between cities, food, and nature

• Sulit and realistic for Filipino travelers

then this Kaohsiung–Chiayi–Taichung itinerary is a great option to consider.

📌 What to Read Next on Jam and Gelo Travels

We’ll be breaking this trip down into detailed city guides to make planning even easier:

• Kaohsiung Travel Guide: Pier-2, Cijin Island, temples, food trips & New Year countdown

• Chiayi & Alishan DIY Guide: Transport tips, forest trails, local food & Turkey Rice

• Taichung 3-Day Itinerary: Sun Moon Lake, food spots, cafés & day tours

• Taiwan Transportation Guide: TRA vs THSR, buses, EasyCard & Google Maps tips

👉 Bookmark this page—we’ll update the links as each guide goes live.

✨ One Last Tip

Taiwan rewards travelers who take their time. Whether it’s lining up at a local breakfast shop, waiting for the next bus, or choosing a quieter city to celebrate the New Year, the slower moments often become the most memorable.

Thanks for traveling with us. We hope this guide helps you plan a Taiwan trip that’s just as meaningful and enjoyable as ours 🇹🇼💛

— Jam & Gelo
Wander Together, Wonder Forever