16 Fun Things to Do in Tainan Taiwan

Taiwan’s oldest city and the former capital, Tainan, brings a different feel than the current capital, Taipei. My friend explained that I’d need to visit Tainan if I wanted to experience a Taiwanese City. That was enough to get me on the train here.

The city was founded in 1624 by the Dutch East India Company and continued to develop after their expulsion. You’ll see aspects from the Dutch, Qing Dynasty, Japanese, and others that left their mark on this city.

Chikan Tower

Location: No. 212, Section 2, Minzu Rd, West Central District
Cost: NT $70
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 9:30 pm

Built in 1653 by the Dutch, the fort was built during the colonial period of Taiwan by the Dutch. Originally known as Fort Provintia, the tower has become known as an important landmark in the city. Following the Dutch expulsion (in 1663), the tower saw destruction from an earthquake and revolt until it was rebuilt and repurposed under the Qing Dynasty.

These days, the towers are mostly empty, with a few displays and information on the history of the tower and Tainan. It’s a small area to visit, but it’s worth the visit, given its importance to the city’s history.

Shennong Street

Location: West Central District

Shennong Street is one of the most important historical streets in Tainan. This old street dates back to the Qing dynasty and contains cute shops, restaurants, cafes, tea houses, and more.

The street is a must for those visiting the town. It’s worth a wander among the various businesses here. The restaurants generally open from about 10 am until 10 pm, although the street is lovely to wander all times of day.

Evenings have the best atmosphere when the town lights up the lanterns along the street.

Tainan Confucius Temple

Location: No. 2 Nanmen Rd, West Central District
Cost: NT $40
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

The 17th-century Tainan Confucius Temple is the oldest of its kind in Taiwan and was an important institute of learning during the Qing Dynasty.

The temple is a beautiful complex with several spots to explore, including Dacheng Hall, Pan Pond, gardens, and other small buildings.

Most of the site is free to visit (such as the internal garden/grounds), but to get close to the hall, you do need to pay a small fee. You can still see the exterior from outside the doorway, though, if you don’t want to get close.

Hayashi Department Store

Location: No. 63, Section 2, Zhongyi Rd, West Central District
Hours: Daily: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

When my friend recommended this department store, I was like, wait, I don’t really care to do shopping. I was super skeptical of it as a tourist location.

But this beautiful 1930s is for sure a destination upon itself. It gave me the vibes of a place built by a world explorer who returned with his wares to sell in Tainan. Each floor has a different feeling and there are items to check out in every price range.

The building is formerly the tallest in the city, and the roof is designed so you can get a bit of a bird’s eye view of the area. There’s also a cafe with some signature food and drinks. I recommend stopping in for a quick dessert and tea if you have spare time.

Anping Tree House (& Tait & Co. Merchant House)

Location: No. 104, Gubao St, Anping District
Cost: NT $70
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

The Anping Treehouse is one of my favorite sites in Tainan. The old warehouse has been taken over by banyan trees, and it just has such a fascinating feel to it. You can wander through the building and there is even a cute little cafe on site as well.

The tree house is on the same site as the Tait & Co. Merchant House. The merchant house contains various exhibits on Anpin’s trading history. The ticket includes access to both sites.

Anping Old Street

Location: Yanping St, Anping District

The oldest Street in Tainan, Yanping Street, has a fun and a bit of festival feeling in places. The street is known for its small shops, traditional snack vendors, and quaint atmosphere. It’s worth a visit after exploring some of the nearby attractions (such as Fort Zeelandia).

Most stalls close around 7 or 8 pm, so be sure not to visit late evening. It’s definitely an easy stop and a good place to get some traditional snacks. The area between the street and the fort often has plenty of stalls that may even be better for snacks than what you find on the street.

Fort Zeelandia - Fort Anping - Tainan Taiwan

Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)

Location:
Cost: NT $70
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

The first Dutch fortress in Tainan, Fort Zeelandia, was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1624. The fort was used until the expulsion of the Dutch (1662) and then underwent some changes and additions during the Qing Dynasty.

The fort is a mix of architecture and history. You can explore the old Dutch walls, the white watch tower, exhibits, statues, and even a small gift shop. I recommend making sure to climb the watch tower to get some good views of the surrounding area.

Eternal Golden Castle

Location: No. 3, Gwangju Rd, Anping District
Cost: NT $70
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Building in 1876, the Eternal Golden Castle was built by the Qing Dynasty in a more modern “Western style” fortress. The fort was constructed to defend the city against naval threats. The area is a quad-walled fortress with high walls and large cannons for its defense.

You can walk through the courtyard or even along the old walls of the fortress.

Yuguang Island

Location: Yuguang Rd, Anping District

I would not have known about this Island had a friend not suggested it. It’s in the city but feels a world away. Yuguang Island has a more rustic development feel with a long beach, some trails, boardwalks, and some restaurants to explore.

I did enjoy that there was an actual beach to visit! Another Taiwanese friend laughed at me since he’d never been to a beach in Taiwan. And even while it was cold (being winter), it was still a beautiful day and a nice place to chill.

You can also explore some restaurants and cafes on the island too. There’s also the “Saba Milkfish Museum,” although it’s barely a museum and mostly a store. The snacks are tasty and worth a try.

Tainan Art Museum - Building 1 - Exhibits

Tainan Art Gallery

Location: Nanmen Rd. West Central District
Cost: NT $200
Hours: Daily: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

The Tainan Art Gallery is the premier art institute of Tainan. Building 1, the main building, is a repurposed 1930s Tainan Police Department building. Building 2 is larger and more modern in styling. The buildings hold a variety of exhibits. There’s always a rotating exhibit and the one I was there was related to a modernist Taiwanese artist.

Your ticket allows you to visit Building 1 and Building 2 of the Art Museum. I love the architecture of both buildings. They have different exhibits, and if you have time, it’s worth visiting both. If you have time for only one, I recommend Building 1, especially with the Cafe below.

Cafe in Tainan Art Gallery

Location: Nanmen Rd. West Central District
Cost: Free
Hours: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Even if you don’t visit the Art Gallery, you should plan to stop and visit the courtyard and cafe. This was one of my favorite places in Tainan. The beautiful tree and courtyard here really is such a respite from the city.

I didn’t realize before arriving that you can visit the cafe without paying to see the Museum. The actual entrance to the paid areas is just beyond the cafe. There is even a ticket vending machine within the cafe if you decide to visit the exhibits while there.

Tainan Garden Night Market

Location: No. 533, Section 3, Hai’an Rd, North District
Hours: Daily: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am

This Night Market is Huge. It’s by far the largest night market I visited in Taiwan. Maybe too big? I found it somewhat overwhelming in its size, scale, and crowd.

The market has a bit of a chaotic feel, but in some ways, that feels like the quintessential Asian Night Market. I found no shortage of things to explore and try here. I had to really use the Google Translate camera function to get a sense of what was on offer though.

One thing I found hard was that trash receptacles were only at the exits, and there was nowhere to really sit. So it was a lot of trying to eat and move.

Hai’an Road Art Street

Location: Hai’an Rd, West Central District

I like what they are attempting to do here with the Hai’an Street Art installations. Built along the medium along Hai’an Road, there’s a variety of art installations (not all street art) along this road.

The road art installations span several blocks. The one negative here is that its not always easy to cross between the blocks at the medium. You do sometimes have to go along the side of the road and back in.

The street runs up towards Shennong Street, so it’s a good place to visit before or after your stop there.

Snail Alley

Location: Lane 97, Section 2, Yongfu Rd, West Central District

Snail Alley is a cute winding alley with some artwork, businesses, and some little easter egg snails hidden about. It’s worth a pop-in if you are in the area! There’s even a snail restaurant (L’Escargo) within the alley, too.

While the site is probably not worth going out of your way for, it was fun to wander through, try to find some snails, and enjoy the quiet of the alley. See if you can find al the snails during your visit!

Tainan Grand Mazu Temple

Hours: Daily: 6:00 am– 9:00 pm
Cost: Free

One of the oldest and most important temples in Taiwan, the 17th-century temple is a gathering point in the city. Originally built as the royal residence of Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), it was only later that it was converted into the temple you see today.

The temple has deep roots in the city and country. It has several spots to explore and incredible intricate carvings. It’s also an essential stop for locals to come and ask for prayers. You’ll see many who stop here during their daily lives.

Blueprint Culture & Creative Park

Location: No. 12, Lane 689, Section 1, Ximen Rd, South District
Hours: Daily: 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm

These are some of my favorite spaces in Taiwan. Blueprint is an art, cultural, and shopping hub built upon old government dormitories. It’s got some great design, beautiful art, and just a great vibe. Established in 2015, it’s really become a central hub and the various art projections means that you can enjoy the place even without spending money.

You should take some time to wander through the various cafes and shops here. They each have a different feel, and the cafes and dessert shops are certainly worth a taste. They had various holiday events while I was there, and I like how these change with the seasons.

Where to Stay in Tainan

Below are some places we recommend checking out during your stay in Tainan. There are plenty of good options, even if the following are full.

Seven Nights: The location is excellent. The rooms are clean. They requested Whatsapp for check-in and communications, so it might make it more annoying if you don’t have that.
Aloft Anping: Great Option if you want a Marriott hotel. Located in Anping, its close to many sites but still a little walk.
U.I.J Hotel & Hostel: This is a great option for many different budgets. It has both dorm rooms as well as nice private rooms as well. It’s also well situated for easy visits to many sites.

Getting to Tainan

Tainan is well connected by road, bus, and train. The train is the best way to reach Tainan from other regions of Taiwan. There is an airport in Tainan; however, presently, it flies to few destinations.

By Train

Tainin is well connected to the west coast of Taiwan by local and high-speed trains.

From Taipei, the fastest way is to go by High-Speed Rail. Leaving Taipei Main Station, it takes about 90 minutes to reach the high-speed rail station in Tainan. However, it still takes about another hour by local train to reach the city center.

Non high-speed options include buses and regional trains. Expect to take about 4.5 – 5 hours by bus or 4 – 4.5 hours by regional train.