Itinerary · Taiwan
Hualien first trip: how do you get there from the airport, and how many days do you need?
Taoyuan Airport to Hualien by Airport MRT and TRA train, a 3-4 day route, Tourist Shuttle 310, Taroko closures after the 2024 earthquake, and weather normals.
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How many days for Hualien? 3 to 4
Hualien is Taiwan's largest county, on the east coast between the Central Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean. It is the base for the marble canyons of Taroko National Park, Qingshui Cliff, Qixingtan Beach and Liyu Lake, and the guide suggests 3 to 4 days.
Getting from Taoyuan Airport to Hualien means changing from the Airport MRT to a train, so keep day 1 for the journey and a night market. Spend day 2 on Taroko and Qixingtan, day 3 on Liyu Lake and town, and take your booked train back to Taipei on day 4.
- Day 1: Taoyuan Airport → Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station → TRA train to Hualien → check in → dinner at Dongdamen Night Market
- Day 2: Tourist Shuttle 310 to the Taroko Visitor Center → only the sections open that day (check official notices and road-control times) → Qixingtan Beach in the afternoon
- Day 3: morning walk around Liyu Lake → Pine Garden and the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park → bianshi and night market snacks
- Day 4: mochi and other souvenirs → booked train to Taipei → Airport MRT to Taoyuan Airport (allow plenty of time)
Taoyuan Airport (TPE) to Hualien: Airport MRT + TRA train
The guide uses Taoyuan Airport (TPE) as the gateway. From Taoyuan Airport (TPE), take the Airport MRT express to Taipei Main Station and change to a Taiwan Railway (TRA) train to Hualien in the same station. This is the usual way to reach Hualien.
The Airport MRT express takes about 35-40 minutes and costs about 160 TWD. The train from Taipei Main Station to Hualien takes about 2-3 hours depending on the train type. Check official information for train fares and timetables.
The way back is the same. On your last day, take your booked train to Taipei and then the Airport MRT to Taoyuan Airport, so allow plenty of time.
- Airport MRT express: Taoyuan Airport → Taipei Main Station, about 35-40 min, about 160 TWD
- TRA train: Taipei Main Station → Hualien, about 2-3 hours depending on the train type
- Train fares and timetables: check official information
Booking the train, and from Hualien Station to town
Reserved seats on the Taipei-Hualien route sell out quickly on weekends and holidays. Bookings open 28 days before departure on the official TRA website and app, so book as soon as your plans are set. An EasyCard or iPASS works on TRA trains too, but for a long trip like Taipei-Hualien a reserved seat is the safer choice.
Buses and taxis wait outside Hualien Station to take you to your hotel. The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 310 toward Taroko also leaves from the bus station in front of it. Journey time depends on where you stay and traffic; check official information for fares.
In typhoon season (summer to autumn), trains, roads and sights can stop suddenly. Keep your schedule flexible and check the Central Weather Administration forecast often.
- Booking: official TRA website and app, from 28 days before departure
- Weekends and holidays: reserved seats sell out fast
- Outside Hualien Station: buses, taxis, and Shuttle 310 from the bus station
- Typhoon season: trains can stop suddenly, so leave slack in your plans
Getting around Hualien: tourist buses, taxis and bikes
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 310 (Taroko Route) runs from Hualien Bus Station (in front of Hualien Station) via Qixingtan and Xincheng Old Street to the Taroko Visitor Center. A one-way adult fare is about 154 TWD and a one-day pass about 250 TWD. Bus service deeper into the gorge has changed since the earthquake, so check official information.
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 303 links Hualien Station with the Liyu Lake area; check official information for timetables. A taxi or private car is handy for covering the coast and gorge in a day where buses are infrequent. Agree on the fare in advance and plan around Taroko's road-control times.
A bike path of about 21 km runs from Hualien city past the harbor to Qixingtan. On a first visit, staying downtown around Dongdamen Night Market or around Hualien Station, where trains and tourist shuttles meet, keeps things easy. Qixingtan and Xincheng are quiet, but public transport there is limited.
- Shuttle 310: Hualien Bus Station → Qixingtan → Xincheng Old Street → Taroko Visitor Center; about 154 TWD one way, about 250 TWD for a one-day pass
- Shuttle 303: Hualien Station → Liyu Lake area; check timetables officially
- EasyCard / iPASS: TRA trains, buses, convenience stores
- Taxi or private car: agree on the fare first, plan around Taroko road controls
- Cycling: city → harbor → Qixingtan, about 21 km
Can you visit Taroko National Park now?
Taroko is famous for its marble gorge, but it was badly damaged by the April 3, 2024 earthquake and later typhoons. The visitor center, Taroko Terrace and some recreation areas and trails reopened in stages in 2025-2026, while the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto and Baiyang Trail were reported closed as of March 2026. Some sections are closed, so always check the national park's official information before visiting.
Even open areas can change with weather and repair work, so check the national park's official website the day before and the morning of your visit. The visitor center is the best place to check which sections are open and current road controls. Provincial Highway 8 (Central Cross-Island Highway) through Taroko has timed traffic windows and night closures; check Highway Bureau notices and plan around them.
Gorge areas carry rockfall risk; the park requires helmets on some trails and lends them free at the visitor center and other stations. Avoid gorge trails for about a week after heavy rain or an earthquake. Hualien has frequent earthquakes: if you feel shaking, protect your head, and on mountain roads or trails move away to a safe spot.
- Reported closed as of March 2026: Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, Baiyang Trail and others
- The day before and the morning of your visit: check the national park's official website
- Highway 8: timed traffic windows and night closures; check Highway Bureau notices
- Some trails: helmets required (lent free at the visitor center and other stations)
- About a week after heavy rain or an earthquake: stay out of the gorge
When to go? Late autumn to spring is easiest
The guide recommends late autumn to spring, when the weather is usually more stable. December normals are a high of 23°C, a low of 17°C and 84 mm of rain; January is 21°C / 16°C with 58 mm, and April 26°C / 20°C with 77 mm. December to April gets 58-84 mm of rain a month, less than May to November (166-351 mm). November is 26°C / 20°C but still gets 175 mm, so pack an umbrella.
Summer to autumn is typhoon season, when heavy rain, landslides and rockfall can close roads and trails at short notice. July averages 32°C / 26°C, and rain is heavy in September (330 mm) and October (351 mm). Check the Central Weather Administration forecast before you travel.
These normals are from the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, Hualien station, 1991–2020. The guide's budget runs from about 1,500-2,000 TWD per person per day (guesthouse, night market, tourist buses) to about 3,500-5,000 TWD (city hotel, restaurant meals, some taxis). Entry requirements and procedures can change, so check Taiwan government or embassy information before you travel.
- Late autumn to spring: usually more stable (January 21°C / 16°C, 58 mm)
- Summer to autumn: typhoon season, roads and trails can close at short notice (October 351 mm)
- Budget: from about 1,500-2,000 TWD per person per day
- Entry requirements: check official information before you go
Plan your Hualien trip
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FAQ
How many days do I need in Hualien?
The guide suggests 3 to 4 days. Use day 1 to travel from Taoyuan Airport to Hualien, then spend a day each on Taroko and Qixingtan, and on Liyu Lake and town.
How do I get from the airport to Hualien?
Take the Airport MRT express from Taoyuan Airport (about 35-40 min, about 160 TWD) to Taipei Main Station, then a TRA train for about 2-3 hours. Trains can be booked from 28 days before departure and sell out fast on weekends and holidays.
Is Taroko National Park open now?
The visitor center and some sections reopened in stages in 2025-2026, but the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto and Baiyang Trail were reported closed as of March 2026. Check the national park's official information the day before and the morning of your visit.
When is the best time to visit Hualien?
Late autumn to spring, when the weather is usually more stable. January normals are a high of 21°C and a low of 16°C (Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, 1991–2020). Summer to autumn is typhoon season, and roads can close at short notice.
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