Comparison · Taiwan
Taichung vs Tainan: Which Should You Choose?
Wetlands, a lake and night markets in Taichung, or old forts, temples and lane food in Tainan? Airports, transport, monthly weather and sights compared.
Published
Flights to Taoyuan Airport (TPE)
The short answer
Taichung is central Taiwan's big city, with milder weather and an easygoing mix of night markets, cafes and bubble tea. See sunset over Gaomei Wetlands, mural-covered Rainbow Village and the curved architecture of the National Taichung Theater, and take a day trip to Sun Moon Lake, a large lake surrounded by mountains.
Tainan is one of Taiwan's oldest cities. Walk an old town where Chihkan Tower, built on the site of a Dutch-era fort, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street sit close together, then head to seaside Anping for an old fort site and a warehouse overtaken by banyan roots. The humble local dishes in every lane are a big part of the appeal.
Who each suits: Taichung if you want to reach wetland and lake scenery by bus or taxi and spend evenings at Fengjia Night Market. Tainan if you want to wander old forts, temples and lanes slowly on a history and food trip.
Airport to city: different gateways
Taichung's gateway is Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Take the Airport MRT to HSR Taoyuan station, then the high-speed rail to HSR Taichung station: about 1.5-2 hours in total from the airport. HSR Taichung station is outside the center, so allow about 15-30 more minutes by the MRT Green Line, a regular train from neighboring Xinwuri station, or bus.
If you land at Taichung International Airport, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 555 (Taichung Airport Express Line) takes about 30 minutes to the city. It runs as a one-way loop and has room for large luggage on board. City buses also run from the airport to Taichung Station (about 50 minutes) or the Chaoma bus station (about 30 minutes); check route numbers and timetables in official information.
Tainan Airport (TNN) is south of the city; check airlines for international flights. Bus H31 links HSR Tainan station, the airport and Tainan City Hall, and bus 105 heads toward Tainan railway station. Via Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), the MRT Red Line and a Taiwan Railway train take about 45 minutes to 1 hour in total to Tainan station. Via Taoyuan International Airport, the Airport MRT, high-speed rail and Shalun Line take about 3 hours in total to Tainan station.
- Taichung via Taoyuan Airport: Airport MRT plus HSR reserved seat about NT$550-650, about 1.5-2 hours in total
- HSR Taichung station to central Taichung: about 15-30 min, about NT$20-50
- Bus 555 from Taichung International Airport: about 30 minutes to the city, TWD 90 adults, TWD 45 concession
- Tainan Airport: bus H31 about every 20-30 min; metered taxis from about NT$85
- Tainan via Kaohsiung Airport: MRT and train to Tainan station in about 45 min to 1 hour (check official fares)
- Tainan via Taoyuan Airport: about 3 hours to Tainan station; HSR reserved seat about NT$1,200, plus Airport MRT and train fares
How many days and getting around
Both guides suggest 3 to 4 days. Taichung's guide spends its days on Fengjia Night Market; Rainbow Village, the National Theater and Gaomei Wetlands; and a Sun Moon Lake day trip. Tainan's guide gives one day each to the old town, Anping, and the Sicao Green Tunnel with the Chimei Museum.
Getting around is quite different. In Taichung, buses are the main way to get around, and the MRT is a single Green Line from HSR Taichung station to the northern districts. For the wetlands and out-of-town sights that are awkward by bus, taxis or ride-hailing apps are easiest.
Tainan has no MRT, so buses are the main public transport, and many routes run infrequently. Check timetables in a map app and mix in taxis for Anping and Sicao. The visitor-oriented Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Anping line passes the Confucius Temple and Chihkan Tower on its way to Anping, and Chihkan Tower, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street are all within walking distance of each other.
- Suggested stay: 3 to 4 days in either city
- Transit card: EasyCard or iPASS in both cities for buses, trains and YouBike
- Taichung: buses plus one MRT line, the Green Line (no eating or drinking in stations or on trains)
- Tainan: no MRT; buses, Taiwan Railway trains and YouBike (avoid long rides in the midday heat)
- Cash: in both cities, night markets and small eateries are often cash only
Monthly weather side by side
Taichung's guide names October-April and Tainan's guide October-March as the best time, drier and sunnier. Tainan's guide adds that winters stay mild. In both cities May-September is hot with frequent showers, and typhoons are possible from summer into autumn. Many shops close and sights are crowded over Lunar New Year.
Using 1991–2020 normals for Taichung station and Tainan station from the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, temperatures are close. January highs are 22°C in Taichung and 23°C in Tainan, and lows are 13°C and 15°C. The July high is 33°C in both.
The difference is in the rainfall. In April Taichung gets 127 mm and Tainan 70 mm; in May, 250 mm and 166 mm. By August the order flips, with 341 mm in Taichung and 466 mm in Tainan. In both cities August is the wettest month of the year. In Taichung, November (24 mm) is the driest month. In Tainan, December (16 mm) is the driest month.
- January: Taichung high 22°C, low 13°C, rainfall 37 mm / Tainan high 23°C, low 15°C, rainfall 21 mm
- March: Taichung high 25°C, low 16°C, rainfall 87 mm / Tainan high 27°C, low 18°C, rainfall 30 mm
- April: Taichung high 28°C, low 20°C, rainfall 127 mm / Tainan high 29°C, low 22°C, rainfall 70 mm
- May: Taichung high 31°C, low 23°C, rainfall 250 mm / Tainan high 31°C, low 25°C, rainfall 166 mm
- August: Taichung high 33°C, low 25°C, rainfall 341 mm / Tainan high 33°C, low 26°C, rainfall 466 mm
- November: Taichung high 28°C, low 19°C, rainfall 24 mm / Tainan high 28°C, low 20°C, rainfall 24 mm
What you do there: wetlands and a lake vs forts, temples and lanes
Many of Taichung's signature views are outside the city. Gaomei Wetlands, tidal flats lined with wind turbines, is famous at sunset; it is windy and access depends on the tide, so follow on-site guidance. Sun Moon Lake is about two hours by bus, so allow a full day for a boat ride or lakeside cycling. In town, see Fengjia Night Market, Rainbow Village (30 minutes to an hour), the National Theater and Taichung Park, whose lakeside pavilion is a city symbol.
Tainan is a history trip on foot. Chihkan Tower is open daily 08:30-21:30, so you can also see it lit up. Seaside Anping has Anping Old Fort, the site of a 17th-century Dutch fort, and Anping Tree House, a former warehouse overtaken by the roots of giant banyan trees. Standard admission is about NT$70 at each of the three. The Sicao Green Tunnel, where small boats glide through a tunnel of mangroves, is another option.
The food differs too. Taichung is one of the cities credited with inventing bubble tea (about NT$50-90 a cup), and sun cakes, flaky pastries filled with sweet malt, are its classic treat. Tainan is known for danzai noodles in shrimp broth, beef soup that many locals have early in the morning, milkfish as porridge or soup, and coffin bread, hollowed-out toast filled with creamy stew.
How to choose: where to stay, days of the week, combining both
Choose Taichung for trips out to scenery and evenings at night markets, and Tainan for walking the old town between temples and lane-side food. In Tainan, the West Central District around Chihkan Tower is the easiest base for a first visit. In Taichung, stay around Taichung railway station for train travel, around Fengjia Night Market for the night market (it can be noisy late at night), or in Xitun for shopping (hotels cost a bit more).
Check the days of the week. Tainan's Garden Night Market does not open every day, mainly Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and the Chimei Museum is closed on Wednesdays. Taichung's National Museum of Natural Science is closed on Mondays (except public holidays), and Sun Moon Lake buses get busy on weekends, so check the last bus back.
In both cities the high-speed rail station is outside the center. From HSR Taichung station, continue by the MRT Green Line, a train from Xinwuri station or bus; from HSR Tainan station, take the Shalun Line from neighboring Shalun station (about 20-40 min) or bus H31. Check the official information before you go for travel time and fares between the two cities. Entry rules, including visa-free stays, can change, so check official Taiwan government information before you travel.
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FAQ
Which suits me better, Taichung or Tainan?
Taichung if you want wetland and lake scenery plus night markets; Tainan if you want to walk old forts and temples and try lane-side food. Both guides suggest 3 to 4 days.
When is the best time to go?
Taichung's guide names October-April and Tainan's guide October-March. January normals are a high of 22°C and low of 13°C in Taichung, and a high of 23°C and low of 15°C in Tainan. May-September is hot with frequent showers in both.
Can I get around by public transport alone?
Taichung relies on buses plus a single MRT line, the Green Line, so taxis or ride-hailing apps are easiest for the wetlands and out-of-town sights. Tainan has no MRT and many buses run infrequently, so check timetables in a map app and mix in taxis when needed.
Which airport should I use?
For Taichung, Taoyuan International Airport is about 1.5-2 hours in total by Airport MRT and high-speed rail, and bus 555 from Taichung International Airport takes about 30 minutes to the city. For Tainan, there is Tainan Airport, the route via Kaohsiung International Airport (about 45 min to 1 hour to Tainan station) and the route via Taoyuan International Airport (about 3 hours). Check airlines for international flights.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Love River · 毛貓大少爺 from Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China / CC BY-SA 2.0