One of Taiwan's oldest cities, full of old forts, temples and humble local dishes in every lane. The walkable old town and the seaside Anping district sit close together, making it ideal for history and food lovers.
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Check prices →October-March is the driest and sunniest time, and winters stay mild. 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.
Tainan Airport is south of the city with few international flights, so most trips from abroad involve a connection. Bus H31 links HSR Tainan station, the airport and Tainan City Hall, and bus 105 heads toward Tainan railway station.
Take the MRT Red Line from Kaohsiung International Airport station to Kaohsiung Main Station, then a Taiwan Railway train to Tainan station. You can also ride the MRT to Zuoying, then the high-speed rail and the Shalun Line train.
From Taoyuan International Airport, take the Airport MRT to HSR Taoyuan station and the high-speed rail to HSR Tainan station. That station is outside the center, so continue on the Shalun Line from neighboring Shalun station or by bus H31.
Buy one at a convenience store or station for buses, Taiwan Railway trains, YouBike and small purchases.
Tainan has no MRT, so buses are the main public transport. The visitor-oriented Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Anping line passes the Confucius Temple and Chihkan Tower on its way to Anping.
Tainan station is the hub. The Shalun Line links it to HSR Tainan station, and regular trains run to Kaohsiung.
Handy for Anping and Sicao, where buses are infrequent. Taxis are metered.
Shared bikes across the city, great for old-town lanes and around Anping. Avoid long rides in the midday heat.
Good for: First visit, old town
Chihkan Tower, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street are all walkable. Lots of small guesthouses in the lanes.
Good for: Train travel, transport
Trains to Kaohsiung and the HSR station plus many bus routes meet here. The old town is a short walk or bus ride away.
Good for: Food, evening walks
Streets packed with local food stalls and mural-lined lanes. Lively in the evening and close to Shennong Street.
Good for: Sea, old forts, quiet stays
The seaside district with Anping Old Fort, an old street and canals. A little away from the center, reached by bus or taxi.
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Pavilions built on the site of a Dutch-era fort, the classic starting point for Tainan's history. Open daily 08:30-21:30, so you can also see it lit up; standard admission about NT$70.
The site of a 17th-century Dutch fort, with old wall ruins and a lookout tower. Open daily 08:30-17:30; standard admission about NT$70.
A historic Confucius temple known as Taiwan's first school, with red walls and old trees. Open 08:30-17:30 and closed on Lunar New Year's Eve; check official information for the ticketed area and fees.
A former warehouse overtaken by the roots of giant banyan trees. Open daily 08:30-17:30; standard admission about NT$70.
A narrow old street of wooden shophouses, most atmospheric when the lanterns come on in the evening. People live here, so keep noise down.
A large museum of Western art, musical instruments and arms in a European-style building and garden. Open 09:30-17:30 and closed on Wednesdays; check the official calendar.
An old canal in Taijiang National Park where small boats glide through a tunnel of mangroves. Check official information for boat times and fares.
One of Tainan's biggest night markets, full of snacks and games. It does not open every day, mainly Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, so check official information.
A small bowl of noodles in shrimp broth topped with minced pork sauce, Tainan's signature dish. Portions are small, so treat it as a snack.
Thin slices of raw beef cooked by pouring hot broth over them, a Tainan specialty. Many locals have it early in the morning.
Milkfish is farmed along the Tainan coast and eaten as porridge or soup, often for breakfast.
A thick slice of hollowed-out toast filled with creamy stew, a quirky local snack also found at night markets.
Oyster omelets, fried chicken cutlets and Taiwanese sausages in small portions. About NT$50-100 each.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Arrive in Tainan, the Confucius Temple in the afternoon, then Chihkan Tower lit up at night and a stroll on Shennong Street.
Bus to Anping for the Old Fort, the Tree House and the old street, sunset by the sea, then Garden Night Market (Thursday, Saturday or Sunday).
Beef soup for breakfast, a boat through the Sicao Green Tunnel, the Chimei Museum in the afternoon (closed Wednesdays), then dinner around Haian Road.
A morning walk through old-town lanes, then the train to Kaohsiung or the HSR station for your flight.
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