Tainan Travel Guide

Wenchang Pavilion at Chihkan Tower with its layered red-tiled roofs — Chihkan Tower · Photo: Mk2010 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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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At a glance

Currency: TWD (NT$)
Power & plugs: 110V · Type A/B
Driving side: Right
Tipping: Not expected
Local language: 中文(繁體)
How long to stay: 3 to 4 days

Emergency numbers

Police110
Ambulance119
Fire119
Tourist hotline0800-011-765

When to go

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.

Monthly climate normals

Warmest: Jul (avg high 33.0°C) · Coolest: Jan (avg low 14.6°C) · Wettest: Aug (466.1 mm)

	High °C	Low °C	Rain mm
Jan	23.0°	14.6°	20.7
Feb	24.0°	15.4°	21.6
Mar	26.6°	18.0°	30.4
Apr	29.3°	21.6°	69.8
May	31.4°	24.6°	165.6
Jun	32.4°	26.2°	370.5
Jul	33.0°	26.6°	374.6
Aug	32.6°	26.3°	466.1
Sep	32.4°	25.8°	170.5
Oct	30.8°	23.3°	30.8
Nov	28.1°	20.2°	23.8
Dec	24.4°	16.4°	16.2

Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.

Source: Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan · Tainan station · 1991–2020 normals —View source

Airport to the city

Tainan Airport (TNN) by bus or taxi

Tainan Airport 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.

Time H31 runs about every 20-30 min (check official information for journey times)Cost metered taxis from about NT$85; check official information for bus fares

Via Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) and train

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.

Time about 45 min to 1 hour in total to Tainan stationCost check official information for MRT and train fares (transit cards work)

Via Taoyuan Airport (TPE) and high-speed rail

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.

Time about 3 hours in total to Tainan station (about 20-40 min on the Shalun Line)Cost HSR reserved seat about NT$1,200, plus Airport MRT and train fares

Getting around

Transit card (EasyCard or iPASS)

Buy one at a convenience store or station for buses, Taiwan Railway trains, YouBike and small purchases.

City buses and Taiwan Tourist Shuttle

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.

Taiwan Railway trains

Tainan station is the hub. The Shalun Line links it to HSR Tainan station, and regular trains run to Kaohsiung.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Handy for Anping and Sicao, where buses are infrequent. Taxis are metered.

YouBike

Shared bikes across the city, great for old-town lanes and around Anping. Avoid long rides in the midday heat.

Where to stay

West Central District (around Chihkan Tower)

Good for: First visit, old town

Chihkan Tower, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street are all walkable. Lots of small guesthouses in the lanes.

Around Tainan railway station

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.

Haian Road and Guohua Street

Good for: Food, evening walks

Streets packed with local food stalls and mural-lined lanes. Lively in the evening and close to Shennong Street.

Anping

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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Top sights

Chihkan Tower
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.
Anping Old Fort
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.
Anping Old Fort · Photo: Mk2010 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Tainan Confucius Temple
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.
Tainan Confucius Temple · Photo: xiquinhosilva / CC BY 2.0
Anping Tree House
A former warehouse overtaken by the roots of giant banyan trees. Open daily 08:30-17:30; standard admission about NT$70.
Anping Tree House · Photo: Mk2010 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Shennong Street
A narrow old street of wooden shophouses, most atmospheric when the lanterns come on in the evening. People live here, so keep noise down.
Chimei Museum
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.
Sicao Green Tunnel
An old canal in Taijiang National Park where small boats glide through a tunnel of mangroves. Check official information for boat times and fares.
Garden Night Market
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.

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What to eat

Danzai noodles

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.

Beef soup

Thin slices of raw beef cooked by pouring hot broth over them, a Tainan specialty. Many locals have it early in the morning.

Milkfish dishes

Milkfish is farmed along the Tainan coast and eaten as porridge or soup, often for breakfast.

Coffin bread

A thick slice of hollowed-out toast filled with creamy stew, a quirky local snack also found at night markets.

Night market snacks

Oyster omelets, fried chicken cutlets and Taiwanese sausages in small portions. About NT$50-100 each.

Daily budget (per person)

Budgetabout NT$1,300-1,800 per day: guesthouse, night markets, buses

Mid-rangeabout NT$3,000-4,000 per day: city hotel, restaurant meals, some taxis

Comfortabout NT$7,000+ per day: upscale hotel, taxis, car with driver

According to Taiwan's Tourism Administration survey (2025), international visitors spent an average of US$185.14 per person per day in Taiwan (national average for all of Taiwan, excluding international airfare). Actual costs vary widely with your itinerary and accommodation.

Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Tainan, the Confucius Temple in the afternoon, then Chihkan Tower lit up at night and a stroll on Shennong Street.
Day 2
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).
Day 3
Beef soup for breakfast, a boat through the Sicao Green Tunnel, the Chimei Museum in the afternoon (closed Wednesdays), then dinner around Haian Road.
Day 4
A morning walk through old-town lanes, then the train to Kaohsiung or the HSR station for your flight.

Local tips

Lane eateries and night markets are often cash only. Carry Taiwan dollars; convenience store ATMs accept foreign cards.
Tainan has no MRT and many bus routes run infrequently. Check timetables in a map app and mix in taxis when needed.
HSR Tainan station is outside the center; check the Shalun Line or bus link to your hotel in advance.
The sun is strong and showers are common: bring a hat, sunscreen and a small umbrella, and plan walks for mornings and evenings.
In temples, don't get in the way of people offering incense, and take photos quietly and as signs allow.
There is no tipping; some restaurants add a 10% service charge.
Entry rules, including visa-free stays, can change. Check official Taiwan government information before you travel.
Complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) on the official site (twac.immigration.gov.tw) within 3 days before arrival. It is free, so avoid lookalike sites that charge fees, and check the National Immigration Agency for details.