Things to do & places to visit in Tainan, Taiwan

One of Taiwan's oldest cities and the former capital, Tainan is a modern city of commerce and trade, history and culture. It is also a religious center, with more than a thousand temples (including Taiwan’s first Confucian temple) plus frequent festivals and parades. Visit Guohua Street to sample Taiwanese specialties and local markets. Discover Taiwan’s people and past at The National Museum of History. Chimei Museum includes beautiful gardens and a private collection of art and musical instruments.

Tainan #6 destination in Taiwan 2023. The average rating score is 4.08 based on 13.8k traveler reviews, of 332 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Taipei, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 20:53.

Tainan Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

84°F - 76°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm, humid but cool

Feels like

46%

Chance of rain

242.0 millimeters

Amount

9.7 mph

Wind speed

81%

Humidity

13.2

Daylight length

5:18 AM

Sunrise

6:32 PM

Sunset

31%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt

What to wear

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 True Life Massage (56 reviews)
- 台南旅遊必備的行程
Spent 2-3 hours Health Clubs • Spas

環境高雅舒適，動線規劃良好，簡約日式風格的設計，有別傳統養生館吵雜擁擠的刻板印象。櫃檯服務人員親切又有禮貌，服務我們的按摩師也很專業細心，來台南旅遊必推行程。非常推薦~ 價格公道好服務環境好強烈建議，下次一定會再來的 It’s a really nice place to chill and relax ! Reasonable price Good service Good environment Highly recommended, will come back next time for sure. See more..
4.5 Chimei Museum (1.366 reviews)
- A must go museum in Tainan.
Friday: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

Founder of the Chi Mei Group, Mr. Wen-Long Shi, was very fond of his childhood visits to a local museum that he was inspired to build a museum for everyone to enjoy. The museum was first established and housed in the administration building of the Chi Mei Corporation in 1992, relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, and reopened in 2015. The museum is here so that people of all ages and social backgrounds can have easy access to Western culture and arts without having to travel abroad. The collection at CHIMEI Museum consists mainly of Western art, musical instruments, arms and armour, animal taxidermy and fossils, exhibiting approximately 4000 items, which is about one-third of the complete CHIMEI collection. Founder Shi expressed that, “Good works of art are not to be kept just for oneself to enjoy, but to be shared with the public; and See more..
4.5 Ten Drum Cultural (388 reviews)
- Wonderful!
Friday: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

It wasnt a planned itinerary but we visited Ten Drums and enjoyed ourselves. From the outside, it looked non descript. But look around and what I saw was an enormous effort to keep the original structure whilst creating spaces for performances, slides, cafe, restaurants etc. They were creative and determined to keep to their dreams and art. The show was entertaining, well choreographed and I liked that the flute was able to stand out in the middle if the drums. Will visit again next time I am in the area. See more..
4.5 National Cheng Kung University (202 reviews)
- Historic Tree in Banyan Garden
Educational sites

The university has a long history and one of the best universities in Taiwan. This university has a huge land area with matured trees and historic buildings dotted in the east side of Tainan Station. People from the city or even tourists are allowed on the premises to enjoy walking. One of the gardens they have there is called “Banyan Garden”, which is on Google Map. Once you are there, you can easily spot this huge banyan tree planted by an emperor of Japan some 100 years ago. This beautiful tree provides good shades and views for the students to enjoy their break times or circle activities. Nice spot to relax while exploring the city. See more..
4.5 National Museum of Taiwan History (191 reviews)
- Must See
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

Worth the effort to visit, bus 88 from railway station takes about 45 minutes. Very good exhibits and English audio guide does a good job. No other museum in Taiwan will come close to going over the history of this island. Allow 3 hours, maybe more. See more..
4.5 Guanziling Hot Spring (184 reviews)
- Relaxing
Hot Springs & Geysers

It's a good place to unwind & relax. Chose the King's Villa Garden (cost 450NTD). It is a public place but you can swim for as long as you want. They have a number of pools you can try, from 20 deg (cold) to 42 deg as well as normal chlorinated pools with jet massages, and saunas. You can even go when it's raining (which I did) bc though the pools are outdoors they are covered. The surroundings are well decorated, planned & clean.I also checked out Reiko's resort & for the private mud bath was quoted 600NTD for 1 hour where you are given a small grey room and for 1400NTD you can swim for 1.5 hours in the indoors public spa room; certainly not worth i. I was at the King's Villa for 3 hours. Don't know if you will get smooth skin; haven't notice a difference. The water feels the same as any other bath. The water is not any more viscous, just grey/brown in colour but it was worth a try since Guanziling is reputed to be 1 of the only 3 sites of its type in the world for this particular mud bath (others are Japan & Italy). Getting there from Tainan: Catch the local Tainan rail to "Xinying" Station (that's how it's actually spelt at the station. Cost 67NTD). When you exit Xinying station, on the opposite side of the station, across the roundabout is a bus station. Buy the ticket (approx.79NTD) from the guy sitting at the table to the back of the waiting seats. Bus 7404, 7414 & 7416 will take you to "Guanziling" bus stop. You walk up the road for 500 m or so and you will see an English sign to the left, "King's Garden Villa"; take that road left, 200 m up, King's Garden Villa is on your right (Reiko's resort is just before it). See more..
4.5 Wusanto Reservoir (133 reviews)
- Nice lake
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Parks • Dams

Beautiful lake. Nice Japanese buildings.Would have been nice to see the Sakura .. Will go back in March See more..
4.5 Beehive Firecrackers (111 reviews)
- 一生必來至少一次體驗在地文化
Cultural Events

每年元月15元宵節是鹽水最熱鬧的時候，從武廟出發有著不同的路線，大推螺絲廠跟大眾廟，跟著在地人一起嗨，請務必提早到（會封路）及穿著長袖長褲戴安全帽及用圍巾或毛巾把脖子包緊（蜂炮會亂竄）。 One of the must try traditional festivals in Taiwan. Be reminded to wear pants and helmet. Highly recommend. See more..
4.5 Jingzaijiao Tile - Paved Salt Fields (94 reviews)
- 4 Suns Reflected Sunset
Points of Interest & Landmarks

We waited beside the salt beds lined with ceramic tiles. It is a relaxing place. Those very tiles were implemented by Chen Yung Hua, Cheng Shen Gung's general commander, to increase water temperature faster than mud floor thereby heating salt and drying faster. We enjoyed sunset so orange and mesmerizing. See more..
4.5 Luermenma Temple (87 reviews)
- Beautiful
Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites

Really big and stunning temple, or I should say temples. At the start you can see only the Tao's temple but if you keep on walking you will find a Buddhist temple with 3 floors, just amazing! If you come to Tainan you must visit here! See more..
4.5 Guanzi Hill (Guan Zi Ling) (59 reviews)
- It's worthy to spend a night here
Historic Walking Areas • Parks

We stayed in a hotel with mud hot spring bathtub. The mud hot spring is really special and the restaurants in this area are quite exotic as well. Although there's no clubs for night life, a quite walk in hill is perfectly relaxing after a day tour. See more..
4.5 Zhen'antang Feihu General Temple (53 reviews)
- 日本人なら行くべきです！
Religious Sites

戦時中、杉浦兵曹長が命を賭して台南の街を守った物語を知っていますか？ここに行くと日本と台湾の絆を改めて感じることが出来ます。台南駅前の北站から３番のバス「海東國小」行きで「同安路口」で下車します。絶対日本とお勧めします！ See more..
4.5 Nankun Nidai Tianfu (50 reviews)
- Most important Dao temple in Taiwan
Spent 2-3 hours Religious Sites

The temple complex is big and beautiful. Incorporates other gods of China (Daoism is a vey eclectic religion). Take into account 1 hour visit. Well worth. I had problems finding the place with Waze. Used Google Maps (no offline map for Taiwan in Android and in IOS) See more..
4.5 Yue Jin Harbor Park (47 reviews)
- Lantern festival 2020
Parks

Lantern festival 2020 here has lots of great work. Combined with the old buildings and nature here are super blended with each other. See more..
4.0 Anping Tree House (1.009 reviews)
- Not just a tree house
Historic Sites

Awesome banyan trees enveloping the crumpling stone walls of a house, with steel scaffolding to uphold it, glass facades, and a contrasting modern installation of art with it. Nice to go in, and climb up and down the numerous stairs inside. There is a cozy cafe selling good coffee and ice cream, and a gift shop within the compound. Bought a nice calligraphic cap big enough for my head for only 200 TWD +. Inside gift shop, can try your hands on calligraphy. At the backyard, is a fish pond filled with fishes, and a vending machine to buy a packet of fish food for 10 cents. White birds hanging around the edges of the pond, waiting for you to feed the fishes and they swop in for the kill when the fishes surface for the food. Eager camera man standing by to capture that moment too. Bumped into cute Taiwanese children out on excursions too. Nice for a serene morning or afternoon. See more..
4.0 Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia) (997 reviews)
- Spot is lovely amid renovation
Friday: 8:30 AM - 10:00 PM Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas • Architectural Buildings

Old Dutch (1653)building, renovated to Taiwan-style architecture after an earthquake destroyed it. Now renovations nearby look to build a newer modern area. Ponds host Koi and turtles. Park inside is serene. See more..
4.0 Hayashi Department Store (943 reviews)
- Shouldn't miss spot in Tainan
Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Department Stores

The Department Store That Inaugurated An Age of Fashion in the 1930s--Hayashi Department Store On December 5th, 1932, Hayashi Department Store opened and thus a modern age of Taiwanese culture began. The decade of 1930s was the start point of modern civilization in Taiwan. As the electric lamps, telephone, and water supply lines popularized, symbols of civilization such like the airplane and motor vehicles flooded into Taiwan. The cafés were becoming the fad of the day, as well as pop culture, movies, phonographs and jazz music. People´s mentality was opening up, and freewill dating was taking over arranged marriages, while dresses was replacing kimonos and Westernized education was popularizing. This was Taiwan in the 1930s. In 1932, Columbia Records Company released the eponymous theme song for a movie in Taiwanese "Peach Blossom Weeps Tears of Blood". In 1933, Teng Yu-hsien's popular song "Viva Tonal: The Dancing Age" helped to launch the first pop music singer Sun-sun (born Lau Tsing-hiong or Lau Chheng-hoing,1914-43) in Taiwan. In the same year Teng wrote and published three classic Taiwanese songs "Bang Chhun-Hong(Looking for the Spring Breeze)", "U ia hue(Flower in the Rainy Night)"and "Guat-ia Tshiu(Sadness in a Moony Night)". As the Pacific War broke out, the final waltz in the Dancing Age of Taiwanwas played. And so the Hayashi Department Store ended its brief yet splendid rendezvous with Tainan. 【The Founder of Hayashi Department Store: Hayashi Houichi】 Hayashi Department Store (ハヤシ百貨) was known to the Tainan people as "The Five-Stories-House"(Gō͘-chàn-lâu-á). It was founded by Japanese businessman Hayashi Houichi. Born in a village in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan on February 6th, 1883, Hayashi lost his parent in his childhood, and was raised by his uncle and aunt. After their death, he grew up on his own means with his brothers and sisters. In 1902, at the tender age of 19, he left the village and entered the Sanyou Railway Company,... See more..
4.0 Shennong Street (682 reviews)
- Come here for a truly unique and humbling experience
Historic Walking Areas

There are some absolutely beautiful night walks to take in Taiwan's oldest City, Tainan. 臺南市(Tainan). There are several old, cobblestone streets, which serve as a reminder to this city's important place in Taiwan's history. One of these ancient streets is Shennong Street (神農街). Seeing Shennong street was almost exactly as I imagined it. Walking down the street, quiet, and dark, is like walking through a silent film. Candles and lights flicker. I swear someone must be watching us but I am not troubled - just reminded that people dwell here and that they deserve respect. We wander in awe for a few minutes, take a few photos, and then depart, leaving this old street and its residents to their peaceful night. Recommendation: Come here at night, and be quiet and respectful. See more..
4.0 Anping Fort (Anping gubao) (661 reviews)
- Dutch History
Historic Walking Areas • Military Bases & Facilities

The fort was mostly reconstructed but still contained a lot of information about the fort, Dutch occupation, their defeat and the subsequent uses by Japan and Taiwan for the property. The Scouting Deck rose above the fort and had a good view of the Anping area. It was an easy climb. At the top people locked their love wishes to the railings. The Memorial Hall next to the Scouting Deck contained a gift shop. The Fort Zeelandia Museum was built next to one of the original Fort walls. In the back there were a couple of cannons as well as covered excavation area . Admission was only $50NTD and good for an hour visit. See more..
4.0 Confucius Temple (618 reviews)
- Educational Experience
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Religious Sites

I recommend visiting this temple as a way to learn about the various ways in which Confucius was celebrated. There was a small admission of 40NTD. The main courtyard contained one structure with plaques commemorating the temple from the various dynasties. In the back there was some type of event so that area was closed. Rooms off to the side of the courtyard were filled with lots of artifacts and good information about the Confucius rituals. Before I left there was a table where visitors could stamp a piece of paper and write up their wishes and post on the gate before they left. See more..
4.0 Garden Night Market (438 reviews)
- best eats of tainan in one place
Speciality & Gift Shops

this market doesn’t open every night. check out the weather before coming as they do not open if it rains. when you’re here, feast onto what taiwan has to offer. the best beef soup, seafood, and bubble milk tea. there’s a free bus you can take on days where the market opens. bus operation timing might differ. See more..
4.0 National Museum of Taiwan Literature (283 reviews)
- Impressive building from the outside, inside only for literature fans
Friday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Speciality Museums

The building makes an interesting picture, especially in the evening when it’s a facade is being highlighted with spots. Go inside though it’s not that spectacular, there are different areas with of course the focus on literature, if you are not a diehard literature fan, you may be disappointed. See more..
4.0 Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park (257 reviews)
- Packed with Performers
Friday: 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park (BCP) was once called "the First Judicial New Village." It was the dormitory for the employees of the Tainan Prison, the Tainan Detention Center, the High Court Tainan Branch Court, and the Tainan High Prosecutors Office. In order to preserve the city's legacy, revitalize the deserted place, and connect it with the trend of the cultural and creative industry, after repairing this area, Tainan City Government recruited creative brands and people to set counters in the park. Since December 2015, BCP has been open for everyone, and become one of the most important creative clusters in the city. See more..
4.0 Sicao Lvshe Tunnel (232 reviews)
- With the sun at perfect angle, it became amazingly beautiful
Nature & Wildlife Areas

I went there in a sunny early afternoon in December. The forward trip is pretty but not outstanding; but when the boat turned around at the far end, suddenly, the water aligned with the sun and the view became amazingly beautiful. The sunlight shimmered through the tree and became hundreds of dancing twinkles. They then reflected off the wavy water. The twinkles, the low hanging tree branches and leaves, the water, and the reflection, all together, created one incredibly beautiful painting. See more..
4.0 Tainan Park (160 reviews)
- Beautiful Historic Park
Parks

This park is established almost 100 years ago,(Since 1917) and the biggest park in Tainan City. It's also a botany garden with many beautiful flowers and trees since it is first designed for tropical experiments.There is a famous historical memorial arch just beside the boarding area of the big poor. You can also find many senior citizens playing chess, doing Taichi here. Do not miss the historic sites surrounded like buddist temple once you visit here. See more..
4.0 Tainan Station (150 reviews)
- Helpful Visitors Information Room!
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Government Buildings

Look for the lime green color and the "i" for information. The day we inquired we were given very good directions for both an ATM machine and a bus stop. The ticket sellers speak fine English and were helpful in what I needed to get done there. As another reviewer noted there are only two platforms for trains, and the workers at the station will tell you which platform to go to. The main building is currently under construction with tarps over it (like half of the things we wanted to see in Tainan.) This station is relatively small compared to other major cities in Taiwan. You won't want to hang around here for very long. Food and seating options are limited -- although we found seating easily on a Sunday once we went through the ticket checker to platform number one. Overall, a fine experience. See more..
4.0 Koxinga Shrine (137 reviews)
- Educational and relaxing
Points of Interest & Landmarks

This park and shrine are both beautiful and peaceful. Just off a main road so it is very easy to access, but once inside it feels like you are in the countryside. The park is beautifully laid out with ponds, pagodas and the shrine. The buildings themselves are beautifully painted, and inside you can read the history of Koxinga, which was very helpful in terms of understanding the local history of Tainan. It was also an excellent place for kids to experience living history as they explored the rooms. See more..
4.0 Da Tian Hou Gong (127 reviews)
- Very interesting
Religious Sites

Definitely a must see and very close to the Chihkan Tower, this free temple is much more interesting than it's fee charging neighbour. Some really spectacular shrines, spread over many small courtyards, leading off the main shrine. See more..
4.0 Dadong Night Market (120 reviews)
- Huge variety of food
Speciality & Gift Shops

This place is huge and offers lots of food options. It was crowded and many places had long lines. There are plenty of restaurants and food stalls. There are also shops and arcades. Prices are very reasonable. See more..
4.0 Taijian National Park (117 reviews)
- Spoonbills are welcome in winter
Parks

In the intertidal regions in the estuaries of south-western Taiwan, mangroves and other liminal species flourish, where the tides carry fresh and salty water in and out of the tidal flats. Apart from aquatic birds, it's a haven for developing fish and other species' which make the best of both worlds. The black faced spoonbills are the guests of honor in this luxurious marine ladder. The spoonbills are made welcome throughout the winter months. See more..