From wild camping to five-star luxury, hot and cold springs, beach resorts to mountain retreats, Taiwan has it all. With prices to match all budgets, we have compiled a few pointers that will help you to plan your trip. Naturally, we can’t list all accommodation options, but we have singled out a few that are either bike-friendly or in ideal locations with the cyclist in mind.
Wild Camping/Camp Grounds: The ‘Roche approach’ is simple: carry a tent on a touring bike and set up camp when and wherever you’ve had enough for the day. That is something I have done in every county of Taiwan. Choose your place carefully, out of the way and out of sight. From beaches to small shrines out in the sticks, on a river bank, by a waterfall or at a natural hot spring, tourist visitor centers, and in rural areas, elementary schools on weekends are all possible. Set up in the dark and leave at first light; you are unlikely to be bothered by anyone.
One exception to this rule is National Parks, which have a strict no-camping policy, and you could very likely be told to pack up by the police doing a late-night patrol. Note: Do not camp at large temples, but you can check if they have dorm rooms.
Official camp grounds are very poor value for money in most cases. You’ll get a piece of dirt or a platform and be charged the same amount as a family of four with a car, which is usually NT$1,000 a night. There are some that will charge per person for as little as NT$1 – 200 per night, but these are few and far between.
Temple Dorms: These are great when you can find them. anxin zhan or pilgrim quarters) for travelers, spiritual seekers, or students. Major monastic complexes like Fo Guang Shan or Tzu Chi provide clean, austere, and budget-friendly spaces, though rules are strict and advance booking is essential.
Cost: Often free (by donation/gongde) or very cheap (NT$300 to NT$800 per night).
Rooms: Simple twin or multi-person bunk rooms; shared or basic private bathrooms.
Environment: Quiet, peaceful, and alcohol- and meat-free (vegetarian meals are sometimes available).
Rules: Early curfews (usually around 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM), respectful clothing, and participation in or respect for temple routines.
Inquire Early: Contact the temple office by phone or email weeks in advance.
Budget Dorms and Guesthouses
Very easy to find on Google Maps or Booking. Com. While these are plentiful in major population centers, they can be sparse in rural areas. These will range in cost from NT$600 – 1,500 a night, and you are unlikely to have breakfast included. At the lower end, you may well find yourself in a roach motel that looks like it was built in the 1960’s and hasn’t seen a lick of paint or been cleaned since.
Hot Spring Hotels
A great way to help you recover from a day in the saddle; even in summer, a hot springs soak is refreshing. Even if you aren’t spending the night, most will allow entry for a fee of NT$300.
Taiwan is widely celebrated for its traditional “Five Major Hot Springs” developed extensively since the Japanese colonial era (1895 – 1945), rather than an official set of five. These four historic regions are:
- Beitou Hot Springs (Taipei City): The earliest developed modern hot spring area in Taiwan (starting around 1894/1893), famous for its therapeutic green and white sulfur water.
- Yangmingshan Hot Springs (New Taipei City): Formerly called Caoshan, its formal development began around 1913 with public baths set in volcanic mountain landscapes.
- Guanziling Hot Springs (Tainan City): Famous for its rare, natural dark-gray mud baths tucked into the mountains, developed as a major spa site in the early 1900s.
- Sichongxi Hot Springs (Pingtung County): A historic southern valley hot spring destination discovered during the late Qing dynasty and favored during the Japanese era.
Zhiben Hot Springs (Taitung County), which completes a widely recognized five-star roster of Taiwan’s pioneer hot spring zones. These are not the only hot springs in Taiwan; they are scattered all over the island. Where applicable, we have mentioned them on our Taiwan Cycle 100 routes.
Airbnb
No shortage of these, and you are likely to get a deal if you have several people booking a house. Not technically legal in Taiwan, the vast majority of urban Airbnb listings operate in a legal gray area or are technically unlicensed. Prices will vary widely depending on whether you are just getting a room or a house.
Comfortable 3-Star Hotels
Probably your best choice if you want something a bit more civilized, offering breakfast and other facilities. One that I prefer is Kindness Hotel, which operates in 5 cities/counties: Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, Hualien County, Taitung County, and Changhua County.
All of their hotels offer a complimentary coffee bar with snacks and have laundry facilities, but in most cities and towns you’re never too far from a laundromat. You can expect the cost to be in the region of NT$3 – 4,000 per night.
Luxury
The skies the limit, or at least as high as your budget will go. Outside of the obvious choices in major cities, there is no shortage of high-end options. I can’t justify the expense in most cases, but you will find they are as good as in any country. If I had to single out one, it would be Silk’s Place in Taroko Gorge. A unique location with an infinity pool overlooking the Gorge is exceptional.
Any hotel that meets the ‘5 Star’ standard is going to be in the NT$10,000 and up price bracket.
As a side note, if you are looking for a more affordable option in proximity to Taroko Gorge, I would recommend the Liiko Hotel, which is approx’ 3km from the gate. The staff are professional, the service is great, bike friendly and a great breakfast.
Public/National Holidays: There are several national holiday long weekends that the rider needs to be mindful of when it comes to booking accommodation. Since most of these follow the Lunar rather than the Solar calendar, the exact dates will change from year to year. It would be advisable to book well in advance or avoid these dates completely.
Lunar New Year:
Usually between the middle of January to the middle of February. Most people have at least one week off. Prices can double during this period, and most hotels will be full.
Tomb Sweeping:
This always falls on the first weekend of February, and it’s a 4-day holiday.
Dragon Boat Festival:
This is a 3-day weekend in the middle of June.
Teachers’ Day/Confucius Holiday:
Always on the 25th of September.
Moon/Harvest Festival:
This will also be a 3-day weekend around the end of September.
Double 10/National Day:
This always falls on the 10th of October. If that is a Saturday or Sunday, then the preceding Friday or the following Monday is off.
Constitution/Christmas Day:
This conveniently falls on the 25th of December. As with other public holidays, if it’s on a Saturday or Sunday, then the preceding Friday or the following Monday is off.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us:
Contact
Mark: [email protected] · +886 982 858 316
Nathan: [email protected] · +886 981 170 240