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Looking for the best things to do in Tainan? As Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan is known for its historic temples, fascinating colonial history, and incredible food scene. Whether you’re taking a boat ride through the Sicao Green Tunnel, exploring the Anping district or wandering through the city’s charming streets, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a couple of days.
I recently spent two and a half days exploring Tainan and have put together this guide with my favourite attractions, along with a few practical tips to help you plan your visit.
1. Take a boat through the Sicao Green Tunnel
One of my favourite things to do in Tainan was taking a boat ride through the Sicao Green Tunnel. Often referred to as “Taiwan’s Little Amazon”, this peaceful mangrove waterway is one of the city’s most unique attractions and feels completely different from exploring Tainan’s historic streets.
The 30-minute boat ride takes you through a narrow canal surrounded by dense mangrove trees. Along the way, you might spot some local wildlife, including crabs or various bird species. There was a guide explaining things during the boat ride, but only in Mandarin.
It’s a relaxing escape from the city and a great way to experience a different side of Tainan. It’s not too far awa from the next two points on this list, so easy to combine them all on the same part of the day.
2. Visit Anping Tree House
The Anping Tree House is one of Tainan’s most unique attractions. Over the years, huge banyan trees have completely taken over this former warehouse, with their roots growing through the walls and across the roof, creating an almost abandoned jungle.
Today, you can walk along elevated pathways through the building and admire this fascinating mix of history and nature. It only takes around 30 to 45 minutes to explore, making it easy to combine with a visit to nearby Fort Zeelandia and Anping Old Street, and with a quick Uber ride also the Sicao Green Tunnel.
3. Visit Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort)
Located right next to the Anping Tree House, Fort Zeelandia is one of Tainan’s most important historic landmarks. Originally built by the Dutch in the 17th century, the fort offers a fascinating glimpse into Taiwan’s colonial history.
You can explore the old fortress, learn more about its history through the exhibitions and climb to the top for views over Anping. I spent around 45 minutes here, and it’s easy to combine with both the Anping Tree House and Anping Old Street, as they are all in the same area.
4. Explore Anping Old Street
Anping Old Street is one of the best places in Tainan to sample local street food, browse souvenir shops, and soak up the city’s historic atmosphere. The narrow streets are lined with food stalls, traditional snacks and small local shops, making it a fun place to wander for an hour or two.
While you’re there, make sure to try the famous shrimp crackers, which are sold fresh throughout the street. I also noticed a huge queue for Tainan’s famous beef soup, which is another local speciality if you’re not vegetarian. I visited after exploring the Anping Tree House and Fort Zeelandia, and all three attractions are within walking distance of each other, making them easy to combine into one trip.
5. Visit Chihkan Tower
Chihkan Tower is one of Tainan’s most famous landmarks and a great place to learn more about the city’s history. Originally built by the Dutch in the 17th century as Fort Provintia, it’s now one of Tainan’s most important historic sites.
Entry costs NT$70, and you can simply buy your ticket at the entrance. I spent around 30 minutes exploring the grounds and climbing the tower for views over the surrounding area. Since it’s only a short walk from Shennong Street, it’s easy to combine the two in the same afternoon. It’s not a full day activity for sure.
6 Explore Hayashi Department Store
Hayashi Department Store is unlike any shopping centre I’ve visited before. Originally opened in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial era, it has been beautifully restored and is now home to a collection of local shops, cafés and restaurants.
I especially loved browsing the many shops, which sold everything from cute stationery and jewellery to locally made gifts. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s worth stopping by for the unique atmosphere. Don’t forget to head up to the rooftop as well, where you’ll find a small Shinto shrine and views over Tainan. It’s a very unique place.
7. Walk through Shennong Street
Shennong Street is one of the prettiest streets in Tainan and definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Lined with beautifully preserved historic buildings, it’s home to lots of independent shops selling handmade products, jewellery, artwork and unique souvenirs.
I really enjoyed wandering through the street and browsing the small local stores. It’s a great place to pick up a souvenir or just soak up Tainan’s relaxed atmosphere. While it’s worth visiting during the day, Shennong Street becomes even more charming in the evening when the lanterns light up the street.
8. Visit the Night Markets
Visiting a night market is a must while you’re in Tainan. There are several night markets across the city, but they don’t all open every day, so it’s worth checking in advance which one is open during your visit. The good news is that the food is fairly similar, so you won’t miss out by choosing one over another. And I also saw the same vendors at different night markets on different days.
Besides countless food stalls, you’ll also find games, clothing stalls and some shops selling everything from stickers to accessories and other small souvenirs. They can get incredibly busy, especially later in the evening, which only adds to the lively atmosphere.
My personal recommendation? Definitely try the sweet potato balls – they were one of my favourite snacks in Taiwan and absolutely delicious.
9. Wander through Tainan and explore the temples
One of my favourite things about Tainan was simply wandering around without a plan. No matter which direction I walked, I kept stumbling across beautiful temples tucked between shops, cafés and local streets. Some were small neighbourhood temples, while others were surprisingly big and full of details.
Tainan is often considered Taiwan’s oldest city and the country’s cultural capital, so it’s no surprise that it’s home to hundreds of temples. Even if you’re not planning to visit every single one, I’d definitely recommend taking some time to wander through the historic centre and check out some of the temples.
10. Walk Along Hai’an Road
Another street worth checking out in Tainan is Hai’an Road (海安路). It’s a wide road in the city centre with colourful murals, art installations and some interesting artwork built into the buildings along the street. I walked along here while exploring central Tainan, and it’s an easy place to combine with Shennong Street, which is just nearby.
You don’t need a huge amount of time for Hai’an Road, but it’s a nice area to wander through, especially if you like street art and want to see a slightly more modern and creative side of Tainan.
Where to stay in Tainan
Tainan’s city centre is the best place to stay if you’re visiting for a couple of days. Most of the main attractions, including Chihkan Tower, Hayashi Department Store, Shennong Street and Hai’an Road, are within walking distance or just a short Uber ride away. You’ll also have plenty of restaurants, cafés and convenience stores nearby.
I stayed at Yoshi Hotel – Tainan Sinmei Branch, which had a really convenient location in the city centre and worked well for exploring Tainan on foot. For places further out, such as Anping and the Sicao Green Tunnel, I just took an Uber, which was easy and relatively inexpensive. But you can also take a bus to get around!
How to get to Tainan from Taipei
The easiest and fastest way to travel from Taipei to Tainan is by Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR). The journey takes around 1 hour 40 minutes to HSR Tainan Station. From there, you’ll need to transfer to the local TRA train or take a taxi into Tainan city centre, which takes another 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
If you’re travelling on a budget, regular TRA trains and long-distance buses are also available, although they take considerably longer.
You can easily book your ticket via Klook.
How many days in Tainan?
I spent two and a half days in Tainan, which I found to be the perfect amount of time. I’d recommend spending two full days here, allowing enough time to explore the historic centre, visit Anping, take the Sicao Green Tunnel boat ride, and enjoy some of the city’s incredible food.
If you’re short on time, you can still see many of Tainan’s highlights in a single full day. While Tainan has plenty to explore, most attractions don’t require several hours, making it easy to fit the main sights into a compact itinerary. I just found it a good city to have a bit of a break after a few weeks of travelling, as it is a lot more relaxed.
Best time to visit Tainan
Tainan can be visited year-round, but if you’re travelling during the summer months, be prepared for the heat. I visited in August, and it was incredibly hot, with high temperatures and humidity making sightseeing during the middle of the day quite challenging.
If you’re visiting in summer, I’d recommend exploring early in the morning or later in the afternoon, while using the hottest part of the day to visit museums, cafés or shopping areas. Spring and autumn generally offer much more comfortable weather for walking around the city.
Tainan ended up being one of my favourite cities in Taiwan. While it doesn’t have as many famous attractions as Taipei, I loved its relaxed atmosphere, historic streets and endless temples. And the street food was just amazing! Do make sure to add it to your Taiwan itinerary.
If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan, I’d recommend spending at least two full days in Tainan to experience the city’s highlights without feeling rushed.
Let me know if you have any questions.
