Taiwan Itinerary 5 Days: Alishan, Jiufen & Taipei (Muslim-Friendly)

If you want a Taiwan itinerary 5 days long that runs on HSR, bus and MRT, this route takes you from Alishan's misty cedar forests to Jiufen's red lanterns and Taipei's night markets. It runs Chiayi · Alishan · Taipei and is based on a real Malaysian trip in August–September 2026, re-checked in October 2026. It suits first-timers who are comfortable on public transport and want both mountains and city. The most comfortable months are October–November and March–May.

Trip at a glance

• Entry: Malaysians can visit visa-free for up to 30 days. The online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) has been mandatory since 1 October 2025 and must be submitted within 3 days before arrival.
• Flights: direct KLIA–Taoyuan (TPE) flights take about 5 hours. On Day 1, land before about 15:30; on Day 5, depart after about 14:30.
• Money: RM1 ≈ NT$7.7 (rate on 6 Oct 2026), so NT$100 ≈ RM13. Night markets, stalls and temples are usually cash only. Taiwan is on Malaysian time (UTC+8).

Taiwan 5-day itinerary

Day 1 heads south by high-speed rail (HSR) so you reach Alishan early next morning. After that, you stay three nights in one hotel next to Taipei Main Station.

Day 1: KLIA → Taoyuan → Chiayi

• Fly into Taoyuan, buy an EasyCard in the arrival hall and take an Airport MRT Commuter train to HSR Taoyuan Station (A18). Express trains don't stop there.
• The HSR to Chiayi takes ±1 hour 5 minutes, then a BRT or shuttle bus brings you to Chiayi Station. Sleep in a hotel right opposite.
• Tip: book the Alishan bus 7322 online in advance, as seats are limited at weekends.

Day 2: Alishan, then HSR to Taipei

Leave your luggage at the hotel and take bus 7322 from Chiayi Station up to Alishan (±2,200 m), ±2 to 2.5 hours on a winding road. At the top, ride the forest railway to Zhaoping and walk ±2 km of mostly downhill boardwalk past the Sister Ponds, the Giant Tree Trail with its thousand-year-old cedars, and Shenmu. In the afternoon, head back to Chiayi for an evening HSR to Taipei. Raohe Night Market is optional.

Tip: Alishan is 12–19°C even in August, so pack a jacket. There are no verified halal restaurants on the mountain, so bring a packed lunch from Chiayi.

Day 3: Wulai, Taipei 101 and Ximending

Take bus 849 to Wulai in the morning. Wulai Old Street is lined with Indigenous Atayal food stalls (many sell wild boar, so go for grilled corn, mochi or fruit), and a small trolley runs to the 80 m Wulai Waterfall. Back in Taipei, have halal beef noodles for lunch and rest. In the evening, visit Taipei 101, optionally climb Elephant Mountain for the sunset view, have a halal dinner and finish in Ximending.

Tip: Day 4 is the longest. If you're tired, skip Elephant Mountain and get an early night.

Day 4: Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen

• Take an early bus 1815 to Yehliu Geopark for a photo with the Queen's Head rock. There's no shade, so bring a hat and water.
• Continue via Keelung to Ruifang, buy the Pingxi Line One-Day Pass and ride to Shifen. Sky lanterns (NT$200–350) are released right from the tracks, and Shifen Waterfall is free.
• Spend the late afternoon in Jiufen: Jishan Street, the Shuqi Road steps and A-Mei Teahouse. The red lanterns light up around dusk before the bus back to Taipei.
• Tip: if it's too hot or raining hard, skip Yehliu. Take a TRA train straight to Ruifang and add Houtong, the cat village on the Pingxi Line.

Day 5: Longshan, Red House, CKS and home

Start at Longshan Temple (dating from 1738), then the Red House in Ximending (a red-brick building from 1908) and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for the hourly changing of the guard. Head back to check out before 12:00 and take the Airport MRT Express, ±35–40 minutes to Taoyuan.

Tip: claim your tax refund before security (allow 30–60 minutes). After immigration, there are prayer rooms and halal food in T2.

The full Taiwan 5D4N guidebook adds times for every step, every bus and train fare, maps, daily prayer times, booking links and a Plan B for typhoons and rain.

Budget

Per person, sharing a room for two, excluding flights and shopping (estimate, Oct 2026). The guidebook uses RM1 ≈ NT$7.7.

Saving tip: buy HSR tickets on Klook or KKday for the 15% foreign-visitor discount. Two discounted one-way tickets (±NT$1,700) cost less than the 3-day HSR Pass (NT$2,090).

Halal food & prayer spaces

Taipei is easy for Muslims. Elsewhere on this route the guidebook found no halal restaurants it could verify, so eat your main meals in Taipei and carry meat-free food.

Halal restaurants on the route

• Chang's Beef Noodles: CMA-certified beef noodle soup, ±12 minutes' walk from Taipei Main Station.
• Halal Chinese Beef Noodles: a halal restaurant listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand, near MRT Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Closed on Wednesdays.
• Mouna (Moroccan) and Safranbolu (Turkish): halal alternatives to noodles.
• Taoyuan Airport: halal-certified restaurants in T2 near Gate C9 and on T1 level B1.
• Silks Palace, National Palace Museum: reportedly has a halal menu (verify before you go).

How to recognise halal food

• 清真 means halal or Muslim. Look for a Chinese Muslim Association (CMA) or Taiwanese halal certificate on the wall.
• 穆斯林友善 means Muslim-friendly: no pork or alcohol, but not necessarily slaughtered the Islamic way.
• 素食 (vegetarian) is a safe choice where there's no halal restaurant, but check sauces for alcohol.
• Avoid 豬 and 豬油 (pork, lard) and 酒 and 米酒 (alcohol, rice wine), common in buns and soups.

Where to pray

• Taipei Grand Mosque (MRT Daan Park), the main mosque since 1960, and Taipei Cultural Mosque (MRT Taipower Building).
• Taipei Main Station's B1 prayer room, with an ablution area, closest to the hotel.
• Prayer rooms on the 5th floor of Taipei 101 and airside at Taoyuan Airport (T1 near Gate B3, T2 near Gate C1).
• There are no prayer rooms at Alishan, Yehliu, Shifen or Jiufen. Carry a thin prayer mat or combine prayers at the hotel.

The qibla from Taipei is ±287° (west-northwest). Prayer times differ from Malaysia's: in late August, Maghrib in Taipei is around 18:18. Use a location-based prayer app, or the JAKIM-method prayer timetable in the guidebook.

Entering Taiwan: TWAC, the meat ban and EasyCard

Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC)

Paper arrival cards are no longer accepted. Submit the online TWAC at twac.immigration.gov.tw within 3 days before arrival. Have your onward ticket and hotel booking ready to show, and confirm the visa-exemption status before booking, as it is reviewed periodically.

Don't bring meat products

Because of African swine fever, Taiwan bans all food containing meat, including rendang, serunding, sausages, burgers and beef jerky. Fines are NT$200,000 (±RM26,000) for a first offence and NT$1 million for repeat offences, and foreigners who can't pay can be refused entry.

• OK to bring: biscuits, packaged bread, dates, nuts, oats and drink sachets.
• Fresh fruit and plants are also controlled. Declare anything you're unsure about.

EasyCard

An EasyCard (NT$100, non-refundable) works on the MRT, Airport MRT, city and intercity buses, TRA trains and in convenience stores. Load NT$500–800 to start; the HSR needs a separate ticket.

Weather, typhoons and what to pack

Typhoon season

July to October is typhoon season. The road to Alishan often closes after heavy rain, so follow the official forecasts on the CWA website (cwa.gov.tw) and swap Day 2 with Day 3 if the outlook is bad.

What to wear and bring

• Light clothes for Taipei (24–33°C in August–September) and a jacket for Alishan (11–19°C).
• Non-slip walking shoes, an umbrella, a thin raincoat, a mini fan and modest clothing for temples.
• A Type A/B plug adaptor (110V). Malaysian 3-pin plugs don't fit.

Book before you go

1. 2–3 months ahead: flights, hotels (choose free cancellation) and travel takaful that covers delays and cancellations.
2. ±4 weeks ahead: HSR tickets, which open about 4 weeks ahead, on the T Express app or Klook/KKday.
3. 1 week ahead: the Alishan bus 7322 online and a Taiwan eSIM.
4. 3 days ahead: submit your TWAC and watch the typhoon forecast.

Travelling with elderly parents or small children? Day 2 has about 4.5 hours of bus travel, so a night in Alishan may suit you better. Pimana can tailor this itinerary to your dates, group and budget.

The Taiwan Chiayi, Alishan & Taipei guidebook has every time, fare and link left out of this article. Still comparing destinations? Read our Seoul 5-day itinerary too.

FAQ

Do Malaysians need a visa for Taiwan?

No, not for tourist visits of up to 30 days. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months and the online Taiwan Arrival Card, submitted within 3 days before arrival.

How much does a 5-day Taiwan trip cost?

Around RM1,475–2,275 per person, sharing a room for two, excluding flights and shopping.

Is halal food easy to find in Taiwan?

In Taipei, yes: halal beef noodles, Moroccan and Turkish food, and certified restaurants at Taoyuan Airport. Outside Taipei, choose vegetarian food and carry snacks.

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

October–November and March–May are the most comfortable. July to October is typhoon season, so buy travel takaful and keep a Plan B ready.

Can I do Alishan as a day trip from Taipei?

Yes. Take an early HSR to Chiayi, then bus 7329 straight from HSR Chiayi station to Alishan, but your day starts around 06:30 and is very long. For most travellers, one night in Chiayi is more comfortable.

Can I bring rendang or serunding to Taiwan?

No. All food containing meat is banned because of African swine fever, with fines starting at NT$200,000. Pack dry, meat-free snacks instead.