Tainan

I visited Tainan twice, once for just a few days, and later when I lived there with my partner for two months. While Tainan isn’t the most exciting city in Taiwan, it has its own charm. If you have some extra time in your Taiwan itinerary, it’s worth a stop, especially if you’re interested in history, temples, and wandering aimlessly through streets that mix the old with the modern.

How to Get Around

Tainan is fairly small and easy to navigate. There’s no metro system, only buses, but the city is walkable, crossing from one end to the other only takes around 30 minutes. If you don’t feel like walking, buses are cheap and straightforward.

What to Do in Tainan

Temples & History

Tainan is especially known for its temples. You’ll stumble across small, beautifully decorated temples everywhere in the city, and they’re often tucked into quiet streets. Some highlights include:

 

  • Confucius Temple: Built in 1666, this is a must-visit and costs around 40 TWD to enter. The surrounding Confucius Temple Business District is fun for strolling, browsing cultural markets, and trying snacks, though it has become quieter in recent years.

  • Shennong Street: Once a bustling cultural hub, it’s now a little more deserted, but still worth walking through, especially at night when food stalls and small bars open. Don’t miss the Fat Cat Story Cafe for coffee with a cat on your lap.

  • Tainan Grand Mazu Temple: The first official Mazu temple in Taiwan, filled with history and gorgeous details.

  • Tiantan Tiangong Temple & Orthodox Luermen Shengmu Temple: The latter is one of the largest Mazu temples in Taiwan, located outside the city. You can get there with the 98 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Fucheng–Taijiang line (around 40 TWD, about an hour).

  • Other smaller but charming temples include: Taiwan Fu City God Temple, Kaiji Linshui Temple, Temple for Emperor Dongyue, Tainan Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple, and Wufei Temple.

Markets & Food

  • Traditional Shuixian Gong Market: One of Tainan’s bigger local markets, where you can pick up fresh fruit, vegetables, and Taiwanese street food. A word of warning: it’s a bit rat-infested, so maybe don’t go in with high expectations for cleanliness, but it’s still worth exploring.

  • Cheng Kung University District (Yule Street): A lively area at night filled with affordable Asian food stalls. Perfect for grabbing dinner on a budget.

Unique Spots

  • Tainan Lòng Story: A quirky building that’s great for urban photography. Entry costs 200 TWD, but you get a coupon for their ice cream (which is honestly really good).

Final Thoughts

Tainan might not have the energy of Taipei or the mountain views of Alishan, but it’s a city where you slow down. Life here feels quieter and a little nostalgic, with its maze of temples, faded streets, and hidden gems. For me, it was less about the “must-see” attractions and more about simply wandering around with a camera, sitting in small cafes, and soaking in a slower rhythm of Taiwan life.

 

If you’re already traveling through southern Taiwan, Tainan makes for a nice stop, whether for a couple of days or a longer stay. It may not blow you away, but if you give it some time, its quiet charm sneaks up on you.