Discover Taiwan’s Island Gems: Best Island Hopping Tours from Taipei

The first thing I should tell you is that Taipei itself has no island hopping circuit. There is no harbour in the city where you can step onto a boat and spend a week bouncing between beaches. Taiwan's real islands sit a flight or a long train-and-ferry journey away from the capital, and the older version of this page muddled that badly. It mixed up Orchid Island and Lanyu, which are the same island, put Green Island in the wrong stretch of water, and described a disputed rock as a holiday destination. This rewrite starts again from the map.

What I can do honestly is show you how a Taipei-based traveller actually reaches Taiwan's islands, which ones are worth the effort, how to split your days, and where the trip can go wrong. I will cover Penghu in the Taiwan Strait, Green Island and Orchid Island off the Pacific coast, Xiaoliuqiu in the south, and the small coastal islets near Keelung that you can see in a single day from the city. I have also included a table of rough travel times, a packing list, a week-long plan and a cost breakdown.

One caution before we start. Island trips in Taiwan are driven by weather and sea conditions far more than by the calendar. A ferry that sails at nine in the morning may be cancelled at eight. A flight that is booked weeks ahead can be cancelled when the wind rises. Build slack into every plan below, and treat my timings as typical rather than guaranteed.

Start here: what counts as an island trip from Taipei

Taiwan is itself an island of roughly 36,000 square kilometres, and it has a ring of smaller islands around it. From Taipei they fall into three groups, and your choice between them decides how much of your holiday goes to getting there.

The first group is the day-trip coast. Within about an hour of central Taipei by road or rail you can reach Keelung, where small rocky islets sit just off the harbour and a bridge links you to Heping Island, a geological park of sea-carved sandstone. This is not island hopping in the beach sense, but it gives you the salt air, the fishing-port atmosphere and the odd rock formations in a single afternoon.

The second group is the short-flight islands. Penghu, an archipelago of about ninety islands in the Taiwan Strait, is the clearest example. Flights from Taipei's Songshan airport take roughly an hour. Kinmen and Matsu, which lie close to the mainland coast of China, are also reached by air, although they have a very different feel built around military history, old stone houses and sorghum liquor.

The third group is the east and south coast islands: Green Island, Orchid Island and Xiaoliuqiu. You get to these by travelling first to Taitung or Pingtung, either by train, high-speed rail plus a connection, or a short domestic flight, and then crossing by ferry or a small propeller plane. They cost more in time but they give you the clearest water and the best marine life in the country.

Those times are my own rough planning figures, not published timetables. Check the operators close to your date.

Penghu: the closest thing to an island-hopping holiday

If you want a boat, a harbour and several islands in one trip, Penghu is the answer. The archipelago sits in the Taiwan Strait, about fifty kilometres off the west coast, and most of its islands are low, windy and almost treeless. That sounds unpromising until you see the details: black basalt columns stacked like organ pipes, stone-walled fields that protect crops from the wind, cactus growing along the roadsides and a sea that turns turquoise on a still afternoon.

Most visitors base themselves on the main island, Penghu Island, and its town of Magong. From there, boats go to the smaller islands, and a road network crosses bridges to neighbouring ones. The archipelago has a reputation as a summer place, and the season for swimming, sailing and watersports runs from roughly April to October. A fireworks festival has traditionally been held in the early summer months, drawing crowds from across Taiwan, so book flights and rooms well ahead for those dates.

One of the more memorable ways to see it is on the water. There is a half-day sailing experience that blends sailing, a sunset paddleboard session and a stop at Xiaomen Island, where the basalt cliffs form a dramatic backdrop and the famous Whale Cave sits just offshore. It is listed under Taipei on our site for convenience, but the activity itself takes place in the Penghu archipelago, so you need to be in Penghu already. Prices start from S$31.81 per person, and the session usually lasts three to four hours. Sunset departures are the ones to choose if the weather cooperates. You can see the details on the sailing experience page.

If you would rather stay on land, Penghu has a tourist shuttle that loops the north, the Huxi side and the south, with stops at the main viewpoints and a commentary along the way. It is a sensible choice if you do not drive or ride a scooter. The shuttle ticket starts from S$5.00, and the loop takes most of a day if you stop at several places.

Penghu also has some of the best easy diving in Taiwan. A guided two-hour introduction in the coral restoration area requires no licence, and the staff handle fitting and briefing. It is the sort of thing a nervous first-timer can try, and the lavender-coloured coral gardens are an unusual sight. Details are on the Penghu diving page, where the price starts from S$96.00.

A word on the wind. From roughly October to March the northeast monsoon sweeps across the strait, and Penghu can feel raw, with flights and ferries disrupted. If your dates fall in that window, treat the islands as a bonus rather than the whole plan. Many local people consider the late spring and early autumn shoulder months the sweet spot: warm enough for the sea, quieter than midsummer and less likely to be swept by typhoons.

Green Island: hot springs and a very clear sea

Green Island, known in Mandarin as Ludao, sits off the southeast coast near Taitung in the Pacific. The older text on this page put it in the Taichung Strait, which is simply wrong. It is a small volcanic island with a ring road of roughly twenty kilometres, so most people tour it by scooter or electric bike in a few hours.

The island is known for three things. The first is its seawater hot spring, one of the few of its kind in the world, where a pool beside the shore is heated by volcanic activity and filled with mineral-rich water. Soaking there at dusk with the stars beginning to appear is the kind of travel memory that tends to stick. The second is the marine life. The water is warm and clear, the reef sits close to the shore and snorkelling is excellent from spring to autumn. The third is a history of political imprisonment in the twentieth century, remembered through a human rights memorial park that is a sober but worthwhile stop.

For the water, there is a guided two-hour diving and snorkelling experience that explores shore reefs and a sea cave known locally as the Blue Cave. The island is reached by ferry or a short flight from Taitung, and the experience involves a short walk over uneven coral terrain, so wear sturdy water shoes. Prices start from S$23.61. See the Green Island page for the details.

Getting there is the part that needs planning. The ferry from Taitung's Fugang harbour typically takes under an hour, but it runs only when the sea allows, and the crossing can be rough. A small propeller plane is quicker and sometimes the only option when the sea is high. Both fill up in summer and over public holidays, so book them first and fit everything else around them.

If you have two nights, you can see most of the island. Day one: arrive, rent a scooter, ride the ring road clockwise and soak at the hot spring at sunset. Day two: morning snorkelling, a late lunch, the memorial park and an afternoon walk before the evening ferry. If you only have one night, go in the shoulder season and fly.

Orchid Island: the one the old page called two islands

Here is the correction I most want to make. Orchid Island and Lanyu are the same place. Lanyu is the Mandarin name, and Orchid Island is the English one. The older text listed them separately, gave Lanyu a whale-watching reputation it does not really have and called its home an orchid garden, which is also misleading. The name refers to the moth orchids that grow wild in its forests, not to a tourist garden.

What the island really offers is culture. It is home to the Tao people, sometimes called the Yami, who have lived here for centuries and who have a distinctive way of life built around the sea, taro fields and the annual flying fish season. Traditional underground houses, carved wooden boats painted in red, white and black, and tall wooden racks for drying fish are part of the everyday scene rather than a performance.

Visiting well means visiting with respect. A few habits matter. Ask before you photograph people, boats or homes. The boats are important to the community, so never climb on them or touch them without permission. The flying fish season, which usually falls in the early months of the year and extends into early summer, has rules and ceremonies that visitors should observe rather than disrupt. If your guide or host gives you a rule, follow it without arguing.

The landscape is rugged. A single road circles the island, passing volcanic cliffs, small bays and lookouts across the Pacific. There are few shops and limited accommodation, so bring cash, motion sickness tablets for the crossing, and a good deal of patience if weather closes the ferry. Many travellers combine Orchid Island with Green Island, since both are reached from Taitung and both have ferries and small planes serving them. If you have a week, the two make a natural pair. If you have only three or four days, choose one.

Xiaoliuqiu: turtles in the south

Xiaoliuqiu, also written Liuqiu, is a small coral island off Pingtung County in the far south. Of the islands in this guide it is probably the easiest to reach from the mainland, and it is the one where you are most likely to see wildlife in the water. Green sea turtles feed in the shallows around the island, and many snorkellers see them within a few minutes of getting in.

The island is reached by ferry from Donggang, a fishing port that you get to by bus from the high-speed rail station at Zuoying in Kaohsiung. The crossing is short, usually around half an hour, and ferries run frequently on calm days. Most people bring a small bag, rent a scooter on arrival, and ride the ring road, stopping at beaches, viewing platforms and rock formations.

One caution matters here. The turtles are protected. Do not touch them, chase them or block their path to the surface, and follow the rules posted by local guides. Respectful swimmers are likely to see more than loud, grabby ones.

For a guided session there is a two-hour diving and snorkelling experience at Lambai Island near Xiaoliuqiu, with coaches who handle fitting, safety and the briefing. It suits both beginners and experienced divers. The best months are roughly April to October, with the warmest water in summer, although the typhoon season at the tail end of that window can close the sea for days. The price starts from S$13.41, and the Lambai Island page explains what is included.

If you want a more personal session, there is also a one-on-one scuba experience with a professional guide, listed under the Pingtung island diving entry. See this page for the current price, which starts from S$80.06. It is listed under Taipei on our site, but the dive itself takes place at Xiaoliuqiu, so you need to be in the south already.

The day-trip version: Keelung, Heping Island and the north coast

If you only have a day, or if your flights to the outer islands fall through because of weather, the north coast is a good fallback. It is a very different experience from the tropical islands above, but it is close, easy and varied.

A full-day tour covers Bitou Cape, a headland with coastal trails and sea cliffs, then the colourful Zhengbin Fishing Port with its row of brightly painted houses, and the Heping Island geopark, where wind and waves have carved odd shapes in the sandstone. Because this is a coastal walk, you should wear shoes with grip and carry a hat, and be ready for wind and sudden showers. The tour begins from Taipei and takes eight to ten hours including transport.

The price starts from S$8.00, which makes it one of the more affordable ways to see a stretch of the northern coast without hiring a car. You can read the full description on the north coast tour page. If you prefer a private charter, there are also car tours that combine Yehliu Geopark with the old streets of Jiufen and Shifen, and you can look at the Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen option for the details.

Back in the city, a gentler way to spend the afternoon after a coastal outing is to soak in Beitou's hot springs. The Japanese-style public bath is a short walk from Xinbeitou MRT station, and a visit usually takes up to two hours. Find it on the Beitou Waterhouse page.

Choosing the right island for your trip

Choosing between islands is easier if you start with what you want to do. I find it helps to ask three questions: how many days do I have, what time of year am I travelling, and what do I want my days to feel like?

If you have two or three days, pick one island and do it properly. Penghu is the easiest, because it has direct flights and enough variety to fill a weekend. If you have four or five days and you are happy to travel by train and ferry, add Xiaoliuqiu, since it fits neatly beside a stop in Kaohsiung. If you have a full week, combine Taitung, Green Island and Orchid Island, or pair Penghu with a stay in Tainan on the west coast.

If you are travelling in the colder months, choose the southern or eastern islands over Penghu, because the northeast monsoon is hardest on the strait. If you are travelling in summer, check typhoon forecasts every day in the week before you leave, and keep your bookings flexible.

If you want a social, sporty holiday, go to Green Island or Penghu. If you want to be somewhere quiet and different, go to Orchid Island. If you want to see turtles, go to Xiaoliuqiu. If you want a day out with minimal logistics, take the north coast tour.

Seasons, weather and typhoons

Taiwan's climate is subtropical, and the islands feel the weather more directly than the mainland does. Our destination notes suggest that the best seasons for travel overall are autumn, roughly October to December, and spring, from March to May. For the islands specifically, I would adjust that slightly.

For Penghu, April to June and September to November are generally the most comfortable months, with calm seas and mild weather. Midsummer is hot and bright, ideal for the water but also the peak of the typhoon risk. Winter brings strong wind.

For Green Island, Orchid Island and Xiaoliuqiu, the best water conditions usually fall between April and October. The same window contains the typhoon season, which runs roughly from July to September, so the safest balance is often May, June or October.

A typhoon is not a theoretical danger. When one is forecast, ferries stop, flights are cancelled and sometimes shops and homestays close. Keep a day or two of buffer at both ends of any island trip, and avoid scheduling an island leg right before an international flight home. If you can, book accommodation and transport that allow changes, and read the terms before you pay.

A good habit is to check three things the evening before each crossing: the marine forecast, the operator's notice, and your plan B. If the boat does not go, you want to know already what you will do with the day.

Getting around: trains, passes and airport transfers

Your route to the islands starts in Taipei, so it pays to set up local transport first. Taipei's MRT is clean and easy, and a prepaid card or a day ticket saves time at the gates. A one-day MRT ticket suits a single outing, while a stored-value card is better for several days of tapping on and off. A travel EasyCard for visitors also works on buses and in many convenience stores, and the price starts from S$5.00.

If you are crossing the island by rail, the high-speed rail runs down the west coast from Taipei to Kaohsiung's Zuoying station in a little over an hour and a half. A multi-day unlimited pass can make sense if you plan several long hops; the two-day and three-day options start from S$43.60. Check the high-speed rail pass page for the exact validity and rules, because a pass is only worth buying if you will take enough trips to cover it.

From the airport, the simplest choices are the airport MRT, a shuttle bus or a booked car. If you land late, with luggage and a connecting ferry the next morning, a pre-booked transfer removes a headache. Listings for several airport options are on our Taipei pages, from shared shuttles to private cars.

For the east coast, the scenic train line from Taipei to Taitung is a trip in itself, and it passes through mountains and along the Pacific. Seats on popular services sell out ahead of holidays. For short domestic flights, check baggage limits on the small propeller planes, which are stricter than on main routes.

Finally, there is the question of flights between Taiwan and your home. If you are applying for a visa and need a documented itinerary, our flight reservation service provides a manual reservation for that purpose. It is a reservation, not an issued ticket, so do not treat it as one.

Entry rules and visas for Singapore passport holders

If you hold a Singapore passport, our records, last checked in late September 2026, show that Taiwan allows visa-exempt entry for tourism, business and visiting for up to 30 days. That is the figure our verified source gives, and I would repeat what I tell every reader: confirm it against the official Taiwan consular affairs source before you fly, because rules can change.

Other nationalities have different options. Our fact sheet lists an online visitor visa for some Indian and select ASEAN nationals who hold specific visas or residence from certain countries, and a group tourist e-visa for travellers on tours arranged by approved agencies. The conditions are detailed and the fees and processing times vary, so please read the full list on our visa requirements pages rather than rely on a summary.

The islands add one more detail. Most of them are domestic destinations, so you do not need to go through immigration again, but carry your passport anyway. Hotels, ferry operators and airlines often ask for identity documents, and a few activities, such as scuba sessions, may ask for ID and a signed health declaration.

Do not forget travel insurance. A ferry that does not run, a missed connection or a medical issue on a small island can cost much more than the policy. Check that your cover includes water sports, particularly if you plan to dive, and that medical evacuation is included.

Money: what an island trip really costs

Taiwan's day-to-day costs are moderate by regional standards. Our destination notes put a typical budget at roughly NT$2,000 to NT$6,000 per person per day, which is a wide range because accommodation and activities swing so much. Islands push costs up in three ways: transport is an extra line item, accommodation is limited so rooms cost more at peak times, and food is slightly dearer because supplies come by boat.

Below is a sample comparison for one person, using the activity prices I have listed in this guide as reference points and leaving flights, ferries and hotels as personal choices. Always confirm live prices on the product pages before you book.

Beyond those, set aside money for scooter hire, which is typically a few hundred Taiwan dollars a day on the smaller islands, plus petrol, meals, ferries and a deposit. Cash is useful on Orchid Island and in the smaller shops of the other islands, because card machines and ATMs are less common than in the city.

A final point on value: it is tempting to book the cheapest option everywhere, but on an island trip the thing worth paying a little extra for is flexibility. A slightly dearer room that lets you change dates when a typhoon appears is better than a bargain you cannot move.

A seven-day plan from Taipei

This is the plan I would give a friend who has a week, enjoys the water and is happy to move every couple of days. Swap the order if the forecast demands it.

Day one: Taipei. Arrive, pick up transport cards and settle in. Walk around Longshan Temple in the late afternoon and eat at a night market. If you like temples, consider the Longshan Temple walking tour.

Day two: the north coast. Take the full-day tour to Bitou Cape, Zhengbin and Heping Island. It is a gentle warm-up and gives you a feel for the coast before you travel further.

Day three: fly to Penghu. Arrive by midday, rent a scooter or board the shuttle, see the basalt cliffs and eat seafood in Magong.

Day four: Penghu on the water. Join the sailing or the introductory dive, and give yourself the evening to wander.

Day five: back to Taiwan, then travel south. Fly or ride the rail to Kaohsiung, then transfer toward Donggang if you plan to cross to Xiaoliuqiu next morning.

Day six: Xiaoliuqiu. Morning ferry, guided snorkelling, scooter loop, evening ferry back.

Day seven: return to Taipei by high-speed rail, with a buffer for delays.

If you prefer the east coast, swap days five and six for a train to Taitung and a night on Green Island. If you hate rushing, drop the north coast day and spend two nights on a single island instead. The aim is not to see everything, but to see a little properly.

If you finish with a spare half-day in Taipei, an attractions pass is a handy way to fill it. The Taipei Fun Pass gives entry to a number of sights over one to three days, with prices starting from S$53.00; read the Taipei Fun Pass page for what is included. Keep the Maokong Gondola in mind as well; it is an easy ride above the tea hills that works in clear weather, and you can find it on the Maokong Gondola page.

What to pack and how to behave on small islands

Packing for islands is mostly about the sun, the sea and the wind. A good list includes the following.

• Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with a strap.
• Quick-dry clothing and a light windproof layer for boat rides and Penghu evenings.
• Water shoes or sandals with grip for coral shores and sea caves.
• A waterproof pouch for your phone and a small dry bag for documents.
• Motion sickness tablets, since the crossings can be rough.
• Cash in small notes, because small shops and homestays may not take cards.
• A power bank and an offline map, since signal can be patchy on the smaller islands.
• Any personal medicine, plus a basic first-aid kit.

Behaviour matters too. Do not take coral, shells or stones from the beach. Do not feed wildlife. Keep your distance from turtles. On Orchid Island, ask before photographing and follow local guidance. Take your rubbish with you whenever a bin is not available. Island communities are small, water and waste are limited resources, and a few thoughtful habits make a real difference.

Local connectivity is worth sorting before you leave. A Taiwan eSIM lets you keep a data connection from the moment you land, which helps with ferry notices and map apps. Several are listed on our Taipei pages, and the price depends on the data and the number of days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go island hopping directly from Taipei?

Not in the sense of boarding a boat in the city and visiting several islands. The islands are reached by flight, rail and ferry, and each needs its own travel leg. The nearest are the coastal spots around Keelung, which you can reach in about an hour.

Which island is best for a first visit?

Penghu is the easiest, because direct flights from Taipei take roughly an hour and the archipelago has enough variety to fill a long weekend. Xiaoliuqiu is a good second choice if you want to see turtles.

Is Orchid Island the same as Lanyu?

Yes. Lanyu is the Mandarin name and Orchid Island is the English name. They are one island, home to the Tao people.

When should I avoid the islands?

Typhoon season, roughly July to September, carries the highest risk of cancelled ferries and flights. The northeast monsoon in winter makes Penghu windy and rough. Keep your dates flexible and check forecasts daily.

Do Singapore passport holders need a visa for Taiwan?

Our verified notes show visa-exempt entry for tourism for up to 30 days, but you should confirm with the official source before you travel. For other nationalities, check our visa requirements pages.

Do I need to be able to swim to snorkel or dive?

For guided snorkelling and introductory dives, you should be comfortable in the water. Operators provide safety gear and briefings, and staff will tell you what level is needed. Always disclose health conditions.

Can I book everything in advance?

Book the flights or ferries first, since they are the tightest constraint. Activities can be arranged around them. Read the operator notes on each product page, because sea conditions can change a plan.

What should I do if the ferry is cancelled?

Contact your accommodation and your activity operator straight away, and move your plan by a day if you can. This is why I suggest a buffer day at each end of an island leg.

Final thoughts

The honest answer to the question in this guide's title is that Taipei is a gateway rather than a harbour. The islands are real, beautiful and worth the effort, but each one takes a deliberate journey, and the weather has the last word. Pick one or two, give yourself slack, and treat the travel as part of the trip. If you do that, you will probably remember the quiet bay on an unhurried afternoon far longer than the extra attraction you squeezed in.

Featured experiences in this guide

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