Day Trips from Hualien
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
Taroko Gorge National Park (Lüshui-Herping loop)
USD 12, 18 (train + shuttle + park entry)The classic, yes, but play it smart: start at Lüshui Trail for marble canyon views minus the tour-bus elbows, then slip onto the quiet Herping Old Trail to a derelict police outpost. Bring a flashlight for the tunnels.
Qingshui Cliffs & Qixingtan Beach circuit
USD 8, 15 (bus or scooter rental)Morning mist lifts off 800-meter marble cliffs that drop straight into cobalt water, then cap the day with a bike ride over black-pebble beaches where waves clack stones like marbles.
Ruisui Hot Springs & Tropic of Cancer marker
USD 10, 17 (train + bike + spa entry)Slide into silky, iron-tinged spring water once used by Japanese police, then pedal through rice paddies to the stone monument where the 23.5° line slices across Taiwan.
Liyu Lake & Mugua River Gorge
USD 6, 14 (bus or scooter + boat rental)Paddle a lotus-filled lake ringed by jungle, then gun up a narrow gorge where the river slices through green marble and aboriginal stalls grill wild boar sausage.
Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park
USD 7, 15 (transport + park ticket)A Japanese-era logging village locked in cedar-scented amber: ride the mini-train through towering cypress, then slurp loggers' miso ramen in a wooden canteen still haunted by sawmill echoes.
Shitiping Marine Terraces
USD 9, 18 (transport + gear rental)Hexagonal basalt columns spear into Pacific swells, tide pools fizzing with sea anemones. Finish with charcoal-grilled squid at a fishing harbor where boats unload at dusk.
Mukumugi Valley (Tongmen trail)
USD 15, 25 (taxi share + guide fee)Secret emerald swimming holes deep in Truku territory, reached by a suspension bridge that sways above jade water and boulders polished into natural slides.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Qixingtan Beach sunrise cycle
USD 3–5Rent a bike at 5 am, spin the 5 km coastal path as fishing boats flick on sodium lights and the first fishermen drag nets across black pebbles.
Dongdamen Night Market quick bite run
USD 5, 10Hit the market at 5:30 pm sharp, smoke from squid-ink sausages drifts over arcade games and shaved-ice towers before the lanes jam solid.
Pine Garden & Nanbin Park
USD 3–6A former Japanese naval command post reborn as hilltop café, then stroll to Nanbin for kite flying and views of cargo ships sliding toward Hualien port.
Farglory Ocean Park (afternoon pass)
USD 12, 15Half-price entry after 2 pm lets you catch the dolphin show, ride the cable car over cliffs, and still be downtown for dinner.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- ✓ TRA train tickets: reserve 2 weeks ahead for Ruisui and Xincheng weekend departures; same-day machines still hold seats otherwise.
- ✓ Scooter rentals huddle around Hualien Station, flash an international license, leave a passport photocopy as deposit.
- ✓ Pack swimwear and a small towel on any southbound trip; hot-spring pools and river swims show up when you least expect them.
- ✓ Bring cash: small-town cafés and aboriginal snack stands rarely swipe cards, and 7-Eleven ATMs sometimes run dry on Sunday nights.
- ✓ Typhoon season (July, Sept) cancels east-coast buses with zero notice. Check the Central Weather Bureau app the morning of your trip.
- ✓ If Mukumugi Valley entry permit is denied, swap in Shakadang Trail, shorter but the same turquoise water and marble gorge vibe.
- ✓ Pack motion-sickness pills for coastal bus rides south. Cliff roads twist like wrung towels.
- ✓ Download offline maps, cell signal dies in most valleys, and Hualien's free WiFi rarely reaches trailheads.
Book These Day Trips
Top-rated excursions you can book now.
Private Taroko Gorge Day Tour from Hualien - Licensed Local Guide
This private day tour from Hualien offers the most smooth way to experience Taroko Gorge and the region's top highlights, without the hassle of long transfers from Taipei. Led by a top-rated, locally
Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City
With towering marble walls, subtropical forested canyons and crystal clear rivers, Taroko gorge has phenomenal views that are unique to Taiwan. This tour allows you to explore the highlights of the wo
2026 Taroko Gorge Tour Excellent Cultural Stories, 8 Hours
Dear guests, I am a Hualien local guide, and I'm happy to offer you special and unique tours customized to your needs. My experience as a Taiwan local guide has been more than 25 years by now, and st
【Private】Taroko National Park (Pickup from Taipei/Yilan/Hualien)
* Due to the earthquake at April 3rd in 2024, the Taroko tour is suspended until the end of 2025, with adjustments pending for 2026. * During this one-day trip, you will have a memorable travel exper
Private East Coast & Jade Hunting Tour with Licensed Local Expert
Looking for something different in Hualien? Skip the usual crowds and head to Taiwan's impressive East Coast on a private day tour filled with ocean views, hidden beaches, and a unique jade hunting ex
Kayaking on Hualien river (departure with minimum 4 ppl.)
Kayaking around the local lesser-known place, experiencing the full view of an evolving scene along the river bank. While most people have experienced kayaking around the Taroko Qingshui Cliff, one
Need a base for your day trips?
Our accommodation guide helps you pick the best area to stay in Hualien.
Where to Stay →Explore Activities in Hualien
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Hualien.
See All Hualien Tours on Viator