Cheap things to do in Taichung
Free museums, market breakfasts, great-value noodles and a night market bar crawl.
This is Taichung for people who eat well, walk far and spend almost nothing. You'll move between a Japanese-era market, a national art museum you can walk into for free, acclaimed bowls that cost less than a beer back home, and a night market big enough to be its own evening out. It suits solo travellers and pairs who want a real city, not a resort.
Day 1: Central District: art, markets, noodles
A free morning at Taiwan's national fine-arts museum flows into the old hexagonal market for braised pork rice, a lakeside park stroll, and a great-value noodle dinner to close.
- 9:30 AM
ZOU WOO KAFFEE
Careful pour-overs from a small Taichung roaster, a few minutes' walk from the fine-arts museum.
Map - 10:30 AM
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
Taiwan's only national fine-arts museum, free entry, modern and contemporary art plus a large sculpture garden.
Map - 12:30 PM
Taichung Second Market
A 1917 Japanese-era market with a hexagonal tower; grab Shan He braised pork rice and Wang Ji radish cake.
Map - 2:00 PM
Taichung Park 臺中公園
A free lakeside park with the 1908 twin-roofed pavilion on the water, a short walk from the market.
Map - 7:30 PM
No Name Noodles
A no-sign noodle shop in the old Central District; cheap bowls and side dishes, eaten fast.
Map
Day 2: Changhua: temples and a train depot
Cross into Changhua for an atmospheric temple in the morning, a local lunch near the station, and one of the last working fan-shaped locomotive roundhouses in the afternoon, both free.
- 9:30 AM
Kaihua Temple 開化寺
Start the morning at this landmark temple, free to enter and atmospheric first thing.
Map - 1:00 PM
Changhua Roundhouse 彰化扇形車庫
Taiwan's last working fan-shaped roundhouse, free; watch engines swing on the turntable. Weekdays from 1pm.
Map - 7:30 PM
Chun Shui Tang Original Store
Birthplace of bubble tea, try the original drink with fresh taro and tapioca.
Map
Day 3: West side: greenway, beef noodles, night market
A hearty great-value beef noodle lunch leads into an afternoon on the 3.6km Calligraphy Greenway, then braised pork rice for dinner before Fengjia Night Market takes over the night.
- 9:30 AM
- 12:30 PM
- 2:00 PM
Calligraphy Greenway and Audit Village
3.6km linear park with public art, free museums and Shenji New Village's indie makers, perfect afternoon wander.
Map - 7:30 PM
Night School Braised Pork Rice
Great-value braised pork rice, classic cheap Taiwanese small-eats dinner.
Map - 9:00 PM
Fengjia Night Market
Taiwan's biggest night market: Minglun egg pancakes, pepper buns and bubble tea, elbow to elbow.
Map
Where to stay
Stray Birds Hostel
A budget hostel by the Calligraphy Greenway, close to Day 3's café, noodles and park walk.
OKU Hotel
Affordable and close to the Calligraphy Greenway and Fengjia side of the plan, good value for the price.
Make Taichung your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- National Taichung Theater: a few days ahead
- Ching Chuan Kang Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Taichung International Golf Club: weeks ahead
- JL Studio: weeks ahead
- L'Atelier par Yao: weeks ahead
- FReNCHIE FReNCHIE: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing in one day tour gives about 90 minutes at each, pick one or overnight.
- Rainbow Village is 20 to 30 minutes, never build a half day around it alone.
- Zhongshe Flower Market and Carton King are photo stops that are skippable unless they are your specific interest.
- Miyahara at peak has a long queue for one scoop, Fourth Credit Union has the same ice cream with a shorter line.
The full Taichung travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around