Holiday in Jiufen
City in Taiwan — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇹🇼
Country
Taiwan
Type
City
Best time to travel
September to November (22-28 °C, less rain). Most atmospheric in the evenings and with light fog. Extremely crowded on weekends — visit during the week!
Budget/day
55-120 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Taipei Taoyuan (TPE, 12-13 h). Jiufen by bus 1062 from Taipei Main Station (1.5 h, 100 TWD) or by train to Ruifang + bus 788 (15 min).
Deals for Jiufen:
What makes Jiufen special as a destination?
Jiufen is Taiwan's most enchanting mountain village — a labyrinthine maze of steep alleys, red lanterns, and historic teahouses clinging to the misty mountains of the north coast, inspiring Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece Spirited Away. When the hundreds of red lanterns light up in the evening and the fog rises from the sea, Jiufen transforms into a vibrant anime scene. Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street) is the pulsating heart of the village: a covered alley lined with stalls offering Taiwanese delicacies — steaming taro balls, peanut ice cream in crepes, stinky tofu, and fish ball soup. The alley leads to a staircase with the famous view of the stacked, lantern-lit teahouses, which has become Taiwan's most iconic photo motif. The A-Mei Tea House perches on the edge of the mountainside with panoramic views of the coast: the opulently decorated teahouse in red and gold wooden architecture is said to have served as inspiration for the bathhouse of the witch Yubaba. Here, traditional Oolong tea is served in elaborate Gongfu ceremonies. Jiufen's history as a gold mining town shapes its character: In the 19th century, the gold rush brought thousands of fortune seekers to the mountains. The Gold Museum in nearby Jinguashi tells this story and houses a 220-kilogram gold bar, the largest in the world, which visitors are allowed to touch.
What are the top highlights in Jiufen?
The top highlights in Jiufen include Lantern Staircase (Shuqi Road), A-Mei Tea House, Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street), Gold Museum & Jinguashi, Coastal View & Sea of Fog.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Lantern Staircase (Shuqi Road)
Taiwan's most iconic photo motif: stacked teahouses with hundreds of red lanterns in the evening fog — the vibrant anime scene of Chihiro.
A-Mei Tea House
Legendary teahouse with Gongfu ceremony and panoramic views: allegedly the model for Yubaba's bathhouse in Spirited Away.
Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street)
Covered food street: taro balls, peanut ice cream, stinky tofu, and fish ball soup — Taiwan's street food paradise.
Gold Museum & Jinguashi
History of the gold rush: 220 kg gold bar (largest in the world to touch) and former mining sites.
Coastal View & Sea of Fog
From the village, you overlook the north coast with the Pacific and Keelung Island: in fog, a surreal sea of clouds beneath your feet.
Shengping Theater
Oldest surviving cinema in Taiwan (1934): lovingly restored, showcasing Jiufen's history as a vibrant gold mining town.
Hotels in Jiufen
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Reise-SIM für Jiufen
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Jiufen?
The best time to visit Jiufen is September to November (22-28 °C, less rain). Most atmospheric in the evenings and with light fog. Extremely crowded on weekends — visit during the week!. 26-33 °C, hot and humid, frequent rain (Jiufen has 200+ rainy days/year) In winter: 12-18 °C, cool and foggy, atmospheric but wet, rain jacket required
Recommended travel time
September to November (22-28 °C, less rain). Most atmospheric in the evenings and with light fog. Extremely crowded on weekends — visit during the week!
Summer
26-33 °C, hot and humid, frequent rain (Jiufen has 200+ rainy days/year)
Winter
12-18 °C, cool and foggy, atmospheric but wet, rain jacket required
How much does a holiday in Jiufen cost?
Budget travellers: 25-50 €/day, mid-range: 55-120 €/day, luxury: 130-300 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
25-50 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
55-120 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
130-300 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Jiufen?
Flight to Taipei Taoyuan (TPE, 12-13 h). Jiufen by bus 1062 from Taipei Main Station (1.5 h, 100 TWD) or by train to Ruifang + bus 788 (15 min).
Book a package holiday to Jiufen
Compare thousands of package holidays to Jiufen and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Jiufen?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visit during the week — weekends threaten crowds in the narrow alleys. Tuesday to Thursday is significantly more pleasant. From 5 PM for the lantern lighting.
Stay in the evening — most day tourists leave around 6 PM. After that, the village empties, the lanterns light up, and the fog rises — the most magical hour.
Bus 1062 instead of taxi — direct bus from Taipei (MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Exit 1, 100 TWD). Taxi from Taipei about 1,200 TWD. Return: last bus around 9 PM.
Take your time at A-Mei Tea House — Gongfu tea ceremony (300 TWD) with a view of the coast. Plan at least 1 hour, the ceremony is meditative and the tea excellent.
Always carry an umbrella — Jiufen has over 200 rainy days a year. Light rain and fog make the village more atmospheric, but a rain jacket is essential.
What should you eat in Jiufen?
Typical specialities in Jiufen: Yuyuan (Taro Balls) — colorful balls made from taro, sweet potato, and mung bean in sweet soup or on ice: Jiufen's most famous specialty at Ah Gan Yuyuan., Chou Doufu (Stinky Tofu) — fermented, fried tofu with pickled cabbage: smells an acquired taste, tastes fantastic — Taiwan's most polarizing street food., Peanut Ice Cream in Popiah Crepe — peanut powder, coriander, and ice cream in a thin crepe: sweet, savory, and uniquely Taiwanese., Fish Ball Soup — springy fish balls in clear broth: simple, warming, and the perfect snack in Jiufen's alleys., Oolong Tea (Gongfu Ceremony) — Taiwan's most famous tea: celebrated at A-Mei Tea House as a Gongfu ceremony, with repeated infusions releasing different flavors..
These specialties you must try!
