Jiufen
Jiufen is a hillside former gold-mining town where you walk stepped lanes, drink tea with a sea view and eat street snacks, all within a day.
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Jiufen is a hillside town in New Taipei City, on Taiwan's northeast coast. It grew up around gold mining, and many of its stone stairways and old houses date from that period. The Old Street is the main lane: a long, winding path of food stalls and shops that climbs the slope, with red lanterns hung above it in the evening.
Most visitors come for the teahouses with views over the hills and sea, for taro balls and other snacks, and for the walk through the lanes. It works as a day trip from Taipei, but an overnight stay lets you walk the streets after the day crowds leave. Rain is frequent through the cooler months, so October and November give the clearest weather. Plan at least half a day, or a full day if you add a second stop nearby.
Jiufen in five
- Take the train to Ruifang, then a bus or taxi upJiufen has no train station. Trains run to Ruifang, and buses or taxis cover the last stretch up the hill, which is steep and narrow.Getting around
- Go on a weekday or arrive earlyWeekend afternoons and evenings fill the Old Street with day trippers from Taipei, and the lanes become slow to walk. Weekday mornings keep the stalls and teahouses calm.
- Carry New Taiwan dollars in cashMany small stalls and teahouses take cash only, so carry New Taiwan dollars before you walk up the hill.Money and costs
- Pack a rain jacket and shoes with gripRain is frequent here, and the stone steps and lanes get slick. An umbrella also crowds the narrow walkways.
- Get an eSIM before you landThe lanes wind steeply and are hard to read without a map. Load data before you leave the airport so maps work from the station onward.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (TWD)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check mofa.gov.tw first Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, wet
- FebruaryWet, cool
- MarchRainy, misty
- AprilDrier, mild
- MayRains, humid
- JuneRainy, humid
- JulyTyphoon risk
- AugustHot, typhoons
- SeptemberTyphoon risk
- OctoberClearer, mild
- NovemberClear, cool
- DecemberCool, drier
Right now in Jiufen
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 33 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 90%
Jiufen
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today25°21°90%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed27°21°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu28°20°35%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Fri24°22°70%Friday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Sat24°21°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun26°21°86%Sunday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 86%.
Updated 03:55 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 32.64 TWD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Taipeiabout 1 to 1.5 hours by train and busThe capital, a practical base for a day trip to the hill town.
- Keelungabout 30 to 45 min by busThe port city, with night markets and seafood close to the harbor.
- Jinguashiabout 20 to 30 min by bus or taxiA former gold mining town with old tunnels and a gold museum.
Before you go to Jiufen
Rules for Jiufen, checked
- Check visa-free entry and passport validity on the MOFA site before you book flights.Source
- Taiwan has strict drug laws that cover cannabis, and carrying any drug can lead to arrest.
- Smoking is banned in many indoor public places and on some streets. Use the marked smoking areas.
- Declare fresh food, meat and plant products at customs, since Taiwan restricts many of them.Source
Plan around Jiufen
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Taiwan trip
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses and taxis from Taipei to the hill town
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices for a day in Taiwan
Read the guideVisas and entryWho can enter visa-free and what to check before flying
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the bases on the hill and in the valley below
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData and maps for the steep lanes and bus stops
Read the guideJiufen FAQ
Is Jiufen worth visiting?
Yes, for the narrow Old Street, the hillside teahouses and sea views. It works best as a day or a night, since the main lanes are small.
How do you get from Taipei to Jiufen?
Take the train to Ruifang, then a bus or taxi up the hill. The last stretch is steep and narrow, so allow extra time on weekends when day trippers arrive in numbers.
How many days do you need in Jiufen?
One day covers the Old Street and a teahouse. Stay one night if you want the lanes after the day trippers leave, or walk up to the quieter teahouses in the morning.
When is the best time to visit Jiufen?
October and November have the clearest weather and fewer rainy days. Rain is common through the winter, and typhoons can hit in summer.
Is Jiufen a good day trip from Taipei?
Yes, if you want a hill town with teahouses and food stalls. Start early, since the trip from Taipei takes most of a morning and the town fills up by the afternoon.