Penghu Islands

Basalt coasts, fishing lights and temples in the Taiwan Strait, reached by flight or ferry from Taiwan.

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Penghu, also called the Pescadores, is a group of roughly 90 islands and islets sitting in the Taiwan Strait, off Taiwan's west coast. The islands make up Penghu County, and Magong, on the biggest island, is the county seat and the largest city. Basalt shapes much of the scenery, including columnar formations, and most islands have flat lava plateaus. Stone fish weirs and stone-walled homes are part of the everyday landscape, and the fishing lights over the harbors at night earned a place among Taiwan's Eight Scenic Views in 1953.

Fishing families from southern Fujian settled here from the 9th and 10th centuries, and folk temples still anchor island life. In Magong, visit Tianhou Temple and walk Central Street. The Penghu Great Bridge, the longest in Taiwan, connects the main island with Baisha and Xiyu. Flights and ferries are the only links to Taiwan, and the northeast winter winds, mainly October to March, can cancel both, so leave room in your dates. Most outlying islands are reached only by boat from the main island, so boat days need extra time.

Penghu Islands in five

Book summer flights earlyThe Tourism Administration calls Penghu Taiwan's most iconic island destination in summer, and notes domestic flights are often fully booked on weekends and holidays. Carry your passport for check-in.
Fly from five cities or take a ferryFlights serve Penghu from Taipei Songshan, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung. Ferries run from Chiayi (1.5 hours) and Kaohsiung (4.5 to 6.5 hours), subject to weather.Kaohsiung travel guide
Cross the Great Bridge to XiyuThe 2,494 m Great Bridge links Baisha and Xiyu islands. The Magong shuttle bus North Ring Line and the County Bus Blue Line run from Magong Bus Station. Yuwengdao Lighthouse is closed on Mondays.
Start at the Penghu Visitor Center in MagongThe visitor center sits in Guanghua Village, Magong, and covers the national scenic area. The Tourism Administration counts 183 temples across the island villages, so temples are an easy rainy-day plan.
Add Qimei or Wang'an by airKaohsiung Airport lists flights to Wang'an and Qimei. Qimei is the southernmost island in the archipelago, with a ring road around it and a lighthouse at Nanhu Fishing Harbor.

Things to do in Penghu Islands

See all attractions in Penghu Islands

Sight · Penghu IslandsTianhou Temple

Landmark · Penghu IslandsTwin Hearts Stone WeirGo at low tide. At high tide the walls sit under water and are harder to read.

Park · Penghu IslandsSouth Penghu Marine National Park

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Penghu IslandsPut the places you like in Penghu Islands on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Penghu; flights from Taipei Songshan, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung
Getting there: Flight, or ferry from Chiayi (1.5 hr) or Kaohsiung (4.5 to 6.5 hr)
Getting around: Magong shuttle and county buses; scooter or car for the outer islands
Best base: Magong, the main town and ferry harbor
Time needed: 3 days; 4 with Qimei or Wang'an

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low17°Cool
FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh19°Low17°Cool
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low19°Mild
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low22°Warm
MayRain11 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Warm, sunny
JuneRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low27°Beach season
JulyRain12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low28°Hot, typhoon risk
AugustRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low28°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Warm, clearer
NovemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh23°Low22°Mild
DecemberCloudy5 rainy daysHigh20°Low19°Cool

Average daily high and low in Magong, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Penghu Islands

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 84%
Wind: 43 km/h
Chance of rain: 2%

Penghu Islands

06:02 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today25°25°2%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 2%.
Wed26°25°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu26°25°0%Thursday: Clear. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri26°25°2%Friday: Clear. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat26°25°0%Saturday: Clear. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun26°25°0%Sunday: Clear. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 02:02 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 32.64 TWD

Amount

Converted to

TWD · New Taiwan Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Xiyu and the Great Bridgeby bus or scooter from MagongA 2,494 m sea bridge, the Xiyu lighthouse and Xiaomen Islet.
Baisha and the Tongliang Banyanby bus or scooter from MagongA banyan said to be over 200 years old, with aerial roots covering 660 square meters.
Qimei Islandby flight from Kaohsiung; check schedulesThe southernmost island, with a ring road and a lighthouse.

Before you go to Penghu Islands

Stays in MagongBase near the harbor and busesCheck availability

Penghu island toursBoat hops and bridge stopsCompare tours

eSIM for the islandsFerry and flight updates offlineRead the guide

Insurance for ferry weatherCancelled boats and rebookingRead the guide

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Rules for Penghu Islands, checked

Foreign visitors must show a passport at domestic flight check-in. Not all ferry routes run every day because of weather.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Yuwengdao (Xiyu) Lighthouse is open 09:00 to 18:00 April to October and 09:00 to 17:00 November to March, and closed on Mondays.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

Plan around Penghu Islands

Kaohsiung

Flights and a ferry reach Penghu from here.

Read the guide Taichung

Flights run from Taichung International Airport.

Read the guide Western Taiwan

Chiayi, the shortest ferry crossing, lies here.

Read the guide Taipei

Songshan Airport has flights to Penghu.

Read the guide Getting around Taiwan

Rail, flights and ferries explained.

Read the guide All of Taiwan

Rail, entry rules and when to go.

Read the guide

Penghu Islands FAQ

How do you get to the Penghu Islands?

By flight from Taipei Songshan, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan or Kaohsiung, or by ferry from Chiayi, listed at 1.5 hours, or Kaohsiung, listed at 4.5 to 6.5 hours. Boats do not run every day because of weather, so check with the operator.

How many days do you need in Penghu?

Three days cover Magong, the Great Bridge and Xiyu, and a beach or a temple day. Add a day if you want Qimei or Wang'an, which are reached by flight or boat and depend on the weather.

When is the best time to visit Penghu?

April to June and October are the warm, comfortable months. The Tourism Administration calls Penghu Taiwan's most iconic summer island destination, but typhoon season normally runs from May to November, per GOV.UK, so keep a spare day.

Do you need a car or scooter in Penghu?

Buses reach the main sights from Magong, including the Great Bridge and Yuwengdao Lighthouse, but a scooter or car gives more freedom on the outer islands. UK license holders need a validated 1949 IDP to drive in Taiwan.

What is there to do in Penghu if it rains?

Visit the temples, which the Tourism Administration counts at 183 across the island villages, including the Penghu Tianhou Temple in Magong, and the Penghu Visitor Center. Beaches, bridges and boat trips are better kept for a clear day.