Tainan

Tainan, on Taiwan's southwest coast, is the island's oldest city. Go for its temples, the Dutch fort remains at Anping and food that is often sweeter than elsewhere in Taiwan.

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Tainan sits on Taiwan's southwest coast, facing the Taiwan Strait, and it is the island's oldest city. Its history starts in 1624, when the Dutch East India Company built a small fort called Orange on Tayouan, today's Anping. Koxinga took Fort Zeelandia in 1662 and made Tainan the capital of the Kingdom of Tungning until 1683. Under Qing rule it was the capital of Taiwan Prefecture until 1887, and Japanese rule from 1895 brought wide streets and squares. Locals still use the older name Fucheng, meaning former prefectural capital.

Chihkan Tower, built by the Dutch in 1653, and the Taiwan Confucian Temple, built in 1665, are among the sights in the old center. The city has more registered temples than any other municipality or county in Taiwan, with 1,613 as of 2015. Food is a reason to stay too. Cooking here is often sweeter than elsewhere on the island, and milkfish and eel noodle soup are local specialties. Winters are mild and dry, which suits most sightseeing. Tainan Station is under 90 minutes from Taipei by high-speed rail.

Tainan in five

Change trains at HSR TainanThe high-speed station is outside the city. The Shalun line connects to Tainan station in about 25 minutes.
Eat beef soup for breakfastTainan's beef soup is served early, with raw slices cooked in hot broth. Many shops sell out by late morning.
Visit Anping in the afternoonAnping Fort and the Tree House are a short bus or taxi ride west of the center.
Use the bike shareYouBike stations cover the center, and the old streets are flat.

Things to do in Tainan

See all attractions in Tainan

Church · TainanTainan Dongyue Emperor Temple

a large building with a lot of decorations on it

Church · TainanTaiwan Fu City God Temple

Shopping · TainanHayashi Department StoreRide the lift at least once. It is part of the building's history, not only a way up.

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

Need to know

Airport: Kaohsiung (KHH) or Taoyuan (TPE), then high-speed rail
Getting there: High-speed rail from Taipei about 1.5–2 hours
Getting around: YouBike, buses and taxis
Best base: Near Chihkan Tower or Shennong Street
Time needed: 2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Dry, mild
FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Dry
MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Warm
AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Warm
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rainy season
JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Hot, wet
JulyRain24 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°Hot
AugustRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low27°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain19 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Warm
NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry
DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Dry, mild

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

Right now in Tainan

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

Feels like: 28°
Humidity: 71%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 10%

Tainan

04:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today29°23°10%Tuesday: Clear. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 10%.
Wed29°23°4%Wednesday: Clear. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 4%.
Thu30°24°0%Thursday: Clear. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri30°23°16%Friday: Clear. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 16%.
Sat30°24°31%Saturday: Clear. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 31%.
Sun31°24°28%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 28%.

Updated 04:40 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

Before you go to Tainan

Tainan food and temple toursBreakfast and night-snack walksCompare tours

Hotels near Chihkan TowerWalkable to temples and marketsCheck availability

eSIM for TaiwanMaps for old lanes and bus linesRead the guide

Travel insurance for TaiwanMedical cover for summer heat illnessRead the guide

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Rules for Tainan, checked

Visa-free entry depends on your passport. Check the National Immigration Agency's entry rules and the digital arrival card before you fly.Source
Taiwan's quarantine rules are strict. Declare meat, fresh fruit and plant products on arrival, and check the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency's list before you pack food.
Taiwan bans the sale and import of e-cigarettes and vapes. Leave them at home or check the current rules before you travel.
Do not drink and drive. Drink-driving limits apply to scooters too.

Plan around Tainan

Taipei

The capital, 1.5 to 2 hours by high speed rail

Read the guide Western Taiwan

Taichung and the rail corridor north of Tainan.

Read the guide Taroko National Park

East coast gorge on a round-the-island trip

Read the guide All of Taiwan

Rail, entry rules and when to go

Read the guide Getting around Taiwan

High speed rail and regional trains

Read the guide Connectivity

eSIM options for Taiwan

Read the guide

Tainan FAQ

How many days do I need in Tainan?

Two. One for the temples and old streets in the center, one for Anping and a food day.

How do I get from Taipei to Tainan?

By high-speed rail to HSR Tainan in about 1.5–2 hours, then the Shalun line or a bus into the center.

When is the best time to visit Tainan?

November to March, when it is dry and mild. Summer is hot and wet, with typhoon risk.

What should you eat in Tainan?

Beef soup for breakfast, then small plates such as danzai noodles and milkfish dishes through the day. Many breakfast shops sell out by late morning, so start early.

Is Tainan or Taipei better for food?

Tainan, for traditional small eats at lower prices and fewer crowds; Taipei, for variety and night markets. With four or more days in Taiwan, include both.