Visiting Jiufen For the First Time? Everything you Need to Know [2026]

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If you are visiting Jiufen for the first time, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information out there. Trust me, we felt the exact same way.

Hopefully, you have a little more time to plan your trip than we did. After spending four incredible weeks based in Taipei, we realized we needed a quick weekend away to experience something completely different.

Our long weekend actually started in Jiufen (with an overnight stay in nearby Ruifang), followed by Shifen’s old street and waterfalls, and ended in Jiaoxi soaking in the relaxing hot springs. This getaway turned out to be our favorite thing we did in Taiwan because it let us escape the Taipei borders and see three totally distinct locations.

In this guide, I will share all the practical tips you need to plan your trip alongside the best things to do in Jiufen regardless of whether you’re opting for a fast day trip or hoping to book an overnight stay.

Things to Know When Visiting Jiufen for the First Time

• Is Jiufen known for something in particular? Yes! It’s famous for steep alleyways draped in red lanterns, its gold-mining history, and its striking resemblance to Spirited Away, though despite the popular internet rumor, director Hayao Miyazaki has officially clarified that it wasn’t actually the film’s inspiration.
• Have an EasyCard with you. It’s essential for paying for the bus fares and regional/local trains. We bought ours at the airport when we landed. Note: You can only top up your EasyCard with cash at convenience stores or stations, no international credit cards accepted.
• It is VERY touristy and crowded. Jiufen is stunning, but you need to manage your expectations. The crowds along the main old street can be intense.

• Crowds get worse toward the evening. Once the afternoon tour buses roll in and the lanterns switch on, the narrow paths become packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
• Be mindful of the weather. Because it sits high up in the mountains, Jiufen gets hit with heavy rain and fog frequently (it was pouring when we visited!), so pack a light rain jacket or travel umbrella.

• Have enough cash with you. Taiwan is still very cash-reliant outside major department stores (about 80–90% cash-based for small vendors). If you need to withdraw cash, Chang Hwa Bank ATMs (including one in Ruifang) have very low international withdrawal fees.
• Have your translator app ready. English isn’t widely spoken by every local vendor, so having Google Translate ready on your phone makes reading menus and ordering street food a breeze.

• Watch your footwear: The town is built entirely on steep stone staircases that get slick when it rains, so leave the heels behind and wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Luggage tip: Ruifang Station offers coin-operated lockers, though we left ours right at our hostel in Ruifang.

Jiufen Day Trip or Overnight Stay?

Overnight Stay: I’ll be honest.. We actually regretted booking our weekend away last minute, as all the affordable rooms right in Jiufen were completely sold out. Instead, we stayed in nearby Ruifang to save money.

Ruifang is a bit of a gritty, utilitarian transport hub with not much going on, but it felt far more authentic and local than tourist-packaged Jiufen.

That said, if you plan ahead, it is worth staying 1 night in Jiufen to enjoy the misty mountain views and experience the town before the mass tourism arrives with the group buses.

Day Trip: This is a great alternative for those that don’t have much time or don’t like having to figure out the train and bus logistics. A day trip to Jiufen is usually combined with a visit to Shifen old street and waterfalls so you catch two birds with one stone.

How to Get to Jiufen from Taipei

If you are trying to figure out how to get to Jiufen from Taipei, your route depends entirely on how much time you have available and what your travel preference is. Jiufen doesn’t have its own train station, so you can’t catch a train straight into the village.

Here are your options:

By Bus

There are many buses leaving from Taipei to Jiufen Old Street so choosing the right one depends on where your accommodation is. For example, there is Bus 965 leaving from Beimen station (west side), or Bus 1062 from Songshan Station (east side) departing very frequently.

You can pay using your EasyCard here, though top-up is only possible with cash. Keep in mind that direct buses can occasionally get delayed by heavy weekend highway traffic.

By Train

Since Jiufen lacks a train station, taking a bus is required if you want a direct route.

We took the train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang for an affordable last-minute 2-night stay. Since we booked late, Jiufen hotels were sold out so make sure you don’t make the same mistake. Always book in advance for peak weekends!

From Ruifang, catch Bus 1062 or 788 to reach Jiufen in about 20 minutes. You can use your EasyCard to pay for the bus, but not the express train from Taipei. For the latter you will need to book a ticket either online, or at the station.

Via an Organised Tour

Many people choose to visit Jiufen and Shifen as part of an organised day trip from Taipei if they don’t have many days available. This is a very convenient alternative especially if you prefer someone else to take care of the logistics for you and show you around in each place. There are some really good and much recommended tours on both Viator and Klook platforms.

By Car

This is also an option but not the best one, especially for Jiufen. If you are doing a road trip around the east side of Taiwan then it makes sense to rent a car as the east side is not as well connected with public transport as the west side of the country.

However, the roads leading to Jiufen are narrow mountain roads and steep, plus you won’t be able to reach the old street by car. Unless your hotel has a dedicated parking lot for you to use, it is not advisable to drive there.

By Bicycle

Taiwan is very bicycle friendly and it is common for people to rent bikes (either standard Giant bikes or professional ones) to cycle either the entire island or part of it. There are designated stores across the island who offer assistance in case it’s needed or where you can return the bike if you don’t want to finish a loop.

Things to Do in Jiufen

There aren’t many things to do in Jiufen, hence why many people choose to visit it as a day trip, but personally I believe such places have a lot to offer if you are willing to look for them.

• Wander around the quiet alleys: Step just outside the main Jiufen old street to notice the residential neighborhoods and the everyday life of the locals. This was our favourite thing!

• Grab lunch and a beer with a view: Find one of the restaurants overlooking the valley and enjoy the views. We went to Jiufen Jie Jiao Traditional Diner and although the weather was awful then, we still enjoyed the view and the peace of our little corner.

• Visit Shengming Palace: Although it can’t be compared to Taipei’s sights, The Shengming Palace felt very serene, has a beautiful view of the valley, and was a nice break from the crowded old street.

• Try a traditional tea house: Jiufen is popular for its local tea flavours and for the many tea houses overlooking the valley. A couple of excellent suggestions are Jiufen Teahouse, Artist Teahouse and A-Mei Teahouse.
• Hike the Mount Keelung Trail: This trail is located right next to Jiufen, and is a steep pyramid-shaped peak that is an easy-to-moderate climb up stone staircases. If the weather is clear, you get beautiful panoramic views of the entire northern coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately the weather was really bad when we visited so we didn’t get to do this! Let me know if you go and you like it.
• Press a custom souvenir coin: If you have a soft spot for quirky travel mementos like I do, keep an eye out for the pressed coin machine hidden along Jiufen Old Street. Ιt’s a fun little ritual to crank out a custom penny to remember the trip!

• Leave a wish on the Jiufen Wishing Wall: Stop by one of the wooden blessing walls in the old street. Writing down a wish and hanging it among hundreds of other travelers’ notes is a wonderful, reflective moment.

Final Thoughts: Visiting Jiufen for the First Time

We absolutely loved our trip to Jiufen, and we only wish we had arranged it earlier to find better accommodation options and have spent 1 night there. Everything happens for a reason though, and we ended up staying in Ruifang which was a very rural and authentic place.

Hopefully this guide has helped you figure out how to get to Jiufen from Taipei as well as how to spend your time there. Although a bit touristy, I believe it is worth an overnight stay if you have the time! If not, you can easily visit it for a few hours and then go back to Taipei.