Taiwan: Itinerary for 5 days in Taichung

Taiwan: Itinerary for 5 days in Taichung

Accommodation:  

Where to stay in Taichung?
Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung
12F No. 123, Jianguo Rd., Central Dist., Taichung City, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan, 40043
Read the hotel review

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, Points of Interest, What to do in Taichung in 5 days?

Travel Date: 22-26 July 2023
Travel Goals: Enjoy the coffee shops.  Refrain from shopping.  Focus on Taichung, skip Taipei.  Dine-in at Miyahara.

Night owl flights from Manila to Taipei need special handling.  Thus, I choose the mid-day arrival in Taoyuan.

Day	Places to see	Food and restaurants	Other options
1	Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Cultural Heritage Park market flee at Taichung station	Ramen Zhongshan Branch	Taroko Mall
2	Chimei Museum, Tainan	Miyahara
3	Tsutaya Bookstore Shenji New Village Taichung Park	Keng Tu Yuan Tea House	mezamashikohi trio shopping at GU The Fatory Mojo Coffee
4	National Taichung Theatre National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts	Caffaina Coffee Gallery Dadun Shop café crotchet	Calligraphy Greenway
5	Gloria Outlets Terminal 2 Terminal 1	City burger café Starbucks Qingpu Shop Whittard of Chelsea	National Library of Public Information Daxi Old Street Taoyuan 77 art zone Taiwan High Speed Railway Museum

Itinerary Review

• Always update yourself of national news (like upcoming election, crane fell on train tracks, attacking in the street, stabbing in trains or street, dengue outbreak, heavy rains, weather, hot temperature, evacuation drills)
• Look for restaurants and cafes in advance.  
• Book your reservations in advance on your preferred places

When you are going to Taoyuan airport, what to do on a day with an upcoming storm?

• If you are taking Cebu Pacific back to Manila, arrive at Taoyuan airport earlier than usual.  Drop your luggage in coin lockers in Terminal 1 near counter 1 or the passage going to the Arrival area.
• If you trust the weather and can take a bus to the city of Taoyuan terminal you can visit Taoyuan 77 Art Zone or Rail Museum.
• If you are more confident to take trains, go to HSR Taoyuan station.  You can visit the Taiwan High Speed Railway Museum. Please be mindful that they require booking reservations.  There is also Ikea nearby.  Then, you can visit Gloria outlet mall (this is much recommended on Christmas holiday since they light-up a very tall tree.   
• Go to the airport and play around Terminal 2. Head to the food court in the basement.  There is also a traditional themed dining area in 5F (take the nearby elevator from counter 22).  You can buy from Family Mart here. 
• Looking for capsule hotel in the airport, book at https://chostay.com/

Expense Report

Other sample itineraries and expense reports:

For my further sample itinerary, expense, and trip reports please visit links below:

Itinerary for 7 days in Taipei (2009 October)

Itinerary for 5 days in Taipei and Taichung (2018 Nov-Dec)

Itinerary for 5 days in Taichung (2023 July)

*Remember, you still need to decide for yourself based upon your attraction and fascination over a place or activity.  As well as to consider the pace you want to have while traveling.  Planning too many targets on a day will either exhaust you rather than give you peace and joy on the culture and tradition.

Create your own road, rather than taking someone else's path.  

It can only be a road when one passes it.