Hualien

Gateway to Taroko’s Marble Wonders

Hualien is a coastal city on Taiwan’s east side where mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. The area is known for Taroko Gorge, with marble cliffs and rivers cutting through them. Local markets sell fresh seafood and mountain-grown vegetables. Trails lead into dense forests and small villages sit near rice paddies. Train rides along the coast provide views of cliffs and waves. Hualien balances quiet countryside life with easy access to natural landmarks, making it a starting point for exploring eastern Taiwan’s landscapes and culture.

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City in Taiwan

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.5

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	8

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, hostels, and tourist sites, but less so in rural villages and small shops. A translation app is handy, but you’ll find locals friendly and eager to help.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Hualien Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Read how our scores work

Outstanding for dramatic coastal mountains. Visit Taroko Gorge for hiking and photography, cycle scenic coastal roads and explore rivers and cliffs.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Street food

Hiking

Mountains

Sea

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 8

Solo

Taiwan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	110 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) £1 ≈ NT$43.16
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Taiwan, especially in major cities. The EasyCard (a stored-value card for public transport and convenience stores) and mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are common. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not expected in Taiwan, and it is not common to leave tips in restaurants, taxis, or hotels.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Taiwan, but alcohol is typically consumed in licensed venues such as bars and restaurants.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, but there are designated smoking areas outdoors.

Lunar New Year (date varies)	Celebrated with family gatherings and feasts
National Day (10 October)	Taiwan’s National Day

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Taiwan Taxi
Other:	Taiwan is known for its night markets, beautiful mountains, and vibrant cities. It is a popular destination for food lovers and nature enthusiasts.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Hualien, Taiwan

☁️

Jan

🌦️

Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

☁️

Dec

High season:	April, July - Aug., Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - March, May - June, Sep.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Typhoon season July to October: Taroko Gorge roads and trails often close for landslides and rockfall

Taroko trails can close any time after heavy rain or earthquakes; check status before booking permits

Whale and dolphin watching runs April to October from Hualien harbour

Don't miss

🥾 Hike stunning trails in Taroko Gorge National Park
🌲 Visit historic Pine Garden with sea views
🌙 Explore Dongdamen Night Market for local street food
🐋 Take whale-watching tours off Hualien coast
🏖️ Relax on scenic Qixingtan Beach with pebble shore
🌉 Admire views from Jinghua Bridge at Meilun River

You've been here?

Why travel to Hualien?

Hualien is the perfect base for exploring Taroko National Park, home to jaw-dropping marble gorges, lush forests and some of the best hiking in Asia. The city itself is relaxed and welcoming, with a unique blend of indigenous culture, cozy coffee shops and buzzing night markets like Dongdamen. You can cycle along the coast, relax on pebble beaches or dive into local street food after a day of outdoor adventure. Hualien is less crowded than Taiwan’s west coast cities, but weather can be unpredictable – bring rain gear and be cautious of typhoons, especially in late summer. Some trails in Taroko can be steep or slippery, so proper footwear is a must. English is spoken in tourist areas, but less so in rural spots, so a translation app helps.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 ChangChun Shrine
2 Jinheng bridge

🎡Places for activities

1 Shakadang Trail
2 Dongdamen Night Market

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Liyu Lake
2 Qingshui Cliff
3 Baiyang Pubu
4 Swallow Grotto
5 Liwu
6 Section 5, Zhongshan Road

🛍️Shopping

1 Dongdamen Night Market

🎈Events

Hualien Summer Festival
Taroko Music Festival
Indigenous Harvest Festival
Hualien Hot Air Balloon Festival
Chinese New Year Lantern Festival
Dongdamen Night Market celebrations
Dragon Boat Festival
Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn)
Hualien Marathon
Flower festivals (spring)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Check Taroko Gorge access updates; trails reopen unpredictably.
Book weekend trains early; Hualien fills up during holidays and good-weather windows.
Spend an evening at Dongdamen Night Market for regional snacks and Indigenous flavors.
For ocean views without crowds, head to Qixingtan pebble beach around sunrise or late afternoon.

How to travel to Hualien

Fly to Hualien Airport from Taipei, Kaohsiung or Taichung or take a scenic train ride from Taipei (about 2–3 hours). Buses and taxis connect the airport and train station to the city center. Taroko Gorge is easily reached by bus or taxi from Hualien.

Access summary

From Hualien Airport (HUN): Short taxi or bus to city, about 10–20 minutes.
From Taipei: Express train from Taipei Main Station, usually around 2–3 hours.
From Taipei Songshan Airport: Domestic flight to Hualien, about 40 minutes’ flying time.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Hualien

Hualien offers a wide range of options: boutique hotels and hostels in the city, cozy B&Bs and homestays near Taroko. For a nature escape, consider a mountain lodge or riverside guesthouse. Book ahead on weekends and holidays.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Lakeshore Hotel Hualien

8.8

Kindness Hotel Hualien

9.4

Parkview Hotel Hualien

8.8

Hualien Holiday Hotel

8.8

Shiny Ocean Hotel

8.5

Just Sleep Hotel Hualien Zhongzheng

8.9

Hotelday Plus Hualien

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Hualien

Hualien city is compact and walkable, with taxis and buses for longer trips. Biking is popular along the coast. To reach Taroko Gorge and other sights, use local buses, rent a scooter or join a tour. Trains and buses connect Hualien with other cities, but schedules can be limited in rural areas.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-61 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 61% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-11 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to TWD) is 11% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Yilan, Taiwan - 89 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£37	£78	£203
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£49	£113
🍝 Food per day	£15	£25	£73
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£4	£17

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.60
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£2.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£10.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£28
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£11.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Hualien is very safe, with low crime. The main risks are natural: slippery trails, sudden rain, typhoons and earthquakes. Always check weather and trail conditions before heading out.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with hospitals and clinics in the city. Pharmacies are widely available. Bring personal medications and be aware that some rural areas are far from medical help.

Accessibility

City attractions and main trails are accessible, but some mountain hikes and rural areas have steep, uneven paths. Wheelchair access is improving, but check ahead for specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is officially potable but most visitors drink bottled or boiled water. Bring a refillable bottle for filtered water, which is widely available at hotels and hostels.

Packing recommendations for Hualien

Comfortable walking shoes

🌞

Sun cream

🚰

Reusable water bottle

👕

Light, breathable clothing

📱

Translation app or phrasebook

📱

Travel eSIM

🔌

Universal travel adaptor

💳

Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Nearby recommended places

Taipei

Taichung

Kaohsiung

Jiufen

Taroko National Park

Sun Moon Lake

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Summary:	Cool and drizzly, mild by the coast
Temperature:	15 – 21 °C
Water temp.:	24 °C
Rain:	72 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Cool and drizzly, Lunar New Year crowds
Temperature:	16 – 22 °C
Water temp.:	24 °C
Rain:	101 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Mild and changeable, good for Taroko hikes
Temperature:	18 – 23 °C
Water temp.:	24 °C
Rain:	87 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Warm and pleasant, ideal for hiking
Temperature:	20 – 26 °C
Water temp.:	26 °C
Rain:	96 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Warm and humid, rain showers increase
Temperature:	22 – 28 °C
Water temp.:	28 °C
Rain:	195 mm (Rain nearly every day)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists