Hualien
Peaceful and less flashy than many competitors, this clean, pleasant station area hostel wins on its friendly family management, its bright, naturally lit…
Must-see hotels in Taiwan
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
While there are classier places on the surrounding lowlands and slopes, if you want to be right at the highest point of Luye Plateau, with the best…
Penghu Islands
One of two pseudo-Greek houses on Chimei, the unmissable main building looks like a comic book caricature of a Santorini church complete with murals and…
Taipei
This former dorm for paper-factory workers has been converted into an elegant budget hotel with 111 beds divided into dorms and rooms. Although there's no…
Taipei
Unlike other heritage hotels, this restored home close to Dihua St keeps the smallest heritage details in its four huge rooms. Beautifully furnished and…
Tainan
With a mix of vintage and designer furniture in the communal areas, and rooms that combine old-world charm with minimalism, this B&B has stolen the hearts…
Taipei
The Rido is a kooky little boutique hotel with very classy rooms that are elegantly furnished in modern, old-Shanghai or European styles. Rooms are…
Taitung
Perfectly located, this sparkling new place offers comfy, unfussy contemporary rooms along with high-quality, curtain-bunked dorms with good lockers.
Hualien
With the youthful vibe of a hostel but the quality fittings of an upper midrange hotel, Meci is a great choice in the station area, with good beds,…
Hualien
Steel rebar, manacles and taps fashioned from old petrol pumps give a striking image to the ground-floor pub which plays high-volume rap music. Upstairs,…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
It's well worth the three flights of stairs to discover central Yuli's best backpacker hideaway, with bright, well-spaced dorms, small lockers, a pleasant…
Hualien
For sea views plus a city centre location close to the night market, there's a whole row of tall, thin choices on Haibin Rd. From outside, View Ocean…
Kaohsiung
A once-flourishing wedding shop has been turned by the owners' grandson into a quirky hostel that won an architectural award for its restoration. The…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
The name doesn't lie. This small guesthouse really does ooze originality, fronted by a bar-bookshop and with offbeat curiosities giving character to the…
Kaohsiung
Two tastefully furnished floors of a 50-year-old building, accommodating up to 6 and 8 respectively, are available for rent. There's a simple kitchen,…
Taroko National Park
Run by members of the Taroko tribe, in part as a way to illustrate their culture and history, this comfortable, low-rise resort consists of 18 two-room…
Penghu Islands
Right at the harbour, Calamari has sparkling new rooms, the three best presenting triple aspect views of the ferry port area. The hip decor sometimes puts…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Low-key but contemporary hot-spring hotel where the 'golden' mineral water is piped to your private walk-in tub, or you can use the small communal pool in…
Taichung
A pleasant courtyard set back from the street leads you to this clean, solar-powered hostel offering five floors of single-sex dorms with eight to 10 beds…
Hualien
All but four of Fuyuan's rooms are in a well-preserved traditional mansion, set between little carp ponds, a classically Fujian-style tearoom and a pretty…
Penghu Islands
Almost the last house in the village as you circle Jibei Island anticlockwise, Miracle Inn has plenty of low-key style, big terraces and a pleasant…
Taroko National Park
One of the Taroko region's best options, Liiko Hotel offers top-quality rooms, English-speaking staff, an artistically contemporary foyer and unstuffy…
Tainan
A history fanatic has acquired a 40-year-old building and installed history-themed guestrooms fashioned to resemble (more or less) a Dutch fortress, a…
Taipei
The fresh and colourful Dandy offers funkily decorated and spacious rooms – if you're lucky you'll get the one with bowler-hat lampshades – and thick pile…
Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel
Tainan
Superbly located right behind the train station, Shangri-La has 333 rooms with plush beds and impeccable service. Most rooms offer a view of the city, and…
Taichung
A modern hotel offering pristine service and long, narrow but supercomfortable rooms equipped with trendy gadgets and excellent beds. Decor is all about…
Western Taiwan
The old-world charm from this Japanese-era hotel is a bit faded, but it's still Alishan's top hotel. The food in the restaurant is so-so, but the outdoor…
Taipei
One of the best-value places to stay in Tamsui, just up from the MRT on a small hill and next to the morning market. All rooms have big picture windows,…
Western Taiwan
A narrow building with six en-suite doubles. The grey-walled rooms feature a bed on a raised pine platform, separate toilet and showering facilities, a…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Immaculately maintained contemporary rooms are softened with picture detailing in this Mediterranean-flavoured guesthouse, which is enviably placed on the…
Penghu Islands
Friendly hosts offer simple modern comforts behind a pseudo-antique facade in the heart of Magong's prettiest area. It's the first house on the left in…
Penghu Islands
Compared to the many more fanciful guesthouse buildings along the Shanshui strip, Bayhouse has a certain homey modesty. Helpful staff speak English, there…
Kaohsiung
This hotel has 158 ultramodern and sleek rooms with enormous beds inside a completely renovated building. The dark-hued furniture blends well with the…
Taipei
A friendly and helpful hostel option. Kevin and Jenny speak good English and run a tight ship. Dorms are six-people rooms: all come with their own…
Southern Taiwan
Five spacious and relaxing rooms featuring luxurious stone bathtubs ('spa') and views of rice paddies or flower fields. Rates dip below NT$2000 on…
Taipei
This little vintage hotel is beautifully decorated with prints of 1930s Taiwan, old radio sets and telephonic equipment. The male reception staff are…
Northern Taiwan
This guesthouse is actually a number of individual midrange rooms set in various locations on the hillsides around Jiufen. Most have superb sea views…
Southern Taiwan
This B&B with a pottery workshop has four modern rooms inside an elegant replica of a Hakka courtyard complex. Bikes are free for guests. There is no…
Kaohsiung
Quiet, comfortable rooms right next to the southeastern end of Pier-2 Art Center. Rates include a sumptuous breakfast buffet. There are always plenty of…
Northern Taiwan
This branch of the Lakeshore chain is not near the lake, but it is an excellent-value, midrange business hotel, with smart modern rooms and a great…
