The old town and Anping are the headline acts. This is everything else, the experiences we love most and that most visitors never hear about. Some take a half or full day, a few need a car, one is a night out on the water in the middle of the city. They don't fit neatly into a temple list or a food guide, so we've gathered them here, and we'll keep adding to the collection as we go.
These are also, frankly, the experiences we most want to share in person one day. Consider this our favorites shelf.
The collection
Qigu oyster lagoon tour. Ride a bamboo raft out across Taiwan's largest lagoon to the oyster racks, learn how they're farmed, and eat an hour's worth of just-grilled oysters at the water's edge. Sweet, plump, and unforgettable. → Qigu oyster tour
Anping canal night cruise. A boat glides the old canal after dark, ducking under low bridges lit up like a string of jewels. The closest Tainan gets to the Seine. → Canal night cruise
Xingda Harbor fish market. A drive down the coast to a beloved working fishing port: rows of the day's catch, sashimi straight off the boats, and a legendary knife shop. → Xingda fish market
Dongshan 175 coffee road. Up into the hills along the road that made Tainan the heart of Taiwanese coffee, where the grower pours your cup and the beans carry the scent of the surrounding orchards. → Dongshan coffee road
(More to come. We add favorites over time.)
A note on these
Most of these sit outside the city, and several are best with a car or a willing driver. Times and prices shift, and a few depend on tides or the weather, so each guide has the current details and we keep them updated. And if any of these sounds like something you'd rather do with a local who knows the timing and the people, that's exactly where we're headed. Tell us on the page and you'll be first to know. → Work with us