Taiwan welcomed 8,574,547 international visitors in 2025 — a 9.12% jump from the previous year — and a newly released government survey reveals which destinations left the deepest impression: Sun Moon Lake claimed the top spot by a wide margin, while the hillside village of Jiufen and Kaohsiung's waterfront Pier-2 Art Center rounded out the top three.
Taiwan's Tourism Administration published the findings in its annual "Survey on Expenditure and Trends of Visitors to Taiwan," drawing on 6,660 valid responses collected at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport, and Kaohsiung International Airport from travelers departing between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
Top 10 Most Loved Destinations Among Visitors to Taiwan in 2025
| Rank | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Moon Lake |
| 2 | Jiufen |
| 3 | Pier-2 Art Center |
| 4 | Tamsui |
| 5 | Yangmingshan |
| 6 | Yehliu |
| 7 | National Palace Museum |
| 8 | Pingxi |
| 9 | Beitou |
| 10 | Taipei 101 |
No. 1 Sun Moon Lake: Top Cycling Trails and Indigenous Culture
Sun Moon Lake, a high-altitude reservoir nestled in the mountains of central Taiwan's Nantou County, secured first place with a preference rate of 38.18% — meaning more than one in three visitors who made the trip named it the single best destination of their stay. Its visit rate stood at 15.81%.
The lake's draw comes from the full range of experiences it offers. Visitors can pedal the circumference cycling path, stopping at the Shuishe waterfront, Wenwu Temple, the Ita Thao village — home to the Thao people, one of Taiwan's Indigenous tribes — and a gondola station with sweeping views over the water. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular on the lake's surface. CNN has recognized the lakeside cycling path as one of the world's 10 most beautiful cycling routes.
Visitor reviews reflect that reputation. "If you want to escape city life, Sun Moon Lake is absolutely the place to unwind," wrote one traveler. Others called it a site "worthy of a dedicated trip," noting that "even in the rainy season, the beauty never lets up." Autumn draws particular praise for the maple leaves and bald cypress trees that line the trails. "The cycling path around Sun Moon Lake is the pride of Taiwan," one reviewer wrote. "Walking along the lakeside, you feel like you've stepped into another world entirely."
No. 2 Jiufen Old Street: Historic Lanes and Lantern-Lit Atmosphere
Jiufen Old Street, perched on a hillside in New Taipei City, ranked second with a 23.18% preference rate. The former gold-mining settlement — once known as the "City of Gold" for the prospecting boom of the early 20th century — has reinvented itself as one of Taiwan's most atmospheric destinations, drawing visitors with its red lanterns, stone staircases, winding lanes, and traditional snack vendors.
With more than 100,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.3 stars, Jiufen inspires strongly worded recommendations. "If you go to Taiwan, Jiufen is a must — you will regret it if you skip it," one visitor wrote. The neighborhood's tea houses, vintage Shengping Theater, and vendors selling taro balls, rice dumplings, and savory snacks give every visit a sensory rhythm that rewards slow exploration.
The experience transforms at dusk. "Once the lanterns light up, the whole hillside town is wrapped in a warm, mysterious glow," reviewers noted. Visitors who arrived in overcast or rainy weather reported being pleasantly surprised: the mist that rolls in from the mountains adds to the atmosphere rather than detracting from it. "There's a feeling of walking straight into a film set," one traveler wrote. "Every photo you take has this incredible quality."
No. 3 Pier-2 Art Center: Kaohsiung's Best Waterfront Cultural Space
Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung claimed the third spot with a 21.69% preference rate — surpassing more established names on the list including Tamsui, Yangmingshan National Park, Yehliu Geopark, and the National Palace Museum. The district was built from a cluster of decommissioned port warehouses along Kaohsiung Harbor's waterfront, repurposed into a sprawling creative complex featuring contemporary art exhibitions, outdoor public installations, performance spaces, independent shops, and walking paths along the water.
Visitors rated the site 4.4 stars from more than 71,000 reviews. "Unbeatable ocean views, a sea breeze, great food, and warm southern sunshine — I'd recommend it to anyone," read one. Others praised the district's flexibility: on weekdays it moves at a quiet, gallery-browsing pace; weekends bring markets, events, and larger crowds. A light-rail line runs alongside the site, making it easy to add a ferry trip to the nearby Qijin coastal peninsula.
"What I love most is how the industrial past and contemporary creativity are fused together so perfectly," one reviewer wrote. "Whether you're an art lover or just looking for a beautiful place to wander, Pier-2 is absolutely worth your time."
