Taiwan Night Views by Car: 8 Viewpoints in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung You Can Only Easily Reach by Car (Drive Times, Parking and Late Returns)

Taiwan Night Views by Car: 8 Viewpoints in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung You Can Only Easily Reach by Car (Drive Times, Parking and Late Returns)

The hard part of seeing a great night view in Taiwan is rarely finding a pretty spot. It is getting up there and getting back down. Everyone knows the city viewpoints you can reach by metro, but the widest views are usually on hillsides, plateaus or the coast, where buses are infrequent and the last one leaves early. By the time the lights come on it is already 8 or 9 pm, and a taxi is not always easy to find. This guide covers only 8 night-view spots that are much easier by car, two each in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. For every spot we list how long it takes from the nearest pickup point, where to park, and how to return the car after dark.

Taipei 101 and the Taipei Basin from the hills; the best moment is when the sky turns from purple to dark (Unsplash, tagged by the photographer as Taipei; for illustration)

Why Drive to a Night View? All 8 Spots at a Glance

Night-view spots share two things: they are high (hillsides and plateaus) or out of the way (coast and countryside). There may be a bus in the daytime, but services thin out after dusk. At Wanggaoliao in Taichung, for example, buses are few and the last one leaves in the late afternoon, so if you wait for dark you need your own way down. With a car you can have dinner below, drive up just before sunset, and afterwards head to a night market or straight back to your hotel without watching the clock.

Drive times are Google Maps estimates for a Friday departure at 18:00. Weekends, long holidays and event crowds take longer.

Taipei: Bishanyan Temple and the Hills Behind Chinese Culture University

Bishanyan Temple (Neihu): a basin view with easy parking

Bishanyan is a hillside temple in Neihu, in the northeast of Taipei. Its forecourt looks straight over the Taipei Basin, and on a clear night you can pick out Taipei 101, the Grand Hotel area and the lights around Songshan Airport, with rivers of car headlights below. Its big advantage is that the temple has its own car park; from there a short flight of stone steps takes you to the forecourt, so you do not have to hunt for space on a mountain road. A minibus runs here in the daytime, but services are sparse at night, so driving is easiest.

• Drive time: about 25–55 minutes from Taipei Main Station (around 14 km, traffic dependent).
• Parking: temple car park; evening opening hours and fees as posted on site.
• Etiquette: it is an active temple, so keep your voice down at night and do not use a flash towards the main hall.

Behind Chinese Culture University (Yangmingshan): the classic sea of lights

The area behind Chinese Culture University on Yangmingshan is close to the basin and wide open, and it is where many Taipei locals saw their first night view. The city lights stretch all the way to the horizon. You drive up via Yangde Boulevard, which is busy on weekend evenings, and legal parking spaces nearby are limited, so use marked bays only and never double-park or block a lane.

• Drive time: about 30 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes from Taipei Main Station (around 16 km, traffic dependent).
• Traffic controls: on long holidays and during the flower season, Yangde Boulevard may restrict private cars heading up the mountain. Times and rules change, so check the latest Taipei City Government and police announcements before you go.
• Weather: Yangmingshan gets foggy easily, and in thick fog you will see nothing. Check the forecast and live cameras first.

To combine a day on Yangmingshan with a night view, see our Yangmingshan National Park self-drive guide; for more drives from Taipei, see 5 self-drive routes from Taipei.

Taichung: Wanggaoliao Night View Park and Aofengshan Viewing Platform

Taichung's high-rises at night; looking east from the Dadu Plateau you see this sea of city lights (Unsplash, tagged by the photographer as Taichung at night; for illustration)

Wanggaoliao Night View Park (Nantun): Taichung's classic date spot

Wanggaoliao sits at the southern end of the Dadu Plateau and looks east over the whole of Taichung. It is the night view locals recommend most. The park has free parking bays for cars and scooters and public toilets near the entrance. Buses are few and stop early, so a car is by far the easiest way to get down after dark. The address is No. 601, Zhongtai Road, Nantun District, Taichung.

• Drive time: about 15–25 minutes from HSR Taichung Station (around 7 km); about 25 minutes to 1 hour from the Taichung Railway Station store (around 13 km; city traffic is heavy in the early evening).
• Parking: free car and scooter bays in the park; it is busy on weekends and New Year's Eve, so arrive before sunset.
• Nearby: afterwards, drive north to the Tunghai University area for dinner and Tunghai Night Market, a favourite local date-night combination.

Aofengshan Viewing Platform (Qingshui): sunset into night on the coast side

Aofengshan Park is in Qingshui, on Taichung's coastal side. The viewing platform looks over Qingshui towards the coast, so you can watch the sunset and then wait for the lights. The park's slide playground has become very popular and the car park next to it has very few spaces; local police have suggested using the Taichung Municipal Velodrome car park, the roadside bays on Aohai Road, or the car park at the foot of Aofengshan instead. From there you walk up a slope or steps to the platform.

• Drive time: about 30–50 minutes from HSR Taichung Station (around 36 km via Freeway 3); about 25–40 minutes from Wanggaoliao, so both fit into one evening.
• Parking: roadside bays fill up on weekends; arrive early or park further away and walk.

For more Taichung ideas see 5 self-drive routes in Taichung. Pickup steps are in our HSR Taichung Station car rental guide and Taichung Railway Station car rental guide.

Tainan: Yuguang Island and Anping Sunset Viewing Platform

Tainan is flat, with no hilltop overlooking the city like Taipei or Taichung, so the Tainan way to do it is watch the sunset by the sea and stay while the sky darkens. The Anping coastline is the best place for this, about half an hour to an hour from Tainan HSR Station.

Sunset on Yuguang Island beach; after the sun drops into the Taiwan Strait the sky glows for a while longer (Unsplash, tagged by the photographer as Yuguang Island, Anping, Tainan; for illustration)

Yuguang Island crescent beach: the best sea sunset in Tainan

Yuguang Island lies just south of Anping. Its crescent-shaped beach and casuarina forest trail are popular sunset spots. The island has only one way in and out, over the narrow Yuguang Bridge, so traffic can back up after events or on busy weekend evenings. The city has added car parks and a shuttle area on the island in recent years, and weekday evenings are usually manageable.

• Drive time: about 30 minutes to 1 hour from Tainan HSR Station (around 23 km via Provincial Highway 86, traffic dependent).
• Tips: it gets windy and cool by the sea after dark, so bring a jacket; there are no lifeguards at night, so do not go into the water.

Anping Sunset Viewing Platform: sunset, then Anping Old Street

As the name says, the Sunset Viewing Platform by Anping Harbour is built for watching the sun go down. Afterwards you can head to Anping Old Street and Anping Fort for dinner. It is about 12–20 minutes from Yuguang Island, so you can watch the sunset at one and take an evening stroll at the other.

• Drive time: about 35 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes from Tainan HSR Station (around 27 km, traffic dependent).
• Parking: there are many private car parks around Anping with very different rates, so check the price before you enter; the Tainan transport bureau also recommends the cheaper large public car parks. General tips are in our guide to parking in Taiwan.

For daytime plans see 5 self-drive routes in Tainan; pickup steps are in our Tainan HSR Station car rental guide.

Kaohsiung: Shoushan Lovers' Observation Deck and Zhongliao Mountain

High-rises by Kaohsiung harbour at night; from Shoushan you can see the China Steel building and the port lights (Unsplash, tagged by the photographer as Kaohsiung; for illustration)

Shoushan Lovers' Observation Deck (Gushan): harbour and 85 Sky Tower in one view

The Shoushan Lovers' Observation Deck is next to the Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine. From up here you see Kaohsiung harbour, Cijin, 85 Sky Tower, the Dream Mall area and the China Steel building, which makes it one of the city's most popular night views. The shrine's halls close in the late afternoon, but the outer plaza and the deck can still be visited in the evening. There is a free car park below the shrine, but spaces are limited and fill up fast on weekends, so arrive before dusk.

• Drive time: about 10–25 minutes from Kaohsiung Railway Station (around 4 km); about 20–45 minutes from HSR Kaohsiung (Zuoying) (around 10 km, traffic dependent).
• Mountain road: the road up has many bends and plenty of scooters at night; slow down on curves and never cut corners.

Zhongliao Mountain (Tianliao): light trails and badlands far from the city

Zhongliao Mountain sits between Tianliao and Qishan districts at about 421 m. A viewing platform at the top looks down on Freeway 3 traffic and the badlands around the Moon World area, and photographers come here to shoot light trails. There is a free car park next to the leisure farm at the summit. No public transport runs here in the evening, so a car is the only practical way.

• Drive time: about 45 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes from HSR Kaohsiung (Zuoying) (around 39 km via Freeway 10, traffic dependent).
• Tips: the road up is narrow with little lighting; pull over and slow down when passing oncoming cars. On a first visit, go up before dark.

For daytime ideas see 5 self-drive routes in Kaohsiung; pickup steps are in our Zuoying car rental guide.

Where to Pick Up, and How to Return the Car After a Night View

Night-view trips usually start in the late afternoon and finish after 8 or 9 pm, so plan your return time before you book. The table lists the pickup points near these 8 spots; bookable times are as shown on the booking page.

The Taipei Main Station store location is explained in our Taipei Main Station car rental guide. Travelling from north to south? A one-way rental lets you pick up in the north and return in the south; the fee is shown in the online quote and differs by location. See 10 one-way rental routes.

8 Tips for Mountain Roads and Parking at Night

The view is beautiful, but mountain roads need more care at night than in the daytime (Unsplash, tagged by the photographer as Taipei; for illustration)

1. Go up before dark: on a first visit, arrive before sunset so you see the road and the parking area in daylight.
2. Dip your high beams: use high beams on empty mountain roads, but switch back before an oncoming vehicle.
3. Slow down on bends: Shoushan and Yangmingshan have many scooters at night; keep right and never cut corners.
4. Park only in marked bays: do not follow others who stop on bends or in a lane; illegal parking can be ticketed and is dangerous.
5. Leave nothing valuable in sight: take bags and cameras with you when you get out.
6. Turn back in fog: Yangmingshan and Zhongliao Mountain fog up easily; if you cannot see the view, there is no point pushing on.
7. Do not drive tired: after a full day out, swap drivers or rest before heading back.
8. Fuel and breakdowns: check the fuel gauge before you set off and show the included fuel card when an attendant fills up for you; if anything goes wrong with the car, contact your pickup store first (the number is in your booking confirmation).

Road rules are covered in our guide to driving rules in Taiwan, and fuel stations in our guide to gas stations in Taiwan.

How Much Does It Cost?

• Rent: depends on car type, dates and pickup point. Economy cars (New Vios, New Yaris, Yaris Cross, New Colt Plus) start from NT$1,199 on weekdays and NT$1,399 at weekends; actual prices vary by pickup location and date, so check the online quote. The longer you rent, the lower the daily average.
• Fuel charge: charged by the actual distance driven, with no distance limit. A night-view outing is usually a few dozen kilometres there and back; you can check the online quote first.
• Fuel card: every car comes with a dedicated fuel card. Fuel is included in the fuel charge, so you do not pay for fuel yourself and you do not need to refill before returning the car. If you forget the card and pay for fuel yourself, keep the receipt and the full amount will be deducted from your fuel charge.
• ETC: all cars have an ETC tag. Freeway tolls are charged at the rental-car rate of NT$1.2 per km and settled when you return the car; staff can provide a breakdown on request. Details are in our guide to ETC freeway tolls in Taiwan.
• GO Worry-Free Protection Plan: visibility is lower on mountain roads at night. For extra peace of mind you can add the GO Worry-Free Protection Plan when booking, which reduces the amount you are responsible for if the car is damaged; see the website for details.
• Cars: for two people, a five-seater New Vios, New Yaris, Yaris Cross or New Colt Plus is plenty; for a group, choose a seven- or nine-seater Wish, M7 Turbo ECO Hyper, Staria, Starex or Touran. Availability on the day is as shown on the booking page.

To learn how the fuel charge works, see the fuel charge page and our fuel charges explained; for a rough budget, see how much a rental car costs per day in Taiwan.

FAQ

Q1. Can I drive in Taiwan with my own country's licence?

If your country has a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan, bring a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), your original national licence and your passport; you can drive for 30 days after entry. If you stay longer than 30 days, you need to get the IDP endorsed at a motor vehicle office. Japanese visitors need a Japanese licence plus an official Chinese translation (Japanese-issued IDPs are not valid in Taiwan). A valid Hong Kong or Macau licence is accepted for renting with Goodcars, and Hong Kong visitors are advised to bring their IDP as well. Foreign renters need to pay with a credit card in the name of the person who made the booking. More details are in our complete guide to renting a car in Taiwan for foreign visitors.

Q2. Can I return the car the same night?

It depends on the pickup point. HSR Taichung, Tainan HSR, HSR Kaohsiung (Zuoying) and Kaohsiung Railway Station are self-service car park stations that can be booked from 00:00 to 23:55, so just choose an evening return slot. The Taipei Main Station and Taichung Railway Station stores are staffed from 09:00 to 21:00; outside those hours, call the store first and they will arrange it, or rent for two days and return the next day.

Q3. Which spot is easiest to park at?

Wanggaoliao Night View Park in Taichung (free bays, plenty of space) and Bishanyan Temple in Neihu (temple car park) are the easiest. The hardest on weekend evenings are the area behind Chinese Culture University on Yangmingshan and the Shoushan Lovers' Observation Deck, so arrive before sunset.

Q4. Are there traffic controls on Yangmingshan at night?

On long holidays and during the flower season, Yangde Boulevard may restrict private cars heading up the mountain. Times and rules vary, so follow the latest Taipei City Government and police announcements. Weekday evenings are usually free of controls, but weekends are busy, so allow extra time.

Q5. Can I see two night views in one evening?

Yes. Wanggaoliao to Aofengshan in Taichung takes about 25–40 minutes, and Yuguang Island to the Anping Sunset Viewing Platform in Tainan about 12–20 minutes, so both pairs work well in one evening: sunset by the sea, then the lights from higher ground.

Q6. How far in advance should I book? Can I rent at short notice?

Online bookings need to be completed 12–24 hours before pickup depending on the location; for last-minute rentals, call the store directly or contact us via WhatsApp. Store teams use translation apps to help, and some stores can speak English. Friday and weekend evenings are popular, so book as soon as your dates are set.

Q7. Do I need to pay for fuel or refill before returning the car?

No. Goodcars cars come with a dedicated fuel card; show it when an attendant fills up for you. Fuel is already included in the fuel charge, and you do not need to refill before returning the car.