The Best Hot Springs to Destress and Unwind in Taiwan

Just a short MRT ride from the center of Taipei, Beitou is one of the most accessible hot spring areas in Taiwan. Here, where the dormant Datun Volcano group provides an endless supply of thermal waters, there are scores of hot spring resorts to suit all budgets.Perhaps the most famous hot spring though is the public one located just a short walk from Beitou Hot Spring Museum. It’s an incredibly popular place so best to visit during the week. However, if you prefer something more private then try a private hot spring room at the Grand View Resort.

A little further from Taipei you’ll find the aboriginal village of Wulai, which is also home to several hot spring spa resorts and a public riverside hot spring. The area is a very interesting place to visit even without the hot spring as there are waterfalls, a cable car, and even a mini-train to keep tourists amused. The riverside hot spring is the most popular, and it is pretty easy to find. Walk through the village and cross the bridge and there you’ll see the public hot spring area down by the river.

Set in the Hualien countryside, Wenshan Hot Spring is a great place to visit – if you can find it. It’s well off the beaten track, and even Taiwanese people don’t go there very often. This amazing outdoor hot spring has a shallow pool and a cave which make it a most memorable spot to visit.

Located in the famous Jiaoxi hot spring area in Yilan, Tangweigou Hot Spring Park offers more than thermal waters. At this hot spring, you can relax in warm, soothing waters while doctor fish work on your feet, nibbling away dead skin. Set in a beautiful area, this park is a very popular weekend destination for residents of Taipei as it is only a short train ride from the city.

Opened in 1939 by the then Japanese Governor of Taiwan, these hot springs are unique in that due to the location you not only have different varieties of water available but you can also have a view of the ocean while you relax. This hot spring also provides both male and female naked pools, and for those uncomfortable with public nudity, there are private rooms too.

One of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, Zhaori on Green Island is a once in a lifetime experience, fed by a combination of seawater and the underground thermal waters of this small volcanic island.There are three pools that face the ocean, and settling in the relaxing waters to enjoy the sunrise is an experience not to be missed.

This Japanese-style hot spring is in a wonderful location in beautiful Puli. There are mountains on both sides of the hot spring so to say the views are wonderful would be an understatement. Set in a quiet area near to Guanyin Falls, this place is the perfect spot to get away from it all and enjoy some relaxation in the lush green countryside.