The Best Budget Places to Book in Taichung, Taiwan

A stay at this adults-only hostel in Longjing might remind you of living in student halls (the nice ones, mind you, you have to pay a bit extra for). The super-friendly staff feel more like respectful roommates. The shabby-chic common room is decorated with requisite fairy lights, musical instruments and tourist photos strung up like a happier version of a crime investigation board. There’s a communal garden with barbecue facilities for sunnier days and a kitchen area stocked with spices and sauces. So you don’t have to purchase a whole bottle of tomato ketchup during your stay for the one bacon sandwich you decide to make.

Whatever Lane62 lacks in luxury, it makes up for in incredible customer service. The approachable host, Kerr, is happy to answer any questions guests may have about the accommodation or the local area. He’s also eager to help you discover Taiwanese culture and gastronomy. He’ll even teach you some useful mandarin phrases if you want to learn. All this isn’t to say the hostel itself isn’t up to scratch. In fact, it boasts an urban interior design and a location a 10-minute walk from attractions like TungHai night market and Tung Hai Arts street. Who needs a spa or fancy soft furnishings when you’ve got all that?

It might be a budget hotel, but with its chic interior, the Kiwi Express Hotel certainly doesn’t look like it. Its minimalist aesthetic keeps it sleek, while industrial touches such as exposed brick and black metal give it a hipster edge. This attention to detail isn’t just in the private rooms, but the dorms too. Kiwi Express is an ideal base for exploring the city since it’s less than a 10-minute walk from Taichung Train Station and less than five from Miyahara (a health bureau building turned famous bakery, designed to look like Hogwarts). What’s more, you can easily rent bicycles from the front desk to get around the city.

Don’t let the old-fashioned look of this hotel in the Beitun District, just north of Taichung City, put you off. You won’t see its bed runners or questionable brown carpets on Pinterest anytime soon, but the rooms are huge, the beds are comfy and the Chinese-style breakfast buffet is incredible. The Taichung Folklore Park is extremely close by, while Yizhong Street Night Market is around 30 minutes on foot and the National Museum of Natural Science is about 50. The low price per night reflects the extended travel you have to do to reach Taichung’s tourist big hitters.

We’re not sure you’d want to hermit away all day in this no-frills three-star hotel, but if you want an affordable stay in the Wuqi District, it’s a solid choice. Despite the low price, all rooms are private and have bathrooms too. Plus, there’s a complimentary daily breakfast to fuel you up for the 25-minute walk to the Port of Taichung or the 30-minute one to Taichung City Seaport Art Center.

We reckon this three-star stay got its name from all the guests entering its lobby and thinking they’ve walked into the wrong hotel. Its photogenic lobby area, complete with a floral ceiling display and neon sign, has all the trappings of a much more upscale hotel. The design details continue into the private rooms and suites, but incorporate much more childlike elements such as cartoon murals on the walls. And yet, the Whoops Hotel is an affordable place to stay in the busy Xitun District. The area’s must-visit spots, including the Feng Chia night market, the national theatre and Taichung Central Park, are just a short walk away.

A good night’s sleep is inevitable at this sophisticated-looking hotel in the East District. Deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers in the bathrooms help you relax and wind down from a long day of sightseeing, while the pillow-top beds and cloud-soft bedding provide ultimate comfort. There’s even a pillow menu so you can choose the perfect one on which to lay your head. Getting such a good rest will mean you’ll have plenty of energy to visit the nearby ZhongXiao night market, Taroko Mall and Taichung City Hall. There’s also a bus stop and train station (free shuttle available from the hotel) nearby, from where you can reach the city’s many other attractions.

If you’re willing to stay outside the main city and travel to Taichung’s best-known sights, you’ll be rewarded with a clean and comfortable hotel at an extremely low price. The decor is simple but chic, the beds are inviting and there’s a daily continental breakfast included in your booking. Visiting the city’s landmarks from this hotel in the Wuri District isn’t hard, either. The Rainbow Village and Feng Chia Night Market, for example, are both less than a 20-minute drive away and less than an hour on public transport.