Hot Springs in Taiwan

Taiwan sits at the interface of two tectonic plates, so its no surprise there are over 100 hot springs in Taiwan. Hot springs spas in Taiwan come in three types: private rooms (湯屋), public mixed-sex (大眾池), and men’s/women’s nude sex-segregated pools (男湯/女湯).

Private rooms range from super simple wooden or tiled windowless boxes to fancy hotel rooms with a bed for…resting! You typically get 60-90 minutes.

Most mixed-sex hot spring pools require a swimming hat (泳帽), which you can buy on site if you don’t have. Most mixed-sex hot springs don’t have a rule against bringing kids in, but some do, so it’s best to ask before being disappointed.

Swimsuits are required to be worn. Unlike japanese hot springs, tattoos are fine everywhere.

A whole cuisine has developed around hot springs in Taiwan. Generally, this food is served in hot spring hotels and meant to be enjoyed after a soak. A lot of spas offer hot springs & meal packages, which are often a great deal.

Lisong Hot Springs

One of Taiwan’s most stunning natural thermal pools is Lisong Hot Springs, which can be found tucked away in the rugged highlands of Taitung. This geothermal spring is known for its green wall and seclusion in a canyon.

Visitors can only reach the springs by taking a moderate walk down 1.7km/1 mile to the valley floor, which takes about an hour. The trek isn’t long, but it’s steep, and ropes are installed to help hikers make their way down.

Once you’ve made it to the riverbank, you’ll need to ford the water twice before you arrive at the pools. This spring is particularly stunning because of the hot mineral water that rushes down the colorful canyon wall and the clouds of steam that rise back up to the green trees above the river.

A colorful spectrum of crystalized elements on the canyon wall includes shades of green, white, yellow, brown, and orange. The modest-sized pools are filled with water temperatures ranging from 45 to 65 ° C/113 to 149 ° F, but they cool off enough to make it ok for soaking.

The best time to visit is on a weekday, sometime between November and March. It’s advantageous and easier to reach when the water levels are low and not on weekends when the trail and pools get crowded. These springs are free to use.

Yangmingshan Hot Spring

The term “Yangmingshan Hot Spring” doesn’t refer to one but numerous hot springs dotting the slopes and base of the mountain.

These include, on the Taipei City “front side” (Qianshan or 前山) of the mountain: Beitou and Xingyi Road hot springs (see the next two entries), Qianshan Public Hot Spring (前山公園公共溫泉浴池) in Yangmingshan village, and Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), which means “cold water pit” but is actually a hot spring.

The “back side” (Houshan or 後山) of Yangmingshan includes opulent Tienlai Hot Spring Resort (see on Booking / Klook), wild Bayan Hot Spring (see below), and the numerous hot springs of Jinshan in New Taipei City.

Beitou Hot Spring

As the only major hot spring resort that is right in Taipei City and MRT-accessible, Beitou is probably the most famous hot spring in all of Taiwan.

Much more than just a hot spring, Beitou is a whole historic district developed by the Japanese during their 50-year colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945).

Come here for a little slice of traditional Japan in Taiwan, including the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (formally the Japanese Public Bathhouse), hot spring ramen shops, hot spring parks, historic bathhouses, and of course, loads of hot spring spas to choose from.

The most popular spot is Beitou Public Hot Spring (see below pic). Entry is cheap, but it tends to be crowded, and it closes every two hours for cleaning. Also note that they have annoying rules for bathing suits which often only seem to apply to foreigners – no bikinis for women and no loose board shorts for men (they want speedos or tight black swimming trunks, which you can buy there if needed). Swimming hats are also needed and sold there.

Spring City Resort (北投春天酒店) is the only kid-friendly hot spring in Beitou, and its the other co-ed one (with bathing suits) beside Beitou Public Hot Spring.

For a classier experience, try this deal for Gaia Hot Spring Resort, which has a cool library-like lobby. You may find the prices in Beitou are more expensive than other hot spring resorts in Taiwan.

Xingyi Road Hot Springs

Come to Xingyi Road for a totally traditional and off-the-beaten-track Taipei hot spring experience. About half a dozen hot spring spas can be found here, all of which only offer private rooms or sex-segregated, nude bathing experiences.

Kawayu Spa (川湯溫泉) is the pick of the bunch, with its super atmospheric grounds that remind me of Miyazaki‘s Spirited Away, while Yuse Spa (湯瀨溫泉SPA–watch for the spooky all-black building) has an excellent restaurant for after you soak.

Jinshan Hot Spring

Jinshan, a rural district of New Taipei City on the north coast of Taiwan, is the furthest extent of hot springs from the Datun volcanic range. Located on the back side of Yangmingshan, they are the northernmost hot springs in Taiwan.

Over a dozen hot spring hotels are located in Jinshan town, but the best of Jinshan’s hot springs are along Provincial Highway 2a (陽金公路 or Yangjin Highway), the highway that descends from Yangmingshan National Park to Jinshan, just a few kilometers out of town.

This is where you’ll find luxurious Tienlai Hot Spring Resort (陽明山天籟渡假酒店), one of the most famous hot spring spas in Taiwan.

Wulai Hot Spring

The Indigenous village of Wulai south of Taipei in New Taipei City is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei, and for good reason. Wulai features riverside hot springs, hiking, river tracing, and northern Taiwan’s tallest waterfall.

Wulai is the northernmost village of the Atayal, Taiwan’s third largest Indigenous group. Wulai Old Street is one of the best places to sample Indigenous foods and millet wine (小米酒 or xiao mi jiu), perfect after a hot spring soak.

Wulai was once popular for its makeshift riverside hot springs, but these have become so rundown that you can’t use them anymore.

Most hot spring spas in Wulai have also seen better days, but we still like the ones on Wenquan (Hot Spring) Road, across the busy pedestrian bridge and to the left (such as here). Most offer private rooms with river views for a reasonable price. Please note: there are no co-ed hot springs in Wulai, only private rooms or naked (separated) ones.

The fanciest hot spring resort in Wulai is Volando Urai (馥蘭朵烏來渡假酒店) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), which is located on the highway into town. Note that kids are not allowed. You can save money by booking your tickets for the outdoor spa or your own personal bathhouse online to save on the entry price.

Jiaoxi Hot Spring

Jiaoxi is my personal favorite hot spring village in all of Taiwan. Located on the plains of Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan, you can reach it in about an hour from Taipei by train or by riding the bus through one of the longest tunnels in the world.

Jiaoxi makes for a super fun day trip from Taipei. There are some amazing hikes and waterfalls just out of town. At Tangweigou Hot Spring Park, you can soak your feet in hot water while enjoying local craft beer (try the green one!)

Jiaoxi also has two super fun hot spring spas. The first is Chuan Tang Flagship Location (川湯春天) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor). It offers all kinds of different colored and scented hot spring tubs, scented steam rooms, massage jets, and foot skin-eating fish.

Chuan Tang has a second older location here (Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), with very similar faciltiies and nearly as good. For either one, you don’t need to stay there to go for a soak. Towels and swimming hats (required) are available for purhase.

The second super fun spot is Art Spa Hotel (中冠礁溪大飯店) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor). It has a super tall hot water slide, loads of massage tubs, and more. Both of them have tons of different pools and are good for kids.

Paigu & Fan Fan Hot Springs

Also in Yilan County, but way off the trodden path, Paigu Hot Spring and Fan Fan Hot Spring are two wild hot springs for those who love some nature and solitude while they soak, and unlike the other wild hot springs in this article, they don’t requite a long walk to reach.

Both are located at the base of the mountains a short drive west of Sanxing (三星), a little village known far and wide for its delicious green onion cakes. There’s a good chance you’ll have the hot springs all to yourself like we did when we visited.

If you happen to be driving from Yilan to Taipingshan or across Taiwan via Hehuanshan and Cingjing Farm, you’d be passing right by these.

One of the most rewarding wild hot springs in Northern Taiwan is Sileng Hot Spring, located in a remote corner of Taoyuan on the Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 7). Above is a Taiwanese blogger’s video showing how to get to Sileng Hot Spring.

Jianshi Hot Spring

Jianshi is a large, remote district of Hsinchu county that is primarily inhabited by Atayal people. From Neiwan Old Street, which is accessed via the Neiwan Railway Line, you can venture out to some excellent developed and wild hot springs in the area. See my Jianshi hot spring guide for more detailed information.

For the best developed/family-friendly hot springs, head to Huilai Resort (會來尖石溫泉渡假村) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor). Note that the kids’ waterpark at Huilai is not heated, so that section is not open in winter, but there are still plenty of shallow pools for the kids to enjoy.

If you don’t have a car, they offer pickup from Neiwan (call to request 3 days in advance), which you can reach on the Neiwan train line. Another family friendly option in the area is Nature Valley Hot Spring Resort (天然谷溫泉會館).

Further up the same road, Jin Ping Spring Resort is another spot we’ve enjoyed. The same road has numerous guesthouses and some excellent campgrounds that we love (like 香杉露營區, which has a pool in summer, cherry blossoms in spring, and lots of bunnies!). This whole area is one of our favorite getaways from Taipei and we take our kids there often.

Even further up the road, Xiaojinping (小錦屏溫泉) is a wild hot spring. On a different road that leads up to the remote Indigenous village of Smangus, Xiu Luan Ye Xi Hot Spring is yet another wild hot spring for adventurers to seek out.

Tai’an Hot Spring

Another one of our favorite Taiwanese hot spring villages is remote Tai’an in Miaoli, a mostly rural county known for its laid back vibes and Hakka population (see my Miaoli guide for travel info).

Over a dozen hot spring hotels are spread out on either side of the Houlong River, perfect for a peaceful weekend getaway.

Two options in town are especially noteworthy: luxurious Onsen Papawaqa (泰安觀止溫泉會館) (see on Agoda / TripAdvisor), which has a fantastic outdoor spa open to non-guests.

There’s also our favorite: King’s Resort & Spa (錦水溫泉飯店) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), a super friendly family-run large hotel with several hot spring pools on terraces offering great views. Guests also get a free hour in one of the private hot tub rooms on the roof of the hotel, overlooking the valley. Unfortunately, this hotels is closed for major renovations (or possibly permanently closed) as of 2024.

Dakeng & Guguan Hot Spring

Dakeng Scenic Area (大坑風景區) offers plenty of hiking in lush surroundings right on the edge of central Taichung City, making it one of the most popular day trips from Taichung.

After hiking, check into The Sun Hot Spring Resort (台中日光溫泉會館) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), which overlooks the surrounding hills.

Further out of town on the Central Cross Island Highway (Highway 8), nearly half way across Taiwan, Guguan Hot Spring is a popular hot spring resort just past Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area (八仙山國家森林遊樂區).

Most of the hot springs hotels are Guguan are looking pretty old these days. I recommend Uni Resort Guguan (Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor), which is probably the newest and is great for kids.

Ruisui Hot Spring

Further south in Hualien County, on inland Highway 9 (which runs parallel to the coastal highway, but through the scenic East Rift Valley), Ruisui is yet another hot spring village for diehard hot spring lovers to seek out.

Ruіѕuі Ѕunѕhіnе В&В (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) оffеrѕ bеаutіful rооmѕ wіth а рrіvаtе tub оn уоur оwn bаlсоnу соmрlеtе wіth mоuntаіn vіеwѕ.

А сhеареr сhоісе thаt аlѕо hаѕ рrіvаtе tubѕ іn уоur rооm рluѕ а bіg рublіс hоt ѕрrіng іѕ Сосо’ѕ Ноt Ѕрrіng Ноtеl (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor).

Ruisui is home to some of the best white water rafting in Taiwan, on the Xiuguluan River.

Besides the numerous hot spring hotels where you can break up a Hualien to Taitung road trip, there are also several cafés in town where you can sample coffee that is grown in the area.

Although they didn’t impress me enough to get separate entries on this list, Hongye Hot Spring and Antong Hot Springs are others in the area.

Guanziling Mud Hot Spring

One of the most unique hot springs in Taiwan is Guanziling in Tainan, which is a mud hot spring. You can see my more detailed guide to Guanziling Hot Spring here.

At all the hot spring resorts in Guanziling village, the hot spring water is slightly murky due to high silt content. You don’t actually bathe in thick mud, as you may be imagining, but at some hot spring spas, they supply tubs of actual mud that you can rub on your face or body, which is thought to be extremely good for the skin.

The King’s Garden Villa (景大渡假莊園) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) is the best spa choice in town, with loads of different muddy and non-muddy pools to soak in, as well as bowls of mud provided to rub on your skin.

Near town, there’s also an “eternal fire” called Water Fire Cave (水火同源).

You’ll need your own wheels to get to Guanziling (unless you’re willing to take a series of slow local buses), or you can take this day tour from Tainan. Also see my guide to other cool Tainan attractions.

Baolai Hot Spring

What do residents of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan’s port city, do when they crave a hot bath, on the off-chance that it actually gets cold down there? Well, they head to Baolai Public Hot Spring in Liugui District way up in the hills of Kaohsiung City!

At Baolai Public Hot Springs (寶來花賞溫泉公園), you can soak your feet (NT 150) or take a full bath (NT 350). There are cherry blossoms here in March.

You can spend the night at Grand Orchid Resort Villa (see on Booking / Tripadvisor), which is featured in the above video. The rooms have private tubs and excellent views of the surrounding mountains. However, read the reviews before you go – it sounds like the place is getting run down.

Zhiben Hot Spring

If you’re in Taitung and looking for a soak, Zhiben (also spelled Jhihben or Chiben) Hot Spring is the biggest and most well known hot spring village, and one of the largest in Taiwan in terms of hot water output. It is located about 15 kilometers southwest of Taitung City center in the Zhiben River Valley.

A large number of hot spring hotels are found in the area. I personally recommend Cheng-Ping Hot Spring Inn (橙品溫泉民宿) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) for a quiet getaway with river-facing hot tubs on the room balconies.

For the most lavish experience, try Hotel Royal Chihpen (知本老爺酒店) (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor).

Sichongxi Hot Spring

Sichongxi is the furthest south major hot spring in Taiwan, located in Pingtung County. There you can take a dip in the Japanese-style (nude, sex segregated) Sichongxi Public Hot Spring Bath, or take a stroll and soak your feet in the Sichongxi Hot Springs Park (四重溪溫泉公園).

In the above video, find out why these guys think Sichongxi is the most romantic hot spring in Taiwan. However, recent visitors have told me that when they visited, the hot spring park was quite rundown, crappy, and mostly closed, so do read the most recent reviews before going. Apparently, the park was damaged by a typhoon in 2024 and is still under repairs.

You can visit Sichongxi as a small detour on the way to Kenting National Park, or take bus 201 or 302 from Hengchun, 518 from Fangliao, or 201A or 201B from Kenting Arch.

Zhaori Hot Spring

I’ve saved one of the absolute best for last. Zhaori Hot Spring on Green Island is one of my favorite hot springs in Taiwan. It is one of only three salt water hot springs in the world!

The hot springs are located right on the rocky coast. While this is a developed hot spring, the lower pools have a natural base. If you go at the right time, water from the sea will splash in, and at night you can recline and watch the stars with the sound of the surf all around you. Truly special!

This hot spring was also damaged by a typhoon and closed for repairs as of late 2024, so check the opening status before you go.