Cycling in Taiwan: Coastal Routes in March

If you’re a recreational cyclist looking for safe roads to put in some quality miles, consider spending a weekend in Taiwan riding its picturesque coastal routes! March sits between winter and spring seasons, with temperatures ranging from 13-20°C, so pack your mid-season kit or thermal layers.

In this post

1. Weather Planning
2. Cycling Rest Stops
3. Transporting Your Bike on Public Transit
4. Route 1: Hsinchu (新竹) – Miaoli (苗栗縣) – Hsinchu (新竹), 69KM
5. Route 2: Songshan (松山區) – Keelung (基隆市) – Yilan (宜蘭縣), 110KM
6. Route 3: Miaoli (苗栗縣) – Taichung (臺中), 103KM

I’ve also linked my Strava activities for detailed route information.

Weather Planning

Rain showers are common, so check forecasts before heading out. For a quick reference, I simply Google “weather taipei.” But when I need more detailed precipitation data to find dry riding areas, windyty.com has been my go-to weather forecasting service.

Cycling Rest Stops

If you’re riding along the riverside paths, you’ll find plenty of toilets and vending machines. On the road, look for 7-Eleven, Family Mart and other convenience stores. Not all stores have facilities, so look for the signage before counting on a toilet break.

Transporting Your Bike on Public Transit

Taipei Metro

You can bring your bike on the MRT on weekends (unless it’s a designated working day). Purchase your ticket from the information counter, specifying you have a bicycle and your destination. It costs 80 NTD, payable by cash or card. Staff will direct you to enter the station. Take the elevator to the platform and head to either the front or rear car where you’ll see bicycle parking signs. Follow the same process when exiting—take the elevator and present your ticket at the information counter. For current regulations, visit the official Taipei Metro website.

Taiwan Railway (TRA)

Not all train services accommodate bicycles, so check the TRA website for trains marked with the bicycle symbol. Pro tip: purchase tickets as early as possible since bike spaces are limited. I’ve sometimes arrived at 3PM only to find the next train with bike capacity doesn’t depart until 7PM! Check the TRA website for schedules and bike policies.

Route 1: Hsinchu (新竹) – Miaoli (苗栗縣) – Hsinchu (新竹), 69KM

March 8, 2025 – One of those weekends when Taipei was getting soaked but other counties stayed dry. Thanks to windyty, I discovered clear conditions along the west coast!

Getting There and Back:

• Take the MRT from anywhere in Taipei to the nearest TRA station (I traveled from Xindian to Xiaonanmen MRT Station, which connects to Wanhua TRA Station)
• Catch the TRA to Hsinchu
• Ride!

Starting from Hsinchu TRA Station, make your way to the coast. Navigate to the “17 KM Coastline Scenic Area” (新竹17公里海岸風景區). Head southbound along the dedicated cycling path that extends all the way to Zhunan Wetlands (竹南溼地) in Miaoli. This is my favorite cycling path—incredibly scenic, passing a surf spot and cutting through a forest section. Note there’s only one rest stop for refreshments and street food, so pack sufficient nutrition and hydration. And unlike me, remember your helmet—I had to purchase a new one!

Route 2: Songshan (松山區) – Keelung (基隆市) – Yilan (宜蘭縣), 110KM

March 22, 2025 – Clear blue skies, 13°C—perfect conditions for revisiting the northeast coast.

Getting There and Back:

• Take the MRT to Songshan Station
• Ride the route
• Return via TRA from Yilan Station to your preferred station

From Songshan MRT Station, ride to Rainbow Bridge (彩虹橋) behind Raohe Night Market. Follow the riverside cycling path northward until it ends and transitions to road riding. Your first landmark will be Maritime Plaza (海洋廣場) in Keelung Harbor. Continue along the coastal road to Fulong TRA Station, where you can enjoy a local lunchbox. After refueling, continue coastal riding to Yilan TRA Station.

Route 3: Miaoli (苗栗縣) – Taichung (臺中), 103KM

March 29, 2025 – Today featured an interesting encounter with a bike tourer who had planned to ride from Hsinchu all the way to Changhua in one day fully loaded. He ended up joining our group ride instead. We started at Zhunan TRA Station (竹南車站).

I’ve been attempting to follow the Miaoli Bikeway (marked by blue signage) rather than the Taiwan Cycling Route (marked with brown signage), but I keep crossing between the two networks. Despite this being my third attempt at this route, I still missed several turns!

We made stops at Houlong Cape of Good Hope
(後龍好望角風景區) and Gaomei Wetlands (高美濕地) along the way.

The prevailing winds were southerly, giving us a welcome tailwind along the coastline until we turned inland toward the city, where we faced challenging crosswinds. Navigation to Taichung TRA Station requires careful attention—follow Google Maps religiously.

These Saturday rides aren’t just about logging kilometers—they’re about reclaiming mental space and returning to the workweek with refreshed creativity and clarity. All Saturdays well spent!

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That’s it for now! Stay tuned for more adventures and tips on balancing work and travel!

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