All B&Bs & Homestays — No International Hotel Brands
Green Island has no international chain hotels. All accommodation is B&B/homestay style — friendly owners, simple rooms, island atmosphere. Most properties cluster around Nanliao Village (near the harbor) and along the southern coast near Zhaori Hot Spring.
The main settlement and ferry/speedboat arrival point. Most B&Bs are within walking distance. Scooter rental shops, restaurants, and the post office ATM are all here. The most convenient base for first-time visitors.
B&Bs near the famous saltwater hot spring along the southeastern coast. Wake up to Pacific Ocean views and walk to the hot spring pools in minutes. More scenic and peaceful than the village — slightly fewer dining options.
The main snorkeling and diving area on the island. Several dive shops are based near Shilang — staying here puts you steps from the water. Great for divers who want to maximize time in the reef rather than riding a scooter to reach it.
A few scattered guesthouses on the quieter northern and western coastline — best for those seeking real solitude. Further from the main facilities but offering spectacular stargazing away from even the island's minimal light sources.
Find Your Green Island B&B
1 curated hotel roundup · 6 individual reviews · from the highest-scoring MuyuTime (9.6) to Bay Resort (8.7).
6 Best B&Bs on Green Island
The highest-scoring, the most-reviewed, the best for divers, and the best sea-view options. Compare prices across 3 platforms.
The top-scoring B&B on Green Island — a small, warmly-run guesthouse where the owners go out of their way. Guests consistently praise the hospitality, local knowledge, and morning breakfasts. If score is your primary criterion, this is the answer.
The most-reviewed B&B on Green Island with 391 verified ratings — a 9.1 score earned from a large sample size rather than a handful of reviews. Popular with divers and snorkelers. Consistently praised for its cleanliness, friendly owners, and location near the water.
A sea-view B&B with rooms facing the Pacific — wake up to open ocean through your window. The 9.2 score reflects excellent hospitality and clean, comfortable rooms. A strong choice for couples who want views as much as amenities.
Named for the stars and the sea — a B&B on Green Island's coastal road well-positioned for both ocean views and night-sky watching. Score of 9.1 from guests who appreciated the quiet location, helpfulness of the hosts, and proximity to Zhaori Hot Spring.
A well-regarded mid-range B&B with excellent value for money and hosts who make guests feel genuinely at home. Comfortable rooms, solid breakfast, good scooter rental connections. A reliable choice for travellers who want a warm stay without overpaying.
Green Island's closest thing to a resort — a larger property with more amenities than the typical B&B. Good for group bookings or those who want slightly more space and organised facilities. The 8.7 score reflects solid but not exceptional service — the scale is the trade-off.
Green Island has limited B&B capacity. During the peak season (April–September) and especially Golden Week, accommodation fills up 4–6 weeks ahead. Book your B&B at the same time as your ferry or flight. Off-season (October–March) sees many B&Bs close entirely.
Simple, Fresh, Island Food — Nanliao Harbor Style
Green Island has limited dining options — a handful of seafood restaurants and small eateries clustered around Nanliao village and along the main coastal road. The food is simple, fresh, and honest. Bring an open mind and low expectations for variety; bring high expectations for freshness.
Green Island is famous for its goat population — the rocky volcanic terrain suits them perfectly. Goat hot pot (羊肉爐) is the island's definitive dish: slow-braised goat meat with traditional Chinese herbs in a warming broth. Richer and gamier than pork or chicken hot pot. Try it at least once at an evening restaurant in Nanliao.
#1 Local SpecialtySeafood restaurants near the harbor serve the morning catch: lobster, sea bream, octopus, and seasonal fish from the surrounding Pacific. Simpler preparation than big-city seafood restaurants — salt-grilled, steamed, or lightly sauced. Ask what came in that day and order accordingly. Prices are very reasonable.
Fresh Catch DailyA light, refreshing drink made from coral grass (珊瑚草) — a type of red algae that grows along Green Island's rocky coastline. Naturally gelatinous with a mild taste, often served chilled with honey or lemon. Available at small shops and tea stands around the island. Unusual and entirely local.
Island SpecialtyA cold salted plum drink (梅子飲) is the go-to refreshment after a session of snorkeling or scooter riding in the Pacific heat. Tangy, salty-sweet, and genuinely thirst-quenching. Sold at most small convenience shops and B&Bs around the island for NT$20–40.
Post-Dive RefreshmentShaved ice topped with fresh tropical fruit — mango, passion fruit, papaya — is widely available during the peak season. Local vendors around Nanliao and near the hot spring area serve generous portions. The island's warm climate means fruit quality is reliably high June–September.
Summer TreatMost Green Island B&Bs include breakfast — typically a Taiwanese-style spread of congee or rice, pickles, eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. Simple and substantial. Your host will often ask what time you plan to dive or leave for the hot spring and adjust breakfast timing to suit you.
Included at Most B&BsSix Reasons to Come to Green Island
Green Island is small but focused — every visitor comes for a specific combination of these six experiences. See our full Green Island attractions guide for deeper coverage of each.
Green Island's east-facing reefs receive direct Pacific Ocean currents, which keep the water nutrient-rich and clear — visibility often exceeds 20 metres. Coral coverage is among the highest in Taiwan. Multiple dive shops in Nanliao run boat dives and shore dives Apr–Sep. Certification required for reef dives; intro dives available for beginners.
Apr–Sep Best SeasonShilang Beach (石朗) is Taiwan's most celebrated snorkeling spot — a shallow, sheltered bay with clear water, large brain corals, and reef fish visible within metres of the surface. No certification needed, equipment is rentable on-site, and the site is accessible by scooter from Nanliao in 15 minutes.
No Certification NeededZhaori (朝日溫泉) is one of only 3 saltwater hot springs in the world — geothermal water flowing into tidal pools beside the Pacific Ocean at 53°C naturally. Cooled by seawater to comfortable soaking temperature, with the sound of waves and open sky above. Open daily, best experienced at night under stars or at dawn when the hot spring is named for.
World Unique — Open DailyGreen Island's coastal ring road is exactly 16 km long and can be scootered in about 2 hours at a leisurely pace — stopping for views, beaches, and roadside stops. Scooter rental is available at Nanliao harbor (NT$300–500/day) and is the only practical way to see the entire island. No special license needed for 50cc scooters (with a car license).
NT$300–500 Scooter RentalThe most significant political prison site in Taiwan's history — a former prison camp where political dissidents were imprisoned during the martial law era from 1951 to 1987. Now a national human rights memorial park and museum. Haunting, important, and well-interpreted. Allow 1–2 hours. Admission is free.
Free Entry · Important HistoryGreen Island has no light pollution to speak of. On clear nights from April to September, the Milky Way is visible in full arc to the naked eye from anywhere on the island — a sight that's essentially impossible in any part of Taiwan's main island. The hill behind Nanliao and the east coast road offer the best unobstructed views of the night sky.
Apr–Sep Clear NightsGreen Island in 3 Nights — The Island Properly
Green Island is not a day-trip destination — the journey alone (Taipei → Taitung → ferry/flight) takes half a day. Two nights is the minimum; three nights lets you dive, soak, explore the ring road, and see the White Terror Museum without rushing. See our guide from Taitung for day-trip logistics.
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting there, getting around, best season, cash requirements, and the honest caveats that most guides skip.
The 15-minute flight is faster and more reliable (less weather-dependent) than the 50-minute ferry. Flying is only marginally more expensive. Book flights at least 2–3 weeks ahead during peak season (April–September) as seats sell out. The ferry is fine in calm weather and offers the experience of arriving by sea — but do not attempt it if seas are rated above 2–3 metres.
The island has no public transport. A 50cc scooter is the standard and only practical way to get around. Rental shops are at the Nanliao harbor exit — NT$300–500 per day. You need a valid driving license (car or motorcycle). Taxis exist but are informal and expensive. Cycling is possible but the coastal road has hills and the heat is intense in summer.
If you plan to dive at Green Island's reef sites, bring your PADI Open Water (or equivalent) certification card. Dive shops on the island are legitimate operations and will ask to see credentials before certified dives. Uncertified intro dives are available if you want a first experience. Also bring: reef-safe sunscreen (regular sunscreen damages coral), a rash guard, and motion sickness pills for the ferry.
Green Island has one post office ATM in Nanliao village — it can run out of cash during peak season weekends. Withdraw enough NT$ before you leave Taitung. Budget approximately NT$1,500–2,500 per day per person for meals, scooter rental, diving/snorkeling, and hot spring entry — accommodation is usually paid in advance by card booking or on arrival by cash agreement with the B&B.
