Tainan Attractions
Taiwan's Ancient Capital

Fort Zeelandia was built in 1624 by the VOC — the founding moment of Taiwan's colonial history. The brick walls and Japanese-era watchtower that stand today sit atop the original Dutch foundations. Anping Old Street, stretching away from the fort gate, is lined with seafood stalls selling fresh oyster fritters, dried squid, and the local shrimp paste that Tainan is famous for.

A former Tait & Co. trading warehouse, abandoned in the early 20th century. Over the following decades, banyan (Ficus) roots crept across the brick walls and through the roof until the building and the tree became inseparable — a genuinely surreal image. Wooden walkways lead visitors through the roots at canopy level. One of Tainan's most photographed and genuinely unforgettable sights.

Built in 1653 as the VOC's administrative headquarters on the mainland. Successive Qing renovations transformed the fort into the complex of towers and shrines visible today, surrounded by famous stone tortoises (碑龜) carrying commemorative steles. The tower opens unusually late (until 21:30), making it a beautiful evening visit when floodlighting turns the ochre walls amber. Young Tainan women in qipao dresses frequently hire photographers here.

Founded in 1665, this is the oldest Confucius Temple in Taiwan, bearing the honorary title 全臺首學 — "First Academy of All Taiwan" — because it once served as the island's first formal school. The compound's courtyards are shaded by century-old banyans. September's Confucius Birthday ceremony (Teacher's Day) draws huge crowds for a rare traditional Dàchéng ritual that has not changed in hundreds of years.

A 160-metre lane that regularly tops lists of "most beautiful streets in Taiwan." Two rows of weathered wood-front houses — now home to coffee shops, indie galleries, craft stores, and intimate bars — face each other across a narrow cobbled strip. After dark, red paper lanterns strung the full length of the street cast a warm glow that feels genuinely old-world. Tainan's most-photographed after-dark setting by a wide margin.

Opened in 1932 during the Japanese colonial period, Hayashi was Taiwan's first department store. The five-storey Art Deco building — nicknamed "the tracks" for its streetcar-adjacent location — even installed the island's first elevator. Beautifully restored, it now carries Tainan-designed goods, local food products, and indie brands. The rooftop holds a small Shinto shrine (one of the few to survive) and panoramic views across the old city's tiled rooftops.

The largest night market in Taiwan by stall count — over 400 vendors on rotating shifts. Opens exclusively Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Must-eat items: heart-shaped egg cakes (雞蛋糕), griddled squid, bubble tea with fresh tapioca, braised crab rice, and Tainan-style egg omelettes. Live music on some evenings. The atmosphere between 19:00 and 22:00 on a Saturday is one of the most viscerally Taiwanese experiences you can have.

The counterpart to the Flower Market — opens Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, the exact days Flower is closed. Smaller and cheaper, with a noticeably more local crowd. Less touristy, which means game stalls outnumber selfie stalls, and you can eat milkfish congee, sweet tofu pudding, and peanut-filled mochi without waiting in line. If your trip falls on a weekday, Dadong delivers.

Dedicated to Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功), the half-Chinese half-Japanese warlord known in the West as Koxinga, who expelled the Dutch from Taiwan in 1662 and established the kingdom of Tungning. The shrine was built in the Qing dynasty and renovated during Japanese rule — an unusual monument that multiple colonial powers saw fit to honour. The garden behind the main hall is genuinely tranquil and almost tourist-free.

Opened in 2011, this large national museum covers Taiwan's history from prehistoric indigenous cultures through Dutch and Spanish colonisation, Qing rule, Japanese occupation, and the modern era. The architecturally striking building is set in wide landscaped grounds with reflecting pools. Permanent galleries are fully bilingual (Chinese/English), making it one of the more accessible cultural experiences in Tainan for non-Mandarin speakers.