Shifen Old Street Doable Without A Tour?

On December 31st, I embarked on a special New Year’s Eve adventure to Shifen Old Street, determined to explore this iconic destination without a tour during my trip to Taiwan. If you’re wondering whether Shifen Old Street is doable without a tour, the answer is yes. But, it does come with its challenges.

As a Latina solo traveler who speaks both English and Spanish, I navigated Taiwan’s public transport to visit Shifen’s famous train track and stunning waterfall. In this guide, I’ll share my tips and itinerary to help you enjoy this experience independently, save money if this is a factor in choosing public transport, and help you avoid some of the hiccups I faced along the way.

Whether you’re a solo traveler or not, this guide will make your journey to Shifen smooth and memorable!

Shifen Old Street Doable Without A Tour Table Of Contents

Plan Your Shifen Old Street Without A Tour

Flight	Stay	Do	Drive
Trip.com	Agoda	GetYourGuide	Rentalcars.com

Read The Full Taiwan for Latina Solo Explorers (Coming Soon)

Practical Tips For Your Shifen Old Street Visit

Get an EasyCard	An EasyCard is a must-have for public transportation in Taiwan. Big bonus is that it can also be used at stores like 7-11. You can easily top it up at train stations or any convenience store throughout Taiwan with cash. Purchase in advance your EasyCard using Klook.
Start Early	Leave Taipei early in the morning to give yourself ample time for any potential delays. Typically, it’s a 2-hour journey if all goes smoothly. I started my journey at 8:30 AM but ended up getting lost when I caught the wrong train, which meant. I didn’t arrive at Shifen Old Street until 11:30 AM.
Public Transport	Use Google Maps for bus and train schedules, as well as directions. Keep in mind that buses tend to arrive a bit earlier than the time indicated, so it’s best to arrive a little earlier to be on the safe side. Trains to Shifen Old Street are less frequent, which can make the trip a bit trickier, but it’s still entirely doable on your own. It’s why it’s important to plan for alternative routes, as you may miss a train if you’re unable to find the correct platform.
Language Help	Don’t hesitate to use Google Translate or ask people for help. Locals are very helpful even when they don’t quite understand English. Tip: Mandarin is used in Taiwan
Bring Cash	Cash is still king in Taiwan, so ensure you have enough for food and small purchases.
What To Pack	Wear comfortable shoes for visiting the waterfall as the best view requires stairs.

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Getting To Shifen Old Street: Simple Public Transport Itinerary

While the public transportation system in Taiwan is generally straightforward, reaching Shifen Old Street is a bit more involved than other destinations like Jiufen. However, it’s absolutely doable on your own. Here’s how I navigated it:

• Start at Taipei Main Station: Take the TRA (Taiwan Railway Administration) train to Ruifang Station (approximately 40 minutes).
• Transfer to the Pingxi Line: At Ruifang, switch to the Pingxi Line and take the train to Shifen Station (around 20 minutes).
• Arrival at Shifen: Once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the famous train tracks where tourists release flying lanterns and set their intentions.

Tip: Be mindful of train schedules, as they don’t run as frequently. If you’re not comfortable with the possibility of delays, consider a guided Shifen tour to simplify the process. (More on this in my “Consider a Tour for Convenience” section below.)

Book your Train ticket and sky lantern combo ticket

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Shifen Old Street: The Iconic Train Track And Lanterns

The train track at Shifen Old Street is one of the main attractions, and setting your intentions with a flying lantern is a must-do activity. This was especially meaningful for me since I was there on New Year’s Eve and able to set my intentions for the coming new year. A great bonus if you’re travelling solo is that staff will take pictures and videos for you to capture the moment.

Tip: Head to the quieter end of the track near the train station for better photo opportunities and fewer crowds when you fly your lantern. Guided tours start from the opposite direction and many visitors will cram there when they fly their lanterns.

Shifen Old Street is also lined with food vendors offering Taiwanese street food which makes it a great spot for lunch. Be sure to bring cash, as many vendors and smaller shops don’t accept credit cards. During my visit, I found that the ATM at Shifen Station doesn’t accept foreign cards, but you can find the FamilyMart between the waterfall and Old Shifen Street where you can withdraw cash.

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Exploring Shifen Waterfall: A 25-Minute Walk

After participating in the lantern ceremony, enjoy a peaceful 25-minute walk to Shifen Waterfall. While the walk is relatively easy, it does involve some stairs, making it less ideal for those with accessibility challenges. However, you can still reach the top of the viewing platform to admire the waterfall without needing to navigate the majority of the stairs to the bottom. This can still allow for a relaxing and scenic experience.

For those who want to eat closer to the waterfall, there are also restaurants onsite that offer meals with a scenic view. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

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Consider A Tour

As you can see, Shifen Old Street doable without a tour is possible but I found the trip to be a little more tricky than getting to Jiufen due to the extra train transfers and limited route options.

If you want to avoid the potential for confusion, delays, or missing connections, a guided tour or private driver might be a good idea. While you’ll lose some freedom in terms of timing and flexibility, a tour will ensure you get there with less stress.

Consider these options which I think fit the bill:

• Tour Car Rental With Driver – Ideal and more cost effective for a family or group
• Railway Pingxi Day Pass + Sky Lantern Experience – A good bundle option that still uses public transport but is slightly more organized.
• 9 Hour Shifen, Jiufen, Heping Island Park – If combining Jiufen and Shifen, choose a 9-hour tour. Shorter options may rush your time at both locations.

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Useful Taiwan Resources

Explore Taiwan and Taipei like a pro with these additional resources. These include a list of restaurants and food items you must try, attractions you can’t miss, and day trips to fill your own itinerary like Jiufen.

Read the articles & save the Google Map I include below for easy navigation during your own visit.

• Taiwan Tourist Google Map
• The Ultimate Taiwan Food Guide For Foodies
• Jiufen & Jinguashi DIY Day Trip
  

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Add even more destinations in Asia during your trip!

Discover more destinations in my Travel Guides Section for destinations like South Korea, Kyoto and Laos.