Penghu Travel【Island Hopping Self-Drive】Car Rental, Transportation, Attractions and a 3-Day Itinerary!
“Penghu travel”! The peak season runs from April to September every year. In recent years, on top of the headline “Penghu International Fireworks Festival,” sightseeing in Penghu has become wonderfully varied, covering everything from mountains to sea, so you can take in world-class scenery without leaving the country. Whether it’s a family trip, a graduation trip with a few friends or a relaxing couples’ getaway, more and more people are asking about doing Penghu as an “island-hopping independent trip.” In this article, the gogoout editor shares how to plan a one-, two- or three-day Penghu itinerary so you can cover both the must-see spots and the local secrets!
Haven’t added the Penghu Fireworks Festival to your itinerary yet? Don’t miss:
How to get to Penghu and island-hop on your own: plane orferry? Scooter or car?
Air travel and ferries are the main ways to reach Penghu. On the main island of Taiwan there are five airports from north to south with flights to Penghu, while ferry services run mostly from central and southern Taiwan, with Chiayi being the busiest departure point.
| Flights | Ferries | |
| Taipei | UNI Air, Mandarin Airlines | |
| Taichung | UNI Air, Mandarin Airlines | 百麗航運 (Baili Shipping) |
| Chiayi | UNI Air | 凱旋 (Kaishuan), 滿天星 (Mantianxing), 太吉之星 (Taiji Star) |
| Tainan | UNI Air | |
| Kaohsiung | UNI Air, Mandarin Airlines, Daily Air | 台華輪 (Tai Hua Ferry) |
☞ Plane: there are flights to Penghu from northern, central and southern Taiwan, and the flight usually takes about an hour (book early during the Fireworks Festival!)
☞ Ferry: the trip takes longer, but it’s cheaper than flying (services may be suspended depending on the day’s weather and sea conditions) >> Compare ferry tickets
☞ Getting around the islands: for independent travelers, most people go for a scooter rental, which is easy to move around on, flexible and cheap, or the more comfortable option of a car rental. Under the blazing sun, a car not only helps you avoid heatstroke but also keeps you comfortable inside — a great choice!
But once you arrive in Penghu, there are rental shops everywhere — how do you compare them? Whether you want a scooter or a car, you can find a good-value deal in advance on gogoout!
Read more >> Penghu car rental: the complete guide to everything you need to know
| Planning a three-day Penghu itinerary
| Day 1 Magong city center | Arrival ➔ Tianhou Temple, Duxing 10th Village, Fenggui Cave, Shanshui Howl Cave, Kuibi Mountain (Moses Parting the Sea), Xiying Rainbow Bridge, Guanyinting |
| Day 2 Baisha + Xiyu | Drive/ride from Magong ➔ Houliao Heaven’s Road, Whale Cave, Chixi Rock Waterfall, Xiaochijiao Double-Arch Bridge, Wai’an Fishing Harbor ➔ Drive/ride back to Magong |
| Day 3 Wangan + Qimei | Ferry from Magong to Qimei ➔ Little Taiwan, Longcheng Wave-Cut Platform, Twin Hearts Stone Weir ➔ Ferry to Wangan ➔ Wang’ankou Beach, Huazhai Village, Donglong Cliff ➔ Ferry back to Magong |
? Penghu travel, day one: Magong city center
Arrival ➔ Tianhou Temple, Duxing 10th Village, Fenggui Cave, Shanshui Howl Cave, Kuibi Mountain (Moses Parting the Sea), Xiying Rainbow Bridge, Guanyinting
Photo source / IG @liiiiicc
?Tianhou Temple
As the saying goes, “Going to Penghu without visiting Tianhou Temple is like leaving a mountain of treasure empty-handed.” With more than 400 years of history, Tianhou Temple is the oldest temple in Taiwan. After landing in Penghu and picking up your car, make the most of the good weather and make Tianhou Temple the first stop of your Penghu trip!
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Photo source / IG @albert.ray
?Duxing 10th Village
As the oldest military dependents’ village in Taiwan, it has been renovated over the past few years by various groups into the heart of Penghu’s cultural and creative market scene, and many local artists have since moved in, breathing new life into the aging old houses. If you’re the arty type or love a retro, nostalgic vibe, this is a must-visit!
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Photo source / IG @chloe_c_yang
?Shanshui Beach
Shanshui Beach combines gorgeous shell sand with water that shades from blue to green — perfect for wading barefoot. Its beauty has also won over plenty of music video directors, and you can spot it in many songs. Calling it “the most beautiful beach in Penghu” is no exaggeration!
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Photo source / IG @charlositive
?Fenggui Cave
From the UFO-shaped pavilion you can look out over the whole seascape, and the famous “listening to the waves at Fenggui” means hearing the whistling sound that comes out of Fenggui Cave at high tide.
Cue the song: “Listen — the sound of the sea crying?”
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Photo source / IG @sunfly7382
?Kuibi Mountain
Have you ever walked on a path across the seabed? At low tide, Kuibi Mountain Geopark reveals a “Moses parting the sea” spectacle. Once the water pulls back, an S-shaped gravel path appears and you can walk all the way across to Chiyu Islet!
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Photo source / IG @doris_lin_1208
?Xiying Rainbow Bridge
As the sun goes down, the afterglow spills across the water — a perfect spot to watch the sunset! And once night falls, the bridge lights up in rainbow neon. So romantic!
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Photo credit / IG @xcx8541
?Guanyinting
The main venue for the Fireworks Festival?You have to experience the sight of dazzling fireworks raining down right in front of you—it’s incredibly impressive! Even when there’s no show, it’s a great spot to stroll with friends, chat, enjoy the view and feel the sea breeze.
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? Penghu travel day 2｜Downtown + the northern sea (Baisha & Xiyu)
Drive or ride from downtown Magong ➔ Houliao Heaven Road, Whale Cave, Chixi Rock Waterfall, Xiaochijiao Double-Arch Bridge, Wai’an Fishing Harbor ➔ Drive or ride back to downtown Magong
Photo credit / IG @hsuan0723
?Houliao Heaven Road
Once a long-abandoned old pier, its winding walkway and clear emerald water have made it a hot photo spot in recent years!
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Photo credit / IG @chieh_716
?Whale Cave
Originally a basalt sea cliff, it was battered and eroded by the waves until it opened into a sea arch shaped like a whale.
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Photo credit / IG @xuyuz0522
?Chixi Rock Waterfall
A must-visit on any island-hopping trip! Here you’ll see some of the largest and most intact columnar basalt in Penghu, and in the sunlight it looks even more dramatic and imposing!
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Photo credit / IG @watery725
?Xiaochijiao Double-Arch Bridge
Right next to Chixi Rock Waterfall. At high tide the pavilions look just like overwater resort villas—absolutely gorgeous and dreamy❣️
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Photo credit / IG @xuyuz0522
?Wai’an Fishing Harbor
Wai’an Fishing Harbor is the busiest fishing spot in Penghu, and the houses scattered across the hillside make you feel like you’re in Greece—exotic scenery without leaving the country!
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? Penghu travel day 3｜Downtown + the southern sea (Qimei & Wang’an)
Boat from downtown Magong to Qimei ➔ Little Taiwan, Longcheng Wave-Cut Platform, Twin Hearts Stone Weir ➔ Boat to Wang’an ➔ Wang’ankou Beach, Huazhai Village, Donglong Cliff ➔ Boat back to downtown Magong
Most of Qimei’s attractions are geological formations, shaped over thousands of years of pounding waves into fascinating forms you’ll recognize from geography textbooks. Be sure to take photos with these masterpieces of nature!
Photo credit / IG @cheneysandy
?Little Taiwan
Photo credit / IG @hor1785
?Longcheng Wave-Cut Platform
Photo credit / IG @mm.710
?Wang’ankou Beach
It once served as a boat landing and is now a protected nesting habitat for green sea turtles. The wave-shaped low wall along the shore has also become a popular photo spot lately!
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Photo credit / IG @huang_che
?Huazhai Village
Southern Fujianese-style houses built from coral stone. The village is ringed by hills that look like flower petals, which is how it got its name. The colorful buildings make it a fantastic place for photos!
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Photo credit / IG @willie327088
?Donglong Cliff
A hidden gem on the northeast corner, where sea and sky blend into one—perfect for photographers and rock-fishing fans!
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⚪️ Bonus itinerary｜Downtown + a cruise around the South Penghu islands
Boat from downtown Magong ➔ Land on Dongjiyu — boat tour of the “Blue Cave” sea cave at Xijiyu — snorkeling at Qimei — cruise past Dongyuping — cruise past Xiyuping — cruise past Toujinyu ➔ Downtown Magong
Photo credit / IG @tension_wang
?Blue Cave
A sea cave open to the sky that’s unique to Penghu. Under golden sunlight, the azure water reflects a crystal-clear sapphire blue you’ll only find here. Treacherous currents and poor harbor conditions have kept it free of human damage, preserving the natural scenery intact—and leaving behind plenty of mysterious legends?
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After reading about all these spots, don’t you want to go island hopping too? Penghu is so beautiful that three days and three nights still isn’t too much—start planning before your next break arrives!
Click here for [Instant online car rental in Penghu]
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This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
