Where to stay
Stay by the station and the East Gate to walk to the temples and food, near the Science Park for business, in Zhubei for the high-speed rail, or in a homestay in the Hakka hills.
The areas
Most centralWalk to the temples and food
Hotels and guesthouses around the railway station, the East Gate and the City God Temple, with the old city’s sights, night markets and snack stalls on foot, and trains to Neiwan from the station.
Best for: First-timers, food lovers and rail travellers
BusinessModern hotels and malls
The east side of the city around the Big City mall, Guangfu Road and the Hsinchu Science Park, with business hotels, malls and restaurants. About 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from the old city.
Best for: Business trips and longer stays
ModernHigh-speed rail and new towers
The fast-growing city across the river in Hsinchu County, with new hotels near the high-speed rail station, malls and wide streets. Handy for day trips to Taipei and Neiwan, and for drivers.
Best for: Rail day trips, families and drivers
CountrysideB&Bs in the hills
Homestays and small resorts around Neiwan, Beipu and Emei, in green hills about an hour from the city. Quiet at night and lovely in firefly and tung blossom season, but you need a car or a tour to get around.
Best for: Couples, nature lovers and slow travel
Hsinchu has many business hotels, because of the Science Park, so rooms are modern and good value at weekends, when business travellers go home. Many include breakfast.
In the hills, most places to stay are minsu, family-run homestays with a few rooms, often with home-cooked breakfast and great views. Some have only Chinese websites, so booking through a platform can be easier.
In Smangus and other mountain villages, lodges are simple and run by the community. Book well ahead, and expect shared spaces and early nights.
City hotels are busiest on weekdays, with business travellers, and can be cheaper at weekends. In the hills it is the other way round: homestays fill up on Friday and Saturday nights and during holidays. Lunar New Year is busy everywhere.
Good to know
Stay near Hsinchu Station and the East Gate to walk to the temples, the food and the trains. The Science Park area suits business travellers, Zhubei is handy for the high-speed rail, and the Hakka hills offer quiet homestays.
Stay in Hsinchu for the old city, its food and the regular trains. Stay in Zhubei if you plan several high-speed rail trips, or have a car. They are about 20 to 30 minutes apart by train or taxi.
Not in the city, where you can walk and use buses, YouBike and taxis. A car or a tour helps for the Hakka hills and is almost essential for Smangus and Guanwu.
A few weeks ahead for most of the year, and earlier for weekends, Lunar New Year and long holiday weekends. Rooms in Smangus and popular homestays in the hills can fill up months ahead.
Plan your Hsinchu trip
Once you have a base, compare walking tours, food tours and day trips.