If you're heading down to southern Taiwan, a trip to Kenting (墾丁) is a must! Especially if you're craving beach vibes, street food, and a more relaxed, tropical feel.
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We did a quick overnight trip, and honestly? It was the perfect mix of chill beach time + fun night market eats.
Beach Day in Kenting (Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園)
We started off the day by stopping at one of the beaches in Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園).
There are actually a lot of places you can stay right by the beach - little hotels, guesthouses, and rentals - but this area felt a bit quieter and more spread out compared to the main Kenting strip. We ended up not staying here, but it was perfect for a daytime stop.
Our vibe for the day?
Super simple.
We grabbed a couple beers from 7-Eleven across the street (and yes, Taiwan convenience stores are elite) and just laid out on the beach to soak up the sun!
Since it was March, the water was a little… let's just say refreshing 😅 We didn't end up swimming, but there were definitely people who did and even a few surfers out there catching waves!
It was one of those easy, no-plan kind of afternoons. Just sun, ocean, and chill.
Where We Stayed in Kenting
We checked into 遇見墾丁旅店, which ended up being a great location for what we wanted - close to the main street and all the food.
If you're deciding where to stay, I'd definitely recommend being near the night market area so you can easily walk everywhere at night. It makes a huge difference not having to worry about transportation after eating your way through the street.
The rooms were super cute - definitely giving ocean/coastal vibes.
There's also parking available, and we even had a nice little view of the ocean, which made the stay feel extra relaxing.
Kenting Night Market (墾丁大街)
At night, Kenting completely transforms.
The main street - Kenting Night Market (墾丁大街) - fills up with food vendors, bright lights, and that classic Taiwan night market energy.
We basically did what we always do:
walk, snack, repeat.
Here's some of what we tried:
Taiwanese sausage (香腸) - sweet, savory, and grilled fresh
Banana crepe - soft, slightly crispy, and filled with sweet goodness
Fried chicken cutlets (炸雞排) - huge, crispy, and super juicy
Luo wei (滷味) - braised meats, tofu, veggies… pick what you want and they'll heat it up for you. We picked more veggies than meat this time since we were already stuffed from all the sausages and chicken! The Daikon Radish and Cabbage was very tasty!
And of course - drinks everywhere. From fruit teas to fun street-side cocktails, there's always something to sip on while you wander.
That said, there are also plenty of restaurants nearby if you want to sit down - everything from seafood to Thai to hot pot.
Breakfast the Next Morning
The next morning, we went to 魔法廚房複合式早餐 for a classic Taiwan-style breakfast.
We ordered:
- Breakfast club sandwich
- Dan bing (蛋餅) - a Taiwanese egg crepe that's always a favorite! BTW I have a recipe for how to make it at home.
Both meals came with sides like:
- Fresh fruit (we got guava + tomatoes)
- A hard-boiled egg
I love how Taiwanese breakfasts balance things out - savory, a little fresh, a little filling, and not too heavy.
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Final Thoughts
Kenting is such a fun contrast to places like Taipei or even Kaohsiung.
It's slower, beachier, and more about:
- relaxing during the day
- eating your way through the night
Even though we only stayed one night, it felt like a perfect little getaway.
If I did it again, I'd probably:
- spend more time at the beach (maybe in warmer weather 😅)
- try even more street food (there's always more…)
If you're planning a Taiwan trip, definitely consider adding Kenting to your list - it's a totally different vibe and 100% worth it.
Got questions or comments? Drop them below!