Where to Stay at Alishan Forest: My Tips, Tricks & Best Hotels in Alishan National Forest 2025

Alishan Forest, or officially, the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, was honestly one of my favorite places on my whole Taiwan trip.

Back in the day, this forest was mainly used for timber logging, especially the massive cypress trees. Over time, it was reforested and turned into what it is today: a beautiful mountain getaway with hiking trails, scenic trains, and stunning misty sunrises between the mountains.

In this travel guide today, I’ll share where to stay at Alishan Forest, but also why I think you should stay overnight and what you need to know before booking. There are definitely a few things you’ll want to plan ahead for, so let’s get into it.

In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Alishan Taiwan

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alishan Hotel – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️⭐️ Dafong Hotel Alishan – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️ Chinshan Villa – Click here for rates & availability

Where to Stay at Alishan Forest: My Tips, Tricks & Best Hotels in Alishan National Forest 2025

Where to Stay at Alishan Forest – Important Information

Before we get into actual hotel options, there are a few things you really need to know because it’s not as obvious as you might think. When I was researching hotels in Alishan, I was so confused about where exactly to stay. It’s surprisingly tricky, and there isn’t much clear info out there. So here’s a quick rundown of the most important things to know before visiting Alishan:

There are shockingly few hotels and lodges in Alishan. Like, really not many.
The overall quality is pretty average, and everything is way overpriced for what you get. There are a few nicer places, but don’t expect luxury.
Things book out really far in advance, and weekends can get super expensive (same as pretty much everywhere else in Taiwan).
If you’re planning on taking the Alishan Forest Railway (the famous sightseeing train from Chiayi), you’ll pretty much need to stay overnight. The train takes up to 5 hours, so you’ll arrive in Alishan in the late afternoon.
If you want to see the sunrise, you’ll also need to stay the night, there’s no other way around it.
Be careful where you book. When you search for “Alishan” on Booking.com or similar sites, it will show you a ton of hotels spread out over a huge area. You want to stay inside the actual Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. On Booking, this is usually tagged as Xianglin.
If you don’t have a car, definitely stay in Xianglin (inside the forest area), so you can walk or take shuttles easily.
Having a car helps a lot. I didn’t have one, so I would’ve had to stay inside the recreation area. But if you decide to rent a car (either for your whole Taiwan trip or just for Alishan), you’ll have way more hotel options in the surrounding area.

What to Expect at Alishan Forest

One thing I want to clear up quickly: what actually is Alishan National Forest? Before I visited, I honestly had no idea what to expect.

The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is exactly what the name says, a recreational area. It’s a beautiful mountain spot with a visitor center, a small town area, easy hiking trails, little ponds, thick mist, giant cedar trees, and a cute little railway running through it.

I loved it. I spent a whole day just wandering around the trails. The ladies at the visitor center were super helpful and pointed me to the best paths. The weather up here is also so much nicer than in the cities, it was actually comfortable instead of feeling like I was melting.

Just to be clear: this is not a “proper” hiking area. Most of the paths are paved or easy to walk, and it feels more like a big forest park than a serious hike. There are a few more challenging trails (like some of the sunrise walks), but overall, don’t expect anything too intense.

Still, it’s a gorgeous place, and I really enjoyed spending the day here.

Best Area to Stay in Alishan National Forest

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

This is pretty much the heart of Alishan Forest. It’s where you’ll find all the famous giant trees, the hiking trails, and the sunrise viewpoints. When people talk about “Alishan” or “Alishan Forest,” this is the area they mean.

It’s basically a small national park with a visitor center out front, a few hotels, and some restaurants. This is definitely the area I recommend staying in if you arrive by train since the Alishan Railway station is right here too. Super convenient.

Shizhao

Shizhao is the next bigger town nearby, and as far as I can tell, it has the most accommodation options. There isn’t much going on here, it’s really only worth staying in Shizhao if you’re on a budget and have a car. It’s about a 40–45 minute drive from Alishan Forest, so without your own car, it doesn’t make much sense.

Best Hotels in Alishan Forest

1. Alishan Hotel // Best Luxury Hotel in Alishan

Alishan Hotel is without a doubt the best hotel in Alishan Forest. It’s a beautiful 4-star hotel right in the heart of the forest. The rooms are spacious and cozy, and the whole place has a traditional design that really fits the Alishan vibe perfectly.

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Alishan, this is basically your only real option, in my opinion. A big highlight: the hotel is surrounded by cherry trees, so during cherry blossom season, the whole area turns pink which is absolutely gorgeous.

👉 Book Here: Alishan Hotel

2. Dafong Hotel // Best Alishan Hotel on a Budget

Dafong Hotel is a great budget option and one of the best cheap hotels in Alishan. It’s pretty simple but totally fine. The rooms are spacious with big windows, the beds are comfortable, and it’s super affordable while still being right in the middle of the forest.

This is definitely where I’d recommend staying if you’re on a smaller budget but still want to stay inside the park (especially if you’re arriving by train or bus and planning to see the sunrise).

👉 Book Here: Dafong Hotel

3. Alishan Shermuh Tourist Hotel

Alishan Shermuh Tourist Hotel is one of the newest hotels in Alishan. It’s modern and brand new, with spacious rooms, comfortable new beds, and private bathrooms.

The location is perfect, just a few minutes from the visitor center and the Alishan Railway Station. I did some research, and the main reason the booking rating is under 8.0 is because of the Wi-Fi, but other than that, it’s a great option.

👉 Book Here: Alishan Shermuh Tourist Hotel

4. Alishan Hinoki B&B // One of the Coolest Hotels in Alishan

Alishan Hinoki B&B is a super cool, boutique-style bed and breakfast. The interior is very wooden and “lodgy,” with some Japanese-style elements which looks awesome, big thumbs up from me for the decor.

Location-wise, it’s a little outside of Alishan, but still reachable by public transport (or of course, if you have your own car). There are also some hiking trails nearby and tea plantations to explore, which is a nice bonus on top of visiting Alishan Forest.

👉 Book Here: Alishan Hinoki B&B

5. Yong Lun Leisure Farm

Yong Lun Leisure Farm is a great budget stay close to Alishan. It’s located in Shizhao, so a bit away from the actual Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, but you can still get there with your own car or by public transport.

The hotel itself is pretty basic but has everything you need for a comfortable stay in the Taiwanese mountains. The rooms usually come with breakfast too, which is perfect in my opinion to start a day of hiking in Alisha.

👉 Book Here: Yong Lun Leisure Farm

FAQs About Where to Stay at Alishan Forest

What are the best hotels in Alishan?

If you want something nicer, Alishan Hotel is my top choice (and basically the only real luxury option). For a good mid-range or budget stay right in the forest, Dafong Hotel and Alishan Shermuh Tourist Hotel are great.

Is Alishan worth visiting?

Yes, 100%. It was one of my favorite places in Taiwan. The forest, the sunrises, the old trees, it’s just completely different from the cities. Even if you’re not big on “hikes,” it’s still a beautiful place to spend a day or two.

How to take the Alishan Forest Railway train?

The famous Alishan Forest Railway starts in Chiayi and takes about 3.5 to 5 hours (depending on the route and stops) to reach Alishan. You’ll need to book tickets in advance, especially on weekends or during cherry blossom season. Once you’re inside the forest area, there’s also a small train line you can ride to different trailheads and viewpoints.

What is the best place to stay in Alishan?

If you’re arriving by train or bus (or want to see the sunrise), I definitely recommend staying inside the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area (usually marked as Xianglin on booking sites).

Final Thoughts on the Best Alishan Hotels

Alishan might not have a ton of hotel options, and yes, most places are a bit pricey for what you get. But honestly, waking up in the mountains, catching the amazing sunrise in Alishan, and wandering around the misty trails all day makes it totally worth it.

If you’re planning to visit, book your stay early, decide if you’ll have a car or not, and try to stay inside the forest area if possible. I personally didn’t get to stay in Alishan because hotels book out so so early and I just didn’t have a chance to get a room. However I would’ve loved to stay in Alishan and i hope that this guide on where to stay at Alishan will help you plan your amazing mystical weekend here.