Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung

Being right next to Taichung station made getting to attractions easy. I also liked having a rooftop hangout and good spaces to relax on every floor. There are hot and cold water dispensers throughout, though you need to bring your own container, and laundry is available. It was relatively clean, with basic amenities. One of the best hostels I’ve stayed in.

I stayed five days and found it quiet, private, and safe, though it didn’t feel like a social hostel. Most guests seemed to be local Taiwanese, and I don’t think I heard another foreigner while I was there. It’s right across from Taichung TRA Main Station, behind Miyahara Ice Cream, and the common areas have a nice view of the station. The rooms are on floors 8-12, sharing a lift with offices, including a busy tuition centre on level 4. I had a bed in the four-person women’s dorm. There are two shared toilets for those rooms, curtains around the beds, and bedside cabinets that lock with a card. The bed lights are bright and the curtains don’t close the whole way like a capsule, so light gets through; eye masks would help. There’s also a cute notebook and stationery for leaving a guestbook entry. On level 12, reception is next to the equipped shared kitchen and a seating area for eating or chatting. The rooftop on level 13 has BBQ grills and a toilet. Each floor has a common area with tables, couches, and a water dispenser. Other facilities include a coin washer and dryer, a fridge in the kitchen, an outdoor terrace for drying clothes and disposing of waste, and a cute corner for leaving notes.

I spent two weeks here, and it felt more like a hotel than a hostel, with couples and groups mostly using the hotel side. There were some hostel guests, mainly women or girlfriends traveling together. It’s a place that respects privacy rather than encouraging people to socialize. I’d estimate the guests were about 90% local and 10% foreign. The layout has a village-like feel, with little huts along walkways and small seating spots like park benches or rest stops on the walk back from the elevator. Each hut has its own bathroom and little windows, and if you’re lucky you might get a small table by the walkway. The main common room, reception, and kitchen are on floor 12. The kitchen has one induction cooktop, pots and pans, a microwave, a rice cooker, and refrigerators. Free snacks and tea bags are available. Coffee beans cost $50, and you can grind and brew them yourself. I looked at some individual rooms, which seemed well suited to small parties or couples on a romantic trip. The men’s dorm is actually a double twin with a private bathroom and shower. Each bed is a tiny room with curtains dividing the beds. One of the two bunks is indoors and the other has full windows. The office-style blinds don’t block the morning light, so bring an eye mask. I found other guests could be randomly noisy or messy, so earplugs help; you can request room service to clean up after them. The women’s dorm is arranged differently, with four separate indoor beds divided by curtains. It has more capacity than the men’s dorm and therefore more beds.

I’ve stayed at quite a few hostels, and this is one of the better ones. You get a great view of Taichung station, and there’s a rooftop spot to unwind at night. The location is especially good.