Short answer: Absolutely! Jibei Island turned out to be one of my favourite experiences in Penghu. Imagine a long stretch of golden sand, turquoise water, and almost nobody else around. That’s exactly what we found when we visited in October.
But we almost didn’t go.
When my travel companion and I looked into the ferry schedules, neither ferry option seemed particularly appealing. We could either get up crazy early or arrive when Taiwan’s midday heat was in full force. And believe me, the sun and heat in Taiwan are not something you want to underestimate!
In the end, we decided to go anyway, taking the later ferry. We had a delicious seafood lunch, explored the island by scooter, stopped at a few cultural sights, and saved the famous beach for last.
That last decision turned out to be a very good one.
At around 2 p.m., we arrived at Jibei’s famous beach and found it deserted. We spent the last hours enjoying a beautiful stretch of coastline almost entirely to ourselves. It felt like we’d won the lottery!
Here’s everything I’d recommend knowing before planning your own Jibei Island day trip.
Where is Jibei Island?
Jibei Island, also known as Jibeiyu (吉貝嶼) or Bird Island on Google Maps, is a small island north of Penghu’s main islands in Taiwan.
It’s best known for Jibei Sand Tail (吉貝沙尾), a stunning sand spit that stretches into the sea, with water on both sides.
The island covers approximately 3.1 square kilometres, making it easy to explore on a day trip.
While the beach is undoubtedly the biggest attraction, Jibei also has some traditional architecture, magic little corners, and very good food.
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How to get to Jibei Island from Penghu
Ferries depart from Chikan Pier (赤崁碼頭) in Baisha Township, near the North Sea Visitor Center (北海遊客中心).
The crossing takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
Google Maps: North Sea Visitor Center
The ferry schedule: What you need to know
The ferry schedule was the main reason we almost skipped Jibei.
We visited in October, and the available departure times weren’t particularly convenient. We didn’t want to get up before the crack of dawn, but we also weren’t thrilled about arriving in the scorching midday heat.
My advice: Check both the departure and return times before planning your day.
There are different ferry operators, and schedules vary by season, weekday and weather. Some services only operate during the busier months.
You can check the official Penghu ferry information or contact the North Sea Visitor Center at +886 6 993 3082.
Where to buy Jibei ferry tickets
Here’s a detail that could save you some confusion.
When you arrive, you’ll see what looks like a newer visitor centre constructed from shipping containers.
That’s not where we bought our tickets.
Instead, walk down towards the actual ferry boarding pier, where the boats dock and passengers get on. That’s where we found the ticket seller for our ferry.
We bought our tickets shortly before departure without booking online.
That worked perfectly during our October visit, although I’d check availability in advance during weekends, holidays and peak season.
Bring your passport! We were asked for identification when buying our tickets.
Can you return earlier than your scheduled ferry?
We met a Canadian couple who finished exploring the beaches sooner than expected and wanted to return to Penghu.
Apparently, they asked some local fishermen who were already heading back and managed to get a ride!
A fun travel story, but definitely not something to rely on. For your own plans, stick to confirmed passenger services.
WHERE WE STAYED IN PENGHU
Color Coral Boutique Hotel
We chose Color Coral for its spacious rooms, lovely design and excellent value. You can even have breakfast brought to your room. My favourite treat was reserving the private rooftop Jacuzzi at sunset, complete with a surprise drink.
A peek at the breakfast service:
Getting around Jibei Island: Should you rent a scooter?
Yes! Provided you’re legally qualified to ride one, I’d recommend renting a scooter.
Jibei isn’t big, but having your own transport makes it much easier to explore without spending too much time walking in the heat.
When we bought our ferry tickets, we were also asked whether we wanted to rent a scooter.
The rental company working with the ticket seller was conveniently located near Jibei’s harbour, so many passengers picked up their scooters immediately after arriving.
If you haven’t arranged a scooter through the ferry company, don’t worry. We saw other rental options on the island.
We rented a petrol scooter, which made getting between the beaches, restaurant and cultural stops very straightforward.
Do you need an international driving permit?
If you’re visiting Taiwan from abroad, check the licence requirements before planning to rent a scooter.
Taiwan recognizes international driving permits (IDPs) from eligible countries under reciprocal arrangements. An IDP isn’t the same as your ordinary driving licence, and you’ll need to arrange it before travelling.
You also need the correct motorcycle entitlement for the scooter you’re renting. A regular car licence isn’t automatically sufficient.
Check the official Taiwan driving licence guidance before your trip.
Where to eat on Jibei Island: An excellent lunch spot close to the harbour
Our first stop after getting off the ferry was lunch.
And I’m very glad we didn’t rush straight to the beach!
We found a local restaurant serving super-fresh seafood, generous portions and some of the best fried rice I’ve had in Taiwan.
I genuinely enjoyed the fried rice more than Din Tai Fung’s.
I even told the woman running the restaurant exactly that! We ended up taking a photo together.
If you’re a seafood lover, this is also a great place to eat. The portions are generous, so come hungry.
Google Maps: Our lunch restaurant on Jibei
What else is there to see on Jibei Island?
The famous beach is the main attraction, but I wanted to see a little more of the island before heading there.
Here are the two other places we visited.
Lin Jiangxi Historic House (林江西古宅): Beautiful tiles, disappointing visit
Google Maps: Lin Jiangxi Historic House
I was particularly looking forward to this stop because I love Taiwan’s traditional architecture, especially older buildings decorated with colourful ceramic tiles.
According to Taiwan’s National Cultural Memory Bank, the house combines traditional Taiwanese architectural elements with Western-inspired columns and decorative tiles.
To be frank, it was in a visibly deteriorated condition when we visited, and the interior was closed off.
Looking at older Google photos, it appears visitors were previously able to enter. That wasn’t possible during our visit in October 2026.
I’m glad I saw the building, but I wouldn’t tell you to make a special trip here in its current condition.
If you’ve seen the photographs in this article, you’ve pretty much seen everything we were able to see.
Unless the building reopens for visitors, I’d spend that time exploring Jibei’s beaches instead.
Jibei Hu Garden (吉貝滬園): A nice little stop nearby
Close to the historic house, we discovered a lovely little corner with trees, wooden signs, and places to rest.
It’s not a major attraction, but it’s a cute spot for photos and a pleasant place to take a break in the shade before heading back out into the sun.
Worth a quick stop if you’re already nearby.
Jibei Sand Tail: The highlight of our day
Now for the reason most people visit Jibei!
Jibei Sand Tail (吉貝沙尾) is a long, narrow stretch of sand extending into the sea from the southwestern part of the island.
It’s spectacular from above, with pale sand surrounded by turquoise water.
Here’s what I’d do again: Save the beach for last!
My guess is that many of the other tourists on our ferry headed straight to Jibei Sand Tail, since it’s the island’s most famous attraction.
We did the opposite.
We had lunch first, explored the island by scooter, visited the historic house and stopped at Jibei Hu Garden.
By the time we finally reached the sand tail, it was around 2 p.m.
And there was nobody there!
We couldn’t quite believe it. This famous stretch of beach was completely deserted.
We spent the remaining hours walking along the sand, enjoying the shallow water, taking photos, and relaxing without another tourist in sight.
In fact, it was so quiet that we managed to take some beautiful drone photographs of the beach with just one tiny person in the frame — me!
Now, we did visit in October, outside Penghu’s busiest summer season. That probably played a big role in how quiet the beach was.
So I wouldn’t promise you’ll have the same experience in July or August.
But if you’re visiting during a quieter month, I’d recommend exploring the island first and saving the beach for the afternoon.
It worked wonderfully for us.
Can you swim at Jibei Sand Tail?
We spent time enjoying the shallow water, but there’s something I’d want other visitors to know.
At many of Taiwan’s popular swimming beaches, you’ll find lifeguards and clearly marked areas where swimming is safe.
We didn’t see either of those at Jibei Sand Tail during our October visit.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there are never lifeguards or designated swimming areas, especially during the busier season. But when we visited, the beach was unsupervised.
So don’t assume it’s a monitored swimming beach. Check the conditions and any local warnings, and be particularly cautious about entering deeper water.
Also, bring sun protection. The exposed sand spit offers no shade.
My practical tips for visiting Jibei Island
- Check the ferry schedule before you go. Departure and return times determine how long you’ll have on the island. Services change seasonally.
- Bring your passport. We were asked for identification when buying ferry tickets.
- Rent a scooter if you’re licensed to ride one. It made exploring the island much easier.
- Bring cash, water, and anything else you might need. I encountered something I’d never seen before in Taiwan: a closed FamilyMart! Don’t assume the convenience store will be open.
- Don’t underestimate the heat. Bring sunscreen, electrolytes, a hat, and plenty of water.
- Have lunch before hitting the beach. Our seafood lunch was excellent, and the timing worked perfectly.
- Consider visiting outside peak season. October was wonderfully quiet, although some services may be limited.
How much time do you need on Jibei Island?
Depending on the ferry departures you book, you might have around four to five hours on Jibei.
Initially, I thought that wouldn’t be enough.
But it turned out to be a comfortable amount of time.
We managed to enjoy a leisurely lunch, explore the island by scooter, visit two cultural stops and spend plenty of time at Jibei Sand Tail.
Of course, you’ll need to plan your activities around the available return ferry rather than simply deciding how long you want to stay.
But if you’re worried that four or five hours won’t be enough, our experience suggests you can still have a great visit.
Final verdict: Is Jibei Island worth visiting?
Absolutely.
The ferry schedule wasn’t ideal, and the historic house was underwhelming. But the seafood lunch, easy scooter exploration, and beautiful sand tail more than made up for it.
Having that entire beach to ourselves was one of the highlights of our Penghu trip.
I’d go again without hesitation.
Visited in October 2026. Ferry schedules, scooter rental availability, swimming facilities and attraction access change seasonally. Check current arrangements before travelling.
Affiliate disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you book through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support Lost Luggage Travels. All recommendations are based on my own experiences and research.
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