Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung Review: Best for Solo Traveller

While there are many excellent accommodations in Taichung, I highly recommend staying at Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung. Even though Norden Ruder is called a “hostel,” it is not your typical hostel. It feels like a high-end hostel but with the luxury of a boutique hotel.

It may not be the cheapest hostel in Taichung, I consider Norden Ruder Hostel as the best hostel for solo travellers because of its central location, cleanliness, comfort and design. Keep reading and find out everything you need to know about the boutique hostel and why you should stay there the next time you are in Taichung, Taiwan.

Before you check out Norden Ruder Hostel in Taichung

Before you book your stay at Norden Ruder, take a look at my post on all the best travel tips for travelling to Taiwan. I included a lot of information, including getting a Taiwan prepaid SIM card, transportation around the country and more.

And check out more tips on my solo travel guide to Taichung and learn about other attractions in Taichung.

Here are a few additional info for staying at Norden Ruder:

Reception is open from 7am to 11:30pm.
Check-in is 3pm and check-out is at 11am.
TV is not included in guest room.
Disposable toiletry is not included.
Housekeeping is available. If you need room cleaning, please inform the staff before 12pm.
Prices can be higher on the weekends (especially Saturdays), during high seasons (national holidays, Christmas, etc) and for special events.

My Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung review is my own opinion, and I did not receive any compensation. I only want to share what I love.
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Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung Location

Located in Central District, Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung is only a few minutes from Taichung Station. It is directly across the street from the transportation hub on Jianguo Road.

Just outside of the hostel, there are several bus stops connecting many bus lines. These buses going to the West District, Xitun District and beyond.

Moreover, there are plenty of things to see and eat in the area. The famous Miyahara store is on the same block as the hostel. There are Michelin recommended restaurants and cute cafes nearby. Plus, you can walk to Yizhong Night Market and Zhongxiao Road Night Market.

Address: 12F, No. 123, Jianguo Road, Central District, Taichung City

Rate: NT$1,300 for Standard Room & NT$700 for 2-bed dormitory

Book with Agoda

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Norden Ruder Hostel: Room Types

Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung occupies floor 8 to 13 of the modern commercial building on Jianguo Road. There are several types of rooms: 2-bed dormitory, budget twin, standard twin, economy room, standard room, quadruple room and comfort quadruple room. All the guest rooms are on floors 8 to 12.

The layout for floor is quite similar. Floors 8 to 11 have guest rooms with windows facing the interior corridor, various seating areas, long table facing the window and a shoe rack near the elevators.

On floor 12, the private area where guest rooms are have a similar layout. But near the elevator is the open kitchen, dining area and reception.

I stayed at Norden Ruder twice (2018 and 2024) and stayed in 2-bed dormitory and standard room. I will review both room types.

1. 2-Bed Dormitory Guest Room

Each dormitory guest room has a single platform bed, two shelves, a cubby, a safe, a nightlight, a wall-hung organizer with stationary. And each room has a window that opens to the corridor.

The room may be “small” as a room, but it is significantly big for a dormitory room. Usually, a dormitory room means you get a lower or upper bunk bed. And there may be a privacy curtain, a shelf and a nightlight. So this dormitory guest room is actually pretty spacious.

As for the ensuite bathroom, there is one between two dormitory beds. That means only two people share the bathroom. It is clean and spacious. The shower stall has shower gel and shampoo for you to use.

2. Standard Room

The Standard Room is a private room that is 13 sqm big. It has a double bed, two side tables, two ledges, stationary and an ensuite bathroom. There is also a window which opens to the inner corridor of the hostel.

As for the ensuite bathroom, the layout is similar to the dormitory rooms: it has a toilet, sink and a shower.

Stationary in the Standard Room — Standard Room

Common Areas in Norden Ruder Hostel

Norden Ruder Hostel has seven floors (floor 8 to 13) and there are common areas on each floor.

Reception, Shared Kitchen & Dining Area

When you arrive at Norden Ruder Hostel, go directly to the 12th floor because that’s where the reception is located.

And adjacent to the reception, there is a large open kitchen. It includes an island full of flatware and utensils, an island with sinks and a large area to prepare food and an area for coffee and tea.

For those who want to eat by the kitchen, there are some seating by the windows and a long communal table on the opposite end.

Common Areas on Floor 8 to 12

Guest rooms are on floors 8 to 12. And each floor has a shoe changing area. You must take off your shoes and wear the slippers provided by the hostel.

Each floor has different seating areas scattered around the corridor and also next to the window. My favourite area to hang out is the bench table facing the window because the chairs are very comfortable and the view is amazing.

I noticed most of their furniture is Muji furniture. Muji is my favourite Japanese brand. They make everything from furniture to a variety of household goods. And they also manufacture other goods like clothing, toiletry and food.

Moreover, each floor has a water filter supplying cold and hot water.

Plus, you can even borrow a yoga mat and yoga block. It is free for guests.

Various seatings by the window — Hallway

Other Common Facilities

There is a rooftop patio on the 13th floor. You can access the open space from the 12th floor via the stairs. There are various seating and is a good place to hang out. It is open from 3pm to 11pm.

Plus, there are laundry facilities on the 9th floor. There are two washers and a dryer. It costs NT$40 to do a load of laundry and NT$50 to dry your clothes. Laundry soap is free. The room is open from 8am to 11pm.

Also, I saw a notice in the elevator saying that the Ruder’s Cafe will be coming soon. It will be located on the 6th floor of the same building.

Laundry room on 9th Floor — Rooftop on 13th Floor

Vouchers for breakfast, cafes and other stores

During my last stay (in 2024), Norden Ruder Hostel was giving NT$200 vouchers for each night you stay at the hostel. You can use the vouchers for breakfast, coffee and food at various restaurants and coffee shops close to the hostel.

Or you can even use the vouchers to buy things from the specific stores listed below.

Vouchers for breakfast, cafes and other stores

The staff at Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung

The team at Norden Ruder Hostel is very friendly and helpful. They were able to explain many things to me and gave me a tour around the hostel. And they can speak English, so there are no issues in terms of language.

I’ve stayed at Norden Ruder before so I know the hostel pretty well and didn’t have any questions or requests.

So overall, I thought they were courteous and welcoming.

Other interesting tidbits about Norden Ruder Hostel

I’ve stayed at other hostels before. In other countries, it is fairly easy to meet other travellers while hanging out in the common areas of the hostel. But I noticed in Taiwan, people keep to themselves in the common area and are not very social.

This is not just happening in Norden Ruder Hostel but in every hostel I’ve stayed in Taiwan.

Also, I also noticed the clientele of Taiwanese hostels is a mix bag. It is usually couples (young and old) or families travelling together (groups of 4 or so).

There are a handful of solo travellers (local and international) but I don’t usually see many people travelling alone. And whenever someone asks me if I’m travelling by myself, they are usually very shocked. I think it’s because the local culture doesn’t really promote solo travels and activities for females. Well, here I am. Ha!

Norden Ruder Hostel Review: Best Hostel in Taichung for Solo Travellers

I can’t say enough how much I love Norden Ruder Hostel! It is one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in! And I’ve stayed in a lot of hostels throughout my travels!

Moreover, Norden Ruder doesn’t feel like a hostel at all. It has a boutique-y, Scandinavian and minimalistic feel to the space. The hostel didn’t feel crowded because there are many common areas to hang out, cook, work, etc.

I highly recommend any solo travellers to stay at Norden Ruder Hostel in Taichung. It is not the cheapest hostel but also not very expensive either. You will enjoy the clean and minimalist space and the view of the city from each floor. Check Agoda or Booking for the current rate and other reviews.

Ready to stay at Norden Ruder Hostel in Taichung?

I hope so because it is the best hostel in Taichung! And maybe even the best hostel in Taiwan!

And don’t let the word “hostel” deter you from staying at Norden Ruder because this budget accommodation doesn’t feel like a typical hostel. It feels high-end and boutique-y!

And if you want other options, there are many accommodations in Taichung for solo travellers. I stayed at many while I was in Taichung and wrote an entire post about where to stay in Taichung. If you want other suggestions, take a look at that post.

I hope you enjoyed my review of Norden Ruder Hostel. And if you have any more questions about this fabulous hostel, leave a comment below.

Ready to plan your trip to Taichung? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Taichung accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination. Or find out how and where to get a SIM Card in Taiwan.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Taichung.

Thank you for reading my review on Norden Ruder

I have many posts on Taiwan, and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan:

Introduction to Taiwan

Central Taiwan posts

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!

Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung Review: Best Hostel for Solo Travellers

Before you check out Norden Ruder Hostel in Taichung

Norden Ruder Hostel Taichung Location