Why visit Taiwan
Taiwan is the secret weapon of Asia trips. Most travellers skip it; those who go come back raving.
It's compact (easy to circle in 10 days), incredibly safe and packed with the best night markets in Asia. The east coast (Taroko Gorge) is wild and beautiful; the west coast is where the high-speed rail and most cities live.
Costs sit between Southeast Asia and Japan. £45–95 a day for very comfortable travel.
Best months are October–April. Summer is hot, humid and typhoon-risky.
Best places to visit in Taiwan
From the headline cities to the spots most travellers miss, here are the destinations worth building a Taiwan trip around — what each is like, how long to stay and who they suit.
North · Capital
Taipei
Night markets, Taipei 101 and the world's friendliest big city.
North · Day trip
Jiufen
Lantern-lit mountainside town that inspired Spirited Away.
East · Nature
Taroko Gorge
Marble cliffs and turquoise rivers — Taiwan's must-see landscape.
East · Coast
Hualien
Base for Taroko, with great seafood and the start of the east coast.
South · City
Kaohsiung
Taiwan's southern port — Lotus Pond, harbour walks and warmer weather.
Centre · Mountains
Sun Moon Lake
Aboriginal villages and tea plantations around an alpine lake.
South · Food
Tainan
Taiwan's oldest city — temples and the country's best food.
Best Taiwan itineraries
How long do you really need? Here are tried-and-tested route lengths, from a quick first taste to a slow, complete loop.
Best time to visit Taiwan
Best <strong>October–April</strong> (mild, dry). Summer is hot, humid and the typhoon season runs June–October. Cherry blossoms appear in February–March in the mountains.
Taiwan budget guide
Honest, realistic budgets — what each travel style actually costs, by the day, week and 2 weeks.
Backpacker
£30 – £50 / day
£210 – £350 / week · £420 – £700 / 2 weeks
- Stay: Hostels · £10–20
- Food: Night markets · £3–6
- Transport: Metro + HSR
- Activities: Free temples & hikes
Mid-Range
£60 – £110 / day
£420 – £770 / week · £840 – £1,540 / 2 weeks
- Stay: Boutique hotels · £45–80
- Food: Mix of night markets & restaurants
- Transport: HSR + scooter on east coast
- Activities: Taroko tour, hot springs
Luxury
£200 – £400+ / day
£1,400 – £2,800 / week · £2,800 – £5,600 / 2 weeks
- Stay: Mandarin Oriental Taipei · £250+
- Food: Fine dining
- Transport: Private drivers
- Activities: Private guides, spa days
Sample mid-range day
Breakfast soy milk shop £2 · MRT day £3 · museum £4 · Taipei 101 observatory £15 · night market dinner £6 · hotel £60 = £90
Taiwan transport guide
How to get around — the realistic options, what they cost and when to pick each.
Taipei ↔ Kaohsiung in 90 mins — efficient
£15 – £40
Round-island scenic train
£5 – £20
Clean, cheap, English signage
£0.50 – £1.50
Stored-value card for trains, buses, convenience
Top-up
Reliable in cities
£3 – £10
Standard for east coast
£8 – £12 / day
Public bike share — unlock with EasyCard
£0.20 / 30 min
Cheap intercity and to Taroko
£3 – £15
Best food to try in Taiwan
Order beyond the obvious — these are the dishes locals queue for and travellers remember years later.
Beef Noodle Soup
Taiwan's national dish — slow-braised beef in spiced broth.
Xiaolongbao
Soup dumplings — Din Tai Fung was born in Taipei.
Bubble Tea
Invented in Taichung in the 1980s.
Stinky Tofu
Fermented tofu — much better than it smells.
Oyster Omelette
Night market classic with sweet potato starch.
Beef Roll (Niu Rou Juan)
Soy-braised beef wrapped in scallion pancake.
Lu Rou Fan
Braised pork belly over rice — comfort food.
Pineapple Cake
Iconic Taiwan souvenir cookie.
Gua Bao
Soft steamed buns with braised pork.
Shaved Ice (Bao Bing)
Loaded with mango, condensed milk and toppings.
Top experiences in Taiwan
The experiences travellers consistently call out as highlights.
Taiwan for different travel styles
First-timers
Easy, safe, English signage and gentle introduction to East Asia.
Foodies
Night markets are the best on the continent.
Solo travel
Famously safe and friendly — even at night.
Couples
Hot springs, lantern festivals and east-coast road trips.
Slow travel
Tea farms, hot springs and Sun Moon Lake reward staying put.
Adventure
Taroko hiking, surf at Kenting, cycling the round-island Route 1.
Taiwan safety guide
Common-sense safety information from real travellers — what to actually watch out for.
General safety
Among the safest places on earth — even alone at night.
Typhoons
Jun–Oct — monitor the Central Weather Bureau.
Earthquakes
Frequent and usually minor.
Scooters
Ride defensively; helmets mandatory.
Health
Excellent and cheap; pharmacies on every corner.
Tap water
Officially safe but most locals filter or boil.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110 · Ambulance/Fire: 119 · English info line: 0800-024-111
Practical information
Visa
Most Western nationalities get 90 days visa-free on arrival.
Money & ATMs
Cards accepted widely; cash for night markets and small shops.
Cards
Visa & Mastercard accepted at hotels, malls and chain restaurants. Carry cash for street vendors.
SIM cards & eSIMs
Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile offer cheap tourist SIMs at TPE.
Internet & WiFi
Strong WiFi at hotels and cafés; 4G/5G in cities and most popular areas.
Plugs & power
Types A and B sockets · 110V / 60Hz (same as US/Japan).
Tipping
Not expected; small change appreciated.
Healthcare
Excellent and affordable — among the best in Asia.
Essential apps for Taiwan
The apps actually worth downloading before you fly.
Google Maps
Reliable navigation across Asia
Google Translate
Camera mode reads local menus
Airalo
eSIMs in under a minute
Wise
Cheap currency transfers & card
Agoda
Best hotel rates across Asia
Booking.com
Free cancellation flexibility
Klook
Tours, transfers & tickets
12Go
Trains, buses & ferries across SEA
GetYourGuide
Experiences & day tours
Taiwan FAQs
The questions travellers ask most often, answered honestly.
Is Taiwan safe?
Yes — one of the safest countries in the world, for solo travellers and women too.
When is the best time to visit Taiwan?
October to April. Summer is hot, humid and typhoon-risky.
Do I need a visa for Taiwan?
Most Western nationalities get 90 days visa-free on arrival.
How many days do I need in Taiwan?
Seven days for the north; 10–14 for a full round-island loop.
Is Taiwan expensive?
Mid-priced — cheaper than Japan, more than SEA. Mid-range travellers do £60–110/day.
Is Taiwan part of China?
Politically contested. Practically — Taiwan operates as a separate country.
What's the best night market?
Shilin in Taipei is the biggest; Raohe and Tonghua are favourites of locals; Tainan has the best food overall.
Can I drink tap water?
Officially yes, but most locals filter or boil. Bottled is widely available.
Do people speak English?
Increasingly yes in Taipei; less elsewhere. Translation apps help.
What's the best Taiwan itinerary?
Taipei (3) → Jiufen day trip → Taroko (2) → Sun Moon Lake (1) → Tainan (2) → Kaohsiung (1).
Is tipping expected in Taiwan?
No — tipping is not part of Taiwanese culture.
What plug type does Taiwan use?
Types A and B · 110V — same as US.