Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide – Everything you need to know

Last Updated on January 30, 2025 by admin

Are you visiting Taiwan and looking for a first-timer’s Guide to Taiwan? This is your one-stop Taiwan Travel Guide to plan your trip to Taiwan covering information on visa, flights, places to visit, itinerary, what to shop and where to find vegetarian food!

Taiwan is an underrated budget destination in Asia but thankfully more visitors are considering visiting it. Taiwan feels like a mix of China and Japan taking in all the good things from both countries. 

Taiwan also has everything a tourist would be interested in – towering cities with amazing nightlife, mesmerizing nature with ample opportunities to hike the mountains, laze at the beaches or chase the waterfalls as well as the amazing herald of seasons such as spring and autumn. The cherry blossoms here are worth comparing to the Sakura in Japan, but at a much more affordable rate.

No matter your interests, Taiwan won’t disappoint — especially if you’re a foodie. The food here is delicious, even if you are a vegan or a vegetarian! 

Since I travelled from India, a lot of my information will be from India’s perspective. Please check the respective websites while travelling to Taiwan from your home country. Come delve into the details of this wonderful country with this Taiwan Travel Guide.

TRAVEL IN TAIWAN: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

TAIWAN VISA

So first things first for entering a new country – Visa! If you are from the United States or Schengen countries, then you do not need a visa to travel to Taiwan, as you are eligible for visa-exempt entry for up to 90 days; meaning you can visit Taiwan without applying for a visa. For more information check the official website.

If you are from India wanting to visit Taiwan, you are eligible for eVisa if you have valid or expired visa and entry-exit stamps from any of these countries – USA, Schengen, Japan, South Korea and Australia in the last 10 years. Getting a visa is simpler if you are travelling a group for tourism purposes with a travel agent. 

If you do not have the above-mentioned visa or stamps, you can still apply for a sticker visa at the embassy. The general rules are 6 months of passport validity.

Costs for Taiwan Visa

As of 1st January 2025, a Single entry visitor visa is 50 USD and a Multiple entry visitor visa is 100 USD. 

The visa usually comes in 5-7 working days. The visa is valid for 90 days. 

FLIGHTS TO TAIWAN

Flights to Taiwan are decently priced from India. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Taiwan from India. The flight options are Thai Air (stopover in Bangkok), Cathay Pacific (stopover in Hong Kong), Singapore Airlines (stopover in Singapore), Malaysia Airlines (stopover in Kuala Lumpur and Vietjet Airlines (stopover in Hanoi). Most of these flights fly from metro cities in India. 

The cost of round-way flight tickets is approximately $400 – $500 (INR 34,000 – 45000) but depending upon the high footfall season and last-minute bookings, the charges may increase.

Visitors will likely fly into Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport — also sometimes referred to as Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport — an international airport situated in Taoyuan City that serves northern Taiwan, including the capital city of Taipei. Many carriers fly from many countries to Taipei. Their national airline – China Airlines (CAL) is the national airline of Taiwan. It’s a state-owned airline that flies to many destinations in Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and the Pacific.

How to get from Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei?

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the quickest way to reach Taipei, taking just 38 minutes to the city center. A one-way ticket costs around TWD 160 (US$5), and services operate from 6:05 AM to 11:35 PM. there are signages in the arrival hall guiding you towards the MRT so it is hard to miss!

Alternatively, shuttle buses offer a convenient option, with three routes available: 1819, 1960, and 1961. These buses run until 1:05 AM, making them a great choice for late-night arrivals. Fares range from TWD 90 (US$2.7) to TWD 150 (US$4.5).

For those who prefer a direct and hassle-free ride, Uber and local taxis are available 24/7. While they are the most expensive option, they are the most reliable, especially for early-morning arrivals. Expect to pay around TWD 1200 (US$36) for a trip to Taipei.

GETTING AROUND IN TAIWAN

There are many ways to get around Taiwan – train, bus, private taxi or flight. How to travel in Taiwan out of these options depends on your budget, where you want to go, and how much time you have. Trains are amazing in Taiwan with the option of a bullet train and its network is expanding.

Trains

Taiwan has an excellent transportation infrastructure, including trains that connect the far north to the south. All the major cities and towns are well connected. These trains are comfortable, mostly on time, and are a great way to explore the country. Trains are the primary mode of transportation between cities in Taiwan.

Zipping between Taipei and Kaohsiung (Zuoying station) in as fast as 90 minutes, the bullet service on Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) operates a single line along the west corridor that makes stops at 12 stations, including all major cities. Tickets are less than double the price of a standard train, but it takes less than half the time. You can buy high-speed rail tickets up to 29 days in advance. It is advisable to book ahead if you are travelling on a weekend or holiday. Booking is possible by physically collecting tickets or online.

Conventional trains that connect other cities and towns are also convenient. Zìqiáng (also called Tze-chiang) express train, Taroko Express and Puyuma Express are some of the busiest routes. 

Flights

Despite being a small island country, Taiwan has a thriving network of domestic flights. The country has 8 mainland airports and 8 island archipelago airports. The distance between 2 cities is a maximum of 1 hour.

Taxis in Taiwan

Within cities, tourists can use local taxis or app-based taxis – Uber. Uber is useful as you don’t have to haggle with the taxi drivers regarding the fares and confusion regarding the destination – the accent makes it difficult to understand. Most cities have Uber and payment is possible by QR code, cash or credit card.

Metro in Taiwan

Taiwan has metro systems in the cities of Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Taoyuan, and Kaohsiung. Taipei Metro has 117 stations and operates from 6 AM to midnight daily. It is the most convenient public transportation in Taipei City, with an average of 3–5 minutes between schedules, which is very comfortable and fast.

For ease of visitors in Taiwan, Taipei Metro issues tickets (one-day passes, 24/48/72hr Taipei Metro Passes), Taipei Fun Passes (Transportation Passes and Unlimited Passes, Exploring Passes, Classic Version, 2-day THSR Holiday Tickets and 2-day THSR Joint Tickets).

Another option is a Stored Value card with EasyCards, iPASSes, iCASH. These stored value cards can be topped up and are accepted both for public transport and small payments.

TAIWAN ITINERARY

If you’re wondering how many days you need to visit Taiwan, then it can be done within a few days or a few weeks. It is possible to visit the main tourist attractions in Taiwan within one week. However, if you want to hike, laze on the beach and also visit the cities, then you probably need 10 days in Taiwan or even more.

I spent a week in Taiwan and barely scratched the surface. However, it was a good orientation for me to explore more next time. 

1 week Taiwan itinerary

Day 1:  Taichung

Day 2-4: Nantou county, Sun Moon Lake and Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village

Day 5-7: Taipei

WHERE TO STAY IN TAIWAN

Even since the Covid pandemic, tourism is still recovering in Taiwan and is yet to reach its full potential. However, since most cities in Taiwan have business travellers there is no dearth of accommodation options in Taiwan. Business hotels, hot spring resorts, hostels and AirBnBs are also easily available.

Average price per night for stay:

Hostels: US$ 35-50

Hot spring resorts: US$ 200-300

Hotels: $150 – 500

Taipei

amba Taipei Songshan

When you’re looking at hotels in Taiwan, you probably already know that it’s worth spending a little extra money to get clean, comfortable, and convenient lodgings. The hotel also is worth the views – panoramic views of Taipei 101 and Keelung River. From the reception area and dining area, you can easily spend time plane spotting!

It’s close to transport as well as several top attractions and has a bar and restaurant on-site so that you can have a relaxing meal after a long day.

The hotel also has another hot location – near the ximending market making it convenient for late-night strolls and eating. 

amba Taipei Songshan can be booked here.

amba Taipei Ximending can be booked here.

OwlStay Flip Flop Hostel – Garden

This hostel in Taipei is located close to the main train station. The rooms are clean and welcoming, with lots of common areas so you can get to know your fellow travellers. The building is an old railway workers’ dorm that’s been renovated to modern standards and it offers dorm room accommodation.

OwlStay Flip Flop Hostel – Garden can be booked here.

Sunshine Apartment

The location here is spot on. You can walk to restaurants, the MRT station, a 24-hour convenience store, and a supermarket. The place is clean, spacious, and even has a private lift. With a quiet, bright, and cozy wooden interior, you might just want to spend all day chilling in this apartment.

Sunshine Apartment can be booked here. 

Taichung

The Place Taichung

One of the best business hotels I have stayed at, The Place Taichung is perfect to rest and spend the night. The hotel is themed as Fun, Fusion, Fashion, and is located along Calligraphy Greenway, the upscale shopping district of Taichung. The hotel blends Taichung’s local culture and charm and is a springboard to the surprising spots across this entertaining city – an out-of-the-box experience for the modern traveller.

The Place Taichung can be booked here.

Star Hostel Taichung Parklane

Star Hostel is located in a stunning Green building that’s filled with 14,000 plants as well as shops, cafes and restaurants. The hostel is made using local material that gives it a natural, relaxing feel. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also close to a night market and several museums and offers free Wi-Fi.

Star Hostel Taichung Parklane can be booked here.

Sun Moon Lake

Wyndham Sun Moon Lake

It has one of the best rooms and views. The hotel’s rooms are spacious and comfortable and have all the amenities. And the hotel is close enough to the Sun Moon Lake that you could walk there even on the warmest day!

The best part? The rooms have in-room hot water spring making it a favourite amongst visitors.

Wyndham Sun Moon Lake can be booked here.

perBed Hostel-Sun Moon Lake Station

If you’re looking to stay near Sun Moon Lake on a budget, then this hotel is ideal. It offers lovely views because it’s surrounded by mountains and close to Sun Moon Lake. It’s also close to the local cable car which offers easy transport around the lake and beautiful views. The rooms are clean and cozy with bright and modern decorations.

perBed Hostel-Sun Moon Lake Station can be booked here.

BUDGET FOR TAIWAN TRAVEL

The amount of money you spend in a country completely depends on how soon you book your flight tickets, the number of days you plan to stay, the kind of hotels you stay in, the type of restaurants you visit, and the amount of shopping you do. 

Taiwan is not as cheap as other Asian countries like Vietnam or Laos but it is still affordable. You can find nice luxury hotels in the range of US$ 80-150 per night. Hostels are a great choice in Taiwan and are safe, comfortable and clean. 

Food options are great everywhere and very affordable. Vegan and vegetarian options are less. And even if you opt for vegetarian, most restaurants may use fish oil or shrimp paste in the preparation. So be careful with your instructions. You can get delicious street food for US$ 5-$10. Sit-down meals at nice restaurants cost approximately $50 – 100 per head.

I suggest keeping some money aside for the souvenirs from Taiwan because they are so charming and unique you would want to buy a lot!

On average, the per day budget would be around $70-100 excluding the flights, internal train transport and visa.

TAIWAN FOOD GUIDE

Being a vegetarian, I was quite worried about getting vegetarian food in Taiwan. Most of the food is meat-heavy – pork, beef and seafood are very common. Biggest cities also have Indian restaurants which ensure food is strictly vegetarian and also take care of those masala cravings.

Taipei is home to a significant vegetarian population, estimated at nearly 2 million people, largely due to the city’s deep-rooted Buddhist traditions. While many follow a vegetarian diet year-round, others observe it on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month.

The main challenge in finding vegetarian food isn’t availability but rather the language barrier. If you don’t speak or read Mandarin, identifying vegetarian street food stalls and clearly communicating your dietary needs can be difficult.

If you are wondering what to eat in Taiwan or the best Taiwan food to try then check out this list. I am sticking to the most popular vegetarian options since I am a vegetarian but there are many meat options too.

Bubble Tea

Taiwan is the birthplace of the beloved bubble tea or boba tea that has taken the entire world by world. This milk-based sugary drink with chewy tapioca pearls that snuggle at the bottom of the cup makes for a great drink.

And not to brag but out of the boba tea I have had till now, the one I tried at Xing Fu Tang in Shilin market was the best so far!

Vegetarian Dumplings

These can be found as street food or even in Taiwanese restaurants. The filling is mostly made of mushrooms and there is a sauce to dip it in.

Hot pot

Hot pot is a hearty one-pot meal that has a variety of leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, meat & seafood, some root vegetables, and some rice or noodles to go with it. All of this is added as the light-flavoured broth keeps simmering on heat. There are special hot pot restaurants across the country.

Cold noodles

Being a warm country for most of the year, the locals enjoy having cold noodles for meals. Cold noodles are generally made from wheat and tossed with fresh carrots, cucumber and garlic. This is further topped with a delicious sesame sauce or peanut sauce along with tamarind vinegar. 

This was my first meal after arriving at the airport and I picked it up from the 7-Eleven store.

Pumpkin soup

Pumpkin Sour is quite popular with the locals and is available in the restaurants. They are filling when consumed with a bread basket. It is not spicy and it is only lightly peppered. Sometimes they are served with a fried dumpling.

Shaved Ice

Shaved ice is a very popular dessert in Taiwan. It is basically as the name suggests – shaved ice which is topped with a choice of 3-5 ingredients such as beans, tapioca balls, jelly and topped with sugar syrup. Sometimes it may also have icecream and fruit pieces. 

Sugar-Glazed Fruit: You will have no issue spotting the many places selling sugar-glazed fruits. Kids in your group will likely be entirely more adventurous eaters if you promise them the chance to naw on one of these after you eat.

Tea

Every meal is incomplete without Taiwanese tea. Oolong tea is one of the most popular tea grown in Taiwan. Tea is so much part of the culture that most restaurants serve warm tea in a teapot which gets endlessly refilled instead of water. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT TAIWAN

Spring (March- May) is one of the best times to visit Taiwan when temperatures are mild, and cherry blossoms are in bloom. It’s the peak season for tourism. Shoulder season such as late summer to early autumn (August to October) is also considered a high season when the weather is warm and there’s less rainfall.

Winter (December to February) is extremely cold with chilly winds. While it doesn’t snow in the cities, the mountain towns do get snow. 

I visited in mid-December and the cold was bearable and since I went from India, I enjoyd the colder temperatures. 

WHAT TO PACK FOR TAIWAN

When planning a trip to Taiwan, it’s important to consider the customs and climate of the country. It is a moderately free country, however, it is best to dress modestly, particularly when visiting religious sites such as temples.

When visiting religious sites, you need to cover your shoulders and knees. Outside of the religious sites, you can dress as per your comfort. 

Summers in Taiwan are extremely hot, so it’s essential to pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Average temperatures are 28 °C but often hit 35°C during the day. Pack light, cotton and airy clothing that can help you to stay cool during the daytime. 

Always carry a reusable water bottle to keep yourself hydrated. Banks, convenience stores, hotels and hotels have water dispensers with hot and cold water so fill the bottle before heading out.

LANGUAGE IN TAIWAN

The main language spoken in Taiwan is Mandarin language. It is spoken by the majority of the population and is used in official government and educational settings. In urban areas, English is widely understood by most people. However,  it is always handy to keep Google Translate with you. 

Key Phrases in Mandarin to get you by

Ni Hao – Hello

Xie Xie – Thank you

Zai Jian – Goodbye

FAQs – TAIWAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Is Taiwan worth visiting?

Yes! Taiwan is a great destination for tourists for many reasons – from tall buildings, incredible architecture, interesting culture, vibrant seasons and delicious cuisine. The accommodation, local travel and food is extremely affordable. 

With a daily average travel budget of around US$75 – 100 per day, travellers can enjoy all that the country has to offer without breaking their savings. All of these factors combined make travel to Taiwan an excellent destination for tourists.

The country also has a fairly easy e-visa process available making it a hassle-free destination to visit. 

Is travel to Taiwan safe?

Yes! Taiwan is considered a safe destination for tourists. Incidents of violence against tourists are rare. There are police at every tourist site and a helpline number specially for tourists which makes it very reassuring. 

In any case and any country tourists must always be aware of their surroundings, and keep an eye on their personal belongings, especially in crowded areas or on public transportation. I walked alone in alleys of cities and even took cabs at midnight and I did not feel unsafe. 

How many days do you need to travel in Taiwan?

As mentioned in this Taiwan travel guide, when planning a trip to Taiwan, it’s important to consider how much time you have available and what you want to see and do. A typical itinerary for a first-time visitor should be 7 days in Taiwan, allowing you to see the main highlights of the country.

Buying a SIM card in Taiwan?

Although most hostels/hotels and restaurants, metro, malls, and shops in bigger cities offer free Wi-Fi if you want to be connected on the go, it is best to buy a prepaid SIM card with data. It will also be useful to make/receive calls from taxi drivers to coordinate the exact location. 

You can activate e-sim before your arrival and get connected right after landing. Or if you prefer a sim phone then there are options to buy at the arrival counter at the airport.

Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEastone are the companies that operate in the country and most of them offer the same prices. They have 5G connectivity throughout the country. I bought a Chunghwa data card from the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport arrival. Getting into the city and then trying to find a store can get cumbersome. Before getting a sim card you will need to exchange local currency or pay with a travel/credit card as they accept payment in Taiwanese Dollars.

Do you need a guide in Taiwan?

I feel you can explore a country better if there is a guide with you. Although tourists can hire local guides at each tourist destination who offer services in many languages, I suggest that having a guide on the entire trip is beneficial as one can visit some offbeat spots. The guides also know good places to eat and stay.

Is travel to Taiwan cheap?

I would say it is decently affordable. 

FINAL THOUGHTS ON TAIWAN TRAVEL GUIDE

In conclusion, Taiwan is a wonderful destination and a great introduction to Chinese culture. With many heritage sites to explore and adventure options, there is something for every kind of traveller. Being affordable, it can be easily added to bucket-list destinations especially if you would like to experience cherry blossoms in less touristy destinations.

SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO TAIWAN

• Carry your refillable water bottle. Avoid purchasing PET water bottles unless necessary.
• Do not trash tourist destinations and mass transit systems with wrappers and uneaten food. Use designated areas and right-colored bins for disposing of waste.
• Be mindful of all the signs and follow them respectfully, especially in temples.
• Respect the ancient structures of mosques and other structures by not sitting on them.
• Respect the places which prohibit photography.
• Do not write on the pillars and walls of archaeological sites and monuments.

I hope this Taiwan travel guide helps you plan a trip to this beautiful and underrated country. Do you have more questions? Write to me in the comment below and I will reply.

Disclosure: I was invited by Taiwan Tourism Administration to explore Taiwan. However, all opinions in this post are unbiased and of my own. Special thanks to the team for taking take of everything during this trip.

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