Traveling to Taiwan had been on my radar ever since seeing a travel brochure while living in South Korea. While that chapter of my life didn’t last long, the idea of getting to know the region better by exploring Taiwan did. And soon enough, I got my chance.
Ever since that first visit, I’ve been singing praises of Taiwan to anyone who’d care to listen. The small island nation, located in the subtropical reaches of East Asia, packs a wallop. From its food-loving capital, Taipei, to its rugged coastline and lush interior, there’s plenty to experience here—and with relative ease.
Even if Taiwan doesn’t quite match the “classic” East Asian beauty of neighbors like Japan or China, it’s still bound to put a smile on travelers’ faces as easily as any place on the subcontinent.
Like many first-time visitors, I spent plenty of time eating my way through Taiwan’s world-famous night markets, endlessly stuffing myself with Taiwanese specialities like hot pepper buns, stinky tofu, and beef noodle soup. After exploring many of Asia’s top foodie cities—Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai—over the years, I’d still put the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, among the most satisfying of the bunch.
Beyond its food scene, Taiwan is also a fantastic spot for outdoor adventures. Alongside your culinary tour, carve out time to explore Taiwan’s hot springs, hiking trails, mountain villages, and tropical beaches to get a full appreciation of what this well-packaged East Asian gem has to offer.
When to visit Taiwan
At first glance, Taiwan appears to be a year-round destination. After all, unlike its more northernly neighbors of South Korea or Japan, you won’t find yourself buried in snow or shivering in the harsh winter cold for several months of the year in Taiwan.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to when to visit. Throughout the year, the weather in Taiwan can drastically change from one day (or one hour!) to the next. And despite not having huge seasonal temperature swings, the conditions between seasons are anything but consistent here.
Although summer is a popular time to visit Taiwan, the weather isn’t at its best. Summers in Taiwan are generally very hot and humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The months between June and October are also high season for typhoons.
(After experiencing “pre-typhoon” conditions there myself, I can promise you that you won’t want to get caught traveling in a “real” one!)
In general, the best time to visit Taiwan is in autumn. Temperatures are still warm throughout the island, and, in my experience, rainfall is far lower than in the summer months.
The lower tourist numbers in autumn also mean that hotel availability increases while prices drop. You’ll get much better value at this time of year.
Not sure exactly when to go to Taiwan? Take a look at these resources:
Where to go in Taiwan
For such a small island, Taiwan offers a remarkably diverse range of destinations for travelers. From outdoor hiking adventures to some of Asia’s most surprising urban experiences, you’ll be amazed by how easily you can put together an awesome first-time Taiwan itinerary and get swooned by the country’s best places to visit.
Taipei
There’s no better gateway to Taiwan than its eclectic capital, Taipei. While I doubt it’ll be love at first sight, the pulse of Taipei is infectious. You’ll feel the city’s beat almost instantly despite its slightly scruffy outward appearance.
A traveler’s love for Taipei usually centers on one thing: food. After visiting countless renowned culinary destination, I’d put Taipei among one of the world’s greatest food cities, even if that reputation isn’t quite common knowledge yet.
Set foot in a Taipei night market, and you’ll catch the city at its best while giving yourself a little dopamine boost with all the palatable (and maybe unpalatable) goodies at your fingertips.
Not sure how to start planning your trip? Here are a few resources from our Taipei Travel Guide:
Hualien
Too many first-time visitors to Taiwan pass by Hualien. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much to occupy yourself in this eastern Taiwan city. While more exciting cities await elsewhere on the island, Hualien charms less with what’s in it than with what’s outside it.
Sure, there’s a handful of interesting things to do in Hualien itself, from the usual Taiwanese suspects of night markets, temples, and even some beaches with impressive coastal scenery. But the real reason to visit Hualien is as a base to explore some of Taiwan’s best natural attractions.
Just 15 kilometers outside of Hualien lies Taroko Gorge, a formidable park bedecked with towering cliffs, canyons, and lush forests. Among the best places to visit in Taiwan, Taroko Gorge is best savoured when visiting at a leisurely pace from Hualien rather than on a frenzied day trip from Taipei.
Tainan
Whereas Taipei introduces you to the buzz of modern Taiwan, Tainan is perhaps the best city in the country to step backwards into Taiwanese history.
Tainan was the first capital of Taiwan and is the country’s oldest established city. It harkens back to the island’s colonial roots when the Chinese and Dutch first settled the island in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Despite Tainan’s modern façade, its history is written on its sleeve. Don’t be surprised when it feels as if beautiful temples are sprouting from every street corner while old colonial forts keep watch at a distance.
Although I found plenty more to do in Taipei, the pleasures in Tainan are perhaps more classically fulfilling for travelers. Wandering through the mix of old and new in Tainan is fascinating, and, to some visitors, it’s the most rewarding Taiwanese urban experience on the island.
Taichung
If you’ve already spent time in other cities around Taiwan, Taichung hardly feels like a must-see destination. Roaming the streets of Taichung is much like any other run-of-the-mill Taiwanese city. But like so many other places in Taiwan, it’s less a destination in its own right than a springboard for more interesting forays into the surrounding area.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to keep you occupied in Taichung.
As you’d expect with its size, Taichung is a great spot to soak up Taiwanese flavors in its top-notch restaurants. Taichung is also the birthplace of Taiwan’s most famous drinkable export, bubble tea. Love it or hate it, slurping one down here should be on any traveller’s Taiwan bucket list!
Kaohsiung
Once known as little more than a grungy port city, Kaohsiung has done a fine job of shedding its bleak reputation to become a place that’s actually pleasant for travelers.
Although you won’t find anything comparable to the trove of cultural sights in Tainan or the never-ending urban buzz of Taipei, Kaohsiung has a little of both. From the colourful, if sometimes kitschy, temples around the Lotus Pond to night cruises along the Love River, Kaohsiung is worth at least a little bit of your time, even if just for a quick stopover on a time-crunched itinerary.
Transportation in Taiwan
Getting there
By air
The country’s biggest and most popular international gateway is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Several major airlines operate routes to TPE, including EVA Air, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Thai Airways.
While more convenient, flying directly into Taipei tends to be more expensive than flying into neighboring countries. I would recommend playing around with adding layovers in cities like Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong to see if it drops the price.
Getting around
Keeping up with East Asia’s penchant for excellent transport links, Taiwan is as easy a place to travel around as any. Whether you’re travelling by air or overland, it’s relatively quick and painless to scoot around the island.
By train
Traveling by rail is undoubtedly the most convenient way to travel around Taiwan. The service is improving all the time, especially now that Taiwan’s high-speed rail lines have been around for almost two decades.
The most popular high-speed lines zip along the route from Taipei to Kaohsiung. It significantly cuts travel times between all the major western Taiwanese cities (Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung).
Regular train services are cheap but sometimes far slower. In some cases, I’ve seen them taking more than twice as long between certain destinations.
By bus
The network of buses in Taiwan is comprehensive and a budget-friendly way to travel around the country. As expected, bus routes typically take longer than train routes. For some destinations like Lukang, Puli, and Sun Moon Lake, though, buses may be your only public transport option.
