Receiving over 7 million tourists in 2024, Taiwan is a popular destination in East Asia that is known for its vibrant night markets, centuries-old temples, and lush mountains. Having spent a week in Taiwan, I share well-researched and firsthand travel tips that are especially useful for first-time visitors.
Lists By Lukiih is readers-supported. When you buy with my affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. Thanks!
📌 Planning
Popular Places l When To Visit l How Long To Visit l Entry Requirements
Popular Places
- Taipei – the capital city of Taiwan and a modern, progressive city integrated with culture and tradition. It’s often visitors’ first stop and sometimes the only stop if they’re traveling to Taiwan for the first time.
- Taroko National Park – a beautiful park known for its marble canyons, towering cliffs, and lush forests. It’s a popular destination with many visitors taking a day trip from Taipei or spending a night in Hualien City just to visit Taroko Gorge.
- Sun Moon Lake – the country’s largest lake and another popular tourist destination. It’s known for its scenic backdrop and various activities like biking around the area.
- Jiufen – a small picturesque village perched on the side of a mountain, famous for Jiufen Old Street and traditional teahouses. This is a popular day trip from Taipei.
- Kenting National Park – popular for its beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters.
I visited Taipei, Jiufen and Taroko Gorge, and here are my honest thoughts on them:
- Taipei – This city has everything I like: hiking trails, nature getaways, hot springs, ancient temples, a modern city center, and amazing food.
- Jiufen – This place is worth a day trip from Taipei. It’s a bit touristy, but I love the charming atmosphere.
- Taroko Gorge – A beautiful part of Taiwan and I highly recommend it as a two-day trip. The nearby Hualien City is more residential than Taipei but still has great things to see and do.
My Taiwan trip planner has firsthand tips for each destination.
When To Visit
- Spring season (March-May) – mild weather which makes it ideal for being outdoors. Like Japan (although less famous for them), the cherry blossoms in Taiwan bloom in late March and April.
- Fall season (September-November) – the weather is warmer, making it a great time to swim, hike, and admire the lush landscape.
I visited Taiwan in mid-October and early November and found the weather mild and pleasant. I primarily wore summer clothes and threw on a hoodie or light jacket around nighttime. I experienced two days of brief rain and had a few cloudy days, but it was overall pleasant.
How Long To Visit
- 3-5 days – enough time to visit Taipei and do a day trip outside of it
- 1 week – enough time to visit Taipei and do two long-distance day trips
- 2 weeks – enough time to visit all of the above and the southern side of the island
I spent 1 week in Taiwan: 4 days in Taipei, 2 days in Hualien, and 1 day in Jiufen. Taiwan is at the top of my list of destinations I plan to return to. I felt like I hardly got to see a lot of the island and there are so many beautiful places to visit.
🧋 7 Great Days in Taiwan: A Unique & Active Itinerary
Entry Requirements
- not required for US citizens visiting Taiwan for up to 90 days.
- there are no entry or tourist card fees to enter.
Entering Taiwan was straightforward for me as a US citizen. I didn’t have to apply for a visa or pay an entry fee.
💰 Logistics
Money
- Taiwan’s economy still heavily relies on cash transactions, so bring cash.
- The New Taiwan dollar is the country’s official currency. USD is not widely accepted, so make sure to exchange currencies.
💰 My Taiwan Trip Cost: Budget Breakdown (2025)
Getting Around
- Taiwan has four international airports, but the main one is in Taipei: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
- Taiwan is known for its vast and efficient public transit.
- For long distances, the best way to get around is by train, including high-speed rails. They’re known for their cleanliness, safety, and punctuality.
- For short distances, you can rely on public buses, Taipei’s metro, Uber, and rental scooters.
I traveled around Taiwan in various ways and here are my observations:
- Schedules – The listed train times in Google Maps are accurate, so you can trust the listed times to plan your trip. However, I found that the listed times for buses are not accurate.
- Follow the rules – Taiwan has a polite culture that tends to follow the rules. For example, the MRT tends to be very quiet as talking loudly is considered a nuisance to others.
- Well-maintained – MRT train stations are clean and have trash cans (public ones are not common in Taiwan) and bathrooms. It’s a good idea to bring toilet paper just in case.
- Uber vs Taxi – You’ll find Uber only in bigger cities like Taipei. Compared to taxis, they’re more convenient to use for tourists.
- Rentals – To rent a car or scooter in Taiwan, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) and familiarize yourself with the country’s confusing rental laws.
💊 Safety
Health
- generally safe to drink in bigger cities. Hotels, restaurants, and tour operators often provide bottled water.
- Prevalent in the summer (June–September), especially in rural and coastal areas, so protect yourself as best as possible. While walking around in Taiwan, you’ll see several posters warning people of getting dengue.
I didn’t have any health-related issues in Taiwan.
- Tap water – I brought my reusable water bottle, which I refilled at restaurants, hotels, and vending machines with no issues.
- Mosquitoes – I didn’t have issues with mosquitoes in places like Taipei, but I wore repellent in places like Taroko National Park.
Crime
- Taiwan is considered an extremely safe country to visit. Violence and even petty theft against tourists are rare.
- The country has a travel advisory level of 1 per the US government.
- It’s ranked #43 out of 163 safest countries by the Global Peace Index (for reference, the US is ranked #132).
- Some typical scams to watch out for include:
- Overcharge tourists – always double-check your bill before paying
- Fake operator – you might find that tour vendors are not legitimate though this is rare. They may try to sell you a tour or a ticket to Taipei 101, but they’re not authorized to do so. Make sure to book tours with legitimate platforms like Viator.
I didn’t have any issues with safety or crime in Taiwan.
🌍 Culture
Language l Food l What To Wear
Language
- Mandarin Chinese
- not widely spoken (about 20% of locals speak basic English in tourist areas)
Although navigating Taiwan’s public transportation was relatively easy, I found getting around with just English a bit more challenging than I expected, especially in non-tourist areas. Taiwan doesn’t have a lot of signs in English. That said, if you mostly travel in touristy areas, you’ll have no issues getting around.
Food
- beef noodle soup (braised beef in a savory soy-based broth with noodles, vegetables, and pickled greens).
- lu rou fan (minced pork over rice), gua bao (steamed bun filled with pork belly and pickled veggies), and stinky tofu (fermented tofu often deep-fried and served with chili sauce)
Din Tai Fung is one of Taiwan’s most globally recognized restaurants and one of my favorite places to eat. If you haven’t been to one yet, you can visit the original restaurant in Taipei and try their world-famous soup dumplings.
What To Wear
- What to wear – Taiwan has a more conservative culture where you’ll stand out in certain areas if you show too much skin. That being said, many tourists, including myself, seem to wear whatever we think it’s appropriate for the weather (i.e., I wore shorts and tanks in the heat).
- How locals dress – They typically dress conservatively. Even in the hot summer days, you’ll rarely see shorts or locals bearing too much skin.
💡 Miscellaneous Tips
Other practical observations I made during my trip:
- Expect order and calm – Waiting in line in an orderly manner is a social norm in Taiwan as it creates social harmony. Line cutting and disorderly lines are not common, so avoid doing it. You’ll see this even during rush hours on the metro.
Due to the relatively recent 50-year Japanese occupation of Taiwan, you’ll find many Japanese influences on the small country. This extends to architectural style, education, railway infrastructure, and cultural practices.
- Hold your trash – Street trash cans are uncommon in Taiwan, so be prepared to hold onto your trash. You can find trash cans at the metro stations.
- Bring TP – Many public bathrooms in Taiwan don’t provide toilet paper. I folded a few sheets of toilet paper and carried them in a Ziploc in my bag. Many bathrooms are also squat toilets.
- Visit 7/11s and Family Marts – Unlike the convenience stores in the US, the ones in Taiwan (i.e., Family Mart, 7-Eleven) are well-maintained and clean. They have a great selection of packaged meals, a clean place to eat and rest, reliable ATMs, and a convenient way to print.
Taiwan Trip Planner 2025
Make planning easier with my flexible, research-backed travel planner—shaped by real experience. It has:
- Up-to-date travel info
- A well-curated itinerary
- Practical, firsthand insights & tips
- A simple budget tracker
- A starter packing list
- Fully customizable sections
Built in Notion, this is the tool I personally use to plan every trip. I genuinely love it and creating a Notion account is free.
Lists by Lukiih is a small site I fund myself. Downloading my trip planner is the best way to support me and keep it running—thanks!
