Taiwan travel guide

Getting there

Most travellers arrive at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, with further international flights into Kaohsiung and Taichung and Taipei's downtown Songshan airport serving regional routes.

Best time to visit: Oct–Dec and Mar–May – mild, drier weather.

Tougher months: July to August – hot, very humid and the peak of typhoon season; also Lunar New Year week, when transport and hotels are packed.

Weather by month in Taipei

• 19°J●●
• 19°F●●
• 22°M●●
• 25°A●●
• 29°M●●
• 32°J●●●
• 34°J●●
• 34°A●●●
• 31°S●●●
• 27°O●
• 24°N●
• 21°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Taipei. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 70 of 198 other passports can enter Taiwan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 21 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 107 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Taiwan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-11-25). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Taiwan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Taiwan are based around Taipei, Taroko National Park or Tainan. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$45–65 for a backpacker and US$110–190 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Taiwan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 110 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +886.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Taipei (North · capital city): A friendly, easy-to-navigate capital of temples, museums, mountain hikes and some of Asia's best street food.
• Taroko National Park (Hualien · marble gorge): Towering marble walls, shrines clinging to cliffs and turquoise rivers make this Taiwan's most famous natural sight.
• Tainan (South · old capital & food): The island's oldest city is packed with historic temples, Dutch-era forts and legendary snack stalls.
• Sun Moon Lake (Central · lake & mountains): A misty mountain lake ringed by cycling paths, pagodas and the homeland of the Thao people.
• Alishan (Chiayi · forest & tea): Giant ancient trees, a historic mountain railway and high-mountain oolong tea plantations above the clouds.
• Jiufen (New Taipei · historic hill town): Teahouses and lantern-lit alleys tumble down a hillside overlooking the Pacific.
• Kenting (Pingtung · beaches): Taiwan's tropical southern tip offers coral beaches, surfing and a relaxed seaside vibe.
• Kaohsiung (South · port city): A sunny harbour city with an arts district in old warehouses, the Lotus Pond pagodas and great seafood.

Things to do

• Graze a night market. Work your way through stalls of pepper buns, oyster omelettes and bubble tea at Shilin, Raohe or Tainan's weekend markets.
• Hike Taroko Gorge. Walk trails carved into marble cliffs above a turquoise river in one of Asia's most dramatic canyons.
• Ride up Taipei 101. Shoot up one of the world's fastest elevators for sweeping views over the capital and its green mountain rim.
• Soak in a hot spring. Ease into steaming mineral pools in Beitou, Jiaoxi or Wulai, a tradition dating back to the Japanese era.
• Wander Jiufen's lantern lanes. Climb the stepped alleys of this old gold-mining town, sipping tea as red lanterns glow over the sea.
• Watch sunrise at Alishan. Take the forest railway into ancient cypress groves and see the sun rise over a sea of clouds.
• Cycle around Sun Moon Lake. Pedal lakeside paths and hop on boats between piers on Taiwan's largest freshwater lake.
• Eat your way through Tainan. Taste milkfish congee, coffin bread and danzai noodles in the island's oldest city and food capital.

Source: full Taiwan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Beef noodle soup – rich broth with tender beef
• Xiaolongbao – soup dumplings
• Bubble tea – milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls
• Gua bao – steamed bun with braised pork

Source: RoamSun Taiwan guide

Talk

Twenty basic Mandarin phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected; hotels and some restaurants add a 10% service charge..

Emergency numbers: 110 police · 119 fire & ambulance.

• Cash is still king at night markets and small eateries, though cards and mobile payments are widely accepted in cities.
• ATMs in convenience stores usually accept foreign cards and are available around the clock.
• Taiwan has very low crime, but keep an eye on belongings in crowded night markets and stations.
• Check typhoon warnings in summer and autumn; mountain roads and parks such as Taroko can close after storms or earthquakes.

Source: RoamSun Taiwan facts