2019 is the Small Town Roaming Year for Amazing Taiwan. It is another tourism campaign to promote the rich and unique history, culture, and beautiful ecological attractions of its 368 districts, cities, counties, and towns.
This idyllic island in Asia is becoming one of the hottest destinations of foreign tourists, who want to explore the iconic city attractions, the national parks, as well as the historic and cultural sights that only Taiwan can bring. It is home to amazing coastlines, glittering metropolitan life, and beautiful landscapes, all waiting for you to discover and unravel.
So, if you cannot wait to see all the glorious destinations of Taiwan, check out this travel guide to find out what’s in store for you.
Visa Requirements to Taiwan
A significant number of nationalities do not require a visa to visit Taiwan. The validity of the visa-free scheme depends on nationality. Some nationalities can enter Taiwan on a visa-free status for 90 days, others get 30 and 14 days.
Visa-Exempt Nationalities
Citizens of the following countries may visit Taiwan visa-free for 90 days.
| All European Union citizens | Marshall Islands |
| Andorra | Monaco |
| Australia | New Zealand |
| Canada | Nicaragua |
| Chile | North Macedonia |
| Eswatini | Norway |
| Guatemala | Palau |
| Haiti | Paraguay |
| Holy See | San Marino |
| Honduras | South Korea |
| Iceland | Tuvalu |
| Israel | Switzerland |
| Japan | United States |
| Liechtenstein | nil |
Citizens of the following countries may enter Taiwan visa-free for 30 days.
| Belize | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Dominican Republic | Saint Lucia |
| Malaysia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Nauru | Singapore |
Visitors from Brunei, Philippines, Russia, and Thailand may visit Taiwan without a visa for 14 days.
Turkish citizens can get a visa on arrival for 30 days, free of charge. All other nationalities can get an eVisa or apply for a visa from the Taiwan Embassy or Consulate in their country.
How to get to Taiwan?
Taoyuan International Airport is the main gateway to Taiwan. Flights from Europe, North America, Australia, and the rest of Asia are available. If you cannot get a direct flight from your city, you may try flying to Hong Kong or Bangkok and get a connecting flight to Taiwan.
When is the best time to visit Taiwan?
Taiwan has warm weather throughout the year. Summer in this subtropical country is from June to August when the temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius.
The best times to explore and enjoy Taiwan is during Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to May), although rain becomes prevalent during this period especially in May. You will also enjoy the Winter season, which is from December to February, the time where the colored Maple trees display their charms.
How to get to the city center from Taoyuan International Airport
The primary gateway to the mainland is through the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world. From its location in Taoyuan County, the airport is approximately one hour away to the city center. The other airport is the Taipei Songshan Airport in the Songshan District, which has direct flights from China, Japan, and South Korea.
You can travel to your hotel via MRT, bus, or taxi. The most expensive mode of transport is via taxi, but the most convenient if you are traveling with your kids, carrying heavy luggage, or arriving late at night. Typically, you will be paying between NT$1000-1200.
By Bus
You can book your ticket to the Bus Counters near the terminal’s Arrival area. The fare depends upon the rates of the bus companies, but within NT$125-$145 range.
By Metro/Train
Both terminals have metro stations- A12 Station in Terminal and A13 in Terminal 2. Trains operate from 6 am to 11 pm and the fare is NT$160. Travel time if you take Express is about 37 minutes.
Connecting to the internet in Taiwan
Connecting to the internet in Taiwan is relatively easy. You can buy a prepaid sim or rent a pocket wifi or connect to the free public wifi in the airport, hotels, and other establishments.
Prepaid SIM card
You can purchase a SIM card when you arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport or you can also buy a sim card online and pick it up when you arrive.
Free Public Wi-Fi
There are many public areas across Taiwan with available free hotspots. It includes malls, community centers, public libraries, museums, hotels, and restaurants.
Pocket Wi-Fi
Another option is to connect using a pocket Wi-Fi device that gives you data access. You can rent a 4G Portable Wifi online and pick it up when you arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
How to get around Taiwan?
Exploring Taiwan is easy because of the varied forms of transport. The fastest and most efficient is via the Taipei MRT, which connects the districts of the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Area. You can get a Metro Pass or a Taipei Fun Pass to save on your transportation cost around Taipei.
Another great option is to rent a car and self-drive. The roads of Taiwan are excellent for driving. Just remember that cars are driven on the road’s right side. Self-driving requires you to present a valid international driver’s license.
A mix of tourist shuttles, buses, trains, and taxis is also a perfect way to get around the best destinations in Taiwan.
Don’t forget to get a Chunghwa Telecom 4G Sim to enjoy mobile data which is valuable in researching and navigating the city.
Where to stay in Taipei, Taiwan?
Taipei is an affordable place to stay in; if you don’t mind sleeping in a dorm room, a bed costs around NTD300 to NTD565+++ a night. A private room costs approximately NTD1000-NTD2000+++ a night. The best places to stay are either near attractions or metro stations. This reduces your expenses and time spent going to and from famous destinations during your trip. Taipei Main Station and Ximending are recommended places to look for accommodation.
Must-Try Food in Taiwan
Yong Kang Beef Noodle
One of the reasons why people visit other countries is because of the food, and this one you surely shouldn’t miss. Beef Noodle is the national dish of Taiwan and this family restaurant in the Da’an District is the perfect place to find this sensational dish. This will definitely give you a great taste of their local food.
10 Top Tourist Attractions in Taiwan
Taipei 101
One of the top attractions in Taiwan that every traveler should include in their itinerary, Taipei 101 was considered as the “World’s Tallest Building” from 2004 to 2011, right before Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was built. You can find the most extravagant mall on the first five floors of the infrastructure, while a spacious food court in the basement. It offers a breathtaking 360 view of Taiwan and neighboring cities at its observatory decks, and it features the largest steel damper to withstand typhoons and earthquakes.
National Palace Museum
This museum with 690,000 artifacts including the Jadeite Cabbage with insects and Mao-Kung Ting bronze cauldron is a great example of when technology and treasures meet to provide big impact and greater insights. Not to mention, the latest technology implemented at the National Palace Museum, digital imaging and computer animation, visitors can simply appreciate artworks created decades ago come to life!
The in-house restaurant enables the diners to grab a taste of Taiwanese most diverse and mouth-watering cuisine.
Taroko Gorge
One of the eight national parks in the country, Taroko Gorge is undeniably one of the top attractions in Taiwan. Surrounded by Zhuoshui River in the west, Shanzhan and Mugua River in the east, and Dajie River in the north, Taroko Gorge is a stunning natural beauty in Taipei that attracts thousands of travelers every year.
Five popular trails in Taroko Gorge are as follows:
- Yanzikou Trail –Wearing a hard hart during the trail is required, there are plenty of marble walls, and potholes.
- Changchun Trail –Despite the steep and slippery steps, everything is worth it as the trail leads you to the phenomenal Eternal Spring Shrine.
- Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail – social media influencers may find this trail as one of the best. There are marble gorges, wildlife, running waters and cliffs that are perfect for those Instagram-worthy shots.
- Baiyang Waterfall Trail – a well-maintained trail requiring travelers to be ready for 2.2 km hike.
- Shakadang Trail- it is dubbed as “Mysterious Valley Trail” surprise you with crystal clear pool.
Sun Moon Lake
Visiting the top attractions in Taiwan will not be complete without spending some time in Sun Moon Lake, awarded as one the “Eight Wonders of Taiwan.” You can find this as a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lalu Island, Xian Mountain, Meihe Garden, and Wenwu Temple. Aside from the nearby attractions and splendid features, Sun Moon Lake is perfect for Knowledge Tourism since it’s Taiwan hydroelectricity production center.
Taroko National Park
One of the nine national parks in Taiwan, you can find ten trails and Taroko Gorge blessed with marbles inside this enormous Taroko National Park. When you’re here in Taroko National Park, you can do the most remarkable activities such as the following:
- Have a campfire session with villagers in Datong and Dali Village
- A quick stop in Chime Bridge painted in red in resemblance of Chinse society.
- Immerse in a tranquil Wenshan Hot Spring
- Visit the iconic spot in this park which is the ChingShui Cliff
Kenting National Park
Kenting National Park brings you a different world where amazement and relaxation meets! In Kenting National Park, you will never run out of things to do, as it features 10 attractions within the area. Here are the top 3 attractions you will definitely enjoy are as follows:
- Kenting Forest Recreation Area – for better travel experience in Taipei, this Recreation Area is composed of Fairy Cave, Silver Dragon Cave, and the Valley of the Hanging Banyans.
- Baisha – 400 meters long beach with pure white sands, corals, and shells.
- Chuhuo – located near the Pacific Ocean, this is the ideal place to witness crumbled ridges, limestone caves, and red soil.
Shilin Night Market
Never go hungry again at Shilin Night Market divided into two major sections. You can satisfy your cravings as much as you can at this market since local cuisine is available here. Buy souvenir items as the other section of Shilin Night Market features general merchandise. Affordable items, mouth-watering cuisines, and friendly vendors are just enough reasons to convince you to include this market to your itinerary.
Yangmingshan National Park
Strategically located in the northern part of Taipei, with a total land area of 11,455 hectares, Yangmingshan National Park is accessible from downtown. Long ago, this park used to be a mining area but to protect its nature and wildlife, operations were shut down. Visit Yangmingshan National Park every February until March for the season of flowers, and cherry blossoms or you can visit it during October, where silver grass and maple leaves cover entirely the mountains.
Shifen Waterfalls
Creating rainbow colors every time its water flows on the lake, Shifen waterfalls stands 20 meters, this can be found on top of Keelung River. Travelers flock on this attraction to take some photos or seize the moment right in front of the awe-inspiring view in the midst of tranquility. For Taipei, Shifen Waterfalls is their version of America’s “Little Niagara”.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
To understand Taiwan’s rich culture and history, travelers should consider visiting this memorial hall as one of the top attractions in Taiwan. Chiang Kai- Shek Memorial Hall was opened in 1980, it houses a bronze statue of Chiang Kai-Shek, president’s personal items, documents. The colors of this structure are based on Taiwan’s flag:
- Blue roof tiles
- White walls
- Red flowerbeds
It’s never too late to visit these top attractions in Taiwan, and through this list, going home will definitely hard to do!
Top Tours and Activities to Do in Taiwan
Taipei Free Walking Tour Historic Route
Enjoy a tip-based walking tour around Taipei. Go on a leisurely walk to some of Taipei’s best tourist attractions and learn the stories behind them.
Suggested Taipei Itinerary
Day 1 Taipei Travel Guide Itinerary
Arrival in Taipei
Arrive early in the morning and check-in at the hotel
Visit Sun Yat Sen and Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Halls
Walk around, eat or shop at Ximending at night
Day 2 Taipei Travel Guide Itinerary
Explore Taipei
Visit Yehliu Geopark
Go to Shifen and Jiufen
Day 3 Taipei Travel Guide Itinerary
Day tour from Taipei
Yangmingshan day trip
Explore Shilin Night Market or other markets
Day 4 Taipei Travel Guide Itinerary
Check out of the hotel
Go up Taipei 101 or just visit, alternatively, you can also hike Elephant Mountain’s trail
*You can add other places you’d like to visit during your stay or replace some places and go at a more relaxed pace.