Taiwan ✓ VISITEDTaiwanROAMSUN

Taiwan✨ 10 best things to do in Taiwan

Things to do in Taiwan

1. Graze a night marketWork your way through stalls of pepper buns, oyster omelettes and bubble tea at Shilin, Raohe or Tainan's weekend markets.
2. Hike Taroko GorgeWalk trails carved into marble cliffs above a turquoise river in one of Asia's most dramatic canyons.
3. Ride up Taipei 101Shoot up one of the world's fastest elevators for sweeping views over the capital and its green mountain rim.
4. Soak in a hot springEase into steaming mineral pools in Beitou, Jiaoxi or Wulai, a tradition dating back to the Japanese era.
5. Wander Jiufen's lantern lanesClimb the stepped alleys of this old gold-mining town, sipping tea as red lanterns glow over the sea.
6. Watch sunrise at AlishanTake the forest railway into ancient cypress groves and see the sun rise over a sea of clouds.
7. Cycle around Sun Moon LakePedal lakeside paths and hop on boats between piers on Taiwan's largest freshwater lake.
8. Eat your way through TainanTaste milkfish congee, coffin bread and danzai noodles in the island's oldest city and food capital.
9. Explore the National Palace MuseumMarvel at one of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art, from jade carvings to ancient bronzes.
10. Road-trip the east coastDrive or cycle between Hualien and Taitung past Pacific cliffs, Indigenous villages and rice fields framed by mountains.

Taiwan🗺️ Where to visit in Taiwan

Where to go in Taiwan

• 
  TaipeiNorth · capital cityA friendly, easy-to-navigate capital of temples, museums, mountain hikes and some of Asia's best street food.
• 📍
  Taroko National ParkHualien · marble gorgeTowering marble walls, shrines clinging to cliffs and turquoise rivers make this Taiwan's most famous natural sight.
• 
  TainanSouth · old capital & foodThe island's oldest city is packed with historic temples, Dutch-era forts and legendary snack stalls.
• 
  Sun Moon LakeCentral · lake & mountainsA misty mountain lake ringed by cycling paths, pagodas and the homeland of the Thao people.
• 
  AlishanChiayi · forest & teaGiant ancient trees, a historic mountain railway and high-mountain oolong tea plantations above the clouds.
• 
  JiufenNew Taipei · historic hill townTeahouses and lantern-lit alleys tumble down a hillside overlooking the Pacific.
• 📍
  KentingPingtung · beachesTaiwan's tropical southern tip offers coral beaches, surfing and a relaxed seaside vibe.
• 📍
  KaohsiungSouth · port cityA sunny harbour city with an arts district in old warehouses, the Lotus Pond pagodas and great seafood.

Taiwan🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Taiwan

Best time to visit Taiwan

Taiwan has a subtropical north and a tropical south, with hot humid summers and mild winters that can feel damp and grey in Taipei. The mountains are much cooler year-round, and the south stays sunnier and drier in winter.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Taipei (approximate averages).

Taiwan🎉 Festivals & events in Taiwan

• January/February
  Lunar New YearFamilies gather for feasts, red envelopes and temple visits, while many shops close for several days.
• February/March
  Lantern FestivalHuge lantern displays light up cities, and sky lanterns float over Pingxi on the 15th day of the lunar year.
• March/April
  Dajia Mazu PilgrimageHundreds of thousands of devotees follow the sea goddess Mazu's palanquin on a multi-day walk through central Taiwan.
• May/June
  Dragon Boat FestivalTeams race decorated boats on rivers while everyone eats sticky-rice zongzi wrapped in leaves.
• August/September
  Ghost MonthTemples and households make offerings to wandering spirits, with lantern floats and folk rituals in Keelung and beyond.

Taiwan🧭 Taiwan itinerary ideas

How many days in Taiwan?

Taiwan🎒 Backpacking Taiwan – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $45–65 a day

• Get an EasyCard or iPASS stored-value card – it works on metros, buses, many trains, YouBikes and even convenience stores.
• Use regular TRA trains and intercity buses instead of the high-speed rail to cut transport costs on longer trips.
• Eat at night markets and local noodle shops; a filling meal costs very little and quality is generally excellent.
• Convenience stores are open 24/7 and sell hot meals, SIM cards and offer free toilets – a lifesaver on a budget.
• Base yourself near Taipei Main Station or Ximending, where most hostels cluster and transport links are easiest.

Taiwan🛡️ Safety & money in Taiwan

Emergency: 110 police · 119 fire & ambulance

Taiwan🛬 Getting to Taiwan

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.

✈️ Cheap flights to Taiwan: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Taiwan💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Taiwan

• Taiwan has more than 200 peaks over 3,000 metres, with Yushan (Jade Mountain) the highest in Northeast Asia.
• Bubble tea was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s and is now sold around the world.
• Garbage trucks play classical music, such as Beethoven's "Für Elise", so residents know to bring their rubbish out.
• In 2019 Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
• Many linguists believe the Austronesian language family, spoken from Madagascar to Hawaii, originated in Taiwan.

Taiwan❓ Taiwan travel FAQ

Taiwan travel questions