Taiwan was a big surprise for us. I always pictured boring, crowded cities, but actually most of the island is covered with green mountains and good hiking ops.
Even the capital city Taipei was amazing, with cool monuments, good food, and Taiwan's unique mango ice cream. Read through this complete Taiwan travel guide for more info on what to expect!
Mandarin Chinese
Buddhism & Taoism
Taipei
Visa free entry for 60+ nationalities
Tropical & subtropical; warm & humid year round
Uber
The main airports in Taiwan are in Taipei (TPE), which is located on the north side of the island, and Kaohsiung (KHH), which is on the south side of the island. These two airports have lots of direct flights from other countries around the world. You can shop for flights to Taiwan on Skyscanner.
Taiwan is a very safe place to travel, with a low violent crime rate of 0.8 per 100k inhabitants (89% lower than the global average). The country had 12 million tourist arrivals in 2019.
Most of Taiwan, including Taipei, has a subtropical climate, while the very southern part of the island is tropical. The nicer, cooler months are from October to May, when temps range from 13 to 23 °C (55 to 75 °F). June to October is the typhoon season, and also the hottest time of year.
Train transportation here is extremely cheap and efficient. It's shocking. We took some rides in Taipei that cost less than $1 USD. Uber is also available in Taipei. Hostels and private hotels are available from $15 in many cities like Taichung and Kaohsiung, although Taipei hotels are a bit more pricey. Meals are normally about $5 to $10 depending on location.
The best Taiwan tours & activities
My latest blog posts about Taiwan
Jiufen Taiwan is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei city. This town is a perfect blend of history, nostalgia, shopping, and sightseeing, and it’s …
The awesome Taroko Gorge National Park in Hualien is a bit like Taiwan’s version of the Grand Canyon. This is a huge marble gorge with steep rock …
Zhuilu Old Road is an epic cliff trail in the mountains of Taroko Gorge, one of Taiwan’s best national parks. Zhuilu is an awesome hike. It’s probably …
The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei city is one of Taiwan’s most famous landmarks. This place is a must see if you’re ever in Taipei, …
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