Highlights
Taipei
See the city from Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum's vast collection of Chinese art and artefacts, and temples such as Longshan. In the evening, graze the night markets at Raohe and Shilin, and soak in the hot springs at Beitou at the end of the metro line.
Jiufen and Pingxi
Jiufen, a former gold-mining town, has steep lanes of teahouses with views over the sea. In the Pingxi valley, visitors write wishes on paper sky lanterns and release them beside the railway line in Shifen.
Taroko Gorge
Marble cliffs and a turquoise river cut deep into the mountains near Hualien on the east coast. Parts of the park were damaged by an earthquake in 2024, and some trails and roads have been closed for repairs, so check which areas are open before you go.
Sun Moon Lake
Taiwan's largest lake, in the central mountains, circled by a cycle path, with boat trips between piers, a cable car and the home area of the Thao Indigenous people.
Alishan
A forested mountain area reached by a historic narrow-gauge railway and road, known for giant cypress trees, sunrise over a sea of clouds and high-mountain oolong tea plantations.
Tainan
The island's oldest city and a former capital, full of temples, Dutch-era fort remains at Anping and many of Taiwan's best-loved snacks, such as danzai noodles and milkfish soup.
Kaohsiung and Kenting
Kaohsiung, the southern port city, has the Pier-2 Art Center and the Lotus Pond pagodas. Further south, Kenting National Park has tropical beaches and coral coast at the southern tip of the island.
Interesting facts about Taiwan
- Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest peak at nearly 4,000 metres, is higher than Mount Fuji.
- Rubbish lorries in many Taiwanese cities play classical music, often Beethoven's Für Elise, so that residents know to bring their rubbish out.
- Bubble tea (pearl milk tea) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s.
- Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world from 2004 until 2010, and has a giant steel ball inside, a tuned mass damper, to steady it in typhoons and earthquakes.
- Taiwan has one of the highest densities of convenience stores in the world, where you can pay bills, buy train tickets and print documents.
Best time to visit
October to December and March to May are the most comfortable months, with warm days and lower humidity. Summer (June to September) is hot and humid, with afternoon storms and a typhoon season that peaks from roughly July to September. Winter is mild in the south but can be cool and damp in Taipei, and the high mountains may get snow. The plum rain season brings frequent showers around May and June. Lunar New Year sees heavy domestic travel and some closures.
Practical information
| Capital | Taipei |
|---|---|
| Currency | New Taiwan dollar (TWD) |
| Languages | Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka and Indigenous languages (widely spoken) |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 110 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not expected. Many sit-down restaurants and hotels add a 10 percent service charge. |
Getting around
The high-speed rail runs down the west coast from Taipei to Kaohsiung in about an hour and a half, and conventional trains circle the island, including the scenic east coast line to Hualien and Taitung. Taipei and Kaohsiung have clean, efficient metro systems. An EasyCard or iPASS stored-value card pays for metros, buses, many trains, convenience stores and city bikes. Buses reach Sun Moon Lake and Alishan. Scooters fill city streets; hiring a car or scooter requires a valid international or local driving permit.
Staying connected in Taiwan
Mobile coverage is very good in cities, along the main rail lines and in most towns, with 4G nearly everywhere and widespread 5G in urban areas. In the high mountains, deep gorges and on remote trails, signal can be weak or missing, so download offline maps before hiking. Free public Wi-Fi exists in many stations, tourist sites and convenience stores. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so maps and translation work from the airport.
See Taiwan eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Taiwan
- Google Maps: Reliable public transport, walking and driving directions throughout Taiwan.
- LINE: The main messaging app in Taiwan, used by guesthouses, shops and tour operators.
- T Express: The official Taiwan High Speed Rail app for booking and storing tickets.
- Uber: Ride-hailing in Taipei and other major cities, with taxis also available through the app.
- Google Translate: Camera translation for menus and signs written in traditional Chinese characters.