Taiwan is a visually spectacular, mountainous island, Taiwan is a natural splendour waiting to be travelled. Although its neighbouring countries – Japan, The Philippines and China are more popular with backpackers, Taiwan is surely not too missed from any travellers list. Pack your swimsuit, your hiking boots and your appetite.
Taiwan Travel Booking Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel to Asia.
• Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Taiwan Tours
• Book city sightseeing tours & attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Must-dos
Explore Taipei
With a capital city such as Taipei, there is an abundance of history, tradition and new modification to uncover within the culture of Taiwan. Take in the views from Taipei 101, then head to the night markets or Yongkang Street to feast on some of the best and most varied traditional east Asian fare.
Head to the Mountains
Discover sweeping mountain ranges and awesome hiking trains in Takoro Gorge.
Hot Springs
Taiwan is full of natural hot springs – my favourites are Chingchuan, Guguan, and Beitou – the latter is easily accessible, being just a short train ride outside of central Taipei.
Sample the Local Cuisine
Okay, I love Asian food, I even wrote a guide to my favourite things to eat in South East Asia you might like to check out. But in Taiwan I was really impressed with the variety and also fresh foods available. It is fairly cheap too. For non-meat eaters, view my Taiwan vegan travel tips.
Taiwan Travel Tips
Budget
Taiwan is more expensive than other countries in Asia, even just getting here adds to the cost of the trip. Expect prices more expensive than places like Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia but it is cheaper than Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Book accommodation early and avoid the lavish hotels and you will still be able to visit on the cheap. Street food is really inexpensive, and tourism/sightseeing wise prices are affordable.
Language
Okay my Mandarin is terrible, and I survived, even with very few people speaking English. Be sure to learn some basic Mandarin Chinese phrases, and use translation apps.
Safety
Taiwan is a very safe country, possibly one of the safest I’ve been to in Asia. There are ongoing tensions with China to keep an eye on though.
Is it Worth Visiting Taiwan?
If you are planning a first time adventure to Asia, I’m not going to lie, Taiwan wouldn’t be top of my list of places to go. I’d vote for backpacking Thailand, but if you are really keen to visit somewhere different, and have an interest in far east cultures and big cities, Taiwan will appeal.