The Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide
Are you looking for lush mountains, bustling night markets, and some of the friendliest people on the planet? Well, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or planning your first big adventure, Taiwan is a great destination for everyone, especially solo travellers.
Not convinced? Here are 8 reasons why you should visit Taiwan.
In this guide, I’ll share all my tips, hidden gems, and must-see spots that make Taiwan so special.
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Taiwan is a small island, only slighter bigger than Belgium at (36,197 square kilometers). It’s major cities are on the west side, with mountains in the center and a few coastal towns on the east.
I wanted to explore the whole island and less travelled areas of Taiwan, but as this was my first trip abroad on my own I felt uneasy by the lack of reliable information online and I booked all my accommodation in advance. But It’s fine because you won’t make this mistake like I did!
When I arrived Taiwan I realised navigating the country is a lot easier than I expected. It’s easier to research and book once you’re in Taiwan, don’t rely on the information online. The local people will always be able to help you and give you advice on how to navigate their country.
MY EXPERIENCE
Taipei - Taiwan’s capital. One of my favourite cities I’ve ever been to!
Sun Moon Lake - I had a day trip here from Jiji and unfortunately, It was overcast and foggy. I know this is out of my control, but I think I would of had more fun if it was sunnier and I had more time to explore. You can rent bikes to explore the whole lake and take the cable cars to the top of the mountains!
Jiji - A small country town. One of the lesser known towns in Taiwan. Only 30 mins bus ride from Sun Moon Lake and cheaper alternative to Sun Moon Lake. Check out my full guide on Sun Moon Lake and Jiji.
Tainan - This city is the food capital of Taiwan. I don’t have much to say on Tainan unfortunately. I was feeling a little lonely because my hostel was dead. (I ate western food the whole time :( ) This is why you shouldn't book everything in advance! I could of moved to another hostel and had a better experience or moved onto my next destination.
Kaohsiung - I really enjoyed exploring Cijin island by bike and I loved the vibe of this modern city.
Check out my Taiwan series on YouTube.
Cijin Island (day trip from Kaoshiung)
Pina colada at a beach bar on Cijin Island
WHERE YOU NEED TO GO (& WHERE I WISH I WENT)
Taroko National Park/Taroko Gorge
Yangmingshan National Park (and the districts along the coast)
Hualien
Shifen
Jiufen
Taiwanese Islands
Kenting National Park
Yushan National Park
WHERE TO STAY
Hostels
I found most of the hostels to be really funky and modern. They are a great option if you are solo traveller and/or on budget.
Meander Hostel, Taipei
This was a great place to stay on my own because the staff were helpful and there was always people in the big common area. I met my friend Shreya there! The following year I met her in India and made a series on YouTube of our time there. You can watch here. It was a little more expensive than other hostels as It was in the capital city and very modern at £17 a night (2019).
Trip GG Hostel, Kaohsiung
This is another great hostel and it was only £10 night (2019).
Airbnbs
I stayed in a great little studio apartment in Kaohsiung, right outside the Liuhe night market for only £25 per night.
Hotels
The only hotel I stayed in was the boutique hotel in Jiji called Ark Stay. I had a very spacious modern double bedroom and bathroom for only £25 a night (2019).
HOW TO GET AROUND
Buying an Easycard
First thing you need to do when you arrive at any airport in Taiwan is buy an Easycard. It is easy to find as everything is in English. An Easycard cost 100 NT (2019) to buy and I would say you need roughly 100 NT a day to get around Taipei. The great thing about Easycard is that you can use it all over the country, on Taipei’s MRT, Kaohsiung’s MRT, buses etc.
How to get from Taouyun Airport to Taipei
Use your Easycard on the Taouyun Airport Metro to the central Taipei. It takes about 15-30 minutes.
How to use the Taipei Metro
The Metro is super easy and everything is in English. I used google maps to look at what station I needed to go to and then the Taipei Metro app to plan my route. In the Metro stations everyone lines up and are very polite an orderly. All you need to do is tap in and out when you go in and out of a station. There are machines in the metro stations to top up your Easycard as well. (But if you ever get lost, ask a local, the Taiwanese are some of the kindest, most helpful people I have ever met!)
Uber and Taxis in Taipei
Uber was a little cheaper then taxis and I also knew what the price was before I accepted the ride.
Understandably, most of the taxi drivers I encountered didn’t understand English, sometimes I would show them the Chinese symbol on google maps and this would help.
The taxi drivers I experienced were very friendly - we were short a few change one night and he told us “not to worry!”
High Speed Rail and other trains in Taiwan
The HSR is affordable in Taiwan and as the name suggests, they are really really fast. The HSR dominates the western side of the country whereas the other trains operate the rest of the country. Look at seat 61 website for extensive information on trains.
My advice is to go to the station and buy the tickets on the day or a few days beforehand. Instead of buying online.
I didn't end up going to Hualien and Taroko Gorge because it said online the tickets were unavailable. When I got to Taipei, my friend Shreya said she booked a ticket to Hualien departing a few days later with help of the staff working at our hostel.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS & THE PEOPLE
A lot of Taiwanese I spoke to only knew very basic to no English (understandable, I was the foreigner in their country!) But the Taiwanese are the friendliest people I have ever met (like I keep mentioning!) If they didn’t understand what I was saying they would try there hardest to help or they would find someone they knew who knew more English. If you ever get lost or worry you will get lost, never fear because the Taiwanese will look out for you and make sure you find your way safely! I never felt the language ‘barrier’ was an actual ‘barrier’.
The lady who worked at the Jiji hotel made me feel right at home. She bought me beef noodle soup one night and she would always ask where I was going, what I was up to… well she didn't ask, we used google translate to communicate or her son, who could speak English. This was a beautiful experience I will never forget, and we couldn't even speak each others language. This is one of many experiences I had with the Taiwanese peoples kind and caring nature.
THE WEATHER & WHAT TO WEAR
I went in March 2019, Taipei it was humid and a little rainy and breezy at times. On a sunny day I could wear a dress and on a cooler day or especially at night I wore jeans and a light jacket. When I went further south it was a bit warmer and there was less of a breeze.
HOW CHEAP IS TAIWAN
These prices are from when I went in 2019.
Food
Breakfast in a cafe (egg pancake & ice latte) 100/£2.50
Food at the Night Markets - 50-100/£1-£2.50
Restaurant Meals- 100-300 and up!
Beef Noodle Soup in local restaurant - 120/£3
Bubble Tea - As cheap as 30-60/0.£1.50
A can of local beer - 50/£1.30
Soup dumplings - 120/£3
Transport
High speed rail journey - Tainan to Kaohsiung (15 min) - £3 & Taipei to Taichung (1 hour) £13
Easycard Metro per journey - 20-40/under £1 (Depends on how far you're going)
Easycard Metro per day - Roughly 100/£2.50
Accommodation
Airbnb - £20 per night and up
Hostel - £10-20 per night
Activities
Walking Tour £18
Pub Crawl £18
Cooking Class £50
You could live on £20-25 a day if you were doing it super cheap! Stay in a cheap hostel, eat at 7eleven, markets and local restaurants. But I would accommodate a little extra in case you want to take the odd taxi, (especially at night as the metro closes at 12pm) and for gifts as Taiwan has so many cute little quirky shops!
