Travelers going soon
Members who post a trip and choose to appear on public pages show up here.
Open trips to Taiwan
Post yours and see who is going on your dates. Asking to join a trip is always free.
Best time to go
October-November and March-April are the sweet spots: mild, drier, comfortable for city-and-mountain combos, with autumn especially pleasant. May-September is hot, humid and the typhoon season: storms can disrupt a day or two (well-managed, but build flexibility), though it's also lush and good for the high mountains which stay cooler. Winter (December-February) is mild in the south but cool, grey and drizzly in Taipei and the north: low season, good for hot springs and fewer crowds, with occasional snow on the high peaks. Lunar New Year (late Jan/Feb) sees many businesses close and domestic travel peak: plan around it. The Pingxi sky-lantern (Lantern Festival) and Dragon Boat festivals are spectacular.
Top places
Costs
| Budget, per person | Typical |
|---|---|
| Backpacker, per day | $35-60 |
| Mid-range, per day | $75-140 |
| Comfort, per day | $220+ |
| Hostel dorm bed (Taipei) | $15-25 |
| Mid-range hotel double | $55-110 |
| Night-market dinner (several dishes) | $5-10 |
| HSR Taipei-Kaohsiung (standard) | $45 |
| Taroko Gorge day tour (shared) | $30-50 |
With a partner, rooms, taxis and boats are the easy things to share. Our guide to splitting travel costs with a travel partner has a simple way to keep track. Estimates in US dollars, for planning only.
Getting around
Taiwan's transport is a joy. The High-Speed Rail (HSR) runs down the populous west coast: Taipei to Kaohsiung in ~1h40, while the scenic TRA railway loops the whole island, including the gorgeous east coast to Hualien (for Taroko). Get an EasyCard (or iPASS) on arrival: it taps you onto metros, buses, trains, bike-share (the excellent YouBike) and even convenience-store purchases island-wide. Taipei and Kaohsiung have clean, easy metros. For Taroko, Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, buses or day-tours connect from the rail hubs; renting a scooter or car helps on the east coast and in rural areas (an international permit is needed). Taxis are metered and honest; ride-hailing (Uber) works in cities. It's one of the easiest countries anywhere to get around independently.
Money and staying connected
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD). It's still a fairly cash-friendly society: night markets, small eateries and temples want cash, so carry some, though cards and the EasyCard are increasingly accepted and convenience stores (everywhere, 24/7) double as ATMs, bill-payers and lifesavers. Tipping isn't customary: don't worry about it. SIMs/eSIMs (Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, FET) are cheap with excellent island-wide 4G/5G and tourist unlimited-data plans at the airport; the open internet works normally. Free public Wi-Fi (iTaiwan) is widespread. Most nationalities get visa-free entry for 30-90 days. The EasyCard is the single best travel purchase you'll make here.
Culture and etiquette
Taiwanese culture is warm, polite and remarkably considerate: quietness on the efficient MRT (no eating or drinking on it, a strictly enforced rule), orderly queues, and a gentle helpfulness that defines the place. At temples, dress modestly, don't point at deities, follow the incense-and-bow etiquette if you join, and step over (not on) door sills. Chopsticks never stand upright in rice. Receive business cards and gifts with two hands. There's a deep food culture: sharing dishes is the norm, and praising the food is always welcome. Be sensitive about cross-strait politics: let locals lead, and recognize Taiwan's strong sense of its own identity. Useful Mandarin: "Nǐ hǎo" (hello), "Xièxie" (thank you), "Duōshǎo qián?" (how much?), "Hǎo chī!" (delicious!): and a smile and a "thank you" go a long way in this exceptionally courteous society.
Health and safety
Taiwan is one of the safest places in the world to travel: crime against visitors is very low, the streets feel secure at any hour, and the legendary helpfulness means any problem gets solved fast (people will walk you to where you're going). The genuine risks are natural: typhoons (June-October: heed warnings; the island handles them well), earthquakes (Taiwan is seismically active, know basic drop-cover-hold guidance, but buildings are well-built), summer heat and humidity, and mountain weather if you hike high (the peaks need permits and respect). Traffic: especially the swarms of scooters, is the everyday hazard; cross carefully and look every way. Tap water is technically safe but most boil or drink bottled. Healthcare is excellent and cheap.
General guidance, not medical or security advice. Check your government's travel advice and a travel clinic before you book.
How many people visit
International arrivals to Taiwan over the most recent years with data, roughly number 15 of 31 in its region by reported arrivals.
Source: UN Tourism (UNWTO). Years marked * are estimates: this country's measured baseline scaled by UN Tourism's published regional recovery rates, shown until measured figures are out.
Key facts
- Largest city
- Taipei
- Languages
- Chinese
- Population
- 23.4 million (2024)
- Area
- 36,193 km² (13,974 mi²)
- Calling code
- +886
- Region
- Eastern Asia
Travelling solo in Taiwan
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Taiwan trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
Meeting someone new? Talk here first, meet somewhere public, and read our travel safety guide.
Visa check
A free checker with a link to the official source. Your passport is picked from where you are browsing; change it any time.
Travelling to Taiwan with a travel buddy
How do I find a travel buddy for Taiwan?
Make a free profile and add your Taiwan trip with rough dates. You will see travelers going on your dates and open trips to Taiwan you can ask to join, or you can post your own trip and let partners find you. Asking to join a trip is always free.
When is the best time to visit Taiwan?
October-November and March-April are the sweet spots: mild, drier, comfortable for city-and-mountain combos, with autumn especially pleasant. May-September is hot, humid and the typhoon season: storms can disrupt a day or two (well-managed, but build flexibility), though it's also lush and good for the high mountains which stay cooler.
How much does a day in Taiwan cost?
Typical costs, in US dollars: backpacker, per day: $35 to $60; mid-range, per day: $75 to $140; comfort, per day: $220+; hostel dorm bed (Taipei): $15 to $25; mid-range hotel double: $55 to $110; night-market dinner (several dishes): $5 to $10; hSR Taipei-Kaohsiung (standard): $45; taroko Gorge day tour (shared): $30 to $50. These are estimates for planning only. With a travel partner, rooms and taxis are easy to share.
Is Taiwan good for solo travelers?
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Taiwan trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
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