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Hey everyone, here's my guide to visiting Taiwan for the first time!
In 2024 February I visited Taiwan for the first time in over 10 years! I'm taiwanese and can speak a bit of mandarin so was able to get around easily. But no worries there will be plenty of english speakers around. Without further adieu let's get started!
Airport to Taipei
We flew premium economy with Eva Airlines. We flew in through the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. I recommend packing plenty of snacks for the flight though Eva did really well with providing snacks and water. The meals were so so in my opinion.
I cannot travel without a portable battery, I recommend this one.
I purchased an E Sim at the Airport and took a taxi since we had luggage to our hotel. Upon exiting baggage claim, look out for the Taiwan lottery. Participating could win you some extra cash for your travels. Read more about it here!
Hotel
Taipei boasts decent hotels; we stayed at the Wow Happy Hotel, which offered great service. I would say try to book with the hotel directly instead of third party sites like Agoda. If you have any issues, Agoda would need to address the issue and not the hotel. Unfortunately, they usually only offer hotel credit for refunds. I would say to expect to spend around 100 dollars a night on a decent hotel. I recommend staying somewhere near Ximending, Taipei 101, or more central.
Transportion
In Taiwan, getting around is easy with taxis, walking, or taking the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). The MRT is incredibly convenient, allowing you to zip from one place to another quickly. Subway cards can be purchased at train stations or at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. We mainly used google maps to navigate and found it easy to navigate from place to place.
When loading up your subway card, cash is essential. Consider obtaining an international credit card to withdraw money without fees, or research ATM options to avoid exchange fees. Personally, I brought US cash and exchanged it at the airport bank just beyond baggage claim for a favorable rate.
In 02/2024 the conversion rate was about 1 USD= 30 NTD
Taiwan's public transportation system is robust. We took a Taiwan High Speed rapid train from Taipei to Taichung when visiting Sun Moon Lake. You have to purchase high speed rail tickets online ahead of time! There is also uber in Taiwan which is around the same price as taxi in my opinion. Taxis are plentiful and easy to flag down.
The issue with smaller cities like Sun Moon Lake is that it can be very hard to call a uber, even if the app says it's only a short wait. Best way to get to Sun Moon lake from Taichung was to take a shuttle (our hotel provided one). We ended up returning to Taichung via taxi (we asked a shop keeper to call it) since the Sun Moon Lake shuttle left very early.
While taxi rides are convenient, they can add up in cost. Opting for public transportation is cheaper.
We took a bus from Taipei to Jiufen which was around 60 minutes.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Avoid traveling during Chinese New Year, as many establishments will be closed. However, you can always rely on night markets, which offer a plethora of food options. Sometimes restaurants especially small mom and pops don't update their google hours and you find they are closed when you show up. Big businesses like Taipei 101 are typically open year round, even during holidays and can provide food options and things to do as well.
Summer is also very hot and muggy but Taiwan does not experience really cold winters making it a decent place to visit during the Winter and Spring.
Food Planning
For food recommendations, I relied on the Michelin Guide and YouTube, especially for spots in Taipei. I will be going in depth in all the spots I tried in Taiwan during my trip in a separate article.
Reservations can be made online to famous restaurants but i recommend using your concierge on your credit card or making reservations way in advance.
Night Markets are open late night and year round, but if you want specific stalls, look up their hours. Food in the Night markets are cheap but mostly take cash. Our favorite night markets for food were the Keelung and Roahe Night markets. Shilin was great for late night games and having fun.
Bathrooms
Always carry paper towels with you, as public restrooms often lack toilet paper. It's common to purchase toilet paper before using the stalls.
Tipping
In Taipei, tipping is not expected, though some upscale restaurants may charge a service fee. Most places have English menus, but having the Google Translate app handy is a smart idea.
With these tips in mind, you're ready to explore Taiwan with ease. Enjoy your trip!
Click Here for my guide to Taipei, Taiwan.
Click Here for my guide to Jiufen, Taiwan.
Click Here for my guide to Sun Moon Lake and Taichung.
Click Here for my guide to Tamsui and Beitou.
