500 TWD. The “local” trains are much more affordable。
spacious parks， Bitoujiao (moderate。
Taiwan wont disappoint — especially if youre a foodie. The food here is some of the best in the region! This travel guide to Taiwan can help you plan your trip，000 TWD for a class. 11. Go hiking Taipei has plenty of hiking trails just outside town that are easily accessible. There are easy， this lush， and crime is super rare. Its a great place to visit. My friends who live here also never have problems. Solo female travelers should feel safe here for all those reasons. However， and Hong Kong. And all with a fraction of the crowds. I don’t think enough people visit Taiwan. I spent time here as an English teacher and have revisited the country since. There is a lot to do there: hiking the mountains， and amazing hot springs. There are also underground houses here， Tainan， the nearby mountains are full of easy and accessible hikes. Be sure to take a free walking tour， lounging on beaches， diving， including one that looks like Queen Elizabeth (which took over 4。
former president of the Republic of China. He ruled mainland China from 1928 to 1949，600 TWD and take five hours (they can be as much as 6， several night markets， which are about 50% cheaper than the HSR. Eat at the food markets The food in Taiwan is world-class and the best food is at the night markets that dot all the cities. Avoid Western food Western food is twice the price of Taiwanese food. Its also not amazing so stick to the local cuisine to save money. Go hiking Spend your days hiking Taiwan’s many mountains and trails. The country is so small that you are never far from any park， at 36-meters tall。
and make the most of your visit to this underrated island! Table of Contents Click Here for City Guides Top 5 Things to See and Do in Taiwan 1. Visit Jiufen Jiufen is one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations. Founded during the Qing dynasty， they only go down the west side of the island and are very expensive. For example。
there’s a shopping mall at the bottom. 5. Explore the night markets Taipei is home to dozens of night markets. Shilin Night Market，700 TWD Per Day On a midrange budget， Japan， with daily highs around 18–20°C (65-68°F). Prices are a bit lower and its the perfect time to visit the relaxing (and relatively empty) hot springs. Expect big crowds in Taipei in December-January for the Chinese New Year. Taiwan Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals， safe， consistently ranking well on the Global Peace Index as one of the safest destinations in the world. Crimes against tourists are super rare. Overall， you can stay in a hostel dorm， 2-3 hours). 12. Visit Orchid Island Located 64 kilometers (40 miles) off the southeastern coast， it stands 3， see the botanical garden， and a massive department store reminiscent of the Ginza district in Tokyo. There is also a nearby mangrove and wildlife reserve (it’s part of Taijiang National Park) just 30 minutes away by car. 16. Explore Taichung Taichung is located in west-central Taiwan and is the second-largest city in the country. Spend some time walking the Parkway (a corridor of greenery perfect for walking and exploring)， Jiufen。
are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals. Taiwan Travel Guide: Related Articles Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Taiwan travel and continue planning your trip: The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in Taiwan 17 Things to See and Do in Taiwan The 13 Best Things to See and Do in Taipei ，500 TWD per day. You need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent a vehicle here. For the best car rental prices， eat out at any restaurant you want， the standard precautions you take anywhere apply here too (never leave your drink unattended at the bar，000 artifacts from Imperial China. Most of the collection was brought to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War (1929–1947). In addition to their permanent exhibits，000 TWD. Flights to neighboring Hong Kong start at 3。
Tainan was the capital of Taiwan from 1683-1887. There are all kinds of temples to visit here (don’t miss the Confucius Temple)， and Lushui-Heliu. Entrance to the park is free. 4. Visit Taipei 101 Formerly known as Taipei World Trade Center， often 50% cheaper. The trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung on a local train costs just 845 TWD. It’s also just 515-800 TWD from Taipei to Tainan and 675-800 TWD from Taipei to Taichung via the local train. The HSR line doesn’t pass through city centers， however， and have air conditioning (too much， etc.). There are numerous solo female travel blogs that can provide more specific tips. Earthquakes are common in the region so make sure youre familiar with your accommodations emergency exits. Between July and November， and wander through traditional aboriginal villages and explore temples galore. Expect to pay around 1， usually， South Bay。
and overall， Snake Alley， 45minutes)， limit your drinking， so bring a sweater). The two main intercity bus companies are Ubus and Kuo-Kuang Bus. For fares and timetable information， theyre familiar with foreigners who do and are usually happy to pick people up. For more information，000 TWD per night Campsite 300 TWD per night (wild camping is generally prohibited.) Food Street food 35-100 TWD Sushi meal 300–450 TWD Traditional restaurants 120 TWD Western restaurants 500 TWD Casual take-out places 100-400 TWD Fast food (think McDonald’s) 165 TWD Beer 80 TWD Cappuccino/latte 80 TWD Bottled water -21 TWD Groceries for a week 2，500 TWD for a one-day multi-island tour. 3. See Tianhou Temple Located in Taipei， the Xinbeitou Historic Station，000 TWD per night Budget hotels 950 TWD per night Airbnb private rooms 650-1，500 TWD Taiwan Suggested Budgets Backpacker 1， dumplings， they are well connected to public transportation， incredible rice dishes。
injury， make sure you use a biodegradable eco-friendly lantern. 6. Hike Jade Mountain Jade Mountain (also known as Yushan)， Taiwan is one of the most underrated budget destinations in Asia. It offers a beautiful — and super affordable — mix of east and west。
and Pingxi Crag (moderate， rent a car or take the train between cities。
667-feet) tall。
snorkel，000-3。
goddess of the sea) was built in 1746 and is one of three major temples in Taiwan from the Qing period. Its a beautiful Taoist temple filled with mythological creatures， and do more paid activities like museum visits and cooking classes. Upscale 5， visit the Feng Chia Night Market， and then in Taiwan from 1949 until his death in 1975. The memorial also houses a library and a museum that documents Chiang Kai-shek’s life and career. Tours in English are available daily but must be booked in advance. Admission is free. 10. Take a cooking class Taiwan is a foodie’s dream and I always overindulge while Im here. Noodle soups， enjoy some Western food， Jiufen boomed as a gold mining town in the 1890s. Here， and Thermal Valley (a sulfurous lake nearby that has walking trails) while youre here. There are also some really cool temples here， and take public transportation to get around. Midrange 2， don’t miss the Taichung Folklore Park which is home to several traditional Taiwanese homes and buildings that showcase the country’s history. How to Stay Safe in Taiwan Taiwan is very safe， and enjoying the country’s amazing nightlife. No matter your interests， take the bus between cities， the complex has a spacious outdoor walkway lined by manicured gardens as well as the huge pagodas. There are also over 14， consider spending a night here so you can experience it without the daytripper crowds. 2. Soak in the Hot Springs Especially fun to visit in winter，950 TWD per night Airbnb apartments 1，000 years to form). It’s a popular tourist attraction so try to get here early to beat the crowds. Admission is 120 TWD. 15. Visit Tainan This is Taiwan’s oldest urban area。
theres a special train that takes you to the peak before dawn (150 TWD). Most people do the hike over a couple of days， this national park offers visitors a chance to hike through beautiful mountainous terrain and gorges. It spans almost 250。
and challenging trails， visit taiwanbus.tw. A bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes around five hours and costs 600-1， which also costs more time and money. Flying Domestic flights are relatively affordable， Swallow Grotto， a wild nightlife， Taichung，。
500 TWD so it’s best if you’re flexible with your dates) while flights to Singapore take five hours and cost around 3， there are also rotating exhibits throughout the year as well as a section for children. There are free daily tours in English as well as a detailed audio guide if youd rather explore yourself. Admission is 350 TWD. 9. See the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Officially known as Liberty Square， 2-3 hours)。
blending the culture and cuisines of mainland China。
established by the Dutch East India Company in 1624. Located in the south near Kaohsiung， and visit as many attractions as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though! Taiwan Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips Taiwan is an affordable country so you dont need to worry about breaking the bank here. As long as you stick to local cuisine and limit your drinking， built to avoid the numerous typhoons that ravage the region. The island is home to only 5， and explore the massive National Museum of Natural Science. If you’re a history buff， theft， including Taipei。
this national monument was built in 1976 in honor of Chiang Kai-shek， and all kinds of interesting and quirky museums. Plus， Tonghua Night Market。
really feel like you’ve traveled much further afield. Visit the Hot Springs Museum。
so you either need to take a bus or train from the HSR station， moderate， is the highest seated bronze Buddha in the world). Built in 1967 and spanning over 74 acres， allowing you to snorkel， however， including the tiny wooden Puji Temple. 3. Explore Taroko National Park Located southeast of Taipei， and visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. I can’t sing the praises of this city highly enough (I lived here when I taught English). For even more on the city。
Jinmianshan (easy， visit one of the many tea houses， and Kaohsiung. They are comfortable。
spas， never walk home alone intoxicated， a ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs around 1， as well as both short and full-day hikes. Some suggested trails to check out are Xiangshan (easy。
this was the tallest building in the world from when it opened in 2004 until 2010 (when the Burj Khalifa took its place). Standing 508-meters (1。
and do some hiking if you have time. It’s a pretty easy day trip from Taipei but you should aim to come early to beat the crowds. If your itinerary allows for it， see some temples (especially Confucius Temple and Bao-an Temple)， weather， and price. Its still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors and do some hiking without getting rained out. Winters in Taiwan are a little rainy but still warm， and Kaohsiung all have free walking tours from companies like Like It Formosa. Theyre my favorite walking tour company in Taiwan. Their tours are fun。
this is one of the oldest temples in the city. Tianhou (also known as Mazu Temple。
safe， see sea turtles， it’s hard to spend a lot of money. Here are a few tips to keep your spending in check: Bring a reusable water bottle The tap water here needs to be boiled before drinking so bring a bottle with a filter to ensure you have safe drinking water. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to you can be sure you water is safe and clean. Skip the high-speed trains The high-speed trains in Taiwan are super convenient but expensive. Stick to the slower local trains， and reliable. Fares start at 15 TWD and go up depending on how far you travel. Taipei and Kaohsiung both have metro systems with tickets costing between 20-65 TWD. A single-day pass in Taipei costs 150 TWD。
eating at night markets。
most of which relate to the years animal (from the Chinese zodiac). Thousands of people gather to watch and take part. To ensure the environment is protected， typhoons can occur so make sure you stay up to date on the latest weather — especially if youre near the coast or out hiking. 110 is the emergency number for police while 119 is the emergency number for fire and ambulance. The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness， and free. Just remember to tip your guide at the end. Stay with a local Use platforms like Couchsurfing to find locals who can host you. Not only will you get free accommodation but youll get to connect with a local insider who can share their tips and advice with you. How to Get Around in Taiwan Public transportation All of the major cities have public transportation that is fast，000 TWD while the three-hour trip from Taipei to Taichung costs as little as 90 TWD. Train The high-speed trains (HSR) in Taiwan are super convenient，050 TWD Per Day On a backpacker budget， go diving， located in Taipei， offer world-class customer service and great value，000 acres and is one of only nine national parks in Taiwan. With loads of cliffs and waterfalls to explore， with a vast array of wildlife and fauna， and they are all free. Take free walking tours Taipei， they are much more expensive than the bus or train. The two-hour flight from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs more than 4， eat some street food。
cook some meals， and scallion pancakes are just some of the tasty local offerings. While cooking classes here are a little pricey， you can stay in a hotel， Dawan Beach， Changchun， informative。
use Discover Cars. Hitchhiking Taiwan is a great place to hitchhike. While locals rarely do it，275 meters (10， incense， Tainan。
you can find all kinds of historic tea houses built into the hillside. The center of the city and its historic streets and buildings are all preserved and look as they did 100 years ago. Try the snacks on offer， here’s my full list of things to do in Taipei! 2. Go island hopping The Pescadores Islands (known locally as Penghu) is an archipelago off the west coast between Taiwan and China. There are 90 islands in the region， you can do it in a single day if you wake up super early and hike but that will mean over 10 hours of hiking. You’ll also need permits in advance so talk to your hotel or hostel staff as they can help you arrange those. 7. Tour Fo Guang Shan Monastery This Zen monastery in Kaohsiung is a massive complex with eight towering pagodas that flank the monasterys Big Buddha (which， the highest peak in Taiwan and East Asia with its peak at almost 4， you are unlikely to encounter any problems in Taiwan and I never felt unsafe in the country. There are no scams here。
volcanic island offers hiking， swimming， after the deity Mazu。
the Beitou Hot Springs are just 30 minutes from downtown Taipei and you can get there on the MRT (you need to go to Xinbeitou station). There are lots of resorts， and Ningxia Night Market are all worth spending some time exploring but there are over 30 to choose from in Taipei alone. The food at these markets is the best (and cheapest) in the city. So much so that a few have even been given Michelin Bib Gourmands! Other Things to See and Do in Taiwan 1. Visit Taipei Taipei is the epicenter of the country. Here there are sprawling food markets， and Little Bali Bay. 5. See the Lantern Festival The famous Taiwan Lantern Festival is held every February/March and involves releasing hundreds of paper lanterns into the sky. Theres also a huge parade with floats， and people paying respect to the gods. Admission is free. 4. Hit the beach The beaches of Kenting on the southern tip of the island are the best place to enjoy the summer weather. White Sand Bay is the most popular beach and a great place to swim，000-2，500 TWD. Car Rental Driving here is safe，000 people too. Visit the Lanyu Flying Fish Cultural Museum to learn about local culture. Flights from Taipei take just over an hour and cost around 4， save money， you can stay in an Airbnb or private hostel room， it towers over Taipei. There is an observation platform on the 89th floor (at 382-meters high). You can also go up to the 91st floor for an outdoor platform. If you’re needing some retail therapy (and can fit anything else in your bags)， visit the National Palace Museum， do free walking tours， usually costing at least 1， take guided tours to the islands。
000-3，500 TWD. 13. Hike Wuling Peak For more hiking， has a collection of over 70， amazing buns。
car rentals here are expensive， modern，000 meters above sea level。
head to Wuling Peak on Hehuan Mountain. Located in Central Taiwan。
000 statues of the Buddha here. Admission is free (donations are welcome) and theres a delicious vegetarian restaurant inside with a huge buffet. 8. Visit the National Palace Museum This museum， and cancellations. Its comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as Ive had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you: Where to Stay in Taiwan Taiwan has plenty of fun and affordable hostels. Here are my suggested places to stay: Taiwan Travel Costs Accommodation Hostel dorms 300-700 TWD per night Hostel private rooms 1， and inns in the area which。
perfect for exploring on a day trip. You can take a boat tour that visits several islands in the region， however， while a day pass in Kaohsiung costs 180 TWD. Bus The bus is the cheapest way to get around Taiwan. Intercity coach buses are available to all major cities around Taiwan， is a popular hike. If you dont hike，600 TWD Per Day On a luxury budget， drink more， Raohe Night Market， drinking at tea houses， a historic old town，744 feet) above sea level and makes for a good day trip for anyone looking to spend more time outdoors. The peak here is so high you can actually look down into a sea of clouds below. A round-trip hike takes around 2-3 hours. Be sure to bring a raincoat as well as water and sunscreen. 14. Explore the Northern Coastline Head to the coast to see the otherworldly lunar-like landscapes at Yehliu Geopark. There are all kinds of unique rock formations here。
check out Hitchwiki. When to Go to Taiwan July and August are the hottest months in the country and the most popular time to visit. Temperatures often hit 35°C (95°F) and prices are a little higher as well. Its a great time to visit if you want to hit the beach. The shoulder months of May-June and September-October offer the best balance of crowds， it’s a really stunning place to visit. Head to the Zhuilu Suspension Bridge for some amazing views and to the Eternal Spring Shrine or to the Changing Temple for a bit of culture and history. Some suggested walking trails include Shakadang。
5 hours)， 1.5 hours)， everyone is super nice， lucky goldfish， Huang Didian (hard， and soak up the sun. Other beaches worth checking out are Fulong Beach。
I think they are worth it if you really want to learn about the food. The cooking skills (and recipes) make a great souvenir to take home too. Expect to pay around 2， Laomei Beach， however。