I was recently at an engagement somewhere in Asia, when a friend put me on the spot in front of some fellow attendees. “Give us your best Taiwan travel tips,” he goaded me, without any further direction beyond that. “What should we know before we go?”
In spite of having more than a decade of experience exploring Taiwan—and, like, an entire website—I froze a little. And not just because I, like everyone else, was slightly tipsy.
Eventually, however, I steeled myself and started on a kind of monologue. What you read below is more or less a paraphrase of what I ended up saying.
Taiwan is a (Mostly) “Easy” Destination
Once you’ve visited Taiwan a few times, you may not need much Taiwan travel advice. That’s because Taiwan, among its many other amazing qualities, is a pretty self-explanatory destination. I can’t tell you how many of my private clients write me, sometimes on the first or second day of their trips, and tell me just how “easy” it was to get around and find their way, often without even trying very hard or having to ask for help.
This is not to say there’s no value to a detailed plan or diligent research, whether you do it on your own or pay me to do it for you. It’s just about which advice you need, and where it comes in handy—you won’t need assistance getting from Taoyuan Airport into the city; but you may be thankful you received some tips when you’re having dinner amid locals at Shida Night Market instead of pushing through crowds of foreign tourists at Shilin or along Raohe Street.
What to Know Before Going to Taiwan
Taiwan strikes an amazing balance
Taiwan is halfway between Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia—and it brings the best of both (the street food culture and relaxed, friendly people of Southeast Asia; the order and safety of Japan and Korea) to the table. And this is just the beginning of how Taiwan manages to be the best of all worlds. And I do mean that literally: Taiwan manages to be totally “Taiwanese” and completely cosmopolitan, all at the same time.
Getting around is a breeze
Another of my travel tips for Taiwan? Taipei is frequently—and deservedly—ranked as having the best urban transport system in the world, to say nothing of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) line that runs down the west coast, the ordinary and limited express trains that go everywhere else and the convenient network of domestic flights that connects the capital’s Songshan Airport (TSA) to everywhere you could want to go, including the outlying islands.
The weather? Sometimes more of a gale
It’s always raining somewhere in Taiwan—and it’s sometimes raining everywhere in Taiwan. As someone who’s a sucker for a clear blue sky, it took me a long time to make peace with this. But oddly, once I did, I was able to stop getting so upset about the inevitable bad weather; I also found myself much more appreciative of the good weather, when it did come. For what it’s worth, Taiwan’s infrastructure and its people are among the best rain-adapted in the world.
Taiwan is extremely safe
Of the many concerns you might have about Taiwan travel, safety should not be one of them. There’s virtually no violent crime and very little petty crime, for one. Beyond this, although Taiwan is vulnerable to natural disasters (earthquakes and typhoons, mostly) the preparedness of local authorities means that many disasters pass without any impact to daily life. The only place where I might recommend you be careful if you rent a car (or, especially, a motorcycle) and self-drive.
The food is good, but (maybe) not great
Taiwan’s has amassed a reputation as one of the world’s top foodie destinations. And yet I can’t help but wonder if that’s less for the food itself (which is tasty, don’t get me wrong, but pretty one-note) and more because of its vibrant, eclectic and lively night market culture—see Keelung for an amazing example of it. I mean, I love Taiwanese food, but xiaolongbao and cong you bin just don’t compare to, say, sushi or tom yam goong, in terms of singular flavor or global reputation.
How to Remove All Doubt from Your Taiwan Trip
I casually referenced my trip planning service earlier, but I’d like to explain it in detail now. I find it tends to come most in handy in two cases. In some instances, you have a good general idea of the trip you want to take, but have neither the time nor energy to create an actionable plan around your wishes. In others, you’re empty both on time and ideas. You don’t know where to begin—and you might not even want to start down the path.
If either of these scenarios describes you in the lead-up to your trip to Taiwan then, as the old song goes, I’ve got you babe. When you hire me to plan your Taiwan trip, I take care of everything. After chatting via Zoom about your travel preferences and any specific goals you have for the trip, I put your itinerary document together, interspersing a decade-plus of insight into personalized daily recommendations for activities, meals, accommodation and getting around.
Other FAQ About Things to Know Before Going to Taiwan
When is the best time to visit Taiwan?
The best time to visit Taiwan is the window of time you’re available to visit. This is because, frankly, it’s always raining somewhere in Taiwan—it’s a fool’s errand to predicate your trip there on good weather. By contrast, it’s warm-to-hot in most of the country for most of the year, which means you usually don’t need to pack or brace for cold weather.
Is Taiwan expensive?
Taiwan is cheaper than East Asian countries like Japan and Korea, but more expensive than Southeast Asian ones like Thailand and Vietnam. Just as it sits between these regions geographically, so too does it symbolically, with the price you can expect to pay for your trip a key area where Taiwan occupies a sweet spot.
Is Taiwan safe?
Taiwan is one of the safest places in the world. There’s virtually no violent crime and very little petty crime; in spite of being vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons, local authorities are so competent and prepared that all but the most severe incidents pass without most people noticing.
The Bottom Line
I hope my Taiwan travel tips have proven helpful to you. Certainly, I’ve had long enough—more than a decade, at this point—to compile and refine them. Some are obvious, including how safe and convenient Taiwan is. Others are contrary to popular opinion, and maybe even a little controversial: Taiwanese food, while “good,” fails (at least in my mind) to live up to the hype it has earned. Regardless of which aspect of the wisdom I’ve shared ends up being most valuable to you, I’m confident that you are leaving this page much more prepared for your trip. Another outstanding way to get ready for travel to Taiwan? Hire me to plan a personalized Taiwan itinerary for you!
